Guest Contributor, Author at C6Performance Journal

February 16, 2012

2012 Corvette Deadlines are Coming and Going Fast!

Article contributed by Dave Salvatore / Kerbeck Corvette

In a post a few weeks ago, I talked about the fast approaching deadlines for the 2012 Corvette model year and introductory information for the 2013 Corvette model year.

Well, deadlines are not always accurate so don’t wait too long. Here’s what I mean. The color Carlisle Blue was scheduled to have its last order date on Thursday 02/09/12. However, when orders opened up that day, there were ZERO Carlisle Blue cars available nationwide. If you didn’t get your order in a week early, you were out of luck!

Now, the next deadline we are approaching is for the 2012 Centennial Edition Corvette. The deadline for placing an order for the final Centennial Edition Corvette is supposed to be Thursday 03/01/12. However, based on what happened to the Carlisle Blue, I wouldn’t wait until the last minute. If you are thinking about ordering a Centennial Edition Corvette I would get your order in to the dealer by Thursday 02/16/12 or Thursday 02/23/12.

The final deadline that’s coming fast is the final orders for the 2012 Corvettes which is Thursday 03/15/12. And, based on what’s happened in years past as well as what has already happened this year, I would expect slim pickings on the cars ordered on Thursday 03/08/12 and Thursday 03/15/12. If you want place a special order for your 2012 Corvette I would try to get the order in by 03/01/12.

Of course, Kerbeck Corvette is ordering plenty of inventory to sell from the showroom so if you run out of time to order your exact car, take a look at Kerbeck’s 2012 Corvette Inventory Page for over 150 in stock and inbound 2012 Corvettes.

This article was contributed by Dave Salvatore of Kerbeck Corvette, the worldâ€™s largest Corvette dealer since 1994. Looking for a new 2012 Corvette or want to get on the list for a 2013 model? Call Dave at 877-537-2325 or visit them on the web at www.Kerbeck.com.

Source:
Kerbeck

January 17, 2012

The Corvette Legend Started 59 Years Ago Today

Article contributed by Dave Salvatore / Kerbeck Corvette

On this day in 1953, a prototype Chevrolet Corvette sports car (EX-122) makes its debut at General Motors’ (GM) Motorama auto show at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The Corvette, named for a fast type of naval warship, would eventually become an iconic American muscle car and remains in production today.

In the early 1950s, Harley Earl (1893-1969), the influential head designer for GM, then the world’s largest automaker, became interested in developing a two-seat sports car. At the time, European automakers dominated the sports car market. Following the debut of the Corvette prototype at the Motorama show in January 1953, the first production Corvette was completed at a Flint, Michigan, plant on June 30, 1953.

The car featured an all-fiberglass body, a white exterior and red interior, a relatively unremarkable 150-horsepower engine and a starting price tag of around $3,500 (not including taxes or an optional AM radio and heater). In an effort to give the Corvette an air of exclusivity, GM initially marketed the car to invitation-only VIP customers. This plan met with less-than-desirable results, as only a portion of the 300 Corvettes built that first year were sold. GM dropped the VIP policy the following year; however, Corvette sales continued to disappoint. In 1954, GM built around 3,600 of the 10,000 Corvettes it had planned, with almost a third of those cars remaining unsold by the start of 1955.

There was talk within GM of discontinuing the Corvette; however, GM rival Ford launched the sporty two-seat Thunderbird convertible in 1955 and the car quickly became a hit. GM didn’t want to discontinue the Corvette and look like a failure next to its Big Three competitor, so the car remained in production and performance enhancements were made. That same year, a Belgian-born, Russian-raised designer named Zora Arkus-Duntov became head engineer for Corvette and put the car on a course that would transform it into a legend. Duntov had applied to work at GM after seeing the Corvette prototype at the 1953 Motorama show. According to The New York Times: “Once hired, he pushed through the decision to turn the Corvette into a high-performance sports car with a succession of more powerful engines. Chevrolet offered a 195-horsepower engine on the 1955 Corvette, a 240-horsepower engine on the 1956 Corvette and a 283-horsepower engine on the 1957 model.” During the second half of the 1950s, Corvettes began setting speed records on the racing circuit.

After taking the tour with the GM Motorama, the EX-122 became a plaything for the engineering department. The 6-cylnder engine was removed and an 8-cylinder engine was installed, and it was used for various performance demonstrations. It gave such a good account of itself that immediately it was decided to abandon the 6-cylinder engine in regular Chevrolet Corvette production and supplement it with the new 8-cylinder as standard equipment.

The car was then purchased by a member of the engineering team for his daughter to drive to school. He sold the car in 1959 when his daughter left for college. The new owner was the one who realized how special the car was and began to accumulate documentation about the car.

In 2002, Kerbeck Corvette of Atlantic City, purchased the EX-122 from his estate. They began an exhaustive restoration to take the car back to its original Motorama condition with one exception. The 8-cylinder engine installed by Zora and his team was left in the car making EX-122 not only the world’s oldest Corvette but the first ever 8-cylinder Corvette as well.

Although the car does travel the country many times a years for shows as well as being on loan for special events for General Motors, most days it can be seen at Kerbeck Corvette’s Atlantic City showroom where Corvette enthusiasts are welcome to stop by and see the car and take pictures with it. You can also get more information about the World’s oldest Corvette on the Corvette EX-122 webpage.

This article was contributed by Dave Salvatore of Kerbeck Corvette, the worldâ€™s largest Corvette dealer since 1994. Looking for a new 2012 Corvette or would you like to get on the list for the new 2013 427 Convertible? Call Dave at 877-537-2325 or visit them on the web at www.Kerbeck.com.

January 16, 2012

Lingenfelter to Host Inaugural Performance Nationals Meet in September

Article contributed by Mitch Talley

The Lingenfelter name needs no introduction to Corvette enthusiasts. Now comes the good news that the first-ever Lingenfelter Performance Nationals will be held Sept. 21-23, 2012 at the Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

Organizers have the weekend packed full of activities, including drag racing, autocross, car show, speed stop challenge, countryside cruise, and a manufacturerâ€™s midway.

Classes will level the playing field between professional and amateur drivers, and the Lingenfelter Nationals will feature drag racing, an invitation-only bracket race, and a Battle of the Brands event that pits Ford, GM, and Chrysler vehicles against one another. As if that werenâ€™t enough, the Lingenfelter Nationals will serve as an official qualifying event for the OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational.

“Our customers know racing is a huge part of the Lingenfelter DNA, and what better way to say thank you to them than by creating a weekend-long car enthusiast experience,” said Ken Lingenfelter, owner of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. “There is a lot of brand crossover among our customers, so the Lingenfelter Performance Nationals and our Battle of the Brands event is an opportunity for those LS-powered vehicles and late-model customers â€“ and everyone in between â€“ to have an entertaining weekend at a great facility.”

Watch for more details on www.lingenfelterperformancenationals.com as they are announced. Check out the full press release below.

LINGENFELTER ANNOUNCES NEW LINGENFELTER PERFORMANCE NATIONALS EVENT SEPT. 21-23, 2012 IN NORWALK, OHIO

DECATUR, Ind. – Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE), the engine specialists known for their racing expertise, is excited to announce a brand new event for customers and enthusiasts in 2012: The Lingenfelter Performance Nationals.

The Lingenfelter Performance Nationals is a jam-packed weekend that will feature drag racing, autocross, car show, speed stop challenge, countryside cruise and a manufacturer’s midway Sept. 21-23, 2012 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

With classes that level the playing field between professional and amateur drivers, the Lingenfelter Performance Nationals will offer drag racing, an invitation-only bracket race and a Battle of the Brands event that pits Ford, GM and Chrysler vehicles against one another. Trophies, plaques and cash prizes will be awarded to car show and race winners. The Lingenfelter Performance Nationals will also be an official qualifying event for the OPTIMA(r) Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational.

“Our customers know racing is a huge part of the Lingenfelter DNA, and what better way to say thank you to them than by creating a weekend-long car enthusiast experience,” said Ken Lingenfelter, owner of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. “There is a lot of brand crossover among our customers, so The Lingenfelter Performance Nationals and our Battle of the Brands event is an opportunity for those LS-powered vehicles and late-model customers – and everyone in between – to have an entertaining weekend at a great facility.”

Lingenfelter will announce additional event details throughout the year. Stay tuned to www.lingenfelterperformancenationals.com for regular updates or e-mail Mike Copeland at mcopeland@lingenfelter.com for questions about participating in the Lingenfelter Performance Nationals.

For more than 32 years, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering has created a matchless heritage of bringing astounding new capabilities to the world’s most sought-after sports cars. This legendary record of precision engineering continues today, as the highly skilled Lingenfelter production team continues to target design excellence in engine packages, superchargers and high-performance aftermarket components that refine power, speed and control. For more information, visit www.lingenfelter.com, contact Lingenfelter Performance Engineering at 1557 Winchester Road, Decatur, IN 46733, or call 260.724.2552.

Source:
Lingenfelter Performance Mationals.com

January 15, 2012

Emma Stone Confirmed For Comedy Little White Corvette

Article contributed by Mitch Talley

By now, we all know the words by heart to the legendary Prince song “Little Red Corvette.”

Now Hollywood actress Emma Stone is getting ready to make the “Little White Corvette” the next colorful fiberglass sensation, and she’ll reportedly get $1 million upfront for her starring role in the flick.

The comedy will focus on the adventures of a wild sister and her nerdy brother after they discover a million bucks worth of cocaine in the trunk of their dead father’s Corvette, then put the pedal to the metal as they head to Miami to try and sell their newfound stash.

Author of the script is Michael Diliberti, who also wrote the comedy “30 Minutes or Less.”

No word yet on the actor who will play Stone’s brother, but filming should begin in a few months, Deadline reports.

In the meantime, Stone will be seen soon in “The Amazing Spider-Man.”

“Little White Corvette” will mark Stone’s return to her comedic roots after she most recently generated Oscar buzz for her performance in “The Help.”

Source:
thisisfakediy.co.uk

January 13, 2012

[VIDEO] Hand Built Falcon F7 Powered by the Z06 Corvetteâ€™s LS7 V8 Engine

[VIDEO] Hand Built Falcon F7 Powered by the Z06 Corvette's LS7 V8 Engine

Article contributed by Mitch Talley

A new supercar with a Z06 LS7 motor and suspension components borrowed from a Corvette could be on the market later this year. Falcon, the Michigan company that builds bodykits and other mods for the Dodge Viper, announced a couple of years ago at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show that it would be building a supercar in limited numbers (just 15 cars a year).

At the 2012 Detroit Auto Show this month, Falcon revealed a new concept version that it says is a glimpse of the production F7 supercar that will be out later this year.

The company now says it may make up to 20 of the cars annually, at a price around $225,000. The Falconâ€™s 7.0 liter LS7 will pump out more than 620 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque, and since the car weighs only 2,785 pounds compared to about 3,350 pounds for a Corvette, performance promises to be outstanding.

In fact, Falcon says its car will go from 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds, with an estimated top speed of 200 mph.

The entire body is made of carbon fiber, with a lot of the internal structure composed of aluminum.

By comparison, the 2012 Corvette ZR1â€™s 6.2 liter LS9 motor produces 638 horsepower and 604 pound-feet of torque. The ZR1 goes 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds and has a top speed of 205 mph.

Source:
Motor Authority

January 12, 2012

Thereâ€™s Hope to Prevent Spoiler Damage on your Corvette

There's Hope to Prevent Spoiler Damage on your Corvette

Article contributed by Mitch Talley

We’ve all heard that ominous scraping sound when we pull too far into a parking space in our Corvette and go over the curb. When you drive a vehicle as low to the ground as ours, you constantly worry about damaging the spoiler below the front of the car. Now comes word that Southern Car Parts, which supplies components for Corvettes, has come up with an ingenious way to protect our favorite car from such damage.

Itâ€™s called the Curb Alert parking sensor and works on C5 and C6 Corvettes.

According to the company, the device has a unique in-house infrared LED technology to detect approaching roads and curb risks that could damage the Corvette.

The sensor works by alerting drivers when their cars move inside a programmable distance of 8 to 28 inches from a potential damage. Curb Alert gives three-deep warning when you are within the specified distance to the curb.

Curbs are one of those road hazards that do more damage to sports cars than any other hazard on the road. In fact, just a simple trip to the corner store can become a costly errand if you over-estimate your front end clearance when parking: damage repairs could easily run $1,000 or more.

The company says you donâ€™t have to worry about the device marring the beauty of your Corvette as it is installed in such a way that it is practically invisible. Also, the use of pre-existing body panel lines and fuse circuits make installation quick and easy.

Pricing of the Curb Alert is $159.99 and can be ordered at Southern Car Parts.

Source:
Southern Car Parts

January 11, 2012

Soldier Returns From Overseas, Surprised by Restored Corvette

Article contributed by Mitch Talley

Thereâ€™s nothing that says America much better than a Corvette and a soldier.

Put the two together, and youâ€™ve definitely got a winning combination.

Add in a loving wife, a whale of a surprise, and the camaraderie of the Corvette community, and well, it doesnâ€™t get much better than that!

In Acworth, Ga., a small town just north of Atlanta, all those ingredients combined to make Saturday morning a day that Sgt. First Class Adam Troxel will never forget.

His wife, Holly, has always made it a point to surprise her husband upon his return from serving our country in places like South Korea, Iraq, and Panama. He joined the military in 1988 and returned to active duty in 2006 after 11 years with the Acworth Police Department.

But she outdid herself this time. With the help of the Classic Glass Corvette Club in Marietta, Holly had her husbandâ€™s 1980 red Corvette restored over the past few months.

Their 15-year-old son, Cody, talked his dad into visiting the Dayâ€™s Chevrolet showroom in Acworth on Jan. 7 on the guise of looking at a car heâ€™s interested in when he turns 16.

When they arrived at the dealership, however, a crowd of about 50 people was there to applaud not only the restoration of the car, but Adam Troxelâ€™s service to his country.

“Today is your day,” Larry Yon, outgoing president of the club, told the surprised soldier. “I want you to know that Classic Glass Corvette Club is honored and proud of what weâ€™ve done for you. We are proud to have you as a member of our club and we are proud of your service.”

While he was overseas, SFC Troxel thought his wife was just taking his car to the dealership for a brake job and an estimate on a repaint.

“Wow!” he told the well-wishers in the showroom upon seeing the shiny red Corvette. “Thank you all so much. I am so humbled and so proud at the same time. I donâ€™t even know if I can sit in it, it’s such a great work of art. It is the most beautiful thing Iâ€™ve ever seen since I met my wife.”

Teamwork was the name of the game in the restoration effort, as 15 club members and 15 area vendors pitched in to make the car good as new.

“It was awesome to get everybody in the Corvette community together,” said Scott Oliver, a member of the club who helped coordinate the restoration. “We had a lot of people who wanted to help who had never done this before. It kind of became like a high school shop class.”

Itâ€™s one class that SFC Troxel and his family and new friends passed with flying colors!

Source:
Cherokee Tribune

January 10, 2012

Corvette Racing Legend John Fitch Found Safe and Sound

Article contributed by Mitch Talley

Corvette fans can breathe a sigh of relief now that John Fitch, driver of the 1960 Briggs Cunningham Le Mans winning Corvette and the first manager for the Corvette racing team, has been found since being reported missing on Sunday.

Mr. Fitch enjoyed an 18-year racing career, winning several times,including the 1951 Argentine Grand Prix, 1955 Mille Miglia, Dunrod Tourist Trophy, the Sebring endurance race, and numerous lesser races. He may be best known to Corvette Racing fans as one of the drivers behind Corvette’s first class win at the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans in the #3 Briggs Cunningham Corvette.

His driving efforts have not been limited to just cars, though. He piloted a P-51 in World War II and was reportedly one of the first pilots to shoot down a German jet fighter.

Family members became concerned about Mr. Fitchâ€™s safety since the 94-year-old didnâ€™t have his oxygen with him and is dependent upon it because of his emphysema. He also has mild dementia.

Fortunately, Connecticut State Police and the Stockbridge, Mass. Police Department combined efforts to locate Mr. Fitch Monday morning and say he is in good condition.

“We had done several things,” Lt. Paul Vance, spokesman for the Connecticut State Police said “including notifying all law enforcement agencies in Connecticut and over the line into Massachusetts, telling them that he was missing and the facts and circumstances. We had great cooperation and are pleased he was located in good health.”

Mr. Fitch is also known for his inventions that made driving safer on the race track and highway, including the portable impact-absorbing barriers used on race tracks and highways. He also pushed for better safety on race tracks and offered his knowledge on vehicle handling and dynamics to many research and government organizations.

Source:
CountryTimes.com

January 10, 2012

The (soon to be) End of the Line for the 6th Generation Corvette

Article contributed by Dave Salvatore / Kerbeck Corvette

This past summer, Mark Reuss visited the Bowling Green Assembly Center â€“ the home of the Corvette â€“ and announced a significant, multi-million dollar investment to upgrade the plant. During his remarks, Mark told the audience that there were two model years (2012 and 2013) remaining for the current generation of Corvette.

Recently, Alan Batey, GM Vice President of Chevrolet sales, informed dealers attending the regional Chevrolet dealer meetings what their sales goals would be for Corvettes in the 2012 calendar year and what Corvette training requirements would have to be completed to be eligible for initial production of the next generation Corvette. This is based on the anticipated limitations that will be applicable to the initial production of the next generation Corvette.

These announcements make evident that one of the most exciting Corvette generations is coming to a close. Kerbeck Corvette would like to take some time to share with you some details around the 2012 and 2013 model can be prepared for the end of the C6 Corvette.

Information Regarding 2012 Corvette Model Run

The current 2012 model run which features the Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette will end in May 2012. The final consensus for 2012 Corvette is scheduled to occur during February 2012 period, and the last cycle to submit orders for the 2012 model run will occur in March 2012.

The completion of the 2012 Corvette model run is also the last opportunity for dealers to order the current Chevrolet Centennial Edition Package (RPO: ZLC) featuring the Carbon Flash metallic paint, and Carlisle Blue exterior color (RPO: GLF). The Centennial Edition package, and the Carbon Flash and Carlisle Blue exterior colors will NOT be offered for the 2013 model, and will end production BEFORE the rest of the 2012 Corvette model run. Under the current schedule the last time we will be able to order Carlisle Blue is 02/09/12 and the last chance to order the Centennial Package will be 03/01. The last week to order ANY 2012 Corvette will be 03/15.

Keep in mind that these dates are flexible and could change a week or two in either direction. If you are interested in either of the Centennial Edition Package or the Carlisle Blue exterior color, it is suggested you contact us now to check current availability or to order your desired 2012 Corvette model.

Information Regarding 2013 Corvette Model Run

The 2013 model run is scheduled to start production in May 2012. New model year Corvettes usually donâ€™t start production until the last week or so of June so this signifies a move up in production.

The 2013 model run is the final model run for the C6 Corvette. This means for many customers, the 2013 model run will be the last opportunity to purchase the current Corvette models, including Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1 In addition, the 2013 model run marks the 60th Anniversary of this Great American Sports Car. GM will be sending us information about the exciting changes for the 2013 Corvette and we will be sharing it with you in the coming weeks.

The 2013 Corvette production period is expected to run for approximately nine months with production to end sometime around February 2013. This does not mean that the C7 Corvette will be out early. The next model run will NOT immediately follow the end of the 2013 model run since the Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, KY will need a few months to retool the assembly lines for production of the 7th Generation Corvette.

The Coming of the Next Generation Corvette

Suffice it to say the introduction of any next generation Corvette is one of the most highly anticipated introductions in the automobile industry. The expected arrival of a new generation Corvette generates a lot of showroom excitement and traffic. It also requires the dealershipâ€™s sales and service teams to sharpen and improve their performance and technology skills to meet the needs of the Corvette customer. It is for this reason that any Chevrolet dealer seeking to sell and service Corvette must agree to invest in special tools and training for the dealershipâ€™s personnel. Since we have been the Worldâ€™s Largest Corvette Dealer for 18 years in a row, Kerbeck Corvette is ready to meet all of Chevroletâ€™s requirements and the Corvette communityâ€™s expectations!

The next two years promises to be two of the most eventful years in Corvetteâ€™s nearly 60 years of existence and we hope that you will join us on this journey.

This article was contributed by Dave Salvatore of Kerbeck Corvette, the worldâ€™s largest Corvette dealer since 1994. Looking for a new 2012 Corvette? Call Dave at 877-537-2325 or visit them on the web at www.Kerbeck.com.

January 9, 2012

[VIDEO] Autocar Compares Corvette Grand Sport against Nissan GT-R, Jaguar XKR

Article contributed by Mitch Talley

For those of you who believe it’s time for the current C6 Corvette to be replaced by the highly anticipated and shrouded-in-secrecy C7 edition, a video test by the British auto magazine Autocar offers plenty of ammunition.

Admittedly, the results were skewed a little since Autocar tested an automatic Grand Sport, the slowest of the 2012 GS lineup, but the competition, a 2012 Nissan GT-R and Jaguar XKR, both were, alas, still considerably faster than the Vette.

Still, video host Vicky Parrott had lots of kind words to say about the Corvette, saying there’s really nothing else like it on the road today.

“Outright pace isn’t the problem with the Grand Sport,” she says. “What is a problem is that despite all its kind of swagger and character that you get from the noise and the looks, which is just brilliant, it still feels outdated particularly in terms of its interior finish and even with the paddle (shifters) and the adaptive suspension that you’ve got in sport and tour modes, it just doesn’t match the best of the European and Japanese rivals.”

Despite the criticism, it’s easy to see that Parrott is a fan of the drama, character, and charm that the Grand Sports delivers, and she points out that if Chevrolet can just modernize the car (in the upcoming C7 edition) and address a few small issues, it’s got a winner on its hands.

The three cars are so different in their personalities, though, that they each have their own particular kinds of owners. It’s hard, for example, to picture a Corvette owner giving up his ride for one of these two competitors, and vice versa, perhaps, no matter the half-mile drag race results.

Source:
Autocar via CarBuzz.com