Members of the Discovery Bay Corvette Club are revving up their engines once again, spinning their wheels and showing off their 1953 to 2008 hoods to help those in need.

Their 10th car show will be held Aug. 19 at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club parking lot, where over 30 Northern California corvette clubs will compete for points in various classes.

Over the years, the club has generously donated to St. Anne Church, Discovery Bay Elementary, Excelsior Middle School, Hospice of the East Bay, Brentwood Boy Scouts, Shepherd's Gate, seniors at the Brentwood Community Center, Delta Community Presbyterian Church and La Paloma High School.

Admission is free, but there will be plenty of opportunity to donate or spend cash at the food and merchandise vendors, restaurants and shops at the boardwalk. The event will also feature a raffle.

"The money we raise goes into our club coffers. At the end of the year we have a committee of four or five who select several local charities to donate to, including four $200 scholarships to Liberty High School students," said club Vice President Lee Doty.

Doty recently sold his 1996 Collector Edition corvette and awaits his new 2008 set of wheels, which he won't see in time for the car show. With monthly trips to places like Monterey, Petaluma, Valley Ford, Tracy - even conventions in Reno - why stay home?

"I love the car itself, its sporty look, the 360 horsepower," said Doty. "I try to keep my foot off the gas!"

Established in 1989, the Discovery Bay club actively supports and is a member of the Western States Corvette Council (WSCC), a governing body that oversees car shows, rallies, autocrosses and social events, establishes and supports uniform ground rules and competition codes for events, and recognizes top competitors through year-end awards.

The Discovery Bay club was honored to host the WSCC's annual convention last month in Reno, Nev., an event featuring a '50s theme.

"It was very special," said Elaine Stark, president. "This is our second year hosting this event. Last year it was in Laughlin, Nevada. We have some very bright people in our corvette club that did a wonderful job."

Stark said this is the busiest time of year for all the clubs: "There's at least two car shows every weekend throughout Northern California, a total of 18 to 20 shows during the summer months."

Annual membership dues are $135, but for Stark, who admits that she and her husband Charlie are not serious car showers anymore, the brunch runs are worth it all.

"We have one coming up on August 26, where we were invited by the Rio Vista Corvette Club to join them in Alameda to tour the USS Hornet," she said. "Then we'll go for brunch afterward. It's fun."

She's also excited about the car show this Sunday.

"Bayside Bar & Grill will be barbecuing, and new this year will be patio boats taking people out in the bay," said Stark. "We will have a main raffle prize worth $750, where a

chef from Rio Vista will come to the winner's house and make them a dinner for four."

Other raffle prizes include a $250 gift certificate from Baron's Jewelers, and a silent auction running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"This is our big money-making event of the year that enables us to make donations to local charities," said Stark.

For more information, call 634-0503 or e-mail yelatoy@sbcglobal.net.