Vette Videos: “The King” Is Back! The 2008 “Elvis Burning Love” Z06 Corvette TV Ad

Dateline: 8.11.11
The C6 Z06 is definitely a HUNK’A, HUNK’A BURN’N LOVE

Elvis Presley’s death on August 16, 1977 touched America like no other. What was initially a heartbreak for the man that took rock’n roll mainstream, has turned into an annual celebration of one man’s music that continues to touch the hearts of millions. Memphis is currently gearing up for Elvis Week, an organic event that began as a solemn remembrance that is now a happy time for visitors from around the world. it is truly a unique American experience.

In the world of high performance cars, the Corvette is very much like Elvis Presley – born of humble beginnings, big, flamboyant, loud, with a strong personality, an American original, often imitated, and never duplicated. The expression, “The King is Back” was PERFECT for the C6 Z06 Corvette. While the C5 Z06 is a fantastic car, the C6 Z06 took the monicker to a whole new and higher level of performance. With an extra 100-horsepower from the LS7 engine and a refined suspension, the C6 Z06 caught even seasoned high performance Corvette owners short.  One man I know that has had many Corvettes over the years told me that Chevrolet should require high performance driving school training with this car. Skeets and others said the same thing and Chevrolet listened.

The commercial begs the question, “Was Elvis a Corvette fan and did he own any Vettes?”  The short answer is, no and yes – kind of. Continue reading “Vette Videos: “The King” Is Back! The 2008 “Elvis Burning Love” Z06 Corvette TV Ad”

Vette Videos: Track to Street – Corvette Racing Series – The FULL Series

Dateline: 8.9.11
Here’s the latest episode of “Track to Street: Corvette Racing Series.” PLUS!!! All 11 previous episodes. Time to catch up!

According to Chronology of Chevrolet Corvette website, it was sometime in 1997 that the Corvette Racing Team began developing the C5-R race car, based on a production C5 Corvette. C5-R chassis testing began in November ‘97 with the first completed C5-R race car ready in early ‘98. After nearly a year of testing and development, the C5-R’s first competition was at Daytona International Speedway on January 10, 1999. After 24 hours of competition, the C5-Rs came in 2nd and 12th in the GT2 class. Not too shabby for an all-new race car and team.

1999 was a tough year with the C5-R always contenders but not taking a first place win. The best finishes were 2nd place at the Daytona 24 hours race in January and the Laguna Seca 2 hour and 45-minute race in October. The team scooped up their first 1st place win on September 2, 2000 at Texas Motor Speedway in the ALMS series GTS class. Later that month, the team scored their second 1st place win at the 10 hours at Road Atlanta.

In the world of sports car racing, if you win at Daytona, a lot of people will notice. But if you win at Le Mans, EVERYONE sees and remembers! 2001 was the C5-R team’s break out year. Not only did they take 1st place in 8 out of 10 races, but they won 1st AND second place at Le Mans. Since 2001 the C5-R and C6.R Corvette teams have won 1st place in their class at Le Mans seven times and 2nd place at Le Mans seven times.

While that’s not “domination” (something you really DON’T want, because the sanctioning body will put heavy restrictions on your car) it does mean that Corvettes are ALWAYS a force to be reckoned with. The old days of Corvettes being considered as just unsophisticated “fast trucks” are OVER! But how did we get here? It’s the result of a factory-backed, long range R&D group team effort. This is what Chevrolet and GM should have done from the beginning, instead of cow tailing to the 1957 AMA ban on American auto manufacturer’s participation in auto racing.

So, what’s it like inside the C6.R Corvette Racing team? The series “Track to Street: Corvette Racing Series” regularly serves up short, tasty video dishes of behind the scenes action in the C6.R Corvette camp. The latest, “Episode 12” is at the top of this post. If you missed the previous 11 episodes, we’ve included 1 through 11 below for your enjoyment. Continue reading “Vette Videos: Track to Street – Corvette Racing Series – The FULL Series”

Tough Break For Corvette Racing Team at ALMS Mid-Ohio Race

Dateline: 8.8.11
Excellent Car, Excellent Drivers, Excellent Team, BAD WEATHER!

Photo credit - MotorSport.com

 

Summertime weather in America is predictably unpredictable. The August 6, 2011 ALMS Mid-Ohio race started out under sunny summer weather. But 2-1/2 hours later, the heavens opened up and drenched the track snatching a victory from the Corvette Racing team after leading the GT class for the first two hours of the two-hour and 45-minute race with the No. 4 C6.R Corvette. When the wet checkered flag came down, the No. 4 Corvette came in 2nd place, with the No. 3 Corvette coming is 6th place. A very tough break for the seasoned C6.R team, but “that’s racing.”

Two hours into the race, as the storm clouds were gathering, the No. 4 Corvette pitted for rain tires. After an excellent pit Gavin was in striking distance of first place – then the rain arrived. Here’s how Oliver Gaven described his rain experiences on the Ohio track, which is notoriously bad in the rain.

C6.R Corvette Racing team driver, Oliver Gavin

“Those last four or five laps were absolutely insane,” Gavin said. “I was driving down the straight with the steering wheel at full opposite lock, with the car just gliding and aquaplaning. Somehow my car straightened up and Pat Long’s car went off into a gravel trap. When Wolf Henzler drove by me, I had no answer for him; he certainly had a good rain setup. I was relieved when they brought out the red flag because it was really tough. “

Racing “rain tires” are only marginally better that the dry slicks that are normally used. It’s hard to imagine what it must be like to be driving a lightweight, high-powered, race car in the wet. DEFINITELY not for the faint of heart. For full details of the race, CLICK HERE.

http://www.corvetteracing.com/history/2011releases/midohio/midohio3.shtml

On the up side, for the second race in a row, the Corvette Racing Team won the Michelin Green X Challenge as the fastest, cleanest, and most efficient entry in the GT class. This speaks volumes for the Corvette Racing Team. WAY TO GO, guys! Continue reading “Tough Break For Corvette Racing Team at ALMS Mid-Ohio Race”

SCORCHING 2012 Z06 Centennial Edition Corvette Video Road Test – WOW!!!

Dateline: 8.2.11
WANNA take a RIDE in a SMOKIN HOT 2012 Centennial Edition Z06 Corvette???

The delicious Centennial Edition option is available on all 2012 Corvettes.

Looking at pictures of hot Vettes is great, but there’s nothing better than seeing them in action, or better yet, behind the wheel! The new Z07 performance package for Z06 and ZR1 Corvettes helps the cars squeeze more performance without any additional horsepower. BRAVO Corvette team!

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then this video must be worth a million. Enjoy and pass this on to your Corvette pals!

The Centennial Edition (code ZLC) will be available on all 2012 Corvettes and is arguably the juiciest special edition Corvette offer to date. Even though the basic package is the same, between the six Corvette variants (base Coupe, base Convertible. Grand Sport Coupe, Grand Sport Convertible, Z06, and ZR1), plus the variables of trim and options, there will be lots unique Centennial Edition Corvettes. “Collectibility” will be out the window, but there will be plenty of VERY nice ‘12 Corvettes. For the full rundown on the 2012 Centennial Edition option, CLICK HERE.

And here’s the official Chevrolet 2012 Centennial Corvette video… Continue reading “SCORCHING 2012 Z06 Centennial Edition Corvette Video Road Test – WOW!!!”

Corvette Wheels Pt 3 of 3 – 1997 to 2009

Dateline: 7.19.11
A Historic Look Back at the Wheels that Vettes Ride On!

After much anticipation, the all-new C5 Corvette was released as a 1997 model. The new design was truly a “modern” Corvette. However, many of the basic components can be traced all the way back to the ‘57 “Q-Corvette” proposal. Yes, forty years before, Zora Arkus-Duntov was thinking about advanced hardware that included and all-aluminum, fuel-injected engine, an aluminum-case transaxle, inboard-mounted rear drum brakes to reduce unsprung mass, a lightweight pan chassis similar to the 356 Porsche, and four-wheel independent suspension. Fast forward forty years and you have the C5 Corvette. Lightweight alloy wheels eliminated the need for the inboard-mounted rear brakes and the new hydroformed frame rails replaced the pan body structure. Other than those details, body styling, and a lot of computerized components, the new C5 Corvette was the realization of the ‘57 Q-Corvette proposal.


1997 – 1999 Wheel

As tire and wheel size grew to handle increased horsepower, it was now essential that the wheels be as light as possible for a production car. Additional unsprung mass from larger wheels and tires is the kiss of death for improved handling. The new C5 was riding on 17” x 8.5” front wheels and 18” x 9.5” rear wheels. In comparison, the ‘96 C4 Corvette Continue reading “Corvette Wheels Pt 3 of 3 – 1997 to 2009”

Corvette Timeline Tales: Car Window Sticker Requirement Passed into Law, July 7, 1958

Dateline: 7.8.11

Happy Birthday to an Essential Part of Your Corvette’s History!

To see the larger version of this classic 1958 Corvette MSRP window sticker, click the image.

Fifty three years ago, on July 7, 1958 a federal law was passed requiring car makers to put window stickers on all new cars. New car window stickers have been around for so long, I thought that they’d been around since the beginning. Actually, I never really thought, “Gee, I wonder when window stickers began?”

Of course, back in ‘58 no one probably ever thought that the factory window sticker would one day be an important part of the documentation of cars. Of course, it’s a pretty good guess that Continue reading “Corvette Timeline Tales: Car Window Sticker Requirement Passed into Law, July 7, 1958”

Cool New 2012 Centennial Corvette Pull-Out Ad

Dateline: 6.30.11

DNA of a Supercar – Chevy shows off their Z06 & ZR1 all-aluminum frame.

Click the images to see the REALLY BIG version.

The August 2011 issue of Motor Trend Magazine arrived in my mailbox today with a special treat from Chevrolet. Starting on page 35, there’s a 6-page, fold-out, tear-out, double-sided ad for the 2012 Corvette Z06 Centennial Edition Corvette. You are first greeted with a passenger side front 3/4 view of the latest Special Edition Corvette at speed on a lonely road.

The flip side shows Corvette fans a view of the Z06 that we don’t get to see very often… Continue reading “Cool New 2012 Centennial Corvette Pull-Out Ad”

We’re Waiting For the 2013 60th Anniversary Corvette

Will there be a 2013 60th Anniversary Corvette? The odds are, YES!

Be sure to CAST YOUR VOTE at the bottom of this post. Let us know what you think
Plus, there’s a slide show of past Anniversary Edition Corvettes!

Now that it’s “official” that the C7 Corvette will be a 2014 model, that means that the final C6 will be a 2013, which opens up the very real possibility of at least one definite special edition Corvette and possibly another. (What might that be? Stay tuned!)

Beginning with the ‘07 Ron Fellows Z06 Special, Chevrolet has been on a roll, offering six Special Edition Corvettes between 2007 and 2011. “Anniversary” Corvettes started in 1978 with the Silver Anniversary paint option to commemorate the Corvette’s 25th year. To date we have seen four unique anniversary specials:

1. 1978 Silver Anniversary paint option, for $399.

2. 1988 35th Anniversary package, for $4,795.

3. 1993 40th Anniversary package, for $1,455.

4. 2003 50th Anniversary package, for $5,000.

It’s highly unlikely that Chevrolet is going to let two coinciding Corvette milestones go without some kind of celebration. So what would a 60th Anniversary Corvette look like and how would it be equipped? Obviously, we won’t know until Chevrolet wants us to know. But in the mean time, I thought it would be fun to do some speculation. Continue reading “We’re Waiting For the 2013 60th Anniversary Corvette”