National Corvette Museum Delivery (Option R8C)

Bottom Line Up Front: Preparation, planning, and event(s) executed flawlessly in an extremely personable and professional manner.

Scheduling the event with the delivery staff was as easy as a phone call and an email. Actually in our final coordination I forgot to request a wheel chair which I had mentioned months ago to Gary that I would need but on the day we arrived they had one waiting. Thanks for the attention to detail Gary.

Larry Holiday, our escort, was excellent. Larry was extremely competent in his knowledge of the museum and the assembly plant. He also has a very outgoing, and friendly personality. After spending just a few minutes with him I felt like we were life long friends who were getting "caught up" after a long break in contact.

I thought the plant tour was great. My perception is these folks love their jobs and take great pride in building "Americas Sports Car". If their hands were not full, the line workers waved and those that couldn’t offered a warm smile and a nod. The workers we had an opportunity to speak with thanked us for buying Corvette and also thanked me for my service as a Soldier (must be the hair cut) which I found very personable.

The NCM staff displayed the same warm "welcome home" attitude. You have a great staff across the board.

My opinion one of the strengths of this program is how you are made to feel like you truly are a VIP. One reason is the personality traits already discussed and another is during our day at the plant/NCM there was never a time I felt like we needed to hurry up and get from one point or event to the next. Larry made it very clear that this was our day. He laid out the agenda and other than starting the plant tour on time everything else was at our pace.

At this point I would not change a thing. Once the motor complex gets further along, may consider adding it to the events list.

This was truly an experience I will never forget and very thankful my wife purchased this "experience" for me. As I told Larry when we left, this was the first "outing/day long event" I have done since a significant injury three years ago. I can think of no better place or way to have spent it.

This was an excellent value for the money and unless a "great deal" comes along on an "on the lot" Corvette, the next Corvette I get will be picked up via the R8C program. If that great deal does come along, well the next one will go thru the NCM Experience.

Please accept our sincerest thanks for a great event.

As we transition in the next year or so from our Army family of 25 years we look forward to spending more time with our new found family at the National Corvette Museum.

Rob Key, July 15, 2010

Dear Wendell,

Wanted to take time to say THANK YOU to you and the entire staff at the National Corvette Museum for all your help on Monday April 26th, 2010 of the new Corvette delivery for my brother Larry Housh.

We appreciate you taking time from your schedule to meet with my brothers Larry, Jim, and myself. We had been to The Museum in 2001 for a delivery with a friend of ours but I have to say that this trip was over and above what any of us expected. Gary Cockriel is to be commended for his part in this delivery chain. I met Gary in January at Barrett-Jackson and told him of Larry’s purchase, he gave me his business card and told me to call him when we needed to schedule. If he only new then how many calls he would receive from me on Larry’s behalf, and he took every one of them. Or he got back with me a.s.a.p.

That made Larry much more comfortable that he had made the right choice with the R8C delivery option. Thank you to Gary. Also wanted to tell you that our Larry was very much appreciative of his museum liaison Mr. Larry McCool. That is one cool guy. He met us as we walked into the Museum and as if he already knew who we where and introduced himself as our museum technical adviser for the day. The one on one contact was great, his knowledge was first class. He never once asked us to do this or do that or hurry up when we went on the factory tour. His timing was well thought out and the pace was done right. Thank you to Larry McCool. I could go on and on but you understand how we feel. ANYONE that buys a new Chevrolet Corvette should have the R8C option hands down.

I have been a Corvette owner since 1977 and have to my credit ten (10) Bloomington Gold Certificates but I have to say that the look on my brother Larry’s face and the emotions he felt when he and Larry McCool drove down the boulevard with his new Corvette and your crew applauding and acknowledging him puts all those in the back seat, and that’s not easy for me to say.

On closing, for my brothers Larry, Jim & myself a heartfelt THANK YOU to you and the entire staff at the National Corvette Museum. We hope to see you again.

Band of Brothers
Larry, Jim & Dick Housh

Hi Gary:

I just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how much I enjoyed taking delivery of my new Corvette at the museum.

Our host for the tour of the factory and museum was Larry Holiday. He was a great host. His friendliness and knowledge made the experience wonderful. Everyone we met that had an orange shirt on was courteous and helpful. You have a great staff.

I will certainly tell my friends that if they buy a new Corvette, museum delivery is mandatory. Getting a new Corvette is always going to be fun. Picking up a new Corvette at the museum multiplies the fun by a factor of 10.

The car was delivered with zero defects. Driving it from the museum to my home in Los Angeles was such a pleasure that my wife has yet to sit in the left seat.

Thanks to you and your staff for making my new car experience unforgettable.

An extremely satisfied customer,

Ed Mashman

Gary ,

Patty and I wanted to again express our thanks and appreciation to you and the folks at the Corvette Museum for making our trip there a truly memorable one. We had heard a lot about the museum and the folks in our Beachcombers Corvette Club who had been here all said "you gotta do it", so we decided to try it out. Everyone was so nice and truly had our interest at heart which made our visit one we'll never forget.

Special thanks to you for setting up a card for Patty's "birthday present", hope I didn't call with too many questions. Ron was great and really went overboard to be sure we were getting all the info we needed (thanks Ron for the "special" things you did for us). Having someone take us around who had worked at the plant and obviously was proud of the cars he built, gave us real insight. Thanks to Lori also for time out of her busy day before we got there to go over to see what delivery area we were in (so I could call all the folks back home who were watching).

If you can do it, I'd also like to thank all the folks at the plant for smiles, waves, and descriptions of what they were doing. One guy stopped his forklift to show us different types of brake calipers, another let us witness a vibration test, and not the least of the highlights was me getting to start a Z06!!! The plant and the people really gave us a feeling of confidence about the quality being put into our car.

I'm sure there were others behind the scene we didn't meet, so thank them also.

Our trip back was great, we are really enjoying our new car.

Charlie and Patty Brown
Victory Red C-6 Coupe
NCM delivery September 29, 2006
NCM Delivery Number 211-5072

On September 12, my wife and I had the experience of a lifetime....we took delivery of our new, Machine Silver Corvette convertible at the National Corvette Museum. We had a couple with us who, though not taking delivery, thoroughly enjoyed the day and would not have missed it for anything.

Our host was Thomas McFall and what a host. My friend that was with us is a 'gear head' and has owned several Corvettes (he still has a 1960 and a 1999) and is sure Thomas has forgotten more about Corvettes that the 2 of us will ever know. He was most gracious and took all the time we needed to ensure our questions were answered.

The factory tour was simply awesome and then followed up with the museum tour, WOW! It was almost Corvette overload but there are no complaints. Then the PDI and hands on and away we went. Never once did we feel rushed and never once did we get a hint of Thomas' wearing down or wanting to do anything but take care of us. What a great guy.

Your web cams were an added touch that brought pleasure to our 2 children (adults) and our 4 year old Grandson. He saw Grandma and Grandpa on the computer and just had a most wonderful day. When Thomas was driving our car off the museum floor I waved at the camera and our Grandson waved back and was sure we could see him. My cell phone rang before we got out the door and my sister in Georgia was actually 'giddy' (if a 57 year old woman can be said to be giddy) as she watched the event unfold (oh, yes, she has a reservation to "borrow" the car in June for her and her husband's wedding anniversary trip).

All in all it was just a GREAT day. You all have done a fine job and wish you continued success. My wife and I will become life time members of the National Corvette Museum within the next 2 months. Thanks again to Thomas and the entire museum staff and the staff of the Corvette factory....all truly professionals with a true love and show of pride for America's only true sports car.

Thank you and all the best.
Harold Wayne and Janice Tessier

P.S. Hello to Thomas for us and share this with him if you would, the Corvette is the star of the show and Thomas just adds luster to the shine better than we could have ever hoped.

Dear Gary:
I just want to thank both you and Ron Barton for making our R8C Museum Delivery, an experience of a lifetime.From the very start,when I contacted you about picking up my new (my first Corvette) you treated me like an old and respected friend. Your personal warmth came through the telephone. Like a nervous father-to-be I called you and your staff with an inordinate amount of questions and everyone I dealt with at the museum couldn't have been nicer if they tried.

When the day came for the delivery, Ron Barton, spent an entire day with us. He guided us through the assemby plant and told us all of the inside stuff. The same held true for the museum tour. It was fantastic. Then he instructed us about all of the things we needed to know about out new car. My wife and I mercilessly bombarded him with questions, and with patience and a smile he answered every one of them. I have not stopped telling every person I meet about the thrilling experience, my experience of a lifetime, taking delivery of my/our new Corvette.I can't imagine taking delivery of a Corvette any other way then at the museum.

Again, I want to express our appreciation to you and your staff for a great job.My R8C Museum Delivery was fantastic,only surpassed by being able to drive my beautiful Vette every day. Thanks for everything.

Gratefully yours,
Robert Enslein

Good morning gentlemen,

My husband and I enjoyed our first R8C delivery on Nov. 4, 1999, a great experience. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to do it again. Six years has brought a lot of change to the program, WOW, what a difference. This delivery was far superior to the 1999 experience. The major positives were the special guided tour of the assembly plant versus the regular public tour we went on in 1999, the fun of “assisting in the birth” of a Corvette on the line, and, most of all Ron Barton. Ron's obvious knowledge of the plant, people, assembly process and the car itself was very evident. His long history with Corvette assembly processes provided great commentary and anecdotes throughout the day, a delightful man. He is a wonderful asset to the program; clone him if you can. The Corvette Nursery signage is great. Everyone I've shown the photo to loves it. Several of our Corvette club members and family watched over the web cams, that is a great tool as well. One of our group is thinking about a new Z06 to replace the 2001 that she has Auto crossed with great success. She wants a R8C option now that she experienced ours.

I have told several people at the Don Hewlett Chevrolet dealership that I will be happy to speak with anyone about the R8C option and why they should choose to do Museum delivery.

You are doing a great job and I look forward to my next trip to the museum. Let's see, we've been to a C5 Birthday Bash and the 50 th Anniv Caravan, maybe we'll do the R8C reunion next time.

Thank you for a great memory,

Cathy Cody

Gary -

I want to thank you for all the time and attention you gave to me and Beth Ann when we picked up my red Vette convertible on Dec. 23. Everything went off as planned, and the entire experience was most enjoyable. You did a fine job of showing me the options for the car, and taking us around the plant and museum. Thanks so much for your time and attention to us during the entire afternoon. It was a pleasure to get to know you.

I have enjoyed so much driving my Vette. What a great car that is.

Have a good week. With best regards,

Brad Darnall

Gary ,

We just wanted to let you know we absolutely love our new 06 Vette.

The whole delivery experience was a once in a lifetime experience for us.

Everything was done top rate. You treated us like celebrities and we enjoyed the whole thing from our names up on the board, to our plant tour.

Please let every employee know they do a great job, and they act like they really appreciate our purchase. They seem to take pride in their work which is something special in this day and age. You may post our comments in the plant for them to read if you so desire.

Thank you so much. Vickie and Steve Trauth

Hi Gary and Wendell, I wanted to share some comments in relation to my 2006 Z06 Corvette Museum Delivery on Feb. 17, 2006. My delivery number was 478-4199.

Every aspect of scheduling my museum delivery was excellent. Any information that I needed, and all of my questions were immediately answered on every occasion (both on the phone and email) making this process very simple and fantastic. Hats off to Gary, he did an excellent job!

Museum Delivery Team Associate Larry McCool was very friendly, personable, and knowledgeable and really made this experience fantastic! It was great spending the day with him, he did an awesome job in all aspects in everything we did together. He is a wonderful person that truly made this a memorable event. I highly recommend him, and wouldn't mind having him for my delivery in the future, if I get the opportunity to do this again. I really liked the fact that we had our own dedicated associate for the entire day and process. This dedicated attention made this even more special. Everyone I have ever met at the museum has been fantastic.

I believe that everyone, if they have the opportunity in their lifetime, should do the museum delivery (R8C option) on a new Corvette. This experience is far beyond what words can describe. It is truly a wonderful and first class experience in so many aspects. I was fortunate enough to do the Museum Delivery with my Dad, which is made it even more special. I can't wait to go through this experience again!

The VIP factory tour was truly first class! I have done the std. factory tours in the past, but this was fantastic! At the factory entrance, on the scrolling marquee above the doors, is a congratulatory message to all of the new owners doing a museum delivery that day. This was really nice, and after taking my car later that day, I was able to drive my car down to the factory entrance as suggested by Larry to get a few pictures of my car there with my name on the marquee. Several factory employees and tour groups were coming and going while I was doing this, and we talked to them for a while. This was exciting.

The VIP tour of the Corvette Museum, was wonderful. I've been fortunate enough to have been through the museum on several previous occasions, but there were quite a few new and different things in the museum vs. what I saw a few years ago which were neat.

Receiving the nice engraved wood plaque, along with some of the other nice perks that come with the museum delivery, including a sticker that was placed in my door sill signifying the museum delivery was great!

My car was in stall number 1 in the museum delivery line of cars, and was roped off. A nice poster on a stand stated my name and the museum delivery details for that day for everyone to see. A lot of our friends and family were watching the web cams of the delivery on the National Corvette Museum Website, so it was neat when people started calling us on our cell phones to say Hi and that they could see us. This was exciting! Having a well versed and knowledgeable museum team associate such as Larry doing the delivery and complete walkthrough on everything inside and outside of my car, makes this experience well worth it! I learned a lot about my car and all of the electronics. It was also fun chatting with people who stopped by while we were doing the delivery. Everyone was excited!

I want to also mention that the car was prepared to perfection. I have never seen a new car prepared so nicely as mine was. After the delivery, we drove the car out to the front of the museum, the weather was really nice, and we took some nice pictures.

Several other people were also doing Museum Delivery of their cars that day, so it was exciting meeting them and being happy for them too.

This was a wonderful experience that everyone should do if they have the chance. I've mentioned some of the highlights here, but there are many others, as well as the intangible things that come along with this experience. I hope that everyone has the opportunity to do this, and I can't wait to do it again!

Thanks, much appreciated!
Ralph Kauffman

Hello Mr. Strode:

My name is Daniel "___" from El Paso, Tx. I wanted to take a minute of your time to pass on some of my feelings involved in my first Corvette purchase, which also involed taking delivery at the museum on November 11th, 2010.

Wow, I'm not sure where to begin as the entire adventure was absolutely amazing...something I will remember for a lifetime.

My first impression and interaction was with Lori Bieschke in both telephone calls and emails early on after placing the order at my local dealership back in September. I had so many questions and concerns involed in the process, and Lori spent an enormous amount of time communicating with me. Customer service is a dying concept, however Lori was/is absolutely amazing and in fact made me feel like the most important and valuable vehicle owner on earth.

Next came arrival at the museum the morning on November 11th. I was greeted by name with a handshake and a genuine smile by Ron Barton. He spent the greater part of the day interacting with me and answered an enormous amount of technical questions I had both on the museum floor and the assembly plant without hesitation or irritation and with pinpoint accuracy.

Finally, came the moment to drive out of the museum for a photo op out front and a quick trip to the plant for another photo op under the billboard with my name displayed. This was awesome as, what seemed like, every employee of the museum lined up and clapped with a smile as we drove out of the building. That was totally amazing.

I had received both pros and cons about taking delivery at the museum from both friends and the local dealership. All I can say is I AM SO GLAD that I DIDN'T listen to the negative, and DID come up to Bowling Green! This was a once in a lifetime experience, one that came and went way too fast.

Sir, JOB WELL DONE! Your employees are absolutely fantastic, each and every one of them. Please pass this along to everyone when appropriate, as EVERYONE deserves to know how special and welcome I felt on that momentous occasion. My next Corvette delivery will also be at the museum, and I will also spread the word about the value of taking delivery there as well as how amazing each and every one of your employees are.

Daniel
El Paso, Tx.