Y2K5SRT
Enthusiast
Well, yesterday was a gorgeous fall day here in Kansas City. Our local Viper Club had been invited by one of the local Corvette clubs (there are at least three) to join them for the annual Toys For Tots charity ride. This HUGE event is now in it's 16th year and I was always under the impression it was for bikes only - largely Harleys. Turns out that all the car clubs are invited as well.
Most of us hooked up with the Corvette guys for breakfast. Of course it didn't stop us from having separate rooms in the restaurant, but what can you do? At least most of the cars were in one place:
We arrived and the place was packed with bikes with hundreds more arriving as we watched. I am guessing that they brought in over 2000 bikes/cars for this event, as well as the media, the US Marines, and several FedEx trucks to put it all together:
We parked where we could (next to the fire station) and chatted for a couple hours before getting ready for the ride. We have met up with this RT/10 a couple times before and we need to get him in the club. He wants to hook up with us for our events, but he left before we got him enrolled. What I find interesting is that he has had this car for a few months now and has NEVER put any plate on it - front or back! He has it in the car (under a seat) and says he has never been hassled for it. Wild.
As we are one of the clubs that welcomes associate membership, this Lotus is one of our regulars and one of our favorites to boot. Definitely a good day for yellow!
Everybody is getting ready to go after a delay in our departure (footnote). Here my lovely bride takes in the sun:
One of the coolest things was that we had a police ****** for the entire ride and they blocked off ALL of the streets and exits. We ran all the red lights too. Here they are holding back cars on one of the major highways:
Think those folks behind the cops were ticked off? Well I would probably be a little miffed if I was waiting on this parade:
And you can't even see the thousands of bikes in front...
After a long, slow drive and a surprisingly quick chili lunch and presentation from the Marines, a handful of us decided to head out and enjoy the beautiful day. We had donated a ton of toys for the cause and it was pretty fun overall. But I must say, once we could finally use second gear (and beyond), it was even more exciting!
We hit the twisties on a rural back road and it was awesome. Very hilly, curvy, and newer pavement. One new owner had to bail as his girlfriend was a bit freaked out by the whole thing. Understandable to be sure, and the reason you don't have any pictures of it. Now I did manage to get a couple pictures on the main highway as we made our return. Note that yellow and silver seem to be pretty popular (check out the other side of the road):
Of course that steel gray RT/10 with the chromed Startechs is just awesome:
So it was a great event overall with one very tragic footnote: While we were waiting to stage for the ride, one of the Corvette owners was standing near his car and had a massive heart attack. Despite being directly in front of the fire station and having access to three paramedics within seconds, they were not able to save him. He was all of 38 years old with his wife there by his side. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family.
Most of us hooked up with the Corvette guys for breakfast. Of course it didn't stop us from having separate rooms in the restaurant, but what can you do? At least most of the cars were in one place:
You must be registered for see images
We arrived and the place was packed with bikes with hundreds more arriving as we watched. I am guessing that they brought in over 2000 bikes/cars for this event, as well as the media, the US Marines, and several FedEx trucks to put it all together:
You must be registered for see images
We parked where we could (next to the fire station) and chatted for a couple hours before getting ready for the ride. We have met up with this RT/10 a couple times before and we need to get him in the club. He wants to hook up with us for our events, but he left before we got him enrolled. What I find interesting is that he has had this car for a few months now and has NEVER put any plate on it - front or back! He has it in the car (under a seat) and says he has never been hassled for it. Wild.
You must be registered for see images
As we are one of the clubs that welcomes associate membership, this Lotus is one of our regulars and one of our favorites to boot. Definitely a good day for yellow!
You must be registered for see images
Everybody is getting ready to go after a delay in our departure (footnote). Here my lovely bride takes in the sun:
You must be registered for see images
One of the coolest things was that we had a police ****** for the entire ride and they blocked off ALL of the streets and exits. We ran all the red lights too. Here they are holding back cars on one of the major highways:
You must be registered for see images
Think those folks behind the cops were ticked off? Well I would probably be a little miffed if I was waiting on this parade:
You must be registered for see images
And you can't even see the thousands of bikes in front...
You must be registered for see images
After a long, slow drive and a surprisingly quick chili lunch and presentation from the Marines, a handful of us decided to head out and enjoy the beautiful day. We had donated a ton of toys for the cause and it was pretty fun overall. But I must say, once we could finally use second gear (and beyond), it was even more exciting!
You must be registered for see images
We hit the twisties on a rural back road and it was awesome. Very hilly, curvy, and newer pavement. One new owner had to bail as his girlfriend was a bit freaked out by the whole thing. Understandable to be sure, and the reason you don't have any pictures of it. Now I did manage to get a couple pictures on the main highway as we made our return. Note that yellow and silver seem to be pretty popular (check out the other side of the road):
You must be registered for see images
Of course that steel gray RT/10 with the chromed Startechs is just awesome:
You must be registered for see images
So it was a great event overall with one very tragic footnote: While we were waiting to stage for the ride, one of the Corvette owners was standing near his car and had a massive heart attack. Despite being directly in front of the fire station and having access to three paramedics within seconds, they were not able to save him. He was all of 38 years old with his wife there by his side. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family.
