Month: June 2012

How would you like the chance to get advice from a Chevrolet engineer without leaving the comfort of your own home?

That’s a very real possibility now that Chevrolet Performance has just begun a social community that caters to car enthusiasts.

It’s called The BLOCK and offers interactive features of enthusiasts’ vehicles along with the latest insider information on new parts, Chevrolet factory-performance models, and Chevy racing action. You can even pick up the latest info on the next-generation Corvette on The BLOCK as soon as it’s released.

Since GM engineers and other insiders will be on The BLOCK, the advice on selecting the right camshaft for an LS-engine upgrade, for example, might just come directly from a Chevrolet Performance engineer. How’s that for service?

“The BLOCK is social media for gearheads,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles & Motorsports. “Whether you’re into street rods, muscle cars, trucks or late-model performers, it is designed for enthusiasts of all stripes to share their experiences and talk about their projects with like-minded people who share a passion for building, racing and enjoying cars and trucks.”

Each BLOCK member will be assigned a “QR” or Quick Response code that could be placed in the windshield of his car. Then let’s say you are at a car show, cruise night, drag race, or just about anywhere, someone else can scan the code and call up your profile. They could see the history of your car’s restoration, for example, or car-show awards you’ve garnered or even a video of your pride and joy.

“Wherever your car is, other enthusiasts will be able to view everything you want to share about it,” said Campbell. “It’s a great way to start conversations with new friends and tell your story in a unique way.”

At The BLOCK, members can find out about the latest Chevrolet performance vehicles, get the first look at new crate engines and other items from Chevrolet Performance, read about the latest Chevy vehicles and get other Chevrolet news as soon as it’s released, see exclusive content about the industry, personality profiles and more, communicate with other BLOCK members through the exclusive forum, keep up with Chevrolet Performance racing, stay on top of coming events, and more.

“We are excited to see where the enthusiasts take The BLOCK,” said Campbell. “We’ve provided the space for them, but they will drive where it goes from here.”

Source:
General Motors

Related:
Corvette Racing’s #74 C6.R Quickest at Le Mans Test Day
Corvette Fever: Road & Track Tests Every New Corvette
Chevrolet Is The Top Performance Brand in the USA

 

Father’s Day is June 17th so now is the time to starting thinking about some great Corvette gifts for Dad. Our friends at Corvette Central have put together some great ideas for you plus they are offering Free Shipping with purchases of $199 or more. Check out some of these ideas but hurry as the free shipping offer expires on Wednesday, June 6th.

Check out Corvette Central’s Online catalog or the PDF catalog of Corvette Accessories for more shopping ideas.

Source:
Corvette Central

Related:
Bloomington Gold Announces 2012 Inductees into The Great Hall
CorvetteBlogger Visits Corvette Central
Get the Latest Accessories Catalog for 1953-2012 Corvettes from Corvette Central

 

If you scroll through Corvette production numbers between 1970 and 1976 you’ll notice that there’s no mention of the color black in there anywhere. Now, we all know that GM bigwigs could pull some strings and a get a Corvette in essentially any color they wanted. That’s the case here in which GM’s President, Pete Estes, ordered up a loaded black 1972 roadster. We caught up with this rarity at an NCRS event last weekend.

The black ’72 spent most of its life in southwestern Michigan before being acquired by Bloomington Gold’s new owner, Guy Larsen. As you’d expect from a special order car, it’s decked out with A/C, power brakes, power windows, hardtop, power steering, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, automatic transmission, AM/FM stereo radio, white stripe tires, and the PO2 wheel covers.

Documenting rare cars is very important and this one has all of the required provenance. Paperwork includes multiple build sheets, the original title, Protect-O-Plate, window sticker, and tank sticker. What really adds to this car is the fact that it’s completely original and unrestored. The odometer shows 54,000 original miles. The 40 year old paint shows signs of age and battle scars from 4 decades of use and deserves to be left that way. Last summer, the car was awarded the coveted NCRS 4 Star Bowtie award in recognition of its originality at the 2011 NCRS National Convention. It also has a Top Flight Award to its credit. In addition it made an appearance in Jessica Simpson’s Take My Breathe Away music video.

Recently the car ran through the Mecum Indianapolis auction where it was a no sale at $70,000. That’s a hefty premium over a standard 1972 convertible, but it’s worth every penny and probably more. Odds are that you’re not going to find another real black ’72 anytime soon. Let alone a completely unrestored one.

You can check out some pics of this car in our gallery below.

Related:
New Ownership at Bloomington Gold
2011 NCRS National Convention Invades the Motor City

Corvettes on eBay: 1972 Corvette ZR1 – The Rarest of all Small-Block Chevy Corvettes

 

Don’t mess with a good thing, goes the old saying.

Action Express ignored that advice Sunday when it broke up the longest-running driver pairing in the paddock, giving Darren Law and David Donohue new partners after the duo had competed together in more than 100 races.

The strategy proved to be a good move by Action Express.

Law and Joao Barbosa teamed to take first place in the Daytona Prototype class at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, just ahead of second-place finishers Donohue and Terry Borcheller.

“Winning Detroit in a Chevrolet Corvette right here in front of Chevrolet’s headquarters?” Barbosa asked. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Barbosa’s daring pass of his teammate Donohue gave him the lead for good with less than 30 minutes to go, but it was a move that Donohue didn’t particularly appreciate.

“Joao didn’t give me a lot of room going into (Turn) one,” Donohue fumed. “It was a hairy move but luckily we got through and got a good finish. We made a hard run at it.”

Some tough luck befell other challengers as well.

The Gainsco DP led early with Jon Forgarty and Alex Gurney, but Gurney’s mixup in Pit Lane kept that team from winning. Gurney drove through the pits thinking incorrectly they were closed, and when he pitted after everyone had, it wound up putting him out of contention.

Another challenger, the Spirit of Daytona Corvette, also fell by the wayside when Richard Westbrook broke his right rear suspension after an optimistic move inside GT driver Joe Foster.

In the GT class, it was the #88 Autohaus Camaro with Jordan Taylor and Paul Edwards that finished first for their first win this season. The MazdaSpeed team of Sylvain Tremblay and Jonathan Bomarito finished second while Robin Liddell and John Edwards finished third in Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro GT.R.

“Obviously everyone came into the race a little bit blind,” said Jordan Taylor, who is already en route to Le Mans to participate in the Test Days with Corvette Racing. “We only got a limited time running in the dry so I think whoever off-loaded the truck the best was going to have a good shot at it, and we definitely had that. It’s great to have a result like this here in Detroit.”

The Rolex Sports Car Series will be back next weekend for the EMCO Gears Classic at Mid-Ohio. The race will be broadcast live on SPEED on June 9th at 4:30 PM ET.

Source:
Motorsport.com

Related:
Corvette and Camaro to Pace Detroit’s Belle Isle Races
Corvette Racer and Car Sponsor Ready for Saturday’s GRAND-AM 200 at Belle Isle
Suntrust Racing Takes Corvette DP To Victory Lane At New Jersey’s Global Barter 250

 

On Friday, General Motors released their monthly sales report for May 2012 and it shows that 1,219 buyers took delivery of a new Corvette. Despite sales being down -6% from May 2011′s number of 1,304, this a very solid sales figure which includes deliveries of the very first 2013 Corvettes. For the calendar year to date, Corvette sales are pacing slightly behind 2011 (-0.9%) with 5,547 Corvettes delivered in 2012 vs 5,597 Corvettes in 2011.

As mentioned, 2013 Corvette production in May has ramped up in a big way. A total of 1,573 Corvettes were assembled last month with 1,479 being the new 2013 model. Looking back, we see this is the highest monthly production in a year.

Now that 2012 Corvette production has officially closed, we have the total for the model year production run: 11,647. The annual sales figure hasn’t been that low since the 10,939 Corvettes that were built in 1961.

Incentives for buying a new Corvette haven’t changed from last month. For remaining 2012 Corvettes, buyers can get a special APR of 0% up to 60th months and 2.9% for 72 months. Dealer cash of $1,500 is still in effect and can be combined with the 0% financing offer. There is also a $3,000 retention offer but you must be on the list. Check with your dealer for details. These current incentives run through July 2, 2012.

Bowling Green Production:

• 2012 Model Year Production in May 2012: 94
• 2012 Model Year To Date Through May 2012: 11,647
• 2013 Model Year Production in May 2012: 1,479
• 2013 Model Year To Date Through May 2012: 1,548
• 2012 Calendar Year to Date through May 2012: 6,197

Our monthly GM sales reports are sponsored by Kerbeck Corvette in Atlantic City, NJ. If you’re interested in a remaining 2012 Corvette or ordering one of the new 2013 models, talk to one of Kerbeck’s Corvette Specialists about a custom order to meet your specifications. Visit Kerbeck Corvette on the web at www.kerbeck.com or call Dave Salvatore at 877-537-2325.

Source:
GM.com

Related:
April 2012 Corvette Sales
March 2012 Corvette Sales
February 2012 Corvette Sales

 

Gavin Sets the Pace in GTE Pro in No. 74 Corvette C6.R; Taylor Walks Away from Encounter with Tire Wall in No. 73 Corvette C6.R

LE MANS, France, June 3, 2012 – Corvette Racing ended the Le Mans Test Day first and fourth in the GTE Pro category. Oliver Gavin ran the quickest lap in the two four-hour sessions at 3:58.971 in the No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R, more than half a second quicker than the car’s qualifying pace last year. The No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R covered the 8.5-mile circuit in 4:00.062, the fourth fastest time in the production-based class, before being sidelined by an encounter with a tire wall.

“We made some changes to the suspension and gearbox, and the track was coming in,” said Gavin after his fast lap. “The balance of the car was good. We didn’t get a run on new tires because of rain and yellow flags, but the tires were reasonably fresh and I wanted to see what we could do. I think the chassis is very close and the engine department is making big steps forward. I’m with the best team in the pit lane and the crew has done a stellar job of preparing the cars.”

At the top of the team’s to-do list was qualifying rookie Jordan Taylor to drive the No. 73 Corvette at Le Mans. After co-driving the GT class-winning Camaro GT.R in the Chevrolet Grand-Am Detroit 200 on Saturday, the 21-year-old racer took an overnight flight to Paris and then hopped on a helicopter to Le Mans. He arrived at the circuit just before the start of the afternoon session at 2 p.m., and promptly completed his required 10 laps.

Taylor’s Le Mans debut then ended abruptly in the tire wall at the entrance to the Porsche Curves. Taylor was uninjured, but the No. 73 Corvette had right-side body damage and did not return for the remainder of the afternoon session.

“Racing takes you from the highest highs to the lowest lows,” Taylor said. “I was living the dream, driving at Le Mans, and the dream just ends when you lose it like that. I know the crew can put the car back together, but it shouldn’t have happened.

“I was only supposed to get my 10 laps in and I guess I got a bit greedy trying to learn the track and get up to speed quicker,” he explained. “My times were coming down every lap, but I went for it in the Porsche Curves and it caught me out. The hit felt bigger than it was, so I’m glad about that, but I feel terrible for everyone.”

Before the accident, Taylor’s co-drivers Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia put the No. 73 Corvette close to the 4-minute mark on a day that saw a mix of rain, sun, clouds and blue sky.

“All’s good,” Garcia said. “We have been trying different things today, getting the 2012-spec car dialed in to this track. At Le Mans, every lap always counts, even if it rains for a while. You never know what the weather and track conditions will be in qualifying and the race, so you try to get as much information today to work with next week when it matters. Compared to last year, the new car is a major improvement.”

Magnussen agreed: “Overall we’re in much better shape than last year at the same time thanks to the development the team did over winter,” he said. “The balance is very good and the car is user-friendly which is important in a long race. The starting point is the best I’ve had in a long time, and I’m really happy.”

Richard Westbrook, third driver in the No. 74 Corvette, was unable to attend the Test Day, but Gavin and Tommy Milner are confident that the car will suit all of its drivers. “It’s always good when your car number is on the top of the timing screen,” Milner said. “Compared to last year, the driveability of the car is better and the speed is there. This team is working very well together – the engineers, the crew, and the drivers are all in tune and have the same mindset. When race week arrives, we can focus on getting into a rhythm, getting Richard comfortable in the car, and go on from there.”

Team manager Gary Pratt, a veteran of 12 Le Mans campaigns with Corvette Racing, knows what to expect at this race. “This place will jump up and bite you in a hurry,” Pratt said. “That’s the first mistake I’ve seen Jordan make. Tire walls look like they do a lot of damage, but it’s mostly exterior panels so it’s not a big deal. We’ll have the No. 73 Corvette fixed and be ready to go again.

“All of the drivers are really comfortable with the cars,” Pratt noted. “They feel they can be aggressive and attack the course. That’s a great way to have a car to start the race. We may sacrifice a little on the straightaway to have the cars good in the corners, and I think that’s better for the race.”

Corvette Racing’s next event is the 24 Hours of Le Mans in Le Mans, France, on June 16-17. The 80th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours will begin with technical scrutineering on Sunday and Monday, June 10-11, followed by practice and qualifying on Wednesday, June 13, and Thursday, June 14. The race will start Saturday at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET). SPEED and SPEED.com will provide continuous coverage starting at 8:30 a.m. ET on June 16; see local listings for program times.

24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day GTE-Pro Results
Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car

1. 74 Gavin/Milner/Westbrook, Corvette C6.R, 3:58.971
2. 59 Makowiecki/Melo/Farnbacher, Ferrari 458 Italia, 3:59.050
3. 51 Fisichella/Bruni/Vilander, Ferrari 458 Italia, 3:59.392
4. 73 Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor, Corvette C6.R, 4:00.062
5. 80 Bergmeister/Long/Holzer, Porsche 911 RSR, 4:00.287
6. 77 Lietz/Lieb/Henzler, Porsche 911 RSR, 4:00.356
7. 71 Bertolini/Beretta/Cioci, Ferrari 458 Italia, 4:00.690
8. 97 Mucke/Turner/Fernandez, Aston Martin Vantage V8, 4:00.892

Source:
CorvetteRacing.com
Photo Credit: Frederic Gaudin/www.lemans.org

Related:
Corvette Racing at Le Mans Test Day: Rites of Passage for Rookie Jordan Taylor
Corvette Racing Reigns in American Le Mans Series Monterey with One-Two Finish
How Virtual Racing Helped Jordan Taylor Secure a Driver Seat With Corvette Racing
Corvette Racing Wins the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans