Domestic Cars
Skip Ackerman & Cindy Burkheit
2016 (C7) Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
The first car that I ever bought was a Sports Car. A 1958 MG-A. Need I say anymore?
Over the years, I’ve had a hand full of Mustangs, the MG-A, VW-GTI, 944 Porsche, Saturn Sky, and a BMW 535i, but the first Corvette was a 1978 Corvette Silver Anniversary Addition, which got our family hooked.
In 1979, we joined the St. Croix Vally Corvette club in Stillwater, MN.; some of those members are still our best friends. Cars are such Good Food for the Soul.
When we built our first home in Englewood, FL, we bought the Sky to ride around in on sunny days. Which down here meant that we drove it a LOT.
I told my late wife that if I got up at night and watered the Sky, maybe it would grow into a Corvette. That didn’t work, so we purchased a 2016 white Stingray convertible with a black interior in 2016. We joined Venice, FL. Corvette Club in 2017 and were active in their Car Shows every March. Today, I see several former members and familiar faces once again.
This past Fall, while having lunch with the Loves, Dave asked if Cindy and I would like to attend the September Sharks Meeting. So, here Cindy & I are now together……and the journey and fun continue.
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Steve & Darlene Bieglecki
2013 (C6) Corvette 427 Collector’s Edition Convertible
The powerplant at the heart of the car – is a 427-cubic-inch (7.0L) LS7 engine, the same engine used in the C6 Corvette Z06. This 427 was the most powerful engine GM had ever installed in a production Corvette convertible to date.
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What made the 427 Convertible truly unique is that it incorporated elements from the Z06 and ZR1. It included the driveline and rear axle system from the Corvette Z06 and a rear-mounted battery, and standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control. It also came equipped with 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, wrapped in the ZR1-style Michelin PS2 tires. The car featured lightweight machine-face Cup wheels, first introduced on the 2012 Corvette Z06 (when equipped with the Z07 package) and the Corvette ZR1 when equipped with the PDE performance package.
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Outwardly, the 427 Convertible was equipped with several carbon-fiber body components, all of which were incorporated into the car to help reduce the car’s weight.
These included:
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Carbon fiber raised hood (which had been first introduced for the 2011 Z06 Carbon Edition)
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Carbon fiber Z06-style fenders
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Carbon fiber floor panels
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The “CFZ” carbon fiber front splitter and rocker panels.
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ZR1-style rear spoiler
Only 2,552 2013 427 Convertible Corvettes were ever built.
Ron & Mary Bimonte
2023 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody
The 1st Generation Dodge Challenger debuted in 1970, and I first became interested in its 3rd Generation in 2008. Being one of Dodge’s longest and most successful concepts, these retros but modern muscle cars were all the rage.
The Challenger remains striking for its close resemblance to the 70’s original. The 2023 (final?) version is the ultimate definition of a modern muscle car that looks like nothing else on the road.
The features that drew me to this particular Dodge Challenger include:
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Pitch Black exterior and menacing front end
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20-inch wheels mounted to Pirelli P-Zero 305/35 tires with adaptive suspension
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6.4L 392 c.i. V8 with 485 horsepower engine
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Tremec 6-speed manual transmission
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Dual exhaust is perfectly tuned
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Red interior with accent stitching and the iconic Scat Pack Bee logo on the seatbacks
Paying homage to one of the greatest legacies Dodge Muscle has ever created, this special edition Dodge Challenger comes with an aluminum ‘Last Call’ plaque that showcases the vehicle’s silhouette, where it was built, and a stamp to pay tribute to the final year of this legendary muscle car.
I may have had to wait 15 years until I retired and moved to Florida to get the car that I always wanted, but it’s worth it!
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Paul & Becky Davis
2011(C6) Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
3,400 original miles
LS9 6.2L (378 ci) Supercharged V8 638 hp-604 lb-ft torque
Dry sump oil system
6 Speed manual trans
Chrome wheels
F 19 x 10 with P285/30ZR19 Michelin Sport Pilot
R 20 x 12 with P335/25ZR20 Michelin Sport Pilot
6 Piston brake calipers with ceramic disc brake rotors
105.7" wheelbase
176.2" overall length
Carbon fiber components include: floor/roof/roof bow/front splitter/rocker extensions/domed hood with clear acrylic dome/painted front and rear fenders.
Curb weight 3,333lbs
4th corvette owned, 2000 C5 Coupe, 2008 C6 Z06, 2010 C6 ZR1
Rick & June Dilella
2008 (C6) Corvette Coupe
As a fine car enthusiast, I have owned everything from AC Cobras to early original Z/28 Camaro’s, but never a Corvette. Most recently, I located my first Corvette, which is a low mileage 2008 C6, equipped with a 430 HP LS3 engine and an automatic transmission. The car looks and runs great!
Dave & Janice Love
​2019 (C7) ZO6 Corvette
The color is Torch Red, and the interior is 3LT, black with red stitching and red seat belts. Wheels are chrome 2019 ZR1. The engine is a supercharged 6.2 liter LT4, with factory-rated 650 HP and 650 lbs/ft torque. This is a carbon fiber edition with a carbon fiber top, hood, front spoiler, side skirts, wicker bill, and dash.
Roger & Margo Maple
2000 Chevrolet Corvette (C5)
As if Y2K wasn’t hard enough on us in the computer world, we owned a 2 seater foreign car which was nickel and diming us to death. Yes, the year was 2000. The last straw in owning the foreign car was when the passenger window would go down but would not go up. I was then on a mission to replace it. Went to car row in Downers Grove, Illinois and immediately started searching for a Corvette. Found a used 1998 but didn’t know if the price was fair. I remembered that a friend of our son worked at a Corvette restoration company so I stopped to ask him about their price. He said why buy a used one when I can sell you a new one for about the same price. That was the day we bought our 2000 Torch Red Corvette Coupe. Oftentimes we have thought about getting rid of it, but once you drive it the thought vanishes. What’s special about it? Everything to us.
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Tom & Geri Moore
2019 Ford Mustang
It was 1968, I was 20 years old in my second year of college with a good job as a Bartender at a high-end restaurant in Michigan. I had saved enough money to rid myself of my 1960 Oldsmobile 88 which had a heater that did not always work. I purchased a 1966 Red Ford Mustang for $1,200 and my trade-in. I loved that car! After marriage in 1970, my wife Geri loaded up the Mustang and drove it from Michigan to Corpus Christi, Texas at the U.S. Naval Hospital where I was assigned on active duty Navy. In 1972 we sold the Mustang to purchase airfare from Texas to Michigan.
Fast forward to October 2021 Venice, Florida where we are Snowbirds. I found a 2019 Red Mustang Convertible which we purchased as soon as we saw it and drove it. We are once again Happy Mustangers and love being members of the Shark Tooth Sports Car Club.
Al & Joann Royal
2017 (C7) Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
We enjoyed our 2002 Corvette Convertible for 14 years and still loved the car. However, in 2017, the opportunity came up to join 4 other Corvettes on a Route 66 adventure to Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado, and I started thinking. If we were to purchase a new Corvette now and keep it for 14 years I would almost 90 before we needed to trade again.
That was enough justification to start shopping. I will not buy an automatic if I am driving it, a 7-speed manual was a requirement. Liked the heads-up display in 2002, too. Bill Buck Chevrolet (now Jenkins Chevrolet) had an Admiral Blue coupe on the lot that met my requirements and JoAnn liked the color. Shortly after it was in our driveway.
In addition to the Route 66 trip, it has been to Niagara Falls and made several trips to the Georgia mountains, including doing the Tail of the Dragon.
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Bill & Michelle St. Clair
1974 (C3) Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Our Bright Yellow 1974 Corvette Stingray is known by its former license plate, the YELO ONE. It was a gift from Michelle’s parents, Al & JoAnn Royal. Al and a dear family friend, Charlie Zuberer, did a body off resto-mod of the car in 2012. They rebuilt the chassis and upgraded it to a Ramjet 350 with a 5-speed manual transmission. Originally, the car was an automatic with a lackluster smog-era engine. It definitely has more pep now! Ask to see the build book with photos documenting the 10 months of work that went into the car.
We enjoy attending car shows and events as a family. One of the best things about the car is the smiles, waves, and thumbs up we get when driving around.
Ron & Linda Wencil
2017 (C7) Corvette Gran Sport
Torch Red with Gray Leather Interior. Carbon fiber hood accents, front spoiler, side skirts, rear spoiler. Grand Sports have the same more extensive body styling as the ZO6. Wheels are special order - gray/chrome style.
This is our 4th Corvette and we enjoy the rides and our car collector friends and fun activities.
