Central Kansas Corvette Association
• A Look Back at CKCA History, by President Kevin Brown •
Circa 2011 - 2013
As published in the Summer 2013 issue of NCCC's Blue Bars Magazine
Founded in the spring of 1968, the Central Kansas Corvette Association (CKCA) recently celebrated its 45th anniversary. Eight of the original founding members remain active in the club today. CKCA is believed to be the second oldest Corvette Club in the state of Kansas and members range in age from 40-85 spanning six generations of Corvette production. Based in Hutchinson, KS, CKCA members reside in Dodge City, Wichita, Salina and the Hutchinson vicinity.
Membership had declined to eight members in the summer of 2011 when the Executive Committee was approached by a group of 'youthful' and 'exuberant' local Corvette enthusiasts who had a desire to re-energize and grow the club. A letter was written and mailed to local Corvette enthusiasts in September 2011. Following the letter, an exploratory get acquainted meeting and dinner was held in October with 25 people attending.
The following are excerpts from the introductory letter:
"By receiving this letter you have been identified as a member of a very elite fraternity - Corvette owner. We all know the excitement of getting behind the wheel of our Corvette and just enjoying the drive. The Central Kansas Corvette Association (CKCA) has been promoting the "Corvette Experience" in Hutchinson since 1968. We would like to invite you to attend a meeting of the local Corvette owners in hopes of expanding the membership of the local Corvette club. There is no obligation but, hopefully, this meeting will demonstrate how fun it is to get together with other Corvette owners. Membership activities include drive and dines, car shows, road trips and just getting together with other car people. It is also a great place to get answers to repair questions, network to find parts or possibly find your next Corvette."
The near dormant club grew to over 30 members by the end of 2011. CKCA designed a new CKCA logo during the spring of 2012 and the momentum continued. The group photograph was taken on April 15th, 2012 at the Hutchinson, Kansas Airport. 52 members with 32 Corvettes attended the club outing. Following the group photograph, members enjoyed a dinner paid by the club at the Hutchinson Airport Steakhouse. At the time of this writing, membership was at 64. The club's goal is 75 members by the end of 2013. CKCA claims to be one of the fastest growing Corvette clubs in North America.
In the early years, CKCA was very active in autocross. We hosted several regional events at the old Navy Air Base in Hutchinson and also at the Markley Complex in Salina. CKCA has several skilled drivers who have travelled to autocrosses at NCCC conventions and have won many FTD's and national trophies. In the mid-70's, several members even traveled to an autocross at Daytona Raceway hauling their Corvette in the back of a farm grain truck while pulling another Corvette with a trailer. A photograph later appeared on the cover of a national Corvette magazine that we haven't been able to locate at the time of this writing (please help us locate the photo...possibly in 'Vette Vues' Magazine). We have a proud racing history and have members who have attended the Spring Mountain Advanced Driving School.
Currently, the CKCA sponsors an annual spring Corvette and Harley Davidson show benefiting the local Hutchinson Zoo. Meetings are held monthly and drive and dines are scheduled every 4-6 weeks during the spring, summer and fall driving months. The club is planning to caravan to Bowling Green to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the National Corvette Museum, August 28-30, 2014. We hope to see you there.
Save the Wave!
– Kevin Brown, CKCA President 2012 - 2016
Founded in the spring of 1968, the Central Kansas Corvette Association (CKCA) recently celebrated its 45th anniversary. Eight of the original founding members remain active in the club today. CKCA is believed to be the second oldest Corvette Club in the state of Kansas and members range in age from 40-85 spanning six generations of Corvette production. Based in Hutchinson, KS, CKCA members reside in Dodge City, Wichita, Salina and the Hutchinson vicinity.
Membership had declined to eight members in the summer of 2011 when the Executive Committee was approached by a group of 'youthful' and 'exuberant' local Corvette enthusiasts who had a desire to re-energize and grow the club. A letter was written and mailed to local Corvette enthusiasts in September 2011. Following the letter, an exploratory get acquainted meeting and dinner was held in October with 25 people attending.
The following are excerpts from the introductory letter:
"By receiving this letter you have been identified as a member of a very elite fraternity - Corvette owner. We all know the excitement of getting behind the wheel of our Corvette and just enjoying the drive. The Central Kansas Corvette Association (CKCA) has been promoting the "Corvette Experience" in Hutchinson since 1968. We would like to invite you to attend a meeting of the local Corvette owners in hopes of expanding the membership of the local Corvette club. There is no obligation but, hopefully, this meeting will demonstrate how fun it is to get together with other Corvette owners. Membership activities include drive and dines, car shows, road trips and just getting together with other car people. It is also a great place to get answers to repair questions, network to find parts or possibly find your next Corvette."
The near dormant club grew to over 30 members by the end of 2011. CKCA designed a new CKCA logo during the spring of 2012 and the momentum continued. The group photograph was taken on April 15th, 2012 at the Hutchinson, Kansas Airport. 52 members with 32 Corvettes attended the club outing. Following the group photograph, members enjoyed a dinner paid by the club at the Hutchinson Airport Steakhouse. At the time of this writing, membership was at 64. The club's goal is 75 members by the end of 2013. CKCA claims to be one of the fastest growing Corvette clubs in North America.
In the early years, CKCA was very active in autocross. We hosted several regional events at the old Navy Air Base in Hutchinson and also at the Markley Complex in Salina. CKCA has several skilled drivers who have travelled to autocrosses at NCCC conventions and have won many FTD's and national trophies. In the mid-70's, several members even traveled to an autocross at Daytona Raceway hauling their Corvette in the back of a farm grain truck while pulling another Corvette with a trailer. A photograph later appeared on the cover of a national Corvette magazine that we haven't been able to locate at the time of this writing (please help us locate the photo...possibly in 'Vette Vues' Magazine). We have a proud racing history and have members who have attended the Spring Mountain Advanced Driving School.
Currently, the CKCA sponsors an annual spring Corvette and Harley Davidson show benefiting the local Hutchinson Zoo. Meetings are held monthly and drive and dines are scheduled every 4-6 weeks during the spring, summer and fall driving months. The club is planning to caravan to Bowling Green to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the National Corvette Museum, August 28-30, 2014. We hope to see you there.
Save the Wave!
– Kevin Brown, CKCA President 2012 - 2016
Page last updated: 06/11/2024
© Central Kansas Corvette Association
Hutchinson, KS
© Central Kansas Corvette Association
Hutchinson, KS
