This is the new
Corvettes Conquer Cancer Warhorse!
How this came to be...
You don't see this often in a Corvette, especially a 9 year old C5!
As I was on the way to FL for the NCRS Winter Meet in Kissimmee in January of 2006, I got a call from friend (and cancer survivor) Paul Eggermann. He was driving his new C6 home for the first time. He was ecstatic with the new car and wanted to let me know that because my C5 then had nearly 200,000 miles on it, he thought I should have a new one to continue my endeavor for the American Cancer Society.
He was starting a nationwide campaign to get donations to buy me a new C6!
He started by e-mail to the C5/C6NET and encouraged everyone to forward his post to the various Corvette on-line forums. I am copying his original post, which you may have already seen, at the end of this page. His goal was to have Dave Hill present me with the keys at the C5/C6 Bash at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green KY on April 22, 2006!
He said there was a long silence on the phone as this sank in! Three months???
When he asked what I would do with the "old" car, I said that if he managed to pull this off I would put the old war-horse C5 up for auction, possibly right there at the Museum, with the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. (Fantasy outcome: the high $ buyer donates the car to the NCM!)
To say that this campaign was overwhelming, intimidating and humbling to me would be a serious understatement!
How you helped:
Carlisle Events "bought" the hood for $7500.
Several other Sponsors signed up for spaces on the car for their LOGO ARTWORK and message in sizes ranging in cost from $1100 up to $2,500. Smaller spots @ $750 are intended for Club logos.
Individual donors of $100 or more have their names in silver on the doors, with $500 and above in gold.
Separate panels behind the front wheels are reserved for "In Memory Of" names @ $200 ea.
My local dealer, Strong Chevrolet, went out on a limb to acquire the C6, with the help of GM Dealer Rep Stacey Glynn, seen here with Jim Dickau, Strong's General Manager.
Sponsorships are deductible, of course, as Advertising. Individual contributions are gifts, and therefore not deductible. All checks would be payable to "Ben Labaree C6 Fund" and sent to:
Ben Labaree C6 FUND
C/O Paul Eggermann
*************** Milltown, NJ 08850
Here's Paul's original broadcast, sent 1/21/06: ================================================================
Here's Your Chance to Take Part in Something Really Special--A Part of Corvette History that Will Make A Big Difference to People For A Long Time To Come. As you know, Ben Labaree has been touring the country for the last 8 years in his 1997 C5. Ben, and his wife, Sandy, started the Corvettes Conquer Cancer Tour after she went through a devastating round of treatment for breast cancer. They sold their beloved 63 Vette and bought a used 97 with money from her IRA and a second mortgage on their house. Sandy and Ben campaigned the country during 98 and 99 until she finally succumbed to her ordeal. Ben has continued to this day. Tirelessly driving his trusty 97 C5 to Corvette events across the country and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the benefit of the American Cancer Society. He has also put over 200,000 miles on his car. It is time that Ben got a new car! It is time for US to give something back to him as small compensation for his selfless dedication to the memory of Sandy and the fight against cancer. I am a cancer survivor myself and have also lost dear ones to this deadly disease. I know first hand what this does to your spirit and have seen first hand the amazing things that people do when confronted with it. I am putting a challenge to all of you. Please help me raise $50,000 RIGHT NOW to buy a new C6 Corvette for Ben and his cause. I need all of you to send make out your check or money order in whatever amount you can afford to Ben Labaree C6 Fund and send it to the following address:
Ben Labaree C6 FUND C/O Paul Eggermann ************ Milltown, NJ 08850
THEN, I ask that you to forward this message to every Corvette owner and Corvette Club you know of and ask them to join us in this effort. We can do this!
My goal is to have all the money by the end of February, 2006 and arrange for delivery of the car during the Birthday Bash Event at the National Corvette Museum during the week of April 20, 2006. Please help now. I have started this drive with a donation of $500 and several people have matched it already. Let's see what we can do together to make this happen NOW! I know you have it in you. I have seen you in action. Thirty of us raised $20,000 last July at the C5/C6Registry Maine Event in only one weekend. This new effort should be just as fast.
Strong Chevrolet of Damariscotta, Maine provided the original Corvettes Conquer Cancer C5. They have wholeheartedly embraced this campaign and have agreed to provide the new car at or below dealer invoice and are going to approach the GM zone manager for additional help. I will be approaching all of Ben's sponsors next week. I am confident that they will come forward with strong support as well. Ben has agreed to donate his 97 to the Birthday Bash Auction with the proceeds to go to the American Cancer Society. Hopefully, one of you will buy it and donate it in turn to the Museum for inclusion in their permanent collection.
Please help me do this for our own Ben Labaree. This is an opportunity to make a difference for one of our own. You will have a stake in his continued efforts and can be proud that you are a valuable part of his efforts when you see him at a local or national Corvette event.
Thank you very much,
Paul P. Eggermann
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In a later post, Paul included this note:
Stan Kessel from Texas had sent me a few hundred dollars when I first started. He just upgraded his contribution to $500 with these words:
"My next check is in the mail when the mailman comes Tuesday. It will be really special when Ben is presented the new C6 at the NCM in BG at the BB in April. We hope we can be there with all the other contributors for this momentous occasion.
This will become Corvette folklore and represent the caring of individuals who share the passion for great cars, great people and great causes!
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I brought it home for the first time on Saturday, April 8!
Sitting in the driver's seat for the first time: the car had been 10 miles away at Strong Chevrolet since Valentine's Day.
I had photographed it several times and measured the luggage area to compare to the C5, but I had never SAT in it.
I think I was afraid that if I did that prematurely, I would suddenly wake up to find that it was all just a bizarre dream!
Compare this photo of Sandy sitting in the C5 for the first time, May 21, 1998:
Side note: The same couple who drove Sandy and me to pick up the C5 in May of 1998 also picked me up and drove me to Strong's
to pick up the C6! Sonny & Carolyn Soule, thanks for the memories! (Sonny is also the guy who found the C5 for us in the first place!)
Driving away for the first time...
Seeing me off were Bob Strong, who opened the dealership 50 years ago, and his daughter Betsy Mahan, present owner.
Strong's carried the note on the remaining balance due on the car at 0% for as long as it took to pay it off! Pretty cool, huh? Great people!
At home at last, after washing the car, I applied the first decals (after Strong's): my incredibly supportive employer, CBE Technologies!
Old and new spent what would be their only night together here...
Sunday morning Dick Borchers loaded it up for the trip to NJ where Paul Eggermann would have the major graphics applied.
Dick would then take it on to Bowling Green, delivering it to the National Corvette Museum on Friday, 4/14.
At 4:45 on 4/13/06 Paul sent me these photos, taken that afternoon, showing the newly applied graphics. Spectacular!
Chaz Cone managed to capture the moment on the NCM web cam as it arrived there! I had the web cam on
my computer at work all day, but was in and out of the office and missed it. Thanks Chaz!
I wouldn't see the car again until Tuesday, 4/18 when I arrived there at the Museum for the C5/C6 Bash.
On Saturday 4/22, at 10:30cdt, the car was formally presented to me on the front apron of the museum
by none other than Dave Hill, retired Corvette Chief Engineer and Vehicle Line Executive.
Immediately thereafter, the ol' C5 was auctioned off, with the proceeds split between the National Corvette Museum
and the American Cancer Society. (Fantasy outcome: the buyer then donates the car to the Museum...)
To see how it turned out, click HERE.
How could I possibly thank Paul Eggermann for devoting 3 months of his life,
12 hrs. a day, to this successful campaign!
This plaque, by Great Lakes Trophy, is a tiny token:
Once this "little distraction" was out of the way, we resumed Sandy's mission of distributing
cancer information and raising money for the American Cancer Society.
We do this with a refreshed confidence in the tremendous support we have
from the wonderful people of the Corvette Community!
Hey, all you potential Sponsors:
There's still some space available, but it's going fast!
Contact me at:
256-616-1412
blabaree@gmail.com
Sponsors and Contributors
to purchase of the car
Sponsors
Other Contributing Businesses
Big Al’s Super Values
Wiscasset , ME
Jim Browning Sr.
Corsa Performance
Berea, OH
Innovative Automotive Products, Inc.
Centennial, CO
Pratt & Miller Engineering
Gary & Robin Pratt
New Hudson, MI
Contributing Clubs
Logo Contributors
Other Clubs
Central Jersey Corvette Club
Bridgewater, NJ
Corvette Legends Club
Canton, MI
Corvettes United Of Central Massachusetts
Fitchburg, MA
Grand Sport Registry
Orlando, FL
Lakes Region Corvettes
Lakeport, NH
NCRS FL Chapter
Longwood, Fl
Saint Louis Corvette Club
St. Louis, MO
Seacoast Vettes
Dover, NH
ZR1-NET Registry
Nashua, NH
Contributing Individuals
Dee Abney
Plymouth Meeting, PA
Steve & Beverly Adams
Woolwich, ME
Dan Adovasio
Merritt Island, FL
John & Frances Allain
New Hartford, CT
Donald Andrews
Philadelphia, PA
Lonnie & Sandra Armstrong
Petaluma, CA
Len & Marga Atlas
Grants Pass, OR
Thomas Bahmer, Sr.
East Brunswick, NJ
Hal & Sherry Baker
Elizabeth, IN
Charles Bart
Brecksville, OH
Lois & Steve Batalla
Milltown, NJ
Harry & Elaine Becker
Fair Lawn, NJ
John & Carma Bieglecki
Milltown, NJ
Gary & Nancy Bishop
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
David & Liz Borden
Winchester, KY
Walker Bower
Austin & Lynda Brazee
Lenox Dale, MA
Ron & Judy Buckley
Bensalem, PA
Daniel Buckley Jr.
Vinton, VA
Mike & Lisa Buick
Keller, TX
Del & Ileen Bunce
Eagle, ID
Harry Burke
Anahiem, CA
Pete & Cindy Butler
Marietta, GA
Brad & Pam Cahill
Woolwich, ME
Russ & Marybeth Caron
North Yarmouth, ME
Kent & Kathleen Cartner
Roanoke, VA
Tony & Marilyn Cenedella
Highlands Ranch, CO
George & Jenny Christman
Cheltenham, PA
Norm & Linda Clemmer
Green Lane, PA
Chaz & Gael Cone
Atlanta, GA
Rick “Corvette” Conti
Amherst, OH
Ray & Jo Anne Cook
Princeton Junction, NJ
Mac & Pauline Cross
Scarborough, Ontario Canada
Gary Curry
Glenn Darwin
Louisville, KY
Barbara & John Davies
Lake Geneva, WI
John & Terry Dell'amico
Lake Ariel, PA
David & Barbara Demarco
Hadley, NY
Bill Dickey
Farmington Hills, MI
Jeff & Cris Drais
St Stevens, MN
Jake Drennon
Titusville, FL
Paul & Barbara Eggermann
Milltown, NJ
David & Barbara Ennis
Methuen, MA
David & April Erickson
Eagle, ID
Peter & Phyllis Farfaras
Lexington, MA
Willie & Karen Favero
Kingwood, TX
Claudia & Dan Feidler
Londonderry, NH
Robert & Diane Finan
Fair Haven, NJ
Richard Fleming
Plant City, FL
Bob & Kathryn Forgue
Newark, DE
Dana Forrester
Independence, MO
Ed Foy
Fond du Lac, WI
Gary & Mary Fromm
Manhattan Beach, CA
Tom & Alice Fuscaldo
Long Valley, NJ
Butch & Janice Geng
Columbia, TN
Donna & Frank Genova
Yorktown Heights, NY
Harvey Gluck
Oceanside, NY
Terry Golden
Dunmore, PA
Dennis & Maureen Granger
Hudson, NH
Fern Gravel
Lewiston, ME
Tim Greenshields
Peyton, CO
Bob & Vicky Hardt
Aiken, SC
Bill & Kathy Henefelt
Clearwater, FL
Matthew & Carolyn Hetman
Rockaway, NJ
Don & Karen Hindle
Bensalem, PA
Bernard & Ruth Hochberg
Freehold, NJ
Philip Holgado
Williamson, NY
John & Caroline Jones
Larkspur, CO
Jim & Debbie Juliano
Archibald, PA
Kurt & Lynn Kennedy
Chesapeake, VA
Stan & Sherry Kessel
Carrollton, TX
Sonny & Carmen Kilgo
Bowling Green, KY
Bill & Nancy Koller
Des Plaines, IL
Steve Konkoly
Keller, TX
Barry & Dottie Landry
Houma, LA
Mike Lewis
Greensboro, NC
Ed & Ilene Licht
Freehold, NJ
Greg & Melinda Lloyd
Hebron, KY
Rob Lockhart
Boynton Beach, FL
David & Joanne Lofgren
Roanoke, VA
Karen Lundgren
Bend, OR
Thomas Mabry
Yuba City, CA
Patrick & Theresa Mannix
Punta Gorda, FL
Larry & Peggy Martin
Shepherdsville, KY
William Masuda
Fairfax, VA
Bryan & Kim Matzdorff
Broomfield, CO
James & Donna McGowan
Severna Park, MD
Jack & Patty McKeon
The Woodlands, TX
Mitch & Linda McLaughlin
Lancaster, MA
Wade & Peggy Mertz
Avon Lake, OH
Bruce & Nancy Miller
Colorado Springs, CO
James & Thea Miller
White Plains, NY
Jim Miller
Fairfield, NJ
Sonny Mondia
Burr Ridge, IL
Marianne & Duane Mosher
Bethlehem, PA
Tom Mueller
Fort Myers, FL
Scotty Muir
Dubois, PA
Larry Murphy
Dover, OH
Frankie & Kathe Murray II
Livingston, TX
Clif & Kathleen Nagel
Mount Sanai, NY
Frank & Bettie Noerr
Nevada City, CA
Thomas Norman
Godfrey, IL
Ray & Shelly Olsen
New York, NY
Gertrude O'Reilly
Hillsborough, NJ
Carol Orphanydis
Dresher, PA
Ed Pahlman
Newtown, PA
Greg Palmer
Philadelphia, PA
Mark Passeri
Poquonock, CT
John & Nancy Pearl
Walnut Creek, CA
The Perrotty Family
Reading, PA
Bruce & Marilyn Phipps
Telford, PA
Ed & Robin Proctor
Wyndmoor, PA
Diane & Ed Quackenbush
Lake Villa, IL
Glenda & Ron Raley
Cincinnati, OH
Gary, Cheryl & Taylor Readio
Cumberland Center, ME
Ken & Vicki Robb
Weatherford, TX
Jim & Charley Robertson
Marianna, FL
Mike & Jill Rosedale
Cary, IL
George & Rosellen Russell
Smithfield, RI
Roman & Marilyn Sabadaszka
Alpharetta, GA
Dan & Priscilla Samento
Canon City, CO
Tom Santangelo
Lusby, MD
John Schieding
Bristol, CT
Chuck & Star Scurr
Honolulu, HI
Jim & Susie Shearer
Blue Springs, MO
Randall Shinn
Hamilton, OH
Joseph & Lynda Siwicki
Warren, OH
Ron Small
Levittown, PA
Greg Sohovich
Canton, OH
Frank & Barbara Stech
Pitman, NJ
Fred & Jane Steinouer
Lawrenceville, NJ
Wendell & Jan Strode
Bowling Green, KY
William Taack
Cottage Grove, MN
Emile & Suzanne Tetu
Manchester, NH
Emilie & John Thomas
Doylestown, PA
Jeff & Elisa Tischler
Branchville, NJ
Tony & Patricia Vernogis
Mt. Juliet, TN
Hank & Sue Vezina
Brookline, NH
George & Aida Walden
Republic, WA
Clark & Grace Ward
Statesboro, GA
Larry & Carol Watkins
Hummelstown, PA
Donna & Robert Weikel
Doylestown, PA
Norman & Susan Wood
Manchester, NH
George & Diane Woyansky
Westlake, OH
Guy Wright
Dunstable, MA
Daniel & Gayle Zelonis
Hudson, NH