National, Regional & Local Chapter News

After 5 years of outstanding volunteer service and leadership, Felicia Smith has decided to step down as OKC Chapter Director.  Felicia & Aaron will both remain as active members of the Cadillac V-Club. I am excited to announce Chris Atkinson as the new OKC Chapter Director effective as of January 1.  Chris has been an active member of the Cadillac V-Club since October of 2021.

Chris says that from the time he was young he loved anything with an engine. He grew up with his Grandpa working on semi trucks and always having GM vehicles around. He enjoys anything that can be driven or ridden from first 600cc sport bike at 18 to the logical next step at 20 going to a 1300cc Hayabusa. Chris moved on from riding street bikes and now focuses on cars. He has a mix of vehicles, with his wife Misty owning a 2004 Cosmos Purple GTO on which Chris installed his LSA blower and Brembo brakes. His daughter Claire is in love with VW’s and currently drives a bright yellow 2000 VW Beetle while his son Warren (almost 13) has a 2004 Yellow Jacket GTO. Chris still owns first vehicle, a 1970 C10 pickup and some other interesting vehicles like a 1939 Pontiac Silver Streak that was the last car his dad built before he passed.

Professionally, Chris works for Bavius Technologies, a German high speed 5 axis machine tool builder, mainly used by aerospace to produce large aluminum structures. He has worked in service for them for 13 years and is currently in the process of transitioning to a Service Manager position.

Chris had always wanted to own a CTS-V station wagon and in 2020 got the opportunity to buy one. Shortly after acquiring the V-Wagon, he met a group of Rocky Mountain Race Week cars passing through his hometown and knew that was his future with the car. Chris heavily modified his V-Wagon and has competed successfully in numerous drag racing events. In fact, Chris won the V8 Pro Street class at the 2023 Cadillac V-Racing Top Gun Invitational event at Texas Motorplex.

Ownership of the V-Wagon and membership in the V-Club has led Chris to build close relationships with numerous members. As such, when Chris learned that Felicia had decided to "pass the torch", Chris felt led to volunteer to carry on the momentum established by Felicia who volunteered to serve in the leadership role back in 2020.  He is looking forward to the serving in the Operational Leadership Team position, planning events and recruiting new members and local sponsors.

Attached below is a photo of Chris's CTS-V Wagon. 

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We are pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce Grout as the newest member of our Operational Leadership Team (OLT).  Bruce will serve as Director of the South Florida (SOFLO) Chapter which will includes Miami/Fort Lauderdale and the Gold Coast area of Florida.  He resides in Jupiter, Florida and has been an active member of the Cadillac V-Club since March of 2023.  Bruce brings a unique blend of leadership, track experience, and passion to this role.

Bruce purchased his 1st car at age 15 (even though he did not yet have a driver's license) which was a yellow 1970 Mustang fastback. That was his first, and last Ford product! He has been a loyal GM customer from that point forward.

In his 20's, Bruce launched an automotive and marine repair shop that grew into a successful business. Corvettes and muscle cars were his primary market segment. A dozen years later after dreading another Northeast cold winter he decided to sell the business and move to where many people take vacation, sunny South Florida!

The boating bug hit him hard as a new resident of South Florida and he has been a successful yacht Broker for decades with many satisfied clients. During his time  in South Florida, Bruce has campaigned a National Offshore catamaran racing team winning many races and championships. After retiring from boat racing (and never going swimming) he turned to road racing, which he considers one of his better life decisions. Racing mostly Corvettes new and old, he captured numerous wins, and 3 championships in his competition class.

The Cadillac "V" obsession hit Bruce in 2011 when he purchased his first CTS-V. He was hooked! Bruce has owned a several V's over the years. In 2019 he engaged Callaway Cars to build a custom supercharged and lowered Escalade which he still drives most every day.

In 2023, Bruce purchased his first Blackwing, a rift metallic CT5-V Blackwing with sky cool grey interior. He loved that car but later purchased a 2024 CT4-V Blackwing Arrival Edition which he subsequently traded for a deep space metallic 2026 CT5-V Blackwing (he missed owning a V8 and he really liked the updates and new larger dash). Bruce is looking forward to getting some miles on his Blackwing and then taking it to Sebring and Daytona to fully exercise the engine and brakes!

Attached below is a photo of Bruce's CT5-V Blackwing.

Our 2025 Newsletter to provide a recap of Cadillac V-Club activities and events from the past 12 months is now available.

Click the above image to view the online version of our Newsletter which also includes a link in the top right-hand corner to a PDF version that is downloadable and printable for offline viewing. 

To scroll this this online version, use your mouse to click on the bottom right hand corner of the "flip book".  You can also view the Newsletter in full screen mode.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Hedden as our newest member of the Management Operational Leadership Team.  Andrew will serve as our Membership Services Director.  He resides in Austin, Texas which is now the headquarters of the Cadillac V-Club.  Andrew brings a unique blend of technical leadership, non-profit experience, and automotive passion to this role.

Andrew most recently served as a Software Engineering Manager focusing on reliability and resiliency for a global leader in the job search marketplace. Prior to that, he spent 10 years working for a leading software provider to the NGO and non-profit space. If you have ever participated in a run, walk, or bike-based fundraiser, there is a good chance a system Andrew worked on processed those donations.

Andrew's journey with Cadillac began with a 2004 CTS-V purchased on impulse from Facebook Marketplace. Drawn to the sharp lines that gave the impression of "a brute in a business suit," he was immediately captivated by the performance and refinement of the V-Series sedans. Though the first CTS-V proved to be a basket case of issues, Andrew ensured it found a good home with a car enthusiast at a dealership parts department where it continues as a semi-daily driver, keeping another original CTS-V on the road.

The love for V-Series performance never wavered. After months of searching, Andrew found a 2024 20th Anniversary Edition CT5-V Blackwing in Raven Black at a dealership in Denver. The car had been sold back to the dealer with just a few hundred miles on the odometer. According to Andrew, "The wait for it to be shipped to Texas felt like the longest part of the process." The Blackwing remains stock for now, a testament to the exceptional engineering that comes from the factory.

Andrew has been a member of the Cadillac V-Club for just over a year and commented, "I am looking forward to being of service to our membership to help every member recognize and take advantage of the benefits we offer."  We are excited to have Andrew leading our member services efforts and are confident his dedication will help strengthen our community and maximize the value members receive from their V-Club membership.

Andrew will be managing all aspects of the prospective member review & approval process, membership renewals, retention and attrition analysis.  He will also be evaluating and implementing new standard operating procedures to improve our overall membership services and support efficiency through the automation of manual tasks.  

Attached below is a photo of Andrew's CT5-V Blackwing. 

We are excited to announce the official launch of the Charleston Chapter of the Cadillac V-Club.  Based in Charleston, South Carolina this will be our 22nd local chapter.  Brian Rheault has been appointed as the Chapter Director. Many people on Instagram will recognize Brian by his Instagram name "RooKie55".  Brian will now also be managing the Charleston Local Chapter Facebook Group which is now "live".  Brian is a USAF Veteran, joined the United States Air Force in 2004 and spent 10 years on active duty as an AMMO Troup with multiple deployments. He is currently a Construction Project Manager for the County where he resides and has been married to Chelsea since April, 2014. They have one daughter, Gracie who is 8yrs old. Brian has always been a car fanatic which started with a Bright Red 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GT coupe that he spent countless hours (and lots of money) with a goal to build the loudest stereo possible. From there, it spiraled into customization such as air ride suspension, custom wheels, and truly making the cars he owns a representation of him. Brian's 2019 Crystal White Tri-Coat CTS-V is his first Cadillac V-Series car and according to Brian, "he loves it"!  He purchased the vehicle in February of 2023 with just 12,100 miles on the odometer. It spent the first 4,500 miles of its life as a track car for V-Academy at pring Mountain so if you attended as a student in September of 2021 and drove a Crystal White Tricoat CTS-V, there is a good chance it was Brian's V! He has modified his CTS-V with loads of carbon fiber, subtle engine mods, tuned on an E-85 blend, AirLift suspension, custom interior ambient lighting, LowGlow underflow lighting, teal accents, and more. Brian commented "I am excited and honored to be the founding chapter director of the new Charleston, SC chapter and I am looking forward to planning and scheduling activities and events for our members."  Brian will be hosting his first official event in early December so if you are a member of the Charleston Chapter, watch your email inbox for an invitation to RSVP register!" With the launch of this new local chapter, all Cadillac V-Club regional members who reside within 150 miles of Charleston have been upgraded to a local chapter level membership at no additional cost for the duration of their current term of membership. Photo of Brian's CTS-V.

The Cadillac V-Club is hosting its annual Cadillac Racing Team experience event at the Circuit of Americas in Austin, Texas this coming weekend.  This will be our 2nd WEC event at CoTA where 50 members will be treated to a VIP experience that includes VIP parking, parade laps, 2 day suite access and paddock/pit access.  Fifty members purchased a discounted ticket package that was subsidized as a benefit of membership in the V-Club. For more details, click here.

Following the dominating performance in the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) campaign in São Paulo, Brazil, the twin Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.Rs head to Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Central Texas with intentions of lassoing a third consecutive pole and repeating the dual podium celebration.  

“Obviously, the team is on a complete high from the 1-2 in Brazil, so we're hoping for more good things,” said Bamber, who has two victories at COTA (IMSA GTLM class in 2016 and WEC LMP1 in 2017). “And I think we've just got to keep pestering that top five with both cars and then chipping away. Closing that gap is going to be tough. But if we're always in the top five and we're always there, we know we're going to be closing in points and scoring big points.”

Last year, in the WEC’s return to the circuit for the first time since 2020 when Nato co-drove to the overall victory, Cadillac Racing’s lone Hypercar entry driven by Bamber and Lynn qualified third and finished a season-high fourth.

Incentives abound entering the Lone Star Le Mans this weekend at the 5.513 km (3.426-mile), 20-turn circuit that’s a favorite amongst drivers and always delivers entertaining racing for spectators. With three events remaining, the six-hour race could be another springboard:

• Cadillac is a program-high second in the Manufacturers’ Championship, and has sliced the deficit to Ferrari from 107 to 55 points the past two races in moving up from fifth.
• The No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R roster of Alex Lynn, Norman Nato and Will Stevens is third in the Drivers’ Championship after their Brazil victory from pole – a scant 25 points behind second place and 37 points out of the top spot.
• The No. 12 entry, which is the only Hypercar to compete in Hyperpole in every race (Hyperpole2 at Le Mans) and has qualified in the top five in four of the five races (with poles at Le Mans and São Paulo), will aim to extend the streak.
• The No. 12 hybrid racecar has scored points in every race, including fifth, fourth and first the past three outings.
• The No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R, which recorded the runner-up finish in Brazil with Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais and Jenson Button behind the wheel, has advanced to Hyperpole in four of the five races and qualified second at Le Mans and São Paulo. They’ll look to move to the top step and add to the championship points total.

We have partnered with Dream Giveaway to help raise money for kids and veterans charities. Please check out their message below and with your donation you too can help support these very important causes with a chance of winning some very cool vehicles.

Enter to Win Two Amazing Cadillacs! Cadillac used to mean quiet, classy, and cushy. Then someone at GM had too much coffee and said, “What if we gave it a supercharged V8 instead?” Boom—CT5-V Blackwing with 668 horsepower. Then they looked at the Escalade and said, “Let’s make it faster than a sports car and give it a freezer.” Now you’ve got the Escalade V-Series, packing 682 horsepower, 22" wheels, and the audacity to be the fastest luxury SUV in the land. This giveaway? It’s not just next level—it’s next dimension. And all you need to do is enter. Bonus: your donation helps veterans and kids, so your good karma goes up right along with your octane level.

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The Cadillac V-Corral/Suite ticket packages sold out in less than 5 minutes today when they went on sale at 12:00 noon Eastern Time.  Several Cadillac V-Cub members where fortunate to purchase ticket packages before all available tickets were acquired.   Unfortunately, the number of ticket packages available is restricted by the size of the suites and this year the demand for tickets significantly exceeded availability.

The exclusive three-day Cadillac V-Performance Racing experience includes:

• One (1) on-site parking pass to the Cadillac V Performance Car Corral. Access limited to Cadillac vehicles only
• Two (2) three-day suite passes to the Cadillac V Performance Hospitality Suite with indoor/outdoor views of the entire circuit
• Exclusive opportunity to drive your Cadillac on the track at Daytona International Speedway
• Premium catered meals, snacks and beverages in the Cadillac V Performance Hospitality Suite
• Exclusive behind-the-scenes access with Cadillac Racing teams and drivers
• Meet and greet opportunities with Cadillac executives and V Performance engineers

For additional information on upcoming Cadillac V-Corral ticket package opportunities at IMSA events visit CadillacRacingVIP.com .

SOURCE: Danial Stalcup - Chapter Director

In this edition of Norcal Chapter Updates and Events:

• New Members!
• NorCal V-Club News!
• Upcoming V-Club events!
• Upcoming car enthusiast events!

New Members;
Everyone, let's welcome 3 new members to NorCal V-Club.

• Katie S: Katie is from Moraga and has an Electric Blue CT5-V Blackwing. I met her at a Thunderhill track day.  It was her first track day and she was really enjoying it.  Nice to see another owner taking their car to the track where the car really shines!  
• Derek J.: Derek is from Palo Alto and has a CT5-V Blackwing, I haven't met Derek yet but we hope to see you at the next event and get to know you.  
• Kevin R.: Kevin has had a CTS V-Sport and recently announced on the Facebook groups that he just upgraded to the CT5-V Blackwing which is every V-Sport owner's dream.  He lives in Fresno and I look forward to meeting him in person.  

News:

Member recognition:  I'd like to highlight our member Sha!  I referred Rudy (a felow Porsche friend) to Sha.  Rudy was looking for a powerful, manual trans sedan and had interest in the CT5-V Blackwing but couldn't find a dealer to let him drive one.  Sha let this stranger drive his car (probably like it was meant to be driven) and Rudy was sold!  Thanks to Sha's generosity and trust, we now have a likely future V-Club member as Rudy has ordered a CT5-V Blackwing!  Thanks Sha!

Member Sim Racing:

One of our recent events was sim racing at Drive Simulations in Concord.  Those who participated really had a great time, and our member Rich Rose had such a great time he joined a weekly racing league at Drive Simulations.  Rich captained Scuderia RKR, a 3 man team for a 6-week sim-racing league. Using state of the art simulators and cars from the GT World Challenge on Assetto Corsa Competizione, they competed at Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Mt. Panorama, Nurburgring, Suzuka; and Laguna Seca, CA. The three-man format gave each driver a practice/qualy/race against one driver from 5 other teams. RKR entered Laguna 15 points back and had a dominant night, going P4, P1* and P1* (*=fastest lap) for a huge points haul. Unfortunately, they finished 2 points shy in the end. But, second earned them $200 cash, $300 in vouchers and tons of great racing memories.

Rich said "It's not a game, it really is a simulation. If felt like we travelled the world and fought each other in exotic places. People were passionate, on and off the track. We built bonds, loved the competition, and signed up for the fall league. We took lots of wins, mourned a few losses, and had great comradery along the way. We expanded our driving skills, too. I highly recommend it!"

You too can join a racing league with Drive Simulations.  Visit Drive Simulations League and Drift Events

Speaking of simulators, member Philip Adams has been getting some quality parts to build his home sim and has really enjoyed the experience.  Using Assetto Corsa, just like Drive Simulations, Phil has designed his setup around his capable computer with a Fanatec CSL DD 8nm wheel and pedal setup.  If you would like to get in touch to get some advice from him, let me know and I'll get you in touch! Check out Phil's setup, he almost bought a dedicated seat but he's got something way cooler for his 2019 CTS-V coming:

V-Club Apparel:  Any members have interest in collaborating with the V-Club for some apparel design?  Maybe you have someone in the family?  If so, let me know and maybe you can help us create some awesome V-Club apparel.  

Upcoming V-Club Events:

• Don't miss the V-Club tech talk for Kook's Headers coming on October 12th at 5pm PDT.  You should have received an email.  Kook's headers are for the V8 cars but they will surely teach you something in the tech talk.  Just another benefit of being a V-Club member!
• Our Signature Wheel meet in Sacramento was unfortunately cancelled. It was just bad timing for everyone including myself.  We will make it happen, perhaps after the holidays.  
• Speaking of current times, I apologize but I've got a lot on my plate in my personal life and I'm not as involved as I'd like to be right now. However, any member is welcome to organize  a meet or drive and we can get it on the calendar. 
• I'd love to see a Mt. Hamilton/Mines Rd drive soon. I am unable to organize but if anyone wants to volunteer to lead this I would be happy to coordinate with you!
• ˆThe 2023 NorCal V-Club Holiday Banquet planning is in its early stages.  We will let you know as soon as we have confirmed a venue and date/time.  Thank you to all who participated in our survey.  Our budget is tight based on Bay Area standards so we are glad that so many are up for a mid-day banquet as this will help us get the most out of the budget.  

Upcoming Car Enthusiast Events:

Remember to email me if you plan to attend any car event and I'll help coordinate other members that are also interested.  Who knows, you may start a chain reaction and a big V-club turnout.  All track and autocross events can be accessed through www.motorsportreg.com.  Have an event not listed?  Share with me and I'll add it to the next newsletter.

As winter approaches, many car events dwindle down a bit so try to attend as many as possible!

Car Shows/Cars and Coffee:

• 10/15:  33rd annual All British Motor show at Blackhawk Museum.  Free to the public at 9am.  https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/all-british-motor-show-blackhawk-museum-mini-owners-of-america-san-francisc-463570
• 10/21:  Vette Magic 48 - Corvette Car Show and Gathering at Blackhawk Museum.  Looks to be free for spectators.  https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/vette-magic-48-all-corvette-car-show-blackhawk-plaza-northern-california-associ-032018

Track Days:

• 10/14-10/15: NASA at Sonoma Raceway.  Beginner groups with instructors available.  https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/nasa-california-northern-sonoma-raceway-hpde-4179
• 11/5:  Hooked on Driving Laguna Seca:  I am still planning to attend the November 5th Hooked on driving track event at Laguna Seca.  I don't know if any spots are available but I know many people going including V-Club member Steven Pound. 
• 11/19: SpeedSF at Sonoma Raceway.  Beginner groups available.  https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/11-19-sonoma-raceway-speedsf-com-832223

Autocross:

• 11/19: SpeedSF AutoX at Sonoma Raceway. This is great event as you don't have to work the course (the worst part of autox) however this group does not do timing, but it's a fun way to push your car limits safely and all you have to do is sign up and show up.  No special prep or supplies needed.  https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/auto-x-11-19-sonoma-raceway-speedsf-com-963179

Other:

• 11/6: Drive Simulations Drift School.  Rich Rose and I have both signed up for drift school at Drive Simulations.  The truth is that if you can drift well, you can also recover from a serious car upset.  This is my goal with attendance, to build my drift and recovery skills and then take it to the real drift pad one day to apply these skills in the real car.  They have many classes and we are attending November 6th.  Drive Simulations League and Drift Events
• 11/10-11/12: Velocity Invitational at Sonoma Raceway.  Cars, entertainment, legendary drivers and more.  This event also celebrates McLaren's 60th anniversary and there's lots of reasons to go!  https://velocityinvitational.com/