The sleek and sexy figures adorned the bedroom walls during his teen years, and Terry Robinholt acknowledged that he lusted after one in particular.
A 1962 red Corvette. A classic car at a time when many boys were driven by driving, and when even the music of the period — from the Beach Boys to Jan and Dean — accelerated such passion. Edinburgh’s Robinholt remembers well.
“It’s my ultimate,” said the president of the Corvette Club of Columbus.
The 69-year-old, who now owns that car of his dreams, wants others to share his bumper-to-bumper enthusiasm for the ‘Vette set.
So the approximately 65-member, family oriented club — one that donates as much as $3,000 annually to local charities — will mark part of its 40th anniversary with a 40-Corvette display Saturday and Sunday at FairOaks Mall, 2380 25th St. in Columbus.
The organization also will host a Poker Run from the club sponsor Chevrolet of Columbus’ dealership on National Road to the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds for a meal and celebration May 1.
As many as 60 Corvettes might be snaking their way up National Road that day, according to the longtime leader.
“We just want to make sure people in Columbus know that we’re here — and a part of the community,” Robinholt said.
Corvettes originally went into General Motors’ full production in 1953. Original pricetag: $3,498. Pricetag of some modern Stingrays? $70,000 plus.
Robinholt once owned a 1966 Corvette Stingray convertible with the vanity plate LV2CRUZ. Visitors to the mall during past displays have been impressed with the gleam and sporty prestige of the vehicles and their horsepower. Yet, after they look over the selection, Robinholt noted that they frequently will glance around with a puzzled expression.
Then, they pop the most-asked question: “How did you get these cars in here?”
Robinholt laughs. A big service entrance near one of the restaurants allows club members to drive their shining pride and joy right into the mall.
Original Corvette Club of Columbus member Marnie Carr — she laughingly acknowledged she has a bit of a perfect surname for the group — will miss the mall exhibition.
She will be in Auburn for the meeting of the Indiana Chapter of the National Corvette Restorers Society.
She loves the cars, even though she had to sell her last one, a 1986 silver Corvette, to make room for her more practical and year-round minivan. She realizes that the vehicles get their share of attention.
She thought it was great when she and late-husband Jim, allowed their once-teen daughters to drive one of their Corvettes to school.
“But for me these days, the people are a bigger draw (at club events),” Carr said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Let the good times roll” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
What: Corvette Club of Columbus marking part of its 40th anniversary with a display of about 40 of the vehicles of club members.
When: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Where: FairOaks Mall, 2380 25th St. in Columbus.
Cost: Free.
Club membership: Open to Corvette owners and enthusiasts. Current club members must approve each new member.
Club charity: Supporting local efforts such as the Love Chapel food pantry, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, and other nonprofits.
Next up: Annual summer car show July 9 at Chevrolet of Columbus.
Classic car cruise-ins: Weekly from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays at the Dairy Queen downtown in Columbus.
Information: columbuscorvette.com.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
