Prairie Capital Corvair Association
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Prairie Capital Corvair Association, PCCA, is a group of Corvair owners and enthusiasts dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of the Corvair automobile. PCCA has been a sanctioned chapter of CORSA ,the Corvair Society of America for over 22 years. PCCA meets regularly on the first Tuesday of each month at the Rochester, IL Community Center during the summer and on Saturdays during wintry months. |
Calendar of Events Corvair Links Pictures Officers/Contacts Editor's Story of the Corvair
Simply A Fun Car to Drive.
Sept 9 Secretary of State Auto Show. CORVAIR is the FEATURED car!!! PCCA will host a Banquet after the Show for all those interested. Cost and menu is being worked out. PCCA members will be at the Cruise for Charity Pre cruise Party Friday Night at Springfield's Streak and Shake on 6th Street, and may Cruise Saturday Night after dining at the banquet. Springfield features many tourist sites including Lincoln Home, Lincoln's Tomb, New Salem and many others. PCCA will leads an informal tour Sunday for those interested. Out-of-towners should reserve a room early as many other events are also occurring the same weekend. Visit Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau for more information.
Please note: Banquet information is now available PCCA Banquet 2000 Info
Map of the Springfield area
Sept 8-9 Springfield's Cruise for Charity
Sept 17 Murphysboro Apple Festival 7th Annual Car-Truck Show and Shine, $10 registration fee, Registration from 7-12 noon. Show lasts til 4:00pm. Is a Corvair Class.
Sept 15-17 Hoosier Auto Show and Swap meet, Circle City Corvairs, at Marion County Fairgrounds
Sept 20-24 2000 Ultra National Rally – UltraVans meet n Amana Iowa. Contact Ron and Martha Zoutendam, 416 6th, Sheldon IA 51201. 712/324-4660
Sept 30 Catholic Childres’s home annual car and craft show, Riverfront Park, Alton IL. 11am-5pm rain or shine. $10 pre-registration. $12 day of show.
October 7 Saturday Tech Session and Cook out. Time to be determined.
October 8 Mattoon Cross Country Mall Car Display
October 8 Car show at Morris Il. last year this show had 1000+ cars at it, more info soon.
November 7 Tuesday 7:30 pm PCCA Meeting at the Rochester Community Building
Nov 18,19 Chicago – Chevy/Vettefest McCormick Place. CCE usually has a good display here.
December PCCA Christmas Dinner Date to be determined
Apr 29, 2001 Mansfield, IN Mushroom festival – Car Show from 8am-3pm; Cost:$10 day of show
Check out the calendar of events at CORSA's website.CORSA Calendar
Virtual 'Vairs Home Page
CORSA Home Page
Gary Aube's facinating Corvair Site
VIN Decoding Information on the Bay State Corvairs home page.
PCCA Home
Contact PCCA at FLATSIX@juno.com or snail mail to P.O. Box 954, Springfield, IL 62705
The FlatSix Editor rambles. Disclaimer, the following is Tim's opinion and not necessarily those of the Club.
The Corvair was introduced in the fall of 1959 as an economy, family car. Period ads toted its air cooled engine, four wheel independent suspension and fuel economy. Production ceased in 1969 after more than 1.7 million vehicles were produced and sold. The last 3 years produced fewer than 60,000 cars as GM had already conducted the Corvair's funeral.
The Corvair could be said to have missed its market. As an economy car, the Ford Falcon and later the Chevy II were more accepted by the general public. The Corvair was too expensive to produce and its unconventional styling and engineering were too much to sway the economy minded.
Contrary to reports by Ralph Nader, the car handles quite well. In 1971, the US Department of Transportation conducted tests that basically disproved what Nader wrote in his book, Unsafe at any Speed. The Chevy Corvair was not removed from the road because of this book, but because it so successfully inspired the creation of the pony cars - the Mustang, Camaro, GTO, Malibu SS and others as well as the compacts Nova, Falcon and others.
However, as an European Style Sports car, the Corvair was an inspiration. In fact, the sporty Corvair Monza inspired the creation of the Mustang, which in turn inspired the Camaro, GTO, AMC and other muscle cars. Tell this to your friends the next time they sneer and ask "why do you drive a Corvair?"
Sources: "The Corvair Decade" by Tony Fiore. "Corvair Affair" by Mike Knepper. Numerous Corvair Enthusiasts.
Comments, corrections/changes may be sent to Tim Mahler at: Flat6vair@aol.com .
This page was last modified -->01 August 2000-->. Copyright © 2000. All rights reserved.