A TRUE Corvetter passes

[Hib Halverson]

I am sad to report that my friend, Jim Van Dorn, has died.

My God, what a shock and a loss.

Jim was known to many in the Corvette hobby as a friend, one of the earliest members of the original ZR-1 Registry, organizer of a number of ZR-1 events in the early years of that part of the hobby, a Corvette service shop owner with a big heart and a willing hand to help any Corvetter in need, the original “Pirate” of “Pirate Racing, outspoken commentator of all things Vette both on the Internet and in print, the guy who put on those great BBQ’s during NCM event weekends, an absolute authority on the C4 ZR-1, Father of three wonderful kids and generally, a damn fine individual.

I was honored to have been his friend for more than 20 years.

In one of life’s cruel ironies, at age 59, Jim died in his sleep, during night of 13-14 May, on the eve of the National Corvette Museum's "C4 Gathering" weekend. Twenty years ago, he organized the “Legend Lives” event at the NCM which began the tradition of a weekend event for C4 ZR-1 owners. Over two decades, what Jim started grew into a three-day event for all C4 enthusiasts, jointly sponsored by the ZR-1 Net and Grand Sport Registries.

My friend, Jim Van Dorn, will be greatly missed by his children, Jim Jr., Erin and Kristen and by all of us in the Corvette hobby who greatly valued his friendship.

Let’s all take a moment...







….then raise our glasses–raise ‘em real high, people–to “The old Pirate”, Jim Van Dorn.:cheers:


Indeed, the Legend lives”, Van Dorn, and you had a part in keeping it alive!

[GOLDCYLON]

Oh no. I am sad to hear of this :cry:

[DDSLT5]

That's horrible news - he was still a young man! Jim was such a friendly and kind man - sorry to hear this news.

[tomcat]

All, when I started my search for my ZR1 2005 he gave me the true 411 on 90 & 91's. He told me I was a "Real Driver" when I e-mailed him I drove my ZR1 TO Antioch & Los Angles California & Los Vegas Nevada & Seattle Washington more than once from Vancouver Washington (Portland Oregon).

Manfred E......

91 #906

[Meanmyz]

It is a shock to hear of this. Jim's name was synonymous with the ZR-1, from the enthusiast side, when reading about the ZR-1 in the early days. It is truly sad to hear this.

Godspeed JVD. :saluting:

[Kevin]

Saddened to the core to hear this. We lost a great guy in Jim, hopefully there will be a gathering at his place this weekend to commerate his life. I have one of his pirate racing stickers. I think this is a great time to put it on the car.

[93 ZR1 Barcelona]

I just saw that bad news on an email sent from BG.


We have lost one of the great ones in our family.


I will never forget during my life that summer of 2008 when I first met Jim, with my brother Toni in our fist trip from Spain to Bowling Green. He did us an unforgettable couple of days, just for us, he left all his duties in the shop, stayed with us on the Assembly Plant, on the Museum that was still on expansion....a true wonderful days.


And on my later travels to the USA I always passed by Bowling Green to salute him and talk a while about the Corvettes and the ZR-1. And will also never forget the Gathering bbq's of the Thursdays in his shop.


Jim, my friend, will never forget you. Wherever you are now, here we will keep the legend alive !!


Pirate forever.

[Corvettes White]

Our best wishes to his family and frends.

[EuroPete]

My friend Ramon (93 ZR1 Barcelona) explained way better than I could ever do who JVD was. Jim was a generous & warm human being. He had that gift of getting people together, he was a real 'gatherer'.

Founding member, he's made the legend live for the last 20+ years. Here's my humble tribute to his Corvette 'sanctuary' (http://www.forocoches.com/foro/showthread.php?p=89053297#post89053297). Pics speak louder than words to describe his Corvette passion.

See you on the other side bro.

[PhillipsLT5]

I do not know what to say, shocking

[Hawk]

I am sad to report that my friend, Jim Van Dorn, has died.

My God, what a shock and a loss.

Jim was known to many in the Corvette hobby as a friend, one of the earliest members of the original ZR-1 Registry, organizer of a number of ZR-1 events in the early years of that part of the hobby, a Corvette service shop owner with a big heart and a willing hand to help any Corvetter in need, the original “Pirate” of “Pirate Racing, outspoken commentator of all things Vette both on the Internet and in print, the guy who put on those great BBQ’s during NCM event weekends, an absolute authority on the C4 ZR-1, Father of three wonderful kids and generally, a damn fine individual.

I was honored to have been his friend for more than 20 years.

In one of life’s cruel ironies, at age 59, Jim died in his sleep, during night of 13-14 May, on the eve of the National Corvette Museum's "C4 Gathering" weekend. Twenty years ago, he organized the “Legend Lives” event at the NCM which began the tradition of a weekend event for C4 ZR-1 owners. Over two decades, what Jim started grew into a three-day event for all C4 enthusiasts, jointly sponsored by the ZR-1 Net and Grand Sport Registries.

My friend, Jim Van Dorn, will be greatly missed by his children, Jim Jr., Erin and Kristen and by all of us in the Corvette hobby who greatly valued his friendship.

Let’s all take a moment...







….then raise our glasses–raise ‘em real high, people–to “The old Pirate”, Jim Van Dorn.:cheers:


Indeed, the Legend lives”, Van Dorn, and you had a part in keeping it alive!


Thoughts and Prayers to Family and Friends ...

I know he and Doug Johnson are burnin' Stogies & sipping' Purple Beer in that "Final Gathering" in the sky (save me some, Bro).

Another Great gone before his time ...

Semper Fi & GodSpeed Matey ... you will be missed, :saluting:

Hawk ^v^
'91 #415
PTBAP
Sent via ESP from my iBrain

PS ... I'm sure a 'JVD Memorial Gathering' or brick is in the works by someone. Maybe rename one of his signature events? Standing-by to assist ...

[JThomas]

I will miss Jim and his Corvette commentary. When I got into the ZR-1 hobby in 2008, I learned about Jim from the Heart of the Beast and the NCM. He worked on my first ZR-1, a red '92 when I autocrossed it during the 2009 Gathering, in the rain. He allowed me to use his garage as a car wash, as I often cleaned my '95 ZR-1 at his place at subsequent Gatherings. Lastly, I was very fortunate and honored to drive his Black Widow ZR-1 during the Gathering in 2014, just so he could see it compete one last time before it was sold.

Jim was always giving, and inspiring. I will miss him, but I will always remember him. :cheers:

Sorry I could not make the Gathering this year, sometimes work gets in the way.

[G-Sting]

Very sorry to hear of this. What a legacy he has left for his family and for the ZR1 community.

Prayers and condolences to all in their loss.

:saluting: JVD

[USAZR1]

What a sad day,to hear such news as this. Man,this sucks.

[Eric24]

Jim,

I will never forget the gratitude you showed a bunch of Army guys while deployed to Afghanistan by hosting an auction at the famous "JVD BBQ" 5 years to date. The video and phone call you set up for my family was priceless...

I will miss our conversations we had with Hib and the stories and support you showed to me and my family.

Our prayers are with the kids during this time and we salute you JVD!

:saluting:

'Stad

[edram454]

I am very sad to hear this news. I have read a lot about him and his accomplishments. I have read many great stories about the type of guy he was and it was always complimentary. I am sorry I personally never got to know him but I respect the person he was by so many positive commentaries about him. He was truly a pioneer of the ZR1 and has helped many fellow forum members with his amazing knowledge.

He will truly be missed. Condolences to his family during this very difficult time.

Ed Ramos #3028

[tccrab]

Goodbye 'O my Captain, Goodbye.

Until we meet again.

TomC
a.k.a, "Crabs"

[Bearly Flying]

Godspeed, Jim.

Never met you but have read a lot about you. Happy Trails.....

[Vette Guy]

We will certainly miss Jim.... I met him for the first time on Wednesday - we spent over 2 hours chatting in his office that afternoon.

Jim was planning to donate some historical items to the NCM during the banquet this year.

With heavy heart.....

Mark

[HIZNHRZ]

Terribly sad news. Jim was among the first experts I had the pleasure to speak with when I was looking for my first ZR-1 20 years ago. Genuinely good person. Our prayers to you and your loved ones. Godspeed Jim Van Dorn.

[Fully Vetted]

I only met Jim once. He definitely left a lasting impression. Two years ago at the Gathering he loaned his shop, tools and lift to Frank Shelton so he could make a quick exhaust hanger repair on his Callaway after our drive up from Texas. What a great atmosphere he had going in that shop.

Wish I'd known you better, Jim.

RIP

[tccrab]

Today I wore my Pirate Racing Tee-Shirt in JVD's honor.
It goes back into the poster frame with all the memorabilia that he sent me of Pirate Racing. I won't wear it again.
59 is too young, much too young for the long sleep.
JVD was a bit of a Gentleman Scoundrel, he never cared a whip for what anyone else thought of him, he did what he did and asked for no excuses or explanations or forgiveness.
If he didn't like you, he didn't like you.
If he liked you, he liked you from the very first second he met you.
I was lucky that way.
We had a bond from the first time we spoke.
He was the Pirate Captain, and I was one of his Crew.
I met the Captain though a chance eBay purchase, a ZR1 labeled door sill for "Girlfriend" when he was clearing out the storage when he moved from California to Kentucky.
I remember asking some stupid question and a certain kinship just seemed to open up right from the first email.
We never met face to face, but we spoke many times on the phone and via email.
He had some stories to tell, yessir.
And he always did.
Wish I had recorded some of them.
I remember calling him when he was selling "The WeekendEndr", asking if he'd take payments. (the answer was an emphatic "No" but I had to try).
"The Captain" and I just got along, every time "Girlfriend" would hiccup and something wasn't quite right I'd call him and he'd just tell me to take her out and flog her some and see if she'd do it again.
Usually it was just my imagination and he'd always blame it on me not driving her enough.
Always good advice.
I will miss that.
I'm jealous of the people that actually worked with him, they got to see/hear him every day.
I'll bet they have some pretty good stories to tell.
"The Captain" was that way.

Your "Crew" will always miss you Captain.
Be safe and Godspeed.
I suppose I'll see you soon enough.

'Crabs

[C4Ray]

I did not know Mr. Van Dorn but my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

[Bob Eyres]

I never met Jim, but the things he accomplished contributed tremendously to the Legend of my favorite car. He was a kindred spirit, and lost way too soon.

I don't believe in heaven, but I do believe that your spirit lives on in the people who remember you, the people who's lives you touched. In that sense Jim will leave a lasting legacy of good will. That's all that the rest of us can ever hope for ourselves.

I know how I'm going to salute his memory. The next time I turn the key in my ZR-1, I'm going to find an open stretch of two lane pavement on the edge of town and let her rip. I'm not fool enough to think that he'll hear it wailing, but it sure as hell will make me feel better.

Hammer down......:thumbsup:

[Hib Halverson]

(snip)
JVD was a bit of a Gentleman Scoundrel, he never cared a whip for what anyone else thought of him, he did what he did and asked for no excuses or explanations or forgiveness.


"Gentleman Scoundrel"...
Boy, "tccrab" you just described my friend Jim to a "T".
Great words!

At the C4 Gathering Banquet last night (Sat 17 May) Jim's three children, Erin, Jim Jr and Kristen, surprised everyone by attending. The Registry had asked me to give a tribute to Jim because I was told that the three kids really didn’t want to say anything but I talked Jim Jr. in to getting up in front of that crowd to talk about his Dad and make a presentation to the Museum of the Corvette memorabilia that Jim had planned to donate had he been there. Originally, the Registry had asked me to make the presentation, but getting Jim Jr. to do it (which I’m sure his Dad would have appreciated) ended up working out very well. I think it helped Jim Jr. and it really made the audience feel good in this time of trying to make some sense of such a tragic and sudden loss.

I was proud of Jim Jr. (don’t call him Jimmie anymore). It was tough, but he gave a really nice insight to his Dad and his families’ feelings about Jim’s closeness to the Corvette hobby.

Wow. I hadn’t seen Erin or Kristen since before Jim moved out of CA back in 03. They’ve grown to be two very pretty, poised and just really nice women.

The reason I was at the Gathering was to moderate the panel-discussion about the Record Run of 1990 the Museum scheduled for Saturday morning. On Friday, I rewrote the first five minutes of my introduction into a tribute to Jim. That worked out very well. The people attending the session appreciated it as did the panelists who all knew Jim well.

At the Gathering, the ZR-1 Net and Grand Sport Registries had already scheduled a tribute to members who had died in the last 12-months to be held Saturday just before lunch. They came to me that morning and asked if I’d make a short tribute speech during that session. That was tough because I don’t like to work “ad lib” in a situation like that obviously I wasn’t saying no. It ended up working out quite well and I actually enjoyed being able to say a few words all of Jim's Corvette friends in that environment.

There will be no services for the Corvette community other than last night at the Museum which ended-up a celebration of Jim’s connection with Corvettes and Corvette people. As Erin Van Dorn told me it may have been impromptu but since “everyone” was in town for the Gathering, it was as good a time as any to have ZR-1 and Grand Sport people reflect on the loss we all suffered, the great friend Jim was and the wonderful association he had with our hobby.

They are going to do a second event of some sort in the next week or so for Jim’s non-Corvette friends in Bowling Green and this summer, in California, they’ll do a third memorial event for Jim’s family and friends in CA.

I think Erin is monitoring Jim’s email and Jim Jr. has Jim’s mobile phone so, if you have JVD's contact info, those are a couple of ways you can contact those kids if you want.

[FU]

Saturday morning was a great tribute Hib.
I left shortly after the memorial but would have without a doubt stayed for the banquet if I knew Jims kids were on the way.

[WydGlydJim]

So this is my story...before leaving for BG I had a questionable rotor, had some small cracks that had been stable for a long time..well, I think a crack worsened, and I could feel it in the brakes, so I limped it into BG, and Jerry, myself, and everyone else just sort of said oh well, we will talk to JVD, and I know we all thought in our minds that he would take care of me.........so I mentioned it to the first person I saw, (Jeff) and he told me the news........needless to say I was shocked, but I just tell this story to just try to put even a small bit of his importance to our community in light. This is just a very very small portion, but the way we all thought he would take care of us, just says so much about him. I had only met JVD once, and I am saddened for all of you who knew him well. Hib you guys did your best to honor him, and I think you did a good job.
RIPJVD
:cry:

[A26B]

Genuine, Gregarious & Generous just happen to be the first words that come to mind when I think about my friendship with Jim.

Many things come to mind when I think about what Jim was known for, events that he organized, Thunder at Stillwater and The Legend Lives, his support of our military, the cookouts that he hosted, the sheer number of people with car issues that he helped, his Pirate racing program.... and on and on. None of that filled Jim's pockets..... in fact it was just the opposite. He did it out of sincere generosity and an uncontrollable desire to contribute.

For all of Jim's gregarious mannerisms that announced his presence, he was also sensitive if his willingness to contribute was stifled. One never had to wonder if Jim had a private agenda. He was what I like to call a WYSIWYG guy, an old computer term that was short for "What You See, Is What You Get!" I liked that in Jim.

At the 25th Gathering, I was struck by the number of us that had talked to Jim in the 3 or 4 days prior to the Gathering. Jim's health was troublesome and if you knew him, you knew he was in a life altering state of pain. Those recent conversations were a blessing to us all.

Jim's legacy will live on. Even though Jim is gone,I seriously doubt that there will ever be another Gathering that he will not be present in the hearts & minds of many of us.

Here's to Jim, a friend I proudly acknowledge.:cheers:

[Rex Ruby]

Only met him once, RIP Jim.

[zrmynatt]

I had the pleasure of meeting Jim several times over the years, first at the Legend Lives in Stillwater, at the 1996 Carlisle when we tried to get 500 ZR1's together, I had a oil pressure sender fail, Larry Merow was too busy to be bothered, but Jim came to the rescue, we had no tools so off to the swap meet he and I went, he found a correct plug
and a wrench that would remove the sender, this allowed me to drive back to Texas, where I got the sender replaced under warrenty. Jim would not take money, so I gave
him the wrench I bought at the swap meet. That's the type of guy Jim was, always willing
to help his fellow Corvetters. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

[ZRXMAX]

My only contact with JVD was through e mails and it was a blast! We were discussing the California smog nazis and their antiquated ways. JVD had a way with words and was a delight to read. I wish I could have met the man.
RIP Jim and... my condolences to his friends and family members.

[Vette Guy]

http://www.bgdailynews.com/obituaries/jim-van-dorn/article_3bfefb74-ddcf-5dff-acea-b3aafbed1b63.html

All,

We will sorely miss Jim as a part of our community, but we will never forget what he accomplished to forward the ZR-1 among automotive enthusiasts around the world. As such, the ZR-1 Net, ZR-1 Net Registry and the Grand Sport Registry (which Jim founded) are jointly dedicating a brick in Jim’s honor at the National Corvette Museum.

Donations can be made through the ZR-1 Net Registry website at: http://www.zr1netregistry.com/Marketplace/RegistryStore.aspx



With heavy heart,

Mark

[carter200]

CT Machining just donated $20 towards Jim's Brick. He is and will be sorely missed :cry:

[Hib Halverson]

Van Dorn and I were such good friends. It's been difficult for me to accept that he's gone over to the other side. I miss the guy a lot. All the kind words posted here are helping me move on.:)

Hopefully, Jim's three kids, Erin, Jim Jr. and Kristen have read this thread and are getting a better idea of the number people who knew and respected their Dad.



All,

We will sorely miss Jim as a part of our community, but we will never forget what he accomplished to forward the ZR-1 among automotive enthusiasts around the world. As such, the ZR-1 Net, ZR-1 Net Registry and the Grand Sport Registry (which Jim founded) are jointly dedicating a brick in Jim’s honor at the National Corvette Museum.

Donations can be made through the ZR-1 Net Registry website at: http://www.zr1netregistry.com/Marketplace/RegistryStore.aspx

With heavy heart,

Mark

What a great idea, Mark. I know Jim would have appreciated such a caring gesture.

Jim was a strong supporter of the National Corvette Museum. Yes, he had reservations, sometimes, about how the NCM was managed, but he had great caring and respect for the institution which is the NCM, in part because it preserves the best of the Corvette hobby for all those Corvetters who will come after us.

While Jim was alive, he placed several bricks–three of them of which I know–for he and his family. Your joint ZR1N/ZR1NR/GSR brick will be another. Jim was a Lifetime Member of NCM so the Museum will place an IMO brick for him, too, something the NCM does for any Lifetime member who dies. See the image below.
http://www.zr1.net/forum/album.php?albumid=324&pictureid=2888

Needless to say, Jim will be "well-bricked" at the NCM and rightly so.

Tomorrow, 20 June 2015, the Van Dorn children have scheduled a celebration of Jim's life here in California for his relatives and California friends and Corvetters. It's being held in Indio, CA just a few miles from where Jim used to live in La Quinta and near where the original Automasters was located, in Palm Desert.

I was honored when Jim's youngest, Kristen, called me and asked if I would come tell some JVD stories at the celebration. Might be a little tough to do that while staying composed, but I want to do it.

Right now I have my '95, with the 500-hp (413 SAE at the wheels) Automasters StreetSkinner engine package, in storage at an off-site location where we've been keeping it while it's up for sale, but I'm going to get that car out of storage and drive it to Jim's memorial.

Not only that, I'm going to wear the classic "JVD Uniform" which is, of course, shorts and flip-flop sandals.

No doubt, JVD–who's probably sitting over on the other side, cocktail in hand, right next to Doug Johnson, who's smoking a big cigar and drinking a beer–will appreciate my attire.

[Hib Halverson]

Yesterday I attended Jim's memorial in Indio CA. Jim's kids asked me to be the first speaker and tell some JVD stories. I got to be the first up because they hoped I'd "break the ice" and that others would also come up to speak. It worked. A while bunch of Jim's relatives and friends told stories.

In attendance were Tom Peters and Tom "Turbo" Sullivan, both former ZR-1 owners and former Van Dorn customers. Also there was Tim Riley, Jim's best friend from B.G. and Bill "ZFDoc" Boudreau.

I thought a few here would appreciate reading my little speech about Jim.

Tuesday, May 12. A typical morning before a road trip which means I start work at 6:00AM rather than 7:30 so I can get my laptop ready for travel and clear up stuff which must be done before being out of the office for several days. About 6:30, the business line rings. Only one person calls my work at that hour. Jim Van Dorn. No "Hello". No "Good morning". Just "When are you coming down here?"

The coming weekend was the 25th Anniversary of the introduction of the 1990 ZR-1 and 20th Anniversary of the production of the last ZR-1, both big deals in the C4 Corvette community. "I fly out of Burbank on Wednesday. Be there late Wednesday night," I told him.

"Come by the shop early on Thursday. I'll take you to breakfast. Shop’s busy today. Gotta go. C-ya. Bye."

Van Dorn? Wants to buy me breakfast? Likely at Doug's Motor City, a Bowling Green cafe which was one of Jim's favorites. I was thinking: I'm gonna be all over a free meal on JVD.

Well, the guy upstairs who picks who goes to the otherside and when, had other plans.

Right now, Jim is up there with his pal Doug Johnson. They’re sitting in lawn chairs. Van Dorn has his styrofoam cup filled with a cocktail. He’s wearing his usual shorts and flip-flops. Johnson is smoking his big cigar and sipping a cold beer. They're probably trying to figure out how to get Zora Duntov to party with them.

Jim...if you are watching...in your honor, I’m wearing shorts, a classic Automasters T-shirt and flip-flops. Dude, you are not getting out of buying breakfast that easily. When I get up there, you're taking me out. Scrambled eggs with biscuits and gravy, every morning for a month.

Oh and the shirt...In his day, Jim was quite the graphic designer. Back in the 90s and early 2000s, he did a whole series of Automasters T-Shirts like mine.

Ok. Set the Wayback Machine for 1994. Jim and I met, virtually, on an Internet mail list towards the end of of that year. As we both had an interest in Corvettes, computers and photography, we hit it off. We met in person about six months later at an event he conceived, convinced Chevrolet's PR and marketing entities to support and then organized to commemorate the production of the last C4 ZR-1. It was called the "Legend Lives" and it took place on 28 May 1995. I was there covering the event for a Corvette magazine. I was astonished that one guy could do so much for the Corvette community yet ask for so little in return. From then on, Jim was at the top of my list of the good guys in the Corvette hobby. The friendship between Jim and I lasted 21 years. It's still hard to believe he’s gone over to the other side. I'm not sure I'll ever get over the loss.

Ok. I have four Van Dorn stories I'd like to share. Each is characteristic of Jim Van Dorn. Whenever I think of these events I always laugh.

In the Spring of 1997. Jim and I had made a deal with Vette Magazine to do a series of articles about the Auto Masters Street Skinner performance package which took a ZR-1's LT5 engine from its stock 375 or 405-hp to 500-hp. Serial magazine articles about what people do to cars to improve their performance are known as "Magazine Projects". Those types of series were, and still are, my technical writing specialty.

The first step in a magazine project is to test the car to be modified on a chassis dynamometer. We tech writers do before and after test sessions to quantify the changes we make to the car. In the late-90s, the chassis dyno facility Jim and I used was at K&N Engineering in Riverside. Jim and I met there for our chassis dyno session to do the before or "baseline" test. The project car was the dark purple metallic, '95 ZR-1, nicknamed “Barney” which I had purchased 18 months before.

I put the car on the dyno. K&N's test technician strapped the car down and turned on the cooling fans. To basline a car, you usually make three "runs" or "passes" on the dyno and average the results. The car is run in fourth gear from about 2000 rpm to just before the engine's rev limit, which, in the LT5’s case, was 7000 rpm. The first dyno run was uneventful. K&N's tech started a little over 2000 rpm and ran it to about 6500 and lifted. While he was letting the engine cool before the second run, I walked over to the driver's window and told him, "Go to 6800 this time." The second run was more of the same except K&N's tech ran it to 6800. Even a stock LT5 with stock exhaust made a great sound once it got beyond 6000 rpm.

Most of this time, I'm taking pictures of the car on the dyno for the first part of the magazine series and Jim is standing with Jimbo off to the side,z taking it all in. The third run begins. I'm standing on the right side of the car shooting pictures as the engine pulls towards 6000 rpm.

All of a sudden there's a subdued "pop" then a big "Bang!" Oil smoke pours from under the hood and there is the deafening silence which comes after you blow up an engine.

A second or so passes. Behind me, Van Dorn says, "Ooops." He paused for a moment then laughed and said,"Sounds like a warranty claim to me." Everyone couldn't help but to laugh. He wasn't kidding, either. Jim arranged with the Chevy dealer in Palm Springs to warranty my blown up motor. Jim always had good friends in the right places.

The next story is about Jim's own ZR-1, a White 1991 model which he named "The Weekendr" because it was "only driven on weekends". At the time, in 1998, the Weekendr, which had a 385-cubic inch stroker motor generating a reported 610-hp, and could pass the California smog check was one of the most powerful, street legal Corvettes. I decided, I wanted to challenge Jim with a magazine story on the Weekendr, but not just any article. It was summer time and California's Inland Empire is a desert. I told jim I wanted to road test the Weekendr in a real world environment in the middle of the summer heat. It was a dare, but he stepped right up.

We met at K&N Engineering one morning. We rolled the Weekendr onto K&N's Dynojet. It was already 80° in the dyno room. In the three dyno runs I made with the Weekendr, the average was 499.3-hp, SAE-corrected at the rear wheels. I still have the dyno sheets on my computer. With the standard C4 six-speed correction factor of .82, that worked out to about 609-hp...right on Jim's claimed 610-horses. By the time we rolled out of K&Ns dyno it was about noon and 105° out. Jim threw me the keys and said. "Drive me into Riverside for lunch but make sure you get stuck in traffic for at least ten minutes with the A/C on."

So, we took the long way to Denny's in Riverside. As a road test writer, I was astonished. The Weekendr was, and still is, the most powerful street car I've ever tested personally. Not only did it make 499 at the wheels but we drove all over downtown Riverside with reasonably smooth idle, coolant temperature never over 220, the A/C keeping us cool and the FM stereo blasting rock-and-roll. At that point in time, there were few cars which could do that.

When Jim dropped me back at K&N, the last thing he asked me was, "Ok. What's your next dare?" I wrote a note to myself: Don't doubt Jim Van Dorn when he says he can do something.

Jim never liked the color of my ZR-1 and he hated the stuffed Barney I kept in the back of the car even more. That stuffed Barney went everywhere my purple Corvette went and that included my many visits to Automasters in Palm Desert. One afternoon in 2000, or maybe it was 2001, I made a trip to Palm Desert to visit my Dad, who owned a vacation home there. I also stopped in at Automasters to have them check out a small problem I was having with the Street Skinner engine Jim had built for me after we blew up the stock engine on K&N's dyno. When I got home to West Covina that night, Barney was missing from the back of the car.

I kinda figured Van Dorn was the culprit, but I couldn't prove it right then. But it wasn't long before I had evidence. I began to get digital images of Barney taken at different places in the World no doubt by Jim’s many friends. Many of these images had the poor little stuffed dinosaur in various X-rated positions and backgrounds. This went on for several months.

Finally, I decided to put a stop to the nonsense. Back then, Jim owned a racing team called "Pirate Racing" and, on the counter in the Automasters waiting room, was a big, stuffed parrot which, of course, was the Pirate Racing mascot. About four months later, on another of my visits to Automasters, I arrived right at the end of the day on a Friday. Half an hour later it's cocktail time. Jim tells me, "Go on out the front door. I'll lock up the rest of the shop then meet you at my house." As I walked out though the waiting room, I snatched the big stuffed parrot and hid it in the under a car cover in the back of my car.

When I got home two days later, I set up my studio lights, put the parrot in the dining room table, made a sign with a Sharpie which said "Help me!" and taped it to the parrot. I set up my Nikon D1on a tripod, Then, I got my Glock, 40-cal pistol and pointed it at the bird's head and set the self timer.

I sent the resulting image of the parrot with a gun to its head to Van Dorn using one of the three anonymous AOL accounts I have. All Jim got was a blank email with a picture of his beloved bird with a Glock 22 stuck in its ear.

A couple weeks later we had a "prisoner transfer". He got his bird back. I got my Barney back and we all had a great laugh over a whole bunch of beers. One of the great things about Jim’s and my friendship was we always had time for fun.

My final story is about the last article I wrote about Jim and the Weekendr for "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine. This story was done in Bowling Green, on one of the many trips to the Museum my Wife, Sandy, and I made during the late-'00s. We shot the article in 2009 and it was published in an early 2010 issue of the magazine.

As I'd already done a couple of articles about the ole Weekendr, I wanted something different for this one. Jim emailed me and said he knew the perfect place for a photo shoot. We flew down to BG on a Wednesday, then I met Jim at Automasters of Bowling Green on Saturday. We hopped into the Weekendr, but only drove a short distance down Interstate Drive then turned right into the Corvette Plant's grounds.

At this point, I'm a getting stressed. This was the end of the 2000s. Since 9/11, nine years before all major companies like GM became super security conscious. I knew that no one does photography on the grounds of a GM Facility without having to obtain permission from several people in the GM Communications department along with the Security Department of the facility in question. I remember asking Jim," Dude, are you sure we're not going to get into trouble?" Jim told me not to worry. No one was going to "catch us." was the phrase I remember him using. Jim and I began shooting with some stills in the area of the plant were the public walks through when they enter the plant for a Public Tour. This location has some amazing murals on the building walls which made a great background for the car.

Next, we needed a good shot of the Weekendr with its back tires at the end of two long black patches extending back from the rear tires and Jim standing next to the car looking at the camera. So, we drive back towards the plant entrance. I'm figuring Jim will drive off GM's property to some back road where we can do this. But, no. Jim stops about 100 yards beyond the Plant's front door. He rev'ed the engine to about 5000-rpm then sidestepped the clutch, the car spun the tires. They screeched for good 100 feet.

Now I'm really stressed. Ready for GM Security to come take my Nikon and kick us off the property or even have us arrested by the Bowling Green P.D. "Stop worrying, dude." Jim says. We put the Weekendr's rear tires right at the end of the two, big, black marks on the gray asphalt. Jim stood next to the car while I walked about 200 feet away and shot a pic with my 300-mm telephoto. At the left edge of the image is the big "GM Bowling Green Assembly" sign. I thought, once that image is published, GM will never answer my phone calls again.

My pulse is racing by this time. I say to Jim, "Ok. The Editor wants a burnout shot. We need to go somewhere where we can do that without getting in trouble. "I know, just the place." Jim says. He drove out to the Plant's front gate, but rather than going out the gate, he continued east on the Plant's perimeter road.

At this point, I'm fit to be tied and in need of medication for stress. I know GM Facilities have cameras and microphones everywhere. There has to have been some guy in Plant Security who saw us take stills next to the Plant Tour Entrance. The same guy had to have seen and heard Jim lay down two 100-ft black patches on the Plant's main entrance road. Now Jim wants to go to another place on the Bowling Green Plant grounds to do smoky burnouts? Yikes!

Finally, we arrived a the long stretch of the Plant's perimeter road which runs along the fence on northwest edge of GM's property. "This is the place?" I asked haltingly. "Yep." Jim says. I pick a spot near the car from where I can do the photography and Jim does two, horrendous, smoky burnouts which would have done a nitro funny car justice. For a short time I watched this huge cloud of rubber smoke waft towards the Plant's buildings. I couldn't imagine how anyone watching the security cameras could miss that. I remember thinking, we'll probably meet the Bowling Green Fire and Police Departments on the way out. Amazingly, five minutes later, I'm loading my camera gear in to our rental car and heading to my hotel for a cool shower.

That evening, Jim, my Wife and I met at the Montana Grille in Bowling Green. The "Montana" was Jim's favorite dinner spot because of its great food, cute waitresses and full bar. I start telling my Wife about the stressful day Jim and I had trying to do this photo shoot on the Plant's property and how I was scared out of my wits that GM Security or local law enforcement was going to catch us. My Wife is, like freaking out because she thinks she just missed having to bail me out of jail.

Suddenly, Jim bursts out laughing. I'm, like...not enjoying that they are laughing at me because I'm not sure why.

Finally Jim says, "The Plant's Head of Security is a buddy of mine," Jim said, "and I told him what we were going to do." I just wanted to make you sweat. I made Jim buy the rest of the drinks.

That demonstrated a couple of Jim's great qualities. Wherever Jim went, he made friends with the right folks. He could make his good friends sweat with great practical jokes.

Thank you all for letting me share these stories.

[JimZRyd]

Cool stories Hib! Made me smile:). I never had the honor of meeting JVD but from the first days of my Z addiction, his name was well known. I still have that issue with him doing the burn outs in my collection. Thanks for the stories of a genuinely cool gentleman:thumbsup:

[ghlkal]

For those of you who never met Jim, here's a picture that my wife took in 2014 at the NCM homecoming. From L-to-R is Hib, myself, and JVD.

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u331/NaturalCowgirl/ZR-1/NCM%20caravan%20Ky%20trip%207718_zpsqluu0e0f.jpg

Once again we had an issue with our Vette while in Bowling Green, and Jim took the time to get things fixed up.

He'll be missed!

Gary

[lbszr]

Great guy. My wife and I met him at his BBQ. He will be missed. RIP