On Saturday December 12th OGSCC members met at the Patco Lindenwold Station to begin our food delivery run. Once everyone was there we were off to Deterding’s Market to pick up the food that they very generously sold to us at wholesale price. The two pick-up trucks we had each received a pallet of assorted food supplies.
From there we were off to the Atco United Presbyterian Church for our first delivery. OGSCC Vice President Ken Golden met us there with his pick-up filled with bread and bagels to be split between our two stops. The people at the church were very happy to see what we had brought them. They thanked us over and over and told that this would be a huge help for them.
Next stop was the The Angels Community Outreach in Pitman to deliver the other pick-up truck of food. We kind of overwhelmed them with what we had for them. They were very appreciate of our donation to them and we made short work of getting everything unloaded. From there we all went our separate ways.
Well done to everyone in the OGSCC for making this happen!
As 2020 is coming to a close, OGSCC is wrapping up a very busy November and here are some of the highlights in case you were not able to attend. The coming months our activities really slow down and ramp back up in the Spring, but we are closing out 2020 with a flurry of activity. In no particular order here goes!!
On Veteran’s Day we continued are support of the Vineland’s Veteran Home with a $500 donation. This brings our annual donations to this organization up to $700. Here is the thank you letter we received from them showing their gratitude. Thank You to all of the Club members and extended family members whom have served our Country.
Our Club participated in a regional car event to gather food for the WMMR 93.3 Camp Out For Hunger Food Drive. We had 6 Corvettes from the Club attend and a total of 30+ Corvettes from across the area. There was over 200 cars at the event, all delivering food for the event. The car community has a fun challenge to top each other every year. In 2019 the Corvettes donated 1,674 pounds of food, in 2020 Corvettes donated 6,860 pounds of food, a huge increase and we jumped over a bunch of other marques, including MINI, Mustangs, and Jeeps. 5,000 pounds of that food was directly from OGSCC, since we donated $1,000 to the event, which is converted into pounds towards the Corvette overall total. Below is a Facebook link to the Corvette line up at the event as well as some photos from the day and a thank you letter from Philabundance. The Club is not done with food donations, as we are planning to delivery food to area food panties across Southern NJ in early December. So watch your emails for dates, times and locations for those donations. https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.duda.1/videos/10224839808766302/
Later in the week on Wednesday, I attended the Camp Out For Hunger to discuss my business donation. Of course while I was live on the radio I made certain to mention OGSCC and the donation we made to the event. Check out this You Tube link and fast forward to listen and see the broadcast. Live Radio Broadcast, fast forward to 4 hour, 5 minute, 30 second mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXU67I80g6o&t=15188s
This past weekend had a bunch of things going on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday night the Club met at Target to buy toys for a donation to Toys For Tots at Johnson’s Corner Farm on Saturday.Due to some savvy buying and employee discounts we were able to buy over $4,000 retail value of toys for donations!! This is the most we have been able to buy in the past. Toys For Tots really needs it this year, not only related to the pandemic but they also lost over $5,000 worth of toys, due to water damage at their storage facility. So our donation really helped them this year. Here is a photo of the shopping crew and the loaded trailer.
Saturday was the donation day at Johnson’s. Johnson’s again rolled out the red carpet for our Club. Yes we arrived early, and it was good thing we did. We parked the trailer and our Corvettes in the front row of the event. By 10:30am the Johnson’s parking lot was over flowing with attendees. Folks did a great job of being safe and bringing toys along for the kids. Below are two videos, one of us unloading the trailer, which took nearly 20 minutes, and another video from the toy depot.
On Sunday, the group, High Octane of South Jersey, who hosts the Saturday morning Cars & Coffee in Mt. Laurel, hosted a road rally. We had two members attend the event, yet the event had over 40 cars in attendance. Just like the Saturday morning gatherings, everything on wheels was in attendance, from Miatas to Ferraris, it’s about driving fun cars. We left Mt. Laurel and rallied down to the Deauville Inn in Strathmere, NJ where we had a chance to grab a nice lunch.
On Sunday we delivered food and a donation to the WMMR Preston & Steve Camp Out For Hunger. This is the largest food drive in the Country and the kick start event is the car show on the Sunday before the event starts on Monday morning. This event is much larger than just our Club, and we had 6 Corvettes out to support the event. Car Clubs from across the region come together and support this event. If you recently attended the Sunday Cars and Coffee in Haddon Heights, you may have donated canned goods to Sinister Mopar Club, as they had been collecting food at that event for the past month. They arrived with a Dodge Ram 2500 pulling a large enclosed trailer filled with food.
Corvette owners were out in style, as many members from the Living The Dream Club were in attendance, as well as car from County Corvette Association an of course OGSCC. The photo of me with the our Club’s donation check is with the Director of Philabundance, and we are not done with food donations, as details on supporting South Jersey Food Banks will be coming soon. It was a fun time, even though it was a bit longer than expected due to the restrictions in past this year, but it was cool looking at all of the cool cars in attendance. I will also be attending this event again on Wednesday morning with my daughter Noelle. If you are able too, tune into WMMR between 9:15am and 10am, most likely closer to 9:30am, I am planned to make a live on air commentary about a donation from the company I work for, Tyson Foods. Tyson will be donating just over 1 and half truck loads of chicken to the event, and I will be certain to mention our local Corvette Club as well.
On Sunday, June 3rd the Original Garden State Corvette Club was invited to display our cars at the Gloucester City Day. Because the weather was so iffy only 6 cars were able to make it. There was a ballot box for people to vote on their favorite car . Gloucester gave out two trophies one for “Best of Show” and one for “Peoples Choice”. Anthony Palestini took “Best of Show” with his C7 grand Sport and Joanne & Steve Habek got the “Peoples Choice” for their C6 convertible.
As I came outside on Sunday morning to a bright sunny day I was ready to get on the road. A quick run down Rt 295 to the Aloft in Mt Laurel to meet up with the group for our trip. Everything was great, all my fluids were up to temperature and I had some heat in my Continentals. Once everyone was ready to go we were off to our next stop. As the only C4 in the group I was the oldest one there but I was the lead dog all the young whippersnappers would have to chase my tail lights today. We got out to the back roads to cut across to the Wawa through the farms and even some cranberry bogs. After a short stop at the Wawa where the last one met up with us we were off through the pines. All of my C5, C6 and C7 siblings right behind me even the one hotshot CZ7 riding behind the old guy. The two people with me were enjoying the ride and the scenery as we cruised along road. We soon arrived at our lunch stop at Breeze’s Bar & Grill off of Rt 9 in Tuckerton. The twelve of us just hung out in the parking area next to the marina with the sun and breeze on us. The people we brought with us had a nice lunch on the deck while watching the boats go in out. When they were done eating it was time to continue our trip so we were off again with me in the lead again. Rt 542 is a great road in South Jersey winding along the Mullica river to our next stop at Basto Village. A couple of us went their own way from our lunch stop and didn’t make it to Basto Village. After hanging out in the parking area while our people walked around to see the sights we called it a day and we all went our separate ways back to our homes.
On Friday night Oct 11 OGSCC members went on a shopping trip to purchase toys to be donated to the local U.S. Marines Toys for Tots drive. The club uses the money we raise from various club functions through out the year.
We started our trip on Friday morning October 28th with a ride to the Chesapeake House Travel Plaza in Maryland. Once everyone arrived we were off to the next stop. We got plenty of attention from the other travelers with the 8 Corvettes in a row. Upon arriving in Harpers Ferry and driving through town we discovered there wasn’t any place to park so we turned around and drove back through town to the highway. After a short distance we got to the next town and stopped for lunch. After lunch we picked up Rt 340 South to Luray Caverns. Some of us took the tour of the cavern and others just hung out, walked around and relaxed for awhile. From there we took a nice winding road across the hills on Rt 211 over to Rt 81 South down to our rooms in Staunton, VA. When all of us got checked in and unpacked our cars we went to dinner at a local restaurant. From there it was time to get a little R&R for the next day.
The first overlook on the Blueridge Parkway
The view from the Peaks of Otter Lodge
Saturday morning was warm and sunny for our ride down the Blueridge Parkway. We started at the North end where the Skyline Drive turns into the Blueridge Parkway for a 85 mile cruise South to the Peaks of Otter Lodge. Everyone was on there own to either stay with a group or go on your own to stop or drive as you pleased. Sometime after noon we all got together at the Peaks of Otter lodge for lunch. They were a little surprised when we told them we had 14 people in our group but were able to set up two tables for us. After lunch we walked around and enjoyed the warm weather before getting back on the road. Back on the road we traveled a little farther down the Parkway to Rt 43 to get to the Natural Bridge. The ride on Rt 43 was great it was only a 5 mile distance but it was almost all downhill with hardly any straight sections. The Natural Bridge is a scenic area with a lot of walking. We all walked around and enjoyed the sights and sounds for an hour or two. It was getting into the afternoon hours so it was time to head back to our hotel. A group of people went out to Cracker Barrel for dinner and had a rather extended meal.
Getting ready to go onto the track
On the track
Sunday morning we had breakfast, packed up and checked out of the hotel. The weather looked a little gray and cloudy but the sun was trying to break through. The Corvette train was lined up and off we went for the 112 mile run up to Summit Point Motorsports Park in W. Virginia. The route was mostly Rt 81 with a nice ride through the country on a winding two lane road with 55 mph speed limit. We arrived at the track fairly event free, we all signed in and met Chris White the Motorsports Director. Chris went over the rules with us we then followed him to the track we would be on. Chris led us on to the 14 turn 1.7 mile Jefferson Circuit for 4 laps. at the end of the 4 laps we pulled into the paddock area and were allowed to switch drivers if we wanted to for 4 more laps. We were told we would be going at highway speeds while on the track (the highway speed limit in the area is 70 mph) and I know I hit 70 a couple of times. With our laps complete we drove over to the main track and parked in the pit area. There was a place to get something to eat so we ate lunch. We were allowed to walk around and check out the cars that were racing and talk to the racers. I think everyone was getting tired and ready to go home. Leaving the track we all kind of went our own way for the trip home. It was a great trip with a great group of club members.
Today is Tuesday two days from the start of Corvettes at Carlisle 2016. OGSCC members will be planning, packing or even already driving for their annual pilgrimage to the Corvette mecca in Carlisle, PA. The OGSCC will have members from as far away as Florida and as close as a short 15 to 20 minute drive. We will take our traditional spot at the top of the hill overlooking the 60 plus years of every color Corvette along with all types of vendors. It will be a great weekend to find Corvette related items from the vendors or in the huge swap meet. I really enjoy seeing old friends and making new ones and best of all getting out on the road for a nice ride. I’m all ready to go the fuel tank is full, all my fluids are checked and the tire pressures set. Now I just have to wait for all the stuff for the trip to be tossed in the hatch and off we go. We will see you there, stop by and say Hi if you can make it up the hill!
On April 30th the first annual ‘Cruise Heights’ was held in Haddon Heights sponsored by the Haddon Heights Businessman’s and Professional Association. The event was hosted by The Original Garden State Corvette Club. DJ Al Snyder provided great oldies tunes. Really cool dash plaques were given out to all attendees. Trophies were presented by OGSCC for best Street Rod, best GM, best Ford, Best Mopar, best Import and best Corvette. There was a great collection of cars that made up the 38 cars that attended. We had 12 club cars as well.
Everyone was pleased with the first time event considering the weather up to the day of show was undecided. The HHBPA and OGSCC look forward to next year and building on this first time event. Thanks to all the OGSCC members who came out to support and assist in the event.
