Classic Corvettes Takes Over Downtown Cary

With the weather staying warm, residents came out to show appreciation of an American classic, the Chevrolet Corvette.

The second edition of the Cary Cruise Nights was filled many classic cars but the theme for the night was the corvette, which there was nearly a representative from each decade of the car's existence.

First place winner, Dan Smereczynski, Cary resident, owns a 2008 Z06 red corvette, said he loves the community shows and meeting people is really cool. "It's like a brotherhood," he said.

Smereczynski said he's apart of an online forum of more than 200,000 people who share information about corvettes.

Dan Rubinger, who owns a 1978 blue corvette, brought it back to life. Rubinger bought his car from an older woman, who wasn't using the car about four years ago. He has put about $20,000 into the car but has found mechanics willing to work on the car for reasonable prices. 

For Ralph Burzynski, he wanted to get some fun back into his life. "Simply a pleasure corvette," he said. Burzynski, who owns a 2000 corvette, just bought it three weeks ago and the Cary show was his first. Burzynski said the 2000 corvette has a nice body style and was affordable.

The Sunburst Corvette Club had 11 corvettes featured at the Cary show. "I've always been a car guy," Ron Gliot, President of the club said. Gliot, who owns a 1978 special edition corvette said he finally had the cash and purchased his car about 10 years ago.

Gliot said he puts about 2000 miles on his corvette per year and has best in show or first in show many times.

In 1978, corvette celebrated their 25th anniversary but also was the first time a corvette was used as an official pace car for the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

Gliot said, at first there was only going to be one built but each dealership was offered one. Gliot owns replica number 328 of 6,500 corvettes built for 1978.

Second place winner of the night was Rick Naami of Cary. He had two corvettes at the Cary show, including a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 427 and a 1967 corvette Stingray.

Naami said he doesn't have a favorite; it's like picking between your kids. He doesn't put many miles on his cars; they mainly stay in the garage.