Yearly Archives: 2016

12/11/16 COTV Annual Toy Run

Posted November 22, 2016

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11

GIVING FROM THE HEART

COTV members showed the size of their hearts by turning out in huge numbers Sunday, December 11 to donate toys, sporting goods, books and games to the Marine Corp Reserve’s Toys For Tots program.

The weather forecast had been somewhat dubious and based on past experience the early birds turned up with various layers of clothing to find out that Ray McIntosh had the right idea with his holiday shorts, t-shirt and hat. The sun shone very brightly and the day was warm as about 80 members came and went from 9am to 10:30, enjoying donuts and each others’ company while adding to the growing pile of donations.

Gunnery Sergeant John Martuszewski or “Ski” arrived among the earlier ones in his black 2003 Z06 with his 12 year-old son, Paxton, riding shotgun. At the end of the day, Paxton said he had not been bored and would be back next year, so even a group of “old farts” is good company when they come with Corvettes attached. “Ski” and his colleague, another Sergeant, Shane, met and chatted with all the members, checked out the cars and posed for photos. Shane and Chuck Sherman, a retired Gunnery Sergeant, spent a lot of time in conversation.

This year was the year of the bicycle, as Mike and Doreen brought 6 and several others added to the count. There were also a large number of Razor scooters. Angela Smith asked how the toys are distributed so we went to the source and were told that after collection at a huge number of events, donations from Riverside County go to a depot in Temecula and from Northern San Diego County to one in Vista. They are then sorted by age and gender. Pastors of various churches or organizers of local charities can submit names and information about needy families that they have vetted and then items are selected to fulfill these wish lists. So now we know how this works!

At 10:35am the pick-up vehicle arrived from Pendleton and we loaded all the bikes into the back of a truck and the rest of the goodies into a trailer. The left-over donuts went to the various Marines and the approximately 70 remaining COTV members and “Ski” and Paxton headed out on a very short, indirect and convoluted run led by Rob Weber and corraled in by Ray McIntosh to cover the few miles from Kohl’s to Romano’s Macaroni Grill at the Promenade. The restaurant had set up tables in their side room and one just outside for the overflow crowd and we were offered a 2 course menu with a choice of 2 salads and 8 entrees. Mimosas and Bloody Marys were available for $2, so you could afford a couple. They had plenty of staff on hand and the service was excellent as was the food. Perhaps it was all the donuts or perhaps it was the size of the servings, but a lot of food seemed to head home with the members. The restaurant was able to accommodate vegetarians, those with allergies and some who opted to eat off the regular menu. Many who had not been to Macaroni Grill for a long time were pleasantly surprised and plan to try other dishes on other visits. Since it is difficult to locate restaurants who can accommodate such a large group, it is always nice if we can say thank you by patronizing them in the future. So go again and order another lasagne or chicken parmesan or salmon or whatever catches your fancy and say thanks to the staff for doing such a great job with a bunch of hungry Corvette owners.

We say thanks to all of our COTV friends who joined together to provide a good Christmas for kids in need of one. We look forward to spending more time together in 2017!

Where We’re All Going After The Holidays

12/04/16 COTV Holiday Party

Posted November 11, 2016

We Got To Eat Again!!!

We decked the halls and dressed ourselves up and about 75 COTV members shared the Christmas spirit at the Journey at Pechanga for our annual holiday party. Living in So Cal certainly has its benefits at this time of year. We don’t have to store our beautiful Corvettes for the winter and can drive them to all the parties and we don’t have to hide our festive clothes under heavy coats, boots and umbrellas as they are doing in so many parts of the country.

As always, everyone looked wonderful. After a year of shorts, jeans and t-shirts, it is hard to recognize everyone in all their finery. Lots of suits, tuxedos, long dresses, sparkles and bling were visible. We bet that some of the newer members didn’t even know the rest of us could clean up so well. Kudos to the Varas, Randalls, and Becks for really getting into the dress-up spirit on their first party night with COTV.

Everyone got to mingle, with drink in hand if they wanted, from 6 to 7. The bar area was set up for dancing later in the evening, so folks found seats at the tables and then wandered around to chat. At 7pm, Glenn sounded the dinner bell and the lines formed at the buffet table. Jim had selected a slightly different offering for 2016 – with steak, chicken, lamb chops and salmon as the main stars and an assortment of salads, potato leek soup and side dishes as the supporting acts. There was something for everyone, even the vegetarians. After everyone had satisfied their hunger, they helped themselves to the dessert selections before the entertainment began.

At 8pm, Kevin Johnson, the ventriloquist began his one hour show, with his three “friends.” He performs on cruise ships for much of the year, so is used to a boisterous crowd. Bruce “the Bat” Mofford had a front row seat and became part of the act as one of Kevin’s “friends” was flirting with him. We all enjoyed the excellent show. Dancing to a Glenn Crowther playlist began at 9pm.

Another successful party is now in the history books. We missed those who had to cancel at the last minute due to illness or like Charlie Stell, had a really good excuse – recovering from bypass surgery. We hope you all feel better as Christmas approaches.

Everyone had a great time and now we can start planning for 2017. Thanks to Jim and Diane for shepherding the 2016 event, with the help of Glenn, Hans and other members. Now we look forward to the start of another year full of fun events. Keep your eyes on the calendar and read your e-mails to find out what the Leadership Team has in store for 2017. They welcome everyone’s ideas and participation to make this truly YOUR Club.

11/27/2016 Mystery Lunch Run Hosted by Finch & Watson

Posted November 11, 2016

Hosted by

Sharon & Harry

Marilyn & Bill

You Missed a Great One!

Mystery Lunch Run – 11-27-16

We are always surprised at how successful the November MLR is as we imagine that everyone is still involved with family outings or is en route back from grandmother’s house, unless they are the grandmother. We seem to have a large group who want to get together as an antidote to overeating with family and probably do some overeating with COTV friends. And then, we never know how the weather is going to impact a run at the very end of November.

Today we saw a large number (35) of RSVPS shrink some by folks who didn’t want to get their cars wet or dirty and canceled (3) and then shrink even more by folks who woke up, looked at the weather, turned over and went back to sleep (9). Well, you know which group you belong to and we hope it is the group of 23 intrepid COTV cars who joined Bill and Marilyn Watson and Harry and Sharon Finch for a very unique day.

We met in the mist or rain depending on which minute it was and in the chilly air at Kohl’s. Umbrellas went up and down and everyone had a chance to wear those nice, warm COTV jackets for a change. The group was a great mix of long time (Weeks, Sommars, Weir/Reichardt, McIntosh, Buote, Boers, Glenore) and newer members (McDermott, Beck, Beresford, Vara, Mollway). Sorry if your name is not here, but the memory goes with age! Mickey Diehl brought a guest and so did John Mollway. Harry and Sharon Finch were tied up with last minute work on the surprise destination, so Bill and Marilyn did the honors of taking the money for lunch, giving out the secret instructions, and running the drivers’ meeting. Leonard and Carol Buote took on the role of bringing up the rear. (Marilyn and Carol have become a really great team, bonding over breakfast planning, so it was an obvious and excellent idea.)

We left the Kohl’s parking lot at approximately 10am and headed out on 79 toward Warner Hot Springs or Julian or whatever mystery awaited us. We took 371 to Anza through dense fog, rain and with temps of 42-45 degrees. We stopped at the Cahuilla Casino for a potty break, but many never left their cars if they didn’t need to as it was cold, windy and really wet. After the break we headed back on 371 to Wilson Valley Road, and Sage Road through hills, dips and wet, muddy roads then wound our way back into Temecula wine country through Temecula horse country.

Our destination (after 54 miles) was Harry and Sharon Finches’ home atop a hill on Monte de Oro Road. But it wasn’t the house that we went into, it was Harry’s secret place. As Marilyn Glenore aptly put it: “if you want to see a bunch of adults turn into teenagers, take them to Harry Finch’s”. Not many of us knew the other side of Harry, the collector, who has a building full of 75 pinball machines, including the Hercules, the largest in the world, with full-sized cueballs as pinballs. About 45 of them are in working order and play is “on the house”, although Harry, who has refurbished them, was kept busy doing maintenance calls during our visit. (Maybe we won’t be invited back!) Food was a hot dog cart with a variety of side dishes and toppings. There was also a popcorn machine which was very popular.

It was still raining as people started to head out, but, what the heck, the Corvettes were already dirty. Some of us even caught up with a huge rainbow on the way up the 15. Let’s face it, we never know what we will get on a November MLR when it comes to weather or attendance, but we always have fun! Thanks to Marilyn and Bill for leading the run and for Harry and Sharon for welcoming us to Harry’s Arcade, where “Hey It’s Only Pinball”!

11/17/2016 Breakfast Social at The Bombshelter

Posted October 25, 2016

Breakfast Social at the Bombshelter.

The Breakfast Queens, Carol Buote and Marilyn Watson, rounded out a perfect 2016 of socials with a meet at the Bombshelter Bar and Grill at Skydive Perris, so we got both a meal and entertainment. They wanted everyone to know that the idea came from Skip Hipp, who is apparently a regular at this location. The restaurant allowed the Corvettes to park out front on the tarmac so everyone who was there for the skydiving could also enjoy them.

There were 40 COTV members in attendance, including some very new like the Bryants; some original members like the Weeks and the Nagles; some younger like Kylin McIntosh; some older like Joan Crawley; and some we hadn’t seen in forever, like John Marsh, Mary Kino and Norm Luckcuck. We placed our orders from the menus or boards and within minutes heaping plates of food were prepared by a very fast team of cooks. They called your number and you got to dig into the Big Daddy’s omelet or biscuits and gravy or various scrambles or combos. What’s not to like?!?

Then the entertainment started as skydivers from a military group did their descents right in front of the restaurant. Other groups were in the queue for their turn, so you could nurse a coffee and spend the morning watching others take risks you might not choose. Jim Sommars wasn’t sure if you should eat first or skydive first or maybe just eat and forget throwing yourself out of a plane. For many of us it was a first visit to this venue, but maybe it won’t be the last for some who can join Skip to watch the action.

If you haven’t been to a breakfast social, you’re missing the opportunity to eat copious amounts of breakfast foods with the likes of Hans Boers, Tom and Karen Bryant, Carol and Leonard Buote, Doug and Marilyn Glenore, Al Hackworth, Dave Hellman, Skip Hipp, Jim and Susan Lokken, Manny and Diane Macedo, John Marsh and Mary Kino, John and Fritzi McDermott, Ray, Judy and Kylin McIntosh, John and Diane Meyers, Bruce Mofford, Tom and Willie Nagle, Norm Luckcuck, Chuck Sherman, Randy and Angela Smith, Jim Sommars, Kim and Val Sparks, Bill and Marilyn Watson, Rob and Daryl Weber and Joan Crawley, and Don and Bev Weeks. You are out of luck for 2016, but Carol and Marilyn are already making plans for 2017, so get your act together and RSVP, then turn up when the dates are set for next year.

Did You Miss the Pie Eating Contest?

Or The Flyover!

11/11/2016 COTV goes to the Murrieta 14th Annual Veterans Day Parade

Posted October 25, 2016

Image result for murrieta veterans day parade 2015

HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH
YOUR FELLOW COTV MEMBERS

SOME IN THEIR CARS

AND SOME ON MOTORCYCLES

Vet15

AT MURRIETA’S VETERAN’S DAY PARADE

Image result for murrieta veterans day parade

Downtown Murrieta along Washington Avenue
and into Town Square Park.

The Parade began at 10am with a Flyover

Vet77

NO – NOT THAT FLYOVER, THE BIG BOY FLYOVER

Murrieta 14^th Annual Veterans Day Parade

November 11, 2016

11/05/2016 Vettes for Veterans

Posted September 29, 2016

TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT!

Yes, that’s right. COTV took 25% of the awards at the Vettes for Veterans car show in Carlsbad. Not bad, since we had only 10% of the entries. Sixteen of our members, including the Bryants, our newest members, met at Kohl’s for hot blueberry and cinnamon muffins (baked at 3am by Judy Mcintosh) and a prompt 8am departure. We arrived at the Shoppes in Carlsbad, where the show was held, at 8:40. The early birds, Bill Steed, Joe Priebe and Leonard Buote (the three amigos) arrived about an hour earlier and were already set up with coffee in hand. There were a total of approximately 200 entries so we made up about 10% of the show. Evidently, Bob and Monica Clark forgot that it was a Corvette show and arrived in their KIA. They didn’t win any awards but did add to the nice social interaction. The weather was beautiful with clear skies and 75 degrees. Our club (minus the three amigos) parked together in an area reserved for us by the host club North Coast Vettes. Raffles were held each hour and Judy and Ray Mcintosh as well as John and Fritzi McDermott each won prizes. As far as car show awards, they were won by Dee Edwards-1st place- C6, Bill Steed-2d place-C1, Tom Bryant-3d place-C6, Robert Smith-3d place-C5, and our president, Glenn Crowther-3d place-C7. Each was awarded a placque and a monetary prize. The show was well organized and everything happened on time. Great job by NCV! Thanks to all COTV participants for supporting such a great event since all proceeds went to military charities. As a side bar, Bill Steed went home after the show, dusted off his beautiful 1962 Corvette and took best of show on Sunday at the Golden Bears car show at Temecula Valley High School.

10/30/2016 Mystery Lunch Run Hosted by Judy and Ray Mcintosh and Skip Hipp

Posted September 25, 2016

Even though the forecast called for rain, 35 beautiful COTV corvettes met at Kohl’s for the October mystery lunch run. The morning weather was high clouds and made for a beautiful backdrop for the run. The fact that we had 35 cars is another interesting point, since we had 28 cars (54 people) RSVP and 3 cars (6people) cancelled prior to the run. It must be the new math, because, as I said , we had 35 cars with a total of 68 people when we left Kohl’s. All worked out fine after Judy made a call to the restaurant to update the numbers. To be fair, 3 of the cars (4 people) were guests. Among our guests was James Gilbert who saw the run on the website and decided to give us a look. Bruce and Pam McDuffy brought their friends Karen and Tom Bryant and Chuck Sherman brought his daughter, Debbie. We enjoyed their presence and hope to see them again.

Our drive took us through wine country to sage road where we could put our cars through the tests of the winding roads on our way toward Hemet. Well there was one problem; As we approached the “twisties” on sage road, a little red van pulled out in front of the lead car and led us down the hill at about 25 mph, much to the chagrin of Doug Glenore (and some others). As we neared Diamond Valley golf course The Thackwells pulled over due to a flat tire indication. Larry decided to break from the group and have this checked out at a gas station. The rest of us continued down domenengoni pkwy to warren rd, then north to ramona expy. We then continued through Perris to Moreno Valley where we found our destination, Acapulco restaurant where the staff had reserved a full wing of the place just for our group and where we were met by the Thackwells who found that their tire problem was a faulty sensor and caught up just as we were entering the parking lot. The food was plentiful as were the mimosas. The service was very good as 4 servers were dedicated to our group . There was a problem when the manager decided that the cooks were too busy making food in bulk to allow for individual menu orders so some who had special diet needs were not served in a timely manner . I apologize to those affected. One other note: When considering a dessert choice, don’t ask Joe Priebe. He selected an item and, deciding it was too dry, went back and got some vanilla sauce to dip it in. He thought the dip was so bad that he went back to tell the cooks. Pointing out the bad sauce, joe asked what it was , only to be told that it was the waffle batter. Another memory that we can laugh about for some time. Thanks, Joe. Thanks, also to all who came , to Skip Hipp for assisting, and to Judy for making the giveaways, especially the “grand” prizes that were won by Darlena & Curt Stevens and Bruce Mofford.

10/26/2016 Pizza Factory Sponsor Appreciation Dinner

Posted September 21, 2016

Pizza Factory,
31725 Temecula Parkway,
Temecula

Wednesday Oct. 26th at 6 P.M.

30-35 of our club members participated in thanking Pizza Factory for their sponsorship and, as Jim Sommars likes to say, “we got to eat” while doing so. Pizza Factory has been a long-time sponsor of COTV and certainly deserves our thanks. We were given a private party room where we enjoyed each others company along with salads, pizzas sandwiches and drinks. Most of the members drove their vettes which made for a nice show for the other diners while we ate. I even had a dad ask me if it was ok for him to take his sons out to look at the cars. Next time you’re at Pizza Factory, or at any of our sponsors, make sure to tell them that you’re with COTV and thank them for supporting the club. Click on any of the pictures below and they will enlarge for better viewing.

10/08 – 10/15/16 COTV Princess Cruise

Posted September 5, 2016

We had a Great Cruise!!
Cruise with COTV Members and have a great time.
Join the Buotes, Converses, Crooks, Crowthers, Finchs, Glenores, Graysons, Lokkens, McIntoshs, Willie Nagle, Donna Monson & Harold Penn, Priebes, Sommars, Steeds, Watsons, Webers,Weeks and Vance Weir & Susan Reichardt.

Join Us!

(10/8) Port of San Pedro & (10/9) At Sea At Sea At Sea

TO GO TO THE PICTURES PAGE, GO HERE

(10/10) San Francisco

TO GO TO THE PICTURES PAGE, GO HERE

(10/12) Santa Barbara

TO GO TO THE PICTURES PAGE, GO HERE

(10/13) San Diego

TO GO TO THE PICTURES PAGE, GO HERE

(10/14) Ensenada

TO GO TO THE PICTURES PAGE, GO HERE

(Oh No – We Have To Go Home)

9/25/2016 Mystery Lunch Run Hosted by Val & Kim Sparks and Manuel & Diane Macedo

Posted September 5, 2016

The September lunch run led by the Sparks (Val & Kim) and the Macedos (Manuel & Diane) was a lot of fun. They led us through old town Temecula and old town Murrieta then to our destination in Lake Elsinore, Don Jose restaurant where we all got our fill of Mexican food. The route through both old towns seemed to be a corvette travelling show. All our cars (About 22) paraded beautifully through both towns, attracting much attention as we passed by. You’ll notice from the pictures below that we met as usual at Kohl’s and enjoyed plenty of friendly fellowship before departing. You will also notice that there are no pictures taken at the restaurant. This is because I was very hungry and once my food was placed in front of me, I completely forgot that I was supposed to be taking pictures. Sorry! I think we need our webmaster and photographer, Rob Weber to get well soon and return to action. Thanks to Judy Mcintosh and Monica Clark for the couple of photos taken along the way and especially to the Sparks and Macedos for planning and leading the event.