THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 3, 1994 TAG: 9406020167
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: 940603 LENGTH: Medium
The RK Chevrolet dealership at that intersection will sponsor the Second Annual All Chevy Show to benefit the American Diabetes Association. The show will feature Corvettes and will take place Sunday, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
{REST} ``The only true American sports car, the Corvette,'' according to Don Pacetti, president of the Beachcombers Corvette Club, will be center stage at the show. It certainly won't be the only act, though.
``We're expecting over 200 cars. There has been a strong pre-registration this year,'' said Pacetti. ``Lots of Camaros will be there. We have one spectator flying in from Albuquerque and 'Vettes coming in from Maryland and North Carolina.''
Tom Bates, chief operating officer and vice-president of RK, said it's altogether fitting that RK hosts the show:
``It's only appropriate that the dealership that sells the most Corvettes in the Southeast be the site for this show.''
The Beachcomber Corvette Club is the largest dealership-sponsored Corvette club between Maryland and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and is in the top 10 nationally, Pacetti said. It has grown tremendously since he took over two years ago.
``The club had only 12 families in its membership when I became president,'' Pacetti said. ``Now we have about 110 families and more than 150 members.''
To promote the club, Pacetti started advertising in the Auto Weekly and putting flyers on Corvettes wherever he saw one.
The Beachcombers stress the social aspect of the club. They have a social occasion about once a month. But that's not all they do. They contribute to charitable events, the diabetes group most notably. The club provided the transportation for a recent Special Olympics opening ceremony in Virginia Beach.
The Beachcomber Corvette Club was founded in 1982. Members range in age from early 20s to 60-plus. The cars they love are equally varied, with members owning models from 1959 to the present. The first FiberglasCorvette rolled out of Detroit in 1953.
You could buy a shiny, brand-new 1963 Corvette for a mere $4,300. Maintained properly, the '63 could fetch a whopping $40,000 today, Pacetti pointed out.
``A new Corvette now costs around $40,000 or more, also,'' he said.
Last year, the club raised $800 for the American Diabetes Foundation. The show was held in October and the weather was terrible, Pacetti said. The move to June should boost donations.
``We would like to raise $1,000 this time,'' he said. The show will sell raffle tickets with half the proceeds going to the winner and half to the diabetes benefit. A food and drink concession will contribute all of its money to the charity.
Club member Ilene Corey suggested the diabetes group as a worthy cause for the benefit. Corey works in the health-care field and cited some persuasive numbers for her fellow Corvette enthusiasts.
Diabetes affects about 6 percent of the American population, more than one person in 20. The South Hampton Roads Chapter serves about 80,000 sufferers. The association works as an educational and advocacy organization, helping people learn about diabetes and offering research and support to combat it. Diabetes often goes undiagnosed for some time before the sufferer becomes aware of it.
The reigning Miss Virginia, Nancy Glisson of Williamsburg, will grace the car show Sunday. The 22-year-old Virginia Tech graduate will present trophies to the best Corvette and best Chevrolet to two winners.
RK Chevrolet will present the keys to a 1994 Corvette to a attendee if he or she can guess the number of balls inside the car.
Pacetti has owned four Corvettes. He bought a 1975 convertible when he was a midshipman at the Naval Academy. He now owns a 1969 coupe and a 1993 coupe.
``The convertible costs more and is less practical, not much luggage room, so I've had coupes since my first 'Vette,'' said Pacetti.
by CNB