One of the highlights of the convention was the opportunity to meet some of the people who've been regular site visitors, or who I've communicated with online through the various Corvair discussion groups. One such person was Rick Norris, first president of CORSA. Rick wrote to me in 1998 to bring to my attention a group called the V-8 Registry and to encourage me to represent on these pages, Corvairs converted to V-8 power using Crown or Kelmark kits.

When he mentioned he was in the process of restoring an original Crown-equipped Corv-8, I asked him for pictures and he sent me a stunning collection of highly detailed shots of his ongoing restoration. We worked together to build an extensive feature, which appears in both the Extra! and Corv-8 sections of this site, covering the mechanical aspects of the restoration. We agreed at that time to post a follow-up article once the body work, paint and reassembly were completed.

Rick's goal was to have the car ready for Daytona 2000, and three weeks before the event, the Corv-8 was just coming out of the paint shop. Because Rick was working away from home during the week, he had only his weekends to complete the work, and with the help of some good friends, he managed to do it!

The Corv-8 debuted by taking a Concours d'Elegance gold award in the Late Closed Modified class. It scored 95.68 points and was immediately bumped up to Senior Division; no small accomplishment!

On Friday morning after the Concours, I asked Rick if we could take the Corv-8 out for a ride, and find a spot to take some pictures for the upcoming feature. His smile, and the gleam in his eye told me we were on!