Corvettes&candy

GREENFIELD — Sharon Arnold bragged to her friends in the Corvette Indy car club about the delicious confections from Greenfield Chocolates, tempting them with samples she brought to their events. Now, instead of bringing chocolates to the club, the club is coming to the chocolates.

Saturday around 3 p.m., members of the club will visit Greenfield. They plan to tour Greenfield Chocolates among other stops — a Dine and Drive event that brings with it the chance for local car enthusiasts to see a lineup of classics.

Their fleet of Corvettes — many of them limited edition models from years past — will be parked along the North Street Living Alley for passers-by to enjoy from roughly 3 to 5 p.m.

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Though the vehicles will only be in town for a couple of hours, it’s a rare opportunity for Greenfield-area car buffs to come down and see so many Corvettes parked all in one place, organizers said. Although the members of the club will be exploring downtown Greenfield, a number of Corvette enthusiasts will be on hand to talk about their cars and answer questions. They’ll also share information about the club for those who might be interested in joining.

Greenfield residents Tillie and Harry Barthalow will have their 2016 Corvette Stingray on display. The Barthalows are newcomers to Corvette Indy as of last year. Harry Barthalow owned Corvettes in his younger years, and he loved them. He and his wife are retired, and she suggested a new car.

“She said, ‘Why don’t you buy a new Corvette?’” Harry Barthalow said; so he did.

County residents Randy and Sherry Sprague are also joining the fun. They became members of Corvette Indy in 2008 with a single Corvette but now own three — one of which will be on displayed on North Street.

“We have his, hers and ours,” said Sherry Sprague.

“His” is a supersonic blue 2011 Grand Sport convertible; “hers” is a 2013 60th anniversary collector’s edition; “ours” is the 1999 torch red Corvette they purchased at Gray Auto in Greenfield.

Mayor Chuck Fewell will have his own 2003 Corvette parked alongside the others. Painted Anniversary Red, this limited edition model — fewer than 10,000 rolled off the assembly line — celebrated the 50th anniversary of this American-made sports car.

Fewell has long been a fan of the Corvette. He once owned a 1976 Chevy Corvette Stingray, which he has since passed on to his son.

“The car was 40 years old, and when my son turned 40, I gave it to him,” he said.

Fewell supports the idea of a Drive and Dine in downtown Greenfield.

“It brings people to our town to walk around the city and shop,” Fewell said.

Sharon Arnold, founding member of Corvette Indy and current secretary of the group, is excited to share what she loves about Greenfield with her car club — starting with what she considers some of the best candy around.

Arnold and Greenfield Chocolates owner Jayne Hoadley have become close friends over the years.

The Dine and Drive event is just one more way they can support one another.

“She drove chocolates to our home in Indianapolis in a blizzard so we would have Christmas gifts,” Arnold said of Hoadley.

Arnold now returns the favor with the car club’s visit.

“I have the best customers in the world,” Hoadley said. “They want to share where they got their chocolate, and they bring tourism and economic vitality to our town.”

A visit to the Corvette Indy website (corvetteindy.com) reveals an active group of more than 250 members. The club calendar lists weekly Dine and Drive events, as well as conventions, racing events and fundraisers.

The Spragues, the Arnolds and the Barthalows all enjoy being a part of the car culture community and are always looking for new members.

“It’s about the cars, but it’s about the camaraderie, too,” Sherry Sprague said. “Driving your Corvette down the road, and you see another Corvette. You wave, and they wave back.”

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A fleet of more than 30 Corvettes from the Corvette Indy car club will be on display downtown around 3 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information or to join Corvette Indy, visit corvetteindy.com.

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