177 replies to this topic

[HUTCH]

I hate to see an empty topic on this board so I'll start this off...

I'm John "Hutch" Hutchinson and I'm the owner/general manager/chief cook and bottle washer of the Grand Sport Registry. That's a mouthful so I prefer "GSR Skunkmaster."

My wife Patti (aka, the VetteVixen) and I own two Grand Sports... hers (#707) is a stock bleeder convertible and mine (#633) is a highly modifed bleeder coupe. We've owned ~18 Corvettes over the years, from a '58 to a '02 Z06 convertible conversion, but the GS's are still our all time favorites.

When I dream its of Admiral Blue skies with Arctic White clouds and Torch Red sunsets. But don't we all?

OK, your turn...

GSR MEMBERS... please introduce yourself here!

[Tuna]

I'm Alton "Tuna" Dobbins. I have a reverse grand sport (RGS) based on a 1992 coupe. This is my first Corvette. My wife Susan is on her 4th Vette.

I've owned my 92 since new in October 91. It started out basic artic white. In 96, I did the first RGS stripe and hashes. In 2000, the original white was looking a little dull, so I had the whole car repainted and used a variation in Cadillac white diamond with 98 pace car radar blue for the stripe, hashes are torch red. It got the 11 ZR1 wheels and fender flares in early 2003. Late last year, it got a motor upgrade with LT4 heads/intake, LT4 HotCam and a general rebuild. The red intake looks nice under the hood. Runs pretty good too.

Susan owned a base 93 coupe when I met her in 97, she traded that in on a 98 base coupe before we were married. After we were married for a while she confided that her first desire was for a 96 Collectors Edition and that she still liked that car. So, I did a little looking around and found a low mileage 96 CE LT4 Z51 car. She sold the 98 and we bought the 96. Then along came the 2003 Anniversary Edition. We sold the 96 and bought an 03 AE vert. That's her car now.

After the LT4 upgrade on my old car, I now have a car she can't out run!

I've known Hutch for a couple of years thanks to a shared membership in another club. Hutch is a great guy. Thanks for letting us non-GS owners into the group!

[GS328]

My name is David Braxton and I just purchased #328. I'm retired from military with 24 yrs. and have plenty of memories to boot. I'm married to a loving wife that truly understands my passion for fast and fun automobiles. We have one daughter who has daddy truly wrapped around her finger Besides the GS I have a 96 Impala SS that has been transformed to a nice grocery getter. Six-speed/hotcam and many other goodies. These are my passions, but my girls are my life.

Who's Next...

[FXGS]

Hello, fellow skunkers!! My name is Mark Meltzer. I am the original owner of #446 which shortly after I purchased it, I had it shipped to Callaway Cars in Old Lyme,Ct where it was transformed into the first Callaway SuperNatural Grand Sport produced by Callaway. It has received numerous further performance upgrades over the years, in fact as we speak, it is at my shop undergoing more performance treatments. I maintain a "thick" notebook that fully documents the car from new and I have receipts for every nut and bolt!
I have driven the car in numerous high speed track events, although in the last year I cut back considerably and now just pretty much drive the GS on an occasional basis "normally" ( ) on our city streets.
I'm originally from Chicago, born and raised there, but came to PA about 15 years ago with a job transfer, but now I own my own business.

[FXGS]

Thank you Mike. Appreciate the comments. I think you'll appreciate the further upgrades I'm having done at the moment. Unfortunately, there's about 4 inches of snow on the ground right now, with more coming down! WHERE IS SPRING?
If somehow our paths don't cross until Carlisle, I'll see you there!

[GS868]

Greetings from north of the 49th. My name is Ron Clark and I recently imported GS #868 into Canada. I live in Calgary, Alberta with my extremely understanding wife Marie who fully supports my Corvette fever. I love all Corvettes and over several decades I have been fortunate to own Corvettes from every generation (only one at a time though); a '62 convertible, '65 coupe, '72 T-top, '80 T-top, '99 coupe, and finally the greatest of all, my '96 Grand Sport. GS #868 is a bleeder coupe with 10,800 miles and she wears the very descriptive vanity plate 'WYLTHNG'. This plate has adorned several previous Corvettes, but never has it been as appropriate as it is on my Grand Sport. The driving season in my part of the world runs from May, after they sweep all the winter gravel from the roads, to October when old man winter lays down that first blanket of snow. I belong to the Canadian Council of Corvette Clubs and we hold regular weekend competitions (slalom racing, ralleyes, and show'n shine) hosted by various local clubs throughout the summer. Am I looking forward to the 2004 season with my GS?

[DCOX]

Hello Everyone,

We are Dick and Peggy Cox of Charlotte Hall, Md (originally from Baltimore) and recently bought our first corvette. (although we have wanted one for years) Our's is a 1996, Coupe, LT4, Polo Green Met II W/Beige & Black Interior, EMT's & Tire Delete OEM, w/36,000 miles.

We have one daughter [Dawn] (37) and two Grandson's [Zach] (7) & [Ethan] (1), they call me BOP BOP and so that is our vanity tag #.

We have learned so much from the forum and E-Mailing the Skunkmaster. It has made our corvette ownership really interesting and fun. This is a very informative site, keep up the great work. Would like to have one of those GS "Bleeder" Coupe's, but there is only so many to go around.



Dick & Peggy Cox

[HUTCH]

Dick & Peggy -- Welcome aboard! Glad to have you here with us. And hey... a '96 LT4 in any configuration isn't too shabby for your first Corvette! Well done indeed!

Should you have any questions, just holler. Our members are always eager to lend a helping hand and offer their advice... even when they're wrong!

[GS872]

Hi! My name's Bill Renner and I'm a transplanted Hoosier now living on the Maryland side of DC. I picked up my GS last spring through Tony's Corvette Shop in Gaithersburg, MD. It's a coupe with black interior, Z51, DRM throttle body, and K&N filter. It has about 72,000 miles, mostly from two of the previous 3 owners, although I did take the GS on road trips to Mid-Ohio and to Indy last summer.

I got the GS largely by trading my '69 390 hp 427 convertible that my Dad bought new in late '69. I inherited the '69 when my Dad passed awy in 1995. The '69 was my first, but my Dad's third. He had a '58 and and '65 fuelie before that.

I've replaced the shift console cover recently (easier than trying to strip and repaint it) and have original equipment replacement Bilsteins and FireHawk brake pads waiting for a warm weekend.

The GS is the most comfortable and enjoyable road car I've ever driven and I'm planning a trip to Bowling Green to the NCM and assembly plant for early summer after plant tours start back up.

I had a fun time at the GS Corral at Carlisle last summer and have already registered for this year's event. (with "Grand Sport Registry" as my club) Although most of my time at Carlisle is spent on the go, I look forward to seeing lots of GSR members there this year.

[BRANDT]

My ane is Brandt Kessler, 29 year old from GA. My new wife Libby and I own currently own 3 Corvettes: 1996 LT4 convertible, a 2001 silver convertible, and of course the new Grand Sport convertible. We've owned 6 Vettes in total. The 2001 is her daily driver, and my 2 LT4 cars are "garage queens".

My goal in life is to own 10 LT4 convertibles....1 of each color made in 1996, plus the 2 GS interior colors. 20% of the way there!!!!

Corvettes are truly a passion in my family. I was raised on Corvettes and was "driving" them at the age of one. My father had 7 Covettes over his tenure, but gave them up shortly after I came along.

What else can I tell ya???

[HUTCH]

Bill #872 -- Welcome aboard. Looking forward to seeing you again in Carlisle. Sounds like a long way off but before ya know it...

Brandt #750 -- I'd say Welcome Back but heck, its like ya never left. Glad to have you back regardless and thanks for volunteering as Photo Editor (more on that, later).

[GS951]

I'm Brad Stephenson, the short bald guy you see running around at the Grand Sport corrals!

Our (Hutch says my wife is fictional) Grand Sport convertible came to us through my brother - he's had seller's remorse ever since. While the car is great and the source of many envious looks on the road, the real fun of Grand Sport ownership is meeting each of you at the events.

See you at Carlisle - let's get 50 this year and 100 attending the 10-year anniversary in 2006!

Brad

[BRANDT]

For what it's worth, Brad, GS 951 is one of the nicest folks I've met thru the Corvette community.

[HUTCH]

For what it's worth, Brad, GS 951 is one of the nicest folks I've met thru the Corvette community.

Amen to that... even if he does snore a lot. Don't ask...