Podcast #306

Episode #306 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff Ross talk about the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette LT1 engine, including an interview with Jordan Lee, General Motors small block program manager.

Corvette Hall of Famer and Racing Legend John Fitch Passes Away at Age 95

Corvette Hall of Famer and Racing Legend John Fitch Passes Away at Age 95

They don’t make them like John Fitch anymore.

The 95-year-old Corvette racing legend passed away early Wednesday at his home in Lime Rock, Connecticut after a life packed full of accomplishments on and off the track.

Ironically, his initial passion was airplanes, so naturally he volunteered to become a pilot when World War II began. He flew many successful bomber escort missions, including one when he shot down a Messerschmidt ME 262 jet fighter. His P-51 Mustang later crashed when it was hit by enemy fire, and he was captured by the Germans. Just seven years later, he became the first and only American to race for the Mercedes-Benz factory team.

Once the war was over, Fitch had grown used to the speed of aircraft and turned to road racing as an outlet. Briggs Cunningham, the wealthy racing enthusiast, recruited Fitch to race in the 1951 Grand Prix of Argentina where he clinched the first SCCA National Championship with a win.

In 1952, Fitch almost fulfilled Cunningham’s dream of winning Le Mans with an American car and driver, but bad fuel provided by the sanctioning body forced him to leave the race early. That led to Fitch’s move to the Mercedes-Benz team, where in 1955 he took best-in-class, fifth overall in the Mille Miglia driving a stock production 300 SL coupe.

That same year, another major event helped shape Fitch’s life when a terrible crash at Le Mans killed more than 80 people. Fitch became obsessed with highway safety for the rest of his life, leading to his development of the yellow, sand-filled Fitch Inertia Crash Barriers, the yellow crash barrels seen on racetracks and highways that have saved countless lives around the world. He also served as a consultant to numerous research and government organizations on the subject of vehicle handling and dynamics as they relate to safety.

Corvette Hall of Famer and Racing Legend John Fitch Passes Away at Age 95

Shortly after that Le Mans tragedy, Fitch entered the Corvette world. In early 1956, Corvette Chief Engineer Ed Cole asked him to help turn the Corvette into a world-class race car. He promptly went out and developed and managed a team of Corvettes in a span of just six weeks, entering them at Sebring after Zora Arkus-Duntov had told Cole that wasn’t enough time to do the job. Fitch’s team won both classes that year, prompting Corvette Racing’s present-day manager Doug Fehan to lead his drivers years later in a standing ovation for Fitch after accomplishing in less than two months what an entire dedicated organization takes years to do nowadays.

At age 93, in 2010, Fitch was reunited with the 1960 Corvette that he and Bob Grossman co-drove to victory at Le Mans 50 years earlier. He’s been inducted into several major halls of fame, including the Corvette Museum’s Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Bloomington Gold Great Hall just this past June.

Corvette Hall of Famer and Racing Legend John Fitch Passes Away at Age 95

No sir, they don’t make them like John Fitch anymore, and the Corvette Racing world is a little emptier today with his passing.

Source:
Autoweek

Related:
Bloomington Gold Announces 2012 Inductees into The Great Hall
Corvette Racing Legend John Fitch Found Safe and Sound
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Winning 1960 Briggs Cunningham Corvette

 


SEMA 2012: Magnuson Introduces New “Heartbeat” Supercharger System for LS3 C6 Corvettes

SEMA 2012: Magnuson Introduces New

C6 Corvette owners looking for more power have often turned to supercharging their LS3 engines but in doing so, it often required the expense of adding a new high rise hood to insure the proper fit. At the 2012 SEMA show, we learned that Magnuson will be offering their new “Heartbeat” TVS supercharger that fits under the stock hood of an LS3-equipped Corvette.

Magnuson’s TVS 2300 supercharger will unleash your LS3 C6 Corvette’s true potential and will deliver maximum performance while retaining factory-like drivability and reliability. The system utilizes the latest 6th Generation supercharger rotor technology from EATON that is also found in high-end GM performance vehicles like the Corvette ZR-1 and the Cadillac CTS-V.

The Heartbeat supercharger comes as a full kit and will fit under the stock hood of 2008+ LS3-equipped C6 Corvette. The system gives a healthy boost in horsepower and is rated at 526 RWHP, plus you have piece of mind as Magnuson offers a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty.

  • Under the hood fit – no modifications required
  • High-flow inlet forward design
  • Supports larger throttle bodies
  • Dual F1; dual-pass intercoolers
  • 17 pounds lighter than the traditional TVS 2300 system
  • tested to tough O.E. reliability standards
  • Black Powder coat or Polished units available
  • 3-year/36,000 mile warranty

The Magnuson Heartbeat TVS 2300 Supercharger kit is priced at $8,590 for the black powdercoated version or add $1,200 more for the polished unit. The new “Heartbeats” will be available in December 2012 for LS3 engines and then additional applications for other LS engines will be rolled out afterwards.

SEMA 2012: Magnuson Introduces New SEMA 2012: Magnuson Introduces New SEMA 2012: Magnuson Introduces New
SEMA 2012: Magnuson Introduces New SEMA 2012: Magnuson Introduces New SEMA 2012: Magnuson Introduces New
SEMA 2012: Magnuson Introduces New SEMA 2012: Magnuson Introduces New SEMA 2012: Magnuson Introduces New

With no tale-tell signs of engine modifications, your Magnuson-equipped LS3 Corvette will be a wolf in wolf’s clothes.

Related:
SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri’s Custom 427 Convertible Corvette
[VIDEO] Vic Edelbrock Shows Off Supercharged Corvette Z06 on Adam Carolla’s CarCast
Callaway Shows Off First Supercharged 60th Anniversary 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible

 


Students at Lincoln Tech Restore a C4 Corvette

Students at Lincoln Tech Restore a C4 Corvette

Keeping young people interested in Corvettes has long been a goal of many enthusiasts.

Mid America Motorworks and PERFORMANCE CHOICE are doing their part not only to build that kind of enthusiasm about America’s Sports Car, but also to help students learn important skills that will be helpful in their quests for jobs.

Students at Lincoln College of Technology in Indianapolis recently used products from Mid America to restore a C4 Corvette, and you’ll be able to see the great job they did, in person at next year’s FunFest in Effingham, Illinois.

Bill Zimmerman, senior regional director of high school admissions, says Lincoln School “truly” does produce some of the finest automotive technicians in the world. “They are highly sought after in our mutual industry, but it is their determination and motivation that causes that success,” he said.

Zimmerman was in Effingham recently to show off the students’ creation, as well as to thank the crew at Mid America for their help.

Students completely disassembled the Corvette to learn a variety of processes and techniques for restoring and refinishing cars.

Students at Lincoln Tech Restore a C4 Corvette Students at Lincoln Tech Restore a C4 Corvette Students at Lincoln Tech Restore a C4 Corvette

The rejuvenated car now sports beautiful yellow paint with a pearl finish, new seals, many new parts from Mid America, and an interior from PERFORMANCE CHOICE. Students even signed their names under the hood to mark their contributions.

Zimmerman and Mike Yager, Chief Cheerleader at Mid America, believe it’s important for future generations to be passionate about the automotive industry, and the car has already made many stops at high school vocational programs to emphasize that message, where students have shared their stories about the project.

Source:
Mid America Motorworks

Related:
Winning Futures Alumni Awarded Use of a New Corvette for a Weekend
Corvette Museum Member Establishes Education Endowment for Underprivileged Children
Students Help Restore a 1961 Corvette Roadster

 


Drive On: Guy Fieri hypes a cookina Chevrolet Corvette

Guy Fieri, host of Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives, shows off his “cooked up” Chevrolet Corvette C6 special edition during the Chevrolet Media Reception at the SEMA convention in Las Vegas When it comes to finding a celebrity to help out in a pinch, General Motors is increasingly calling on Guy Fieri, host of Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives on the Food … (more)

SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri’s Custom 427 Convertible Corvette

SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette

Celebrity chef Guy Fieri is well known for his foodie show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and earlier this year we learned that he has a taste for cars as well – namely those wearing a bow-tie. Guy drove the 2012 Corvette ZR1 pace car at this year’s Indy 500 and that opportunity allowed him to get close to Corvette Team who worked with him to create his very own custom 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible.

Fieri’s personalized 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible is black with custom yellow stripes which is a twist on the trademark yellow and black colors of his other Chevy’s – a 1968 and 2011 Camaro SS Convertibles.

The Corvette also features embroidered seat headrests and custom fender badges that pay homage to the Guy Fieri Foundation.

Guy introduced the Corvette at the Chevy press conference at SEMA earlier today and said the only downside to having the 427 Convertible was that he wasn’t driving it.

SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette
SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette
SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette
SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette
SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette SEMA 2012: Guy Fieri's Custom 427 Convertible Corvette

The 427 Convertible is the ultimate Corvette – a combination that blends elements of the Z06 and ZR1 models in convertible form to create the fastest and most capable droptop in Corvette’s history. Powered by the legendary 427 cubic inch LS7, the 427 Convertible is only available with a six-speed manual transmission and includes the dry-sump oil system.

Guy’s 427 Convertible also features four Black Cup Wheels (19″s on the front, 20″s on the rear) wrapped with Michelin’s PS2 Cup Tires.

The Corvette will be auctioned early next year at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction with proceeds going to charity.

Related:
[VIDEO] Guy Fieri to Drive the 2013 Corvette ZR1 Pace Car at the Indy 500
2013 60th Anniversary Corvette ZR1 To Pace 96th Indianapolis 500
[VIDEO] Ryan Briscoe Drives the 2013 Corvette ZR1 Indy 500 Pace Car

 


[ACCIDENT] Black Corvette Rolls Over on Black Hill in Utah

[ACCIDENT] Black Corvette Rolls Over on Black Hill in Utah

Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to loan someone your Corvette.

Take, for example, this wreck on Airport Road in St. George, Utah on Saturday afternoon that ended with a C6 on its top, blocking traffic for an hour and sending the passenger to the hospital with minor injuries.

The 21-year-old driver of the black Corvette was not injured, but his passenger, a 19-year-old female, had to be carried to Dixie Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The owner of the car, who was attending the Dixie Dragz drag racing competition at the old airport grounds, had loaned the car to the driver.

The passenger, in a post to the website where we found this story, explained that they were driving down the hill, pulled over, came to a complete stop, and then proceeded to make a U-turn.

“He hit the gas (like anyone else would do for incline for that hill),” she wrote, “BUT this car had twin turbos and has a 5 sec lag and when the turbo kicked in we lost control, after that is a complete blank to me idk how we flipped.”

Regardless, the driver earned two citations for the accident from the St. George Police Department – driving too fast for road conditions and making an illegal U-turn.

[ACCIDENT] Black Corvette Rolls Over on Black Hill in Utah

Source:
stgeorgeutah.com

Related:
[ACCIDENT] Corvette and Tahoe Drivers Flee After Fiery Crash in Los Angeles
C6 Corvette Damaged in Crash on the Isle of Malta
[VIDEO] C4 Corvette Pulled from Watery Grave After Flash Flood