The "folks" seem to be finding and digging the new website. When we launched the site on July 3rd the hit counter was just over 2000, today it is 5622! As you know, in order to access the protected areas one has to go thru the Sign-Up procedure. I have been getting quite a few site member requests on a daily basis. Most of the time it IS for an existing member or an expired member. I have to look them up using the Locate A Member link in The CVOA page to verify them before approving access. So far we have 126 sign ups. That's nearly half of our current membership! I have had responses from these email ranging from " I am not a member but really like your site, to I plan on joining but can't afford it right now". On such response read:

" Sorry, I am not a cvoa member. Would love to be, but I can't afford it right now. I once owned cv 0674, caught fire due to a problem with the fuel pump. Continued running when the car was shut off. Fuel line somehow came off and sprayed fuel on the header. Don't know where the spark came from, but I suspect a short somewhere. With the fuel pump still running it fed the fire and the car was a total loss. That was the only cv I ever owned. Maybe one day I will own another one. My name is Rodney Ford, Address is 3424 Flat Rd. Lakeland, Florida. Email is rodneyford73@gmail.com. Phone number is 863-272-4098. I do love your website. "

I responded back thanking him for the compliment and asking for any/all details. He respondes with this reply:

" Unfortunately, I don't have, or know the vin number. However, I do know the car had rear swing out windows, rear Defog, I believe it was A.M. radio, 3.73 rear axle, non posi. Mileage is only a guess, as the speedometer stopped working, about 95,000 is my best guess. No idea who the original owner was. If purchased locally,  it would have been Ray Durdan Chevrolet in Lakeland, (Now Regal Chevrolet). I remember looking at one on the showroom floor. Could have been the same car. Before the car burned, I was in the process of restoring it. I had replaced the carpet, brake and clutch pedal pads, plug wires, plugs, dash cover(?) Rebuilt top half of engine (complete head), speedometer gear, clutch, clutch cable (it was badly frayed). After all this, I had the car painted in black Imron, that required taking the paint and primer off down to bare metal. It needed some body work, but was gorgeous when it was finished. It was like looking into a mirror.I was trying to save up to rebuild the rest of the engine when the fire happened. I could have cried. This was the only collector car I ever owned. The only things salvageable were the back tires and wheels which were used on my 1980 Sunbird which was later stolen. Oh, and the dash number, which I have been unable to find. I had to pay to get the car hauled off. Junkyard wouldn't even take it. My guess is, it went to a scrapyard. I really miss that car. If I can remember anything else, I'll let you know. I no longer have pictures, lost them in a house fire about 7 years ago. "

I plan on adding this car to the new CV Registry along with this sad bit of history.

JD