Darrel & Betty S

Well, with this newsletter I am at number six. I’m halfway through my commitment so it’s all downhill from here. When I first started writing the “In the Headlights” stories I have always had a car in mind for each of the months ahead. Yep, I’m coming after six more of you this year so watch out.

This months selection goes out to very deserving members that are always there for the club and treats their ’66 like a fourth child. This story is about a Sunfire Yellow ’66 that belongs to Darrel and Betty S.

Darrel and Betty started their search in 1988 and a year later found a pretty straight, resale red, mid year and brought it home.

How long did you spend looking for this Vette? “We started looking in earnest in 1988 when our youngest went off to college and there was an empty space in the garage” says Darrel.

Was this your first Vette purchase? “No. Our first Vette was a ’59 that I bought when I was going to college. We later had a ’61 but it was kind of a challenge when our third child was born, and the Corvette was our only car”.

Can you share any interesting stories about finding the car? “Our first priority was buying another straight axle” said Darrel. “We looked for more than a year before settling on a mid-year because of how they handled and rode. I had forgotten just how bad the old straight axle handled and had not considered a mid-year until I went to a dealer in Ohio. After driving all the straight axles they had I test drove a ’64 and what a difference. I called Betty that night and revised our car search to include mid years. I found our ’66 at a dealer in Oklahoma and brought “our” car home the next weekend”.

What changes or upgrades have you done on your ‘66 convertible? “We have pretty much rebuilt the entire car over the years” said Darrel. “Our approach in restoration has been driving it in the summer and working on it in the winter. In 1996 we had the car painted its current color which was refreshed this past spring. The original engine was removed in favor of a 350 block in 1998 and the front suspension was rebuilt at the same time. The rear suspension was rebuilt in 2003”.

Can you share your level of your “Corvette fever” or special personal attachment to your car? “This is just a great car to drive” says Darrel. “We put about three thousand miles a year on it going to club events and car shows. The most fun was driving the road course at the Texas Motor speedway in 2004”.

Do you have any special thoughts that you would like to share with the club members? “There has never been a Corvette produced that was not destined to be driven” says Darrel. “Garage queens are nice to look at, but the real pleasure is in the driving, getting together with friends, and sharing the Corvette experience".

"We urge all corvette owners to become active club members and drive their cars like they stole ‘em”.