Corvette Heaven
Like any other part of life, there are good times and bad times. Generally speaking when one thinks of a car club, flashes of hot cars, chrome and speed come to mind. However, in 2002 AACC lost 2 members that should not be forgotten. We lost Dave Lewis on March 9, 2002 and Juan Leon on August 23, 2002.
Dave was a Founding Father of AACC - very active in promoting the club, recruiting new members and participated in the Vette Heads - AACC's committee of show judges (and he loved to have AACC displays at Hooters!). Juan was also a member of the Vette Heads and could usually be found demonstrating a new feature of his car (almost weekly it seemed!): wild graphics, a loud stereo system...very loud, a host of electronics inside the car (I think a DVD player too - there seemed to be too much to remember!), stobe lights and last but not least - an airbrushed mural of Superman under the hood!
Although both Dave and Juan left us way before their time was due, their time at AACC functions will be remembered. I hope there's no speed limit in Corvette Heaven...
Above: Left - right: Dave's car, Warship & Juan's car, US Muscle. Thanks to the families of Dave & Juan for bringing their cars to our 2002 show. It was a beautiful and touching site to see both cars with us again.
If you knew Dave, this picture says it all...
Remembering Dave: The first time I met Dave was on that Sunday in June 2000, when I went to the Tri-State show at Paramus Auto Mall. It was raining and the show had just been rained out. As I pulled up in my ‘Vette and was looking around, a guy runs up saying "You wanna join a car club?’ I said what did you say? He said, "Do you want to join a Corvette Club?" I said what club? And then someone else ran up saying the same thing. "You want to join a car club?" It was Milt. Dave then went on to tell me about a new club starting up called All American Corvette Club and gave me an application form. I came to the next meeting and joined shortly thereafter, and as they say, "the rest is history". - Ron Bartole, Vice President, AACC
Juan and his '97 in the Bronx before the wild graphics.
2001 Fall Run 1 to New York...yes, we did the speed limit...for a while...
Juan and friends at the 2002 holiday party.
Juan takes 1st place!
One of Juan's last modifications to US Muscle - Superman!