What's a SEMA Show without a red Corvette in it? (HINT: Two words: Bore. Ing.)

Come on in and check out just a couple of the crimson-colored Corvettes that were grabbing SEMA Show-goers eyes this year.

It's likely that, since the first SEMA Show in 1967 (held in the concourse at Dodger Stadium just north of downtown L.A., there's been a '67 Corvette Sting Ray either in the show itself, or parked right next to it. This one was in the GM display...and, by the words on the windshield header, this Midyear's all original.

We wonder if it (and the steel-bodied '64 Chevy Biscayne in the background) got more attention than that...that...thing in between them! 

Just how red can a Corvette get? Combine painstaking bodywork and paint prep with a brilliant hue (and the bright Southern Nevada afternoon sun), and this is the result!

Thought that would get your attention!

Come on in and see a couple of current-year Corvettes that were pictured at this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

May we introduce you to the new-for-'10 Corvette Grand Sport convertible?  By the numbers: 0-60 in 3.95 seconds....1g of lateral acceleration on the skidpad...AND 26 MPG on the highway! (i.e. NO gas-guzzler tax on this one!)

Those 5-spoke wheels and louvered fenders are unique to the 2010 GS (and its coupe sibling), as is the Grand Sport Heritage Package, which includes the hash mark stripes--seen here in Victory Red--on the front fenders of this Cyber Gray droptop.

Find out more about this...and the rest of the 2010 Corvette lineup...online at www.corvette.com, or see your Chevy dealer...ASAP, if not sooner! 

Does the ZR-1 need any introduction? We thought so!

These Vettes were pictured on their way into this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas, or in the hall during the show...and come 4 p.m. (Pacific) Friday afternoon, they'll be on their way out!

We'll start with this way-out '74 Corvette custom, seen here on its way in. Our guess is that this car was beyond a basket case when they started...maybe nothing more than a VIN, a birdcage, and a wild dream. Back in the day, bubbletops were formed using old pizza ovens...wonder if that's what they used to make this one? 

Here's a later-generation Vette with a "different" color scheme...on purpose, no doubt. This was in Classic Design Concepts' booth, and the colors help show off each of the body panels they offer for the C6.

Up next: A couple of current-model Vettes of interest...that you'll have to wait  for, until our next posting here.

That means you, too!

Builders of a '62 VetteRod that took the Goodguys PPG Nationals by storm this past summer, Phil and Jeremy Gerber of Mundelein, Illinois' The Roadster Shop were presented with the Goodguys Trendsetter award at this year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The award is presented annually at SEMA to rising young talents in the realm of rod & custom car building.

Together with their father Neal, the Gerbers took ownership of The Roadster Shop in Elgin, Illinois in 2004 to expand the company’s product line and raise the bar for Midwestern hot rodding. While developing new lines of chassis and components, the Gerber’s discovered the burgeoning performance muscle car and street machine market and jumped in head first.

In 2006, a brilliant orange ground hugging 1966 Chevelle, complete with a custom chassis designed and built in-house, launched a new line of products and a new company – RS Performance Concepts. The Chevelle raised eyebrows throughout the industry and in the magazines and requests from customers for complete turn-key cars soon followed suit. In 2007, a bright green ’70 Chevelle served as RS Performance Concepts’ lab rat, furthering the performance and design capabilities of the Gerber brothers as well as allowing them to compete in the Goodguys’ popular Street Challenge Autocross events. It was also in 2007, the company moved to their all new 30,000 square foot state of the art facility located in Mundelein, Illinois.

Though they had slowly and methodically been working their way into the hot rodding scene, the Gerber’s exploded onto the forefront of the industry with the debut the 1962 Corvette “C1RS”  (pictured) at this year’s Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. Built and designed completely in house by Phil and Jeremy for customer Barry Blomquist, “C1RS” was the talk of the event and the entire industry as the Formula 1 racing-inspired Corvette ripped through the Street Challenge Autocross with a winning time of 32.222 seconds while being named the unanimous winner of the Goodguys/Air Ride Technologies 2009 Street Machine of the Year. The Corvette’s landmark debut and subsequent victory in Columbus combined with their other builds and innovative chassis design has firmly ensconced Phil and Jeremy Gerber in the annals of hot rodding history. And they’re just getting started!

The Gerbers are in good company. Past recipients of the Goodguys Trendsetter Award include; Chip Foose, Troy Trepanier, Alan Johnson, Eric Peratt, Tim Strange, Dave Lane, Zane Cullen, Dean Livermore, Jesse Greening, Troy Ladd and J.F. Launier.

 (Courtesy Goodguys)

Can't scare up the scratch for a trip to Vegas to find out what's new  for Vettes (from C1 to the newest C6) ??   Don't worry...we'll bring you show news right here this coming week.

 The SEMA Show (which opens this coming Tuesday)  fills the Las Vegas Convention Center each year with zillions of square feet worth of new products/services, as well as eye-grabbing concept cars, customs, race cars and restos.

We'll keep you posted on the hot new products getting their introduction at SEMA, and we'll also show you some of the show rides that are (as of this writing) getting their finishing touches applied as they're being rolled onto the transporter to haul 'em to Vegas.

Til then, hope you enjoy this '57 C1 that was just one of the showVettes  that graced the LVCC a mere 52 weeks ago!

C5 and C6 Vette owners: We know you like washing your Vettes, but don’t you hate the soapy water that gets into your side-mirror housings…and starts leaking out onto your freshly-cleaned  Vette the moment that you hit the road?

Solve that problem with a pair of Mirror-Seals from D & S Innovative Products, LLC.

As you can see, Mirror Seals are designed to fit over your C5  or C6's side mirror housings (both driver’s and passenger side), and they keep soap and water out when it’s wash time.

Mirror-Seals are made of a soft, conformable material that won’t harm your finish—and they’re reusable, to boot.

D & S Innovative Products, LLC.

770/277-0952

www.mirrorseals.com

Update your first-generation Vette to modern chassis tech with Jim Meyer’s new Custom Pro Touring Chassis, that fits OEM or aftermarket ’53-’62 Corvette bodies.

This all-new Jim Meyer chassis is built on a brand-new stock (or custom 2x4-inch mandrel-bent box tube) frame with engine and trans mounts for any powertrain combination. The radiator core support, body mounts and bumper bracket mounts are all in their stock locations, and it’s available in left-hand or right-hand drive.

The standard IFS features 11-inch GM disc brakes, tubular upper-and-lower A-arms, optional 1-inch diameter anti-sway bars, your choice of coilover shocks or  ShockWave air suspension, and Jim Meyer’s “quick-turn” rack-and-pinion steering. The exhaust-friendly chassis is designed with a beefy double-tubular X-member that will accept up to a 3-inch exhaust system.

The 9-inch rearend comes with Dutchman 31-spline alloy axles, urethane-bushed rear parallel 4-link multi-position suspension brackets, and a Panhard bar.

Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc.
(541) 994-7717
www.jimmeyerracing.com

TAG Heuer Eyewear introduces “Intensive” HD sunglass lens technology, designed to enhance outdoor vision, from casual activities to professional athletic competition. The vermillion-colored “Intensive” HD lenses are the first to combine photochromic darkening ability with re-engineered, gradient “silver flash” technology – creating lightly-mirrored lenses that become reflective as they darken.
 

 The result: high-definition sunglasses that enhance dimensional detail of the landscape vs.the flattening effect of polarized lenses. This new Intensive HD lens technology is appropriate for those times when a truer image is crucial – such as when riding a motorcycle or lining up a putt. This makes them ideal for many outdoor, land-based activities such as bicycling and motorcycling, golf, tennis, softball and hiking. The photochromic lenses automatically darken and lighten according to brightness levels. The vermillion color contrasts against blue and green, providing excellent perception in low light and protection in bright sun. The highly reflective silver flash greatly reduces the amount of light that reaches the eyes. Lightweight polycarbonate lenses offer 100% UV-A and UV-B protection.

“For years, water sports fans have worn polarized lenses to eliminate glare, which is quite effective on water but not especially adapted for other outdoor activities,” explains TAG Heuer Eyewear executive Guillaume Pottecher. “TAG Heuer Eyewear’s Intensive HD lenses were purpose-designed to improve vision and eye comfort when taking part in land-based sports. We tested Intensive HD lenses with a variety of professional athletes, including top golfers, and their feedback was beyond expectation.”

Intensive HD sunglass lenses are available in a variety of TAG Heuer Eyewear styles, with price points ranging from $310 to $420 (MSRP). Available exclusively at authorized TAG Heuer authorized retailers.  
 

Looking for an extended-life, super duty coolant and antifreeze that is ideal for all applications? Look to BeCool, and their new BeCoolant.

BeCoolant features a new-generation biodegradable, propylene-glycol formula that protects cooling systems and aluminum components down to -26F. Its self-sealing capability is ideal for sealing hairline cracks in aluminum engine blocks and cylinder heads.

Be Coolant provides up to 300,000 miles of extended coolant protection, and is ideal for Corvettes, as well as all performance and severe-duty applications (including diesel-powered tow vehicles and RVs).

Made in the U.S.A., Be Coolant is compatible with all types/colors of coolant, it’s packaged in recyclable, ready-to-use one-gallon jugs or two-gallon master packs, and is UPS delivery approved. Best of all, Be Coolant doubles a Be Cool radiator’s factory warranty. (How cool is that?)

BeCool
(800) 691-2667
www.becool.com

Mid America Motorworks, marketer and manufacturer of Corvette parts and accessories, recently announced the addition of The C6 Corvette front spoiler to their product line. Mid America Motorworks decided to develop these stock replacement Corvette Spoilers as GM has discontinued production. These front spoilers are prone to damage from curbs and bumper blocks. A missing or damaged C6 Corvette Front Spoiler will not provide the cooling air that your Corvette requires for proper operation, durability and horsepower.

 “With the discontinuance of GM manufacturing the C6 Spoiler, we felt there was a need in the market to fill this gap. Many C6 Corvette owners have experienced broken or ripped off spoilers due to the low ground clearance.” said Blake Yager, Corvette merchandiser at Mid America Motorworks.

Additional benefits and features of the C6 Corvette Spoiler:
Maintains adequate air flow through the radiator
Provides optimum amounts of cool air inside the engine bay for maximum horsepower
No modification needed for installation
Utilizes the original hardware

The complete set of the 3-piece front spoilers for the base C6 is priced at $99.99. The individual left, center and right piece sections are also sold separately.

For additional information contact:
Mid America Motorworks
866/866-0856
www.mamotorworks.com

Mid America Motorworks hosted its sixteenth annual Corvette Funfest event the weekend of September 25-27, 2009.  Corvette Funfest, held on Mid America Motorworks’ 150 acre corporate campus, is one of the largest gatherings of Corvette enthusiasts in the country.  During the three-day celebration, thousands of Corvettes along with tens of thousands of enthusiasts enjoyed the activities and seminars.

The theme for this year’s event was the 35th anniversary of Mid America Motorworks.  Mike Yager’s signature straw hat surrounded by historical catalog covers was the basis for the t-shirt, poster and lapel pin designs. 

Corvette Funfest 2009 was full of exciting new activities and events.  The Fun Run was brought back by popular demand and held on Thursday afternoon.  Exhaust Wars and Burn Out Wars thrilled the crowd on each of the three days with awards to the top winners.  The Corvette Cantina found a new home in a permanent facility and showcased many lifestyle items for sale. Mid America Motorworks hosted its first ever Corvette Auction on Friday afternoon with over 50 Corvettes crossing the block before a massive crowd of bidders and spectators.   Scores of Corvettes were offered for sale by their owners in the “For Sale Corral” with many changing ownership and leaving the new owners searching for extra garage space. Close to one hundred different seminar topics presented by Corvette engineers and experts in their field were offered during the weekend.

Corvettes from every model year of the marque could be seen throughout the weekend.  Many were observed parking in “Club Field”, an area reserved specifically for Corvette clubs and members.  This year, 65 Corvette clubs from around the country attended Funfest.  New for 2009 was a Silent Auction hosted by Corvette Clubs.  The proceeds from this activity were equally divided among the participating clubs’ charities of choice.  Special display parking featured Corvettes from 1974, also sharing the same 35th Anniversary as Mid America Motorworks, and the “9’s in 09” displaying each Corvette decade ending with 9.

Enthusiasts were able to buy, sell and modify Corvettes at Funfest.  Dozens of major industry suppliers brought products and answered questions concerning proper installation and use.  At the “Install Alley”, hundreds of customers received new exhaust systems expertly installed by Corsa, Borla, B&B and Mid America Motorworks.  Many other Corvette owners enhanced their Corvettes with accessory items from American Car Craft, Mid America Motorworks’ supplier of the year.  Callaway Corvettes, Goodyear and Pratt & Miller Engineers also set up special displays to educate and entertain Corvette fans.  General Motors impressed enthusiasts with an extensive display of the new 2010 Corvettes and also provided rides in the new 2010 Grand Sport.

Saturday evening ended with a three-hour entertainment package. The Jan and Dean Show featuring Dean Torrence with the OC Band started the activities followed by a 20-minute fireworks display.  The finale of the evening consisted of a 90-minute performance by Survivor.

Corvette Funfest 2010 will be held on September 17-19.

 

RAM Clutches are well-known to drag racers whose engines exhibit more than 2,000 horsepower and RAM’s street repertoire is no less efficient. The company has just announced a new twin-plate high-performance DirectFit StreetDual clutch assembly for the ZR1 Corvette supercharged LS9 engine and GM Performance Parts LS9 engines.

This assembly (PN 90-2115) is directed at street applications and is a bolt-in upgrade for the factory twin-disc hardware. Its dimensions are similar to the original: overall height is comparable to stock measured from the crankshaft flange to the fingers of the cover assembly and it has a diameter of 10.5 inches.

From here on out, the benefits of the DirectFit StreetDual assembly over the stock unit are exemplary. The diaphragm clutch assembly weighs a whopping 10 pounds less, exhibits a 2400-pound clamp load, and employs a nodular iron pressure ring for strength. The twin friction discs employ RAM 300-series organic material, the chief advantage being that organic friction material has superior blend of holding power and improved drivability without the tendency to chatter on initial clutch release. Concurrent, the top clutch disc springs are stiffer than stock and by encasing them in urethane, their rate of compression increases approximately three times that of an uncoated spring.

Simple computer tweaks easily elevate the LS9 power rating to more than 700horsepower. As a result, the RAM StreetDual assembly has the capacity to capture as much as 1000 horsepower at the wheels while providing stock drivability. A 900 series disc version is available for higher horsepower applications (90-2115N).  Since this clutch assembly will combat greater rotational forces than the stock assembly, RAM provides it with steel friction backing. Further, the facing is riveted steel-to-steel in direct contrast with factory non-back facings.

For further information contact:

RAM Automotive Company
201 Business Park Blvd.
Columbia, SC 29203
Telephone (803) 788-6034 or visit: www.ramclutches.com
 





 

Corvette Racing teammates Jan Magnussen and Johnny O'Connell finished as runners-up in the season-ending Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The race ended as Magnussen spun across the track and hit the wall on the pit straight in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R. The Danish driver was examined and released from the trackside medical center after his encounter with the concrete barrier as the Corvette's safety systems and energy-absorbing structure performed as designed in the impact.

The wild finish capped an intense battle between the No. 3 Corvette and the No. 45 Flying Lizard Porsche driven by Patrick Long and Joerg Bergmeister. Magnussen had relentlessly cut down the lead of the class-leading Porsche from 14 seconds to mere inches in the final 50 minutes of the four-hour race. Magnussen took the lead with a pass on the front straight with two minutes to go, but ceded the point back to Bergmeister after officials ruled that he made the pass on the pit exit. With the checkered flag already displayed for the overall winner, the Corvette and Porsche had contact in the final corner and raced side-by-side to the finish line. 

"It was really good, hard racing," said Magnussen. "I didn't think I even had a chance after I had to give the position back. Going into the last corner I was too far away to make a proper attack, but Joerg parked the car. I didn't see that, so I slid up and hit him a little – he went sideways and I managed to get on the inside. It was a drag race up the hill, and I managed to get ahead of him. Then he turned me into the wall, and he kept turning in. Then I spun around the nose of his car."

The No. 45 Porsche was credited with a 1.037-second victory over the No. 3 Corvette C6.R as Corvette Racing scored its fifth podium finish in five races since moving to the GT2 category. The No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta finished 10th, 12 laps down to the leader after hard contact in a restart at the one-hour mark. The crew replaced the Corvette's damaged front bodywork and a lower control arm.

After qualifying first and third, the twin Corvettes were running one-two until the first round of pit stops during the race's second caution period. "Jan and I were working the traffic really well and managed to open up a gap over the third-place Ferrari," said Gavin. "When we got to the first pit stop, the guys did a fantastic job and we got out in front of the sister car. Then on the restart, I came down the inside of the first turn and was trying to see if I could get ahead of the BMW. I went too far to the inside and got on the dirt. The BMW was squeezing me and I got on the brakes too late. I didn't want to hit the prototype ahead of me, so I then went even farther left onto the sand, and at that point I was just a passenger. I started to spin and started hitting people.

"It's embarrassing for me – I don’t think I make many mistakes, but I made a big one today," Gavin said. "I'm sorry for the crew – I think we had a car that was fast enough to win today. They've done a fantastic job all year, and this is not the way you want to repay them."

 O'Connell took over from Magnussen at 1:50, and had to contend with a trio of Porsches throughout his stint. He took second position from the No. 18 Porsche at 2:22, and then gradually cut the No. 45 Porsche's lead to six seconds before the third round of pit stops. After a short delay to reattach the side safety net during the driver change, Magnussen took off in pursuit of the class-leading Porsche. "I had to wait for the No. 18 Porsche to make a mistake, and when he did, we went by him and started eating away the No. 45's lead," said O'Connell. "The No. 3 Corvette was running great, and we look at this as a test for next year. We've learned a lot about the GT2 car, and we'll come back next year even stronger."

The No. 4 Corvette's misfortunes continued as it had to serve two penalties and then suffered a punctured tire with Olivier Beretta at the wheel after contact with a prototype.Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan reflected on the finish of the race and the conclusion of the team's five-race development program with the GT2 version of the Corvette C6.R: "Those last six laps were as exciting as I've seen in motor racing in a long time – two great teams, two great cars, two great drivers," Fehan said. "It's unfortunate it ended the way it did. I think we're going to review the videotapes and see what we can do to ascertain what went wrong there. I'm sure we'll be working with the sanctioning body to address it and put into place safeguards to make sure incidents like this won't happen again.

"Corvette Racing's transition to the GT2 class has been wildly successful," Fehan said. "We had told our management and our fans that our objective was to be able to qualify on the pole and to win a race before the season ended, and we met those expectations. In fact, we came within one incident today of a second victory for Corvette. Now we'll go back to the shop, get this car repaired, start our fall test program, and get ready to race at Sebring."

Corvette Racing’s next event is the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in Sebring, Fla., on March 20, 2010.

Monterey Sports Car Championships GT2 Results:
Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 155
2. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 155
3. Henzler/Ehret, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 154
4. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 154
5. Van Overbeek/Neiman, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 153
6. Mueller/Milner, BMW E92 M3, 153
7. Westbrook/Stuck, Porsche 9111 GT3 RSR, 153
8. Sellers/Cicero, Porsche 9111 GT3 RSR, 150
9. Sutherland/Drissi/Gigliotti, Corvette, 150
10. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 143
11. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 139
12. Melo/Kaffer, Ferrari 430 GT, 49

After years of research on the original Kelsey Hayes wheels, Corvette America is pleased to present their newly redesigned Knockoff and Bolt-On Replica Wheels for 1963-1967 Corvettes.

Corvette America, with the help of restoration experts and NCRS judges, conducted years of research on the original C2 Corvette wheels supplied by Kelsey Hayes.  With a wealth of new information including the original blueprints, Corvette America completely retooled their 1963-1966 Original-Style Knockoff Wheels, 1963-1966 Direct-Bolt Knockoff Wheels and 1967 Bolt-On Wheels to bring you the most accurate replicas that have ever been produced.

 All three styles are now reproduced with strict attention to the small details that judges notice, such as fin width and color.  They include the correct original mounting hardware that is interchangeable with, and functions like, the factory-original hardware.  The Knockoff Wheels even include a reproduction lead hammer for safe, accurate installation.

Corvette America, the only manufacturer of Original Style Knockoffs and innovator of the Direct-Bolt Knockoffs, is committed to continually improving accuracy and quality in the products they manufacturer.  These wheels are only available directly from Corvette America or from any dealer or restoration shop that offers Corvette America products.

For more information or to order, visit CorvetteAmerica.com, see your local Corvette America Dealer, or call 800-458-3475 for one of Corvette America’s knowledgeable representatives.

The torrential rain that has inundated Georgia returned today, forcing officials to red flag the scheduled 10-hour Petit Le Mans after four hours and 50 minutes of racing. With heavy rainfall and runoff continuing to drench the Road Atlanta circuit and no hope of drying the track, the event was declared official at 8:44 on the race clock. When the race ended with the cars parked in the pit lane, Corvette Racing's No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R was fourth in the GT2 class, one lap behind Risi Competizione's GT2-winning No. 62 Ferrari 430. The No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R was classified sixth, two laps down.

The two Corvette C6.Rs dominated the first three hours of the race, running first and second consistently until a flurry of pit stops mixed the running order just as the heavy rain arrived. Starting with rain tires on a wet track, the Corvettes quickly asserted themselves at the start with Oliver Gavin taking the No. 4 Corvette to second and O’Connell slotting the No. 3 Corvette into fourth on the opening lap. Gavin made a move on the pole-winning Ford GT of David Murry in the Turn 10 chicane on the second lap, but lost grip and fell to fourth. O’Connell immediately applied more Chevrolet pressure to the Ford, taking the lead on the third lap with an inside pass going into the high-speed first turn. On the fourth lap, Gavin passed the championship-leading Flying Lizard Porsche of Patrick Long to take third, and one lap later he overtook Murry in Turn 1 to make it a Corvette Racing one-two in the GT2 class.

"I knew this morning we had a good car in the wet," said O’Connell. "Everyone was being a little tentative at the start, but I felt confident with my Michelins. Olly got in a little too deep and went off trying to pass the Ford GT, so then it was my turn to take care of business."With a dry line emerging, the Corvette crew made the decision to switch from rain tires to slicks on the first pit stop. Gavin was the first to pit at the 45-minute mark, taking on four slick tires and a tankful of E85R ethanol. O’Connell pitted two laps later and also made the change to dry tires. Following the exchange of pit stops, Gavin emerged at the front of the GT2 class with O’Connell comfortably in second.

"I thought I was being super careful with the Ford, but obviously I wasn’t being careful enough and went across the grass in Turn 10," Gavin said. "Fortunately the car wasn’t damaged and I got going again and passed the Porsche and the Ford GT. The track was drying and I thought it had to be time for slicks. I could see it was going to be nasty in several turns, but thought that if I could build enough heat in the tires, it should be good for the rest of the track. As soon as I went out on slicks, I knew we’d made the right choice."

The Corvettes made their first driver changes during a full-course caution at 1:34 (62 laps) with Jan Magnussen replacing O’Connell and Olivier Beretta replacing Gavin. A second full-course caution period closed up the field, producing a pack of six GT2 cars representing Corvette, BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari all running within 20 seconds of each other in the third hour. The Corvette team took advantage of the third yellow flag to make another change of drivers at 2:49 (109 laps) with Antonio Garcia taking over the class-leading No. 3 Corvette C6.R and Marcel Fassler getting into the second-ranked No. 4 Corvette C6.R.

Marc Lieb in the No. 45 Porsche took second in the GT2 class on a restart following the fourth full-course caution and then closed to within half a second of Garcia. The two drivers waged a fierce battle until their duel was interrupted by the fifth caution period at 3:33. The Corvettes suffered a setback during their yellow-flag pit stops, ceding track position to Lieb and to Joerg Mueller in the No. 92 BMW. Rejoining the race after the pit stop exchange, Fassler was third and Garcia fourth.

"It was difficult because the two cars in front of me, the Risi Ferrari and No. 87 Porsche, were fighting for position and didn’t want to lose a lap," said Garcia. "They were defending their position very hard. I think our pace was faster, so I took it easy and was waiting for an opportunity."

With the weather deteriorating and rain in the air, the No. 62 Ferrari pitted for wet tires just after the four-hour mark under the race's sixth full-course caution. Racing resumed at 4:24, but four minutes later a downpour began. Both Corvettes pitted for rain tires at 4:29, with O’Connell getting back into the No. 3 and Gavin returning to the No. 4. As he completed his out lap, O'Connell aquaplaned off the track in the downhill Turn 12 and was beached in the gravel trap. Quick work by the IMSA safety team had the No. 3 Corvette back on the circuit after losing only one lap. However, the No. 62 Ferrari’s timely pit stop resulted in a one-lap advantage on the rest of the GT2 field.

"The rain was unbelievable," O’Connell said. "I came underneath the bridge like I've done a thousand times before and suddenly hit a stream of water. I wasn’t pushing hard at all, just trying to get around and catch up with the field. When something like that happens you feel awful for the guys."

"It was quite difficult because the tires were cold running behind the safety car, and as soon as I tried to accelerate the car moved around and it was very tricky to stay on the track," Fassler said. "I was following a BMW, thinking he would show me the grip level, but then he went directly into the pit so I was on my own. Out of the first corner I had a big moment with oversteer. When I saw the rain coming, I was happy to hear the pit call for a driver change."

The downpour intensified, and race officials displayed the red flag, stopping the race at 4:50. The clock continued while the cars were parked in the pit lane. The rain continued, and the race was terminated three hours and 55 minutes later. "It was a very unusual event, and in some respects a disappointing one," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "Rain is a perfect environment to race the GT2 Corvette C6.R – the engineering that has gone into this chassis provides tremendous mechanical grip.."

Petit Le Mans GT2 Results:

Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. Melo/Kaffer/Salo, Ferrari 430 GT, 170
2. Mueller/Milner/Mueller, BMW E92 M3, 169
3. Henzler/Werner, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 169
4. Gavin/Beretta/Fassler, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 169
5. Bergmeister/Long/Leib, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 169
6. O'Connell/Magnussen/Garcia, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 168
7. Law/van Overbeek/Neiman, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 162
8. Bell/Sutherland/Drissi, Corvette, 157
9. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 152
10. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 142
11. Sellers/Cicero, Porsche 9111 GT3 RSR, 136
12. Hand/Auberlen/Priaulx, BMW E92 M3, 133
13. Feinberg/Hall, Dodge Viper, 129

 

 

Corvette Racing returned to the American Le Mans Series winner's circle with the first victory for the GT2 Corvette C6.R at the Grand Prix of Mosport. In only the third race for the production-based GT2 race car, Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen scored a .331-second victory in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R over the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 430 GT of Jamie Melo and Pierre Kaffer. Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta finished third in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, one lap behind their sister car. The winning Corvette C6.R completed 117 laps on the 2.459-mile Mosport International Raceway road course and finished sixth overall.

It was an emotional win for O'Connell and Magnussen, who shared their first ALMS victory at Mosport in 1999. Today O'Connell scored his record-setting seventh win at Mosport in his milestone 100th ALMS start. Magnussen celebrated the birth of his second son on Monday, and then shared the victory podium with O'Connell today. "It's been the best week of my life," said Magnussen. "First a new baby boy, and then the first win with the GT2 Corvette in Johnny's 100th race."

The decisive moment in the two-hour, 45-minute race came at the 2:15 mark during the final round of pit stops. Kaffer's class-leading No. 62 Ferrari pitted for fuel and tires, followed one lap later by Magnussen's Corvette C6.R in second. When Magnussen rejoined the race, the two cars went side-by-side into the fast downhill section following the pit exit. Magnussen held the inside line though Moss Corner and took the lead for good going into the Andretti Straight. The Dane then withstood intense pressure from Kaffer for the remaining 30 minutes to the checkered flag.

"The pit stop was fantastic and we managed to get out just ahead of the Ferrari," Magnussen said. "That out lap was really hard because my tires were cold and he already had one lap on his tires. There was a bit of banging going into Turn 3, but not too bad. That was the key moment in the race for us. "After that my Michelin tires were super good and I was able to open up a little gap," Magnussen noted. "When the tires stabilized, it was a matter of not making any mistakes. Kaffer and I were fast in different points of the track, so I had to be really careful in some places and I could relax in other places."

O'Connell started the No. 3 Corvette C6.R fourth on the GT2 grid and moved up to second on the ninth lap. Struggling with a loose car, he handed off to Magnussen at 58 minutes into the race with the car in fourth place. Commenting on Magnussen's charge, O'Connell said, "That was one of the finest drives I've ever seen. It was mistake-free, and knowing what he had to do with that car, today was all Jan. He was a rock star, and the crew had a killer pit stop to get him out in front of the Ferrari."

Gavin started the No. 4 Corvette C6.R from the third spot on the GT2 grid, and quickly slotted into second at the green flag, overtaking the No. 90 BMW of Bill Auberlen. He then took the lead eight minutes into the race, passing the pole-winning BMW M3 of Tommy Milner. Both BMWs subsequently encountered problems, finishing ninth and 11th. Meanwhile Melo drove the Ferrari from the back of the pack to the front after missing qualifying due to an accident in practice.

"At the green flag I got a better jump than the BMW on the outside, so I followed the pole-sitting BMW," Gavin recalled. "For a moment I thought I might be able to get him going into Turn 2, but then decided to bide my time. It seemed like he was struggling with his tires and he had a bit of a bobble coming out of the last turn. I just managed to get around him going into Turn 1, and he was very fair and gave me room.

"We managed to pull away from the BMW, but the Ferrari was coming on strong," Gavin continued. "I had a lot of oil on the windshield, then the rain started, and when I turned on the wiper, it smeared the oil and I couldn't see where I was going. It was a blessing that the caution came when it did." Beretta replaced Gavin in the No. 4 Corvette while the Ferrari took the lead on the pit stop exchange under a full-course caution. When racing resumed, a six-car train of GT2 cars was racing nose-to-tail, and traffic was heavy. Beretta and Magnussen both passed the Ferrari in Turn 5, seizing the opportunity when the leader was balked by a prototype. At 1:59 into the race, Beretta was forced off the racing line by a prototype. He ended up in the grass, but rejoined in third place.

"Olly did his usual fantastic job and was leading the race when he pitted," Beretta said. "I got in the car and was doing good lap times to try to keep the Ferrari behind. Unfortunately a prototype driver caught me on the top of the hill where the car is very light, and I went off. My main concern was not to crash the car. It was just bad luck for us."

Corvette Racing also scored its third consecutive victory in the Michelin GREEN X Challenge. The No. 4 Corvette C6.R had the best overall score among the 19 GT and prototype entries based on energy used, greenhouse gases emitted, and petroleum fuels displaced. The No. 3 Corvette C6 placed second in the competition.  "The Michelin GREEN X Challenge is indicative of the engineering that goes into these Corvettes," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "We're not just engineering a fast car, we're also engineering a green car through fuel efficiency and E85 ethanol. Those advances transfer into GM production vehicles, so what we saw today was a victory for engineering that will produce a greener future.

The Grand Prix of Mosport GT2 Results:

Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. O'Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 117
2. Melo/Kaffer, Ferrari 430 GT, 117
3. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 116
4. Henzler/Werner, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 116
5. Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 115
6. Farnbacher/James, Panoz Esperante GTLM, 115
7. Law/van Overbeek, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 115
8. Feinberg/Hall, Dodge Viper, 113
9. Hand/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3, 110
10. Robertson/Robertson/Murry, Ford GT MK 7, 105
11. Mueller/Milner, BMW E92 M3, 71

By Lance Miller
I remember talking to my partner one cold December day as my blood started to boil during our heated conversations about running the 12 Hours at the Point. It was the one jolt I really needed; it honestly helped me throughout the winter months knowing that we were going to be working side-by-side to make this exciting new endeavor work. Naturally we both got more excited about the idea of making it a reality the more we spoke about it. Our ideas were bouncing off one another lightning quick… as a matter of fact, I don’t know if either of us were listening to one another because we were both so excited about it!

During our brainstorm session we decided to incorporate a charitable organization; naturally we went with the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation since it’s near and dear to my heart. My father passed away 5 years ago from Amyloidosis and we started a charitable organization in his honor after his passing. We had two separate packages for people to enjoy the race, gold and platinum.

The Gold package consisted of the following:
•    Two general admission passes to the 12-Hour Summit Point race, qualifying and practice
•    Two general admission bands for the all-you-can-eat catered buffet, all-you-can-drink soda and water and a three-beer voucher for 21 years and older registrants
•    A parking spot near the hospitality area in the paddock
•    A chance to meet with the drivers during the race
•    Two special 12-Hour Summit Point race hats
•    Two 2009 general admission tickets to your choice of events hosted by Carlisle Events
The Platinum package had everything the Gold package had to offer plus:
•    A one-night stay at the newly renovated and very beautiful George Washington historical hotel (June 13, 2009)
•    An evening reception for two that includes hors d’oeuvres and cash bar
•    A Chip Miller Charitable Foundation Tie with the C5R Corvette (to the first 30 registrants)
•    A Chip Miller Charitable Foundation Scarf with the C5R Corvette (to the first 30 registrants)

Ok, let’s talk about how we got the cars. I had my eye on a couple GM Heritage vehicles out at Barrett Jackson in early January so I went out to stay with an old college buddy, Randy Koepel, who lives 5 minutes from the auction. After having his assistant pick me up at the airport, she started to tell me about his newest purchases. She mentioned that Randy recently pulled the trigger and purchased 19 ex-Bondurant Corvettes. Of course when I saw Randy for the first time and greeted him accordingly, one of the first things out of my mouth was, “Tell me about the old Bondurant Corvettes you purchased.” He went on to explain they were C5s, three of which were Z06s. Needless to say, during Barrett Jackson I was outbid on 3 GM Heritage vehicles that I was seeking to purchase (the Snake Skinner, ’89 Challenge Car and a Camaro ZL1). Two out of the three cars I bid on were purchased by Rick Hendricks; he’s got some good taste!

During the auction I had an opportunity to run over to the Bondurant facility with Randy. He told me to pick and choose any of the cars I’d like to take home. I walked through the long line of sun-saturated Bondurant Corvettes thinking about all the joy they brought to the many satisfied customers that drove them on the track. In each car there was a thick 3-inch stack of papers that had every ounce of work that was ever done on the vehicles throughout their tenure at the school. I cherry picked my favorite cars and ended up with the 5 best ones on the lot. I wrote Randy a check and flew out the next day. He would sell me only 1 of the 3 Z06s he purchased; however, after my return home he called to say the other person that wanted the Z06 bailed and provided me with the first right of refusal.

So all together, we ended up purchasing 6 ex-Bondurant Corvettes, two of which were Z06s. By the time the cars arrived on our doorstep in Carlisle, PA, my partner already had the Z06s lined up to visit Phoenix Performance Inc.  Joe Aquilante and his team have a reputation of building the best Corvette race car cages in the industry; we were just fortunate they lived so close to us. Joe and his team rushed our Z06s through and we couldn’t have asked for a more professional job. Joe and his team are experts in this field and I will always recommend that anyone getting into racing should give them a call because I feel they are the best in the business. If you ever see our race cars in person, open the door and look at the professional cages – honestly they are a piece of artwork inside!

Once the cages were installed along with a few other goodies such as trans coolers , etc., we finally had an opportunity to really give the cars their first test on the track. We took them to Summit Point and enjoyed a nice rainy weekend of driving. Fortunately our Toyo tires kept us on the track and performed flawlessly throughout the entire weekend of rain and mud. After driving the cars for the first time, we found a few issues with the cars that needed to be taken care of. We drove the cars down to Mechanicsburg Sports Car Center where our good friends and teammates, Tim and Todd Sprinkle, worked day and night to get the cars where they needed to be. We can’t thank this crew enough for all of their countless hours of hard work on these two Corvettes. If it weren’t for them, we would have never had the cars on the track in time. Racing is all about teamwork and Lawrence Chevrolet was a big part of our team too. A friend of mine, Jerry McKinney, works at Lawrence and has plenty of knowledge on any Corvette that passes by him. We were fortunate to have his expert help throughout our efforts. Lawrence Chevrolet also helped us get a lot of the parts we needed in a short time period; their service to us was speedy and professional in every aspect – special thanks!

There was one more test day we had for the cars prior to the 12-hour race so we headed up to Pocono Raceway for an extended weekend. Both cars performed very well. Bill, Todd and I were happy with how the cars handled, braked and performed overall. We felt confident the cars were ready for the 12-hour race so Todd and Tim worked vigorously on the two cars to ensure everything was fresh for our big race.
Qualifying day was here… we had Todd Sprinkle take the #28 car out for qualifying and we ended up on the pole out of 29 entered race cars. By the way, number 28 was a tribute to my father as well – he carried #28 with pride during track events we used to attend together in the past. Our backup team drove the #03 car to 4th place on the grid. This car was driven by Harry Kintzi, Jeff Adams and Rick Carlino. Between our crew, the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation supporters, our family and drivers, we had approximately 70 Chip Miller Charitable Foundation hats running around the track area throughout the weekend. Needless to say, we were getting the word out not only about our race team but also about Amyloidosis – all of our hard work and strong efforts worked and worked well!

The race started at 9am on Saturday morning and our team discussed how we were going to drive. Our philosophy was simple: Drive the car easy and make sure we’re around after the 12-hour mark. Our main objective was to survive for 12 hours with the best results possible. During the race we had only a few mishaps. Yours truly had a driving error and the car swung around and bounced off one of the tire walls. Fortunately we didn’t incur any damage for this incident. During one of Todd’s stints, he took the car off course a bit and hit a pot hole causing the car to not feel stable. He brought it in and two wheel stud bolts dropped to the ground. Our team worked vigorously to get the two new studs placed back in as quickly as possible but with the extreme heat coming off the brakes and tires, it made for a tough feat – it held us back 26 minutes. After a couple more stints, we brought the car in for a brake change and another wheel stud bolt broke after torquing the wheel. This held us up approximately 15 more minutes but we kept our chins up and held to our plan. 

The other team had no issues and while in the pits working on our car, it was nice to hear the groan of the V8 engine as it rolled by lap after lap. The #03 car didn’t miss a beat the entire race; all the drivers would get out of the car with big smiles even while being drenched with sweat.

During the tenth hour of the race there was a bad lightning storm that greeted us. I was the lucky one driving during this stint and can tell you I was thrilled when they threw a full-course black flag asking all the drivers to come in. We don’t have side windows in our cars and it made it difficult to see out of the windshield due to the mist inside the windshield. They kept us in the pit area and allowed people to change their tires. Our Toyo’s were great in the rain so we left our dry tires on for the remainder of the race. After speaking with our team manager, Tim, on the Speedcom Communication system in our vehicle, he asked me a few questions regarding our fuel, etc. He then let me know that I’d be finishing the race for our team. I was excited but also knew the last hour or so was going to be tough due to the standing water on the track. Needless to say, we finished and finished well taking into consideration all of our mishaps.

The #03 car finished the 12-hour race in 5th place overall and 3rd in ITE class. The #28 car finished in 10th overall and 1st in T1 class (there was only 1 car – us). Both car teams were proud! The crew was outstanding and really made sure we were safe and on the track for the optimum amount of time. The synergy and camaraderie of this race could never be put into words – it was simply awesome! I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that helped us succeed – without you we couldn’t have done it! The end result: a memory that will last a lifetime!

The first annual Corvette Club Olympics Games were held on Saturday, July 25, 2009 on the Mid America Motorworks campus.  Over 60 Corvette enthusiasts attended and participated in the six event competition consisting of: Creeper Races, Name the Year of the Emblem, Hat Toss, Cover the Corvette, What Brush am I? and MWorks Match . 

The five participating teams represented three Corvette clubs from across the state of Illinois.  The gold medal winner of the 2009 Corvette Club Olympics was “The Trunk Poppers” from the Looking Glass Corvette Club located in Highland, IL.  Darrell “Pokie” Wildhaber, captain from the winning team, stated, “We will be back next year to defend our title!” Winners received a traveling trophy, their photo published in the Corvette Funfest Book, free registration for 2010, and bragging rights!  Lunch was served after the completion of the events.  Tentative date for next year’s annual games is July 24, 2010.

For more information or to sign up your Corvette Club for next year’s event, contact Mid America Motorworks Club Coordinator, Nancy Bushur at nancy.bushur@mamotorworks.com.
 

The battle raged over hill and dale at one of America's great racing circuits. When the smoke cleared, Corvette Racing was on the podium for the second consecutive American Le Mans Series race with the new GT2 Corvette C6.R.
 

Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen finished third in the GT2 division of the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase at Road America in their No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R, one lap down to the winning No. 90 Rahal-Letterman Racing BMW of Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen. Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta finished sixth in the GT2 class in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R after an unscheduled pit stop following contact with another car.

The GT2 race was essentially decided when the first full-course caution period began at 15 minutes into the two-hour, 45-minute race. The race-leading prototype was between the Nos. 90 and 92 BMWs and the rest of the GT2 entries. When officials started a wave-by to regroup the field, the BMWs effectively gained a one-lap advantage on their rivals. At that point, it became a race for third among Corvette, Porsche, Ferrari, Panoz, Ford and Viper.

O'Connell was fifth with 20 minutes to go when he passed Pierre Kaffer's Ferrari 430 GT in the first turn to take fourth in GT2. Then he pulled off a pass on Patrick Long in the championship-leading Porsche 911 RSR with two minutes remaining to capture the third spot on the podium.

"It's fun to have Corvettes racing again!" O'Connell exclaimed. "Kaffer was doing a great job, but I could see that he was struggling on used tires. He had a wiggle exiting Turn 1 and that allowed me to get by him. Then I had to chase down Patrick in the Porsche. There were a couple areas where we were faster, so I was thinking about setting him up there. Then going into Turn 5, he carried a little too much speed and missed the apex, so I had to throw it in there. There was some contact, but it only happened because he opened the door. We had a great race."

Magnussen started the No. 3 Corvette C6.R from fourth on the GT2 grid. After the BMWs
gained a lap as a result of the safety car, Magnussen found himself in the middle of an intense four-car fight for third with Joerg Bergmeister (Porsche), Jaime Melo (Ferrari) and his teammate Beretta all within 1.33 seconds of each other. Magnussen passed Bergmeister at the 47-minute mark to take third, and seven minutes later Beretta passed Melo for fifth.

"I had a good fight with Bergmeister," Magnussen said. "The Corvette was a little faster in some places, and he was faster in other places. It was a matter of picking my place to go for it, and it came at Turn 5. The Corvette C6.R really stops well, so that was a good place to pass. I couldn't open a gap, but I could control the pace."

Beretta had a front-row view of the action. "Where I was sitting, it was a great show," he said. "It's nice for the fans, for the drivers, for the teams, and for the manufacturers. Everyone wants that. I'm really happy about Corvette Racing's work. This is the second race with the GT2 Corvette and we are already in the hunt. The main target is to finish the race and have a good pace, and I'm happy about what we have done so far."

Both Corvettes pitted under caution at 1:14 for fuel, tires and a driver change. O'Connell replaced Magnussen in the No. 3 Corvette and Gavin replaced Beretta in the No. 4 Corvette. After the pit stop exchange, Gavin was fourth and O'Connell fifth. The No. 92 BMW was penalized for a pit infraction, leaving the No. 90 BMW a lap ahead of the field.

O'Connell then passed Gavin for fourth at 1:26. Six minutes later the No. 4 Corvette pitted for a new right-side door, losing a lap. "On the second restart there were some slower cars at the front of the pack and we all bunched up behind them," Gavin said. "I managed to work my way through and into fourth place behind the Ferrari. Then coming down through Canada Corner, a prototype clipped the mirror off my right door. At that point Johnny got by me and I was told I had to pit because the rules require a right-side mirror. That kind of ruined our race. We were going to be able to run all the way to the finish, but then there were two more full-course cautions and we were a sitting duck. It really just wasn't our day."

The No. 3 Corvette with O'Connell on board pitted again at 2:11 for tires and fuel, while Kaffer's Ferrari took fuel only. With four fresh Michelin tires, O'Connell was able to overtake the red F430 on a restart at 2:27, and then pass Long's Porsche in the final minutes.

"It's been a long time since I've been this excited about racing for third," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "We look at this as a victory for Corvette Racing. The unfortunate part is that we were beaten by three cars – two BMWs and the pace car. Nonetheless it was a great show, a tremendous duel to the finish, and a fantastic effort by the Corvette Racing team to bring both cars home."




 

Corvette Racing's next-generation C6.R made its racing debut August 6-8, 2009 in the American Le Mans Series event at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The next-generation C6.R, which will race in the GT2 category, is based on the Corvette ZR1 supercar. The updated C6.R utilizes the ZR1's body design, aerodynamic package, aluminum frame and chassis structure, steering system, windshield, and other components. C6.R #3 will be driven by Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen, and Antonio Garcia. C6.R #4 will be driven by Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, and Marcel Fassler 

It was the dawn of a new day for Corvette Racing at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as the
next-generation Corvette C6.R finished second and fourth in the hard-fought GT2 category in the sixth round of the American Le Mans Series. On an overcast and rainy day, the twin Corvettes shined as Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen finished as runners-up in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R, 21 seconds behind the class-winning Porsche 911 RSR of Patrick Long and Joerg Bergmeister. Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta finished fourth in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, one lap down after getting caught out by the safety car during a full-course caution.

"It was a really good run and we didn't have any issues," said Magnussen. "It's very difficult in traffic, even more difficult than with the GT1 cars. You really have to be smart and aggressive – this wasn't the race to risk the cars, so I lost a little time being too cautious. The GT2 Corvette C6.R is a fantastic race car, and very easy to drive fast. We still have a few minor things to sort out, but I think we're already there.

"O'Connell took over from Magnussen at 1:27 into the two-hour, 45-minute race on the first pit stop for fuel and tires. He stopped again for five seconds of fuel at 2:02, while the class-leading Porsche team gambled on making it to the finish without a second pit stop. They won that bet, and O'Connell settled for second.

"Today was such an impressive debut for the new GT2 Corvettes, but I wouldn't expect anything less from this team," O'Connell said. "We've gained so much experience in GT1 over the years, and Corvette Racing sets the standards for car construction and preparation. It's great to be back, showing what Corvette and Chevrolet are all about."

As the race began under the threat of rain, the first start was waved off by officials. The field got the green flag on the next lap, and Magnussen quickly slotted into second, gaining a position on the No. 62 Ferrari. Farther back in the pack, Gavin was shuffled back to seventh. Gavin then methodically improved his position, gaining the third spot on the 20th lap. By the 22nd lap, the two Corvettes were running nose-to-tail in a familiar formation.

"Those first few laps were frantic," Gavin said. "The first start was waved off, we were forming up again, and it all got rather confusing. A BMW got by me, and then the Ford GT, so I had to hustle my way past them. We had a bit of contact, a little rubbing and banging. I got a few shoves, and I gave them back. GT2 is a great class to race in!"

As the sprinkles continued and the track became damp, the pace never slowed. "It got a little loose sometimes, but because we had so much heat in the Michelin tires, it wasn't an issue for me," Magnussen explained.

The No. 4 Corvette pitted at 1:26 with Beretta replacing Gavin, and the No. 4 pitted one lap later with O'Connell replacing Magnussen. The decisive moment came at 1:50 when a full-course caution began when the No. 19 LMP2 prototype went off the track. The race leader was between the two Corvettes, which were four seconds apart on the track. Consequently the leading No. 45 Porsche and the second-place No. 3 Corvette gained nearly a full lap on the rest of the GT2 entries when officials began a wave-by to reform the field.

"There was a small gap between the Corvettes, and I could hear the excitement in (crew chief) Dan Bink's voice on the radio when he said, 'Don't let him by! Don't let him by!'" O'Connell recalled. "I already had that figured out, because it's happened to us enough over the years when we lost out on a safety car wave-by."

When racing resumed, a pack of five GT2 cars were fighting furiously for third place, separated by just 3.5 seconds. Beretta's No. 4 Corvette C6.R and the No. 92 BWM driven by Dirk Mueller eventually broke free, and Mueller took the third place on the podium with a pass going into the first turn with five minutes remaining.

"It's not our usual result, but nonetheless today was a great victory for Corvette Racing," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "To come out here with only a few days of
testing on two brand-new race cars, run with the leaders, demonstrate our pit stop prowess and race strategy, and finish second is a testament to how hard this team works. I think every fan of sports car racing now knows there is going to be some spectacular GT racing in the American Le Mans Series."

The ethanol-powered Corvette C6.Rs also swept the top two spots in the MICHELIN GREEN X
Challenge with the best overall scores among the 26 GT and prototype entries based on energy used, greenhouse gases emitted, and petroleum fuels displaced. "Not only did we see a tremendous display of great planning and execution today, but also we saw Corvette win the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge yet again," Fehan said. "That is emblematic of the new General .

The new APR Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler helps to complete the look of your Chevrolet Corvette C6, C6 Grand Sport, or C6 Z06 with subtle and sleek lines.
 

This spoiler is made using the pre-preg. carbon manufacturing process, where it is vacuum-bagged and formed inside an autoclave at high temperatures.  After it is removed from the autoclave and cleaned up, it is then coated in UV-stable clear-coat for fade-resistance under the sun. Additionally, the APR Rear Spoiler helps to balance out the car’s aerodynamics when used with an APR Front Air Dam. The spoiler package consists of Carbon Fiber Construction, Vehicle Specific Design, & Mounting Hardware Included.

East Coast Corvettes
866-692-6838
www.eastcoastvette.com





 

Volant’s Cool Air Intake™ offers 2008-’09 Corvette owners true ram-air induction from a sealed high-flow intake system. Volant’s unique cold air box design prevents contamination from engine heat, while allowing cooler, more dense air to enter into the engine.

The Volant Corvette Cool Air Intake™ system #15870 gathers air from two locations; below the vehicle’s fan shroud and behind the fog lamps. The large cold air box holds more air volume than the factory unit, to give the engine immediate throttle response when called for. In addition, Volant’s Corvette air intake system incorporates the company’s 5-layer, Pro-5 cotton/gauze filter element that gives extra filtration protection while providing increased airflow.
 
Volant’s Corvette intake is made from high strength, X-link polyethylene plastic that gives the intake a factory OEM appearance and allows for increased air velocity from smooth bends and a tapered design that can’t be achieved with metal intake tubes. In addition, Volant uses high-grade silicone sleeves and stainless steel clamps that endure a secure fit and eliminate distortion from long-term exposure to engine heat. Volant’s Cold Air Intake™ fits standard and Z06 model 2008-’09 Corvettes with the 6.2L, LS3 / LS9 V-8’s and 7.0L, LS7 V-8 engines.

For more information, contact Volant, 9255 Archibald Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, California 91730, (909) 476-7225. Or visit them on the web at www.volant.com.

 

Have you blown out your C5’s OE composite power steering pulley after making even modest power upgrades?

Or simply want to add a little bling under the hood of your C6? Zip-design 10-spoke 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum pulley proves “utility” doesn’t have to mean boring! CNC-cut with a high-polished finish. Made in the USA.

Zip Products
800/962-9632
804/746-2290
www.zip-corvette.com

 

The “ultimate diff” – Zip’s severe duty unit with a Quaife torque biasing carrier added. Superior to a limited-slip, the Quaife unit drives both wheels equally under most all conditions, one exception being cornering. Here the biasing action directs near-total power (80/20) to the outside planted wheel. Less inside spin means harder-on-the-throttle response to build higher exit speed.

Proprietary to Zip’s Race Duty Quaife diff are fittings to allow use of a temperature sensor and differential cooler, plus micro-polished gear sets for reduced friction. Built in-house by skilled technicians, all differentials are backed by Zip’s satisfaction guarantee and include a 3-year unlimited mileage warranty against defects in materials or workmanship. Available in 3.73. 3.90 and 4.10 ratios. Differentials sold on exchange.
 
Zip Products differentials pushed Leighton Reese and his Banner Engineering C5/C6 Corvette
through three seasons of the SPEED World Challenge GT series, plus two seasons of Rolex GT
including the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Zip is confident you won’t find a better built differential!
 
Zip Products
800/962-9632
804/746-2290
www.zip-corvette.com
 

That's right...this '68 Corvette has only 32,000 miles on it...and December's Corvette Fever is the only place you'll see it. (Unless you were standing right next to it.)

Those RPO P01 wheel covers don't belong on a 435-horsepower Vette, you say. 

But they belong on Greg Horton's Rally Red '68, because they were ordered on there, ALONG WITH the solid-lifter L71 427, M22 "Rock Crusher" 4-speed, and almost every other option except air conditioning.

Read more about it...along with another '68 Vette (that proves that just one '68 Vette isn't enough)...An "example" '66 Sting Ray...and Alan Colvin test drives Keisler's new T45-85 gearbox.

All this and lots more in December's Corvette Fever...on newsstands NOW!