The next morning I loaded the Corvette, got gas, checked the oil, tires, knock-offs, and set off for home. It wasn’t long before I crossed the Colorado/Kansas state line. You could do surgery in the back seat of a car on Kansas highways, as the roads are billiard table-smooth. Gas is around $1.50 cheaper than in California, Nevada, and Utah. I had new appreciation for my home state.
- 1965 Chevy Corvette Adventure Part 1: Buy The Car, Blast To Monterey
- 1965 Chevy Corvette Adventure Part 2: The Drive Home, Day One
- 1965 Chevy Corvette Adventure Part 3: Days Two And Three
The rolling plains were sunny and colorful for the first half of the trip across Kansas on I-70. Then spring storm clouds began to creep in, blocking the sun. I have lived in the Midwest my whole life, and I knew well what was hiding in those clouds: Doom. I thought, “Please, please, please just let me make it home before it dumps on me.” I have no problem driving in rain, even frog-strangling downpours, but the short bit of rain in Utah told me this convertible top wasn’t as watertight as I would have liked.
About fifty miles from home, it began to rain. The soft top dripped at the windshield header of the Chevy Corvette. I had a roll of shop towels with me, and used it to soak up the drips at the top of the windshield. About ten miles from home, the sky opened up and let loose with a torrential downpour. I saw Noah gathering animals in pairs. I was forced to hide under a gas station awning, as the water coming in the car looked like a flooding gutter. Trying to catch it all with the shop towels was like trying to handle toxic waste with an oven mitt. After ten or fifteen minutes, the rain calmed, and I finished the trip home.
Three blocks from home, the brake pedal began feeling mushy. A block from home, at a stoplight, it went to the floor, but still managed to get the Corvette stopped. I tiptoed the final block and got into the garage. My lovely wife had the door open and was waiting with a cold drink. Bless her.
It turned out that the front passenger side wheel bearing had given up the ghost, and the wheel was now resting on the brake caliper. The Corvette got me all the way home before calling it quits. I think she may have a soul.
We unloaded the car, put the top down, and put a big fan in it to dry everything. It took two days.
I have since had the wheel bearing fixed, addressed a few other issues, and have begun detailing the Sting Ray to my standards. The car is still glorious, and I am every bit as smitten as I was before. The Nassau Blue Sting Ray is parked in my garage next to my Roman Red 1960 Corvette. Now I need to find a Classic White C3 for the patriotic Corvette trifecta.
A few lessons learned on my road trip:
- Modern cars are needlessly oversized. This has been my thinking for a while but was emphasized even more whilst piloting a mid-1960s Corvette half way across the country. There is no good reason for SUVs and full-size trucks to be so big.
- Living in Kansas is not so bad. We have wide-open spaces, smooth roads, friendly people, inexpensive real estate, cheap gas, the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs. I was surprised how happy I was to see the state line.
- Taking a break from social media was a pleasant treat. I’m thinking I should spend less time there.
- Though long and somewhat frustrating at times, I wouldn’t trade that road trip for anything. I know the car well now. Give me a few weeks, I might be ready for another (shorter) road trip in it.
- Everyone should endeavor to own a convertible at least once in their lives, if at all possible.
- I came to realize how much I miss listening to good music. I have a massive music collection I need to spend more time enjoying.
- People say don’t meet your heroes. This Nassau Blue 1965 Chevy Corvette convertible is my hero car. It is much better than I had hoped. This Corvette has earned a place in my heart. It has a few needs, but almost every vintage car does. I have already fixed some stuff, and other flaws will be addressed soon. I am driving the car every chance I get, and it is sublime.
- When everything is up to snuff, I want to take the Corvette on a vintage road rally. Any suggestions?
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Comments
A convertible with its own style, it is beautiful, but it will be very inconvenient when the weather is pouring rain.
Alice go away with your spam smutt or what ever it is
Brett, Great story. As a fellow Kansan(middle of the state) I also agree. Life is very affordable here and most of the highways are pretty good. We bought a C5 convertable and I contemplated driving it back from CA but it was November and I was more concerned about the weather.
Brett, thank you for taking us on your journey! I was anxiously awaiting the next chapter every day. Nothing better than having a real driver and the guts to drive it cross country.
I have a candy apple red (custom color) on a 1964 Corvette convertible with a white top, 327/300hp 4 speed and ready to take it on a shorter trip up to Payson, AZ from Phoenix. It’s only 100 miles but up to 5000 ft elevation. You inspired me to do it once the weather cools down (its 110 now).
Love your 60, also one of my favorite cars. Would you take that one on a trip?
Thanks Again!!
I felt like I was riding shotgun with you.Well written, could almost hear the side exhaust rumble. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Brett, fantastic ride, fantastic story, the way you described it, have had me feel your emotions on the road every mile! A lot of greetings from a guy in Merry old Germany, from a collector and driver of 60’s cadillacs and Pontiacs and, I confess, old Porsches. Wish you always a part of good concrete below your tires! Cincerelly Michael
Everybody should buy a car in CA and drive it home at least once in their lives. I took a train to Portland, then down to LA, bought a Boxster, and drove home. The plan was to make the trip in one non-stop burst, but a blizzard on I-40 just west of Flagstaff canned that idea. Later, I hydroplaned my way through monsoons between OK City and Kansas City. By the time I finally got home, I knew exactly how to drive my new-to-me Boxster. And I was totally in love with it.
As I said, everybody should do something like this.
I loved reading each installment!
Route 66 is your next adventure!!
Brett, Love your story! In 1982, a close friend and I drove a ’63 split window he just purchased from San Pedro, CA to Augusta, GA. The trip wasn’t quite as eventful as yours, but was one of the most enjoyable things I ever did! I’ve owned several Corvettes over the years, but never took one of mine on a cross country adventure like the one we had.
I think I might write and share that experience like you did. Your story brought back some great memories! Thank you!
Rick Farris
Looks a lot like a 67 to me.
Great adventure! A couple of thoughts from Nor Cal….rear spindle bearings are a weak spot on the ’65s and when mine went?…No easy repair…As for your adventure, my wife and I bought a new Viper in Colorado and drove it home to Nor Cal and you nail it on how fun a convertible “road trip” is…Maybe we see you here again?
Wow Brett, great story. Especially since you now own the very car I’ve wished for ever since I got seriously into Corvettes. I especially like that L79 327/350. Quick, fast, and without the big block weight over the front end. And the footwell heat! I’ve had a couple C6’s and now drive a ’17 GS coupe, living in Manhattan a couple hours west of you. My folks lived in PV and OP (115th and Pflumm) until retiring. There were several vintage Vettes garaged in their OP neighborhood, which just added fuel to my fire. As for road trips, try going to the National Corvette Museum for the Bash (April) or the Birthday event (early September). Both events offer day trips throughout Kentucky, and the Motorsports Park always has its own events going on. But, as the owner of a gorgeous ’60, I have a feeling you already know all that…Wishing you lots of carefree miles and smiles! Save the wave!
I think you and I have already met. I live a bit further south down Pflumm. Is your ’60 Ermine White?
Sorry Brett, I meant that YOU were the owner of a ’60, not me, and because of that, you were probably already familiar with the NCM…
I purchase my 65 Corvette in 68 that looked identical to yours. However, over the past 50 years, there isn’t much stock about the car. The list of improvements is endless including Porshe seats.