Calling the Chevrolet Corvette a cultural icon is an understatement of almost blasphemous proportions. Like baseball and mom's apple pie, the Corvette is without question one of those too rare examples of perfect form meeting ingenious function that helps define our national heritage. Since its introduction in 1953, the Corvette has been the undeniable standard by which all others are judged; its inspired design not only enhances the journey, it impassions the soul.

That passion is the first thing you notice when you meet Tim and Deanna Cipriani. They share a fiery passion for life, an obvious passion for each other and an enduring passion for cars, especially the Corvette. Tim says, "When I was young, my uncle had a ‘67 Stingray with a 427 in it. It was a beautiful ride and I've loved GM's ever since." Not to be outdone, Deanna replies, "When I was a kid, my brother and I would go on vacation with our parents and count how many Stingrays were on the road." Clearly, the argument of which of them has loved Corvettes the longest wouldn't be settled any time soon.

Ironically, Tim's first car wasn't a ‘Vette, it was a 1967 Camaro Z28 at the age of 16; it would be almost 30 years and 11 Camaros later before he'd own his first Corvette, a black 1999 C5 Coupe. In contrast, Deanna first drove a burgundy ‘94 C4 Coupe back in her early 20’s, but she's never owned a Corvette for herself. That all changed when her and Tim bought that black C5, which they subsequently traded in for a silver 2001 C5 Z06 two years later. Not long after that, as if guided by fate, an accidental click on a link in a Corvette forum led them to a site they’d never been on before. When the home page opened, they couldn't believe their eyes: A silver 2006 C6 Z06, their dream car, staring right back at them with the words "FOR SALE" stenciled along the bottom of the picture. Three days later, they parked it in front of a restaurant and celebrated with friends.

For some, owning a Corvette is an ego-boosting status symbol, and understandably so, but for Tim and Deanna it goes so much deeper than that. They genuinely love the car for its own sake and enjoy sharing that passion with others. "We haven't made very many modifications," Tim says, "the Z06 doesn't need any, it's a magnificent machine." Indeed it is; from front to back, top to bottom and inside out, this car is the epitome of quality and performance. From the moment you sit in the racing-inspired seats, you're captivated by the impeccable fit and finish throughout the cabin - and then you start the engine. It rumbles to life in a fraction of a second and your heart rate peaks with every blip the throttle. There are 505 horses sitting under the hood of this car, and Tim likes to take them all out for a little run whenever he can… just to keep ‘em in shape.

There's no better way to enjoy your passions than to share them with people who feel the same way, and that's exactly what the Cipriani's have found in the Diablo Valley Corvettes club in Concord, California. Established in 1970, the club is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary with a full calendar of events and activities. They take regular scenic excursions up and down the California coast and trips to places like Oregon's Rogue River. They go on wine runs, holiday runs, local runs and charity runs , even the occasional AutoCross racing event, all as a way to express their common appreciation for the same passion.

Having already owned three Corvettes in the last 10 years, I asked both of them if this one was their last or might they be thinking about trading up sometime in the future? “We love this car but we'll never say ‘never’," Tim responds. "If the right opportunity presents itself, we may not be able to say ‘no’.” That sentiment isn't hard to understand; one taste of this engineering masterpiece and your appetite will beg for more. Deanna says, "We don't need a four-seater car anymore, so as long as they keep making Corvettes we’ll keep buying ‘em!”

Who could blame them?

By Kenneth Reilley

Kenneth is a freelance writer.