1966 C2 Corvette Stingray
Here’s Tom driving his ’66 Corvette at Margaritaville Lake Resort in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.
Here’s a fun automotive photography story about a 1966 C2 Corvette Stingray that I photographed for the 2025 May/June issue of LO PROFILE Magazine.
Back in April of 2024, I attended the Lake of the Ozarks Corvette Club’s “Corvettes in Paradise” Show held in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. This was the second year in a row that I was there to showcase our Light Painting Photography.
This image pretty much says it all!
In addition to the Corvette Show, I created two beautiful light painting projects while I was there as well (more on those shortly). I also had the pleasure of photographing this beautiful 1966 C2 Corvette Stingray as part of a feature story for LO PROFILE Magazine.
One of the Corvette’s many detailed images that I created for Lo Profile.
Round Two
This was my second time as a photographer for LO PROFILE. Back in 2023, I had the honor of photographing Tom & Karen Schneider’s 2012 beautiful Carlisle Blue Corvette Grand Sport Convertible for a feature story in the publication. Here’s the link to that story.
Here’s Tom & Karen with their beauty of a Corvette! This image was part of their story in Lo Profile Magazine in 2024.
Just like the Schneider’s the year before, Tom Messina and his Tuxedo Black 1966 C2 Corvette Stingray were selected by L•O PROFILE to receive “The Corvette Character and Commitment Award” in 2024!
Tom received this honor in no small part due to both him and his Corvette surviving unscathed after a reckless semi-truck ran him off the road on his way to Lake of the Ozarks for the show!
Here’s Tom, and his stash of trophies and awards, as well as his cool Tuxedo Black 1966 Corvette Stingray!
Missy Pinkel is L•O PROFILE’s owner and publisher. Missy personally selects the award recipient at each year’s show. In Missy’s words, “The Profile Trophy is awarded to a participant who displays not only a beautiful Corvette but more importantly, a commitment to the camaraderie of the competition and the values of good character in all facets of his or her life.” She added, “Whether it be overcoming challenges or seeking goodwill toward others, Tom was a wonderful choice for last year’s award.”
Keeping It A Secret
Just as in 2023, I had to keep the photographs under wraps for a whole year. They were not going to publish Tom’s story until the May/June 2025 issue (now). I couldn’t even share any of the images with Tom! I’m sure that probably drove him crazy!
There goes, Tom! He’s taking his 1966 Corvette Stingray out for a drive near Lake of the Ozarks.
Now that Tom’s story is in print, I can show the images. So, I thought it would be fun to share the story from the photographer’s perspective as well. Of course, that would be me!
The nice interior of Tom’s ’66 Stingray.
The 2024 “Corvettes in Paradise”
As mentioned earlier, while on that trip, I ended up light painting two beautiful Corvettes. Karl’s stunning 1958 black and silver C1 Corvette, and a beautiful 2023 70th Anniversary Z06 for Mike and Sandy.
Karl’s ’58 C1 Corvette light paintings were created with a limestone backdrop. Not only did we create a light painting of the entire car, but we did an interior light-painted photograph as well. What a cool-looking classic Corvette!
Karls’ beautiful one-of-a-kind light painting of his black and silver 1958 C1 Corvette.
Mike and Sandy’s wonderful Corvette was light-painted at a truly picturesque location overlooking Lake of the Ozarks. Not only was the location stunning but there was an added “extra” at this spot. In one of the main light paintings, the UFO from the Hollywood blockbuster movie “Men In Black” was on the scene as well! Too cool!
The flying saucer from the movie “Men In Black” makes a cameo in this C8 Corvette light painting I created for Mike and Sandy! Pretty freakin’ cool!
Please click on the links below for the full stories about each project:
Light Painting a Beautiful 1958 C1 Corvette
A Cool 2023 70th Anniversary Z06 Light Painting
Light Painting a 2023 Corvette Z06 70th Anniversary Edition
Back to Tom’s 1966 C2 Corvette Stingray!
The location that I came up with for his Tom’s magazine photoshoot was at the scenic Margaritaville Lake Resort right there in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.
The classic Corvette hood ornament.
It was fitting that we created the images there. After all, that’s where the Lake of the Ozarks Corvette Club’s Show was held! The resort had just repaved all of the roads so they looked great! That, and the scenery there made for an ideal location.
Here’s what’s under the hood on Tom’s 1966 Corvette.
The photoshoot turned out so well that Missy asked me to create the images for this year’s winner. And, I have already! You’ll have to wait until the spring of 2026 to see those images!
1966 C2 Corvette Stingray – The Music Video
I’ve put together a fun little music video with the images that I created for L•O PROFILE Magazine of Tom’s cool 1966 C2 Corvette Stingray. The link to it on our YouTube channel is below.
More About L•O PROFILE Magazine
Here’s the issue’s cover image, along with the “Contributing Photographer’s” page. The full story (below) was published in the 2025 May/June issue.
The cover of the 2025 May/June issue.
Hey, that’s me on the “Contributing Photographers Page”!
L•O PROFILE is the best magazine that covers living, entertainment, fashion, health, beauty, and big business at the world-renowned Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. From cover to cover, L•O PROFILE shares the current trends and tastes with its readers and informs them on the hot topics that are current today.
Published bi-monthly, it boasts phenomenal content, and great advertisers, that make it an iconic coffee table book. L•O PROFILE is the number one magazine in the central United States.
The first two-page spread about Tom and his Corvette in the May/June issue of Lo Profile Magazine.
The second two-page spread features the story about Tom’s “Corvette Character and Commitment Award”.
Tom’s final two-page spread in the May/June issue of Lo Profile Magazine.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to read our story! – M&J