April 29th

Up at 2.30 am!!!!!!! On the road. Called in at Gotech/Frankston pick up Bert's Corvette then off we go. 4.00am Great drive! Being Good Friday, No Traffic. Called in at Horsheim "McDonalds" and found Jim & Georgie Gramms, John and Martha, so we teamed up from there. Some video footage is available. See Murray. Finally, pulled into "The Chiffley". Lots of "Vets" already there. Settled into our rooms. Then down to the BBQ, very nice, good to catch up with all the regulars, then the "loud" shirt party. Bob Lyn had a GREAT orange shirt. Murray had a Mambo shirt, the winners won Easter eggs. Then the gutter party continued all night.

April 30th

Up at 6.30am Cleaned cars, breaky, and then 8.30am full procession through to "Torrens Parade Ground" what a great roll up of cars. Too early to have a final count yet. But just wait!. Polishing, cleaning and exchanging stories is well underway. 84 estimated "on show" cars. There were others parked off the grounds, so, maybe 90 cars. The weather is just superb. Lovely 23 degrees not too hot, slight breeze. All cars were judged. By 3.00pm went back to our room. Oh! As usual, us girls went shopping through Rundle Mall. Really different style of clothes girls!. All the girls (from different states) agreed on this point. Tonight we have the "Jungle Cruise" on "Popeye Cruise Boats" over the Torrens river. Excellent journey. Arrived at Adelaide Zoo for our private showing of the animals. Lions, leopards, tigers and the biggest pelican you have ever seen. What a perfect night to dine out in the "Rotunda". The food and wine was EXCEPTIONAL!. And the After Dinner Dancing was very entertaining. Only for the night to end at 11.45pm, Bendy Bus trip home and bed. Early start again, outside the "Chiffley". 8.30am ready for the "Super Cruise" to the winery. Groups were broken up by team leaders with orange flags on the rear of their car (in case we got lost!). We proceeded down South Terrace heading West. Followed the express way to Noarlunga and then we exited at Reynella. Continued down the B23 to Yankalilla Sports Club and oval. All cars lined up and we got a few great shots. Morning tea, then off towards Normanville then on to Cape Jarvis at Delamere. We turned left, headed for Victor Harbour. Magnificent views and crystal blue waters. Massive Easter crowd as we drove through VH. Cruised on to Willunga Hill then finally stopped at Pennys Hill Winery for lunch. Excellent food and wine in a big marquee from here, people left at their leisure back to the Motel. Rested, and prepared for the "presentation dinner" at the Renaissance Centre in town. I know there were some people "disappointed" that there were no "car events" as such, but, we found that this "Super Cruise" was absolutely tremendous, fabulous roads and scenery. We would be very surprised if you were still disappointed after this cruise. Jumped on to the "bendy busses" again to the Renaissance Centre dinner. After entree, the presentations began. The trophies were absolutely spectacular. The Categories were as follows:1st, 2nd & 3rd were in C1, C2 and C3. 1st, 2nd & 3rd were in C4 & C5StandardModifiedPersonal.

	The First prize was a gold plated main gear out of a Corvette diff, with a clock mounted in the centre with South Australia Convention logo. Second Prize was a polished piston con rod mounted on a timber plaque. Third Prize is a model car with 2 flags crossed behind it on a timber plaque. The “longest travel” was a small drive shaft mounted on a timber plaque. The “Encouragement” Award was 2 crossed gold plated spanners on a wooden plaque. “Under Bonnet Engine Bay” Prize was a large Corvette engine replica mounted on a timber plaque. There were Six NSW entrants and four were winners: First: Mick and Tania Bass (STD in C1,2 & 3) Second: Gary Sykes (Personal in C4,5) Third: Geoff Sutherland (Original C4 & 5) also (Best Interior C4 & 5) Second: Murray & Wendy Forman (Modified C4 – 5) They had carachteratures of C1, C2, C3 & C4, which were all auctioned off from $90.00 through to $285.00. A jacket (only 1) $780.00 Each table had a centre piece which was bid for and the Formans won their centre piece at their table. The meal was superb and the party finished at 1.00am. What a night! Fantastic. Good on you South Australia, Top Show. 1.59am hit the sack! “ZZZZZZZzzzzzz”
1^st April 2002	Easter Monday. 8.30am Farewell brunch BBQ. Lovely to see a big rollup. Some left very early to go home and didn’t make the BBQ. It will be great to all get together in Canberra next year. See you there.
	At the previous Convention Nev Solomon (QLD) said “it’s the people that make a Convention. The cars are just a Catalyst for everyone to get together”. The SA Corvette club did an absolutely tremendous job organising this Convention and Wendy and I did congratulate them on a fine effort. It was a great “THUNDER DOWN UNDER”. Speaking to ACT Committee, next year is the 50^th ANNIVERSARY OF CORVETTES and seeing we are only 3 hours away, and NSW, being the largest member club in Australia, surely, we should be able to get more cars than SIX (6) and ten (10) entrants turn up. Canberra is a very small club and needs our support by our attendance because, if the numbers diminish, the idea of a Convention will not survive. If you have any ideas that may assist ACT, please notify any of your Committee Members so they can pass the info on. Once again! FANTASTIC “THUNDER DOWN UNDER”