Month: August 2012

The Corvette Racing program has really become the textbook case of how (and why) a car company goes racing. Not only does the Chevrolet Corvette benefit from the “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday” strategy that Zora Duntov outlined nearly 60 years ago while making his case that Chevrolet needs to be a performance brand. Racing also provides a developmental role in validating the car and its individual systems. Those systems that can improve the performance of a car in a 24 hour race can just as well improve the performance of the production Corvette you’re driving on the street right now.

However, the technology transfer with Corvettes and its racing program isn’t a one-way street. The production Corvette also provides its proven technology right back to the racing program. Corvette Racing’s Program Manager Doug Fehan is so much a believer that technology transfer benefits both programs that he dubbed the phrase “Cascade Engineering”. Cascade Engineering, according to Fehan, continues to improve both the racing and production programs with each iteration of the car.

For example, the C5 Corvette was used as the basis for the Corvette C5-R racer. What the racing program learned during the C5-R years was then built into the production C6 Corvette. The racing program then develops the C6.R Corvette and what is learned and tested on the track helps validate the engineering for the production Corvette ZR1.

As Fehan says during his regular-occurring talks at Corvette Corrals and at the yearly NCM Bash, Cascade engineering has brought us the 505 hp LS7 V8 engine, dry-sump oil system, carbon ceramic brakes, wider use of carbon fiber, better aerodynamics and Michelin tires.

Now that the production C6 Corvette is winding down and the next-generation C7 is coming next year, Fehan was asked in an article appearing in Modern Tire Dealer about the future of Corvette Racing and he responded with the following:

“I think, on the horizon, probably one if not the most exciting time await us and that is the introduction of the next generation Corvette, for the street, which I know our fan base, our customer base is very, very excited to see and then of course after that is introduced we’ll be competing with that version on the race track. Once again, the fan base is really excited about that. That’s something that will all come down oh probably in the next twenty four months, which for us is right on the horizon. It seems like a long time but in racing time that seem like it takes about twelve minutes. A year goes by faster than you can think, so we are already working on the race car, I know the production car is very, very close to being finalized, it’s going to be a very exciting twenty four months for everybody who enjoys racing and loves Corvette.”

Exciting times indeed!

Source:
Modern Tire Dealer

Related:
[VIDEO] Corvette Racing’s Doug Fehan Q & A with Corvette Owners at Petit Le Mans
[VIDEO] Corvette Racing’s Doug Fehan Talks about the ZR1-Based GT2 Corvette C6.R
The Corvette C7R LMP1 Race Car That Never Was

 

As we rapidly close in on the middle of August we also close on in the annual auction frenzy that takes place during Monterey Week. Over the next several days we’ll take a look at some of the unique Corvettes being offered next week in California. First up is the legendary Owens-Corning L88 Racer. The car, generally considered to be the most successful racing Corvette of all time, is being auctioned at RM’s Monterey sale on Friday, August 17th. Get your banker on the phone now as this one won’t be cheap.

The 1968 Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corvette was piloted by Tony DeLorenzo and Jerry Thompson with Thompson spending the most time in the driver’s seat. Over its career the car has generated a huge stack of accolades including: 1969 and 1972 SCCA A-Production titles, 1968 and 1970 SCCA National A-Production Runner-Up, 2nd in class at Sebring in 1969, as well as 1969 and 1970 GT Class wins at Daytona. Together with its sister car they won all 22 of 22 SCCA/FIA events between 1969 and 1971. The car seen here claimed 11 of those wins.

Off the track, the car has claimed a NCRS American Heritage Award in addition to be featured in numerous magazine articles.

The first restoration on this car began 2000 which returned it to its 1971 24 Hours of Daytona livery. Once completed, the car was displayed with the Grand Sports and other significant Corvettes at Monterey in 2002. It has appeared at other premier car shows since including Pebble Beach in 2002, Amelia Island and the Quail in 2008, and “Chip’s Choice” at the 2007 Corvettes at Carlisle. It’s spent time in National Corvette Museum and is also the cover car on Corvette Racing Legends by Peter Gimenez.

The car currently sports an original L-88 engine and was recently “re-restored” by Kevin MacKay’s Corvette Repair. Drivers Tony DeLorenzo and Jerry Thompson, provided input during the freshening. The car is fully documented including race results, photos, and a complete ownership history. Still don’t think it’s the real deal? Tony DeLorenzo accompanied the previous owner to properly ID the car.

RM’s auction listing estimates that this car will sell between $950,000 and $1,350,000. Yes, that’s a ton of cheddar to plunk down on an old race car, but consider the following: (1) a stock L88 convertible can run you $600k, (2) the 1967 DeLorenzo L88 sold a few years back for over $1,000,000, and (3) the 1961 SCCA champion C1 no-saled in January at $850k. The Corvette market is red hot for racecars right now so don’t be surprised if this one becomes the next seven-figure Corvette.

Source:
RM Auctions

Related:
$1.25 Million Enough to Buy the First 1967 L88 Corvette
1961 Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car a No-Sale at Mecum’s 2012 Kissimmee Auction
1964 Corvette Supernova Racer Heading to Russo and Steele Monterey

 

How would you like to win a three-day driving experience package at Ron Fellows Performance Driving School at Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club?

Well, you just might if you enter the Fellows 5 Challenge, where you will answer five multiple-choice questions about the successful Corvette race car driver and his upcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

“I wanted to give fans a chance to come to Spring Mountain and experience our Corvette driving school,” Fellows said. “JR Motorsports came up with the creative idea to make it an engaging game of predictions. It gives fans a unique way to experience these two races, and rather than give away just one driving school package, now we’re giving away two – one for each race!”

To take part in the challenge, simply log onto www.JRMracing.com or www.Fellows5.com and answer five multiple-choice questions based off the following in-race scenarios:

1. Fellows’ running position at the halfway point.
2. Lap of Fellows’ final pit stop.
3. Total caution laps in the race.
4. Total of laps led by Fellows.
5. Fellows’ finishing position.

You can enter the contest up until the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen starts at 2 p.m. ET on August 11, then again until the NAPA 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve begins at 2 p.m. ET on August 18.

Besides the driving experience package that will go to the person with the most correct answers, other prizes include race-worn gloves, race-worn shoes, and autographed 1:24-scale diecasts of the No. Canadian Tire Chevrolet. In case of a tie, the winner will be selected by random draw.

By the way, Fellows gives this tip for answering Question No. 5: “I plan to win them both.”

Fellows’ driving school is the official high performance driving school of Chevrolet and uses current ZR1, Z06, and Grand Sport models.

JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has been chosen NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver nine times and has won more than 40 NASCAR races.

Source:
SpeedwayMedia.com

Related:
Winning Legacy of Ron Fellows at Mosport Fuels Current Corvette Racing’s Drivers
[VIDEO] Corvette Racing’s Mosport Pit Stop Demonstration – in High Heels?
[VIDEO] Unveiling the 2012 Ron Fellows SEMA/Spring Mountain Corvette Z06

 

In the summer of 1960 Corvette Racing won the prestigious 24 hours of Le Mans for the very first time. Racing legend Briggs Cunningham fielded 3 white, fuel injected C1′s numbered 1, 2, and 3 in the annual endurance race. Cars #1 and #2 didn’t finish, but number 3 went on to win its class and finish 8th overall. We got a chance to catch up with that famous #3 at last weekend’s Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth. Michigan.

With the recent announcement that the long lost #1 car has been discovered after decades, our look at #3 is pretty timely. You’ll be able to see the newly found #1 car at Corvettes at Carlisle August 24 – 26th. The 1960 Le Mans #2 Corvette currently resides in California, but #1 hadn’t been seen in years.

The story of the #3 car is pretty well known already so we won’t get into too much detail here. We do highly recommend that you rent or buy The Quest in order to hear the amazing story of #3 and how it spent the 50 years since it rolled into victory lane at Le Mans. Michael Brown’s exceptional film tells the story much, much better than we can.

The short version of the story goes something like this: After racing life the car was eventually converted back to a normal street car. Corvette restoration guru Kevin Mackay and Corvettes at Carlisle founder Chip Miller had been tracking the car for years and eventually discovered it in Missouri. Miller had the long term goal of returning the car to Le Mans in 2010, 50 years after its historic win. He was finally able to acquire the car in a trade for a Lincoln Navigator and then promptly returned it to its 1960 racing livery. Unfortunately Miller passed away from a rare disease called amyloidosis before he could take the car overseas. Enter Chip Miller’s son, Lance, who fulfilled his late father’s dream by taking both the car and one of its drivers, John Fitch, back to France in 2010. There it ran pace laps and participated in various ceremonies and celebrations.

It’s during this portion of The Quest in which you’ll want to have a tissue handy.

The significance of the #3 car goes well beyond its racing prominence. It represents the dedication people have to America’s sports car. Who’d spend countless years tracking down an old Plymouth Acclaim? It also represents the bond between father and son. Lance Miller very easily could have just parked the car and hid it away for years after his dad passed away. Instead he chose to embrace Chip’s goal and complete the 50 year journey himself. The car is now shared regularly at various shows all across the country for all to see. He was more than willing to share it with us last weekend.

It’s not very often that you can get up close and personal with Corvette royalty so enjoy our gallery below. Be sure to keep an eye on both this site and our Facebook page later this month for full coverage of the reveal of the long lost #1 car at Corvettes at Carlisle.

Related:
[PICS] The 1960 Le Mans Winning Corvette at the Concours d’Elegance of America
No. 1 Briggs Cunningham 1960 Le Mans Corvette Racer Found
[PICS] The 5th Annual Corvettes for Chip Show
The Quest Documentary is Now Available on DVD