33rd Annual Black Hills Corvette Classic

Ray and the All50 Z06 returned to the Black Hills of South Dakota in July 2004 to participate in the 33rd Annual Black Hills Corvette Classic in Spearfish.

The Black Hills Corvette Classic is one of the premier Corvette events in the country — hundreds of Corvettes from across the nation converging on the scenic hills of western South Dakota for a week of driving tours, car shows, and camaraderie. The backdrop of the Black Hills, with Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial nearby, makes it one of the most spectacular settings for any automotive event.

For Ray, it was a homecoming of sorts. He had passed through the Black Hills on Day 32 of the ALL50 trip — Memorial Day 2003 — stopping at Mount Rushmore and picking up his first (and only) speeding ticket of the entire journey. Coming back a year later, this time as a participant in a major Corvette event, felt like a full circle.

The All50 Z06 was a natural conversation piece at any Corvette gathering, and the Black Hills Classic was no exception. Ray's story — 50 states, 63 days, 22,796 miles — resonated with the Corvette community that had been following along since the beginning.

Photos from the Day

The Black Hills — A Corvette Road

The roads around Spearfish and the surrounding Black Hills are among the best driving roads in the country — sweeping curves through pine-covered hills, dramatic canyon roads, and long straightaways with views that go on forever. It's the kind of terrain that makes a Z06 feel exactly like what it is: a purpose-built American sports car.

The Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway are all within easy reach of the event. Ray had sampled some of these roads on the original trip; the Classic gave him the chance to explore them more thoroughly.