Corvettes Finish P2 and P4 at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2014

The new C7R Corvettes made their first trip to France this weekend and are coming home with second and fourth place finishes.

In the 82nd running of the most grueling and famous endurance race on the planet Corvette Racing was hoping for their 8th victory since 2001, this time in their new class GTE Pro.  After qualifying 2nd and 4th, we finished the way we started.  Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin all ran very strong and all finished.  Two mechanical issues cost Corvette the victory, but the team worked hard the entire race.  I went to bed at midnight with six hours left in the race with Corvette running P4 and P5 in the darkness and down multiple laps.  I work up before 6AM to see the end of the race and was pleasantly surprised to find that the #73 Corvette with Antonio Garcia at the wheel ran down the Porsche and was closing in on the Ferrari as the clock ticked down to the finish.  A very good result for the first year out with the new platform. 

Cars from all the major manufacturers were represented at Le Mans:  Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Audi, Porsche, and Aston Martin (BMW was not there because everyone knows that you can't drive a BMW 24 hours without returning it to the Dealer for repairs!).  The USA was represented by only one manufacturer (where was Viper?).  Corvette Racing returns to Watkins Glen for the next round of the ALMS Series on June 29th.

Corvette Finishes 2nd and 4th at Le Mans

Retracing Charles Lindbergh’s Steps in San Diego

Nothing is quite as good as dear Corvette friends.  Corvette friends who are also pilots make for very interesting events.  In May, 2014 I enjoyed two excellent examples.  This story is the first of two.

Larry Barnes (Marine Pilot, and owner of a 2003 50^th Anniversary Corvette) and I decided back in January that we would spend a day retracing the steps of Charles Lindbergh as he (im)patiently  waited for the completion of the Spirit of St. Louis in San Diego in 1927.  We chose May 20^th for our adventure, which was the 87^th anniversary of Lindbergh’s departure from New York for Paris.  Our advance planning paid off handsomely.

Our quest was to find and visit every Lindbergh statue, plaque, photo, airplane replica, ribbon and memento.   With one exception, we saw it all!

We began our journey by driving (in a Corvette, of course!) by the Torrey Pines Gliderport, a location Charles and Anne frequented (Anne Morrow Lindbergh became the first American woman to earn a first-class Glider Pilot’s License).  Charles set a regional distance record for sailplanes at the time, launching from the lift at Torrey Pines Gliderport and landing on the beach at Del Mar.  From Torrey Pines we drove across the Coronado Bay Bridge to the Naval Air Station on Coronado Island, stopping to have lunch at the Sea N' Air Restaurant.  Adjacent to the active Navy airstrip is the land that served as Rockwell Field, a spot where Lindbergh made the first test flights of the Spirit of St. Louis.  We were disappointed that there was no marker at this sacred site.  

 Our next waypoint was the San Diego United States Post Office on Midway Drive.  The Post Office was constructed on an area known as “Dutch Flats”, the location where Ryan Aircraft completed the final assembly of the Ryan Model “NYP” (New York to Paris).  Just minutes away from the current San Diego International Airport, more properly “Lindbergh Field”, the Post Office has three different plaques commemorating Lindberg’s accomplishments and the pioneering Ryan Aircraft Company.  We tried to buy Lindbergh stamps or other memorabilia at the Post Office, but came away empty-handed.  No one at the Post Office realized the importance of May 20^th.

A quick drive to the south found us at Lindbergh Field.  At the west end of Terminal Two we found Paul T. Grunlund’s famous sculpture of a youthful Charles Lindbergh in his flight suit accompanied by Charles as spirited boy.  The statue seemed to be portraying the joy and freedom of flight.  Inside the terminal, down in baggage claim, we found a 100% scale model of the Spirit of St. Louis hanging from the ceiling.  Beneath it were some display cases with Lindbergh items and other artifacts of aviation in San Diego including a bust of Lindbergh created by Paul Fjelde. 

A pretty nice display.  We were pleasantly surprised to find a coffee cart called, “Ryan Bros. Coffee”, and a gift shop appropriately named “Lindbergh Field News” with a huge Lindbergh photo.  No one that we talked to at Lindbergh Field was aware of the importance of May 20^th.

Our next waypoint was the San Diego Air and Space Museum.  We talked our way into the Museum free-of-charge after informing the cashier of our important quest (she did not realize the importance of May 20^th).  What a display!  In the center of the main hall was an actual, ready-to-fly, recreation of the Spirit of St. Louis, “Spirit 3” (unlike the fake model at Lindbergh Field).  The docents (who were all pilots!) gave us a warm greeting and explained the extensive exhibit to us.  In addition to the airplane, they have photos, plaques, medals, paintings, and other memorabilia.  Best of all they have a free-standing replica of the cockpit so you can appreciate what it was like to fly 450 gallons of fuel for 33.5 hours across a big ocean sitting on a lawn chair peering through a telescope over the gas tank!  Bob, the most interesting docent, told us a story about his mother, who was graduating from Stanford University in May 1927.  She told Bob years later her memory that the graduation ceremony was halted to announce that Lindbergh had landed safely in Paris!  The museum display reminds us of the enormity of the accomplishment – six men, everyone who attempted the flight, had died in the trans-Atlantic effort.  With little more than a compass and courage, Lindbergh had accomplished the “impossible”.  We left the museum with a souvenir newspaper from May 21, 1927 and the joy knowing that we had reminded the docents of the importance of May 20^th.

Our final stop was a rendezvous with Nan for celebratory drinks at the US Grant Hotel on Broadway Street in downtown San Diego.  

Lindbergh was frugal so he probably slept at the YMCA for many of the 60 days it took to construct N-X-211.  But folklore has it that he spent at least a few nights sleeping in room 447 at the US Grant.  We asked the Concierge about room 447. He was unsure of the importance of May 20^th.  But he was familiar with the Lindbergh connection.  He apologized that due to a remodel of the famous hotel, there was no longer a room 447.  Bummer.  But we enjoyed a few drinks in the lounge and toasted the famous flight and our completed quest.

Just a week prior to our adventure Nan and I were visiting with friends on Bainbridge Island in the Seattle area.  I mentioned the upcoming quest and my affection for Charles Lindbergh to our friends, Ron and Mickey Santina.  They said to my astonishment, “We have met Erik Lindbergh, Charles Lindbergh’s grandson, right here in Bainbridge.  He is a wonderful guy!”  Ron gave me Erik’s business card.  You may know that Erik duplicated his grandfather’s trans-Atlantic flight in May 2002 to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the historic flight.  So the night before our adventure I sent Erik an email message telling him of my quest with Larry.  In an email reply I knew that Erik understood the importance of May 20^th!

P.S. The only plaque that Larry and I did not see on May 20^th was one in the Solar Turbines Building – the exact location where the Ryan Aircraft factory was located in an old tuna packing plant.  The nice public relations people have promised us a tour in the coming weeks so we can see the very last Lindbergh artifact.  When Larry and I go for a visit, we are also going to the Hotel Del Coronado where Lindbergh stayed in September 1927 after his successful flight to Paris.

Back-to-Back Victories for Corvette Racing

The 2014 racing season has proven to be a challenge for Corvette Racing.  With a new racing program/classes/rules (the IMSA | TUDOR United Sports Car Championship), a new racing platform (the 7^th generation Corvette), and a serious effort by Porsche North America (you will recall the prediction by Yours Truly back in January!) http://carys-corvettes.blogspot.com/2014/01/final-thoughts-on-corvette-history-in.html the season started badly for the Corvettes.  Mechanical problems, and adjusting to the new frame and power plant resulted in disappointing finishes in the first two races of the season at Daytona and Sebring.

Fortunes reversed in races three and four as Corvette swept the California races in Long Beach a few weeks ago and at Laguna Seca yesterday.  In Long Beach the Corvettes had dual podium appearances finishing P1 and P3.  Yesterday the Corvettes finished P1 and P5.

Photo:  Winning Corvette navigating the famous "cork screw" at Laguna Seca.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/corvette-racing-completes-california-sweep-victory

http://www.corvetteracing.com/history/2014releases/lagunaseca/lagunaseca3.shtml

After the first two races Porsche was in first place followed by BMW and Corvette was tied with Ferrari for last place.  With these two recent victories Corvette is now in second place with Porsche dropping to third.  Ferrari started poorly as well, but ran strong yesterday finishing 2^nd.  The Vipers started the  season strongly but have faded in the last two races.

Corvette enthusiasts were out in force.  On the parade lap there were about 250 Corvettes on the track -- so many that they came within 300 yards of encircling the entire race course!

Special thanks to Don Kingery for the on-site commentary and the great photos!

Next up:  The Corvettes travel to France for the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 14 – 15).  If I win the lottery maybe I can go watch!

The Brotherhood of the Traveling Book

Or,  Restored 1930’s Auto Shop Author Visits Cary’s Garage

I am willing to bet that many of the visitors to the Cary’s Corvettes Blog have also visited the Garage Journal Blog and have witnessed the amazing story and the hundreds of photos describing how Thomas Payne purchased and beautifully restored a 1930's Auto Shop in Philo Illinois.  Thomas’ thread is more than four years old, is about 400 pages long, and has been visited more than three million times including about 8,000 reply posts. 

 Restored 1930's Auto Shop

 Please take at least one minute to see the start of the post in December 2009 that reveals the “before” and “after” photos.  Caution:  You might get hooked and want to read the entire blog!

I had come across this thread from multiple messages sent to me by friends over the years.  The restoration of both the buildings and all the equipment is legendary among car guys around the country and even the world!

I began to take a more intimate interest in the thread when my friend and former neighbor, Wayne Cowie, let me know that my book, “Beltsville Shell: You Are What You Drive”, was mentioned in the thread (Wayne’s wife, Linda, knew Thomas, a 767 Pilot, through their employment with Continental Airlines).  Thomas describes in his own words how this happened:

Cary, here's how it all got started with my gang:  I was the one who first posted on my garage thread that I had read a book entitled “Beltsville Shell: You Are What You Drive” and I thought others who were following my adventures on the thread would enjoy it as much as I did.  Shortly after that, Mike Oberst posted that he had purchased a copy, read it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact he suggested that since he was done reading it he would send it to whomever wanted to read it next and might they sign off inside the book as he had done.  In turn when each person finished reading it, they should post on the thread it was available to the next reader and so on.  So that's how it got started and I thought it was a swell idea and I asked to be the first to sign off on the "Traveling" copy and after that we were off and running.  So far it's been to 22 different destinations from both east and west Canada, and as far south as Texas, east to Virginia and west to California and Washington State and many places in between and we're just getting started.  It's back in California right now with New York on the request list, and so it goes, where it stops no one knows.  I'm going to make a Google Map and link it to the shop thread that will allow readers to put pins of their location on the map who have read it. That's a new development in the works.  Thomas Payne

While I had no idea that any of this was happening, it finally explains why from time-to-time we would receive mini-blizzards of book orders from random people from all around the country.  I decide the group should be called “The Brotherhood of the Traveling Book!” 

This copy of Beltsville Shell made a pilgrimage of sorts last month.  Thomas, and his wife, Chris, were visiting San Diego a few weeks ago to visit with Wayne and Linda.  Thomas wondered if they could come to Cary’s Garage to meet the author and to get the much-traveled book autographed by me.  Nancy and I instantly said. “Yes!”  We invited Don and Shirley Kingery to join us for an afternoon discovering connections, talk of Corvettes (Thomas owns a very nice 1966 Stingray roadster), and pilot experiences.  Thomas purchased a few copies of Beltsville Shell from our nearly-depleted inventory.  We even had a visit from a legendary Bonneville Salt Lake racer (but that story deserves its own blog post – stay tuned).

From left to right: Cary, Linda and Wayne Cowie, Chris and Thomas Payne, Lou Bingham, Don Kingery and Jackie and Tom Eckles

Thomas and Chris Payne in their 1966 Corvette

Yep, this was one of the best days ever in Cary’s Garage!  Thank you Wayne, Thomas, and all the Garage Journal fans for your support of my little book!

Cary Thomas, April 2014