Just in by Gary........
Car enthusiasts Gumther Ketzor, Rob McDonnell, John Patst and Neil Bailey at the weekend National Corvette Convention in Wollongong.
Corvettes rule at the Easter parade
BY SHANNON TONKIN
09 Apr, 2012 04:00 AMMotoring enthusiasts were treated to a rare - and expensive - sight on Saturday, with more than 100 buffed and polished Corvette cars taking pride of place on Wollongong’s Flagstaff Hill.
The motoring spectacle was part of the 24th annual National Corvette Convention, showcasing almost 60 years of makes and models from the popular General Motors brand over a period of two days.
NSW Corvette Club president Gary Nelson estimated the combined value of the cars on show was between $8million and $10million.
‘‘It’s a wild guess, but when you look at the cost of the cars and all the money that’s gone into restoring some of the earlier ones, the bill definitely adds up,’’ Mr Nelson said.
As did the number of hours it took owners to prepare their cars for the ‘‘show and shine’’ event.
‘‘Some guys have had their cars in garages preparing them for weeks.
‘‘Some of these cars would have four or five coats of polish on them- at two hours per coat.’’
But it was not just the shiny exteriors that were heavily scrutinised, with Corvette judges also casting expert eyes over the interior finishes of the cars and their power under the bonnet.
Mr Nelson said it was rare to get so many Corvettes in the one place at the one time.
‘‘To get them together - so many cars like this - it doesn’t happen often,’’ he said.
But the owners made the most of it, with social events taking up Friday and Saturday evenings.
Then there was time for a leisurely drive up Macquarie Pass, along the Hume Hwy to Bulli Tops and the Seacliff Bridge.
