 |
| Thursday October 16, 2008 | | Corvette Racing Wins Inaugural ALMS Green Challenge at Petit Le Mans |  Discussion
| BRASELTON, Ga., Oct. 4, 2008 – A race that began with Johnny O'Connell's daughter singing the national anthem on the starting grid at Road Atlanta ended 9 hours and 41 minutes later with a victory in the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans for O'Connell and his teammates Jan Magnussen and Ron Fellows. O'Connell and Magnussen clinched the American Le Mans Series GT1 drivers championship with their eighth win of the season in the No. 3 Compuware with one race still to run.
The No. 3 Corvette C6.R completed 365 laps on the 2.54-mile road course, finishing six laps ahead of the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, and Max Papis. The two Corvettes exchanged the lead in the GT1 class twice on pit stops in the first half of the race, but a malfunctioning throttle linkage at the 5:43 mark put the No. 4 Corvette six laps down to its sister car. The Corvettes finished 10th and 11th overall in the 37-car field.
The No. 3 Corvette C6.R also had the best score in the inaugural Green Challenge, securing the team award in the GT class for Corvette Racing and the manufacturer award for General Motors. Powered by cellulosic E85R ethanol made from waste wood, the winning Corvette had a score of 20.391, the best overall score in the competition based on based on performance, fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
"Going into the second half of the season, Corvette Racing's goal was to win the first Green Challenge," said Steve Wesoloski, GM Racing Road Racing Group manager. "Winning the Green Challenge with the best score among both GT cars and Prototypes was a team effort that combined the expertise of GM Powertrain, our engine supplier Katech, and Pratt & Miller Engineering.
"It's not just about making the engine more efficient and more environmentally friendly," Wesoloski explained. "We looked at things like reducing wheel bearing friction and aerodynamic drag to win the Green Challenge. Alternative renewable fuels are an important part of GM's gas-friendly to gas-free program, and GM already has more E85-compatible vehicles on the road than any other manufacturer. Green Racing ties in with what the corporation is doing in production vehicles. We're developing the technology to improve both efficiency and performance, and we're proving it on the race track."
The win was the 36th of O'Connell's career, the 27th ALMS victory for Fellows, and the 22nd for Magnussen. Fellows and O'Connell last won Petit Le Mans in 2002, while Magnussen posted victories in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
"It's huge to win the championship here," said O'Connell, a resident of nearby Flowery Branch. "My goal this season was to win the championship. I was excited to go into this year with Jan and improve on what we'd built in 2007. To share this win with Ron is very special. We've shared cars for eight years, and to win Petit Le Mans together is great."
Fellows teamed with O'Connell and Magnussen for three endurance races in 2008, winning two of them. He was driving the No. 3 Corvette when it completed 70 percent of the race distance, mathematically clinching the GT1 title for his teammates.
"I'm happy for Johnny and Jan, they've had a great season," said the Canadian. "I've enjoyed the races we've run together, and we've done very well with a win at Sebring, a close second at Le Mans, and now a win at Petit Le Mans."
Magnussen drove the final stint in the endurance race, which was interrupted by 11 full-course caution periods.
"In my last stint I was just cruising and trying to bring it home," said Magnussen. "There was a lot on the line here with the championship and a win at Petit Le Mans, so I didn't want to make any mistakes.
"It's fantastic to win the championship with Johnny," said the Dane. "Last year we found how it feels when you don't win the championship, so be able to win it in the way we've done it, with eight wins, is just fantastic. Now we can go to Laguna Seca and have fun."
Beretta was able to nurse the No. 4 Corvette C6.R back to the pits at an idle after the throttle linkage malfunctioned coming out of Turn 7. The crew made repairs and got the car back on track nine minutes later.
"The fact that the Corvette C6.R engine has so much torque enabled me to get back to the pits," said Gavin. "Otherwise the hills here at Road Atlanta would have left me stuck out on the track. It was dicey because I had to drive the entire length of the straight with the engine on idle. I was staring in the mirror to make sure I wouldn't get in anyone's way – I was going about 25 mph, and they were passing me at 180!"
Corvette Racing’s next event is the Monterey Sports Car Challenge, the season finale of the 2008 American Le Mans Series, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., on Saturday, October 18. The four-hour race is scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m. PDT. NBC will televise the race tape-delayed at 2 - 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 19.
Petit Le Mans GT1 Results
Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. O'Connell/Magnussen/Fellows, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 365
2. Gavin/Beretta/Papis, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 359
GT1 Championship Standings (unofficial after 10 of 11 events)
Manufacturer/Points
1. Chevrolet 225
2. Aston Martin 70
Driver/Points
1. Jan Magnussen 217
Johnny O'Connell 217
2. Oliver Gavin 190
Olivier Beretta 190
3. Terry Borcheller 70
Chapman Ducote 70
4. Ron Fellows 60
5. Max Papis 52
6. Antonio Garcia 23
NEXT EVENT
October 18, Monterey Sports Car Championships, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif.
Dave Salvatore
Corvette Manager
| | Source: General Motors |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Thursday September 25, 2008 | | Corvette Racing Announces Future Plans | Discussion
| Chevrolet Team to Race for 2009 Le Mans GT1 Title, Develop New GT Version of Corvette C6.R for 2010 DETROIT - Corvette Racing will aim for a sixth victory in the GT1 class in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans before entering the GT2 category in the second half of the American Le Mans Series 2009 season. Corvette Racing will launch a full-season assault in the restructured GT division in 2010. Corvette Racing representatives announced the plans in a media teleconference. Corvette Racing will run a limited schedule in the GT1 class in the first half of the 2009 ALMS season as it prepares for its 10th participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. The team will race in the GT1 class in the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the popular Grand Prix of Long Beach. Following its return from the classic 24-hour endurance race in France, Corvette Racing will compete in the GT2 category in selected ALMS events in 2009 in preparation for a full-season program under new international GT class regulations in 2010. "Corvette Racing will be well positioned for the future of production-based sports car racing worldwide with the plans we are announcing today," said Steve Wesoloski, GM Racing Road Racing Group manager. "The international regulations are converging around a single, global GT class, and we intend to continue Corvette's motorsports heritage by racing against manufacturers and marques that Corvette competes with in the marketplace." "The GT1 class has been a platform for GM Racing and our partners to develop the most technically sophisticated race cars in our history," Wesoloski said. "We intend to apply the tremendous success we have had in the GT1 category to make the next-generation Corvette C6.R a strong contender in the new GT class." Manufacturers currently represented in the ALMS GT2 class or confirmed for future participation include Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, BMW, Ford, Dodge, and Panoz. Other manufacturers produce high-performance cars that could compete in the new GT category. "In accordance with the regulations, the new version of the Corvette C6.R race car will be available to independent teams," Wesoloski said. "Corvette and Chevrolet are global brands, and we look forward to seeing production-based Corvette race cars competing in series around the world under the leadership of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)." The new GT Corvette C6.R race car will be based on the production Corvette's chassis and body design. A 6.0-liter version of the LS7.R small-block V-8 will power the Corvette GT2 entry in the transitional 2009 season. A new naturally aspirated 5.5-liter version of the production GM small-block V-8 will be developed to meet the new GT regulations that will take effect in 2010. The chassis and powertrain specifications of the new Corvette GT entry will be submitted to the ACO and FIA for homologation approval. "Competing in GT2 will be a true test of our team's determination, talent and technology," said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing program manager. "The level of competition in the category is already fierce, and that promises to become more intense with more manufacturers and top-tier teams. We've explored alternative paths, and we believe that competing in GT is the right road for Corvette Racing to take in the future." "We will continue our commitment to cellulosic E85R ethanol racing fuel in the current GT1 Corvette C6.R and the next-generation Corvette C6.R that will compete in the new GT class," Fehan said. "Corvette Racing's green racing initiative is proof of our commitment to using alternative fuels at the highest levels of motorsports." Corvette Racing is America's premier production sports car team, with 72 wins in 100 races. The most succ
essful team in ALMS history, Corvette Racing has won seven consecutive ALMS GT1 manufacturers and team championships and six straight drivers championships. Corvette Racing has five GT1 victories since 2001 in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. "The 2009 season will mark Corvette Racing's 10th anniversary in international endurance racing, and it will also mark the beginning of a new chapter in Corvette's racing history," said Mark Kent, director of GM Racing. "Corvette Racing has consistently delivered tangible engineering and marketing benefits to GM and Chevrolet. Our announcement today of Corvette Racing's future plans affirms the continuing value of production-based racing as a development tool for advanced technology in powertrain, aerodynamics, lightweight materials, safety, and computer modeling. "It's not just high-performance machines like the Corvette Z06 and ZR1 that bear witness to the positive impact of racing," Kent said. "The lessons learned at Corvette Racing can benefit mainstream production vehicles as GM continues to develop lightweight, aerodynamic, and fuel-efficient cars and trucks." Corvette Racing’s next event is Petit Le Mans, the 10th round of the 2008 American Le Mans Series, at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga. The 1,000-mile/10-hour race is scheduled to start at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Saturday, October 4. SPEED will televise the race live starting at 11 a.m. EDT. Dave Salvatore, Corvette Manager | | Source: Chevrolet Racing |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Thursday September 11, 2008 | | Motorama Returns to Detroit | Discussion
| When GM celebrates the beginning of its next 100 years on September 16th 2008, 55 Corvettes will be on display outside its World Headquarters at Detroit’s Renaissance Center. The Corvettes are in fact the Historic Motorama II, a caravan from the National Corvette Museum (NCM) which is comprised of one example from each of the 55 years of Corvette production. The Historic Motorama II owners/drivers will be representing a cross-section of Corvette enthusiasts from across the country. The caravan will depart from the NCM on September 10th with stops along the way. GM’s Heritage Center has been working with the NCM for several months to make the Historic Motorama II part of this important GM event. The National Corvette Museum is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky across the road from GM’s Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant. Many Corvette owners participating in the Historic Motorama II took deliver of their special car through the NCM’s Delivery Program. The program is available to anyone who purchases a Corvette. Since it’s opening in 1994, the NCM has become the center of the Corvette culture in America. The now famous 68,000 sq ft facility houses a large number of significant and historic Corvettes, as well as exhibits and displays which depict important aspects of the Corvette’s history. People attending the GMnext Day activities on September 16th will be able to view the Corvettes before and after the official program. It is very appropriate that the Corvettes join in the Gmnext Day program because the Corvette owners and enthusiasts comprise one of the most passionate of all the automotive cultures. Since its launch in 1953, the Corvette has grown to become one of the key symbolic vehicles that expresses America’s love affair with the automobile. Dave Salvatore Corvette Manager | | Source: GM Next |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Thursday August 7, 2008 | | Chevy Starts LPO Program for 2009 Corvette Accessories! | Discussion
| 2009 Corvette Dealer Accessories are Now Bowling Green Options! Chevrolet has begun a Single Line LPO program that allows customer-ordered Corvettes to be built with dealer accessories, turning them into factory options that appear on the Corvette's window sticker, and tally toward the Corvette's sticker price. Here's how it works...Dealer accessories are normally bought after a Corvette is delivered. Now, a customer can specify the dealer accessories he wants built into his Corvette and they will become part of the Corvette's build details. That means they will show on the Window Sticker, the Build Sheet and the Dealer Invoice. Currently, these are the dealer accessories and their respective option codes that can built onto a custom-ordered 2009 Corvette: - VDN - Indoor Vehicle Cover
- VJ5 - Outdoor Vehicle Cover
- VDA - Mesh Package (includes side coves and grill)
- VEB - Pedal Covers 5V5 - Full Width Racing Spoiler
- VFS - 18/19" 7 spoke Chrome Wheels
- VEU - 18/19" 15 spoke Polished Wheels
Kerbeck Corvette will be happy to custom order a new 2009 Corvette with any of these options. If you already have a Corvette, Kerbeck will be happy to help you equip it with any Genuine Corvette Accessory through our Parts and Service Department! Dave Salvatore Corvette Manager | | Source: General Motors |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Sunday August 3, 2008 | | Kerbeck Corvette Announces 0% APR On All New, 2008 Corvettes! | Discussion
| Kerbeck Corvette is happy to announce 0% APR financing on all new, 2008 Corvettes in stock! This special program announced by General Motors on August 1, 2008 will be in effect until August 19, 2008. The program is for new 2008 Corvettes only. The vehichle must be in stock and excludes prior sales. This program is for qualified buyers approved through GMAC. This special Corvette interest rate give 0% on new, 2008 Corvette Convertibles for up to 60 months and up to 48 months for new, 2008 Corvette Coupes and new, 2008 Corvette Z06s. At the time of this post, Kerbeck Corvette has 38 new, 2008 Corvettes in stock which all qualify for this program. You can view our 2008 Corvette Inventory by clicking on the link. Dave Salvatore Corvette Manager | | Source: Kerbeck Corvette |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Tuesday July 29, 2008 | | [PICTURES] New 2009 Colors - Blade Silver Metallic and Cyber Gray Metallic! | Discussion
| Here's some side by side pictures of the new Corvette colors for 2009 here on the Kerbeck Corvette lot!    The new Cyber Gray Metallic has a lot of flake that's blue and silver that hard to see from afar, but here's a close up so you can see for yourself: 
In the above pictures, the new Blade Silver may not look much different than the 2005-2008 Machine Silver, but here's a few side by side comparisons that show how much lighter and crisper the new Blade Silver is:    Side by side from a distance, they're still tough to tell apart, but you can see them side by side at the Kerbeck Corvette Showroom in Atlantic City...at least until we run out of 2008 Machine Silvers!
 Dave Salvatore, Corvette Manager | | Source: Kerbeck Corvette |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Friday July 25, 2008 | | Retiring GM Executive To Drive Corvette Z06 Pace Car At Brickyard | Discussion
|  In 1997, when John Middlebrook served as Chevrolet's general manager, he said: "Corvette is now, and will continue to remain Chevrolet's flagship. It is our technological and image showcase. Even more importantly, Corvette stands as the most singularly dramatic example of what we mean by 'Genuine Chevrolet.' Corvette is much more than just a car. It's a love affair. Words alone fail to convey the passion it inspires." Just 11 years later, Middlebrook, who retired July 1 as GM vice president of global sales, service and marketing operations, will share with the world his passion for Corvette, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NASCAR as he leads the field to green in the 2008 Corvette Z06 Pace Car for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 27, 2008. "It is great honor for me to have the opportunity to drive the Corvette Z06 Pace Car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," Middlebrook said. "There is a tremendous Chevrolet heritage at the Speedway dating back to the involvement of Louis Chevrolet in the Indianapolis 500 in the early-1900s. To play a small role in continuing that tradition behind the wheel of the 505-horsepower Corvette Pace Car for NASCAR's 15th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is a memory I will embrace." Middlebrook, whose career with General Motors spanned nearly five decades, has made tremendous contributions to GM in a variety of roles over his career and is well known and highly respected and admired throughout the industry as a true sales and marketing professional.  "John has been an outstanding steward of motorsports throughout his career, and it's only fitting to pay tribute to what he's meant to GM and to the sport by having him drive the Pace Car at the Brickyard," said Ed Peper, North American vice president of Chevrolet. "He is a true leader, and all of Chevy will be cheering him on as he drives the car he loves—the Corvette Z06 Pace Car—as he leads the entire NASCAR Sprint Cup starting field to the green flag in Sunday's race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway." Said Joie Chitwood, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief operating officer: "John Middlebrook has been a valued friend and business partner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for decades. His leadership, knowledge and experience have been a driving force behind the longstanding relationship between IMS and Chevrolet. We're looking forward to seeing him drive the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard field to the green in a Corvette Z06." 2008 marks the 15th time that Chevrolet has paced the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and the fourth consecutive time Corvette has led the pack. Chevrolet's pacing tradition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway also extends to the Indianapolis 500 where Chevrolet has paced that esteemed race 19 times with Corvette leading the field 10 times. Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Pace Cars: 2008 - Corvette Z06 2007 - Corvette Z06 2006 - Corvette Z06 2005 - SSR 2004 - Monte Carlo 2003 - Monte Carlo 2002 - Monte Carlo 2001 - Monte Carlo 2000 - Monte Carlo 1999 - Monte Carlo 1998 - Monte Carlo 1997 - Monte Carlo 1996 - Camaro 1995 - C/K 1500 1994 - Monte Carlo The 15th running of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, July 27. Live coverage will be provided on ESPN and the IMS Radio Network. You can discuss this story with other Corvette Enthusiasts on the Kerbeck Corvette Message Board! Dave Salvatore Corvette Manager | | Source: Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Sunday July 20, 2008 | | MYSTERY CORVETTE ON MOVIE SET HAS PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS | Discussion
|  This photo, found on the "Ultimate Transformers Resource" fan site seibertron.com, is a spy photo from the set of the upcoming Transformers movie sequel, "Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen". The photo has two completely different groups of people asking questions.
First are the Transformers fans who want to know what is it? Is this a new character? What's its name? Is it good or evil? No one who knows for sure is talking, but with the attention this car has been getting in many blogs, I think it will be a new main charater. The car is surrounded by Autobots [those are the good guys, for any readers who might have missed out on Saturday morning cartoons of the 80's], which leads many to believe this new car is also a good guy in alternative mode.
 The second group interested in this car is the car enthusiasts who want to know what is it? The shape of the car's fenders as well as its split rear window and aggressive port behind the rear wheel are all well-known Corvette styling cues, suggesting the fantasy car is Corvette-based.
Jalopnik published the first photos. "We're now told," they write, that the car "is a Corvette concept." Based on an email tip, Jalopnik says the photo may be "a 2010 (or 2012) Corvette." They continue, "We're starting to think GM's decided the auto show scene isn't where they're going to capture the next generation of car lovers. Instead, they've decided -- why not take the show to the people by way of the silver screen?" They acknowledge, "we're speculating here — but the idea itself may actually make some sense." In a later post, Jalopnik runs two more photos of the mystery 'vette. Edmunds Inside Line asks, "Could GM really be unveiling a new concept car in a film, rather than at an auto show? It certainly would be effective in garnering wide publicity." Autoblog picks up the speculation. "Do we officially know that these are Corvettes of some sort?" they ask. "No, but the fender shapes, split rear window, and the port aft of the front wheel are familial styling cues that seal the deal. We're dying to know if this is just a movie creation or a concept that's in the pipeline to be revealed publicly at some future time." GM made a big splash with the 2010 Camaro playing the part of Bumble Bee in the first Transformers movie, why not do it again? Seen among the ranks of the set were the n
ew Chevrolet Beat and Chevrolet Trax mini-car concepts, so GM is obviously looking to market to many different groups of people through the action film due to be released June 26, 2009. While I think it would be great for General Motors to release a car this way, I'm a little skeptical. My best guess is the car is more likely to be an old Corvette wearing a Chip Foose-designed skin for Hollywood. You can discuss this story with other Corvette Enthusiasts on the Kerbeck Corvette Message Boards!
Dave Salvatore
Corvette Manager
| | Source: Multiple - Listed in Story |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Thursday July 17, 2008 | | [VIDEO] 2009 Corvette ZR1 LS9 Engine Build | Discussion
| Automobile Magazine gets to tag along with Master Engine Builder Bruce Blomfield as he assembles one of the first production 2009 Corvette ZR1 LS9 engines at GM's Performance Build Center. Each of the supercharged 638 hp LS9s are assembled by hand and the entire process takes about four and a half hours. You can discuss this story with other Corvette Enthusiasts on the Kerbeck Corvette Message Boards! Dave Salvatore Corvette Manager | | Source: Automobile Magazine via CorvetteBlogger.com |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Friday July 11, 2008 | | Video: Corvette ZR1 at the Nurburgring | Discussion
| GM posted this video on their GMNext website of the Corvette ZR1 doing a lap of the Nurburgring. It's a cockpit video with a stat overlay, showing the car hitting close to 180 mph on the final straightaway. Put on your headphones and crank up the volume, because the engine and road sounds come through clearly. You can almost feel the car hitting the apexes. Final lap time: 7:26.4. If you'd like more information on how to get a Corvette ZR1 from Kerbeck, please send an email to zr1@kerbeck.com. Please include a daytime phone number where you can be reached. | | Source: GMNext.com |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
Next | Previous
| |