Corvette Racing Finishes Season at Laguna Seca with 1-2 FinishOliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta won the last battle and the war as Corvette Racing won it all in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). Gavin and Beretta scored a seventh win in eight races in their No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R and claimed the GT1 championship in the four-hour season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Corvette Racing notched its 45th victory and 31st 1-2 finish as Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell finished second in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R to the two Ollies. Gavin and Beretta won the title by a 19-point margin, 197-177, over their teammates.
"I didn't take any risks because my main focus was to finish the race, score points, and win the championship," said Beretta, who tallied his 24th career ALMS victory, tying the series record held by Fellows and O'Connell. "I was trying to be very calm and to wait for the right spots to overtake. I was thinking about all the effort the crew had made this year. They really deserved the championship, and I didn't want to make a mistake."
The victory capped another championship season for the Chevrolet factory team. Corvette Racing swept the GT1 manufacturers championship, the drivers championship, the team championship, and the pit crew championship-along with victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans.
"It was one of the best races of the season, seeing five GT1 cars all on the same lap and battling it out through the Corkscrew," said Gavin, who ran the fastest lap of the race en route to his 15th ALMS victory. "The Corvette C6.R has come out of the blocks flying, and today it was untouchable. I've been working for this for the last three years and finally won the drivers championship. I'm very pleased."
The GT1 race was a seesaw battle between the Corvettes, Aston Martins, Saleen, and Maserati. The Corvettes were first and second at the one-hour mark, but fourth and fifth after two hours as a four-car train of cars ran nose-to-tail around the 2.238-mile circuit. Fellows then passed four of his rivals to take the point at 2:18, including a spectacular pass of the No. 57 Aston Martin in the Corkscrew.
The move impressed the newly crowned champions. "The pass that Ron made was the lap of the year," said Gavin.
The turning point came on an exchange of pit stops at 3:07 into the race. The No. 3 Corvette came into the pits first, but a balky rear wheel slowed the stop and gave the advantage to its sister car.
"I saw I was ahead of the No. 3 car going down the pit lane and I thought, 'I must be in the lead!'" Gavin reported. "I knew we still had to get ahead of the Aston Martin, but they would have to make another pit stop. My car was fantastic, absolutely hooked up. Nobody could touch us."
"The 2005 season has been another milestone year for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing. It's a great way to celebrate Corvette's 50th year in international road racing and the 50th anniversary of the GM small-block V-8," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "Everyone at Chevrolet congratulates Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, and the entire Corvette Racing team on their outstanding performance today, and we salute Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell for their tremendous effort throughout the season.
"Corvette Racing again dominated the GT1 category and continued the winning tradition that began with company co-founder Louis Chevrolet," Peper continued. "There is no better example of the interaction between racing and production than the advanced technology that is shared by the championship-winning Corvette C6.R race car, and the award-winning Corvette Z06 supercar."
Restoration Station's Annual Fall Colors All-Corvette Road TourWhen the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to fall, it can only mean one thing in Springboro, Ohio: It's time for The Restoration Station's Annual Fall Colors All-Corvette Road Tour.
Jeff Bernhardt, owner of The Restoration Station, started this annual tradition in 1997 when he turned his full-time business from general automotive repair to classic Corvette repair and restoration. The first road tour was more like a caravan and consisted of 35 classic Corvettes that drove from his old business in Oakwood to his present location in Springboro. An open house with refreshments followed the tour and has been a tradition ever since.
This event has grown in popularity as well as numbers. Six generations made up the 128 Corvettes, with a few more joining en route and participating in the '05 edition of the tour. The 211/42-hour road tour takes its participants through some of the most beautiful scenery in southwest Ohio, as well as through a quaint town or two. There are a couple wrap-around sections where the first half of the tour passes the last half of the tour going the other way, so the Corvette wave can be done by the owners of the best sports car in the world. The participants drive beautiful, twisty, country roads, cross historic covered bridges, and visit a 180-foot-deep nature preserve gorge before returning to the shop for the traditional open house with refreshments.
The tour is free of charge and is open to anyone with a Corvette. Remember 3-2-1, as this event always happens on the third Sunday in October, leaves the shop at 2 p.m. with a gathering that starts at 1 p.m. Many out-of-state participants look forward to this event each year. Visit the Web site at www.restoration-station.com for more information.
Turning Passion to Profession with Debut at DaytonaRuss Oasis has always lived his life in the fast lane: building and selling an ad agency to a global company, and taking struggling radio stations and turning them into gold. On Jan. 28, Oasis, 55, makes his professional race car driving debut as he joins teammates Tommy Archer, Leighton Reese, and Dino Crescentini in Daytona Beach for the 24 Hours of Daytona, one of the most grueling races in the world.
A former disc jockey, Oasis founded one of the most successful advertising agencies in Florida, The Ad Team, specializing in automotive advertising. After selling the agency to Omnicom, he returned to radio, buying struggling radio stations in South Florida and Fort Wayne, Indiana, and turning them to gold.
Oasis has always had a passion for cars. He has raced three seasons with the amateur Viper Racing League, earning the league's '03 Rookie of the Year title. Oasis said he was surprised by an invitation from racing champ Tommy Archer to join him as part of the race's four-man team. He will be sponsored by The Hair Cuttery.
"Being in this race is the opportunity of a lifetime," said Oasis. "Cars and racing have always been a passion of mine. I started taking racing lessons in the '80s, and I am thrilled to fulfill one of my childhood dreams to race professionally."
Tommy Archer, the '04 Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Drivers' Championship winner, brings years of experience to the team. "My brother recommended we ask Russ to join us. I had instructed him when he first joined the Viper League and was familiar with his style," said Archer. "This race requires concentration and consistency and is more physically demanding than the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is a great chance for Russ to get his feet wet in the professional ranks."
Archer maintains the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona is more intense than Le Mans. "Le Mans runs on a longer track with 48 cars," said Archer. "At Daytona, with more cars and a shorter run, drivers are always passing or being passed. You have to be on your toes at all times."
With 60 to 80 cars moving at 180 mph or more and a cockpit that reaches 170 degrees, maintaining concentration, speed, and consistency is challenging. Archer said drivers will shift 500 to 600 times in an hour.
The team will start practicing on track the first week in January. For the big race, they will drive teammate Leighton Reese's C-6 Corvette. Oasis and his team will compete against the racing world's heavy hitters. Last year's participants included Academy Award-winning actor Paul Newman, racing legend Rusty Wallace, Bobby Labonte, Paul Tracy, '05 Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart, and up-and-coming driver Danica Patrick.
Editor's note: At press time, the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona had not yet run. I included this press release in the May issue due to the David versus Goliath angle of the story.
National Corvette Museum Has Big Plans for 2006The National Corvette Museum (NCM) is pleased to announce its '06 event schedule offering seven Corvette-specific events starting in April 2006, including well-recognized events, such as the Corvette Celebration held each Labor Day weekend and the exciting C5/C6 Bash held in April. The museum's event registration site will be regularly updated with specific details as they are finalized and can by viewed by visiting the Web site, www.corvettemuseum.com, or call (800) 53-VETTE for information.
* C5/C6 Birthday Bash - April 20-22* ZR-1/C4 Gathering - May 4-6* Corvette Forum Cruise-In - May 25-27* Z06 Fest - July 20-22* Corvette Celebration - August 31-Sept 3* R8C/Xperience Reunion - September 28-30* C3 Extravaganza - October 12-14
The first C5 Bash was held eight years ago and continues to be one of the biggest museum events each year. It has received the Kentucky Tourism Council's accolade of "One of Kentucky's Top Ten Festivals," and participants return year after year. As part of the event's grand finale, a winner will be drawn for an '06 build-your-own coupe/convertible from a limit of 2,006 tickets to be sold.
On May 4-6, the NCM welcomes back enthusiasts of the annual ZR-1/C4 Gathering for a weekend of seminars, special displays, drag racing, autocross, and much more. This year's event honors the 10th anniversary of the Grand Sport edition.
Corvette enthusiasts will return to Bowling Green to celebrate the Corvette Lifestyle and reunite for the Corvette Forum Cruise-In, May 25-27, which features activities for members of the internet-based forum, but is open to all automotive enthusiasts. Road tours, seminars, a banquet and auction, a car show, and much more are part of the weekend's activities.
On July 20-22, things speed up for the Z06 Fest with speed-related events and activities focused on power and performance. Competitive activities such as drag racing and autocross, and seminars focused on areas of the performance arena are just part of what is in store for Z06 enthusiasts.
The NCM celebrates its 12th anniversary in 2006 and the annual Corvette Celebration held each Labor Day weekend is a must-attend event for all Corvette enthusiasts. Mark your calendars for August 31-September 3 and take part in a weekend of celebration, reflection, and fun. Each year thousands of members, supporters, and enthusiasts make their way to this special event that features the prestigious Corvette Hall of Fame, entertainment, a celebrity car show, seminars, member appreciation festivities, and so much more.
At the end of September, the NCM will welcome home participants of the highly demanded "R8C Museum Delivery" and "Xperience" programs for a weekend of activities planned just for this special group of attendees. These Corvette owners will come together September 28-30 to share their delivery experiences, enjoy road tour excursions to area attractions, be a part of seminars and banquets, and much more.
The museum's final event of the '06 season spotlights the third-generation Corvettes and enthusiasts of the C3-model Corvette. The C3 Extravaganza, October 12-14, will reunite third and early generation Corvette owners for a weekend of road tours, special displays, and is open to all Corvette enthusiasts.
"Our events are planned to satisfy the needs and passion of all Corvette enthusiasts, and the upcoming calendar of events offers something for everyone," said NCM Events Manager Roc Linkov. "The museum strives to offer events catered to the Corvette lover in all of us, featuring activities found nowhere else. We want each trip to the museum to be special, and we look forward to welcoming old friends as well as new Corvette enthusiasts for the 2006 event season." CF