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Local Safety Research Center Hosts Smashing 'Crash Mixer' By Jay Crawford
STANARDSVILLE (December 2005) - Approximately 75 members of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce and their guests enjoyed a "Holiday Mixer" at The Lafayette Hotel last Wednesday. QUINQUE (November 2005) - The first mixer of the reorganized Greene County Chamber of Commerce was a smashing success last Thursday, when approximately 50 Chamber members and their guests visited the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Vehicle Research Center (VRC). Those participating in the event were treated to a tour of the Greene County facility, a viewing of a 40 miles-per-hour crash test of a 2006 Lexus, and a meal catered by the Blue Ridge Café. The mixer was underwritten by the Rappahannock Electric Commission and Roto Rooter. Visitors also were given information packets that included three issues of the Institute's "Status Report" magazine, a booklet on the "10 Years of Success" at the Institute, a booklet of issues facing today's drivers, including such topics as cell phone usage, alcohol abuse and speeding, and many other informative pamphlets.
Deeper inside the plant are other show places featuring results from specific crash tests - as well as the results from the automobile industry - and areas where vehicle seats are tested (on a crash simulation sled) and crash test dummies are calibrated. In the back of the plant, at the intersection of three long runways, is the 21,600-square-foot crash testing room, in which up to two cars may be crashed per week. Throughout the plant, there are large displays about the many principles of vehicle safety, and, in the rear of the facility, there is a 1,000-foot outdoor track that is used in dry, wet and icy conditions to test and demonstrate the effects of electronic stability control. Chamber of Commerce social events coordinator Marianne Shepard, who arrived at the VRC dressed as a crash test dummy, said during the event that she was pleased with the turnout, and other Chamber officials said they were eager to see increased participation as the Chamber continues to rebuild. The next social planned by the Chamber is a holiday mixer, which will be held at the Lafayette Inn in Stanardsville. LuckStone and Century 21 already have agreed to help underwrite the holiday social. Additional details will be available after the Chamber's November meeting. A few participants in the "Crash Mixer" were non-members of the Chamber, and Ruth Parsons, head of the Chamber's membership committee, said that businesses or organizations interested in joining the Greene County Chamber of Commerce could contact her by telephone at 245-1536 or by e-mail at rparsons@investdavenport.com for additional information. |
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As soon as the Chamber group walked through the door, it was obvious that the VRC, which opened in 1992, is anything but ordinary. The lobby is much like an automobile showroom, but the automobile on display is crashed and crumpled.