Cool Video Update: Jeff Gordon Driving ZR1 Around Race-Track
Jeff Gordon is privileged enough to be one of the members of the Monticello Motor Club--a new, private, 650 Acre racing resort in Monticello N.Y. for the wealthy with a speed necessity who want to tear up their gorgeous 3.5 mile road course--and also one of the people privileged enough to have a ZR1 to get behind the wheel of. Combine these two aspects together, and you have one of NASCAR's finest drivers tearing up one of America's finest new tracks, in what is arguably America's finest car. Makes for some interesting stuff, eh?
The video shows Gordon going as quick as 150 MPH in the stock ZR1 and really showing off the limits of what the car can do in the hands of a great driver.
Corvette Dream Raffle 2010: Hero Edition ZR1 and 1967 Sting Ray
The Corvette Dream Raffle has been a fantastic promotion for the last few years, raising a great deal of money for the Kids Wish Network. This year, I imagine they'll be raising a lot more, as the vehicles they've chosen for their raffle are both absolutely gorgeous.
The Corvette Dream Giveaway was created to fund the expansion of the Kids Wish Network’s “Hero” program. Participating children’s hospitals select a child each month, who has faced traumatic and life-changing events with courage and spirit. That child receives a “Hero” award which includes a valuable “Hero” gift package for the award ceremony. The success of the event has enabled the Organization to offer the Hero program in over 160 hospitals nationwide, now awarding approximately 2,000 Heroes annually! (1)
The first of the two vehicles in the raffle is a Brad Paisley Hero Edition ZR1 in Ermine White with Red touches. This ZR1 doesn't stop there either, as it is Lingenfelter modified and pushing out over 720HP, a rise from the stock 638. It also has custom badges and a custom matching red interior, marking it with Brad Paisley's name and signature and declaring it a one of a kind Hero edition ZR1.
The '67 Sting Ray in the raffle is an absolute beaut as well! In matching Ermine and Red, just like the ZR1, this Sting Ray is a fully restored 427 Original. Beautifully restored in every aspect, and with gorgeous red interior, this Sting Ray will be quiet a prize for whoever wins it.
So, if I were you, I would absolutely go to www.winthevettes.com and buy yourself some raffle tickets to try and get one of these beautiful Corvettes for yourself. Great way to win great prizes and support a great cause!
(1)from CorvetteBlogger
50 Years of Corvette at Le Mans
This is a pretty cool thing that Corvette and Le Mans are doing. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Corvette's place at Le Mans, Chevy has five very prominent (and gorgeous) Corvettes at the ALMS Race at Laguna Seca this weekend being showcased. The video here shows the vehicles together, and I must say, I'd love to have any of them, as they're all gorgeous cars. A fun watch:
GM Makes $865 Million 1st Quarter Profit!
Times had been rough for GM for awhile. This past year their numbers improved, but they were still stuck in a 10 quarter span of losses. This quarter, that bad streak has officially been broken though. Behind strong sales numbers from vehicles like the Camaro and Corvette, backed by a strengthening U.S. Economy and their own company restructuring, it appears as though GM has turned the corner and is looking to brighter pastures ahead. This $865 Million profit is a stark contrast to their same 1st quarter last year, where in the midst of company restructuring and bankruptcy, GM posted losses of $6 Billion. Of course, at that time, the Camaro had not yet been released (a major player in the improved economic situation for GM, combined with Chevrolet's Equinox , the GMC Terrain, Buick Lacrosse and Cadillac SRX sold in April at a combined rate nearly 300% over the vehicles they replaced). These vehicles have been so key, in fact, that they have accounted for more than 110,000 of the 183,614 vehicles GM sold last month.
What all of this positive economic news from GM means for us Corvette lovers and fans is a few thing: firstly, the positive economic situation means they can then reroute extra cash to developing further improvements for their vehicle line-up, such as next gen Corvette; secondly, that the Corvette is not the end-all be-all for them as it is, and they understand now in restructuring that they have to continually improve and evolve their vehicle line to make newer and greater vehicles as time progresses, and this also is a positive sign for what the Corvette's future holds, as we can hopefully expect a next-gen ZR1 with even more impressive performance and efficiency. All in all, some great news for GM, GM fans, and the country in general in these positive numbers. Now, let's just hope that they keep rising!
GM and Google together? Cool!
This news is really exciting: Apparently, GM is attempting to create a partnership with Google to use their Android Mobile OS and create a vehicle sync system with new GMs. This move would be a direct attack on Ford's collaboration with Microsoft for their vehicle SYNC system. SYNC has had mixed reviews thus far when discussing its software, but the general consensus is that in theory it's a fantastic vehicle feature. Looking at Google's track record though, I'd be inclined to believe that they could create something much more useful and efficient than SYNC. Of course, by going to Google and creating a collaboration there, GM's OnStar would almost immediately be rendered obsolete (especially their GPS system as the Android OS does GPS very very well). Is this a good thing? OnStar has had its ups and downs, but in all is considered a pretty reliable service. I think Google could out-do it though, as they do seem to be right there with Apple in terms of usability and brilliance. Here's to hoping this comes to fruition and we see some fancy, high-tech, new features hitting the GM fleet some time soon. GM and Android: very cool.
Burnout War!: Carbon Z06 vs. Viper SRT-10
Edmunds decided to keep the old grudge match alive, and just released a great video of a burnout competition between the new Carbon Z06 and the Viper SRT-10. The Viper's a machine, but (as if there were any doubt left at this point) the Corvette is a lot meaner. I'll leave the results a secret until you watch the video. A little before-hand info: both vehicles get 3 chances at burn-outs, with the longest of each one going up against the other.
Well, that's more than 50 feet of burn-out over the competitor, and that's pretty damn impressive. The Corvette Carbon Z06 is shaping up to be a pretty sick machine, and I can't wait to see some of them on the road. An interesting video, and a lot of fun. It definitely looks like these guys enjoyed playing around with two super-cars.
Corvette Borla ATAK System
Borla has been making fantastic exhaust systems for a long time now, positioning themselves as one of the most well-respected exhaust manufacturers in the world these days. Well, their ATAK System for the Camaro has been garnering stellar reviews (even by comparison to Borla's already high standards), so you can imagine then how happy I was to get an inside tip from the guys over at Borla that they're bringing their ATAK exhaust line to the Corvette next. Apparently we're only a couple weeks out from the release of the C5 Corvette ATAK system (which they'll assign the part number #140357) and maybe 4 weeks or so from the C6 Corvette ATAK system's release as well (#140358). The C5 System will have Oval Tips, and the C6 will have Round Tips. Apparently, after the release of the C6 System the next system in line will be a Z06 specific ATAK system.
Now, if the Camaro ATAK system is at all indicative of what we can expect from this system, I think a lot of Corvette owners are in for a treat real soon. The ATAK has proven to have some of the most powerful and aggressive exhaust notes I've heard without ever losing its refinement. There's no overt raspiness in it, and no goofy pop and gurgle like a Magnaflow system tends to have, just a strong, smooth, and powerful exhaust note. The ATAK is pretty fascinating in how it achieves all of this as well. Specifically tuned resonation chambers are crafted for each vehicle, and acoustically worked to provide the best sound possible for each specific vehicle's engine and exhaust. I know I am looking forward to the Corvette ATAK release, and will be getting one of them for myself.
Corvette Sales Numbers Through April
Chevrolet recently released their Corvette year sales numbers as they've been tallied through April 14, 2010, and the signs are good. The introduction of the Grand Sport has worked as hoped, and Corvette sales are doing alright, having already moved 10,487 units. Over half of the models sold have been Grand Sports as well, which is a fantastic touch as they're a slight step up in price over the base and certainly help Chevrolet out. The only issue I seem to see from the numbers are the serious lack of Z06 sales. 4% (ouch!) of all Corvette sales were Z06 models. Which three times as many Zr1's being sold, it seems as though the Z06 now finds itself in a price range where its market will either save the money and go with a Grand Sport, or shell out the extra cash and get themselves a Zr1. Does this mean we may soon see the death of the C6 Z06? I hope not, as that C5 Z06 was what renewed my Corvette love, and the C6 has kept that going. Chevy has plans to retool the Z06 this year, and they're devoting a lot of attention its way, so lets hope that that pays off and we see some more future balance (and an over-all rise) in 'Vette sales numbers.
Here's a nice breakdown of Corvette sales by models:
| Model | Quantity | % of Prod |
| Corvette Coupe | 2,605 | 25% |
| Corvette Convertible | 856 | 8% |
| Corvette Grand Sport Coupe | 3,211 | 31% |
| Corvette Grand Sport Convertible | 2,065 | 20% |
| Corvette Z06 | 402 | 4% |
| Corvette ZR1 | 1,348 | 13% |
| ——– | ||
| TOTAL (through April 14) | 10,487 |
2005-06 Corvette Recall in Effect
Chevrolet has officially issued a recall for more than 40,000 Corvettes built between March of 2004 and January 2006. These specific Corvettes being recalled are those that have the tilt/telescopic steering column (RPO N37). Check your build date on the driver’s side doorjamb to see if your early C6 falls into that time period of manufacture.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) wrote that "repeated movement of the steering column may cause a signal interruption within the column. If this occurs, the message, ‘Service Active Handling System’ will appear in the Driver Information Center, and one or more of the brakes may apply, possibly causing the vehicle to pull to the right or left.” Because of this, GM made the decision to go through with the recall, and will be informing Corvette owners in the weeks to come. All GM dealerships have been informed of the situation and will repair the Corvettes being recalled free of charge. If your Corvette is one of the ones with the potential for issue, you should definitely get the recall work done A.S.A.P. as the problem, while not major, is definitely not good.