Great story. I grew up in the 60s and followed the Space Program religiously. My uncle was a Guidance Engineer for the Goddard Space Flight Center. He worked for NASA before it was NASA, he helped develop the guidance systems and retired after the last Apollo flight. He witnessed all the Saturn V launches. Oh I forgot to mention, he owned a Corvette!
I grew up on the Space Coast/Brevard County Beaches when it was a one-horse County - and, yes it's true: every guy I knew that worked at the Cape had a Vette - the 50's, 60's & 70's were great times - thx for the memories🤙🏄♂️😉😎
Heard the corvette story from Jim Rathman himself. Contractor I did business with lived next door to Jim. He was such a nice and down to earth guy. Miss him.
I ❤ corvettes As a little boy i saw a 1972 yellow corvette and i was blown away and i made sure to take the long route home so i could see that yellow beauty one more time I have had about 7 corvettes so far At present day i have a yellow C6Z06 and i absolutely love this American icon Thank you America
Corvettes and guys wanting to go fast. What's new? But all jokes aside. Great video about the Corvette's history sir. I think more of these would be great. Thank you Lyle.
Great video. One correction: Alan Shepard was the first American in space, but NOT the first to orbit the earth. That honor goes to John Glenn. Shepard's was a sub-orbital flight.
Years ago when my son was 9yrs I took him to a night launch of the shuttle. I found a great location using my GPS. As I approached I was stopped by a guard. I explained how we were from Kansas City and I found this spot with my GPS and wanted to let my son see a night launch. The Guard said Looks like your credencials are in order, this way sir.
Thanks Lyle. Great story and love your channel. Recently completed a 4-year resto-mod of a 71 Corvette convertible, and the connection with the NASA program is the "cherry on top" of the existing love affair with the brand, especially C3s. Cheers, and keep up the good work.
Thanks for sharing that of which never heard. Always enjoy the small part of Apollo 13 when Tom Hanks and wife are driving in a C3 and it stalls at the traffic light.
I was at Cape Canaveral only once, with my dad, March of 1970. A couple of week later I saw Apollo 13 launch from about 10 miles away. It still was as bright as the sun rising... I lived in Florida that winter. I haven't been there since...
I saw the Apollo Corvette coupe when it was on display on the National Mall in Washington D.C. a couple of years ago. Another piece of Corvette history, Jim Rathmann drove the first Corvette Pace Car in the Indy 500 in 1978.
It would be cool if you mentioned Tom Hanks driving a red C3 Corvette in the movie Apollo 13. Both he and Gary Senise drove C3 Vettes in the movie, Gary's was gold.
Great story sir and oh yeah huge connection with Corvette and the astronauts. I have a great print of The conrad, gordon, Bean photograph framed and hanging in my Corvette cave. Thanks for telling this Lyle
I Knew little about the Corvette involvement in the Space Program, (Im a real fan of it all, plus of all the movies, i.e. "the Right Stuff", "Apollo 13", and "from the Earth to the Moon", etc.). Always a Real Pleasure to watch Your Channel Lyle, Thank You, and Keep up the EXCELLENT JOB!!! (I've been a vette fan most of my life, and now a fairly recent 1990 ZR1 Vette owner, love the whole vette following)!!!
That was great!!! I grew up in the 60s and that was the best thing as a boy astronauts and corvettes, one reason why I got mine I hope you do more story's like this
Great history lesson on the Corvette / Astronaut connection! Went to the Kennedy Space center in the late 90's and its was amazing. Definately worth a visit.
@@csvette thanks Lyle. I would but it's a bit of a way from Shropshire in the UK. Maybe one day! P.S your C5 vids have helped me a lot with my 98 C5. Keep up the good work 👏
@@yzfdunc My Lady is British, and her parents and sisters live in London and Gloucester. We will be visiting them and doing some adventuring around the old town. I'm hoping to find a car show to attend and maybe get to meet some of my Corvette people in person. :) Lyle
Hi Lyle, nice piece of history, I remember it well -many are unaware that there was also a connection or affinity with commercial pilots and the astronauts. It was more like a band of brothers as one of the most iconic photos show two pilots and a flight attendant talking, the one pilot is in a 1963 Corvette coupe taken at the former LAX control tower. I have the large poster in my garage. Tom D
Great video - mutual love of the space center and all things space - John McBride - only astronaut from West Virginia- space shuttle mission 41G as I recall - he still drove a Vette long after he left the program - a favorite C&S video Lyle!
Great story! I knew part of it, but not how it all came about. Love all you do. Great seeing you on video. I hope You & Your's faired out well thru the hurricane. I recommend your videos anytime I can.
The few surviving examples are in museums or private collections. Allen Bean's car is in the best condition of all of them, and I'm pretty sure Al Shepard's '68 L89 convertible is kept somewhere on Kennedy Space Center grounds, as it can sometimes be found on display in the Saturn V building. Lyle
Since your in Florida & there were more then a few of those Astronaut Corvettes being Leased (& sold) to many astronauts I was sure we would have a comment from one of your 30,000 viewers that Might have one ?
Great history lesson! I only knew a little but now I know. Thanks! Btw by the pictures you look like a big dude! I’m 6-6 200lbs and barely fit in my C7 ZR1 you prob squeeze in these too! Haa! Sucks being tall sometimes!
I seem to recall reading that Chevrolet wanted the car back after a year so they could sell it as an astronaut owned Corvette. Then they would give the astronauts the next year Corvette. I wonder what happened to John Glenn’s station wagon.
That sounds plausible, but I haven't heard that before. As far as John Glenn's Station wagon, my guess is that it hasn't existed since the late '70's...not collectible or desirable at that time. Interesting thought, though! Lyle :)
Several of these cars fell into disrepair after the space program petered out...hopefully somebody somewhere will be able to rehab Worden's car someday. Lyle
The astronaut’s wives got to select a vehicle as well. Scott Carpenter’s wife wanted a vette (she was a pilot), but NASA kind of made the women get practical sedans.
jimrathmann chevorlet was between melboure caseway and ei gallie caswat on us1 never in cocoa beach good testomonie the location iff my father was a sakesman there he work
It was a completely different political spectrum back then, for sure. I wish that the parties could work together for America like they did back then--regardless of disagreements. Lyle
@@csvette then again if one side is determined to end your hobby not to mention coerce you into a car powered by a not ready for prime time battery/electric system not to mention the end game to have mass transit the only way to get around .I’m ok with opposing that.
@@johnandersonjjr I have serious questions about sweeping changes to our transportation methods that are not driven by the market, but by mandate. Historically, when things are mandated it is because they are not something that the general public wants. There are hours of debate and discussion that could be had on this topic, but the root of this issue (for me, anyway) is the top-down demands being placed on the populace that will further complicate transportation and freedom of movement in our country. I'm all for clearly better answers to problems that we all face, but I just don't see the advantage of forcing this change when the existing electrical infrastructure cannot handle the current demands on it, mush less the huge additional draw that recharging these vehicles necessarily adds to the grid. Lyle
@@csvette hopefully This central planning ,unwanted and unnecessary will begin to fade away in November not just for the health of the hobby but for the health of your country’s economic survival let alone maintain the #1 economy position on the planet
@@csvette Lyle, I enjoy your weekly videos, but I'm going to suggest that you, and C&S Corvettes, would be best served, by staying away from politics. Even whimsical comments such as your post here, is not doing anything positive for your business.
Great story. I grew up in the 60s and followed the Space Program religiously. My uncle was a Guidance Engineer for the Goddard Space Flight Center. He worked for NASA before it was NASA, he helped develop the guidance systems and retired after the last Apollo flight. He witnessed all the Saturn V launches. Oh I forgot to mention, he owned a Corvette!
I grew up on the Space Coast/Brevard County Beaches when it was a one-horse County - and, yes it's true: every guy I knew that worked at the Cape had a Vette - the 50's, 60's & 70's were great times - thx for the memories🤙🏄♂️😉😎
It would have been a great group of guys to observe from the other side of the bar, for sure! Lyle
Yes those decades were awesome however I wasn't around for the 50s (Born in 62)
FANTASTIC, LYLE! 👍
Heard the corvette story from Jim Rathman himself. Contractor I did business with lived next door to Jim. He was such a nice and down to earth guy. Miss him.
Met Story Musgrave and he told me his vette was the the best Machine ever engineered. It was a c2 of some year.. Real nice guy!!!
I ❤ corvettes
As a little boy i saw a 1972 yellow corvette and i was blown away and i made sure to take the long route home so i could see that yellow beauty one more time
I have had about 7 corvettes so far
At present day i have a yellow C6Z06 and i absolutely love this American icon
Thank you America
So cool I love Corvette history
Awesome video thanks 👍
Corvettes and guys wanting to go fast. What's new?
But all jokes aside. Great video about the Corvette's history sir. I think more of these would be great. Thank you Lyle.
Great History lesson Lyle, your a Legend, and thanks for all you do for us Corvette fans...
Great video. One correction: Alan Shepard was the first American in space, but NOT the first to orbit the earth. That honor goes to John Glenn. Shepard's was a sub-orbital flight.
Years ago when my son was 9yrs I took him to a night launch of the shuttle. I found a great location using my GPS. As I approached I was stopped by a guard. I explained how we were from Kansas City and I found this spot with my GPS and wanted to let my son see a night launch. The Guard said Looks like your credencials are in order, this way sir.
I bet that was awesome ! Glad there are still good people in the world ! ! !
Thanks Lyle. Great story and love your channel. Recently completed a 4-year resto-mod of a 71 Corvette convertible, and the connection with the NASA program is the "cherry on top" of the existing love affair with the brand, especially C3s. Cheers, and keep up the good work.
Thanks for sharing that of which never heard. Always enjoy the small part of Apollo 13 when Tom Hanks and wife are driving in a C3 and it stalls at the traffic light.
Great story. Thank you. Miss my 69 in Riverside gold but love my c6 drop top velocity yellow.
I was at Cape Canaveral only once, with my dad, March of 1970. A couple of week later I saw Apollo 13 launch from about 10 miles away. It still was as bright as the sun rising... I lived in Florida that winter. I haven't been there since...
You should definitely come back to check it out there are launches you can watch that happen about every month now
Absolutely Love this Channel !
completely agree that the space center is a fantastic place. It shouldn't be missed on any tour of america.
I saw the Apollo Corvette coupe when it was on display on the National Mall in Washington D.C. a couple of years ago. Another piece of Corvette history, Jim Rathmann drove the first Corvette Pace Car in the Indy 500 in 1978.
I didn't know that! Thank you for adding to my knowledge of this story!! Lyle
It would be cool if you mentioned Tom Hanks driving a red C3 Corvette in the movie Apollo 13. Both he and Gary Senise drove C3 Vettes in the movie, Gary's was gold.
There is a Astronaut vetted at the Kennedy space center in the museum. Pretty cool.
Great story sir and oh yeah huge connection with Corvette and the astronauts. I have a great print of The conrad, gordon, Bean photograph framed and hanging in my Corvette cave. Thanks for telling this Lyle
Very cool! Thanks for watching! Lyle
Coral Gables 🌴🇺🇸 Hehe. ALSO a fave watering hole was the O club at Patrick on Friday afternoon 😊 hour. 🏄
Great vid. Gotta drive a Vette if you had The Right Stuff.
enjoyed immensely!
I Knew little about the Corvette involvement in the Space Program, (Im a real fan of it all, plus of all the movies, i.e. "the Right Stuff", "Apollo 13", and "from the Earth to the Moon", etc.).
Always a Real Pleasure to watch Your Channel Lyle, Thank You, and Keep up the EXCELLENT JOB!!!
(I've been a vette fan most of my life, and now a fairly recent 1990 ZR1 Vette owner, love the whole vette following)!!!
Thanks Lyle, very interesting. I knew the astronauts had a connection to Corvettes, but never heard the story. 👍
Very welcome! Thank you! Lyle
A very good story!
Thanks for the story!
That was great!!! I grew up in the 60s and that was the best thing as a boy astronauts and corvettes, one reason why I got mine
I hope you do more story's like this
Loved this!
Love the astronaut stories. I too love the Kennedy Space Center and it’s history.
Great history lesson on the Corvette / Astronaut connection! Went to the Kennedy Space center in the late 90's and its was amazing. Definately worth a visit.
It has improved so much since then! You should definitely visit again if in the area! Lyle
@@csvette thanks Lyle. I would but it's a bit of a way from Shropshire in the UK. Maybe one day! P.S your C5 vids have helped me a lot with my 98 C5. Keep up the good work 👏
@@yzfdunc I'll be visiting the UK in May '23! :)
@@csvette really? A particular part or a general sight seeing trip?
@@yzfdunc My Lady is British, and her parents and sisters live in London and Gloucester. We will be visiting them and doing some adventuring around the old town. I'm hoping to find a car show to attend and maybe get to meet some of my Corvette people in person. :) Lyle
Great story
Glad you enjoyed it! Lyle
I wasn’t aware of this information.
Thanks for sharing.
Any time! Thank you for watching! Lyle
Hi Lyle, nice piece of history, I remember it well -many are unaware that there was also a connection or affinity with commercial pilots and the astronauts. It was more like a band of brothers as one of the most iconic photos show two pilots and a flight attendant talking, the one pilot is in a 1963 Corvette coupe taken at the former LAX control tower. I have the large poster in my garage. Tom D
Fast, competent men in fast cars...those were the days! Lyle
Great video - mutual love of the space center and all things space - John McBride - only astronaut from West Virginia- space shuttle mission 41G as I recall - he still drove a Vette long after he left the program - a favorite C&S video Lyle!
Great story! I knew part of it, but not how it all came about. Love all you do. Great seeing you on video. I hope You & Your's faired out well thru the hurricane. I recommend your videos anytime I can.
Thanks Lyle, what a nice departure from the regular routine. BTW, where are these cars now?
The few surviving examples are in museums or private collections. Allen Bean's car is in the best condition of all of them, and I'm pretty sure Al Shepard's '68 L89 convertible is kept somewhere on Kennedy Space Center grounds, as it can sometimes be found on display in the Saturn V building. Lyle
Nice video
Thank You, awesome information.
Great info!!
Favorite astro gid my father worked for ratan he got me pictures of al l the spell missiot
Thanks Great stories!
Glad you like them! Lyle
Since your in Florida & there were more then a few of those Astronaut Corvettes being Leased (& sold) to many astronauts I was sure we would have a comment from one of your 30,000 viewers that Might have one ?
Man, I am really hoping that we do! I would love to make a road trip to see one and make a video about it for you guys! Lyle
Great video as always! Would love to get to Kennedy Space Center some day!
Great history lesson! I only knew a little but now I know. Thanks! Btw by the pictures you look like a big dude! I’m 6-6 200lbs and barely fit in my C7 ZR1 you prob squeeze in these too! Haa! Sucks being tall sometimes!
Watch "For All Mankind" 🚀 you will see a lot of Corvettes and a lot of Space 👍
WOW how tall are you!! your a giant!
I'm 6'11". :) Lyle
I seem to recall reading that Chevrolet wanted the car back after a year so they could sell it as an astronaut owned Corvette. Then they would give the astronauts the next year Corvette. I wonder what happened to John Glenn’s station wagon.
That sounds plausible, but I haven't heard that before. As far as John Glenn's Station wagon, my guess is that it hasn't existed since the late '70's...not collectible or desirable at that time. Interesting thought, though! Lyle :)
Don’t tell anybody but I was the first astroNOT to drive a corvette drunk🤪
One of these vettes is in the Simone Foundation Museum in Philadelphia. Al Worden's 1971 454. It's in bad shape.
Several of these cars fell into disrepair after the space program petered out...hopefully somebody somewhere will be able to rehab Worden's car someday. Lyle
Armstrong had the 427 👍
rathmans chevrolet was in melbourne not cocoa beachmy father worked there 35 years along with other good salesman in our area
The astronaut’s wives got to select a vehicle as well. Scott Carpenter’s wife wanted a vette (she was a pilot), but NASA kind of made the women get practical sedans.
Alan was first American in space a non orbital flight
Yep--I noticed that mistake when I reviewed the video. John Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth, I believe. Good catch! Lyle
jimrathmann chevorlet was between melboure caseway and ei gallie caswat on us1 never in cocoa beach good testomonie the location iff my father was a sakesman there he work
14 hours a day I have many nasal picture from those brave men guss was my favorite
Smokey Yunick
Do english subtitres
Re John Glenn yeah he was a democrat… not that was a bad thing,back then.
It was a completely different political spectrum back then, for sure. I wish that the parties could work together for America like they did back then--regardless of disagreements. Lyle
@@csvette then again if one side is determined to end your hobby not to mention coerce you into a car powered by a not ready for prime time battery/electric system not to mention the end game to have mass transit the only way to get around .I’m ok with opposing that.
@@johnandersonjjr I have serious questions about sweeping changes to our transportation methods that are not driven by the market, but by mandate. Historically, when things are mandated it is because they are not something that the general public wants. There are hours of debate and discussion that could be had on this topic, but the root of this issue (for me, anyway) is the top-down demands being placed on the populace that will further complicate transportation and freedom of movement in our country. I'm all for clearly better answers to problems that we all face, but I just don't see the advantage of forcing this change when the existing electrical infrastructure cannot handle the current demands on it, mush less the huge additional draw that recharging these vehicles necessarily adds to the grid. Lyle
@@csvette hopefully This central planning ,unwanted and unnecessary will begin to fade away in November not just for the health of the hobby but for the health of your country’s economic survival let alone maintain the #1 economy position on the planet
But we live in a flat earth????
I was enjoying this episode until you mentioned Scott Kelly the brother of Mark Kelly which turned my stomach!
I know...we can't help his politics, but at least he still loves Corvettes! Lyle
@@csvette Lyle, I enjoy your weekly videos, but I'm going to suggest that you, and C&S Corvettes, would be best served, by staying away from politics. Even whimsical comments such as your post here, is not doing anything positive for your business.
Your damed if you Do & your Damed if Don't!
@@markjohnson5081 Lyle's a small business owner and I'm sure he knows who's putting a hurt on his business and his country.