Corvette Owners Club of San Diego (COCSD)
Gamblers Classic
(Hosted by Corvettes of Bakersfield)
April 16 – 19, 2026
On Thursday morning, 8 Corvettes and 16 souls assembled at Krispy Kreme. Our leader, Alex Best, had us departing at the stroke of 9… hoping to collect one additional ‘Vette-and-driver who couldn’t quite locate the donut store.
After surviving the I-15 corridor through Riverside—and a well-earned lunch at Jenny’s—the real adventure began. The tricked-out cars of Vettes Out West joined the caravan, the combined group jumped onto I-40, and “recommended” speed limits were occasionally… reconsidered.
The group received a warm welcome from Corvettes of Bakersfield as they joined hundreds of other Corvettes from across the Southwest. After settling in and dining in smaller groups, everyone reconvened with fellow enthusiasts for an ice cream social welcome to Nevada. The evening was capped with a “glow show”, as Corvettes with under lights, over lights, and Christmas lights paraded past. Very showy, indeed.
On Friday, hordes of Vettes departed Laughlin and descended upon the small town of Kingman, AZ—ostensibly to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66. After overwhelming the town’s food services, the San Diego contingent finally secured a late pizza and beer before heading back to Laughlin for… more food at the celebratory dinner. The day concluded with COCSD members gathering at the Gourmet Room Bar, where things wound down when they metaphorically rolled up the sidewalks around 10 p.m.
Saturday was a welcome slow-start day, everyone fending for themselves for breakfast. The morning was spent wandering the 300-some Corvettes and selecting favorites. Midday, one COCSD car went on the poker run, while the others relaxed as their occupants enjoyed the pool. The afternoon featured the awards ceremony – and we had a winner. Yes, Spence & Rose Thomas won the Passport Award, which essentially means they visited every single retail shop in Kingman to get their passport stamped. Way to go, Spence & Rose!
In the evening, we had a celebration of our own at The Gourmet Room – great food, possibly some alcohol, and fun had by all.
Sunday brought the spirited ride home, with a stop for lunch in Palm Springs. Afterward, like horses headed for the barn, we ripped it over the mountains, each peeling off in turn toward home.
A great weekend, to be sure. Fun drives, lots of cool ‘Vettes, a bit too much food, and fun fellowship with our COCSD friends.