Treasure Coast Camaro 5 ***TCC5***

[Go big or Go home]

Originally Posted by Drago77

Happy early Birthday Paige!!!! 27??? 28???? Lol, just kidding!!!!

Thank you! Feels like 27 sometimes haha!

[Drago77]

Greetings Treasure Coast Camaro 5…

Today marks a new chapter in the history of this organization…

Many of you know me as Kevin (aka “Drago77” the dictator for TCC5 -lol… can’t think of a better term…) This club originated in February, 2011… a little history for the newer members… we all know the 5th gen Camaro debuted in 2009 as a 2010 model. Convertibles released in Jan, 2011. I preordered my car in 10’ and received in late Feb, 11 (my 3rd Camaro over time.) About 6 months prior to delivery, I began “testing the waters” for a Treasure Coast Camaro club… and upon delivery of my vert, I began publicizing the first meet… between car shows, Camaro5.com and handing out a crap load of fliers around town and upon every Camaro I saw, the first meet was held in March, 2011. Close to 20 Camaro’s converged upon the Bravo plaza at Gatlin and PSL Blvd for the first ever, Treasure Coast Camaro 5 monthly meet… I’d like to recognize the Founding Members, and the first club members:

Kevin & Krystel Kaminski -2011 SW 2SS/RS Vert
Tony and Toni DeBenidetto -2010 RY 2SS/RS
Willie and Lynn Robinson – 2010 ABM SS/RS
Dominick Mesiti -2010 Blk 2SS/RS
Terry and Nicole Cowger – 98 Blk Z28
Mike and Corina Paige- 2010 IOM 2SS/RS
Darrin and Val Anderson – 2010 Blk 2SS
Jamie Maigna- 2010 RJT 2LT/RS
Justin and Michelle Sherwood -99 Bk/Purple SS
Ivan and Monica Rivera – 2010 IOM 2SS/RS
(Several others came and went, but these were the first who stayed… don’t think I didn’t remember guys- thank you!!!!)

From there on, the club spread like wildfire, monthly fliers placed upon every Camaro spotted in public… business cards, web pages, facebook ,forums, T SHirts- TCC5 was the fastest growing independent Camaro Club in Florida, if not the entire US! Monthly meets where organized by yours truly and held at various shows, drag strips, events, etc… from Dyno testing days to fundraisers to BBQ’s, track nights and movie premiers- TCC5 was known for counties around… Club events graced the cover story of Camaro5.com, members cars featured multiple times in Camaro Now and Camaro Performers magazines, Part For Your Car.com, and other Camaro forums… TCC5 became known as “THE” premiere family oriented Camaro club in Florida, TCC5 came before, and outlasted several Florida clubs.

In addition to our monthly meets, we held 2 annual events my wife, Krystel and I are personally very proud of. The Memorial Day BBQ and the TCC5 Christmas Party. The BBQ was held at Indian Riverside Park in Jensen, a beautiful outdoor facility with beach access, interactive fountains, covered pavilions with grilles and ample parking. While the Christmas party has been held at the elegant Tutto Fresco Grille in Port Saint Lucie… Fine Italian Dining with our own private party room. The BBQ hosted up to 78 club members in 2012 and featured music, food, car show awards and more. A historic event that brought Camaro enthusiast from as far North as New York all the way down to the Fl Keys! The Christmas party featured a year-in-review video, personalized gag gifts and various inner-club gifts among members, not to mention a formal setting to get dressed up and shed the club shirts in lieu of dresses and suits.

As the months and years moved on, many incredible, life-long friendships were forged… Seth/Simone, Tony/Toni, Rene/Shei, George/Connie, Darrin/Val, Ivan/Monica, Skip/Liz, Willie/Lynn… and even you- Billy Gaffney, lol! Amongst a host of others who will always remain near and dear to my family… just not enough space to name off every one of you!!!!!

But, like anything else, life moves on, and unfortunately, cars aren’t forever. So as time passed, several members have since parted ways with their Camaro’s in sight of bigger and better goals for their families… many of which, still occasionally attend club meets! While it’s sad to lose any club member, it’s a welcomed sacrifice to see their individual family grow.

Dec 2012 Christmas party, another great TCC5 event, was foreshadowed by an attempted change in leadership… I personally, had run into some crossroads at work which took a lot of my time and focus away from the club. In effort to keep the club running efficiently I got with several members and was lucky enough to have Brandon and Dion step up and offer to take most of the organization of club activities on, and relieve me of most of the responsibility… well, as anyone who knows me understands… I just can’t be a “hands off” partner… Both Brandon and Dion did admiral jobs implementing new meets, events, and forums into the club to streamline the events and information… however, poor planning on my part, and quite frankly, busy schedules on their parts, Dion running Space Coast Camaros and Brandon his flourishing independent mobile repair shop… just made for a conflict in scheduling and a “greedy founder who couldn’t let go…” aka- me…. And eventually, in Spring of 12’ I took control of the club again. Monthly meets were established at a local free car show, and independent events were sponsored by the club… Unfortunately, just when TCC5 started to get back on track, life began happening for several members, and the realization of a 425+ hp car in a family life wasn’t practical… several members sold or traded their Camaro’s and, although always life-long friends, the club “regulars” dwindled. For months, the club ran on, new Camaro owners showing at each event, new mods to be done, new parts to be installed, info to be shared…a never ending cycle. The true American Muscle car was reborn, and for every Camaro sold, 2 new ones stepped up. It’s a beautiful cycle that will continue to grow with no end in sight!

However, after 2.5 years, like anything else, it’s time for a change. I too, have run my course as “President and Founder” of Treasure Coast Camaro 5. I’ve been quietly seeking that “right someone” with the drive and commitment to run the club with the same passion as it was forged with so many years ago. There have been several Camaro clubs to come and go in Florida, the single state holding the most independent Camaro clubs over any other in the nation. I’ve worked hard over the past 2.5 years to maintain ties with each club across the state, from Tri County to Camaro Muscle, Tampa Bay to Tri County West, Emerald Coast to Mid Florida and any and all in between… The intent of this club was to provide a family environment for all Camaro owners across Florida to enjoy their cars, enjoy the camaraderie and enjoy each other in a unified mission- Chevy Camaro.

With that (long winded) epitaph stated… it is time to pass the torch of Treasure Coast Camaro 5 onto it’s new President(s)… I will still be an active member in the club until (and after) my eventual Stingray vert arrives, (many, many years from now…) but from this day forth, Sept 14, 2013, I do hereby hand the full reigns of TCC5 over to our new leaders…

…and with that, I will see you all today (Sat) at 4:20 at Cheveron, PSL/Cameo Blvd and/or Wendy’s Parking Lot/Car Show, US 1/Jennings Blvd @ 5pm for the official inauguration and introductions for our new club President(s)!

Great and exciting new events on the horizon for TCC5- stay tuned, see you all in a few hours!!!!!!:thumbup ::cl ap:

Sincerely;
~Kev

[mikepage0007]

ok, i assumed you passed the torch back in xmas...i will see you guys later today

[Drago77]

Originally Posted by mikepage0007

ok, i assumed you passed the torch back in xmas...i will see you guys later today

Tried.... But it didn't flow like it'd hoped, so i ended up jumping back in... kinda like Brett Favres exit. .. First retirement was a practice run, lol!

[mikepage0007]

raining hard in st lucie west ..people still going?

[UF4LIFE102SS]

Originally Posted by mikepage0007

raining hard in st lucie west ..people still going?

Kev is Justin and clint r waiting u Mike?

[mikepage0007]

dunno, thunder, looks like it may pass soon

[UF4LIFE102SS]

Good to c everybody tonight! Also if anybody wants to come up.

[Justins00ss]

Glad to see everyone tonight. Wish the weather was a little better.

[UF4LIFE102SS]

test run

[Drago77]

Looks great D!!!!

[UF4LIFE102SS]

Thanks K

[Justins00ss]

Sweet man!!! Maybe I will come up for the show!!!

[UF4LIFE102SS]

Originally Posted by Justins00ss

Sweet man!!! Maybe I will come up for the show!!!

Come on sure of plenty drag cars!