Corvette Club of the Palm Beaches

The History

 

1986   Doyle Hurst bought a 1981 Brown Corvette Coupe that was the beginning of the Corvette Club. He got together with Joel, who owned a 1973 Vette, Jim who also had a 1981 and Tim who also owned a Vette. These fellows all worked together at Palm Beach International Airport and talked Vettes, when they weren’t working, that is. Doyle kept saying, “We’ve got to form a Corvette Club”.

1987   The group of co-workers kept sitting over their coffee breaks and talking about their Corvettes, occasionally going to a Car Show together. At this time Mike, another co-worker told Doyle that his Dad, Les, had a 1978 Blue Corvette Coupe and would like to hang with the guys.

1988   Doyle finally took the bull by the horns and the Vette owners started going to Nicky’s Donuts, on Okeechobee Blvd., West of 1-95. They would have coffee, donuts and Vette Talk. Doyle said, “Lets call us Palm Vettes” and that name was tossed around for some time. Then the name “Corvette Club of the Palm Beaches” was thrown out and everyone liked it. So a Club was born. Nicky’s Donuts closed and moved east to become Nick’s Diner and the fledging Corvette Club went to Nicks Diner too. About this time Steve Stockman and his 1981 Blue Coupe, joined in with the group. The fellows sat around and drew up a logo: three Corvettes, two palm trees and a huge sun. It was an eye catcher. It was soon afterward another new face, Howard Taylor, and his 1977 Light Blue Coupe, showed up, having heard about the club from Bob, a Club member, while having service done at Kent Eismann’s Corvette Shop in Jupiter.

1989   The new Corvette Club of the Palm Beaches had no structure, officers, dues, newsletter or organization. And that was just fine with everyone. When shirts were needed, they just all put money in and bought them, the same with decals for the Vettes front window. Usually Doyle would hear about a car show and he’d tell the others and they would go, like to; the Autorama at Dreher Park, John Jockem, in Stuart, and Eckler’s, in Titusville. When a Club Representative was called on to go up and accept an award or trophy, Doyle was our leader. It was about this time that ‘59 Al came upon the group at the John Jockem Show in Stuart and asked about it. He then started showing up on Monday nights, at Nick’s Diner. Al had been a member of Gold Coast Corvettes, a club that was beginning to disband. The first “NEW” Vette was a 1989 Black Roadster owned by Dave Goldberg, he had sold a 1982 Collector’s Edition for the new baby, and he was now a happy “NEW” Vette Owner. Les’s wife Joni was the first “wife” to show up on Monday night. Then Sue, then Lois, then more and more ladies started appearing.  About this time Sheila joined the group with her 1979 White Coupe with her chrome pipes. The Club was about to change.

1990     The club was growing and expanding its level of activities; more car shows, picnics and holiday parties. But due to a lack of real direction the Club was floundering. No one had any idea where the Club was going or how, but we kept growing. So, an organizational meeting was held to discuss having some guidelines. The Meeting was held at the Holiday Inn, on Belvedere Rd. which was owned by a Club Member.

It was decided to run the Club by committees, and each committee would have a chairperson. Those chairpersons would elect a spokesperson to represent the Club. Doyle did not want to be officially involved, he said he had given birth to the Club and it was time for someone else to step up to the plate. The Committees decided upon were; Membership, Treasurer, T-Shirt, Special Events, and Newsletter. The committee chairpersons elected Howard Taylor our Club Spokesman. Dues were also decided upon to meet the financial needs of a stronger Club.

1991     At the first Meeting of the new year Doyle was presented with a Plaque that read “Corvette Club of the Palm Beaches as President .. .until impeached  We all appreciated Doyle for his initiative in starting this Club. The Club continued to grow and attract new members. New ideas were tried and either accepted or left by the wayside. One being attendance recorded to keep track of who showed up at events and shows. That was a real pain, and was eventually dropped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Club Picture, After A Car Show, 1991

1992   The Membership List for 1992 showed 60 memberships, almost all being couples. And we kept growing, and doing more and more shows and events. Our Annual Picnic and Holiday Party were looked forward to by all. As well as the Wellington Christmas and St Patrick’s Day Parades.

1993   The Club is still growing

1994   Brenda Mattingly is new Spokesperson for our Club, and we’re still growing. Over a long Labor Day Weekend, three Couples, Howard & Lois, Diane & Rich and Doyle & Judy, traveled to the Grand Opening of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was a wonderful and very historic event and when we got back we encouraged the Club to purchase a Brick to help support the Museum. Newsletter is started. New Member, Steve Price.

1995   Club is still growing and keeping very busy. First Anniversary of the Opening of the National Corvette Museum finds Howard & Lois, Diane & Rich, Steve & Mary, Dick & Nancy and Don & Sherry headed to Bowling Green, KY. in September. The trip was great and we got to see our signatures from the previous year on display at the Museum. Our Club Decal is on display in the Corvette Factory and a real thrill to see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1996   Lois Taylor is elected our Club Spokesperson and the club still is growing: first Advertisement in Newsletter, new member, Tony Rogers.

1997     This year had a group separate from the Club and start The Heartbeat Corvette Club. These were members who liked racing and had a difference of opinion regarding the Club’s structure. The remaining members had a meeting at a Bowling Alley on Military Trail to discuss the future of the Club. At that time it was voted to have a more formal structure and appoint a real President, that person was Bob Daubert. This resulted in a greater bond between the remaining members and the Club continued to grow.

1998     Dave Corbin is elected our new President. New Members at this time were John & Joan Williamson, Joe & Peg Davis, Bill & Debbie North, Dale & Sheree Hurayt, Chuck & Tracy Cannon and Tom & Mary Schmidt.

1999     Joe Davis is elected our new President. New Members are; Max & Arlene Evans, Doug Koenemund and Jeff Steffen. Doyle is working nights and unable to attend meetings, but he visits when able. It’s time for the 5th Anniversary of the Opening of the National Corvette Museum and another Caravan to Bowling Green, KY. Howard & Lois, Joe & Peg, Bill & Debbie, Jerry & Judy, John & Joan, Diane & Rich, Doug and Jeff made the trip and had a truly magnificent time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While meeting one Monday night at Nicks Diner, the waitress said , “ Oh, by the way, we will be closed for dinner, starting next week, so you all can 't meet here anymore”. Howard & Joe drove to Andy’s Seafood, the only place anyone could think of for us to meet temporarily, and arranged for us to move to Andy’s the next Monday night. Andy was thrilled to have us, he let us display our trophies on shelves and we took over the bar area every Monday night.

2000   The New Millennium   Joe Davis Re-elected President, and the Club is healthy and strong. The membership is growing, a set of By-Laws give direction, the Board of Directors meet quarterly and all is well. A Web-Master is a new position and the Club now has a Web Site. Bill North, our Web Master spent hour upon hour creating this, a new form of growth and communication for the Club. New members are; Roger & Joellen Kleinfeld, Richard & Susan Barrett, Zane & Debra Wright, Paul & Diane Sharone and Tom & Sandy Sullivan.

 

 

 

 

 

Wellington Christmas Parade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2001       Joe Davis is re-elected President. We have decided to move to another restaurant for our Monday Night Meetings, Bill & Debbie and Dale & Sheree scoped out Chili’s and they are all too happy to be our hosts. The move is simple, from one side of the parking lot to the other. Then, Joe takes a new job in the Fort Myers area toward the end of the year, and the Board asks Howard to stand in for Joe until the end of the year. The Club is still growing and enjoying weekend trips and fewer Car Shows.

New Members are; Al Chaiken, Larry Newman, Bill & Lynda Guevremont, Joe & Carolann Aufiero, Jim & Elaine McAndrew, Eileen & Glenn Bailey, Fran & Carl Edler, Larry & Jo Ann Queen, Tony & Lisa Bono, Bill & Pat Mignogna, Ray Berman, Ed & Carol Muldowney, Norm & Mary Goodman, Bob & Faye Mancuso, Ken & Wanda Haas and Ron & Judy White.

 We celebrated the Club’s 10th Annual Holiday Party with a more formal event then in the past. Jonathan’s Landing, Old Trail, Country Club was the venue and all were delighted. Dinner and dancing was a perfect way to end a very difficult and emotionally draining year for our Country. The Club upgraded our Museum Brick, keeping the original for display with our trophies, in Chili’s. All Club Members are encouraged to purchase an individual Brick to join members existing bricks that surround the Club Brick.