Corvette owners take spit and polish to new level
Story and photos by Jim Murtagh
When Karen and Art Caponi’s 1993 rag top Corvette Ruby rolled off the General Motor’s assembly line in Bowling Green, Kentucky, it was filthy! Its dual exhaust pipes were not polished, there was grease in the engine compartment, and most likely, there was lint on the carpet. It certainly would not have been a contender for the “Best of Show” trophy at Club Corvette of Connecticut’s (CCC) 15th Annual Show & Shine.
Luckily, the 40th anniversary edition vehicle with ruby red matching interior, exterior and roof, found a home with the Caponis, who settle for nothing less than “ultra-clean.” But, in a competition where the “cleanest car gets the trophy,” even ultra-clean may not ensure victory. “A dead bug can be the difference between first and second place.” says Art Caponi. Leaving nothing to chance, he adds “I even look for bug footprints!”
The husband and wife team drove 130 miles from Fitchburg, MA to compete in CCC’s largest event which is held at Moroso Performance Products in Guilford. Moroso manufactures high-performance racing parts and graciously opens its facility to the 200 competitors and more than 2,000 spectators. The company’s established racing heritage perfectly complements the show’s auto enthusiast venue.
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Art Caponi details the rims on his “garage queen” 1993 Corvette Ruby using a custom cleaning solution. He doesn’t know it yet, but his efforts will be rewarded with a “Best of Show” trophy.
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The Caponi’s “garage queen” Corvette only leaves the protection of its sanctuary when it is being driven to a show, a drive which can be just as stressful as the judge’s scrutiny. The couple has a second Corvette which they use for recreational touring. When it comes time to break-out the cleaning supplies and begin the detailing process, the Caponis take a systematic approach. Art calls himself the “engine guy” and refers to Karen as the “interior queen” and he says “we kind of meet on the paint.” It’s a strategy that has proven highly effective.
Dennis Krajewski, 1st Vice-President for the club and one of its founding members, says the Show & Shine event is a celebration of “ America’s first production sports car” which GM debuted in 1953. CCC was established in 1993 and is the largest Corvette club in CT with nearly 400 members. To join, you don’t have to own a Corvette, but “you must share the love of the Corvette” says Krajewski.
Club members are not allowed to compete in the Show & Shine, but over 100 of them will volunteer their time to make the event a success. In addition to celebrating their automobiles, the club is very civic-minded and donates time and money to several local charities, such as the Branford Community Dining Room and The Hole in the Wall Gang.
Competition vehicles entered the Moroso parking lot at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday July 8th and owners had until noon to finish detailing their vehicles before the judges declared rags down and began making their rounds. Outside the show area, club members proudly displayed their cars, and a separate lot was designated for spectators to showcase their “Vettes.” There were also areas designated for vendors and Corvettes looking for new owners.
As the D.J. played and hamburgers sizzled, contestants were hard at work getting their automobiles into competition form. Boxes of waxes and cleaning supplies surrounded the vehicles, and owners spritzed, buffed, and polished until the cars far exceeded showroom standards. Contestants were in, on, and under their vehicles removing every trace of grit and road grime which may have accumulated on the ride to the event. Many contestants had already invested weeks - yes weeks - preparing their car for the show, some going as far as disassembling engine components to reach and clean obstructed areas.
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| Every speck of dirt and road grime will be removed from these beauties before the judges make their rounds. |
The competition is based exclusively on the cleanliness of the vehicles and is divided into three categories. “Street” cars are judged on their exterior condition alone. Since these vehicles get driven regularly by their owners, they are allowed to have the occasional road chip, and judges keep a three-foot viewing distance during their evaluation. “Super-Street” cars are driven less frequently, and are judged on their exterior and interior condition, so seats, carpets, and dashboard play important roles.
The most competitive class is the “Show Class” and these vehicles are seldom seen on the road, except when they are headed to a show. They are judged on interior and exterior cleanliness, but also on their engine compartment and under carriage. “You could open up the engine compartment and eat off it they are so clean.” Krajewski points out. The Caponis are entered in this class and that explains why their white rags and Q-Tip cleaning treatment is essential.
Mike D’Avino, 2nd Vice-President for CCC, owner of five Corvettes, and former show addict, explains that judges score the cars on a 10-point system. Each time a flaw is found, the car is “gigged” a point. Consistent and non-preferential judging is an utmost priority. Club members act as judges, but only after attending classes and participating in an apprenticeship program. “Fairness is extremely important, so if a judge spends 15 minutes on one car, they’re going to spend 15 minutes on the next.” says D’Avino. |
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| George Sipprell prefers to keep his 2004 Corvette on the road and not in his garage. He has driven across the country and into Alaska. |
Ultra-clean fails to describe the condition of these vehicles. If you are curious just how clean you can make a car, the short answer is cleaner than you could ever imagine! If you took a white cotton rag and wiped it along the underside of the wheel well, it would come out looking exactly as it went in. Take the same rag, and wipe it all around the engine, over the belts, hoses, and the battery, and it will emerge pristine. Now wipe the inside of the tailpipes, or any part of the under carriage, and you still won’t see a smudge on the rag. And the car isn’t just clean, it glows! Everything shines, glistens, and reflects your image. Krajewski calls them “cars in a capsule.”
Not every Corvette owner has aspirations of show trophies and the desire to spend their spare time cleaning their automobile. Some want to take it on the road and unleash the power within the beast. Branford resident George Sipprell decided he was going to tour the US and Canada with his 2004 Corvette, an uncharacteristic action from a Corvette aficionado.
Much to the astonishment of other club members, Sipprell is not shy to venture out in the rain or the snow in his Vette. He has already racked up 58,000 miles and even driven to Alaska, a trip he plans to soon repeat. With a GPS unit and laptop computer mounted to his dashboard, Sipprell emails photos to club members of his car in harsh and remote locations not frequently visited by a Corvette.
Labeling himself as a “daily driver” owner, Sipprell says “I use this car for everything. The other day I went to Home Depot and put four bags of mulch in the back.”
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| Art Caponi uses an artists brush to remove dust and pollen from the engine compartment of his 1993 Corvette Ruby. |
Corvette owners share a bond with each other through their automobile. D’Avino says “It’s a family, a family of Corvettes. There is a comradery you can’t imagine.” This spirit is reflected in the “Corvette wave” the friendly hand salute offered to fellow Corvette drivers as they pass on the road.
For their intensive effort, the Caponis took home the first place trophy in Show Class for Corvette roadsters 1991-1996 and also the coveted Best of Show Class for cars 1984-1996. “It was a great day!” says Karen Caponi.
Club Corvette of Connecticut meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Lakeview Tavern & Grille in Branford. There website is: www.clubcorvettect.com |
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Published
Shore View
July 13, 2007
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