CORSA annual conventions draw hundreds of cars and their owners, enthusiasts, and of course, the Corvair parts vendors who support the hobby. Events include social gatherings, tech sessions, meetings of Corvair-related groups such as the Corvair Preservation Foundation, the Internet discussion group Virtual Vairs (VV), or the V-8 Registry (a V-8 conversion owners group). There are rallies, economy runs, autocross events, guest appearances by Corvair celebrities such Tony Fiore, the author of the excellent book The Corvair Decade, and a variety of social gatherings and late night one-on-one sessions.

A crowd pleaser at Daytona 2000 was an event called  the Valve Cover Races. Similar to a soap box derby, but in miniature, the event featured wheeled "cars" constructed from Corvair valve covers. According to the rules, the non-powered units could weigh no more than 4.5 lbs., and their dimensions could not exceed 16" in length  or 8" in width.

At poolside before the race, the convention crowd was entertained by a static display of the creatively designed valve cover racers. Some were all business and were equipped with high-tech, low friction wheels. Others were designed to represent their owners' real Corvairs. My personal favorites were one designed to look like a Rampside pickup, complete with a surf board in its bed, and another car "driven" by Barbie (the famous doll), with her windswept hair blowing straight back as she raced to a win.

The gravity-powered valve cover cars were released in pairs from the top of a 24-foot long descending ramp, with the winner being determined by the first car across the finish line while still on it's wheels. All in all, great fun, and an event that put everyone in the mode for the Concours d' Elegance competition, held the following morning at Daytona International Speedway.

Pictured above is a Corsa sport coupe in Evening Orchid, a color exclusive to the 1965 model year. This "top dog" was equipped with the 180 hp turbo-charged engine option.

Here's a great example of a stock appearing late model. The only obvious departure from stock is the pair of speakers on the rear parcel shelf. The wheel covers are original optional Corvair items. Nice looking car!