1995 Chevrolet Corvette Indy Pace Car Convertible
Personal story and photograph submitted by owner Jim Egan - courtesy of the National Corvette Museum website - for participation in the National Corvette Museum 2008 Historic Motorama II.
Crossing the "YARD OF BRICK"
At the INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
I'm Jim Egan, CORVETTE FANatic. I first became a Founding Member of the National Corvette Museum (NCM) and in 2002 became a Lifetime Member. My local club is Corvette Cleveland, one of the oldest Corvette Clubs in existence founded in 1957 and a National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC) founding club. I serve as Corvette Cleveland's NCM Ambassador and have done so since 2002. I have achieved Master Ambassador status 2005-08 proudly. I am also a member of the Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Registry (PCR and have served on the PCR Executive Board.
I currently own 2 Corvettes: a 1982 Collector's Edition, 1 of 177 produced for Canadian Export, and a 1995 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Replica, 1 of 527, described below.
Corvette'ing is my #1 hobby with several areas of interest including collecting Corvette memorabilia from original sales brochures to Corvette hat pins and everything in between. My major concentration though would be Corvette Pace Car memorabilia. My most cherished item is an artist sketch of the '95 Pace Car presented to me by Corvette Pace Car Designer Randy Wittine.
Another favorite Corvette'ing activity is attending Events especially the NCM Events. Some of the NCM Events that I have attended include the 2002 50Th Anniversary Kick-Off Event, Annual NCM Labor Day Weekend Events, Corvette Pace Car Reunions 2001, '03, '05, '07; NCM organized Corvette Corrals at ALMS Races at Mid-Ohio and Road Atlanta, Performance Tour II, 2008 Pace Car Unveiling, the Detroit ZR1 Reveal, and C5-C6 Bash. In addition to those events my 1995 Pace Car was included in the Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration as part of the Evolution of Corvette Display in Nashville, Tennesse and Bowling Green, Kentucky in 2003.
I first saw the artist rendition of the 1995 Pace Car in Automotive News in the late fall of 1994. It was Love at First Sight............but how could I? I then owned a 1993 40th Anniversary Corvette with only 2,500 miles on it. As time went on I witnessed the first Pace Car arrival in the Cleveland area. Oh, If only I could! Later that summer I met a gentleman at a Cleveland Corvette Show that brought not 1 but 2 '95 Pace Cars to the Lake Front Show. One of the cars was a Canadian version, 1 of 25. WHY was I being so tempted?
In September of 1995 an invitation arrived for a Wine and Cheese Reception to introduce the 1996 Grand Sport. 700 invitees viewed the first Grand Sport east of the Mississippi. A Truckers Strike halted factory shipments. 699 people were in awe of the unique, powerful 330hp Grand Sport. The one other person, myself, could not take his eyes off the 1995 Pace Car off center stage on the showroom floor. I would look at the Pacer and walk away only to return and look from another angle. Eventually I looked at it from every angle possible. Was this meant to be?
A salesman approached and the dreaded process began. Fortunately I had several friends also at the event to keep me focused. As the wine and cheese disappeared everyone was in a festive mood. I established my only acceptable deal, my 40Th and x amount of dollars.
After several trips to his manager I saw the salesman half way across the Show Room floor extend his hand out to shake mine. I went NUMB! I knew this would be a Life Changing Experience.WAIT A SECOND! I said. I asked a friend to sit in the Pace Car and tell me what she thought. She responded : "She liked it,knew I thought the car was beautiful since seeing the original drawings, and I should get it. DONE DEAL!! It wasn't until I was driving home that I realized that while I had examined the Pace Car from every exterior angle, I had never even sat in the car. #447 of 527 would be mine! From that moment forward my life would be forever changed.
I feel Corvette'ing is what keeps me young at 53. When I am not spreading the word of the NCM or promoting Corvette I am a Landscape Designer and Contractor.
I feel very honored to have been selected as a participant in the NCM Historic Motorama II and General Motors 100th Anniversary. I am looking forward to seeing many old friends and making some new ones.
Save The Wave
Jim Egan
NCM Lifetime Member
NCM Master Ambassador
Corvette Cleveland
Maple Heights, Ohio
When GM celebrates the beginning of its next 100 years on September 16, 2008, 55 Corvettes will be on display outside its World Headquarters at Detroit’s Renaissance Center. The Corvettes are in fact the Historic Motorama II, a caravan from the National Corvette Museum (NCM) which is comprised of one example from each of the 55 years of Corvette production. The caravan will depart from the National Corvette Museum on September 10th with stops along the way. People attending the GMnext Day activities on September 16th will be able to view the Corvettes before and after the official program.
Look at the next Historic Motorama II Corvette participant, representing a cross-section of Corvette enthusiasts from across the country.
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