Monterey Del Oro “Monterey of Gold”
A once-in-a-lifetime collection of “precious” Corvettes & People!
The Monterey Historic Races
2003 was Corvette’s 50th Anniversary celebration. The Monterey Historics are held at the world-famous Laguna Seca Raceway outside Monterey, California. Every year, the Monterey Historic Automobile Races (now the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion) selects a suitable unique marque to honor. Corvette was chosen for 2002, and the Chevrolet corporation and many enthusiasts planned to celebrate in style by bringing a once-in-a-lifetime collection of famous Corvettes to Monterey. This was all planned several years in advance. I will do a later blog post with all sorts of images of the 2002 Monterey Historics!
Everybody is invited to the party!
Because of this opportunity- every Corvette organization ALSO planned to host their annual events around the same time and near Monterey, California. The Straight Axle Corvette Enthusiasts (now the Solid Axle Corvette Club) were already headquartered in California, and the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) held their National Convention in Monterey. This only added to the number of Corvette enthusiasts and cars that would be in Monterey in late summer, 2002.
The Monterey del Oro Event
A few local Corvette enthusiasts named John “Skip” Frenzel, and Rob Weaver decided to take advantage of all the hoopla and organized the “Monterey del Oro” a one-time event to celebrate Corvette’s golden 50th anniversary. They did an AMAZING job! It was held on August 9-14th at various locations in Monterey, California. It was composed of three main events: a car show, a series of seminars/presentations with Corvette VIPs and a Black Tie Banquet held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. They also held a Car Rallye, Golf Tournament, Awards Ceremony, Concourse Judging, Autograph Sessions, Special Displays, Show & Shine, Swap Meet, Road Tours, Autocross, and Day Trips.
Take a stroll through Corvette history with these images from 17 years ago- The Monterey del Oro in 2002.
The Monterey del Oro Concours and Car Displays
A view of the Monterey del Oro car show
Another view of the car show
A pair of Grand Sports in Coupe and Convertible
Pretty yellow 427 Shark
A Tuxedo Black Midyear with knock-offs
A few other Chevrolet cars attended
Silver Callaway Coupe
John Maher’s Gulf Racer
John Maher’s Gulf Racer- Engine
The 1953/2002 Corvette
The AIR #44 Corvette
The AIR #44 Corvette- Engine
The AIR #44 Corvette- Interior
The AIR #44 Corvette- Logo
The Monterey del Oro Corvette Seminars
The presenters and speakers at the Monterey del Oro were unsurpassed- Corvette Engineers, Designers, Racers, Authors, Builders, and Businesspeople. All Corvette enthusiasts. Sadly, many of these luminaries have passed away in the intervening years. Here is a list of the Monterey del Oro speakers:
- John Lingenfelter
- Dick Guldstrand
- Jerry Burton
- Jerry Watts
- Ed Simmons
- Dave Bright
- Chip Miller
- Rupert Bragg-Smith
- Dave McLellan
- Tommy Morrison
- Dr. Dick Thompson
- Doug Rippie
- Noland Adams
- John Cafaro
- Mike Yager
Some of the Corvette Panelists
Dollie Cole- Champion for the National Corvette Museum and wife of Ed Cole, former General Motors President and member of the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame
Dick Guldstrand- Corvette racer, innovator, engineer, builder, owner of Guldstrand Engineering and member of the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame
Dave McLellan- Corvette Chief Engineer from 1975 through 1992 and member of the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame
Jim Jeffords- Corvette racecar driver and member of the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame
John Cafaro- Corvette Chief Designer for the C5 Generation and member of the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame
Noland Adams (on left)- World-famous Corvette researcher and author and member of the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame
Doug Rippie- Owner of Doug Rippie Motorsports
Ray Battaglini- Corvette enthusiast who played a pivotal part in the development of the National Corvette Museum and member of the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame
Chip Miller (left)- Corvette enthusiast who founded Carlisle Productions and member of the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame
Mike Yager (right)- Corvette enthusiast who founded Mid-Ameria Direct (later Mid-America Motorworks) and member of the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame
Monterey del Oro Banquet
Monterey del Oro ended with a Black Tie Banquet held at the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Here are some images from that special evening. I would like to thank Wayne Ellwood for providing the photos from the Monterey del Oro from so long ago!
Monterey Bay Aquarium circa 2002
Corvette Chief Engineer, Dave McLellan
Noted watercolor artist Dana Forrester (left) with Glenda McLellan
Mike Yager of Mid-America Motorworks
Jerry Burton (left)- Founding Editor of “Corvette Quarterly” and member of the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame
Who is Keen Parts?
Keen Parts is a leading manufacturer and retailer of Corvette parts and accessories. We have over thirty years of happy customers all over the world and look forward to helping you with all of your Corvette needs. Our catalogs cover more than 26,000 Corvette parts and accessories. Our retail shop and warehouses are located in Cleves, Ohio just north of Cincinnati. We are right off Interstate Highway I-74 and only six minutes from Cincinnati. We stock parts available for Corvettes from 1953 to the present. If you own a C1 through C7 Corvette- we have the Corvette parts and accessories that you need!
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