Corvette Club has wild adventure

The local Corvette Club had an adventure that sounds more like the wild ride of a Hummer Club. Last month, the club went on a drive to Washington State. Near Mount St. Helens, the group encountered a muddy problem brought on by a thunderstorm — and ended up going off road.

Sisters residents Neil and Sandy Koch, Stan and Diane Meyer, Chuck and Ann Kozminski and Dave and Sandy Marlow joined other Corvette owners from Central Oregon for a leisure drive to Trout Lake and Mount St. Helens.

On the return trip from Windy Ridge, they saw a huge downed fir tree blocking the road.

“It was the biggest tree many of us had ever touched or seen up close except for very old photographs,” said Dave Marlow.

When the group realized the detour was about 200 miles, they took a second look at the big obstacle. They hoped by breaking off some of the splinters sticking down, they could slip under the tree just off the side of the road.

“As we began clearing some of the debris, a small thunderstorm started on top of us making it so dark we had to use our headlights for a short time,” said Marlow.

Other than the drivers getting covered in pitch, the plan worked. All 16 Corvettes drove under the tree, each with only three inches to spare.

“We gave it a shot and just got through,” said Marlow. “It was great.”

All the other vehicles on the road, except one motorcycle, had to go back or wait for the Forest Service to clear the big tree.

The club was happy to drive on to their motel and, over pizza and beer, relive their eventful day.