Dear Fellow Corvette Enthusiasts...
ARE YOU READY TO REV YOUR ENGINES? I certainly am! Winter of 2015 is a thing of the past and it is SPRING!! For many of us, Spring means it is time Guy Larsen, President to kick the tires, check the battery and prepare one of our dearest friends that we have stored away from the cold and snow for another season of driving. For us at Bloomington Gold, it means that the Event is rapidly approaching! Vendor spots are filling up, lap times on the track are selling out, and tickets are selling like wild fire. If you haven’t already, reserve your track time, secure your hotel reservations and circle June 23-25th on your calendar in RED! The count down to the last weekend in June begins…. Cheers Corvette friends, Guy Larsen, President
RENEW YOUR GOLD MEMBERSHIP BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! Be one of 150 attendees and their guests thatwill have access to all the GoldMember perks including: • Air-conditioned tent • Access to the Pagoda • Dinner Friday night & Lunch Saturday • Corvette Detailing at the Show by DFT This year’s Member Gift will be a customized Corvette polish kit with some of the best polishes from DFT! Tired of the kits that don’t fit in the back of your Corvette? We took special care in finding a kit that you can take with you and then filled it with some of the best polish and cleaning products! Members will pick their kit up at the Show. We look forward to seeing you at the Show! Jocelyn, VP of Business Development
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Meet our New TITLE Sponsor: Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet We are very excited to bring Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet on as the Title Sponsor of Bloomington Gold. As title sponsor, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet will bring new opportunities to Bloomington Gold and Corvette enthusiasts. City Chevrolet is owned by Rick Hendrick and is the foundation of Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Motorsport. Both City Chevrolet and Rick Hendrick are iconic symbols in the world of high performance cars. Based in Charlotte, NC, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet is the flag-ship store of over 120 Hendrick-owned dealerships.
Bloomington Gold Discount Pricing through Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet Interested in a New Corvette or Chevrolet? Take advantage of Discount Pricing through the City Chevrolet Bloomington Gold Buying Program! Anyone registered with Bloomington Gold is entitled to discount pricing for New Chevrolet Cars, Trucks, Commercial Vehicles, Used Vehicles, Service Labor (15%), and Parts Purchases (15%) at Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet. The Vehicle Purchases will need to be titled in the Name or Business of the Bloomington Gold member, or a member of his/her immediate family. Friends and Referrals of Bloomington Gold members will also receive discounts for Sales and Service (10%). “Friends� Vehicle transaction prices will be set by the General Manager of Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Cam Stewart. 704-591-8800
To register for the VIP Buying Program, go to the VIP Program Registration on the home page of Bloomingtongold.com.
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Meet our New Director of the GoldTour, Joe Remes! If you have ever had your car judged at Bloomington, you most likely have already met Joe. He has been the head of Field Operations for the Certification Field since 2010. He is the one that works endlessly the months leading up to the Show to make sure the judging field is laid out properly and that every single car is in the right place come Show time! If that isn’t enough pressure, Joe has now taken on the task of organizing the GoldTour. He is the one that will decide the final route as well as work with the local towns and authorities leading up to the Event. Come GoldTour time, it is Joe that has coordinated the line up and order of release of over 1,000 GoldTour Corvette participants and makes sure the Tour takes off as precisely planned. If you see Joe at Bloomington Gold, be sure to thank him for all he has done to make 2016 the best Bloomington Gold yet! Bloomington Gold Salutes Joe Remes!
Tickets and Driving Event Times are ON SALE NOW! Be sure to take advantage of early buy Ticket pricing and buy your tickets by April 1st. Admission: (Prices Per Person.
All ticket prices include parking.) Early Bird Purchase by April 1
Single-Day Pass (Any Day): 3-Day Pass: Children (12 & Under):
$25 $60 FREE
$22 $55 FREE
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE BLOOMINGTONGOLD.COM
NEW MAILING ADDRESS
BLOOMINGTON GOLD • 4 YOUNT DRIVE • SUITE 2 • BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS 61704
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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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DRIVING EVENTS
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WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR ALLIANCES BY ADDING TWO MORE PROMINENT NAME SPONSORS!
WEATHERTECH, THE OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF GOLDFIELD. Based in Bolingbrook, IL, WeatherTech manufacturers top-of-the-line vehicle protection and accessories. In addition to their superior products, they also strive on that fact that all of their products are made in the United States. Upon parking your Corvette in the infield, be sure to stop by the Corvette on display and check out all the WeatherTech Products available to protect YOUR Corvette from the elements!
HAGERTY, THE PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE GOLD COLLECTION Hagerty values themselves in being the world’s leading insurance agency for collector vehicles and host to the largest network of collector car owners. The Hagerty Valuation Tool will allow Bloomington Gold attendees to always know how changes in the market affect their cars’ value. Meet with a Hagerty team member one on one in the judging plaza of the Show.
LOOKING FOR MORE EXPOSURE TO A RECORD NUMBER OF CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS ? Be a part of our return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway June 23-25th by placing an advertisement in the 2016 Event Program. For advertising and sponsorship opportunities, contact Jocelyn Young at Jocelyn@BloomingtonGold.com or 630.308.1363. Still need to reserve Vendor Space? Be sure to do so soon as spots are filling fast! Contact Cathy Winters at Cathy@BloomingtonGold.Com or 309.888.4477 for more information
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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, styling creations, 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
Proud Sponsor of GoldCollection
1966 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 427 CID 425 HP - BENCHMARK AWARD Owned by: Linda Strohm, Dunlap, Palatine IL In 1980 we were building a new home and expecting our second child. So when my husband, Carl Strohm, came home saying he really wanted to buy another Corvette I was not very excited. I thought he had his priorities mixed up. However, after much discussion we did purchase the car that spring from the original owner, Paul Gaberik. In 1991 we were honored to have a car invited to the Special Collection and certified Bloomington Gold Benchmark. In 1992, after a lengthy hospital stay, Carl decided to take his cars out for judging, including a quest for NCRS Duntov with the 1966. Unfortunately Carl passed away in March 1992 unable to achieve that dream. In 1993 I decided to finish what Carl was not able to do. With the help of many IL NCRS Chapter members we received a Duntov in Grand Lake, OK, a Bowtie in Novi, MI, and a 5th Star in Kansas City,MO. I was so happy to finish what Carl began! I guess Carl didn’t have his priorities mixed up when he bought this car, it seems he really did know what he was doing. I am honored to have the car selected to be a part of the 1966 Gold Collection.
1966 CORVETTE 427 COMPETITION COUPE Owned by: Bill Skinner, Bear DE This 1966 Coupe exemplifies the classic story of buying a new Corvette, driving it to the track, racing successfully, and driving it home. George Cornelius wanted to enter the 1966 Daytona Continental, the first 24 hour race, and contacted Roger Penske to order a new coupe. The Corvette was delivered to Gordon Thomson Chevrolet in Jacksonville. However, getting the Corvette built with the limited-availability M22 transmission and a race prepared 427 took longer than expected. The coupe finally arrived in Florida only 8 days before the race. George, and co-driver Dick Boo, prepared the car for competition in Boo’s Ormond Beach garage. The drive-train break-in was completed on highway A1A along the Atlantic Ocean. In the race, George found himself pitted against a factory supported Penske Corvette driven by Dick Guldstrand and other cars driven by Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, and Don Yenko. When it became clear their car was capable of finishing without a hitch, they pushed the Corvette hard enough to set the GT Class record for the fastest lap of the day. Cornelius, Boo, and Bobby Brown finished fourth in class and were awarded “The International Chiefs of Police Award for the most durable and dependable performance”. The car was featured on the cover of Corvette News; a stunning success for an independent that drove a factory production car to and from the track.
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1966 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 327/350 GOLD CERTIFIED Owned by: Enzo Cimino, Schenectady NY Roy D. Query, photographer, for Automobile Quarterly, and the book “Corvette An American Legend: The Gold Certified Cars of Bloomington 1953-1967”
I purchased this car from the original owner on Sept. 6th, 1973 and have owned it for 42 years. Initially ordered with a red interior, the salesman listed the wrong interior code on the order form, and the car was built with silver vinyl. The buyer was disappointed, but didn’t want to wait six more weeks for another car. Chevrolet only offered silver interiors with black, white, and silver exterior colors. Purchased new from Marsh Hallman Chevrolet, Albany, NY (now DePaula Chevrolet) the car was always garaged and has never been driven in rain or snow. Gold Certified in 1984, then retired, the car has only been out of climate controlled storage for one day in 1986 when photos were taken for the Automobile Quarterly book…Corvette, An American Legend, featuring Bloomington Gold Certified cars from ‘53 to ‘67. Photos of the car are also included in Corvette, Restoration Technical Guide, Volume 2, by Noland Adams. Features include Tuxedo Black exterior with silver vinyl interior, a white convertible top, 327cid/350hp, 4 speed transmission, AM/FM radio, power antenna, teak/telescopic steering column, emergency flashers, Kelsey Hayes knock-off wheels, white sidewall non-Dot tires, off road exhaust, and positraction rear axle. The current odometer reading is 39,575.
1966 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 427 CID 450 HP NCRS DUNTOV AWARD Owned by: Larry Dixon, Spirit Lake IA Original owner, Steve Mrakovich, Chief of Police in Middletown, PA, and his friend, Greg Sutliff, owner of Sutliff Chevrolet in Harrisburg, PA, special ordered this 1966 Corvette in late summer of 1965. Sutliff Chevrolet was the long time sponsor and employer of Bruce Larson, the 1989 NHRA Funny Car Champion of the USA-1 Camero. With Sutliff having ties with GM engineering, it was no surprise that the Corvette would be something special. The car was built on Oct. 12 and delivered on Oct. 25 with these options: Ermine White with both tops, 427 CID motor, M21 transmission, 4 speed close ratio, F41 suspension, G81 positraction, 4:11 axle, factory side exhaust, aluminum knock-off wheels, K66 transistor ignition and radio delete. Corvette historian Ken Kayser discovered, from an analysis of the original camshaft, that the blueprint date of the camshaft was Dec. 2, 1963 with a casting number of 3856354. The camshaft is a blend of the stock L72 and the radical L88 camshafts used by GM. The 1966 Corvette has received the NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence, Bloomington Gold Certification, and Chevy Vette Fest Triple Crown. Special displays included NCRS Gallery XI and National Corvette Museum, with articles published in the NCRS Restorer Magazine and Corvette Magazine.