Camaro News & Notes

FOUND: PAPA JOHN'S LONG-LOST CAMARO!
KENTUCKY MAN RECEIVES $250,000 FINDER'S FEE

Pizza chain founder recovers beloved car he sold in 1983 that led to start of Papa John's; Celebrates by offering free pizza to all Camaro owners Wednesday, August 26

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (August 25, 2009) "Papa" John Schnatter conquered roller
coasters and the sweltering Texas heat, took the mound at professional
ballparks, attempted a record for the world's highest pizza delivery,
taught children how to toss pizza dough, chatted in football broadcast booths, rang the Closing Bell at NASDAQ, and met countless customers and
team members as part of a nationwide Road Trip this summer, all for one
purpose: finding the beloved 1971 Z28 Camaro he sold more than 25 years ago to help his dad's tavern stay afloat and ultimately launch Papa John's.

Just how beloved? So much so that Schnatter, founder of the world's third-largest pizza company, initially offered a $25,000 "finder's fee" to the person who could produce the title to his long-lost Camaro, and later offered $250,000 to whomever could produce the title and transfer the car.
The search was chronicled online at www.papasroadtrip.com, where thousands
of people logged on to offer tips on how to find his car.

Today, Papa John's cherished Z28 Camaro is coming home to Louisville, Ky.
And, as a result Jeff Robinson from nearby Flatwoods, Ky. (pop. 7,605) is $250,000 richer. The company has also extended a $25,000 reward offer to
the family who originally bought the car from Schnatter in 1983, in appreciation for their help in linking the contest winner with Papa John's.

"What a complete shock to know that the car in my garage was partly to thank for starting a company like Papa John" said Jeff Robinson who has owned the car since 2004 and modified it slightly for various races and car shows, but retained several of the original body parts including the hood,
rims and tires. "When I realized this was Papa John's Camaro, I
immediately wanted to get him his car back".

Robinson, who had previously heard about the contest from a friend in Cincinnati, learned last week that he in fact might have Schnatter�'s car.
The family who originally purchased the car heard about the contest while
watching an interview with Schnatter during the Washington-Baltimore preseason football game on August 13 and began searching for details online
- ultimately directing them to Matt Hardigree, associate editor of
Jalopnik.com, a Web site devoted to daily news and gossip for those obsessed with the cult of cars. Hardigree, who met Schnatter during his
Road Trip stop in Houston in May, investigated the details himself then
contacted Papa John's with the lead.

"Papa John's story was an immediate hit with our readers, who flooded the
site with clues and tips on how to find the Camaro", said Hardigree.
'Everyone on our site loves cars and felt empathy for John, who traded one
dream for another.

'Jalopnik is proud to have helped reunite another enthusiast with his prized Camaro. Not only is Papa John's rewarding the contest winner with
$250,000, but has also extended $25,000 to the Jalopnik reader who
originated the lead.'

The company spent last week confirming the authenticity of the Camaro,
including verifying title with the Kentucky Division of Motor Vehicles, pulling ownership records, and finally tracing the 'out of state transfer'
back to the state of Indiana where records indicated the car's previous
owner as Robert Schnatter, John's father. After the final step of traveling to Flatwoods, Ky., to inspect the car and confirm the VIN, Papa John's arranged for Robinson to deliver the car to Schnatter at Papa John's
headquarters in Louisville, in exchange for the promised $250,000.

'The Camaro represents what I gave up to start Papa John's,' said Schnatter. 'Words cannot capture the emotions I am feeling in getting back that part of my history. I didn't have much back then, but for my business
dreams to come true, I had to part with the one true asset I had to my
name, and even then, there were no promises of success. I never gave up
hope that someday I would get that car back.

'The foundation of Papa John's was built on my decision to sell the Camaro, and while it may not appear to be a huge sacrifice to some, it represents
my roots in this business. And, perhaps it can serve as proof to others that hard decisions today can pay off for you later, if you're willing to believe in what you are doing. I'm extremely grateful for the success of Papa John's, and really wanted this critical piece of our history back.'

The search has been scrambled in the past due to the car originally being
described as a 1972 model. In fact, the car is a 1971 ' model, so technically it's a '71. At some point in the company's history, the year
was rounded up to 1972.

In celebration of Schnatter finding his Camaro, Papa John's will offer a
free large, one-topping pizza on Wednesday, August 26, 2009, to Camaro owners. To redeem, Camaro owners must arrive at their nearby Papa John's restaurant in their Camaro to order and pick up their free pizza. Limit one
pizza per Camaro, and one visit per Camaro.

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John's is the world's third largest pizza company. For nine of the last 10 years, consumers have rated Papa John's No. 1 in customer satisfaction among all national pizza chains in the highly regarded American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Papa John's was honored by Restaurants & Institutions Magazine (R&I) with the
2009 Gold Award for Consumers' Choice in Chains in the pizza segment, ranked first among pizza companies in the 2008 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index and was named 2007 Pizza Today Chain of the Year. For more information about the company or to order pizza online, visit Papa John's
at www.papajohns.com

new Camaro news  http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=106732

A PERSONAL reflection on Camaro and Firebird from Scott Settlemire

A sad day, indeed.

It takes 5.3 days to build a 4th gen Camaro/Firebird.

Last "body buildup" was last Tuesday, August 20.

The last F-car through Paint shop last Friday, August 23rd ? --and this morning (Tuesday, August 27th) at about 9:20 am, the last 4th gen Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet Camaro came off the line at Ste. Therese, Boisbriand, Quebec.

A very sad day for the workers at Ste. Therese, those of us on the Performance Car Team, our partners at SLP Engineering, and of course, you, our Camaro and Firebird Enthusiasts. There's so much I could say, and yet, I'm almost speechless.

The men and women at Ste. Therese have done a great job over the past ten years building some of the best Camaros and Firebirds of all time. I can say this: The cars and the workers went out proud. In the 2002 Model Year, we built the fastest, most powerful, best handling, most fuel efficient, and cleanest (emissions) Camaros and Firebirds ever. And through the 2002 model year, they are the fastest, most powerful, best handling cars in their class. And the Camaros and Firebirds coming off the line had some of the highest quality ratings ever.

I'm in Pittsburgh as I write this thus I do not have production figures in front of me but we built over 5 million Camaros over the past 35 years. I'm not sure how many Firebirds, but you can bet that I'll have those numbers when I return to Detroit.

Many of you know that I was privileged to grow up in a Chevrolet Dealership. I'll never forget the first Camaro I saw in person?..a Bolero Red Camaro RS Convertible?..our dealership received it the first week of September?.and back then, it was forbidden to show the new models prior to 'announcement day.' (A bit of history?.until 1968, all new cars were shipped completely covered with cloth covers. they were hidden from public view and announcement day was a big deal as the manufacturers showed their new models off in dealership showrooms nationwide.) When I saw that first Camaro, it was instant love. .I didn't yet have my license, but I thought it was the most beautiful car I had ever seen..esp. the 'bumblebee' stripe and the hidden headlamps in the blacked-out grille. Little did I know at the time that I would also be privileged to work on such a great car much later in my life. Each of the 4 generations have their own personalities and yet they are all unmistakably Camaro and Firebird and, over the past 35 years, the Camaro and Firebird met one thing: Really cool cars. They've received countless awards,  been in movies, TV, books, magazines, they've even had songs written about them -- and have become a part of the Great American Landscape. Camaro is one of the top 5 most recognized nameplates in the industry,..everyone and I do mean everyone, has a Camaro or Firebird in their past or present. If they did not own one, then a brother, a sister, a best friend, a sweetheart  a neighbor  had or has one.

I knew this day was coming. I told myself that I would have time to prepare. I should have known better.

.and while some of our owners see their Fcars as 'just cars', I know that there are many of you out there that see it as so much more than 'just a car.' When I attend a car show and see the love and the passion and the work that goes into restoration?..or the care that you put into detailing your Camaros and Firebirds, it fills me with pride. For those of you who see these great cars as more than 'just a car' ? I'm truly sorry to have to tell you that this is the end of the 4th gen. But keep in mind, that this does NOT mean that the names are dead. While I'd love to talk about the future, I'm forbidden to do so. But as I wrote to many of you a few months back  in 1974, we thought performance cars were a thing of the past and over the next twenty-some years, we found out that this was simply not true.

And so it goes.

The last car off the line was a Bright Rally Red Z28 Convertible ? and it will go into the Chevy Historic Collection so that people for years to come can enjoy this Legend. The next to last car was a matching Trans Am Convertible also going into the Pontiac Historic Collection. We'll have them on display at the Annual Fbody Gathering at the National Corvette Museum this September 20-22nd ? and we hope you'll join us for a great three-day weekend celebration details at www.corvettemuseum.com  and then click on Fbody gathering. The third-to-last- car off the line is a 'loaded' Bright Rally Red Z28 coupe  which will be auctioned off this coming weekend at the Kruse Auction in Auburn, Indiana. All proceeds will go to S.A.V.E. (Students Against Violence Everywhere) and the public will have the opportunity to bid on this historic Camaro. Log onto www.Kruse.com for all the details to register and bid on-line. We'll also have a collection of some of our historic Camaros from the Chevy Historic Collection on display.

On a personal note from Scott, the Enthusiast:

My heartfelt thanks to the men and women of Ste. Therese ? for building such great cars. I could not be prouder of a group of hard workers. Also to SLP engineering for taking a great car to the next level ? and SLP Performance Parts for their work in developing components for even more performance. "Thank You" to a select group of Chevy and Pontiac Dealers for stocking and selling these great cars. "Thank You" to those webmasters and moderators who have put so much time, effort, and money into the various sites over the past couple of years ? so that we could talk with one another ? and I also thank them for their part in making so many friendships worldwide. My thanks to the many many vendors that built the components that make up these great cars. My thanks to my Camaro/Firebird co-workers (and there are tens of thousands of them over the past 35 years) at GM who worked so hard to develop these great cars ? and all the effort they put forth to keep improving the car ? regardless of economic conditions and a changing market. My thanks to Chevrolet General Manager Kurt Ritter ? and my boss Rick Baldick for allowing me the opportunity to not only work on the team --- but to travel throughout the year so that I could meet the many many thousands of enthusiasts out there. I have met the finest people in the world  and that is NOT an exaggeration. My thanks to Dick Almond who selected me over several hundred people for the job on the Camaro/Corvette Team. My thanks to my Uncle and to my Father for giving me the love of automobiles, and Chevrolets in particular and for always encouraging me to strive harder.

With all those 'thank yous'   they pale in comparison to the 'thank you' that I owe each of you. Thank you for buying your Camaros and Firebirds, but more importantly, thank you for the love and passion you show to these great cars. Without you, we would not have had the opportunity to celebrate 35 years of "Performance American Style." I'd also like to thank those of you who have posted such great memories and words of thanks to the men and women of Ste. Therese on   http://thanks.f-body.com

What does the future really hold? As I said above, I can't talk about future product plans. But I'm here to tell you that with the caliber of enthusiasts we have in the Camaro/Firebird community, I envision a lot of celebrations every weekend for many many years to come. With WorldWide Camaro  the National Trans Am Club, American Camaro Association, and the hundreds upon hundreds of Fbody clubs, Camaro Clubs, Firebird Clubs and all the Fbody websites, the dream will stay alive.

And, to the Camaro and Firebird: (if it IS possible to talk to a car?..) You are loved and the legends that you have become will never die. You will be celebrated for many years to come and I could not be prouder of you.

Camaro at Bowling Green info - September 19

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, represents the $26 billion specialty automotive industry. The trade association has approximately 4,500 member companies. It is the authoritative source of research data, trends and market growth information for automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit <www.sema.org>.

From: Scott Settlemire
Sent: July 29, 2002
Subject:: Last Saleable Camaro

I announce this with very, very mixed emotions............

I've had many, many requests over the past year from fellow enthusiasts asking to purchase the last Camaro off the line at Ste. Therese. The last car off the line will be a bright rally red Z28 convertible that will go into the Chevy Historic Collection for the public to enjoy for generations to come. The "next to last" car off the line is a matching Trans Am Convertible....also going into the Pontiac Historic Collection.......

With that said......we are offering the public the chance to bid on the "Last Saleable Camaro in the United States" -- with all proceeds going to a very worthy cause -- "Students Against Violence Everywhere."

Click here for PDF file from Kruse Auction with more information on how this Camaro will be auctioned off.........

In case you cannot launch the PDF file, here is the script without pictures or calendar:

LAST OF A LEGEND -- CAMARO Z28

KRUSE INTERNATIONAL PROUDLY PRESENTS THE LAST CAMARO OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC IN THE UNITED STATES, SELLING AT NO RESERVE 2002 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z28. SELLING SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST. LOT #4075.

Fads come and go. Other things -- Saturday Nights, the classic sound of rock & roll, and a thrill ride called Chevy Camaro -- last forever.

It's been 35 years since the first Camaro roared to life, escalating the classic Chevy-Ford rivalry to a fever pitch. Right from the beginning, with its dramatic styling and choice of hot engines, the Camaro was 'the closest thing to a 'Vette yet." Terms like "SS" "Z28" and "Rally Sport" meant one thing: A VERY COOL CHEVY.

This legend of the American road comes to an end this year -- at least for a while -- with the production of the 2002 model. Kruse is privileged to be selected by Chevrolet to offer the last Chevy Camaro saleable in the United States -- an incomparable Camaro Z28 coupe with the specifications and options fitting for the final effort of the marque.

PROCEEDS BENEFIT S.A.V.E.

All proceeds from the sale of the Last Camaro will benefit S.A.V.E. (Students Against Violence Everywhere) a student-driven non-profit organization where students learn alternatives to violence, and practice what they learn through school and community service projects. Support for S.A.V.E. is part of the Chevy R.O.C.K. (Reaching Out to Communities and Kids) program, Chevrolet's community service initiative.

Register to bid for the car of your dreams by calling 800-968-4444 or log onto www.kruse.com  for more information.

The Last Saleable Camaro in the United States is a Bright Rally Red Z28 coupe with the following equipment:

4-speed automatic transmission
500 Watt Monsoon Sound System
Remote Keyless Entry
Theft Deterrent Alarm
Cruise Control
Fog Lamps
Twin remote electric outside mirrors
Power Door Locks
Power Windows
Power Hatch Release
6-way power driver's seat
Leather wrapped steering wheel with radio controls
Body Side Moldings
Electric rear window defogger
12 Disc CD Changer
Tilt Steering Wheel
Transparent Removable Roof Panels
P245/50ZR16 Goodyear Eagle RSA Tires
16" Chromed Aluminum Wheels
Power Steering Cooler
Performance rear axle
Traction Control System
Ebony Leather Seating surfaces

From: Scott.Settlemire
Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2001 1:45 AM
Subject: Thank you!

December 25, 2001

Merry Christmas, My Fellow Camaro and Firebird Enthusiasts! Well, for the first time in nearly 48 years, I was finally rendered speechless.  (and for those of you who know me well, I always have something to say about everything!) My family and I exchange Christmas Gifts at midnight on Christmas Eve. There was a very special gift waiting for me this year, one that I shall treasure forever. Imagine my surprise when I unwrapped a VERY thick album stuffed full of letters from my fellow Camaro Enthusiasts thanking me for the "job" I do for Camaro. An even bigger surprise is that you feel that this is a job! My friends, I am honored and humbled to be doing the job I'm doing. As the letter my mother enclosed said " From the time you were two years old, we knew you were destined to be involved in the automobile industry in a big way." I cannot imagine a job I'd rather do. Yes, it has had its rough moments. September 25th was probably the hardest day of my professional career when I had to announce that Ste. Therese would close, that those great men and women who build our Camaro and Firebird would be retired, moved, or "transitioned" and that Camaro would go on "hiatus." And yes, the Financial Meetings and Legal Staff Meetings are sometimes nearly unbearable. But the best part of this job is to have the privilege of traveling across the United States and Canada to spend time with the people who really count:,.you, the Camaro Enthusiasts.who have made this wonderful car called 'Camaro' into a lifestyle.

I have a tradition from my college days. On Christmas and on my birthday every year, I "take stock" of where I've been and where I'm going. .I always wonder what the next year will bring. In my wildest dreams, I would never have imagined that I would get to work on the car that I have so dearly loved since September 29, 1966. In fact, when I was promoted to Assistant Brand Manager Camaro on the Camaro/Corvette Brand Team, I dedicated the rest of my career to the memory of my Father, Dale Settlemire, who was a Chevy Dealer for many years. What I did not realize at that time is that I would meet so many wonderful friends. and to this point, I am speechless. My tear ducts got a good Christmas cleaning-out as I read through the letters. I also sensed my Dad giving me high fives from the great Chevy Showroom in the sky. My friends, I do not believe there is a happier guy on earth right now. Nor is there someone more humbled and honored that you would take the time to write such nice letters. My commitment to you? I will NEVER let General Motors or Chevrolet forget the Camaro. (not that they would ever forget it in the first place!) As long as I am around, I will remain (as Johnny Hunkins, Editor of GM HiTech Performance recently described me) 'the Energizer Bunny of the Camaro.'

From the bottom of my Chevy-Bowtie-shaped heart, I thank each of you for your kindness. May the new year bring each of you health, happiness, and prosperity. And may our country remain the best ever.

Your Camaro Comrade,

Scott Settlemire
(aka The Fbodfather)
(aka Red Planet)

A Mustang owner takes his car to the dealership because it's not running right (I know, I know, but I mean even worse than usual). The service manager tells him to wait in the waiting room while they check it out. Thirty minutes later, the service manager reappears:
   "So what was the problem?"
   "No big deal. Just crap in the fuel injectors."
   "Okay. So how often do I have to do THAT??"

One GCC member's thoughts:

Friends,

After GM made the long rumored and much dreaded announcement that the F-Body breed were to die out after the 2002 model run, I did the only thing left to do. I drove mine. Yes I drove it. I don't usually drive it to work, but this morning seemed special. You grab the shifter to make sure that it's not in a gear. Yes I said gear. You know gears those things that go clack as you racket from one gate to the next in the transmission (not something that feels like a bowl of . . . . .).  You turn the key in the dash, yes I said dash not the steering column. An engine fires up that Detroit designed and that you may have "over engineered in its' last rebuild". That last cam you put in might have been little to much if your radio antenna vibrates so much than it chips paint on car hoods setting next to you. The car has a nice rumble to it as you leave the garage. I accelerated out of the sub-division onto a small straight stench backing out of the carb to hear the exhaust cackle as I braked for the first traffic light. I passed several gas stations and noticed that the price has dropped 10 cents since the eleventh. Onto the highway with a few honks and thumps up from fellow travelers. Exiting the highway near the Arch and while one traffic light away from Spruce Street what did I see.  It was like Christmas came early. One of the guys from my office was setting in the next lane with me at the light. A bright red Nissan 300X couple (late 1980s) being driven by an retired Marine Corps pilot. After a few raps on the horn button to get his attention. . . . .  The light changed to green and  . . . ."honest Officer Smith my foot slipped off the clutch pedal all three times".  A few minutes later at the office coffee pot I was asked by the retired pilot what engine was in the my car. My first and usual answer to that question has always been "Orange" true but somewhat smart assed.

As I sat down to send this message to a few friends a better answer to his question came to mind. "It's not the engine It's the car". It was the answer more than 25 years ago when I bought it, it was the answer for all those years since and it was still the answer this morning.

                                                                                Owner and Driver
                                                                                British Green
                                                                                1968 RS Convertible
                                                                                Riley R. Pope

By now, you have probably heard that our good friends at SLP Engineering have developed a new Airbox that will add 10 hp to the SS LS1 engine...when combined with either the dual-dual cat-back exhaust or the centermount exhaust, this will raise the horsepower from 325 to 345...(and yes, this is real hp gain!) The attached is from Dave Hamburger ....gives an update to the option and how and when you can obtain one for your SS....Great Job, SLP!

Starting September 1st or thereabouts, SLP plans to offer its new (10+ hp airbox system as standard equipment on the V8 Pontiac (with a resulting $300 MSRP increase to the WU6 Firehawk package). As a result, all Firehawks will then boast 345 hp. Same exact time frame, the air box will become available as part of a bundled option on the SS. With either the optional center-mount or dual-dual exhaust systems, the air box will add $300 to the MSRP and 10 hp. Secondary markets: first order of priority will be shipping units to interested owners/dealers with 2002 model SLP V8 F-cars, people who received their vehicles prior to the introduction of the air box system. SLP Troy will coordinate that effort. After we've made a reasonable effort to reach out to owners of those 2002 model cars, we'll open up the order process to the general public, including non-previously- modified-by-SLP cars. Again, our Troy service operations will be involved.-SLP

Going on vacation this summer? Gonna visit North Carolina? .Well, beware of that other Camaro behind you or in front of you.... We're pleased that North Carolina chose Chevy Camaro to patrol the highways and byways of that State.......[More...] 

How Camaro got its name.  According to some within General Motors, a 4-seat sports car was designed in the late 50s for a growing America......it would be the Turbo-charged Corvair Spyder of 1962......additionally, Chevrolet unveiled the "Super Nova" at the New York Autoshow in March of 1964.....a matter of weeks prior to Ford unveiling the Mustang......and while the Corvair was restyled in the fall of  [More...] 

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