Recent happenings...
Passing of club member Jim Johnson
Long-time club member Jim Johnson passed away on January 4th. Jim was a big supporter of our club and drove either his bright red early model convertible or his bright red 65 Monza to countless events. Jim was a kind and pleasant man that anyone would be glad to have as a friend. Please keep his wife Loretta and the Johnson family in your thoughts and prayers.
UPDATE: Jan 11th
Loretta has informed us that there will be a gathering to remember Jim at their community club house near Gilbert Rd and Riggs Rd on Jan 27th at 1 PM. The event will be held at the Solera Community Building and Jim's Corvair will be there along with many of his other community friends in their classics. Loretta invited the Cactus Corvair Club to join in with our Corvairs as well. The club will be making a donation in Jim's name to the CORSA Corvair Preservation Foundation. Members are encouraged to donate to the fund as well either directly or through the club Treasurer, Joe L. who will collect all funds and forward the donation. Donations can be sent to Joe at the club mailing address found on the Info & Docs page or brought to the event.
Time: 1 PM
Location: 6360 S Mountain Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85249
(See map below)
Please contact David Dean 480-251-7177 or Dave Wenzlick 480-650-5471
Cactus Corvair Club History
While a salesman at Rudolph Chevrolet in Phoenix Arizona, Lou Grubb decided there were possibilities in an inexpensive, economy car produced by the Chevrolet Division, the Corvair. He sent letters to recent Corvair buyers and devotees alike inviting them to a social dedicated to appreciation of the car. With a promising response, discussion turned to organizing a new sports car club. With hasty planning, the first event was an economy run put together by a group of rookie enthusiasts who later became the first members of Cactus Corvair Club after its Constitution was signed in October 2, 1963.
We are the oldest, continually active, Corvair club in the world!
As part of the Phoenix Chapter of CORSA (Corvair Society of America) we hosted our first regional mini-convention in April of 1976. People from all over the country came, with an estimated 90 cars and 150 people attendees. The event included autocross, a concours show, driving tour of the Valley of the Sun, and a “Fiesta banquet. The Cactus Corvair Club hosts an annual All-Corvair show in early October, participates in classic car shows throughout the year (usually benefiting local charities), and supports classic car events, museums, and organizations dedicated to the preservation and public education of our automotive history. We are a community of car enthusiasts; all our events are family oriented and we are excited to meet you.
With the closing of Lou Grubb Chevrolet / Power Chevrolet dealerships, the Cactus Corvair Club moved to Thorobred Chevrolet in Chandler.
In 2016, the Thorobred Chevrolet dealership was sold to Earnhardt Auto Centers and is now Earnhardt Chevrolet Chandler. We hope for many more years of working with the new owners to promote the Corvair legacy as well as all the new Chevrolet offerings.
We are the oldest, continually active, Corvair club in the world!
As part of the Phoenix Chapter of CORSA (Corvair Society of America) we hosted our first regional mini-convention in April of 1976. People from all over the country came, with an estimated 90 cars and 150 people attendees. The event included autocross, a concours show, driving tour of the Valley of the Sun, and a “Fiesta banquet. The Cactus Corvair Club hosts an annual All-Corvair show in early October, participates in classic car shows throughout the year (usually benefiting local charities), and supports classic car events, museums, and organizations dedicated to the preservation and public education of our automotive history. We are a community of car enthusiasts; all our events are family oriented and we are excited to meet you.
With the closing of Lou Grubb Chevrolet / Power Chevrolet dealerships, the Cactus Corvair Club moved to Thorobred Chevrolet in Chandler.
In 2016, the Thorobred Chevrolet dealership was sold to Earnhardt Auto Centers and is now Earnhardt Chevrolet Chandler. We hope for many more years of working with the new owners to promote the Corvair legacy as well as all the new Chevrolet offerings.
