posted
With the Corvette tour taking place during the gathering in BG, I decided to scan the Corvette plant website. This is taken from the Corvette plant history page :
quote:Through a contractual agreement between General Motors and the UAW, a skilled workforce of about 900 production employees transferred in from the St. Louis plant. The State of Kentucky generously allotted training money for the orientation of new hires and transferring employees. With the help of then Governor John Y. Brown, the first Kentucky-built Corvette rolled off the Bowling Green assembly line on June 1, 1981.
That's kinda neat, because reading this just jogged my memory that my dad is among many in the plant photo standing around the 1st BG production Corvette. He's got a picture of that on his wall in his den at home. It's a cream color with dark brown? bottom two-toned unit. Fugly color, but it was historically cool. He was one of the St. Louis transplants, btw who retired from GM in '86.
Digressed side story: I was in the Navy in 1981, attending Navy nuclear power school in Orlando, FL. I called my mother to see what was up with the family unit one Saturday, and she said, 'I'm glad you called, we're just about to head out the door on our move to Bowling Green.'....which was ok, but this was the first I heard of any move!! I was a bit miffed that nobody had even mentioned this possibility before.
Had I been an hour later with that call, I'd have no idea where they'd have gone. Maybe that was her evil plan, move when I wasn't looking....muhahahaha.
Posts: 577 | From: Aiken, SC | Registered: May 2002
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posted
My family moved in 1976 while I was in the Navy also, not as drastic a move as yours.Was kinda wierd first time I came home on leave after they moved I had to call for directions.
Posts: 42 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Aug 2003
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Look over that picture again.... JeffY is probably in it. He was with the Corvette team when they moved into BG.
Also, Jeff was in the second car in the convoy that opened the National Corvette Museum.
Half the C4 stuff in the museum probably has his finger prints on it. Jeff also donated some items that are on display there too.
Posts: 2441 | From: Chester, NY | Registered: Feb 2000
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Het el ess1 - where did your father work in the plant? I was a Vette production engineer in St. Louis and went to BG ( lived in Mi but commutted every week) and knew lots of the guys. I had lots of friends that transferred. Every group had their picture taken with taht car - I've got one of the Prod. Eng. group - they used to have them on display in the plant.
Posts: 1163 | From: Rochester Hills, Mi | Registered: Feb 2000
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That's why we want you down there this year Mr. Y.
You're insights would be tremendous. C'mon Jeff, time for another road trip! You can laugh at me getting another ticket - maybe! Posts: 5558 | From: Windsor, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
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No problem there! We're taking 2 vehicles down, SS and Suburban, know how to drive a Suburban? Posts: 5558 | From: Windsor, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:Originally posted by JeffY: Somebody need a passenger and roommate?
dont even kid about this.... otherwise I'll have you stuffed into a suitcase and flown to NJ in October. Posts: 2441 | From: Chester, NY | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:Originally posted by JeffY: where did your father work in the plant?
To be honest, I don't really know for sure. I know he'd go to work, then come home. I never did think about what he did all that much. Nothing as prestigious as an engineer, I know that. I know he USED to work on the line for assembly, but then I think he transferred out to another group. I'll have to ask him the next time I talk to him.
I do remember getting to sit in one of the first 1983 C4 cars destined for Michigan. I think it was VIN #3 or 4. They said the first one was already in MI at that time. (Jeff was probably out driving around in #2.) That was very cool. Plus he got to drive an 84 or 85, not sure of the year, home one time to play with under the "employee test program". That was VERY VERY cool. It was a puke looking dark gray/fern metallic color.
But Jeff, you never did tell us what went on in that "secret" garage room in the middle of the plant...you know the one I'm talking about. I've been in there during the development of the ZR1, with the mock up trannies, cars of many colors, etc. Cough it up.
Posts: 577 | From: Aiken, SC | Registered: May 2002
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quote:Originally posted by JeffY: Somebody need a passenger and roommate?
Do you mind leaving from the "OTHER" side of town on Wednesday You will have to stay till Sunday thats when I'm getting back.
Posts: 3091 | From: Canton Mi. | Registered: Oct 2002
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Looks like I can't make it after all - have a committment for Sunday and I have to be out of town on business on the 15-16th. Don't know what it will lead to, so I want to hang around town.
Posts: 1163 | From: Rochester Hills, Mi | Registered: Feb 2000
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But Jeff, you never did tell us what went on in that "secret" garage room in the middle of the plant...you know the one I'm talking about. I've been in there during the development of the ZR1, with the mock up trannies, cars of many colors, etc. Cough it up. [/QB][/QUOTE] I think it was just a engineering mock-up room. I really don't remember it!!
Posts: 1163 | From: Rochester Hills, Mi | Registered: Feb 2000
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