Skyline Drive Corvette Club

The factual history of Skyline Drive Corvettes unfortunately is not documented in our early papers. It isn't until the 10th Anniversary that the story was documented in the Fiberglass Flyer, the club's monthly news letter. One of the original members, Ron Bechtel, told the story of how SDC got started, as he remembered it. This is that story....

During the 60's guys cruised Penn Street, showing off their cars. It was here where Ron Bechtel saw Gene Miller in his '63 Vette. After taking a ride in this car, the fellows met in the parking lot on Cherry Street between 5th and 6th Streets. Since they all had Vettes they thought it would be great to form a Corvette Club. There were approximately 12 people in the original group. They were Fred Spatz, John Angstadt, John Karas, Jim Marks, Gene Miller, Charlie Hummel, John Catalano, Ron Bechtel, Scott Beggs, Larry Bortz, Greg Buckley, and Barry Goodhart, and maybe others.

They would meet in the parking lot at City Park until the "fuzz" chased them away. They even met in the lower level of the Franklin Street Plaza parking garage. These crazy young guys also had skate boards in their Vettes and would skate in the Plaza. They even went as far as going out to the Road to Nowhere to skate (before it was opened to traffic).

Things started shaping up as far as organizing went, and the first regular meeting was held on June 7, 1964, at 2:00 p.m. at John Catalano's home. The first newsletter published was June, 1964.

At that time there were 26 members. The next month they increased the membership by 6 more members. At the 2nd meeting, there were a total of 25 present. It was held again at John's home.

The club was officially chartered June 23, 1965, headed by Jack Martens. Larry Wixon and Greg Buckley assisted in formulating a charter and by-laws.

Emblems became available in December, 1964. The name Fiberglass Flyer was chosen in November, and the Fiberglass Flyer letterhead that we still use was introduced in February, 1965.

The 3rd meeting (August, 1964) was at Stonersville Fire Company. It was standing room only. September and October they met at Oley Fire Company. November the meeting was as the Elks Home. December of '65, the meeting place was moved to Bowl-O-Rama. September, October and November 1968, we went to West Wyomissing Fire Hall. December, 1968 we started meeting at Fisher Chevrolet. Our meetings were moved to the Hitching Post in January, 1976. Three months each summer the meetings were usually held outdoors at a park, where food and games were the order of the day.

At this time, there are no documents telling us how many, or who the charter members were.

Since the beginning, the club has held a steady line and used the objectives set down in the by-laws as a guideline.

From these humble beginnings, the club has grown steadily to over 340 members, participating in many community events, parades, and shows, and sponsoring our own annual Corvette show.