Velocity Vettes
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Velocity Vette Group…
When participating on any of our Driveouts, please be advised that with our large ever expanding group… our restaurant accommodations are difficult at best. We usually choose the option of ordering off the menu instead of offering a limited item buffet. If in the event you have to wait to be served your meal… please take advantage of this “down” time to visit with friends or get to know other Velocity Vette Corvette owners. Our mission is to get you out there to drive your Corvettes as well as have an enjoyable dining experience.
Also, if you sign up and your plans change so you cannot make the Driveout, please be courteous enough to contact us to cancel your spot. We always have someone on the waiting list that can fill your space. Not notifying us does not afford someone else the opportunity to have a great day and drive their Corvettes with our group.
Velocity Vettes
Oatman Driveout
Oatman, Arizona Driveout – Saturday, November 7, 2009
We will be meeting at Prescott Wal-Mart (corner of Hwy 69/Prescott Lakes Pkwy across from Lamb Chevy - Map) at 7:30am and leaving at 8am sharp. Please go to the west side of the building near Prescott Lakes Pkwy to park. *You will want to use the restrooms in Wal-Mart BEFORE we leave because we will not be stopping along the way. Walmart will allow us to easily access onto Prescott Lakes Parkway heading northwest to Hwy 89. On Hwy 89 we head north to I-40 (Ash Fork). From I-40, we head to Kingman. Approximately 4 miles past Kingman on I-40 will be our turnoff for Oatman. Take a right (west) turn on Oatman/Route 66 exit then a left turn after one block… heading to Oatman (approx 17 miles). The last 8 miles of Oatman Rd/Route 66 going into Oatman is filled with sharp mountain twists and turns and is very scenic… you'll want to bring your camera!
* Approx. One hour from Prescott Wal-Mart to Ash Fork; Approx. One hour from Ash Fork to Kingman; 30-45 minutes from Kingman to the town of Oatman. Total drive time – 2 hrs and 45 minutes.
Lunch will be served at the Oatman Hotel (928-768-4408). We should be arriving close to 11am and they will be reserving space for our group of up to 75 people. We are arriving early because this is a very busy place and difficult to reserve on Saturdays. Restaurant policy is one check per table so please BRING CASH so several people at the same table will be able to split the ticket. The price of lunch is $12.75 per person, which includes gratuity of 15% and tax. See menu link below.
Parking will be up to you. There is a larger parking lot as you enter town, street parking along the streets of town and a smaller parking lot after you drive through town (approx 1 block long). Please meet at the Oatman Hotel for lunch (middle of town on left). There are also many shops along the main street that you can check out after lunch.
The History – Oatman was named in honor of Olive Oatman, who was kidnapped as a young girl by Mojave Indians and later rescued in 1857 near the current site of the town. Oatman was first established as a tent city in the early 1900s and the historic hotel, 
called the Drulin Hotel, was built in 1902. The eight room hotel did a brisk business to area miners, especially after two miners struck a rich vein that would end up being a 10 million dollar gold find in 1915. Prior to that time the town had been little more than a mining camp. The city was actually founded in 1908. The rich gold discovery brought hundreds of new settlers and within one year’s time, Oatman had grown to more than 3,500 residents. Between 1904 and 1907 the mine yielded over $3,000,000. In 1915, two miners struck a $14 million gold find, providing yet another boom to the settlement. By the mid 1930's, the boom was over. The largest mining company, United Eastern Mines, shut down its operations in 1924 and the town almost died. But with the advent of Route 66, the old town and the hotel hung on, catering to the many travelers along the new highway.
The Burros - Burros first came to Oatman with early day prospectors. The animals were also used inside the mines for hauling rock and ore outside the mines. Burros were used for hauling water and supplies. As the mines closed and people moved away, the Burros were released into the surrounding hills. The Burros you meet today in Oatman, while descendents of domestic work animals are themselves wild... They wander all over town.
The Ghosts - Often described as a ghost town, it doesn’t quite fit the category, but close enough, considering that it once boasted almost 4,000 people and now supports just a little over 100 people year-round.
The first and foremost ghosts are those of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, who evidently had so many fine memories of the old hotel that they simply refuse to leave. Continuing to celebrate, guests and staff have often heard the pair whispering and laughing from the room when it is empty. According to one report, when a professional photographer took a picture of the empty room, the ghostly figure of a man appeared on the developed print.
On March 29, 1939 Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their wedding night at the old hotel after having been married in Kingman, Arizona. Remembering this memorable night, the couple often returned to the hotel for the peace and solitude it afforded them. Clark was known to spend many a night playing poker with some of the miners. Sadly, Carole Lombard was killed in a plane crash in January 1942. Though devastated, Clark continued with his life and his career and later married again.
If you are interested in staying overnight, the closest accomodations would be Bull Head City (12 mi), Laughlin (13 mi) or back to Kingman. The Oatman Hotel does not offer hotel rooms.
The Phoenix/Tucson Corvettes might want to consider staying Friday night in Prescott since we are leaving so early Saturday morning. A suggestion would be Prescott Inn & Suites (1-877-515-5118) on Hwy 69. For the Corvette Show they offered a smokin’ deal for their King Suites. The best value in town! If you are interested, please contact front desk manager Michael@prescottinnandsuites.com . You can view rooms and amenities at www.prescottinnandsuites.com . They also have a gourmet restaurant onsite.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact Lyn DeLano.
See you on the road,
Lyn DeLano and Ed Frias
Velocity Vettes
Jerome Driveout
Jerome, Arizona Driveout – Saturday, December 5, 2009
The December Driveout will be to Jerome. We will be having lunch at “The Jerome Palace Haunted Hamburger”. This is the best restaurant around for Hamburgers! You always see lines of people waiting to get in to this restaurant, now we know why! This is one of four restaurants in the family… the other three are Grapes (also in Jerome), The Tavern Grille and Nic’s (both located in Old Cottonwood). All have great food and excellent reviews. 
The Haunted Hamburger is located just across the street to the road that goes up the hill to the Asylum Restaurant… it also has the very same awesome views as the Asylum. Jerome now has a HUGE new paved public parking lot behind the fire station and this is where we will be parking. We will pass the Haunted Hamburger on the right as we come into Jerome on Hwy 89A (from Mingus Mountain) and then turn left at the “Public Parking” sign directing us to go north behind the fire station. The city does have a shuttle from the parking lot, but it only holds 12 people at a time. It is only a short 10 minute walk to the restaurant, so it is not far from the parking lot.
Besides great Charbroiled Burgers, Haunted Hamburger also has BBQ Ribs, Steak, Chicken sandwiches, Quesadillas, Fajitas, Salads, Chili, Soup, Cheese Steaks, etc. See the Menu for all items. When you order your burger or sandwich, you will go to the condiment bar to load up on what you would like on it… tomatoes, onions, relish, etc. They also have excellent Steak Fries and Chili Cheese Fries.
In addition to the great food and a warm and quaint atmosphere, the views are FANTASTIC!!! 
You will be looking east to Sedona and the views are incredible!
Manager Brett Jurisin can only accommodate 40 people. There is seating upstairs, downstairs and also outside under a covered glass enclosed patio with suspended heaters (depending on weather). There will most likely be a wait list for this Driveout so please let us know as soon as you decide to join us.
We will be meeting at Costco in Prescott at 9:15am and leaving at 9:45am to head over Mingus Mountain and into Jerome. This is a great Corvette road as most of us know! Lots of twists and turns and some great scenery along the way. 
We will need to be at the Haunted Hamburger no later than 11am for Brett to guarantee us our seating before his lunch crowd begins.
You can e-mail Lyn if you are interested in joining us for this pre Christmas fun short run.
See you on the road,
Lyn DeLano and Ed Frias
Velocity Vettes
