In the summer of 2001, a small group of Corvette owners in and around the Hampton Roads area known as the "Virginia Ratpack" began to meet at various restaurant locations for lunch and conversation.  The Virginia Ratpack was an "unofficial" club of Corvette owners that came to know each other as a result of the Corvette Forum website.  The Ratpack would pick a different location every few months where members would meet in their Corvettes.  After a long and cold winter in late 2001, many Ratpack members could not wait to kick off the "Corvette season" with an early Spring gathering.  The Hooters restaurant at Waterside Marketplace in downtown Norfolk, Virginia was chosen as the first spot to meet.

In early 2002, nine Corvette owners rolled into the parking area along Waterside Drive to dine at Hooters in Waterside.  Little did this group know that they were starting such a tradition.  What began in 2002 with nine Corvettes grew to 26 cars the following year.  By 2005 the number of Corvettes at Waterside for the annual gathering was up to approximately 45.  With the growth of such an event, by 2006 the City of Norfolk stepped in and said that we must have better organization of our gathering and permits must be secured.

Ratpack members decided at this point to use the organizing of the event to create a fundraiser for a local charity.  Registration forms were created and net proceeds for the event were donated to "Relay for Life".  The popularity of this event has continued to grow over the years and by 2007 the organizing of the event was taken over by the Beachcombers Corvette Club.  In 2009, the annual Vettes at Waterside event drew over 120 Corvettes from three states.  What began as an informal gathering of nine cars has grown into an annual tradition with over 120 cars parked along the Elizabeth River in downtown Norfolk each Spring.

The Vettes at Waterside event has been able to raise approximately $3000 annually for Relay for Life from this Corvette gathering.