ZR-1 Gathering at the National Corvette Museum

[Vette Guy]

I'm getting excited - we're only a few week away from the ZR-1 Gathering, being held on May 12 – 14, 2016 at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Corvette Grand Sport, and we will have many joint Grand Sport and ZR-1 Net Registry events throughout the weekend.

The Gathering begins with a beer and pizza social on Wednesday May 11, 2016 at the Holiday Inn University Plaza atrium. Socialize with old friends, meet new ones and match faces with names you know. On Thursday, we will be conducting a combination of seminars at the NCM, mixed with some fun road cruises. The NCM MotorSports Park staff will introduce us to their track, and provide us with some insight on its design and keys to navigating it. We’ll also look for a glimpse as to the future development of this first class complex.

Seminars will be held on high performance driving, applicable not only to the track but to everyday driving. The evening will be open for dinner at your choice of local establishments, followed by hours of bench racing in the parking lot.

On Friday, we’ll try to apply some of the discussion on high performance driving at the NCM MotorSports Park. Similar to last year, there will be Touring Laps which include four laps in your own car at average highway speeds. Helmets are not required and passengers are welcome—Cost: $45. After noon, we’ll change up the track for TrackX: An autocross-type environment with coned gates and dedicated start and finish lines on the track. Runs are not timed, and speeds can approach 100 mph. Hot laps, where you are the passenger with a professional driver behind the wheel, may be available pending driver availability. Last year, our members were wowed by a break-neck experience with John Heinricy at the wheel. For those not interested in one or both track events, the NCM will conduct morning and afternoon drives through the area. In addition, tours of the Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant will be available.

Saturday begins with a presentation about our National Corvette Museum, followed by the famous, fun, “Roller Coaster” road tour through the countryside. Later that afternoon, we have planned for a variety of powertrain presentations. Saturday night will close the event with our Banquet held under the newly renovated spire at the NCM where Fred Gallasch is scheduled to be our guest speaker.

If you have any question regarding the fun we had last year at the Gathering, I’ve attached two links for your viewing enjoyment. I was able to run at least a dozen of the ‘touring’ laps as well as at least a dozen laps of TrackX. The staffs of the NCM and Motorsports Park track are exceptional and want to ensure we enjoy our time at the Gathering. I hope to see you there!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZHjEcn1kic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96ZaqBtriIA

[Tripler]

Got back into Toronto today at 5:30 PM . What an amazing event ... I cannot express in words how much I enjoyed this C4 gathering . A big thanks goes out to the organizers from the registry and all there hard work and also to the people at the NCM for giving us some amazing track time at the NCM test track on Friday . A bigger thanks goes out to Mark for letting me drive his 620HP C4 ZR-1 around the track after he took me for a ride on and off the pavement for a few touring laps while we followed Mark Haibeck around who also was on and off the pavement for very thrilling 23 corner lappings . Yes . 23 corners are on the NCM test track and worth every minute for anyone who wants to take there C4 around a few times .
Also a big thanks goes out to my partner in crime ( riveira ) for taking me down to Bowling Green and for being a partner in the ownership of our 1995 ZR-1 . I could not afford this car on my own but she has made it possible for myself and her to co own one of the most iconic cars to come out of BG and also one of the most comfortable and powerful car I have ever driven on the highway . Thanks Des ...
Also to all the ZR-1 fellow car owners who came to the event . You guys made it super special . My sides are still soar from laughing . I found out that there is counterfeit Jack Daniels out there so be careful . If you ever come to the next event I am sure our counterfeit specialist can show you how to spot the fake stuff ...

Tripler

[Riviera]

My partner, Tripler couldn't have said it better.One of the reasons we got a ZR-1 was due to the warm and welcoming reception we got on our first visit in 2014. It was even stronger this year now that we are owners. The support in the group is amazing. Track Day was a blast. Already looking forward to next year.

[Racinfan83]

Next year I get another week of vacation days at work. Maybe that will allow me to come down to BG for a couple days at least. Haven't been able to swing it yet but I want to...

[Tripler]

A small note on our drive home ...

Hope other's drive home went well . We had one glitch on our first refueling after leaving BG . After filling the car , it would not turn over ,,,dead other than full ability to open and close windows and all the dash lights worked with no fault codes . I pushed the car away from the pumps to a safe location and went through the owners manual and shop manuals to find the solution . I was just about to disconnect the neg side of the battery to reset the system when an awesome fella showed up and we decided on boosting the car first . Bingo ! Started right away . This is what happened to cause the engine to not start . The Passive Security System locked us out and killed the engine when the passenger door was not closed correctly when the car automatically locked the doors when I walked away from the car to pay for gas . The system is now off and we had no other issues with the car .
I had read somewhere on the forum that the security system was a bit flaky some times and we found out that it is ... Other than that our drive home went perfectly from there on . I will be installing our Mark Haibeck Chip today that we won at the silent auction at the NCM banquet ...

[BlackSheepz]

It really was an incredible event, and it was so great to meet so many people whom I had known by only alias's before. Even better than that, my wife had a GREAT time! That's great because that means we will be back next year. It was awesome to see all the things, ask all the questions and meet all the people. Truly a beautiful time had by all. We got to park with some other Red Corvettes... (the fastest are the red ones I'm told)


We got to see an engine that put out 475hp in 1992...


We got to park in the circle in front of the museum all the days...


We got to meet some people we knew only by Forum Alias's... (This is my wife with Jim at the touring laps)


We got to meet and listen to the Legendary Marc Haibeck speak...


AND we all got to have dinner in the Skydome (assuming you signed up for the banquet).


Easily one of the coolest Corvette events we have ever been to, and without a doubt we will be going back next year. Tripler is correct, the welcome is incredibly warm and you'll wonder why you didn't go before if you haven't been. Hope to see even more forum members AND everybody else next year!

[JimZRyd]

Thanks for the pics! Hate I had to miss it this year. Plan to be there next year with my 94 AB!

[Ahomans]

This was my first C4 Gathering and Mountain Run and it was really good. Lots of fun, interesting, friendly, and helpful people. I enjoyed it a lot, although it would have been more fun if my ZR-1 had been able to make it. Looking forward to the next event. And i will provide updates later on my ZR-1.

Al

[Kevin]

I'm going to try very hard to make it next year.

[Jagdpanzer]

So who can tell us more about this one?
Inquiring minds want to know.