February 12, 2014 there was a disturbance that suddenly woke up many Corvette lovers from a peaceful night of slumber. For many of us we didn’t know what was happening but we felt something wasn’t right. We ran out to the garages, carports and driveways just to check on our beloved sports cars only to see them shining gloriously unharmed. So what was the matter? We still felt uneasy and frankly, queasy.

Reassured somewhat, we all continued our morning routines. Many of us grabbed the cup of coffee and the television remote finding out only then the sheer tragedy that had happened hours before. You see it was then the darn sinkhole — a giant unforgiving, uncaring sinkhole opened up inside the yellow and red spire of the National Corvette Museum and devoured eight priceless Corvettes. The scene to a Vette and most car lovers was truly horrific. There were cars covered by dirt so much that they were barely seen. Only the tires of some were seen but there was one single hope to get us started. The Blue ZR1 known as “The Blue Devil” that once raced against a fighter jet to prove its speed and power. The great eight, as they were now being called, had seen better days but this one ZR1 would lead the way to hope and the assurance that our love for those great American sports cars would endure.

Days later, they hooked straps up to the blue Corvette and raised it up with it looking much like a phoenix rising from the depths. They let it down on the concrete that was still hanging on at the edge of the enormous hole and as you expect from a man one said, “I wonder if it will start and run.”

Well it struggled just a bit but to start but it did, it ran! The driver then slowly accelerated away from that cold, dark, stinky grave where it had came from until someone noticed it was bleeding. A fresh oil trail coming from the oil filter made them shut down the still shiny but still damaged Corvette.

We then knew it would be just fine. Maybe there was hope to save the others. Unfortunately, some were too far gone but a number were saved. Adding to the saved list on this fourth anniversary is a black 1962 that was unveiled February 12 at the NCM exactly four years to the date.

It’s a unbelievable story except for the fact that it happened. The Corvette dream remains alive and well and this 1962 beauty, now restored to glory, reassures us that no matter what happens to us that we can overcome struggles that life dishes out.