Happy Birthday To This April Vette

MEMBER PROFILE Hank Vezina's `98 Convertible

Happy Birthday To This April Vette
By Lynn Nault

Happy 4^th birthday to Hank Vezina's 1998 Nassau Blue convertible.

April 1998 was a dream turn reality for Hank when he took delivery of his brand new Corvette at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Corvette gods were watching over Hank and his car, as a week prior to picking it up, tornados descended down upon the town of Bowling Green. Many properties were pretty torn up including some of the auto dealerships (one of which was responsible for prepping Hank's car). The Good Witch of the North protected this Nassau Blue convertible from being in the path of these wild winds from Kansas. And as Hank and his car were driving home that following week, he and his new possession were probably chanting, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home."

Since April of 1998, Hank has done some tweeking here and there with his car. Engine modifications include a Donaldson Air-Force Intake System, 1000cfs MAF, Theremo Mod Housing, Throttel Bypass Tube, Cold Air Screens, High-pressure Fuel Regulator, MAT Sensor Recalibrated, and 8mm Plug Wires. He also installed a Corsa Touring Exhaust and added chrome wheels. Hank's car is brimming with patriotic pride as it sports American flags on the side and back.

This 1998 is a well-heeled and well-traveled car. It has traveled to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and has participated in the 1999 National Corvette Museum Caravan with plans to attend the 2003 50^th Anniversary Caravan. Not only has it been to local events in New England, this car has been to England and France as well! Hank is one of the few Corvette owners who can say his car has it's own passport! In 2000, Hank's and 17 other C5 Vettes were shipped to England for a two week tour of England and France with the opportunity to be pit side for the 24 Hour Race at LeMans. For those of you contemplating taking your Vette abroad, let's just say you could fly the Concorde for a lot less than Hank's Vette's transatlantic cruise. It is not a venture for the faint of heart!

Hank joined Gate City Corvette Club in 1995 to "share the corvette experience with others who admire the great car." Hank enjoys his car as a daily driver. Although he is not a real car show fanatic, Hank will still attend when the club is looking for that show of support. He has won the Celebrity Choice Award at the '98 Corvettes at Carlisle show. He even competed in an Autocross event once and took the 2^nd place trophy - and that was when it was stock! Hank's prior Vettes have been a 1968 convertible and a 1988 convertible.

As a member of the C5 Registry, Hank has put his own more detailed story of the purchase of his 1998 on the C5 Registry website. Go see it at http://www.c5registry.com/members/Stories/Vezina1.htm. In celebration of his car's 4^th birthday, Hank will be reunited with other C5 aficionados showing his Vette at the 5^th Anniversary C5 Birthday Bash on April 18-20 at the National Corvette Museum.

So Hank, are you bringing a birthday cake to the next meeting?