Corvette Owners Pin.
Originals made of 10k gold unlike todays cheap reproduction many try to  pass off as authentic. Issued by G.M. Chevrolet Corvette division. 1956 - 1967.

Unsure of the exact year but had to be about 1970 - 1971. Perhaps Bob can better help nail that down and share some of his memories of the event.

                                                               Let us first set the scene -
 
One very young single guy still wet behind the ears, from a small town in Central Texas tasked with the responsibility of finding his way and navigating his way through Los Angeles, California that had probably seen a few too many episodes of the old TV series "Route 66". With few ties or real responsibilities and of course invincible and fear of little with the opportunity of a life time at least up to that point in my life. Getting to fly to Los Angeles, California and drive a Corvette back. WOW! I quickly realized that it would be a wise idea to have someone of like interest so carefully considered possible options.

An early Cen Tex Corvette member by the name of Mike Farley employed me to manage, transport and drive his fleet of Corvette race cars across the USA. During those years existed a National  vintage Corvette Club and collector based in Fresno, California. A Club devoted to 1953 - 1955 Corvettes only headed by a GREAT man by the name of Ed Thiebaud. (R.I.P.)Learn more about this man and his influence of Corvette history.           Click Here
​
​
​
​
 
 

 
 
 
1970 Ed Thiebaud and wife of the time (Jean) agreed to an all expense paid visit to speak at the 1970 annual banquette compliments of Mike Farley

Ed was one of the nicest people that ever graced this Earth that I the distinct honor of meeting. Sadly now deceased, owned the largest privately owned C1 Corvette collection including the first Corvette ever sold (003) as well 1953 Corvette (005), One of only two prototype 1953 supercharged ever produced (the other one has never been found) as well as several other notable historical Corvette's. Tragically the collection was dispersed by court order in a highly contested divorce and the cars were sold off and dispersed all over the U.S.

Mike Farley also now deceased and Ed were mutual buds by way of both being pilots and Mike's of other 53 - 55 Corvette's. Mike purchased several vintage Corvettes from Ed during his tenure at Cen Tex.​
I was instructed to fly to Fresno to take delivery of a red 1955 Corvette. I thought it to be the responsible action to have a co driver for this transport. The decision was to ask another club member to co drive.  My first selection was my good friend and club member Geoff Schwer. Regrettably he had a full time job and could not make the trip. Second selection was a junior club member (Bobby Batson) to accompany me and keep me company and share driving for the all expense paid venture of a lifetime. He accepted. It was not a drawing or a lottery type decision. It was entirely my decision to make. That selection of course seemed to have upset a couple of other still active Charter Member/s that seemingly never recovered over that decision to this day.

The big day finally arrived. Bobby and I were delivered to the closest commercial airport from Waco of the time, Dallas Love Field. It was the first commercial flight for each of us. We actually were to travel via the fairly new Boeing 707. A big deal way back then.

The flight to LAX went without incident and we were met by Ed and then were escorted to his place in Fresno, California where the 1955 C1 Corvette to be transported back to Waco awaited us. We visited with Ed and his wife that evening and was treated to a meal and a tour of the one of a kind C1 Corvette's his collection. It was an unbelievable collection even by today's standard.

The next morning we mounted the old Corvette and departed Fresno and headed East back toward Texas.

I think that the first mile we traveled may have well been the best part of the 1600 mile trip. We soon had to fuel so stopped at a station and fueled. We thought we were prepared to return to our three day schedule and as luck would have it the car would not start. Having worked on several other Corvette's of similar year I had some idea of what to do but I had no tools to work with. Seems like we either purchased or borrowed a screwdriver from the place we fueled at I used to cross the starter solenoid terminals and was successful getting it started. We both understood  what the implication was here. We could not shut down the engine until we got back to Waco for fear we could get stranded in the desert that laid before us.

While at that fuel stop the question was also posed that if we were to successfully traverse the dry desert successfully we should offer consideration to preparing ourselves with an adequate source of  hydration. Both now barely over 21 a vote was taken and it was unanimous that we purchase bags of ice and adequate adult beverage which was placed into the right door storage compartment of the Corvette of the time. What else was two young guys traveling across parts of historical old Route 66  in a Corvette to do. Wonder why there was never  a TV show about such an adventure?

Since neither of us had ever visited Las Vegas we decided to take that route to allow ourselves the experience. We ventured onward into the ever darkening  abyss of the cooling desert. Being pretty young and knowing it all we failed to properly prepare ourselves for a night drive through the desert.

As a rite of passage I think that every Corvette owner should be required to drive one of these old Vettes in a real life situation before they own a later model to allow them to better appreciate the strides the car has made. It would make anyone appreciate one that just leaked.

As temperatures continued to fall into the desert evening it was soon discovered the only place that an occupant might find any form of comfort, least wise in this Corvette was directly over the drivers foot where the heater exhausted. After a bit under that vent however the right foot began to overheat and was uncomfortable but had to keep the heater going or freeze. Later that evening long after dark as we began the ascend into the mountains and as we grew ever more stiff we started to note white stuff falling from the heavens. We continued upwards and Eastward and beginning to ask of ourselves will our club remember us, the meaning of life and seeing our lives pass before our eyes. Things had to get better we thought but again our thought process was flawed. Not only are we on a desert mountain we are continuing to gain altitude. The white stuff is now becoming a full blown blizzard. Fortunately this car had a convertible top that was in good condition and we had the optional side curtains that could be installed. By this time we had the top up and side curtains installed for some hours but we were learning just how bad the side curtains and top mismatched. Now the drivers foot hurts and the rest of our bodies were getting stiff from the falling temperature and we now have snow blowing through the side curtains and into the interior. Havin some fun now!

Ok so this is as bad as it could get right. Your right it was not. We came upon a road block set up by the Nevada State Police. We are informed that conditions were bleak and the pass was closed and we would either be required to install snow chains, which of  course we did not have. We explained our situation to the officer and he allowed us to proceed to the next town to purchase and install chains. I remember not the next town name. We arrived so late at the next town everything was now closed. We both knew we were down for the count. We were fortunate to locate a room for the evening so threw in the towel and cheerfully confessed defeat and with no regret had to shut off the engine not knowing if it would start again but by then I was worried little as we began to thaw for the rest of the evening.  With just three days to complete our mission an early wakeup was not what was wished but required so we awoke to a new day that was more suitable for driving an old Corvette cross country.

The old Blue Flame Six was again brought to life and we descended onto Las Vegas. We did allow ourselves the experience of eating breakfast in Las Vegas at the historical Top of The Dunes Hotel situated far above the Las Vegas strip. Now also gone but kinda neat to say we had that experience to see it before it was demolished. I have no recall of what Bob ordered but what I ordered and what I was served was far from the traditional Texas breakfast. I remember with my order came asparagus in a some sort of cream sauce. Gag! We departed Las Vegas and it was recalled we had onboard the breakfast of champions of which we had begun the night previous. We opened our ever warming instant breakfast and continued onward with one more item being removed from our bucket list.

Weather was wonderful so we settled in while continuing to enjoy breakfast for many an uneventful mile. Strange what two guys stuck together in an old car for that many hours can find to talk about.

As Texas grew ever closer and temperatures began to climb a very ominous weather feature began to develop before us. Neither of us could readily identify what was before us but schedule dictated no other choice than to continue. As the gap narrowed between it and us we quickly identified what we were about to encounter.

The red cloud extended as far as one could see in all directions except the direction we had just traveled which of course was not an option.

In those days Waco might occasionally receive what we referred to as dust storms which in reality was what was the left over's from a real dust storm.

Little time expired before we both were well acquainted with what a real dust storm looked, felt, and tasted like.

Temperatures by now were reaching the level of uncomfortable and we again had to put up the top and again install the side curtains. Exactly what anyone would not wish to do as they began to bake. Least wise the heater was not cooking the drivers foot any longer.

The entire car was enveloped both outside and inside as the winds blew past the gaps of the side curtains and top. Dust could be seen settling on our ever dampening  garments.

By now the romance of this experience was beginning to wane and questions like "what are we doing here, could this get any worse was starting to be asked?"

We soon got an answer to at least one of the questions and an illustration of how things could indeed get worse or perhaps it may have been redemption. Once again the heavens identified our exact coordinates and again began to anoint us with large droplets.

Now for younger generations that may not have had the opportunity to experience vacuum operated windshield wipers you need to be asking those that have what a joy it is? This 1955 was fairly typical but was now some 15 or so years old so the vacuum system was in need. This was not your typical nice clear rain drops. These were red and seemed a greater viscosity than what we were used to. The windshield wipers on this car would have been challenged by regular rains. This was far worse. It was like trying to clean the windshield with a muddy rag.

By now this seemingly no brainer exercise had become a quest of survival it seemed so onward we traveled despite the visual impairment. After all of the breakfast consumed why did we need good vision? In retrospect it may have actually been all the breakfast that got us through it all.

As with our forefathers we at last emerged on the other side and delivered the car to Mike. Both were emotionally and physically drained. We both felt like sand lizards and probably did not look so different either.

I think I can probably speak for both of us here and state that although the challenges and the misery of the trip that it was an adventure that would be remembered our entire lives. Seems that having to overcome adversity somehow builds a strong bond that should have lasted the rest of our lives.

Would I do it again?

????

The next time you have the opportunity ask Bob about his accounts as I am certain that his memory may be somewhat different as the years dilutes our memories.

========================================================================

Being selected to participate in an all-expenses-paid adventure, as described in the previous account, is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Such an invitation not only promises unique experiences but also naturally leads to a sense of gratitude and loyalty. It is reasonable to assume that those who receive this kind of invitation would develop a certain level of allegiance as a direct result of the privilege offered. Not always.