VALDOSTA —
Powerful engines. Shimmering paint. Drop-tops, new leather, hoods that open to the back. The whizz of smooth pistons running hot and the wind through a window rolled down on the open highway.
Things that get the heart of every Corvette enthusiast pumping like a V-8, and the list of sights at every meeting of the South Georgia Corvette Club.
The club brought their babies—the metal-and-plastic ones as well as children—to the front parking lot of Lowe’s on St. Augustine Road Saturday morning for a monthly meeting that involved coffee and doughnuts, camaraderie and cars.
More than 20 cars showed at the new location, which Club President Bob Barrett said was “more visible” than the club’s usual Crosspoint Church location. The club used the grounds of a retired gas station building just off the highway curb where the colorful cars could be seen by passing motorists.
“We’re going to try and stay at this location,” Barret said.
The primary interest of the club is, of course, cars, but their bi-monthly meetings are neither limited to Corvettes nor members only, and their secondary interest is soliciting donations for the Second Harvest Food Bank. The club built a small pile of non-perishable food items as more members arrived.
“It’s more about the people,” Barrett said. “We get together and talk cars, help each other with advice, and help out Second Harvest with some canned goods.”
Some members of the South Georgia Classic Car Club attended the event, bringing with them their club car, a 1964 Ford Galaxy 500, fitted with red police beacon on the roof and a black-and-white paint job to give it a law-enforcement look.
Classic Car Club member Lynn Nelson said Valdosta needs the Corvette Club because the term “classic car” covers such a wide expanse.
The cars caught the eye of passerby Roger Ghant, who was on his way to breakfast when he decided to stop in and view the cars with his grandchildren, Dijha, 12, and Boyd Ghant, 10. Walking among the cars, the children took them in with fascination.
“We’re from Columbus, and we came down to Wild Adventures,” Roger Ghant said. “We were going to stop at Old Time Cafe, and we saw the cars. Dijah is interested in learning how to work on performance cars.”
Membership for the South Georgia Corvette Club cost $30. Membership for the Classic Car Club is $20. Residents can contact the SGCCC at info@sgccc.org.
Local News
Related Photos
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Roger Ghant of Columbus points out his favorite parts of a Corvette to his grandchildren, from left, Boyd Ghant, 10, and Dijha Ghant, 12, at Saturday’s South Georgia Corvette Club Cruise-In. Dijha Ghant is interested in learning how to work on performance cars, Roger Ghant said. Jason Schaefer \ VDT
Discussion
Corvette Club meet raises food donations
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