Cars, SUVs, Trucks

Posts Tagged ‘Corvette Forum’

I first went “online” back in ’90 when I checked out the free AOL disc I got in the mail. AOL-land was fun for a few years, but in ’95 a friend said to me, “You don’t need AOL to surf the net.” Honestly, I didn’t know that back then. A few days later, I said good-bye to AOL and “HOWDY!” to the information superhighway. People that previously had zero interest in PCs flocked to computer stores so they could be on the internet and get e-mail.

Back at that time the Internet was really different. Just about everyone was on dial-up, so sites and web pages were simpler. The net hadn’t yet been taken over by commerce sites so it was easier to find “information” then. Chat rooms and forums had been around since the early ’80s, but they were difficult to use. AOL’s interface helped make it much easier.

While blogging began around 1994, it didn’t start to take off until ’99 with the introduction of “blogging tools.” When political pundits glommed on to blogs in ’02, the blogosphere really took off. Now, there’s a blog for everything. This is good news and bad news. For researchers like me, when I do a search, nearly half of the links are for product, services, books, auction listings, and forum or blog comments. At first, I was kind of annoyed with the Corvette forum links because searches often linked to things such as, “I like side-pipes too.” But when I took some time to go to the Corvette forum’s home page, I was pleasantly surprised to find a rich, comprehensive information source.

Take a Corvette forum such as SmokinVette.com. The Corvette hobby is huge because it covers a 57 year lineage of cars in six distinct generations. SmokinVette has Corvette forums for all six generations. Once you’re into your generation’s forum, cruise around, and check out the topics. Every forum is unique, so spend some time poking around the links, controls, and drop-down boxes. It’s like wandering around a big box, home improvement store. It’s a little overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t take long and you know just where to find that sky hook you’re looking for.

I am sometimes in the mood to look at Corvette pictures, and SmokinVette has an enormous collection of them. What would a high-testosterone topic like Corvettes be without an assortment of Corvette Girls? The answer is it would be boring! However, you will not find anything too over the top, as they are classy pictures at SmokinVette, but you will find a lot of SmokinHot babes. And the last comment is only a compliment, ladies.

Owning a pleasure boat is a lot more economically challenging than owning a Corvette, but you could possibly spend extra money on things such as personalizing and refurbishing your Corvette. You can find a “Vette Parts” section in SmokinVette, which can help you locate anything from a crate engine or supercharger to LED lights or used parts. You may have thought that there is a limited range of parts and you will be impressed to know that is not true. You will quickly discover there are a variety of parts being offered by very creative Corvette know-it-alls.

It’s hard to be just a voyeur. After you finish the free registration, you can give your input to any forum, start a new forum topic, and ask a Corvette question, or even post images and/or photos. Corvette people are very friendly and helpful. Once you own a Vette or are simply an enthusiast, you belong to a uniquely American club. The whole “Save the Wave” thing started as a way for Corvette owners to recognize one another on the road. Corvettes are not just your ordinary car, they are something more special. It’s indescribable the feeling you get when you drive one. It’s a genuinely sensual experience when you drive one. You do not just “ride” in a Corvette, you DRIVE a Corvette, because they are made and designed to be DRIVEN. I have lost count of how many times I have read or heard a new Corvette owner say, “I never really understood this car until I drove one.” That’s the “GOTCHA!” moment.

Make some time, get comfortable, and check out some Corvette forums, such as SmokinVette.com. It’s very fun, educational, engaging, and a good way to meet like-minded people the “get” the Corvette passion. Enough said! -KST

For additional information or queries about Why A Corvette Forum Matters please see the Smokinvette Group at www.smokinvette.com

The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray which ran from 1963-1967 was the second generation of the Chevrolet Corvette. The 1963 Corvette was unique for several reasons and the model produced several upgrades for the Corvette in general. Also, the Sting Ray had a new body design. What is fascinating is how the car came to be.

Designer Larry Shinoda used his distinct inspirations and developed the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray. Shinoda used ideas from many sources and when he put them together the legendary Corvette was born. Bill Mitchell, Shinoda’s boss, influenced the designer in many ways to help shape what would become the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray

1. Mitchell’s Previous Designs: Mitchell had previously overseen the design of an unproduced ‘Q-Corvette’ which Shinoda took careful notes of. 2. Mitchell’s Vehicle: Shinoda found more inspiration from his boss by way of what Mitchell drove, which at the time was a Jaguar E-Type. 3. Mitchell’s Adventure: On a deep sea fishing expedition Mitchell had caught and landed a Mako Shark. Shinoda took several key points from this majestic creature of the sea and incorporated them into the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray. 4. Mitchell’s Racing Involvement: In 1959 Mitchell sponsored a racing car called the ‘Mitchell Sting Ray’ because at that time Chevrolet had pulled out of factory racing. Though it had no top and did not give away what the eventual 1963 Corvette Sting Ray would look like, it is widely speculated that this was the biggest influence on Shinoda’s design.

The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray brought with it some new developments that were unique to the year. While some of the developments stayed, others did not. The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was produced for the first and last time with a split rear window and non-functional hood vents. Both of these features were dropped the very next year for what was called ‘safety issues.’ Because the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was the only year that featured the split window, it has been dubbed the ‘Split Window Coupe’ and is a highly sought after Corvette among collectors.

One innovation that did stand the test of time however was the introduction of the independent rear suspension. While the technology was not new, it was to the Corvette and it proved to be a technology that would last. Other features that would prove to be a mainstay in the Corvette family were the implementation of the Wonderbar auto-tuning radio and air conditioning in mid 1963.

Powering the 1963 Corvette Stingray was a small-block 327 V-8. In 1963, the maximum output for horsepower was 360 and increased in 1964 considerably. While not much by today’s Corvette standards, the output was quite significant for the time.

The C2 generation of the Corvette and later models will begin to take shape but it all started with the Larry Shinoda’s design on the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray. Bill Mitchell’s true inspiration helped shape the Corvette that is enjoyed today and will live in the hearts of Corvette lovers forever. The Corvette will always remain an iconic symbol for the now famous brand.

For additional information or queries about a 1963 Corvette please visit us at www.smokinvette.com