GoldREView / April 2016

Signs of spring are in the air! Birds are out, flowers are blooming and big blocks crackling in the air! Hopefully you have been lucky enough to experience some great driving weather already this spring. If not, I can assure you that there is at least one prime-driving weekend headed your way‌the last weekend in June and the 44th annual Bloomington Gold Corvette Event.

As we return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a second year, we return with an ever-growing team of sponsors. Both new and current sponsors share your passion for two things: Guy Larsen, President Bloomington Gold and the Corvette. So when you are at the Show, be sure to visit with them and thank them. They are an important part of what makes Bloomington Gold Corvettes the Greatest Corvette Event in the Country.

These are fun and exciting times for Bloomington Gold and I always enjoy talking with you and hearing your input, both good and bad. Feel free to email me at Guy@BloomingtonGold. com or be sure to stop by and visit us at the NCM’s Spring Bash later this month and share your favorite Bloomington Gold memory.

Until then, happy driving!

Guy Larsen, President

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BLOOMINGTON GOLD

2016 BLOOMINGTON GOLD GOLDMEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIPS ARE LIMITED! Treat yourself to one before they are gone!

2016 MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE: • Gold Member gift -Corvette Car Polish Kit Custom for Bloomington Gold • Express Track Office Check-in if Pre-registered for driving events ** New** • Up Front Parking at the Show • Full Dinner Friday night ** new* • Lunch Saturday in the Pagoda • Access all weekend to an air-conditioned lounge with refreshments…….and more!

To sign up, go to the GoldStore on BloomingtonGold.com We look forward to seeing you at the Show!

Jocelyn, VP of Business Development

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JOCELYN YOUNG Many of you know Jocelyn as the VP of Business Development for Bloomington Gold and the smiling face behind Gold Membership. She also is the editor of the REView and works closely with Sponsors leading up to and at the Show among other things. Before joining Bloomington Gold in 2013, Jocelyn worked as a meeting planner for not for profit organizations for over 19 years.

What most people don’t know is that Jocelyn grew up an equestrian. She spent the first 30 years of her life working with horses as well as riding and competing in horse competitions. At age 30 she switched gears to triathlons and marathons. She ran the Boston marathon in 2009 and completed her first full Ironman Triathlon in 2012. While it has been a few years since Jocelyn has been able to do either of these competitions, she hopes to complete another half Ironman as well as a marathon this summer or fall. Jocelyn lives in a suburb of Chicago with her two sons, Tyler and Dylan, and two Labs. Both kids play travel soccer and her dogs are her most reliable early morning running companions.

Tickets and Driving Event Times are ON SALE NOW! To purchase your tickets or reserve track time, go to the Gold Store at BloomingtonGold.com

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Schedule EVENTS

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

8:30am

8:30am

SATURDAY 8:00am-6:00pm

BLOOMINGTON GOLD Opening Ceremonies

8:30am

MEMBERSHIP GoldMember

Check-In: 8:00am-6:00pm

Check-In: 8:00am-6:00pm Check-In: 8:00am-12:00pm

Gold Certification

Check-In: 8:00am-9:30am

Judging: 8:00am-5:00pm

SURVIVOR速

Check-In: 8:00am-9:30am

The GOLDSTANDARD速 Judging: 8:00am-1:00pm

AWARDS

SALES

3:00pm

GoldMine (owner/dealer)

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

Exhibitors

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

Corvette Parking/Displays

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

GoldCollection

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

GoldYear

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

DISPLAYS

ON THE ROAD GoldTour

Staging: 5:00pm

GoldAutocross

9:00am-5:00pm

9:00am-5:00pm

9:00am-5:00pm

Chevy Ride & Drive

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

GoldSpeed

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

GoldLaps

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

8:00am-6:00pm

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MOBIL 1 AND BRM WATCHES JOIN AS SPONSORS!

THE OFFICIAL MOTOR OIL OF BLOOMINGTON GOLD Since 1992, Mobil 1™ synthetic motor oil has been used for factory fill and service fill lubricant for Corvettes. In this time, more than 600,000 Corvette vehicles have left the production line filled with Mobil 1 motor oil.

OFFICIAL WATCH OF BLOOMINGTON GOLD BRM manufactures one of the kind, hand crafted watches that are inspired by motorsports and have strong ties with some of the world’s racing elite. As the official watch of Corvette Racing, becoming the Official Watch of Bloomington Gold was a perfect fit for both companies.

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BLOOMINGTON GOLD

WANTED ORIGINAL OWNER CORVETTES Bloomington Gold is looking for Corvettes that are at least 40 years old and have had only one owner to be a part of a special display during the 2016 Event.

Participants are asked to bring a story board about their Corvette AND themselves and are asked to expect to spend most of the Event with their car. If you are interested or know of someone, contact Guy Larsen at Guy@BloomingtonGold.com.

BLOOMINGTON GOLD VIP PRICING THROUGH

PRE-OWNED VEHICLES

Vehicles in-stock and available for retail sale may be purchased for inventory amount plus $500. Extra costs may apply for Transportation, or Specialty Vehicles.

PARTS & SERVICE

Spring is here! Wouldn’t a brand new Corvette or Chevrolet look great in your garage?

Buy it Today with Special Pricing through the BLOOMINGTON GOLD VIP BUYING PROGRAM!

NEW VEHICLES

Bloomington Gold VIP participants pay “Dealer Invoice” or “Supplier Pricing” whichever is less from Chevrolet. Rebates or Incentive’s will be applied to reduce the purchase price. Affiliate and Commercial rebates may also apply to further reduce the purchase price.

Parts or Service Labor will receive a 15% discount off the posted Customer pay rate. 15% discount may not be combined with other coupons or specials. We also offer Restoration Parts and services.

This offer is only good through the Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet Bloomington Gold VIP Buying Program. To take advantage of the program, enroll or just learn more information, go to BloomingtonGold. com and register for the VIP Program on the Home page of the web site. Or, call General Manager of Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Cam Stewart at 704591-8800. Be sure to tell Cam that Bloomington Gold sent you!

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The

GOLD

R

Certification is for the purpose of sport. Cars are judged by the National Corvette Certification Board (NCCB) to determine how closely they represent authentic appearance compared to the “day they left the factory”.

NO BETTER. NO WORSE. NO DIFFERENT. A Gold Certified® car appears as it would have just after completion of ‘Typical Factory Production’. This does not mean that a Bloomington Gold car is cosmetically perfect.

Factory cars weren’t. Instead, historic accuracy is the goal.

In short, every car left the factory qualified to receive a Gold Certificate. However, age, use, repair, and/or inaccurate restorations all take their toll. Therefore, unrestored original cars may do as well (or better) than inaccurately restored cars.

Over 200 components (each worth about 35 credits) total about 7,500 credits per car. Credit totals vary by car year. Cars judged to be within the following standards are certified:

GOLD: SILVER: BRONZE:

100-95% 94-90% 89-85%

The components of the Gold Certified® car scoring 100% will have no ‘Easily Detectable’ deviations from ‘Typical Factory Production’ in terms of five key criteria: 1. Originality (F.D.I.C.C.) Finish, Date Codes, Installation, Completeness, and Configuration 2. Damage, deterioration, or missing pieces 3. Technical operation 4. Cleanliness 5. Numbers

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BLOOMINGTON GOLD

As the name implies, Corvettes that have never been restored have ‘survived’ intentional or unintentional loss of original markings, paint or components. Corvettes remaining over 50% unrestored or unmodified may qualify for a SURVIVOR® award if they remain in a condition that would serve well as a historic guide for others who want to restore a Corvette of that vintage and type. This award is designed to recognize those Corvettes that are “Worn in, but not worn out.” A Survivor® Corvette is significantly unrestored, unrepaired, and unmodified so as to be useful as a historic reference. It is a Corvette that in the best interest of research should not be restored or improved.

Again as with Certification, the cars are judged against a factory standard and not against one another. The Corvette must complete a 10 mile road test under their own power.

Since the advent of this award, there is now a reason for further preservation of Corvettes whose histories and character may have otherwise been lost. Survivor® judging is fun and the Survivor® Corvettes become a member of an elite group of historically significant cars. Survivor® Corvettes are the Corvettes that judges and restorers seek out to study.

This is America’s most prestigious Corvette award. The Benchmark award is for those very rare, select Corvettes that represent the ultimate in factory originality and condition.

Benchmark Corvettes are not only unrestored, but also in show room new condition. In other words, it is as if it were put in a time capsule at the time of factory delivery and preserved that way until the day it was judged. These cars would obviously make the perfect research pieces for anyone doing a restoration or trying to learn about cars of that vintage and type. ... hence the name, Benchmark.

Entrants must be judged in both Survivor and Certification during the same weekend. Only Corvettes qualifying in ALL four of the four categories of Survivor, as well as the 10 mile road test and receiving Gold Certification at the same Bloomington Gold event will be awarded the highly coveted and prestigious Benchmark award. These Corvettes are truly the Benchmarks of the marque.

Reg

Info

STANDARD of Judging ®

REGISTRATION OPEN!

gister Online: BloomingtonGold.com by June 1 REGISTRATION FEES

Corvettes made from 1953-1972............$650 each Corvettes made from 1973- 2016...........$550 each Each registration includes two *Weekend passes Deadline for registration: June 1, 2016 *Weekend passes allow entry for Thursday, Friday, Saturday

o: Gail Manahan at 309.888.2588 • gail@bloomingtongold.com

BLOOMINGTON GOLD CLOTHING! NEW ARRIVALS FOR SPRING! CHECK OUT ALL BLOOMINGTON GOLD OFFICIAL CLOTHING IN THE GOLDSTORE OF BLOOMINGTONGOLD.COM

BLOOMINGTON GOLD

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P R E V I E W

WELCOME TO THE 2016 GOLD COLLECTION… On behalf of the entire Bloomington Gold team, it’s our pleasure to welcome you to this year’s GoldCollection, and special salute to the 1966 Corvette. Continuing the tradition of 25 years of Bloomington Gold Special Collection events, each Gold Collection will showcase a special group of Corvettes.

This year you will see some of the highest scoring Bloomington Gold Certified, SURVIVOR and Benchmark cars, along with NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence winners, low mileage originals, special production and competition 1966 Corvettes.

Thanks to the following people and companies who have made Gold Collection possible: Hagerty, the Official Sponsor of the Gold Collection Our program advertisers.

The Gold Collection Selection Committee members: Jim Gessner, Kevin Mackay, Keith Majure & Terry Michaelis.

The car owners for bringing their 1966 Corvettes to Bloomington Gold at Indy.

Next year’s Gold Collection will salute the 1967 Corvette. If you would like a special 1967 Corvette considered, please contact William Locke, Event Director – Gold Collection at bill@bloomingtongold.com or a member of the selection committee.

Enjoy your journey back 50 years as we celebrate the 1966 Corvette!

Guy Larsen, President Bloomington Gold William Locke, Event Director Gold Collection Corbyn S. Kern, Director & Graphic Artist Gold Collection

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BLOOMINGTON GOLD

Proud Sponsor of GoldCollection

1966 CORVETTE M22-L88 PROTOTYPE EXPORTED TO EUROPE FOR GM TESTING Owned by: Rolf & Petra Gersch, Mainz-Kastel Germany This 1966 Corvette is the second car built with a prototype L88 motor. Special markings, L88/M, were found on top of the M22 transmission. The N03, 36.5 gallon big tank, was listed on Shop Order No. 39, but changed on the St. Louis assembly line to 16A before the special engine was installed. All original markings are still on the car. Mr. Wermelinger, a GM sales person from Auto Koch Luzern, Switzerland, was the first owner, and ordered the car through Roger Penske at a GM Dealer Meeting in New York. Roger Penske and Dick Guldstrand did the race preparation, installing 7 1/2 x15 magnesium wheels, before export to Europe. On March 3rd, 1966, Bergpreis Ostschweiz Oberhallau records the car’s first win against strong competition, including Ferrari. Other wins were: 1967 Rundstreckenrennen Hockenheim Germany: First Place 1967 Invited to the 24 Hours Le Mans France: Engine failure during practice In 2002, after 30 years, Rolf Gersch purchased the car in Switzerland. A race prepared Traco engine was installed in late 2002. Rolf campaigned the car from 2003-2013 in over 15 events with no major accidents; the complete body is original. We are happy to show the car for the first time in the United States at Gold Collection 1966, in its unrestored racing condition.

1966 CORVETTE SPORT COUPE BIG TANK/HD BRAKE GM PROVING GOUND DELIVERY Owned by: Jurgen Reimer, Mainz-Kastel Germany My Corvette was purchased from Terry Michaelis in Knoxville, TN, in March 1988. At this time I did not know what the N03 big tank, and J56 heavy duty barke options were. I could not ask my friend, Rolf Gersch, as he was still in Germany. I meet Mr. N03 Wayne Midkift, and he was very helpful to document the car. After 3 hours of thinking and discussion, I bought the Corvette.

The Corvette was built with 16 options, including 427/425 HP, F41, J56, N03 and P48. The car noted Dealer Code 174, and Delivery Zone 0, and was delivered to the General Motors Proving Gounds at Black Lake, Michigan. The production date of the car was October 29, 1965.

The Corvette is exactly the same as purchased in 1988. I have back research to the second owner but documentation for the first owner and Proving Ground paperwork are missing. Additional history research was done by Bill Gould, Auto Ancestry.

I am very glad to take part in the Bloomington Gold Corvette Show with my Big Tanker.

We are pleased to announce that Paul Koerner will be returning to Bloomington Gold this year to share his expertise with fellow Corvette lovers. Here is a sneak peak of some of the courses he will be presenting during Gold School this year!

Check the full schedule under Classic Events on BloomingtonGold.com. To register, go to BloomingtonGold.com and chose GoldStore, then GoldSchool.

SPONSORED BY:

GET YOUR CORVETTE READY FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING Thursday, June 23 1:00pm IMS Media Center Corvette was NOT originally designed as a track ready sports car in 1953. Under the guidance of Zora, it has evolved into the premier road racing sports car with comfort as well as performance. When prepared to GM guidelines, it will deliver the fastest acceleration, the most cornering grip, the most track capability, the best braking performance of any Corvette ever produced. In this in depth track preparation seminar, we will discuss how to prepare your vehicle for high performance driving. Tires, brakes, wheel alignments and fluids will all be covered. A question and answer segment will allow you, the Corvette owner to get the in depth answer to any track preparation questions you may have. This is a FREE Seminar

1997-2013 CORVETTE FROM TIRES TO ROOF AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN Friday, June 24th 9:00am Garage A16 GM World Class Certified Technician Paul Koerner, fully trained by GM in all systems of Corvette since 1997, will teach you about fifth and sixth generation Corvettes in this classroom training. You will learn about YOUR Corvette, how to look for different conditions that occur with any c5 or c6. Paul will break the information down in simple terms guiding you through process to effectively understand your vehicle and how to do testing yourself. He will also give you recommendations and tips for maintaining your Corvette for optimal performance and longevity. Question and answer will follow to address individual concerns.

• Limited to 10 registrants

• Once Registered you will be contacted for VIN information to allow Paul to research the options on your Corvette

• Class Fee $50

C7 CORVETTE STINGRAY, SIMPLIFIED !!!

Saturday, June 25th 9:00am Garage A16 The advance technologies of the 7th generation Corvette provides the most performance, style, and premium comfort in todays sports car. Join GM World Class Certified Technician Paul Koerner as he guides you through the technologies that enhance the driving experience of Corvette. Paul will discuss the five-position Driver Mode Selector, the Infotainment System, the Active Fuel Management System and how all these systems interact. You will also have the opportunity to ask specific questions about your C7 in an open Q&A forum throughout the seminar. This small classroom style allows you first hand access to Paul Koerner and his wealth of GM training that has propelled him to the forefront of seminar presenters in the Corvette community.

• Limited to 10 registrants

• Once Registered you will be contacted for VIN information to allow Paul to research the options on your Corvette Class Fee $50

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Official Art Revealed We are proud to announce that the Official Art of Bloomington Gold Corvettes is “Bloomington on the Bricks” by Dana Forrester. This piece of art depicts the Judging Award Ceremony from the 2015 Event. The final artwork, the story behind the art and how to purchase YOUR copy will be published in the May REView.

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Contact We want to hear from you! Let us know your thoughts, questions and comments for future issues of the Gold REView at guy@bloomingtongold.com.

www.BloomingtonGold.com 309.888.4477