Month: October 2012

Not much remains intact on the passenger’s side of a red C6 Corvette convertible involved in a crash Thursday with a minivan on the Mediterranean island of Malta (which is 50 miles south of Sicily), but miraculously the driver of the sports car walked away without a scratch.

Ironically, the 61-year-old driver was on the way to get a VRT test (Vehicle Roadworthiness Test) for his left-hand drive sports car. With the entire right side virtually torn away, the car definitely won’t pass the test now. It’s a good thing the car had not been converted to right-hand drive because the driver might have suffered serious injuries.

Eight occupants, meanwhile, were riding in the van, headed to the Maltese island of Gozo, popular with tourists as one of the top diving destinations in the Mediterranean, and were carried to the hospital, but authorities say none of the injuries appears to be life threatening.

The Corvette driver walked away from the wreck, shaken but unhurt after his car skidded to a halt. The driver’s side of the minivan was badly damaged, and the driver’s airbag was opened, stained with blood.

A co-worker of the van driver came to the accident scene with his own van and told Times of Malta.com that he had talked with his fellow driver.

“He answered the phone and said he was all right but in shock,” the co-worker said. “It was just meant to be a normal day at work for him.”

Friends of the Corvette driver also arrived at the scene and hugged him, grateful he was not injured.

The good news for the Corvette owner, who is a sports car enthusiast, is that he still has another nice ride in his garage – a Lamborghini!

More photos can be seen at the Times of Malta.

Source:
Times of Malta

Related:
[ACCIDENT] Corvette Burns to the Ground after Rear-Ended by a Pickup Truck
[VIDEO] C4 Corvette Pulled from Watery Grave After Flash Flood
[VIDEO] C4 Corvette Crashes into a Florida Bicycle Shop

 

We threw a picture of this 2007 Corvette Z06 up on our Facebook page last week and since it got a tremendous response there with nearly 500 likes, we figured it was worth a more in-depth review. Besides, we love double-threat custom as much as the next guy. Not only does this Corvette Z06 feature a gorgeous exterior, it also received some serious engine mods as well.

This 2007 Corvette Z06 was built out by Lashway Motorsports in Pompano Beach, Florida. Lashway added a custom cam and head package and the mods wish list included LS9 injectors, a FAST 102 manifold, Katech’s rails, valve covers and a coil relocation kit. Lashway also added Kooks headers and a catless X-Pipe. The exhaust was left stock but upgraded with a Mild to Wild switch.

Currently, the Corvette is making 530 horsepower and 480 foot pounds of torque to the rear wheels. Lashway said further upgrades are coming soon which will include a custom clutch, 200 shot nitrous set-up and a 102 Nick Williams Throttle Body.

When it came to making the Corvette look as good as it performs, the owner turned to Superior Auto Design, also located in Pompano Beach, Florida.

SAdesign wrapped the former Black Z06 in 3M’s new Matte Blue Metallic and added CF Strasse Forged Aluminum SM7 Wheels. Even the wheels were customized with a carbon fiber overlay. The emblems and lights were blacked out, a carbon fiber splitter was added and even small details like the door jams were wrapped in a carbon fiber weave.

One of the more unique details is the 3M Matte Blue Jake emblems on the doors. Very subtle, yet amazing.

So now that you got the details of this monster custom Corvette Z06, here is the eye candy to go with it:

For inquiries, details or more photos, make sure you check out Lashway Motorsports and Superior Auto Design located in South Florida in Pompano Beach.

Sources:
Lashway Motorsports and Superior Auto Design via LS1Tech.com

Related:
[PICS] Corvette Z06 with D2FORGED MB1 Wheels
Corvette Gets a Chrome Wrap by Czech Tuner
Taxicab Corvette Z06: When You Need To Be Somewhere Fast

 

When it comes to racing, Corvettes have a storied history. Highlights on their racing resume include wins at Daytona, Sebring, and LeMans, the C4 Corvette Challenge Series, and ALMS dominance over the last decade. In the ShakeDown episode after the break, host Leo Parente takes a brief look at Corvette Racing from its inception all the way up the recent American Le Mans Series GTE title and the Grand-Am Engine Manufacturers Championship in the Corvette Daytona Prototypes.

In the 9-minute video below ShakeDown takes a high-level look at Corvette’s extensive racing history. They briefly review each of the 6 generations and their respective places in Corvette racing history.

Beginning with the C1′s Parente talks about early participation in the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico and the Corvette SS racer. Interestingly, he doesn’t mention the famous 1960 Le Mans win. With the C2′s they, of course, touch on the Grand Sports and their support from Duntov. The C3 portion covers the success in Europe and partnerships with racers like John Greenwood.

Next up is the fourth generation and participation in IMSA and the popular Corvette Challenge Series. The video winds down by covering the recent factory-sponsored C5 and C6 efforts and their repeated success on the ALMS and Grand Am circuits. There’s even mention that Pratt and Miller is already working on the C7R.

So, is there another American brand that’s more celebrated than Corvette? We don’t think that there is (of course we’re biased, though!). When you look at other American marks you logically look at names like Shelby or Mustang. Chrysler and Ford both have enjoyed numerous triumphs in NASCAR in the U.S. Ford dominated LeMans with the GT40. Even AMC enjoyed success in Trans Am back in the 1970′s. Have any of these other marks had the long-running national and international success that America’s sports car has? Simply stated: No.

This is an interesting topic and we’d love to hear what you have to say so feel free share your thoughts with us in the Comments section below.

Source:
ShakeDown on Drive

Related:
Corvette Racing Sweeps ALMS GT Championships with VIR 240 Victory
Chevrolet Wins 2012 Rolex Series Engine Manufacturers Championship
Fehan: Work is Progressing on the Corvette C7.R

 

A dream is literally coming true for Dean Tarkowski as he restores a 1966 Corvette owned by his late father.

“After his death (from cancer in 2009), I was going through some items in his attic and came across some things I dreamed I would find,” Tarkowski says.

Tarkowski’s father had owned a silver blue 1963 split window Corvette back in the 1960s but a rear-end collision totaled the car and put his Corvette dreams on hold – for a while.

“I still remember being a young kid and sitting in the back when Dad, Mom and me would go for an afternoon drive,” the Palatine resident said.

Then in 1983, his dad found a slightly modified Ermine White 1966 Corvette in Chicago and quickly bought it on the spot.

“He always longed for another Vette and when he found this one in 1983, it was a dream come true,” Dean said.

Fast forward to the present, and Dean’s dream led him to a startling discovery – his dad had put several of the original parts belonging to his 1966 427 Corvette in the attic, unbeknownst to his family, including the steel spring and some of the engine parts.

“I wanted to make the car as original as possible and that’s exactly how it is today,” he said.

In the days since his initial discovery, Dean has also found several file folders full of paperwork and documents he had never seen before, which told him more about his dad’s purchase nearly 30 years ago.

See more pictures of Tarkowski’s 1966 Corvette at the DailyHerald.com

Source:
DailyHerald.com
Photo Credit: Prestige Motorcar Photography

Related:
Michigan Collector Seeks “Ancestry” on this 1969 L88 Corvette Convertible
Father and Son Work Together to Restore a 1977 Corvette
Joe Flickinger’s 1962 Resto-Mod Corvette