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Corvair Houston H.O.T. 2013
2013 Heart of Texas Corvair d’Elegance by Greg Wrobleske
This marks the 17th year for “Heart of Texas” and the theme for the event was “Corvair d’Elegance. The vision for the event was to make this event as grand as the Texas d’Elegance event held yearly featuring some of the finest vehicles in the country. Corvair Houston’s mission was to feature the fineness Corvair’s from Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado in d’Elegance style and with Concours judging. Our setting was to use the same resort that the Texas d’Elegance used, the beautiful La Torrretta Resort and Spa located on Lake Conroe north of Houston, Texas. While we didn’t make the Velocity channel as they did, we did reserve more rooms and have larger banquet attendance than they did!
Our Friday arrivals were welcomed in our hospitably room with a canvas emergency kit gift bag and full display of the 100 plus door prizes to be given away at Saturday’s banquet. We would also be raffling off a Texas Corvair custom cooler featuring Texas-made Wine/Beer/Food. Our second raffle item was donated by Snap-On Tools was an electronic juke box. Due to the number of vehicles and an early morning car show we began staging vehicles around the lagoon Friday night until dusk. After the vehicles were staged participants were welcomed into the Energie Bar for socializing and karaoke.
One could not have asked for a more beautiful day than Saturday morning. It was a cool crisp morning. There’s nothing like walking out on my 20th floor balcony and seeing below the crescent arrangement of Corvair’s below surrounded by the lake. We had the honor of having six notable judges from the Houston area. The judges have judged at the Texas d’Elegance, Keels and Wheels and Amelia Island. They know and have judged Classics, Pierce-Arrows, Duesenburgs, Cords, etc. The judges were to judge the Corvairs by class on a ten point scale. Owners needed to be present to open the hood, trunk and doors. The judge would interview the owners. They had two hours to judge and the 1st place winners would be announced and given a blue ribbon. The winner’s would leave first for the rally and would return first so that their vehicle would be displayed in the courtyard at the Resort. The winners were:
1. Best of Show Mike and Pati Dobie 1966 Yenko Stinger
2. Early Open Mark and Waynette Clark 1963 Monza
3. Early Closed John and Ann Martin 1964 Monza coupe
4. Late Open Greg and Sandra Wrobleske 1965 Monza
5. Late Closed Matt and Kim Feehery 1966 Corsa
6. 4 Door Geary and Debra Grimes 1964 Monza
7. Forward Control Steve and Marty Kirkton 1965 Greenbrier
After the car show we started an econo-run rally through the Sam Houston National Forest to Yankee’s Grille and Tavern about one hour from the Resort. This is a favorite stop for motorcycles and antique cars. We arranged for the Corvair’s to be displayed on the grounds of the restaurant and the participants enjoyed Texas BBQ and grilled chicken. The guest at the Tavern were encouraged to help us vote for the “People’s Choice”. Once the voting was over and the lunch was finished the rally returned to the Resort.
Our Friday arrivals were welcomed in our hospitably room with a canvas emergency kit gift bag and full display of the 100 plus door prizes to be given away at Saturday’s banquet. We would also be raffling off a Texas Corvair custom cooler featuring Texas-made Wine/Beer/Food. Our second raffle item was donated by Snap-On Tools was an electronic juke box. Due to the number of vehicles and an early morning car show we began staging vehicles around the lagoon Friday night until dusk. After the vehicles were staged participants were welcomed into the Energie Bar for socializing and karaoke.
One could not have asked for a more beautiful day than Saturday morning. It was a cool crisp morning. There’s nothing like walking out on my 20th floor balcony and seeing below the crescent arrangement of Corvair’s below surrounded by the lake. We had the honor of having six notable judges from the Houston area. The judges have judged at the Texas d’Elegance, Keels and Wheels and Amelia Island. They know and have judged Classics, Pierce-Arrows, Duesenburgs, Cords, etc. The judges were to judge the Corvairs by class on a ten point scale. Owners needed to be present to open the hood, trunk and doors. The judge would interview the owners. They had two hours to judge and the 1st place winners would be announced and given a blue ribbon. The winner’s would leave first for the rally and would return first so that their vehicle would be displayed in the courtyard at the Resort. The winners were:
1. Best of Show Mike and Pati Dobie 1966 Yenko Stinger
2. Early Open Mark and Waynette Clark 1963 Monza
3. Early Closed John and Ann Martin 1964 Monza coupe
4. Late Open Greg and Sandra Wrobleske 1965 Monza
5. Late Closed Matt and Kim Feehery 1966 Corsa
6. 4 Door Geary and Debra Grimes 1964 Monza
7. Forward Control Steve and Marty Kirkton 1965 Greenbrier
After the car show we started an econo-run rally through the Sam Houston National Forest to Yankee’s Grille and Tavern about one hour from the Resort. This is a favorite stop for motorcycles and antique cars. We arranged for the Corvair’s to be displayed on the grounds of the restaurant and the participants enjoyed Texas BBQ and grilled chicken. The guest at the Tavern were encouraged to help us vote for the “People’s Choice”. Once the voting was over and the lunch was finished the rally returned to the Resort.
Saturday evening events started with a cocktail reception in the courtyard with the first place winner’s award presentation. Each winner was interviewed and asked to tell something about themselves, how they acquired the car, any details about the car and then presented with their trophy. The participants then moved into the banquet room for dinner, awards and door prizes. Other awards were given:
1. 2nd Early Open Rich Ribble 1963 Monza
2. 2nd Early Closed Pat Silver 1964 Coupe
3. 2nd Late Open Charles and Joy Blanton 1965 Corsa
4. 2nd Late Closed Ricki and Sally Jannise 1965 Corsa
5. 2nd 4 Door Corbin and Flora Tayloe 1966 Monza
6. 2nd FC Ed and Julie Murphy 1965 Greenbrier
7. Hard Luck Matt Bruns
8. Best Interior Jerry and Loretta Kelly
9. Best Engine Dave and Gail Brown
10. Best Paint Sam Baker
11. Work-in-Progress Jim and Dee Watkins
12. Most Modified Lauren Capron
13. Wing-n-Prayer Todd Hasfjord
14. Longest Drive Timothy Shortle (Durango, CO)
15. People’s Choice Ed and Julie Murphy 1965 Greenbrier
16. 1st Econo Run John and Ann Martin 27.69
17. 2nd Econo Run Jim and Dee Watkins 27.66
18. Gas Guzzler Ed Murphy 1965 Greenbrier
Sunday morning we had one last surprise before departing home. We arranged a trip to the Thomas Ranch. This is a family working farm of 3,300 acres. The owner Bill Thomas is a car hobbyist. Bill was a high teacher for ten years when they discovered gas on the farm. Bill collects horse carriages, full-size trains, and antique cars. We enjoyed brunch in his Carriage House and then he opened his home for a tour of the antiques and the floor to ceiling pipe organ room. He saved this organ from a church about to be torn down in downtown Houston. He has a full restoration shop on the property with cars in different stages of restoration; Cadillac’s, Dodge’s, Chevy’s, Fire Trucks, military vehicles and even motorcycles. What a great finale to a great Corvair Event! Even Bill became a Corvair owner with the purchase of a Rampside from the Dallas area. Yes, this was a Corvair d’Elegance weekend to remember.
1. 2nd Early Open Rich Ribble 1963 Monza
2. 2nd Early Closed Pat Silver 1964 Coupe
3. 2nd Late Open Charles and Joy Blanton 1965 Corsa
4. 2nd Late Closed Ricki and Sally Jannise 1965 Corsa
5. 2nd 4 Door Corbin and Flora Tayloe 1966 Monza
6. 2nd FC Ed and Julie Murphy 1965 Greenbrier
7. Hard Luck Matt Bruns
8. Best Interior Jerry and Loretta Kelly
9. Best Engine Dave and Gail Brown
10. Best Paint Sam Baker
11. Work-in-Progress Jim and Dee Watkins
12. Most Modified Lauren Capron
13. Wing-n-Prayer Todd Hasfjord
14. Longest Drive Timothy Shortle (Durango, CO)
15. People’s Choice Ed and Julie Murphy 1965 Greenbrier
16. 1st Econo Run John and Ann Martin 27.69
17. 2nd Econo Run Jim and Dee Watkins 27.66
18. Gas Guzzler Ed Murphy 1965 Greenbrier
Sunday morning we had one last surprise before departing home. We arranged a trip to the Thomas Ranch. This is a family working farm of 3,300 acres. The owner Bill Thomas is a car hobbyist. Bill was a high teacher for ten years when they discovered gas on the farm. Bill collects horse carriages, full-size trains, and antique cars. We enjoyed brunch in his Carriage House and then he opened his home for a tour of the antiques and the floor to ceiling pipe organ room. He saved this organ from a church about to be torn down in downtown Houston. He has a full restoration shop on the property with cars in different stages of restoration; Cadillac’s, Dodge’s, Chevy’s, Fire Trucks, military vehicles and even motorcycles. What a great finale to a great Corvair Event! Even Bill became a Corvair owner with the purchase of a Rampside from the Dallas area. Yes, this was a Corvair d’Elegance weekend to remember.
