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May 17, 2003, was a cool day with raw wind from the northeast and a hint of rain in the air in St. Louis. Weather conditions were not favorable for a group photo. A total of 73 cars were on the show field including display and Sportsman. There was a total of 35 Flight oars nine PVs and two Founders' Ops. The time was 1:15 PM; judging was drawing to a conclusion and car owners were anxious to get their cars into their trailers and start for home. It was definitely not an ideal time for a group photo. More on the judging later; take a look at ninety plus individuals gathered together for just the purpose of a photo (see photos). Look carefully and perhaps you will recognize some of the individuals in the photos or maybe you are part of the group. I would like to think you were there out of patriotism or the enthusiasm for the cars we all appreciate so much or maybe you just wanted to sing Happy Birthday to one of our own Fredi Berge. Whatever your reason, thank you for coming to the St. Louis Heart of America Regional. Hopefully, you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did. The setting was atop the parking garage at the Sheraton Tower at West Port Plaza where Ron Albietz had carefully positioned three of his 1963 split-window coupes beneath the American flag. The red, white, and blue of our flag was complemented by the red, white, and blue of the three Corvettes. They captured the attention of the group who happily took the time to be a part of our St. Louis Regional history. The Kansas City and St. Louis Chapters were especially pleased by the number of first time Regional flight-judged Corvettes including three from the Kansas City Chapter: a 1955 owned by Michael Craig 2nd Flight, a 1965 owned by Dave and Carol Sindelar Top Flight, and a 1986 owned by Dale Elderidge Top Flight. From the St. Louis Chapter there were four first time Regional flight-judged cars with congratulations to Top Flight recipients Fred Neu with a 1962, Doug Fabick with a 1968, Tim Parker with a 1981, and Rex Gooch with a 1982. In addition, a special thank you goes to Doug Fabick and Tim Parker. Doug provided immeasurable logistical support to the event from the tent on the show field to the moving assembling, and disaster being of the four-post lift which was inches too tall to clear the six-foot-eight inch ceiling in the parking garage. Never build something that is bigger than the exit route. Tim Parker arranged for all cars to be photographed for use at the banquet in addition to coordinating and shooting the group photo. While acknowledging those who helped, let us extend a thanks to Terry McManmon for conducting the advanced judging school on Friday and Howard Loomis who conducted the town hall meeting a time for the membership to get acquainted with the NCRS Board of Directors and Officers who were in attendance. The group photo was not the only memorable event during the weekend festivities. The threat of severe weather was cause for concern Friday evening, but it thankfully did not materialize. Gilbert Scivner remembered that once before at an NCRS event he had been asked to evacuate his hotel; that too was in St. Louis at the National Convention in Collinsville. We thought that we had hit upon a novel wake-up call (approx. 6:45 AM) but I guess we will have to come up with something new. Dana Forester willingly autographed his new book detailing his career as an artist and the brick artwork that we all have in our homes. Dana has chronicled a part of Americana in his preservation of advertising and combined it with Corvettes. What more could an NCRS members ask for? Once again Dana provided the artwork for the 13th Heart-of-America Regional, as well as displaying his Millennium Edition corvette. Another display featured the Mickey Thompson split- window race car as prepared by Bill Lacy and his partner, Mike Miller. The Thompson race car functions with Sears accessories, tires and battery. Bill searched extensively for those tires, only to find them a short drive from his home in Ron Albietz's garage. Other displays included a 435-HP 1967 rolling chassis presented by Bill and Claudia French, Chuck Banks's 1966 Duntov winners and two bowie cars Roy Sinor's 1961 and Marvin and Joan Burnett's 1969. We thank all of the members who prepared displays for our enjoyment. Unfortunately, the event ended before l got to enjoy all the cars. My own camera batteries depleted remained in my judging bag. Thankfully, our chapter webmaster has posted Tim's photographs on our web site for all who may have missed any of the festivities. May I direct you to NCRS.org under the calendar section and Heart of America Regional. During the meet, I caught up with Ron Albietz and his wife Grace and asked about their fascination with split-window coupes. The three on display were part of seven that they currently own. They agreed that their love affair with the 1963 model blossomed from the first one they saw on a turnable in the show room of Gene Jansen Chevrolet, across the street from the St. Louis plant. Unfortunately, their parents talked the young couple with a small child out of such an impractical purchase. In place of the coupe, tile couple purchased an Impala SS, which was stolen three times before the insurance company replaced it. The desire to own a '63 coupe lingered unfilled until 1971 when Ron, who was working in Kansas, encountered a pumpkin orange highly modified coupe with side pipes. He searched out the owner, and after negotiating a price, drove the car back to St. Louis as a gift for Grace. Now is this a familiar story? They still have that car which is now returned to its original Riverside Red color. Ron told me that he has one of every color. Somewhat in disbelief I checked my NCRS specifications Guide to verify seven colors: Tuxedo Black, Silver Blue, Daytona Blue, Riverside Red Saddle Tan, Ermine White. and Sebring Silver. I visited with him after the event, and he confessed that they had sold the Saddle Tan coupe. but it had been replaced by a second red coupe. Grace indicated her displeasure with him for that transaction. Al1 of the seven coupes have arrived at their doorstep in desperate need of restoration, and they both enjoy the process of searching for the correct parts to complete each coupe's rehabilitation. They are currently working on VIN 33 probably a first-day production vehicle and a very early coupe. It will be returned to its original' Sebring Silver factory color. Membership #2731
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