Ron Maleport of Sault Ste. Marie relaxes inside his 1979 L-82 coupe. Jim Eck of Ohio wiped his red 2000 Coupe during a brief reprieve from the frigid rain. Grimacing as the wind picked up and buffeted cars and owners at at the Mackinaw City Corvette Crossroads Show, Mr. Eck stood his ground with other 'Vette lovers.

The 2008 show also was marred by heavy rain and another show was canceled outright. Some participants muttered about moving the event to an earlier date, but the focus was more on the beautifully restored and preserved Corvettes.

Relaxing in his 2004 Le Mans Blue Commemorative Edition Corvette, Jack Matsko chatted with a spectators and described the special interior, logos, and wheels unique to the limited run model.

A Corvette lover for more than 20 years, Mr. Matsko has driven his Le Mans to many places, including Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Keith Magnuson of Ishpeming and Ellen Talbacka with his 1998 Corvette coupe. Mr. Magnuson owns six Corvettes. "Everybody looks at it; the eye appeal is tremendous," he said.

As much as he loves his Le Mans, Mr. Matsko has a weak spot for 1960 Corvettes and prefers the 1963 wplit window and 1968 pace car editions, which trigger memories

of his high school days.

The senior sales director of a car dealership, Mr. Matsko has collected several Corvettes from the 1960s to the recent 2000 series.

"It's America's best sports car," he said, and they instill pride in their owners, who wave to each other as they pass on the street.

Ron Maleport of Sault Ste. Marie lounged in his blue 1979 L- 82 Coupe nearby. Evading the wind and rain, Mr. Maleport said his car took third place in the 1979 division last year.

"It's the color, I think," he said. Black and white are the common colors for the L-82, which may be why people find his blue car so striking.

Jim Eck of Toledo takes advantage of a break in the rain to wipe his 2000 Corvette coupe. The cold wind and rain provided little deterrence to the Corvette lovers attending the show. He found a "You're a winner!" slip underneath his windshield wipers this year, too.

Keith Magnuson of Ishpeming socialized with other car lovers near his black 1998 coupe. Its purchase in 1998 culminated many years of wanting one. Since then, he has waxed the coupe nearly 148 times, he said.

Owning a single Corvette was not enough, however, and five other cars are now housed in a building he built for them.

"It's just a hobby," he said. "That's all."
Cheers erupted from a nearby crowd as Dave Fraizer of Bay City was notified his 1977 Corvette coupe was a winner in his award class. Mr. Fraizer purchased the coupe in bad shape for $6,000 and put $8,000 worth of restoration work into it. It is his first restoration attempt.