(SMC) How about a little story of Corvette Dreaming...Thanks Wayne Pope

jim482 · 06-12-2003, 01:00 AM

Hey Gang,
Sit back in your chairs and close your eyes for a few minutes. Relax and let the days worries drift away. Search back in your fondest memories. Remember the ones the sent you into the state of Corvette Dreaming. It all began somewhere. You saw that first Corvette zipping down the highway. The driver smiling with His or her hair blowing in the breeze. Or maybe, you saw Route 66 on TV and dreamed of being a Star for a day with the Corvette.
Others like myself could only look, hope, pray and wish to own a little piece of Heaven on earth. Like all magical wishes, they do sometimes come true.
I had the privilege of fueling the fire today for two of my girls. Natalie and Little Aimee had a distinct honor of getting a Corvette History Lesson today. As many of you know, Wayne Pope has been a Corvette Collector for years now. He is one man that has a Corvette Museum of his own. He is the only man I know to have at least one of each Generation Corvette in his collection. With that being said, Natalie approached me the other night and asked," How can you tell the difference in Each Generation Daddy?" Remembering that Wayne had all of the Generations, I approached him to give Natalie a History lesson Corvette Style. He graciously accepted.
Today, Natalie, Aimee, and I had the chance to get that History Lesson. Wayne smiled and started out Class with Photographs. On one wall of His garage, the 1953 corvette begins the journey. A pearl White Corvette with the famous red interior basking in the sunlight gleams for all to see. The legend began with a Dream so long ago. Next too it was another C1 photo. It was a 1955. Then another C1 and another C1. Natalie had her eyes glued to the photos and hanging on Wayne's words. Next came photos of the Midyear cars. A beautiful Coupe and then a Convertible Mid year had her imagination running wild. The C3's photos were next. One beautiful shark after another.
Pictorial history, Corvette Style.
Natalie had seen a Car covered when we walked into the garage. She was not sure what year it was. She did know however that is was Definitely a Corvette. After the picture history, Wayne showed Natalie a Brillant Red C3 shark. To my surprise, He said, "Sit down in it and Try it on for size....." :eek: My jaw hit the floor. I was gracious for the invitation just to let the girls look at the cars. The unexpected opportunity for Her to sit in it and stare was PRICELESS. She just sat there and grinned and grinned. Wayne had a twinkle in his eye when he saw her smiling.
After convincing her there was more to see, we headed over to the C1 and C2. This is where Aimee jumped into the mix. She asked me" Daddy, Can i sit in one of the Corvettes?". Considering Aimee is 7, I thought it would be best just for her to look and not touch. Wayne had other Ideas. While he let Natalie sit in a C2, He told me to let Aimee sit in the C1. Again, I was picking my jaw up off the floor.
Wayne and I started to talk car talk. All the while, Aimee is grabbing the steering wheel and smiling. She was driving the car with the wind whipping through her hair. She started making car engine noises. She was breezing down her own imaginary Highway. I could see the wheels in her little mind turning. A dream was in the making. Natalie in the mean time was gazing at the gauges and switches of the C2. Her little mind was racing with the awe of Corvette history, Real and at her fingertips. She slowly gripped the steering wheel to get the feel. Her eyes stared through the windshield and into the sunset picture her mind was painting. The gleam in her eyes told a story much brighter and more vivid than I could ever describe in words. She too, was Corvette Dreaming.
The Girls had another couple of treats in store. Wayne had another C1 that needed some engines noises. He took Aimee and Natalie to sit in it. Aimee could see out over the steering wheel of this one. Its seat sat higher than the rest. While the girls took turns sitting in this majestic C1, Wayne sat on a step and smiled. He was enjoying the moment. He too was Corvette Dreaming.
Natalie got one last treat. She had the privilege of seeing "The King of the Hill". Her eyes lit up like Rubies when Wayne pulled the cover off the car. The Red exterior matched perfectly with the Red interior had Natalie gogglely eyed and awe struck. Once the door was open and she was sitting inside, she felt at home. Yeah the fire was burning. The one that fuels desire. The one that kindles dreams into reality. My daughter was Corvette Bit...Big time.
Dreams are often started in mythical and magical places. A heart filled with desire burns with intensity. The intensity then leads to willingness to achieve.
It all starts with that one magic moment sitting behind the wheel of a Corvette whether real or imaginary and letting you hair blow in the breeze while holding the steering wheel....Yes, It is Corvette Dreaming.

Thanks Wayne for sharing your dreams with my girls. That is a class act. They will cherish the moments for a lifetime. Prayerfully, they can look back and thank you for sharing your dream with them as they cruise up and down the roads in their own Corvettes.... :thumbs:

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VERTAGO · 06-12-2003, 08:49 AM

EXCELLENT! GREAT! AWESOME!!! Thanks for sharing their dreams!

98Pace00Jeep · 06-12-2003, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Thanks Wayne for sharing your dreams with my girls. That is a class act. They will cherish the moments for a lifetime. Prayerfully, they can look back and thank you for sharing your dream with them as they cruise up and down the roads in their own Corvettes.... :thumbs:

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:iagree:

Great story Jim. Some of us are lucky enough, and have worked hard enough, to be able to make our dreams come true.... :cheers:

Tims94 · 06-12-2003, 08:58 AM

Wayne & Nancy pope were two of the first people we met when we joined the ETCC 4 years ago. They are two of the nicest, classiest people you could ever meet. I got to sit in Waynes '57 and remember I couldnt wipe the smile off my face either!

Thanks for sharing the story Jim and thanks to Wayne for sharing the dream. Both of you are great people that have a lot to share. :flag

roband · 06-12-2003, 10:02 AM

HOW :cool: !!! A precious memory for your girls. I don't recall the dates. But I sure do remember the feelings, watching Route 66 and dreaming about driving across country and about the same time my Uncle had a 56 or 55 not sure. He would take me rides when the family would visit and I would just be lost in a world of my own. I still have that dream today, I would like to drive 66, What's left of it. Thanks guys for jogging my memory. Do you remember the song" Funny how time slips away"? :cool: :cheers: :cheers:

CBall · 06-12-2003, 10:31 AM

Dang it, Jim!!! I've got a tear in my eye now :flag

That was truly beautiful. You have a gift with words that is becoming much more apparent here on the Forum; hope to see you use it more frequently! :yesnod:

Reading that took me back to some special times and places. I remember being very young mowing the yard with the yard tractor and pretending it was a Corvette I'd just seen going down the highway. I remember wanting a Vette so badly I could taste it; remember the raw excitement of getting my first one. I still feel the shiver of excitement when I drive mine now.

Jim, your words have revisited some wonderful things for me :thumbs: I hope the spark Wayne Pope lit in your daughters carries the torch from your legacy.

Corvette Dreamin? I'm there, buddy :thumbs:

:seeya

Frodo · 06-12-2003, 10:53 AM

Great story, Jim. It brings back my own memories of Corvette Dreaming. Like many my age the dream began with the TV show Route 66. It was reignited shortly after when a kid in my high school got a 67 Stingray. His car was the envy of every guy in school. After I graduated and was working I tried to buy a new Vette but I needed a co-signer for the loan and my mother refused. She knew I'd get myself in trouble with that car. At that point the car was beyond my reach so the dream took a back burner and life went on. I was nearly 50 when I realized (woke up was more like it) that I COULD have my dream. That was when I went looking and finally found Scarlett. I've been grinning ever since.

Thanks Jim for sharing your daughters' experience of Corvette Dreaming with us and thanks Wayne for sharing your dreams fullfilled with 2 youngsters who are building dreams of their own.

VERTAGO · 06-12-2003, 02:26 PM

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Dang it, Jim!!! I've got a tear in my eye now :flag

You 'ol softy you!!!!!!! I bet you're a romantic too ain'cha:D

P.S. me too:sad: ............ ;) :thumbs:

[Modified by Fotozen, 1:28 PM 6/12/2003]

gilbybarr · 06-12-2003, 08:45 PM

A great story....sounds like a day the girls will always remember. As far as Wayne, he has been a pillar of our East Tennessee Corvette Club for decades now. He has held just about every office in the club....year after year he and his wife Nancy win our club's Mr. and Ms. Corvette award....done on points credited for participation and sponsoring events, etc. They both deserve it! Wayne's collection of Corvettes and "stuff" is something else. His latest project is a '54 Hot Rod that has a custom made frame (fabricated here not bought) with C4 suspension, six speed trans, late model V8 from a new Camaro, custom interior, and 50th Anniversary paint job with chrome mag style wheels. It is coming together now....just painted and ready to be fitted out. With his OK I will post some pics when its ready. On a personal note, Wayne has helped me out of a number of jams given that he is super mechanically and I am a dunce. We took my '87 to Bloomington in 2001 and got a gold. Every year we and other guys from the club travel to Carslile and lots more. Long story short....its a pleasure to call him a friend.

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[Modified by gilbybarr, 8:07 PM 6/12/2003]

[Modified by gilbybarr, 12:26 AM 6/13/2003]

jim482 · 06-14-2003, 12:43 AM

Thanks for all the nice comments about the story. It was fun to write about the girl's experience. They both smiled when they read the story. Natalie especially agrees with the smiling and dreaming of driving her own vette.....

A daddy could not be prouder :D :D :D :D :D

Boo383 · 06-14-2003, 01:31 AM

Great Story!! Reminds of how blessed we are to have Corvettes of our own. It truly is a dream come true. I remember thinking how I could never afford one. Finally all that dreaming became motivation and now I have 2 of my own and am still dreaming of obtaining a C5. There is no replacement for a Corvette. :chevy