V-8 Registry Newsletter, Volume 8, Number 4
Registry Members,
My last correspondence with the membership was May 8, 2020 when we reported that the Covid-19 Virus had placed the San Diego Convention and other car related activities on hold until 2021. With very little to report since that time, no further newsletters were sent. Here's hoping that our members understand and didn't think that the V-8 Registry disappeared along with so many of our fellow Americans during this unfortunate time in the history of our country. The V-8 Registry staff is well and has weathered the assault by this plague. We hope that your family and friends are equally well. As Americans we should never forget what this has done to our lives. This Virus should rank right next to what the terrorists did on 911. We should count this Virus as the worse insult on our lives.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
This is the time of year when the Registry encourages members to renew their membership for the upcoming year. We usually offer an incentive to renew early, such as a special shirt or a jacket as we offered last year for 2020 renewals. By now you would have already received notice of our renewal offer. Not this year, there is no special offer except to report that when you sign up for 2021 membership, you now have the option to receive two years of membership at a discount. If you elect to spend $25, you will receive membership for 2021 and 2022. We will also still provide a one year renewal for $15. This option is directed mostly towards new members who are joining for the first time and know very little about our group. For 2021 we will not offer a Deluxe Membership as in past years. Deluxe Membership may return next year along with a new incentive for early sign up. With few scheduled events to attend, we decided that shirt offers have limited appeal. In the meantime if you want to purchase a shirt or jacket, we still have a supply. Just log in to the website and use the order form to purchase a shirt, windbreaker, license plate or magnetic signs. Here's the link:
https://www.v8registry.com/shop-in-our-store.html
The Registry is pleased to report that as of October 30, 2020 our group has 212 members. This is an all time high in membership that we never expected to achieve. Your support of our group is appreciated and your officers look forward to giving you a good reason to continue your membership. Thanks for all your support. We are excited to report that based on conversations and reports that interest in Corvair Conversions seems to be at an all time high. It's amazing the number of enthusiasts currently restoring Crown cars to their original status and others building new conversions based on modern drive-trains involving C5 transaxles and LS engines. We even have one member building a Corvair Conversion that is powered by a Tesla electric drive train. You may want to watch that one closely if it pulls up next to you at a traffic light. Could easily be a 3.0 second car for 0-60.
MID-ENGINE CHEVROLET AT LAST
For over 50 years many of us have been building and driving mid-engine Chevrolet's under the Corvair nameplate as we anticipated that GM would finally produce such a car on a production line. Then along comes 2020 with it's devastating Virus that has caused us to wish it away along with the miseries that it's brought to our families and nation. With all this misery, along came one bright ray of joy, Chevrolet released it's mid-engine C8 Corvette after years of speculation. What a year to introduce their radical design, but it did help some of us forget about the negative issues that dominate the news and our lives this year.
So far, I have talked with two V-8 Registry members who were lucky enough to order a new C8 Corvette before production moves on to the 2021 models. Our Webmaster Rick Andersen took delivery several months ago from Friendly Chevrolet in Tacoma, WA, a dealership that he once owned. Then recently Mark Allen in Decatur, IL received his new Vette. Unfortunately for Mark, his wife Linda has already corralled the keys and carved her initials in the dashboard. Maybe she'll let him be a passenger every now and then. My guess is that other members have also taken delivery of new Vettes. Tell us about your good fortune or bad luck if your delivery was delayed by the Virus when production was placed on temporary hold. Call me or send an email with your story. If you submit a picture of you standing next to or sitting in your C8, we will post it on your personal page to commemorate this historic milestone. Perhaps 2020 wasn't so bad after all for some of us.
MEMBERSHIP POLICY
Since 2013 when the V-8 Registry was reorganized at the Kalamazoo Convention we have been organizing our thoughts on various aspects of our group. With no place to go this summer the time was right for writing down some rules for membership. Recently, Rick Andersen posted our Membership Policy on the V-8 Registry website. You are encouraged to read it and offer your opinions. It's your group and your suggestions are valued. You can find the policy on the 'HOME' page under the heading 'Members Only Area'. Here's the link:
https://www.v8registry.com/member-policy.html
ANNUAL MEETING POSTPONED
As everyone knows, the Annual Meeting for 2020 in San Diego was not held due to the Virus and the convention is postponed until 2021. Not meeting was a true disappointment because a historic convention was planned. During our Annual Meetings a vote is held on officers for the upcoming year. Without a meeting no vote was conducted and your current officers agreed to continue in their elected positions until next year. Members with a strong interest in the leadership of our group are encouraged to make their intentions known. Everyone has the right to become involved in the leadership of this group. Contact the President with your thoughts if an elected position suits you.
With the convention rescheduled for July 27-31 in San Diego next year, it is our intention to include all the features planned for the 2020 convention into the 2021 format. With a little luck this should be possible. The host hotel is still the Crowne Plaza and reservations can be made by calling 888-233-9527. Ask for group code "CNC" when making your reservation. It seems rather fitting that Crown cars spend time at the Crowne Hotel.
NEW PICTURES
A few members submit new pictures of their builds, but most don't update their profile very often. The Registry is still interested in having a current picture showing you either inside or next to your Corvair Conversion. By doing so, we make our website more personal and easier to identify each other when we attend an event. For these reasons, we are nudging you to submit a picture of yourself. Here's where you can upload the picture:
https://www.v8registry.com/contact-us.html
MINI-CONVENTION IN SPRINGFIELD
On May 19-23, CORSA has scheduled a Mini-Convention in Springfield, IL at the CPF Museum. Since this Mini-Convention is 2 months earlier than the CORSA Convention in San Diego, the V-8 Registry will host a number of events during this event for our members. For many of our members this location is closer and a more affordable option compared to San Diego, but don't overlook the west coast event if you can swing the trip. It will be memorable, we promise.
BUYING AND SELLING CONVERSIONS
A number of members have decided to sell their conversions this year due economic conditions. At the same time we have a number of new members looking to buy. If you would like some help with either buying or selling, contact me. If we can't meet your needs, let us know what your looking for and you will be contacted when something shows up.
Until the next time, drive fast, but safe AND VOTE
John Lanning, President
My last correspondence with the membership was May 8, 2020 when we reported that the Covid-19 Virus had placed the San Diego Convention and other car related activities on hold until 2021. With very little to report since that time, no further newsletters were sent. Here's hoping that our members understand and didn't think that the V-8 Registry disappeared along with so many of our fellow Americans during this unfortunate time in the history of our country. The V-8 Registry staff is well and has weathered the assault by this plague. We hope that your family and friends are equally well. As Americans we should never forget what this has done to our lives. This Virus should rank right next to what the terrorists did on 911. We should count this Virus as the worse insult on our lives.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
This is the time of year when the Registry encourages members to renew their membership for the upcoming year. We usually offer an incentive to renew early, such as a special shirt or a jacket as we offered last year for 2020 renewals. By now you would have already received notice of our renewal offer. Not this year, there is no special offer except to report that when you sign up for 2021 membership, you now have the option to receive two years of membership at a discount. If you elect to spend $25, you will receive membership for 2021 and 2022. We will also still provide a one year renewal for $15. This option is directed mostly towards new members who are joining for the first time and know very little about our group. For 2021 we will not offer a Deluxe Membership as in past years. Deluxe Membership may return next year along with a new incentive for early sign up. With few scheduled events to attend, we decided that shirt offers have limited appeal. In the meantime if you want to purchase a shirt or jacket, we still have a supply. Just log in to the website and use the order form to purchase a shirt, windbreaker, license plate or magnetic signs. Here's the link:
https://www.v8registry.com/shop-in-our-store.html
The Registry is pleased to report that as of October 30, 2020 our group has 212 members. This is an all time high in membership that we never expected to achieve. Your support of our group is appreciated and your officers look forward to giving you a good reason to continue your membership. Thanks for all your support. We are excited to report that based on conversations and reports that interest in Corvair Conversions seems to be at an all time high. It's amazing the number of enthusiasts currently restoring Crown cars to their original status and others building new conversions based on modern drive-trains involving C5 transaxles and LS engines. We even have one member building a Corvair Conversion that is powered by a Tesla electric drive train. You may want to watch that one closely if it pulls up next to you at a traffic light. Could easily be a 3.0 second car for 0-60.
MID-ENGINE CHEVROLET AT LAST
For over 50 years many of us have been building and driving mid-engine Chevrolet's under the Corvair nameplate as we anticipated that GM would finally produce such a car on a production line. Then along comes 2020 with it's devastating Virus that has caused us to wish it away along with the miseries that it's brought to our families and nation. With all this misery, along came one bright ray of joy, Chevrolet released it's mid-engine C8 Corvette after years of speculation. What a year to introduce their radical design, but it did help some of us forget about the negative issues that dominate the news and our lives this year.
So far, I have talked with two V-8 Registry members who were lucky enough to order a new C8 Corvette before production moves on to the 2021 models. Our Webmaster Rick Andersen took delivery several months ago from Friendly Chevrolet in Tacoma, WA, a dealership that he once owned. Then recently Mark Allen in Decatur, IL received his new Vette. Unfortunately for Mark, his wife Linda has already corralled the keys and carved her initials in the dashboard. Maybe she'll let him be a passenger every now and then. My guess is that other members have also taken delivery of new Vettes. Tell us about your good fortune or bad luck if your delivery was delayed by the Virus when production was placed on temporary hold. Call me or send an email with your story. If you submit a picture of you standing next to or sitting in your C8, we will post it on your personal page to commemorate this historic milestone. Perhaps 2020 wasn't so bad after all for some of us.
MEMBERSHIP POLICY
Since 2013 when the V-8 Registry was reorganized at the Kalamazoo Convention we have been organizing our thoughts on various aspects of our group. With no place to go this summer the time was right for writing down some rules for membership. Recently, Rick Andersen posted our Membership Policy on the V-8 Registry website. You are encouraged to read it and offer your opinions. It's your group and your suggestions are valued. You can find the policy on the 'HOME' page under the heading 'Members Only Area'. Here's the link:
https://www.v8registry.com/member-policy.html
ANNUAL MEETING POSTPONED
As everyone knows, the Annual Meeting for 2020 in San Diego was not held due to the Virus and the convention is postponed until 2021. Not meeting was a true disappointment because a historic convention was planned. During our Annual Meetings a vote is held on officers for the upcoming year. Without a meeting no vote was conducted and your current officers agreed to continue in their elected positions until next year. Members with a strong interest in the leadership of our group are encouraged to make their intentions known. Everyone has the right to become involved in the leadership of this group. Contact the President with your thoughts if an elected position suits you.
With the convention rescheduled for July 27-31 in San Diego next year, it is our intention to include all the features planned for the 2020 convention into the 2021 format. With a little luck this should be possible. The host hotel is still the Crowne Plaza and reservations can be made by calling 888-233-9527. Ask for group code "CNC" when making your reservation. It seems rather fitting that Crown cars spend time at the Crowne Hotel.
NEW PICTURES
A few members submit new pictures of their builds, but most don't update their profile very often. The Registry is still interested in having a current picture showing you either inside or next to your Corvair Conversion. By doing so, we make our website more personal and easier to identify each other when we attend an event. For these reasons, we are nudging you to submit a picture of yourself. Here's where you can upload the picture:
https://www.v8registry.com/contact-us.html
MINI-CONVENTION IN SPRINGFIELD
On May 19-23, CORSA has scheduled a Mini-Convention in Springfield, IL at the CPF Museum. Since this Mini-Convention is 2 months earlier than the CORSA Convention in San Diego, the V-8 Registry will host a number of events during this event for our members. For many of our members this location is closer and a more affordable option compared to San Diego, but don't overlook the west coast event if you can swing the trip. It will be memorable, we promise.
BUYING AND SELLING CONVERSIONS
A number of members have decided to sell their conversions this year due economic conditions. At the same time we have a number of new members looking to buy. If you would like some help with either buying or selling, contact me. If we can't meet your needs, let us know what your looking for and you will be contacted when something shows up.
Until the next time, drive fast, but safe AND VOTE
John Lanning, President