Nan's Z06 - Road Trip #4

 The first Road Trip for Nan's Z06 was to Monterey, California to watch the Corvettes race in May, 2024:

Nan's Z06 - Road Trip #1 

The second Road Trip was to go to Pahrump, Nevada to attend the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School in also in May, 2024:

Nan's Z06 - Road Trip #2 

Road Trip 3 was in late September 2024 to the Grand Canyon -- our first road trip in the new Z06 with our Corvette Club (North Coast Corvette Club)!

Nan's Z06 - Road Trip #3 

Our fourth Road Trip was to Arizona in September 2025 -- our second road trip in the "new" Z06 with North Coast Corvette Club.

I need to begin by thanking Carm Finocchiaro, our Corvette Club President, and the generous person who so completely plans these amazing road trips.  Carm's meticulous planning for these trips includes hour-by-hour planning of routes, rest stops, meals, lodging, and, especially, the activities.  We had been on two prior trips planned by Carm -- The Black Hills Corvette Classic in Spearfish, South Dakota, and a trip to the Grand Canyon.  

Day 1 - Monday, September 22, 2025

We left early on a Monday morning (my birthday, and the day after Nan's birthday) from San Diego for the week long trip with a group of seven Corvettes, each equipped with a cheerful couple inside. The first leg of the trip involved driving east on Interstate 8, through the Cuyamaca Mountains.  We were frequently close to the Mexican border, and we could see the Border Wall. Our first stop was the "Old Plank Road" -- the historic 1915 road in California's Imperial Dunes that provided a crossing over shifting dunes between Yuma, Arizona and San Diego, California in the early days of the automobile.  

 

Doug Johnson drove his Z06 up onto one of the remaining "planks" for our photo op! From left to right are: Nan, Royann, Yvonne, Jean, Rick, Jan, Kay, Don, Walter, Scott, Doug and Susan.  Carm is not in the photo.

 

 

We then drove about 20 miles to Yuma, Arizona for a visit to the Yuma Territorial Prison State Park. What a depressing place for prisoners who were imprisoned here from 1876 to 1909. But it was very interesting reading the history, seeing the many exhibits (including the cells), and experiencing the heat of this place. 

 And, in keeping with the theme, we enjoyed lunch at the Prison Hill Brewing Company.

 After a full day, we drove to our hotel in Yuma for our traditional North Coast Corvettes pot luck dinner . . . but this time there was a twist!  A few of our friends hosted a surprise birthday party for four of us who have September birthdays . . . Walter, Jan, Nan, and me.  They brought cupcakes, candles, crowns, and champagne.  

 Day 2 - Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Our second day was mostly driving across the southern reaches of the State of Arizona -- about 310 miles from Yuma to Sierra Vista, where we would spend the next four days taking local trips.

However, Carm had arranged for us to visit a car club at the Robson Ranch -- a beautiful senior community in Eloy, Arizona.  After a nice lunch at their clubhouse, we participated in an impromptu "Car Show" with the residents of the community. 

 

From Eloy we drove to Sierra Vista and settled into our hotel rooms for the night. 

 Day 3 - Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Our first stop this day was at the town of Bisbee, Arizona, a copper, gold, and silver mining town. Carm arranged for our group to have a tour of the Queen Mine -- a once-active copper mine, but still accessible even many miles into the mountain.

 

After visiting the mine, we all went window shopping in the town of Bisbee -- it looked to be similar to what it must must have been in its heyday -- a lovely western town.

From Bisbee we drove to Tombstone, "the town too tough to die", for more sightseeing and lunch.

Founded in 1879, and once a prosperous mining town of 14,000 people, today Tombstone is home to fewer than 1,400 people, where tourism and wild-west history survive.  Our first stop was at the famous Bird Cage Theater.

 

We joined our Corvette club friends at Big Nose Kate's Saloon for lunch. I had to experience the Sarsaparilla.  

 

 Walter and Jean got into the spirit of the day complete with outfits and rifle!

As usual, we went window shopping at all the stores on Allen Street. Someone noticed Nan's special Corvette shoes complete with her license plate monogrammed on the side.

We closed out the day's adventures by watching a gunfight at an outside theater.

 Day 4 - Thursday, September 25, 2025

Today's first adventure was a visit to Kartchner Caverns State Park in Benson, Arizona, our second underground tour of the trip.

Driving up to the site affords no hint at the massive caves that lie below the surface of the rolling hills.  Our group had a guided tour through a series of marvelous caverns, each wondrously carved through the limestone.

The story behind the caverns is interesting.  Two cavers discovered them in 1974 when Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts found a narrow crack at the bottom of a sinkhole and followed the source of warm moist air toward what ended up being about 2 1/2 miles of pristine cave passages.  I recommend that you read more about their quest for preservation of the natural beauty that they found.

 Time for some wine tasting!  We next drove a short distance to Callaghan Vineyards.  As we arrived, so did some serious weather.  

 

 

 

Although there were downpours all around us, we magically drove through rain-less passages to our next stop.

 

Los Milics Vineyards gave our group the perfect seating location for our lunch and a bit more wine tasting.

 Day 5 - Friday, September 26, 2025

Today's itinerary included a morning visit to Biosphere 2 -- home of the World's largest Earth Science Experiment.

 

 

Some of us were familiar with its history, but the presentation gave us a full understanding of the aspirational goals for the initial experiment, and the research programs that are continuing today under the leadership of the University of Arizona.

At mid-day  we drove to the Tucson area for lunch at the Fork and Fire Smokehouse in Arizona's Oro Valley.

Nan and I parted ways with our Corvette Club group for a special side-trip.  We drove to Green Valley to visit with long-time friends, David and Pat Shawaker.  David and Pat have been part of our lives for almost 50 years.  David recruited me to leave the University of Maryland and to come work at the University of Southern California back in 1976.  David was the best man at our wedding, a fitting role for the important part he has played in our lives.

After visiting them in their beautiful home, we went to dinner in their community, enjoying fabulous valley views during dinner.

 That night we drove all the way back to Yuma to spend the night. 

Day 6 - Saturday, September 27, 2025

 Day 6 was a repeat of Day 1, except we were heading West this time.  The drive home started out a bit sketchy when the Arizona skies opened up drenching our Corvettes.  It rained so hard that it was nearly impossible to see the car in front of you.  But the downpour was brief and there were no incidents.

We arrived back in Carlsbad by 12:37.  As soon as the car was unpacked, I washed the Z06 as thoroughly as I could, spraying off the mud and debris from the trip.

 

We had traveled almost 1,350 miles, averaging a speed of about 54 MPH, achieving a fuel economy average of more than 20 MPG (of course, the other Corvettes had much better fuel economy -- but we didn't buy the Z06 to save gas!).

 Thank you, Carm and Yvonne, and Corvette Club members for a memorable trip.

And thanks, David and Pat, for a memorable visit! 

 Cary and Nan

Before North Coast Corvette Club

Nan and I have been members of the North Coast Corvette Club here in San Diego since 2019.

This is a wonderful group of people who donate to worthy causes, participate in many excellent social events, provide loving support to members, and take some amazing short and long-distance trips.

Before we became members of NCV, we had our own "Corvette Club"!

Below are some of the events we held at our home.

2008, April – 5 Corvettes

Mike and Patty Eddy, Nan, Bob Vollmar and friend, Jeff and Sherrie Smith, Bill and Marylyn Hatch.




2009 May – Crusin’ Grand – 7 Corvettes

Larry and Cindy Barnes, Canon, Nan, Mike and Patty Eddy, Bill Hatch, Jeff Smith, Wayne Cowie, [Husband and wife we met – can’t remember their names]. We caravaned to Escondido for Crusin’ Grand




2010 August – Corvette Diner – 7 Corvettes

Herod Howard and his sister, Ann, [the same couple from 2009 that I can’t remember!], Bob Vollmar, Cary (Nan is somewhere!), Joann and Bill Brandon, Bill and Marylyn Hatch, Sandy and Len Rogerson, Jeff and Sherrie Smith.




2011 July Corvette Party – 10 Corvettes

(front row) Shirley and Don Kingery, Canon, Nan (taking the photo), Cary, Jeff and Sherrie, John and Linda Elder

(back row) Len and Sandy, Herod, Bob Vollmar, Marylyn and Bill




2013 January – Corvette Diner – 7 Corvettes

Matthew Reabold, Jr., Nan, Linda and John, Russ and Peggy Stroika, Marylyn and Bill, Cindy and Larry, Patty and Mike




2013 September – The 60th Anniversary of the Corvette – 14 Corvettes

(front row) Russ, Don, John (Elder), Jan (Nan’s mom), Canon, Nan, Cary, Dan Schrokosch, Sherrie and Jeff

(back row) Sandy, Patty and Mike, Herod, Bob, Bill (Brandon), Larry and Cindy, Bob Rabourne and his son, Phil 

Note: three 50th anniversary Corvettes for Corvette’s 60th birthday!




2014 San Diego Automobile Museum – 6 Corvettes

(front row) Evelyn and Bob Rabourne, John and Linda, Nan

(back row) Jeff and Sherrie, Parvin Russell, Bill Connelly, Sandy, (unknown), Susan Connelly




2015 Party – 13 Corvettes

(sorry – I only have a photo of the cars and not the people!)

(front row) Sandy, Don & Shirley, Nan’56, Cary’s 62, Nan & Cary’s 50th Anniversary car, Bill Connelly, Bill & Marylyn, Jeff & Sherrie

(back row) Bob (Vollmar), Herod, (not sure of the owner of this C5), Larry & Cindy, Vladimir and Rosie Medvinsky (60th Anniversary car)




2017 Seaview Way Car Show (Cary’s 70th birthday) – 8 Corvettes and other cool cars!

It is hard to capture all the Corvettes in one photo, so there are two photos below, but I “think” these are the Corvettes represented:

Herod (white C7), Don & Shirley (grey C7), Cary’s 62, Nan’s 56, Cary & Nan 50th Anniversary car, Bill Hatch 57, Jeff Smith C5, Rick Sing C6 Z06,







 

Then in 2019 and 2020, before the "pandemic", we did many impromptu "Burger Runs". 

Here is a selection of those events.





















Fun times and great memories.

Laguna Seca 2025

When traditions produce fond memories, they tend to self-perpetuate.

For the eighth time since 2016, the "fabulous foursome" (Nan, Shirley, Don, and yours truly) made the traditional trip from Carlsbad to Laguna Seca to watch the Corvettes race in IMSA competition.

As we have done in the past, including last year, we took two C8 Corvettes on a road trip the 400 miles one-way to Monterey for three days of Corvette worship.  We arrived on Friday afternoon early enough for Happy Hour and some beautiful views of the Monterey Bay. 

Last year we took the Nan's Z06, but this year we took Nan's C8 convertible and, each year, Don's C8 coupe.  We arrived early at the Corvette Corral on Saturday morning.

We always love to see the drivers and to get autographed posters and other Corvette swag.

 

The GTDPRO drivers stopped by the corral first -- Tommy Milner, Alexander Sims, Nicky Catsburg, and Antonio Garcia -- all familiar faces to us.

 

Two of the four GTD drivers (below) stopped by for autographs in the late afternoon.  Alex Udell (right in the photo below) was joined by Robert Wickens (on the left).  

Robert's racing history is inspiring. Here is a quote from the DXDT website: "Robert joins DXDT for the team’s IMSA debut in 2025.  His racing career began in 2011 with great success in many racing formats. However, a tragic accident at Pocono in 2018 left him with a spinal injury, sidelining his IndyCar career and leaving him a paraplegic. Despite this, Wickens made an extraordinary return to racing in 2022.  Using adapted hand controls, he clinched a podium finish in his return and dominated the 2023 season, winning the TCR drivers’ championship. Over his return, Wickens has earned 14 podiums, 3 wins, and 4 poles, continuing to inspire others with his passion, perseverance, and dedication to the sport."  The Corvette fans gave Robert an enthusiastic welcome.

 

There was a fourth team At Laguna Seca -- No. 13 AWA Corvette team of Matt Bell and Orey Fidani.  We didn't see them in the Corral, though. 

As is customary, Josh Holder, Corvette Chief Engineer, gave a great presentation. This year he focused on the newly announced Corvette ZR1, describing what it was like to create a passenger car with 1,064 HP.  He shared some humorous and interesting insights about the reactions that drivers have to that much power. I think buyers should be required to attend the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School before getting their hands on one of these cars!

We always love visiting with Doug Fehan, Corvette brand ambassador, and recently retired Corvette Executive Chief Engineer, Tadge Juechter. 

The legacy and history of Corvette Racing is omnipresent.

Saturday's qualifying session proved promising -- Alexander Sims in the GTDPRO class qualified the #3 Corvette in third place, while the #4 Corvette, qualified in fifth place.  In the GTD Class, DTDX Racing qualified second in class with a huge effort by Alec Udell, missing the pole position by only 0.009 seconds!  We left for dinner hopeful for some good results on Sunday. 

We returned to the track early on Sunday morning, just in time for Don and Shirley to join about 75 Corvettes driving parade laps on the Laguna Seca track.

While waiting for the race to begin, Don and Cary drove the Go Karts . . . 

 . . . . and the four of us visited the pits to see the prep of the Corvettes.

 

Finally, the race began.  There were 10 cars competing in the GTDPRO class and 15 cars in the GTD class with two Corvettes in each class.  

It's always so scary watching all 25 cars as they come roaring away from the start/finish line, down the hill toward the first hairpin turn -- this year there weren't any crashes in the first 10 seconds of the race!

 

The two GTDPRO Corvettes ran at the front of the pack at the beginning of the 2 hour and 40 minute race. Then the jerks in the BMW, once again, as they have in other races, needed to run into a Corvette as a "passing maneuver". I have decided that the BMW team needs to leave IMSA and join NASCAR -- where "bumping" is actually legal!

Here is a quote about NASCAR rules . . . .

    In NASCAR, bumping, also known as bump-and-run, is generally permitted as a passing maneuver. However, it's not a free-for-all, and intentional, aggressive bumping that risks significant damage or injury to other drivers is frowned upon and can result in penalties. 

In GTDPRO, the (ugly) pink AO Racing Porsche, and the "Dragon Speed" Ferrari were fierce competitors, trading first and second place throughout the race -- they ended up finishing P1 and P2.  The #3 Corvette, driven by Antonio and  Alexander finished P3 (where they had qualified), and Tommy and Nicky finished P6 behind a Lambo and the (evil) BMW.

In GTD, the DTDX team, with Alex at the wheel, suffered contact by another car as they entered the pits, and had to perform a "drive through", costing them a possible podium finish -- they ended up P10.  The AWA team finished P13. 

After the race, we went to watch the post-race celebrations and Shirley and Nan helped Antonio celebrate his podium finish!

We concluded a good race weekend on Sunday evening with a nice meal at Monterey's Fish House and a good bottle of wine. 

The drive home on Monday was great.  We made very good time, stopped only once for potty, food, and fuel, and were safely parked in our homes before dinner time.

 

Both Corvettes performed beautifully, making the 874 mile trip averaging about 28 MPG.

Thanks, Nan, Shirley, and Don, for another great road trip!