This is it - we're on our way home! Everyone is up and packing their cars - for the last time. Roc & Nancy borrow Scott's gas can and the Kaupp's Vette to go get gas. They are really low and nobody brought a siphon along.

We are learning faster than we used to - most of us drive up the hill for breakfast! Jerry does shuttle service for the Kaupp's since they don't have wheels right now. Roc & Nancy return - without the gas - the station isn't open yet :-( We all have our breakfast (except Scott - he's still asleep). Then we head back down the hill to our lodge to pack up the last items. Now we head back UP the hill to the main office to check out. I'm exhausted just typing this! Roc is successful at the gas station this time. Scott arrives at the upper lot with his chocolate chip cookies in hand. It is, of course, 15 minutes before our scheduled departure!!!

Roc leads the way north on the Skyline and Jim and I are right behind him. We notice a strong smell of unburned gas and his car is backfiring very frequently. In less than 3 miles, Roc pulls over into one of the sightseeing overlooks. He says he has been loosing power by the minute. The hood comes up and we start diagnostics. Mike checks the coil and it is getting a nice even spark. Now we're perplexed - that was our prime suspect. Jerry suggests we check the starter ballast - but that doesn't sound logical since the car starts up just fine. We discuss other possibilities and then Scott comes over with a spare starter ballast in hand. He tells us that his mechanic told him he should never go anywhere without this spare part. Jerry tells us this was a problem on his midyear twice in the past so the decision is made to try it.

May we have a drum roll please . . . she fires right up and sounds smooth! After getting another stash of reds from Joan, we all line up again and follow Roc down the mountain. He figures he'll go to the dealer nearest the Luray Caverns and have the car looked at. We get to Luray and we all gas up for the final push. Roc is pleased with the way the Vette has been running since he put that starter ballast in, so he wants to just keep her pointed toward home. Scott, Mike, and the Carneys stop in Luray - not to see the Caverns - but to check out the car museum next to it. The rest of us wave goodbye to them and stay on the road.

I'm happy to report the rest of the ride was very uneventful. Shortly beyond Carlisle, Roc and Joe needed gas, so they left the highway and the C5's pressed on. We all waved and radioed goodbye to each.

We've had a wonderful trip - with wonderful friends. After being together for 9 days - more like 15 if you take Corvettes at Carlisle into consideration - we're still friends!!!!! I'd call that a tremendous success!

The End

Kathie