Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

[Paul O.]

Here is a historical article about how the NCM was started and the NCRS involvement and 1 person in particular. Thanks to John Ballard who sent me the article.

http://www.corvettemuseum.org/media/...IdeaRising.pdf

[Scott S.]

Re: Historical Articlel NCRS an the NCM

Great people with great ideas, concept to completion, Thank You all.
Scott

[Kurt G.]

Re: Historical Articlel NCRS an the NCM

Thanks for posting the article. I, and I'm sure a lot of other members of both NCRS and NCM had no clue who and how involved they were.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

It's fitting that a early meeting to form the NCRS was in Angola In. & a meeting to form the NCM was at the ACD museum in Auburn In. 20 miles apart.

[Michael J.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

Also nice to see the New Mexico connection with Ray involved. He was interviewed on local TV here recently about the sinkhole, and many of us in New Mexico found out about this connection for the first time.

[Terry M.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

It's fitting that a early meeting to form the NCRS was in Angola In. & a meeting to form the NCM was at the ACD museum in Auburn In. 20 miles apart.

Ken,
The choice of location for the first NCM board meeting was no accident. We knew very well the significance you point out. That ACD board room was not open to the public at that time, and I expect it is still not. While we were having that meeting it was hard to ignore the thought that we were making history.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

Ken,The choice of location for the first NCM board meeting was no accident. We knew very well the significance you point out. That ACD board room was not open to the public at that time, and I expect it is still not. While we were having that meeting it was hard to ignore the thought that we were making history.

I believe Skip M. was museum president at that time. He was a friend & loved all car especially Corvettes. Del Johnson who like you was the one like you championed the idea of making a museum in the old ACD factory/ Corp. office/engineering/ showroom. It was a uphill battle because when E l Cord closed the factory it left 1/2 the small town of Auburn out of work so many people didn't wanted anything to do with it let alone give money to buy the building. Just having the meeting in that historical automotive building must have given you guys extra incentive. Terry thanks for your foresight & perseverance to make the NCM a reality.

[Steven B.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

Ken, I think Skip Marketti was pres. then. Now at the Nethercutt. When at ACD in '77 Skip invited the Fort Wayne Corvette Club to display our cars in the museum with Becky Bodnar speaking at the banquet in Joe Pike's place. I had the '57 on display then. I think I told you the story about growing up near by (Butler) and going through the ACD building with a prospective buyer and all of the good parts and documents left behind. Thanks to Terry and all for the idea and seeing it to fruition. I remember going to the "Annex" a few times and getting excited about the future museum. Now it is a museum of great cars, documents, and stories. I will continue to go at least once a year. Thanks again for a effort and result! Steve

[Terry M.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

I believe Skip M. was museum president at that time. He was a friend & loved all car especially Corvettes. Del Johnson who like you was the one like you championed the idea of making a museum in the old ACD factory/ Corp. office/engineering/ showroom. It was a uphill battle because when E l Cord closed the factory it left 1/2 the small town of Auburn out of work so many people didn't wanted anything to do with it let alone give money to buy the building. Just having the meeting in that historical automotive building must have given you guys extra incentive. Terry thanks for your foresight & perseverance to make the NCM a reality.

Ken, I think Skip Marketti was pres. then. Now at the Nethercutt. When at ACD in '77 Skip invited the Fort Wayne Corvette Club to display our cars in the museum with Becky Bodnar speaking at the banquet in Joe Pike's place. I had the '57 on display then. I think I told you the story about growing up near by (Butler) and going through the ACD building with a prospective buyer and all of the good parts and documents left behind. Thanks to Terry and all for the idea and seeing it to fruition. I remember going to the "Annex" a few times and getting excited about the future museum. Now it is a museum of great cars, documents, and stories. I will continue to go at least once a year. Thanks again for a effort and result! Steve

As I wrote the above I was thinking that Ray had set up the meeting location with Skip Marketti, but I wasn't 100% sure of that, so I avoided mentioning it. Now that you guys have confirmed that Skip was at the ACD at that time it confirms my recollection. One of the things Dan & Ray did was to go to automotive museums around the country to learn as much as they could about their operations and struggles. I believe it was in the course of those travels that we encountered Skip. At one time we considered hiring him as our curator, but we didn't have the money to do that. Skip was very encouraging about what we were doing though.

[Dick W.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

It does not seem like it has been that long since the early meetings were held. I attended several at Cypress and the Conventions. Ideas ran from building a pole barn to grander than what is there.

Then again thinking back, Bend National was in '89, I joined NCM while in the meeting after the meet.

[Terry M.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

It does not seem like it has been that long since the early meetings were held. I attended several at Cypress and the Conventions. Ideas ran from building a pole barn to grander than what is there.

Then again thinking back, Bend National was in '89, I joined NCM while in the meeting after the meet.

We had a board meeting at Bend also, as you know. We had a lot of meetings; some more productive than others, but that is the way it goes. I can still get to Bowling Green from my house like I was on auto pilot.

[Dave S.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

As I wrote the above I was thinking that Ray had set up the meeting location with Skip Marketti, but I wasn't 100% sure of that, so I avoided mentioning it. Now that you guys have confirmed that Skip was at the ACD at that time it confirms my recollection. One of the things Dan & Ray did was to go to automotive museums around the country to learn as much as they could about their operations and struggles. I believe it was in the course of those travels that we encountered Skip. At one time we considered hiring him as our curator, but we didn't have the money to do that. Skip was very encouraging about what we were doing though.

Trr,
I was new in the NCRS at that time and did not go to the Grand Opening but did have a friend pick me up a T-Shirt.
Thanks for all you have done and continue to do.

[Dick W.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

We had a board meeting at Bend also, as you know. We had a lot of meetings; some more productive than others, but that is the way it goes. I can still get to Bowling Green from my house like I was on auto pilot.

I remember that BOD meeting well, Armstrong, the lady from GM Marketing, and a few more that I have forgotten. The lady would have given the moon to the museum and Art was trying to bring her back to reality

[Mike M.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

i too remember museum BOD meetings when i was president of NCRS. some of those meetings were unpleasant. mike

[Dick W.]

Re: Historical Article NCRS and the NCM

i too remember museum BOD meetings when i was president of NCRS. some of those meetings were unpleasant. mike

Yo' said that right