Surprise Party
Linda Gracin1999 Convertible
If there's one thing in the world that has a perfect 50/50 chance of either being good or bad, it's a surprise. The initial surprise alone is enough to shock you, but what the surprise is actually about is the real kicker. Linda Gracin from Algonac, Michigan, knows all about that. Her husband had known for quite awhile that Linda was a big fan of C5s. One day Linda and her husband Rich were driving by a car lot when Linda happened to notice a red '99 convertible. Being a good husband, Rich knew that Linda's birthday was near and had a brainstorm. A few days later Rich walked in and said, "Happy birthday, let's go get that Vette." Since then, Linda has added a Borla exhaust system and customized her license plate to "HOT TKT." She is also a member of America's Corvette Club. She puts the Vette to the test on the highway, autocross events, and even the 50th Anniversary Corvette Cruise to Bowling Green and Nashville. How's that for a birthday surprise.
Along with hosting a couple NASCAR races and the Rolex 24 hour endurance race, Daytona Beach, Florida, is home to the Corvette Cruisers of Greater Daytona. A few of the Ladies of CCGD include: Cindy Gross and her Pewter '99 convertible; past club President and founding member Ginny Quinn and her black '97 coupe; Joan Crowder and her black '79 coupe; club Secretary Leslie Armstrong owns "BLU BYU," a Navy Blue Metallic '01 convertible and shares a yellow big-block '67 convertible with her husband (the current President of CCGD), Art; and CCGD Treasurer Valerie Aiello with "GO FST," an Admiral Blue '95 coupe. All five of the CCGD ladies participated in the Florida and Georgia 50th Anniversary celebration caravans to Nashville and the National Corvette Museum last year, and they asked that we tell everyone to "Save the Wave!"
Red Vette Lager
Glenda Fischer1987 Coupe
1979 Coupe1999 Coupe
Hampstead, New Hampshire, resident Glenda Fischer has been lusting after Vettes since the first time she laid eyes on one in 1961. In 1999, her chance came when she become the proud owner of a Corvette. When Glenda got word that a friend of a friend was selling an '87 coupe, Glenda wrote a check without even driving the car. She told us, "My heart lies with early C4s, and there's something about the lines of that car and its design that is perfect from every angle." But that didn't stop her in 2001 from purchasing a '99 coupe for her and her husband Ed's 30th anniversary.
A year later, Ed decided that he wanted a four-speed. The couple found a '79 that would be considered a NCRS nightmare, with some serious performance mods. Glenda and Ed didn't care. And, according to them, it sounds pretty mean. In 2003, they attended the Caravan to Nashville, NCRS National Convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Carlisle. Plans are in the works to attend the NCRS Convention in Windsor, Ontario, this year. The cool thing about Ed and Glenda's relationship is the fact that Glenda is the real Corvette nut; Ed likes planes. In fact, Glenda is such a Corvette nut that when she first began brewing her own beer, she named it Red Vette Lager. Glenda also tells us, "I do most of the driving on trips, and when asked how come, Ed replies, 'I'm just along for the ride and to pay the bills!'" What a guy!
L-I-V-I-N' in 2003Jeanne Omelenchuk1963 Convertible
Yup, 2003 was a big year for Corvette, and Jeanne Omelenchuk of Capac, Michigan, had just as big a year. This year Jeanne turned 72 and to celebrate, she traveled to Cancun, Mexico. Unlike many "seniors," Jeanne's vacation wasn't exactly a slow-paced, easygoing atmosphere.
Instead she spent time traveling around to such places as the Chichen Itza ruins where she climbed all 192 steps to the top. But if you knew Jeanne, that would be no surprise. She is a long-time cyclist and speed skater and has been competing since the '50s. Since her competition days, Jeanne has competed in the Tour de France, on ice in the Olympics in '60, '68, and '72, and in four speed skating world championships. On top of all that, Jeanne is the original owner of a '63 Corvette convertible. When Jeanne got back from Mexico, she got ready for her next big event-being part of the 50th Anniversary Caravan that cruised to Bowling Green.
Mrs. Destiny
Michelle Valor1993 Coupe
1998 Coupe
Growing up with two motor heads, her Dad and Brother, it was destiny that Michelle Valor would end up falling in love with Corvettes. During her childhood, she spent many weekends at the track with Dad and Bro, but it wasn't until later in life that Michelle would bring her own Vette to shows. When a friend of hers was going to trade his '93 for a Y2K, Michelle jumped on it. She knew the '93 had been pampered, and with only 30,000 miles, it was barely broken in. She named it "Tinkerbell." Then three years later, when she couldn't resist the C5, she found a way to afford both the '93 and "Darth Vader," a black on black '98. Now the only problem is how to resist the C6, or in Michelle's case, afford it!