RGGregory

Engineering Manager/Mechanical Engineer specializing in submarine weapons systems, effects of underwater explosions on submarine sysetms, and Anti-Submarine Warfare tactics and concepts of operations.

6T5RUSH

Blk63Vette,

Great topic! Thanks for kicking it off. What an interesting cross section of careers/life experiences!

Me? I'm a #s guy. Been in Finance all my life in the automotive supplier manufacturing sector. Turning 65 this year and planning on unplugging from my work in September...do plan on kickin' back for the balance of this year and set my sights on something new (more than likely my '5 will be involved, HA!).

Been married to my sweet heart and continuing to grow to be each other's best friend for 40 years. We have 3 sons who truly are givers and who have struck out on their own, have all married great gals and we now have 8 grandkids! Wow, what did we start!

Been a car nut all my life. Can still remember as a 4 to 5 year old playing in the dirt around bushes pushin those little heavy metal cars around! Bought my '5 in '81 sight unseen. Was (and still is) a true #s matching (meaning the original block, trans, rear, and frame all have the same VIN #). For more on my '5, check the C2Registry here for a more detailed story:

http://www.c2registry.org/index.php?...day=2006-01-20

Really enjoy working on this '5 and when I get myself over my head I'm always keying into this forum with my hat in my hand asking for advice/how to do it. Find myself most of the time just lurkin' and reading here. If I could contribute I would but there are far too many of you with a helluva' a lot more expertise and experience. I am constantly learning here...and enjoying every minute!

My current project on the '5 is starin' me in the face on a table in the garage. Gonna' add Classic Auto Air (took my cues from subfixer) and replace my dash pads with new dash skins b/4 spring. Doing this with a view of getting more seat time like LouieM and magicV8...taking some longer trips and seeing this great country.

This '5 is a love/hate relationship. I truly believe wrenchin' on her has been therauputic (sp?) for me. After number crunchin' all day, coming home and shedding those office clothes for some old pair of jeans/t-shirt and grabbin' wrench to turn on my '5 is rewarding.

Hey ghostrider20, you have an interesting profession and one I envy. Heck, you get to fly not only in the air but also on the ground with that 365 coupe. Nice! I'm sure glad that you young guys have the wherewithall to figure out a way to get into these C2's 'cause they are not a cheap entry level Vette anymore!. You, Allcoupedup and Ryan65 (HAPPY B-DAY Ryan!) are doing it right and enjoyin the best stylin' Vette made! Ryan, I've got to look you up the next time I visit my son in Granger.

Thank you All for your input.

Regards,

Jim

dropTopTx

Im 37 and grew up cruising with my dad in the 62. I remember starting my vette fund when I was 9 but I didnt fund it very well so my first ride was a 77 chevy pickup. Had always "helped" Dad work on the family cars and had to fix the truck when it broke. I've always approached it with the mindset of if I pay attention while I take it apart I ought to be able to get it back together. Worked well so far but I also know my limits. Had somebody else rebuild the rear end since I have never been involved in opening one up.

Got the 62 in 93 when my dad passed away. Didnt do much with it for almost 10 years while I got married, had 2 kids and then finally saved for the rebuild so I could do it with cash.

As for career Im a VP of Professional Services in a software company for the energy trading and risk management space. Business development, contract negotiations, project oversight, client relationship management.

kellyw66

I have a 67 coupe and I laid a heck of alot of carpet to get it!

Rob Musquetier

Hi,

i'm 38 years of age, living in the Netherlands. I'm a self employed IT Project Manager working at headoffices of the major Dutch banks implementing all kinds of financial systems.

I love working on our Crown Sapphire/White/Turquoise '59 Vette and recently bought a 69 BB Yellow Daytona/Black convertible as a next project.

Visit www.musquetier.nl/C1_Site to read all about importing and restoring the car. The story continues on http://www.c1registry.com/index.php?...id=1&order=asc

greetings,
Rob.

PS I also develop the C1 & C2 Registry and are acting chairman of the Dutch Chapter of the NCRS (i/o)

Bill J

Retired from the Navy 10 years ago. Went to work for the local school system. Plan to buy an auto related business in a couple of months and start a third career. Bought my first Vette, a 58, in high school back in 62. Have had about 40 different ones since then including a 63 Z06 and a 69 L89. I wish I had those two back. I think the Z06 went for $1800 and the L89 for $3200.

Currently have 4 63's (3 FI), 65 BB coupe, 66 BB air vert, 61 and a very late 69 I bought new. My most recent purchase was a 63 Fuelie roadster I owned back in 72-73 but that is another story. Very interesting thread.

Falcon05Dad

I'll be 55 in June and I manage the cell phone program for a national cash register company based in Dayton OH. I'll be doing an early out in October to begin my own business in Tennessee and watch our 11 month old grandson grow up.

My wife and I purchased our first Corvette, a '64 White/Navy 300hp Coupe, just after we were married in 1974 and sold it five years later when our first child was born. We made $1K on the car and thought we were in heaven!

Four years ago when we became empty nesters, we bought our '64 Ermine White/Tan 365hp Coupe with factory air and PW in Dublin CA. Last year, we bought a '01 Navy Blue/Light Oak Coupe from fellow Forum member, NavyC5 (Ryan).

We really enjoy the styling of the midyear along with the comfort and performance of the C5.

A 31 year marriage to a gal who still makes me laugh, two great kids, a special grandson, and two Vettes. Life can't get much better!

Greg

mid-year crisis

...Been a cop for 17 years, 38 years old, single. Traded my '67 ragtop camaro up for "the car of my dreams"..'65 roadster high hp w/air. I've been doing mechanical work on cars for years, now it's a stress reliever for me. Can't afford to do all I want to with the car, but drive it often as I can anyway. GOD BLESS AMERICA

Steve

ragtopman

....growing up in Alaska, and a 4 yr. stint as a CH-53 mechanic in the Marines. Moved to S.C. in 2001 cause theres just so many cars to be had in Ak., along with the 7 months of ice, cold and snow and being 48 yrs. young this year its not getting any easier. Been doing paint and body work for more yrs. than I care to remember which has allowed me to aquire what I have now, and being a gearhead for most of my life didnt help matters any.

By the way, excellent thread and nice to meet all of you that have chimed in.

65 goldline

I am 52 and work for G.M. as a tool and die maker at a stamping facility in Indiana. I have a nassau blue / white 65 coupe.
My very understanding wife of 28 years and I have raised our three children, two nephews, and are raising a 13 year old boy who is like a grandson to us.
A BIG THANKS to all of the forum members for sharing their knowledge on corvettes.

devildog

Well, this thread has been great to read, so I will keep it going. I have noticed that most are in their 50s or 30s...a generation apart. I am in the 50s bunch and glade a few are older than me. As for you guys in the 30's bunch, I have shoes older than you. But, so pleased we have a mix of ages.

Although many of my contemporaries are retiring, I have years of contracts ahead. I have a company in Russia that supplies big pipeline metering systems and fuel and control systems for "BIG BLOCK" turbines (25,000hp) that compress the gas and pump the crude in the pipelines. I also am making gearheads out of a couple of my young Russian engineers...next project is a SB 63 Volga sedan!

I have a 61 283 270hp (Sateen Devidog) that I have had for 38 years. I bought it because the other HS pilots had money and new Vetts to drive to the flight line. I bought from the original owner who was my squadron exec. in the late 60s. He was getting sent to SE Asia and wanted $1400, I only had $1,000, so we made the deal...if I saw him again, I would give him the other $400. I will !

I drove it to BG Forum Cruise In from Houston last May because 427HotRod (Jim) asked me. We are preparing to go again May 24 with about 20 Vetts. Any of you East of the Pecos are welcome to come with us...contact me or 427HotRod.

msm

I am 36 yers old, married with 3 kids, and on my 2nd Corvette. The first was a 2001 ZO6. When the mid-year of my dreams came along 2 years ago at the right price, I sold it and bought the '66 roadster. I didn't know anything about motors then, but I'm just about finished buliding a 427 for it from original parts I've been collecting since I bought the car. Building a motor for a mid-year was one of my dreams from childhood. Does anyone need a running L78 (396/375) from a '67 Camaro (pad intact!)

Growing up, my dad always had a Corvette and was doing something to it (cam change, racing stripes, etc). He currently has a '77, which I take great pleasure in teasing him about.

As for the question in the first post of this thread about "working men" driving these cars...I am an active duty Army officer and heart surgeon, just returned from a tour in Afghanistan. Does that count?

grandsport13

I'm a Maintenance Manager with the US Postal Service. I have a 64 (which by the way,I just ordered a teakwood for!) I love
doing all the wrenching on it, even if it takes me more than once to get it right. Got a 365 from Hemmings Motor News and put it in, now it's back to the way it came from the factory, even if it's not original. Your not alone Pete, you have tons of company!

Michaelw

Great topic when reading the diversity of people! I guess I am one of the younger ones around here with my age of 28.

My nationality is Dutch and coming from Enkhuizen a small harbour city in the north-west of the Netherlands. After finalizing my studies in International Trade & Marketing Management I left my home country (temporarily) to work on my career abroad. From 2000 till 2005 June I lived constanly in Budapest - the capital of Hungary - and was in my last job Business Development Manager for a large Dutch logistical company. For the same employer I moved to Istanbul - Turkey in July 2005 where I am now General Manager of the Turkish logistical and transport operation. We run around 150 trucks on the route Holland - Turkey, around 700 trucks in Central & Eastern Europe and operate 250.000 sqm of distribution centre capcity spread over Holland, Hungary, Romania and Turkey.

Since my chilhood a big fan of the Vette and preferably the C2. Due to my job I was able to buy a C2 in 2004. She is and will stay in The Netherlands, where I visit her and my family every two months and work on step by step restauration. I love to do everything myself, but due to me living abroad I have to let some repairs happen by specialist otherwise she will never be finished.

Since November I am being the webmaster for the C2 registry, this to still keep my Vette fever running and learning more about the vettes when being abroad.

Groeten,

Michael

DansYellow66

I'm 54 - soon to be 55 in two months and eligible to retire (if I want). I work as a licensed civil engineer for the Corps of Engineers managing construction & construction contracts. I started with them fresh out of school. I was around far enough back to develop a Corvette fetish when the C-2 was still new to the street. I still remember riding along with my Dad and watching a 63 or 64 lane change in front of us on the Kansas City freeway. Nothing could pull off a lane change in those years like a Corvette - it's transition was so fluid, stable and smooth - it instantly caught my attention. This was in comparison to the days that my friends Mom's Lincoln Continental would squeal the tires and wallow all over the place just simply changing lanes. Soon I was in High School in Overland Park Kansas and big block Corvettes were pretty common. I remember loading groceries into the back of a 66 427 Coupe at the supermarket - a black 427 Coupe at our school, minus hubcaps and on it's second or third paint job already - many 327 cars. Lots of neat cars running around. I wish I had bought one of each up in the seventys and held on to them.

Dan

61driver

I told a kid who asked how I could afford my car...I replied if he saved $2000 a year for 20 years..... like I did, he could buy one too!! He looked at me like I was nuts, then drove off in his $35,000 diesel pickup.

327Heaven

Time for this 56 year old coot to pipe in. I have worked in the Hawaiian Agriculture Industry for over thirty years. Prior to that I spent 8 years in Southern California going to college and generally raising hell, drinking excessively, chasing women, and getting my first taste of corvette fever. Fast forward to now as I have been employed mostly in Sr. Management positions and was lucky enough to have lived and worked on four different islands during my career. Travelled a lot to the mainland and far east during that period as a company consultant/learner of new technologies/purchasing heavy equipment for sugar and pineapple operations. I managed a 25,000 acre sugar plantation in Kauai during the 80's and early 90's which was the height of my career. Unfortunately, the industry was/is in a tailspin as foreign competition has taken over the market. I am now semi-retired and doing some minor consulting work but I am looking forward to a different and challenging career in the near future. As a single parent starting in 1983 I put my corvette interests on hold to raise three wonderful kids. As they are now grown, educated and have flown the coop I have resumed my passion for corvettes. I now own a much modified 64 coupe. Previously owned corvettes have been a 1966 427/450, a 1961 pro-street, a 1978 Silver Anniversary, and my current ride, who also serves as my part time mistress

Woodie

I am a half retired Construction Carpenter/welder. I owned my own Conmapny for the last 16 years. NYS insurance and unfriendly taxes made me make a decision to get out while I owed No one. Years ago I had put a little money in with a retirement broker. If he made money he was beating on my door for more. If he lost I couldn't get a phone call back. I decided Not to keep my wallet in someone elses hand and started buying cars for my retirement. I am now fixing them up and selling them off one by one. It's sure costing a lot to fix these up correctly now though. I'm wondering if I shouldn't just sell them as is and the warehouse full of engines and parts. Ah, I say that, but I enjoy completing a car, driving it a little, making sure the bugs are gone and then selling and moving to the next one.
My personal driver is now a 67 Lyndale/Teal( Leather) conv.( BLUE TOP) with PS, PB, PW, Tele, Bolt-ons ( REPRO) side pipes, hard top, tinted glass. I pulled the orig.327/350 which was smoking to rebuild. Then wanted to drive it before machinst could get to so- I had a fresh 383 stroker small block and a new set of alum heads - Wala back to driving in 2 days and I am SOOOO happy with this combo except for the Baryy Grant which GULPS GAS, but goes like hell, pulls like a BB. I haven't even done anything with the original engine just sitting on a stand.
I insert a picture But I can't figure out how to?

67L36Driver

TTT
Wonderful thread.
Over 50 geezers outnumber wipersnappers about 4 to 1.

Kid can't save that much money, he has to make $6-8 K/year truck payments. The "I want it NOW" generation.

dusseaud

I'm 41, married with 2 children. I reached my 'midlife crisis' early and began a desperate search for a hobby for myself. I started off by taking sailing lessons and purchased a used sailboat. Found this a little boring, so began to take flying lessons, which was fun, but the industry has become too expensive to be practical. Last year I purchased my 67 red roadster, and I've finally found my formal hobby.

I have an undergrad in accounting and an MBA. I left a job as an IT Director of a healthcare organization to start my own Healthcare IT company. Although not as stable, I'm able to call my own shots and enjoy my new found hobby under my own terms.