Delaware Valley NCRS Chapter Newsletter - Clubs

FEBRUARY 2011
Delaware Valley NCRS Chapter Newsletter
Chairman’s Notes
by John Kane
! e snow will stop, really, although I know it is
hard to believe. Only a few short weeks to Spring. Mark
your calendar — March 20th.
A few of our members attended the NCRS
Winter Regional Convention in Old Town in Orlando
Florida three weeks ago. e severe snow storms during
the show week presented real problems especially for
those traveling by air on Wednesday and ursday
coming down from the Northeast. However, once we
got there the weather was great. Especially considering
that the snow at my house was about 18 inches deep
but luckily it fell just after I left.
Our most recent Run for the Ribbons at
County Corvette in October was a wonderful success.
Frank Stech and Elaine Raisner put forth another great
effort. is year with the new venue there were many
new issues to overcome that had become second nature
to us all after all the years that this meet was held at
Bryner Chevrolet. It took a great effect by the Show
Committee as well as the entire membership on show
day to make it run so smoothly. anks to everybody,
especially Elaine and Frank. It is no accident when a
show runs that well: it is primarily due to all the
preparatory work done weeks before. Good job,
everybody!
is year was also a change in the location for
the Christmas Party which was held at the Cock n' Bull
restaurant. A hearty well done to Elaine and Tim
Raisner who worked very hard to manage the transition
to the new location. Attendance was up this year and
the food was excellent.
anks go to Kevin Goodman and Hal Emrich
for organizing the Road Tour of the remaining Bucks
County covered bridges last fall. e road tour was
again very well attended and the weather cooperated.
In this issue:
• Chairman’s Notes
—by John Kane
• From e Archives
—text and photos by Bob Cook
• Membership Application/Renewal Form
• It’s e Year Of e 1961!
—by John Mulhern III
• NCRS Gallery at Carlisle Application Form
• Photos From e Fall
—photos by John Mulhern III
• 2011 Chapter Officers
• 2011 Chapter Events Calendar
From The Archives
by Bob Cook
If you get a few minutes during this cold
winter, dig through your old les to see if you have any
old Delaware Valley Chapter newsletters. We need
December 1986 through December 1988 and February
1991 through February 2000. If you have any of these
newsletters or any old pictures or other memorabilia,
please bring it (or them) to the meeting. I can scan and
return any items to you.
On page 2, I have
included two pictures of
an item from the
archives — a “Vehicle
Owner’s Glove
Compartment File”. It is
an envelope in which to
keep your glove box
items. You can also
record your “technical
! PAGE 1

and maintenance information” on the
ap and reverse side [Strange. It seems
intended for people who drive their cars
— Ed.]. I believe these were sent to all
NCRS members some years ago.
Does anyone remember receiving
one?
FEBRUARY 2011
PAGE 2

DELAWARE VALLEY CHAPTER
MEETINGS:
8:00 PM on the third Wednesday during February, April, June, August and October at the
William F. Bolton Dixon American Legion
493 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, PA
DIRECTIONS:
Take the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Exit 339 (former Exit 26), Fort Washington/ Ambler Exit; go
straight after you pay toll onto Pennsylvania Avenue. (Note: Do not go onto Route #309.) Stay on
Pennsylvania Avenue 0.9 mile until it dead-ends into Bethlehem Pike. Make left onto Bethlehem
Pike for 0.5 mile. The American Legion is on your left.
ACTIVITIES:
We also have a Chapter Meet in October, Judging Seminars, NCRS Gallery at Corvettes at
Carlisle, Ride and Drives, Annual Holiday Party and other activities, dates to be announced.
DUES:
Membership dues are $30 per year. February is our renewal month each year.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
RENEWAL / CHANGE of ADDRESS FORM
Name: ______________________________________ Spouse: ______________________________________
Street Address: _________________________________________________________ NCRS #: __________
City: _________________________________________________ State: ____ Zip + 4: __________-________
Phone Number: (______) ______-________ E-mail Address: _____________________________________
Note you must be a current National NCRS member to join the Delaware Valley Chapter.
____ I would like to join the Delaware Valley Chapter at this time. ($30)
____ My $30 annual renewal enclosed.
____ Please note my change of address.
Please return completed form with remittance if required payable to:
DELAWARE VALLEY CHAPTER NCRS
C/O Ivelis Mulhern
725 Polo Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-3825
FEBRUARY 2011
PAGE 3

It’s The Year Of The 1961!
by John Mulhern III
! 1961 was the
rst of two years for the
“ducktail” solid axle
Corvette, an effective
updating by Bill Mitchell
and his designers of Harley Earl’s now aging mid-1950s
design. e new model year also introduced the nowiconic
four rounded taillights (currently in their 51st
year) and removed the heavy teeth from the grill. 1961
was the nal year for the availability of contrasting
coves and wide whitewall tires. It’s interesting to see
four of these styling touches included on the cover of
the 1961 brochure at the right.
Other changes for 1961 included more
standard equipment — an oft-seen Chevrolet strategy
near the end of a Corvette generation life cycle. All
Corvettes now included courtesy and parking brake
warning lights, sun shades, windshield washers, and a
temperature-controlled radiator fan (ah; the raw,
unadulterated luxury of it all!).
Base price for 1961 was $3,934 (up $62 from
1960) or about $28,900 in today’s dollars. Commonly
ordered optional equipment included heater (98% of
new Corvette buyers paid $102.25 for this option),
whitewall tires (89% paid $31.55), signal-seeking AM
radio (85% paid $137.75), 4-speed manual
transmission (64% paid $188.30 for an upgrade over
the standard 3-speed manual), Positraction (63% paid
$43.05 for this manual transmission-only option), and
auxiliary hardtop (52% at $236.75). Getting all this
equipment brought the price to $4,674 or about
$34,400 in today’s dollars.
e most popular exterior color was once again
Ermine White (29% of production) with the most
popular interior color once again Red (41% of
production). New exterior colors included Fawn Beige
(fairly successful at 12% of production) and Jewel Blue
(one year only at 8% of
production). e most
popular contrasting cove
color combination was
Roman Red (itself the
second most popular exterior color) and white.
FEBRUARY 2011
Either fuel injected engine (regular cam or high
lift cam) was the most expensive option, at $484.20.
More than half of the buyers elected to remain with the
base single 4-barrel 230 bhp engine, which would still
get a Corvette from 0-60 in a little over 8 seconds.
Moving to the top of the line fuel-injected engine (up
25 horsepower to 315 bhp gross for 1961) would cut
about two seconds off that time.
Rare options for 1961 included the regular cam
275 bhp fuel-injected engine (about 1% of
production), the heavy duty brakes and special steering
(2%), “wide” 5.5-inch wheels (3%), power top (4%),
and power windows (6%). It is not known how many
buyers ordered the 24 gallon fuel tank, the nylon
blackwall tires, or the positive crankcase ventilation (in
its rst year of availability).
Corvette production was up 7% over 1960 to
10,939. Some of this increase may have been due to the
premier of “Route 66” as a weekly series on CBS on
October 7, 1960.
PAGE 4

APPLICATION FORM
Please: Print or Type
Name(s) NCRS #
Address
City State Zip
Phone Day ( ) E-Mail
Phone Eve. ( ) Cell Phone ( )
Photo: Driver’s-side, front-end, car, by itself, as shown.
REGULAR PHOTO FILM, NO DIGITAL PHOTOS if possible
Photos will not be returned.
Year
VIN#
Engine Specs: CID HP
Transmission: Rear End Ratio:
Exterior Color
Interior Color Leather Vinyl
Body Style: Coupe T-Top Convertible Soft Top w/ Hard Top
Wheels and Tires:
Current Mileage: I am the owner for years.
Special Edition: Example: Pace Car, Grand Sport
Options: Example A/C, power steering, etc.
Prior Awards: Please include all significant awards
NCRS AWARDS:
OTHER AWARDS:
Brief History / Highlights: ~30 words or less
FEBRUARY 2011
Whereas all participates, including owners, and voluntarily enter into the Delaware Valley Chapter hosted NCRS GALLERY, it is agreed as follows: All participates
will insure their vehicle(s) & property against loss, damage, & liability, & provide proof of insurance. Owners & all participants hereby agree to indemnify and hold
harmless Delaware Valley Chapter NCRS, NCRS and Carlisle Events, it’s officers, directors, agents, employees, or assigns for acts or omissions which may result
in the theft, damage, destruction, or injury to them or to others occurring during or as a consequence of this event, wherever located.
All entrants and cars will be required to arrive at the Carlisle Fairgrounds by noon on Thursday and cars will not be removed until Sunday at 3:30 pm.
Signature Date
Inquiries can be made by E-mail: DelValTER@aol.com
Please Complete and Return to: NCRS GALLERY PO Box 2853 Warminster, PA 18974-0086
PAGE 5

Photos From The Fall
photos by John Mulhern III
Corvette Copper at County Corvette
Steel blue metallic convertible detail
Judging sharks at the Fall Chapter Meet
FEBRUARY 2011
A few thousand horsepower — mostly Sportsman entries
Hard at work judging mid-years
PAGE 6

NCRS Display at Corvettes for Chip in November
2011 Chapter Officers
Chairperson
John Kane
(215) 497-9361
1973 Boxwood Drive
Newtown, PA 18940
jjkane@comcast.net
Vice Chairperson
Ivelis Mulhern
(484) 432-8995
725 Polo Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
ivmulhern@gmail.com
Secretary
Steve Gansky
(215) 579-7113
sgansky@me.com
Treasurer
John Keane
(215) 542-0790
P.O. Box 404
Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437
Meet/Activity Chairperson
Elaine Raisner
(215) 675-4299
393 Camberly Drive
Warminster, PA 18974
Fax (215) 675-3775
DelValTER@aol.com
Judging Chairperson
Frank Stech
(856) 665-1557
755 North Broadway
Pitman, NJ 08071
FLSJR@aol.com
Website Administrator
Hal Emrich
(215) 297-0646
7065 Ferry Road RD #1
New Hope, PA 18938
haldelvalncrs@att.net
Chapter Historian
Bob Cook
610-274-1447 home
302-753-4619 cell
305 Kelleher Drive
Landenberg, PA 19350
CookRLK@aol.com
FEBRUARY 2011
Solid axle follows C5 on the October Road Tour
Newsletter Editor
John Mulhern III
(484) 432-8996
725 Polo Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
delvalnewsletter@gmail.com
PAGE 7

2011 Chapter Events Calendar
February
16 Membership Meeting • Wm. Bolton American Legion • 8:00 PM
March
26-27 Mason-Dixon Chapter Spring Meet • Havre de Grace, MD
April
20 Membership Meeting • Wm. Bolton American Legion • 8:00 PM
28-30 Joplin Heart of America Regional • Joplin, MO
May
19-21 Central New Jersey Garden State Regional • Wildwood, NJ
June
9-11 Ontario Regional • London, ON
15 Membership Meeting/Cruise Night • Wm. Bolton American Legion • 7:00 PM
July
9-18 National Road Tour [dates vary depending on road tour selected]
18-23 National Convention • Novi, MI
August
17 Membership Meeting • Wm. Bolton American Legion • 8:00 PM
26-28 NCRS Gallery XI at Corvettes at Carlisle
October
5 Membership Meeting • Wm. Bolton American Legion • 8:00 PM
6-8 California Regional • Sacramento, CA
TBA 31st Run For e Ribbons • County Corvette • West Chester, PA
27-29 Texas Lone Star Regional • Frisco, TX
December
3 Holiday Dinner • Cock ‘N Bull Restaurant • Peddler’s Village, PA
FEBRUARY 2011
PAGE 8