with great help from: South Coast Corsa, Inland Empire Corvair Club, Corsa West and Vintage Corsa
EVENT DETAILS
LOCATION:
Sunrise Park, 401 Pavilion Way, Palm Springs, CA (Pavilion Way and Baristo Road)
EVENTS:
Friday: Swap Meet, Hourly Raffles, Welcome Party at Caliente Tropics Resort
Saturday: Swap Meet, Hourly Raffles, Car Show, Dynamometer Runs, Banquet
Sunday: Swap Meet conclusion at Noon
HOST HOTEL:
Caliente Tropics Resort, 411 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm SpringsReservations: (760) 327-1391
Mention “the Chevy Corvair event” to get rates: $99 King Bed, $109 two Queen Beds
but we have arranged special rates at the Motel 6 next door!
Call Motel 6 at 1-800-544-4866 – Ask for special Corvair Club rate of $85 one bed, or $90 two beds.
WELCOME PARTY:
6:30 PM Friday at the Caliente Tropics poolside
Full Food and Drinks Menu can be ordered at Poolside Snack Bar
SATURDAY BANQUET:
Indian Canyons Golf Resort, 1100 East Murray Canyon Dr., Palm Springs
Cocktails at 6 PM, Food Served 7:00 PM, Video Presentation 8:00 PM
Special Presentation: Private video tour of Clarks Corvair facilities. Narrated by Cal Clark.
RAFFLE GRAND PRIZES:
$1,500 Clarks Corvair certificate; 2nd and 3rd place large Clarks Corvair certificates
Online Registration is Closed
Please register on the field when you arrive if you have not pre-registered for the 45th Annual Great Western Fan Belt Toss.
Sunrise Park, 401 Pavilion Way, Palm Springs, CA
(Pavilion Way and Baristo Road)
Schedule of Events
| Friday, October 20th | Starts | Ends |
| Field Setup (multiclub setup) | 8:00 | 12:00 |
| Onsite Registration | 12:00 | 5:00 |
| Swap Meet | 12:00 | 5:00 |
| Hourly Raffle | 12:00 | 5:00 |
| CarBQ Lunch | 12:00 | 3:00 |
| Dynamometer Setup (runs on Saturday) | 3:00 | 5:00 |
| Welcome Party @ Caliente Hotel | 6:00 | 9:00 |
| Saturday, October 21st | ||
| Onsite Registration | 8:00 | 5:00 |
| Swap Meet | 8:00 | 5:00 |
| Fan Belt Toss Game Competition | 11:00 | 1:00 |
| Hourly Raffle | 10:00 | 5:00 |
| Car Show Vehicle Placement | 8:00 | 10:00 |
| Car Show Balloting | 10:00 | 3:00 |
| Car Show Awards (9 award classes) | 4:00 | 4:30 |
| Food and Beverage Vendor | 10:00 | 3:00 |
| Dynamometer Runs | 8:00 | 4:00 |
| Dynamometer High Horsepower Awards | 4:00 | 4:30 |
| Banquet @ Indian Canyon Golf Resort | 5:30 | 8:45 |
| Car Show Winners Vehicle Display Placement | 5:30 | 6:00 |
| Pre-dinner cocktails and mingle | 6:00 | 6:50 |
| Chapter Roll Call | 6:50 | 7:00 |
| Buffet Dinner | 7:00 | 8:00 |
| Mega Raffle Drawing ($1,500,$500,$500 Clarks Certs) | 8:00 | 8:15 |
| Video Presentation – Cal Clark hosting private video tour of Clarks Corvair | 8:15 | 8:35 |
| 2024 GWFBT Preview | 8:35 | 8:45 |
| Sunday, October 22nd | ||
| Swap Meet Wrap-up | 8:00 | 11:00 |
| Field Breakdown and Cleanup | 11:00 | 12:00 |
HOTEL DETAILS & HISTORY
2023 HOST HOTEL:
Caliente Tropics Resort, 411 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm SpringsReservations: (760) 327-1391
Mention “the Chevy Corvair event” to get rates: $99 King Bed, $109 two Queen Beds
not to worry, we have arranged special rates at the Motel 6 next door!
Call Motel 6 at 1-800-544-4866 – Ask for special Corvair Club rate of $85 one bed, or $90 two beds.
Built in 1963 and opened in 1964, by Ken Kimes, St., the tropics Hotel was number 38 out of 45 motels Kimes developed in the U.S. Five of the motels were Polynesian styled and the sister properties were located in Indio as well as Modesto, Blythe, and Rosemead. At some point in the early ’60s, 50 condominium units were annexed on Twin Palms Drive (across the street). Those units were spun-off and turned into apartments in 2000, and are no longer part of the Resort.
Our Polynesian personality is reflected not only in the architecture of the Resort, but in the accoutrements as well. Oceanic Arts (in Whittier, California), considered by many tiki-followers to be the “Grand Daddy” of Polynesian pop-culture, designed and manufactured most of the tiki gods and artifacts throughout the Resort. It is primarily these artifacts that are considered to be the most valuable to the Tropics lineage. Oceanic Arts still dominates as a major source for this pop culture niche and, in recent years, has enjoyed a major rebirth in business. They are currently a primary supplier to Disney, worldwide.
In addition to Sambos (coffee shop), The Reef (cocktail lounge), the Congo Room (steakhouse), and the Cellar (basement cocktail lounge for 100), the central building also housed the main lobby. According to locals, the tropics rocked-and-rolled during the ’60s and ’70s. It was frequented by members of the Rat Pack and various professional baseball teams. (Palms Springs was a major training venue.) Elvis and Nancy Sinatra liked to hang out at the pool, and Victor Mature had “his” table in the Congo Room. The tropics was to the south end of Palm Springs, what the Racquet Club had been to the north end – a celebrity hangout.