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Corvette Auction Preview: Four More Corvettes to Make You Drool at Mecum Kissimmee 2022

Photo Credit: Mecum Auctions

Welcome back to our look at Mecum’s upcoming 2022 Kissimmee auction. The countdown to opening day is just about 14 days now. Perusing the Corvette docket, we currently see 360 Corvettes listed which is more than double the number of consignments from 2 weeks ago. Expect a few more to be added as the date draws nearer.

Past previews focused on the Corvette Super Sport, Gulf One, and the C2 Z06 equipped Corvettes from Mecum’s Once in a Lifetime Corvette Offering. This time we’re going to focus on a diverse quartet of first and second generation cars ranging from a pilot line 1966 L88 to an ultra-rare 1957 airbox fuelie.

Lot F158: 1960 Race Rat Tanker – When we think of big tank or “tanker” Corvettes, we generally think of C2’s. However, tankers were available to savvy buyers and racers on C1 Corvettes as well. In 1960, 10 big tank Corvettes were built. This 1960 fuelie was ordered through Nickey Chevrolet by George Reed to complete in the 1960 Sebring 12 hour race. In addition to the 315hp engine, Reed selected heavy duty suspension, heavy duty brakes, and a 4-speed transmission. Upon delivery to Sebring, Zora Arkus Duntov himself assisted with the final race prep. The car went on to win its class and finish 16th overall. Today the car is in excellent restored condition and has been displayed at top events such as the 2004 and 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, the 2009 Los Angeles Concours d’Elegance, the 2010 NCRS 50th Anniversary display, and the 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. It’s also an NCRS American Heritage Award recipient.

Lot F164: 1957 Big Brake Airbox Fuelie – This well-known straight axle is one of 44 produced with RPO 579E, the fresh airbox intake. It’s also 1 of 54 with heavy duty brakes and suspension. Other options include a fuel injected engine, 4-speed transmission, and wider 5.5″ wheels. The car was raced in SCCA events across the country throughout its early life. Since that time, it’s been restored back to stock form and lays claimed to our hobby’s top awards including multiple NCRS Top Flights, Bloomington Gold, and 2 Bloomington Special Collections. It’s been featured in Vette Vues magazine and participated in the 75th anniversary Monterrey historics. It’s being offered from the John Justo collection with copious documentation, awards, and restoration photos.

Lot S113: 8,500-mile unrestored 1967 427/435 Coupe – We first saw the “Vault Find” 1967 Corvette at the 2017 Mecum Indy auction where it sold for $675,000 from the original owner’s family. The Marina Blue on blue 435hp coupe remains in unrestored, original condition with just 8,533 miles on the odometer. The option list includes the 435hp engine, M21 4-speed, F41 suspension, and 4.11 rear end. It’s never been shown or judged and comes documented with the window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, and car shipper.

Lot S237: 1966 Pilot Line L88 Coupe – This Sting Ray is one of the “Four Kings,” 1966 Corvette factory racers. It’s the first known Corvette factory-prepared for Luigi Chinetti’s NART team, the first built with shoulder harnesses, and the second to be fitted with the cowl-induction fresh air hood. The intent was to test aluminum cylinder heads and other racing bits in the 1966 Sebring 12 hours. Pedro Rodriguez and Mario Andretti were to be the drivers, but they ended up in one of Chinetti’s Ferrari’s instead. Future pilots included Harold Whims, Don Yenko, John Finger, and John “Sam” Henderson. They completed at many notable tracks such as Daytona, Talladega, Charlotte Motor Raceway, Virginia International Raceway, Marlboro Motor Raceway, and Road Atlanta among others. The L88 engine sports a 1965-dated intake manifold and January 1966 dated aluminum cylinder heads. Other track-spec options include heater and defroster delete, radio delete, F41 suspension, Positraction rear axle, heavy-duty brakes, transistor ignition, M22 4-speed, and a 36 gallon gas tank. It’s extensively documented and has been shown at numerous national events over the last decade including 2014 and 2020 Bloomington Gold Collections, 2016 MCACN Corvette Legends Invitational, and the 2014 Corvettes at Carlisle Race Car Reunion.

Mecum’s monster 2022 Kissimmee auction will take place January 6th-16th at the Osceola Heritage Park. MotorTrend TV, MotorTrend+, and Discovery will have live coverage Wednesday, January 12th – Saturday, January 15th. Approximately 3,500 cars are expected. Keep an eye here and on the Mecum website as new additions are being added daily.

Source:
Mecum Auctions

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Racing Sport Concepts Has These Last Minute Christmas Gifts For Your Corvette!

Hopefully at this point you have most of your Christmas shopping completed and now you can really get down to the nitty-gritty of finding that perfect gift for your Corvette. Some may laugh at this, but I am a firm believer in buying gifts for yourself to make sure you get exactly what you want. After all, you worked hard this year, and it’s time to reward yourself and your Corvette with these custom visible carbon fiber accessories for the C8 Corvette from Racing Sport Concepts.

If you were waiting for the perfect sale on last-minute Christmas gifts for yourself or a Corvette friend, Racing Sport Concepts is offering 15% off these carbon fiber Corvette parts exclusively for CorvetteBlogger readers. Just use promo code CB15 at checkout and you’ll be on your way to having the best-dressed C8 Corvette in the neighborhood with these savings! You better hurry though as this special sale ends on December 31, 2021

RSC C8 Front Intake Vents for Corvette C8

Your C8 Corvette will be the star of social media’s “#FrontEndFriday” posts with these C8 Corvette Front Intake Vents installed on your mid-engine Corvette. Made from the finest pre-impregnated carbon fiber fabrics and a beautiful 3K 2×2 carbon fiber weave that is coated in a premium UV inhibiting clear coat and then buffed to a mirror shine.

Racing Sport Concepts utilizes advanced laser scanning and 3D CAD engineering for the perfect fitment. These front intake vents offer an easy installation that is completely reversible, and they come with a two-year warranty and product support. Chevy sells these visible Carbon Fiber front intake vents for over $2,000 but you can get them from Racing Sport Concepts for $995 for the pair. These are in stock and ship in one business day.

RSC C8 Side Intake Vents for Corvette C8

It’s our opinion that if you are wanting to convert all the carbon flash metallic trim pieces on your C8 Corvette to beautiful visible carbon fiber, one of the first places we would start would be with Racing Sport Concept’s C8 Side Intake Vents. We’re not sure why Chevy is taking so long with their versions, so why wait when you can get these direct replacements with the same quality as an OEM for about half the price!

RSC has engineered these side visible carbon boomerangs with direct attachment points on the OEM and they are completely reversible with no modifications required. You can check out the installation guide for review.

Made from Pre-Impregnated Carbon Fiber and buffed to a show-quality finish, these side intake trim pieces will absolutely set your Corvette apart from the others at your next car show. The RSC Side Intake Vents for the C8 Corvette are offered as a pair for $1,495. There is currently a two-week wait time for these, but the sale price will be honored and RSC will ship in one to two business days once available.

RSC Carbon Fiber Mirror Covers for Corvette C8

Now that you’ve decided to go all-in on customizing your C8 Corvette, adding these Carbon Fiber Mirror Covers from Racing Sport Concepts are a no-brainer. Laser scanned and engineered in 3D CAD for the best fit, these visible carbon fiber mirror covers are a direct replacement for the factory covers. Made from pre-impregnated carbon fiber with a 3K 2×2 twill that will shine in the sun, the mirror covers will reward your Corvette for years to come.

Racing Sport Concepts offers the Carbon Fiber Mirror Covers for the C8 Corvette for $895 and they are sold as a pair. Installation is easy and completely reversible.

RSC Engine Hatch Vents for Corvette C8

Chevrolet describes the C8 Corvette Stingray’s LT2 engine as the “jewel under glass” when looking at it through the Coupe’s rear engine hatch. If that is the case, shouldn’t the “jewelry box” offer its own distinct showcase to onlookers? Racing Sport Concepts has re-engineered the C8 Corvette Coupe’s engine hatch vents in visible carbon fiber and the end result is simply stunning!

The engine hatch vents for the C8 Corvette were laser scanned and developed in 3D CAD software to ensure the perfect fit. These Engine Hatch Vents are created from the finest pre-impregnated carbon fiber fabrics for a beautiful 3K 2×2 twill. The hatch vents from RSC are cured in a state-of-the-art autoclave and then covered in RSC’s premium UV inhibiting clear coat. The final step sees the vents polished to a mirror shine.

The Engine Hatch Vents for the C8 Corvette are sold as a pair for $1,395.00 and come with a two-year warranty and product support from Racing Sport Concepts. These engine hatch vents are in stock and ship within one-to-two days.

These carbon fiber accessories for the C8 Corvette are being offered with a 15% savings exclusively for CorvetteBlogger readers when using the promo code CB15. For questions or more information on these or any of the aftermarket visible carbon fiber upgrades from Racing Sport Concepts, you can email them at [email protected] or call their toll free number 1-800-815-3751. Racing Sport Concepts can be found on the web at www.racingsportconcepts.com.

Source:
Racing Sport Concepts

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Our Three Favorite Corvettes for Sale from Corvette Mike in December

Photo Credit: Corvette Mike

If your New Year’s Resolutions include the addition of an investment-quality collector Corvette, or perhaps you’re looking for something fun to drive in 2022, our friends at Corvette Mike in Anaheim, California can help you find the perfect Corvette for the new year!

Corvette Mike is one of the top destinations for buying high-quality Corvettes! The knowledgeable staff is there to assist in finding just the right pre-owned or classic Corvette for you. Today we hit their website to check out the current online inventory and came up with these three Corvettes as our favorites for the month of December.

Maybe at this point, you’re more of a seller than a buyer? Corvette Mike skips the auto auctions and only buys premium cars from private enthusiasts and they purchase cars from across the nation so if you have a low-mileage or rare Corvette that you are ready to part with, reach out to Corvette Mike and let them know what you got.

1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe

For the collector who wants to own one of the most iconic Corvettes in the model’s 69-year run, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe is it. Chevrolet redesigned the Corvette in 1963 and for the first time, it came from the factory as a hardtop coupe. Zora Arkus-Duntov offered three different transmissions and four different engine performance options with the fuel injected 327/360hp L84 option reigning supreme. But what made the 1963 Coupe truly unique was the split rear window offered only in the inaugural year of the C2 before Zora successfully lobbied GM Design to change it to a single rear window in 1964.

The original owner of this 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe must have been wanting to drive the ultimate street Corvette when he placed his order. Outfitted in Riverside Red and a Black interior, the original buyer made sure to check the box on the 327/360 Fuelie V8 as well as the four-speed manual transmission, while power windows, AM/FM radio, and whitewall tires rounded out the options. We can imagine it was quite at home cruising the boulevards back in the day.

This ’63 Fuelie Sting Ray has been meticulously detailed, undergone a frame-off restoration, and only 99 miles are showing on the odometer. This Corvette is still equipped with the original L84 engine as certified by Al Grenning’s C.C.A.S. service and the Trim Tag has also been verified. Further documentation includes the N.C.R.S. Shipping Data Report.

The Fuel Injected 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe would be the center point of any automotive collection. For details or more information, contact Tim at 714-630-0700.

1996 Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

When C4 production finally came to an end in ’96 after 12 years, Chevrolet knew they had to send it off with a bang, not a whimper. And since the ZR-1 was discontinued in ’95, there was definitely a void that needed to be filled!

The name “Grand Sport” had been used once before. It was for the fabled early ’60’s Corvette race cars helmed by legendary drivers such as Bob Bondurant, Roger Penske, A.J. Foyt, and Dr. Dick Thompson, among others. For this ’96 Special Edition, G.M. thought it fitting that the name should be brought back again!

We love the 1996 Corvette Grand Sport for what it offered to Corvette buyers – a limited edition Corvette with a unique engine to celebrate the end of a generation. Limited to 1,000 units overall, Chevrolet produced 810 coupes and 190 convertibles in Admiral Blue with a White full-length body stripe and Red hash marks on the front fenders. They also received a special black-painted version of the ZR-1 wheels with the coupes getting the import flares added to the body so the rear wheels would fit appropriately.

The Grand Sport’s LT-4 engine was rated at 330hp, which was 30 more than the standard LT-1 engine. However, the car’s performance feels considerably more powerful than the advertised increase would indicate!.

Corvette Mike acquired this ’96 Corvette Grand Sport Convertible by the original owner who only put 19,277 miles on the odometer. This GS is #117 in the series and is fully documented with all books, manuals, original window sticker, build sheet, and more. It also received a high score from the NCRS who awarded it Top Flight status. Celebrate the C4’s end of the line by adding this highly collectible Grand Sport to your stable.

This 1996 Corvette Grand Sport Convertible is offered for $52,900. Call Tim at 714-630-0700 for more information.

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2016 Corvette Z06 Coupe

This 2016 Corvette Z06 with a seven-speed manual transmission, Magnetic Selective Ride Control, and the Z07 Performance Package was originally ordered from Legacy Chevrolet in Columbus, Georgia before it was acquired from the original owner by Corvette Mike in the fall of 2021. Powered by the 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 engine that was rated for 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, this Z06 Coupe has just under 6K miles on the odometer and is documented with the original window sticker, manufacturer’s literature, and a clean CarFax report.

The Z06 is finished in Arctic White with Kalahari leather interior and features a full-length Black racing stripe across the hood, roof, and rear deck of the car. It’s outfitted with the level three visible carbon fiber aerodynamics package that includes the aggressive front splitter and rear wickerbill across the rear spoiler. It also includes a painted and transparent roof panel. Inside you’ll find the carbon fiber trim package surrounding the center stack and instrument cluster.

The Corvette Z06 sits on staggered setup of 19″/20″ Chrome-finished aluminum wheels with Corvette logo center caps. The rubber is currently mixed with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires up front and Continental Extreme Contact tires (non-runflats) in the rear. With the Z07 Performance Package comes Brembo’s carbon-ceramic brakes and red brake calipers.

Corvette Mike is offering this low-mileage one-owner 2016 Corvette Z06 for $89,900. Are you ready to be its next caretaker? Contact Tim at 714-630-0700 today.

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To learn more about these three highly collectible Corvettes for sale or to view the other collector Corvettes offered by Corvette Mike, visit them online at CorvetteMike.com or give Tim a call at 714-630-0700 and let them know you found these Corvettes on CorvetteBlogger.com!

Source:
CorvetteMike.com

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ACS Composite Offers Rock Guards and 5VM Side Rockers for C8 Corvette and Their C7 Z06 Front Splitter Fits All C7 Models

Congratulations to those of you out there that own the C7 or C8 Corvette. These Corvettes are among the best that has ever been made and we are sure that you’ll get years of enjoyment from them. While the front engine and mid-engine Corvettes are about as different as they can be, they share many things including the ability to be protected and customized by our friends at ACS Composite.

ACS Composite is a leader in the Corvette aftermarket for providing owners with the highest quality of parts and accessories specifically designed to fit your Corvette. Their current selection of parts and accessories for the C7/C8 includes a number of different spoilers, front splitters, and side rocker panels, plus they offer other enhancements that help protect your investment while you are enjoying your Corvette.

This month we are sharing some of the best-selling products from ACS Composite. We show off the ACS C8 Corvette Rock Guards which are one of the best ways to protect your Corvette from rock chips and road debris, as well as the ACS 5VM Side Rockers for the C8 which also protects your Corvette while making it appear more aggressive. Finally, the ACS C7 Z06 front splitter has been re-engineered to fit your C7 Stingray as well as the Grand Sport and Z06 models.

C8 Corvette Rock Guards

The C8 Corvette’s beautiful mid-engine design does offer a bit of the traditional “Coke bottle” shape as the Stingray’s rear end is wider to accommodate the larger rear tires as well as offer the ability for the side air intakes to capture as much air as possible. That design also lends itself for the front Michelins to pick up rocks and other road debris and launch it rearward against the side of your car. While costly solutions like paint protection film (PPF) can help minimize the damage to your exterior paint, these new C8 Corvette Rock Guards from ACS Composite offers the ultimate protection to guard your Corvette’s exterior against rocks and other debris.

Utilizing GM’s stock accessory splash guards as a starting point, ACS Composite’s C8 Rock Guards enhances that design for added protection with features that include a wider edge, a bladed shield that helps control rocks and road debris inside the wheel well, and an added downward extension that provides great stopping power front and back.

Manufactured from ACS Composite’s proprietary PC Composite material, your C8 Rock guards are designed to withstand extreme temperatures as well as rock strikes projected by the spinning wheels.

Installation is easy and takes as little as 30 minutes as the C8 Rock Guards use the stock OEM mounting points in the wheel wheels so no drilling or two-sided tape is required. ACS Composite also offers an install video that can be found on the company’s YouTube Channel. The C8 Rock Guards are sold as a set of four (2 front/2 rear) for $499 with Free Shipping included.

5VM Side Rockers for the C8 Corvette

If you are in the camp that loves the aggressive posture of the OEM 5VM C8 side skirts with the signature winglets in front of the rear wheels, ACS Composite has improved upon GM’s design with their ACS 5VM Carbon Flash Rockers for the C8 Corvette. Like the 1VM rockers, ACS has created an undertray extension to the side rockers which offers protection to the rolled painted body panel underneath the C8, and ACS uses a custom-designed rocker bracket that doesn’t require the side hole to be drilled as is the case with the dealer-installed OEM version.

ACS Composite already offers their own version of the 5VM Front Splitter and these 5VM C8 Rocker Panels in Carbon Flash Metallic will compliment that look. Made from highly durable PC Composite material, the black molded side rockers are heat resistant and with a black substrate, scrapes or rock chips will not show through.

Similar to the RPO code 5W8, these 5VM C8 side rockers are finished in Carbon Flash Black or CFZ, and it will match all of the C8 Corvette’s exterior accents including the front grille, rear diffuser, the side intake boomerang, and more.

ACS Composite will begin shipping their 5VM Carbon Flash Black C8 Rockers on September 20th, and a dedicated install video will be coming shortly. The 5VM C8 Side Rockers are priced at $1,948 and free shipping is included.

ACS C7 Z06 Splitter

General Motors spent a considerable amount of time in aero-testing the C7 Corvette Z06’s aerodynamic kit for the Z07 Performance Package. ACS has taken that Z06/Z07 splitter and redesigned it in CAD and CNC machined it from the ground up with slight improvements over the original design and the end result is a clean-looking, durable, and functional aerodynamic splitter that will benefit the front of your C7 Corvette Stingray as well as the widebody Grand Sport and Z06 models.

The ACS Z06 Front Splitter is made from PC Composite which is a manufacturing process generally reserved for high-volume production parts. These black molded splitters offer high strength and durability, as well as resistance to heat and scraping which makes them perfect for mounting on the front of your C7 Corvette. If durability is important to you, the ACS Z06 splitter helps minimize curb rash and mild road hazards. ACS describes it as the last Z06 Splitter your Corvette will ever need!

The C7 Z06 Splitter also features an optional undertray for those track warriors looking for the ultimate aerodynamic performance from their cars. The integrated undertray option enhances the aerodynamics by keeping all edges smooth and directing air with a minimum amount of turbulence. The undertray also has revised brake cooling ducts and features extra mounting points with linear fins to keep the air flowing smoothly as possible

You can further customize the look of your C7 with the addition of the Stage 2 and Stage 3 deflectors. Mounted on the corners of the C7 splitter, the deflectors help to move and reduce the airflow off the ends of the splitter. The Stage 2 deflectors are smaller and more conservative than the larger Stage 3 deflectors, and the OEM deflectors can be used with the ACS C7 Z06 Front Splitter.

The ACS C7 Z06 Front Splitters are available for the C7 Corvette Stingray as well as the C7 Grand Sport and Z06 models with a starting price of $499.00 and shipping is free! An installation video is also available on the ACS Composite YouTube channel.

Source:
ACS Composite

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Protect Your C8 Corvette from Rock Chips with C8 Rock Guards From ACS Composite

Our friends at ACS Composite are all about helping you get the most of your Corvette through their lineup of high-quality parts and accessories. Their current portfolio of parts and accessories for the C7/C8 includes a number of different spoilers, front splitters, and side rocker panels, plus they offer other enhancements that help protect your Corvette as you will see in these featured products below.

One of the new products offered by the Canadian-based company are their new Rock Guards for the C8 Corvette. A favorite product among C7 Corvette owners, the C8 rock guards help protect your Corvette’s exterior paint by stopping and redirecting rocks and other debris from ever hitting your car in the first place. We’re also sharing their Carbon Flash License Plate Frames as well as their Jacking Pucks for the C5 through C8 Corvette.

C8 Corvette Rock Guards

Manufactured from ACS Composite’s proprietary PC Composite material, your C8 Rock guards are designed to withstand extreme temperatures as well as rock strikes projected by the spinning wheels.

Installation is easy and takes as little as 30 minutes as the Rock Guards use the stock OEM mounting points in the wheel wheels so no drilling or two-sided tape is required. ACS Composite also offers an install video that can be found on the company’s YouTube Channel. The C8 Rock Guards are sold as a set of four (2 front/2 rear) for $499 with Free Shipping included.

C7/C8 Carbon Flash License Plate Frame

As your Corvette requires a rear license plate, why not dress it up in the same Carbon Flash Black that is found on Corvette’s rear fascia and other exterior trim pieces on the C7 and C8 Corvette. The C7/C8 License Plate Frames from ACS Composite is the perfect complement to the rear of your Corvette.

These Carbon Flash License Plate Frames offer a smooth, clean look without any branding. The frame is molded in plastic injection and it has a smooth rounded edge. The backside of the frame has six integrated tabs that hold the license plate in place, so it keeps it tight to the body of the car and won’t move or rattle against the rear of the car while driving. Mounting the frame is easy and ACS Composite even supplies two new black coated screws for just the right look.

The ACS Carbon Flash License Plate Frame will fit on the both the 2014-2019 C7 Corvette and 2020+ C8 Corvette. Despite the novice-level install, ACS Composite offers an installation video which shows just how good the Carbon Flash frame looks against the Sebring Orange exterior on their test car. Offered for $99 with Free Shipping included.

C5-C8 Corvette Jacking Pucks

Experienced Corvette owners know that jacking pucks are a must and you can’t assume that your local tire shop or repair facility has them. Jacking pucks offer a secure and solid lifting point and without them, you can do costly damage to your Corvette’s rocker panels. ACS Composite offers Jacking Pucks that fit with all OEM factory side skirts and ACS Composite Corvette side rocker panels. The best news is that they are left in after install, so you can set and forget once they are in place.

ACS Composite’s Jacking Pucks are machined from solid heavy-duty aluminum and are coated in Red, Black, or Blue metallic finish. They can be installed on all C5, C6, C7, and C8 Corvettes and fit all models from Stingray and Grand Sport to Z06 and ZR1. If you’ve seen those horror stories of cars falling from lifts due to jacking or lifting the car from the wrong points, the colored Jacking Pucks provides an easy sight reference for those unfamiliar with the process.

Installation is a snap with a supplied Allen wrench, no drilling is required. Once installed, the Jacking Pucks offer a 2.5″ diameter lifting surface. They are just 0.5-inches thick and can also be easily removed. ACS offers an installation video as well.

The set of four Corvette Jacking Pucks from ACS Composite costs $99.00 and shipping is free.

Source:
ACS Composite

Corvette Racing at Watkins Glen: Pole for Garcia, No. 3 Corvette

Photo Credit: Richard Prince for Corvette Racing

WATKINS GLEN, NY (June 26, 2021) – Corvette Racing swept the front row of GT Le Mans (GTLM) grid Saturday for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen with Antonio Garcia taking pole position in the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R.

Garcia led a 1-2 result for Corvette Racing with the mid-engine C8.R is on its maiden Watkins Glen International weekend. He took his second straight pole at Watkins Glen – he did the same in 2019 – with a lap of 1:40.944 (121.255 mph). Tommy Milner was second in class with the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette and 0.374 seconds off Garcia’s time at 1:41.318 (120.807 mph).

Saturday’s result continues Corvette Racing’s season-long run of first-place starting positions in each of the four IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTLM races to date. The No. 4 Corvette started on pole at Daytona and Detroit with Garcia putting the NO. 3 C8.R on pole at Sebring.

The next several days – including a two-hour, 40-minute sprint race on July 2 – present an opportunity to make up for lost time after last year’s Six Hours was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That meant Corvette Racing didn’t have the chance to show off the mid-engine Corvette C8.R during its debut season.

The C8.R and Corvette Stingray production car were developed simultaneously, and the race car and production vehicle share more technology and parts than any previous-generation Corvette. When initial Corvette C8.R design and development work began more than six years ago, Corvette Racing engineers worked closely alongside Corvette production personnel with a heavy emphasis on wind tunnel and simulation testing.

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen begins at 10:40 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 27. Same-day coverage will be available from 7-10 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Live streaming video on Trackpass via NBC Sports Gold and the NBC Sports App begins at 10:35 a.m. ET. Live audio coverage of qualifying and the race from IMSA Radio is available on IMSA.com, XM 202 and SiriusXM Online 992.

Corvette Racing at Waltins Glen: Antonio Garcia Takes the Pole

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – GTLM POLE-WINNER:

“That felt really good. We’re back on pole because the last time we were here, we on pole too. It’s always fun to qualify at here. That’s when you really get to experience Watkins Glen. You can really go for it and be really close to the walls. It was fun. Unfortunately I had one lap deleted (for track limits infraction), which didn’t help but I was able to almost do it again. The C8.R was great again. It’s always good to get on pole and to get one for Corvette Racing.”

“It was a pretty good, intense qualifying like always. It’s always good to be out there in the best car possible and go for the fastest lap around this race track as well. That’s when you get to experience this track. I’m really happy with that and how everything felt although I did have one lap deleted which confused me a little bit because it was like almost two laps after I actually did the lap time. Fortunately, I still had good laps left to be on pole and I was able improve again. It was intense, like always here at the Glen. It means a lot, but in a way it’s still six hours to go. It’s going to be a classic six hours here where everything will probably come down to the last two pit stops probably. I hope we can always be up front. I’m sure maybe we will cycle a few positions up and down with strategies. But you can’t ask for more, a Corvette one-two. So that’s pretty good.”

THE RACE OUTLOOK “I think we will be alright. We saw this morning how cold it was compared to now. The car felt completely different in practice. The work we did yesterday was really good, and that will be way closer to what we will experience tomorrow. We were competitive on Friday and we will have to be the same in the race. Still, the Six Hours will come down to the last two or two-and-a-half. But we are in the best spot we can be.”

WHEN YOU QUALIFY AT WATKINS GLEN, DO YOU HAVE TO SCARE YOURSELF A LITTLE BIT? “I think you need to close you eyes a few times! You need to get close to the walls here, for sure. That’s the fun part of it. It’s not that you have massive run-offs. You do at Turn One and a little bit at Turn Eight. The good thing is that you still have very interesting points around the track. This is very challenging and we’re glad to be back.”

RULES FOR TRACK LIMITS: “You need to keep two wheels on the curbs in Turn One and Turn Eight. Those are the two places where you can be really close to that. The one that got invalidated, it probably wasn’t the best laptime, but I’m sure they reviewed that. And that’s the thing. I would rather have the banner they have on Turn Eight so that gives everybody a heads up. We always try to find the limit and probably overshoot there.”

WHAT WILL YOU DO BETWEEN RACES? “Just prepping the next race. Hopefully we have a clean race tomorrow so all we need is to redo the cars. Hopefully we won’t have anything to repair. Also I think I will be doing some inserts for Le Mans because we are running another chassis over there. They need to redo the car in only two or three days and that’s a big push for (the crew).”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – QUALIFIED SECOND IN GTLM:

“Obviously going one-two is a good start for the weekend. For us, I think the car was just a bit out of the window balance-wise to kind of put it all together. It seemed like Antonio had a couple of good laps there. I say we missed it a little bit, but the car was still super, super good and super quick. But when you are looking for a tenth here and a tenth there, those little differences definitely make a difference. We’ll definitely work on those and get it better for warm-up and for the race. Obviously the pace all weekend has felt good. The Corvettes are driving really ,really well. From the first session, the car has been super close on being a good race car. Sometimes you come to some race tracks and you are a little bit lost and you are playing catch-up. I think right now we are in a good spot. Hopefully that holds true for the race. The race is six hours so a lot can happen but this is a good start.

“Qualifying is always fun. It doesn’t matter where you are but especially here at Watkins Glen. You have new tires, low fuel and be able to really go for it… to really crash the curbs in the Bus Stop and driving the Carousel super, super fast with just a bit of a lift there… This track always feels fast but especially so during qualifying.”

2021 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – GTLM
(After Two of 10 Events)

Driver Standings
1. Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor/Nicky Catsburg – 697
2. Cooper MacNeil – 656
3. Augusto Farfus/Jesse Krohn/John Edwards – 653
4. Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy/Alexander Sims – 647
5. Bruno Spengler/Connor De Phillippi/Philipp Eng – 636

Team Standings
1. No. 3 Corvette Racing – 697
2. No. 79 WeatherTech Racing – 656
3. No. 24 BMW Team RLL – 653
4. No. 4 Corvette Racing – 647
5. No. 25 BMW Team RLL – 636

Manufacturer Standings
1. Chevrolet – 720
2. BMW – 700
3. Porsche – 692
4. Ferrari – 330

Source:
CorvetteRacing.com

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Win a Red Mist 2021 Corvette Convertible and Racing Prize Package

When you make a donation to the non-profit International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen, you are helping to preserve and share the history of motorsports. Your donation also enters you to win a Red Mist 2021 Corvette Convertible plus a trip to the Roned Fellows Performance Driving School and VIP membership to Watkins Glen.

CorvetteBlogger readers get 25% BONUS ENTRIES on ticket packages of $25 or more so get your tickets today!.

This gorgeous Red Mist Convertible Stingray is outfitted with the Z51 Performance Package and comes with Black full-length racing stripes and black Open Spoke aluminum wheels. The Z51 offers everything you need for a fun day at the track with larger brakes and a beefier suspension, the performance rear axle, and the NPP dual-mode exhaust.

For all the other days not at the track, the hardtop convertible is the no-compromises Corvette as the hardtop doesn’t take up any of the storage space like previous Corvette convertibles, and you get the added benefit of having an independently-operated rear window. The convertible uses six motors to lower and raise the roof in 16 seconds and you can do it while moving at speeds of up to 30 mph.

The Stingray was ordered with the 2LT trim package with the boxes checked for the luxurious Jet Black Napa leather interior. The 2LT package also offers drivers peace of mind with blind zone warnings, rear cross-traffic alerts, and curb-view parking cameras. The HUD, Performance Data Recorder, and the Bose 14-speaker Performance audio system are must-haves as well.

The winner of the Red Mist 2021 Corvette Convertible will also take home these three additional prizes:

Enjoy a complimentary stay at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel when you pick up your new Corvette!
Two 2022 memberships to the Jack Daniels Club at Watkins Glen International. This includes IMSA, NASCAR, and SVRA Vintage Races, plus general access to SCCA.
A two-day performance driving school at the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School at Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, with world-class instructors and a provided Corvette. This prize includes a two-night stay, breakfast, and lunch. The winner must attend the school before the end of 2022, and arrange and pay for their own travel.

Click here to get your 25% Bonus Tickets today! Donation amounts begin at $25.

Located in Watkins Glen, NY., the International Motor Racing Research Center is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that collects, shares, and preserves the history of motorsports. Spanning continents, eras, and race series, the IMRRC’s extensive collection includes thousands of hours of film and video, hundreds of thousands of photographs, as well as thousands of cubic feet of periodicals, newsletters, rare books, race results, race programs, artwork, trophies and much, much more.

Make a donation to the IMRRC today and you’ll be automatically entered to win the 2021 Corvette Stingray Z51 Convertible!

Source:
International Motor Racing Research Center

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New Details on the C8 Corvette Launch Editions for the U.K.

New Details on the C8 Corvette Launch for the U.K.

This week we’ve been lucky to come across new information related to the C8 Corvette as Chevy is working to begin exporting the Right-Hand-Drive (RHD) Corvettes to the U.K., Japan, and other countries later this year.

Today we have some information that is directly related to the C8 Corvette Launch for the United Kingdom. Chevrolet announced last year that a special “Launch Edition” model would be made available for the market and now we have the specifics on what the launch edition will include.

From Chevrolet’s U.K. Marketing Bulletin:

The first production months of the European Corvette Stingray will be reserved for an exclusive launch edition. It will be a fully-equipped Stingray, featuring high-performance equipment and distinctive design elements, and available in 16 individual interior/exterior color combinations: 8 Coupe and 8 Convertible versions.

Both Coupe and Convertible will be equipped standard with desirable equipment, such as the Magnetic Ride Control and the highest interior trim available, including premium carbon-fiber details. The exterior design will be elevated by Carbon Flash-painted elements, such as wheels, rear spoiler, and outside mirrors. The Convertible will include roof and nacelles painted in Carbon Flash. The Coupe will be equipped with Competition Sears whereas the Convertible will feature GT2 seats.

To elevate the driving experience even more, each launch edition (Coupe and Convertible) can be delivered with the new optional feature that is for the first time available on a Corvette: E60 Front Lift. This feature raises the front of the vehicle approximately 50 mm in less than 3 seconds at lower speeds (*up to 35 km/h).

To recap, each of the Launch Editions are 3LT trims with Magnetic Ride Control and the Z51 Performance Package. Customers will be able to select the exterior color and whether or not they want the optional Front Lift. Both models feature Nappa leather with seating surfaces and steering wheel in sueded microfiber, along with the carbon fiber interior trim.

The Launch Editions have a standardized color palette based on the Exterior choice. Note that that guide we have has substituted the new 2022 internal GM color names for the soon-to-be-retired Sebring Orange, Shadow Gray, and Zeus Bronze:

C8 Corvette Coupe Configurations:

Arctic White: Jet Black Interior, Black Seatbelts, Black Calipers, No Stitching.
Black: Jet Black interior, Torch Red Seatbelts, Bright Red Calipers, Adrenaline Red Stitching.
Torch Red: Adrenaline Red Interior, Torch Red Seat Belts, Bright Red Calipers, No Stitching
Hypersonic Gray: Natural Interior, Tan Seat Belts, Edge Red Calipers, No Stitching.
Rapid Blue: Jet Black Interior, Tension Blue Seats, Yellow Brake Calipers, No Stitching.
Elkhart Lake Blue: Adrenaline Red Interior, Black Seat Belts, Bright Red Calipers, No Stitching.
Accelerate Yellow: Jet Black Interior, Yellow Seat Belts, Yellow Brake Calipers, Yellow Stitching.
Ceramic Matrix Gray: Jet Black Interior, Yellow Seat Belts, Yellow Brake Calipers, Yellow Stitching.

C8 Corvette Convertible Configurations:

Torch Red: Jet Black Interior, Black Seat Belts, Black Brake Calipers, No Stitching
Arctic White: Sky Cool Gray two-tone Interior, Black Seat Belts, Edge Red Brake Calipers, No Stitching.
Silver Flare: Adrenaline Red two-tone Interior, Black Seat Belts, Bright Red Brake Calipers, No Stitching.
Caffeine Brown: Natural two-tone Interior, Black Seat Belts, Black Brake Calipers, No Stitching.
Rapid Blue: Sky Cool Gray Interior, Tension Blue Seat Belts, Black Brake Calipers, No Stitching.
Elkhart Lake Blue: Natural Interior, Tan Seat Belts, Black Brake Calipers, No Stitching.
Mist Red: Sky Cool Gray two-tone Interior, Black Seat Belts, Edge Red Calipers, No Stitching.
Amplify Orange: Jet Black Interior, Orange Seat Belts, Black Brake Calipers, No Stitching.

Once the Launch roll-out period is completed, buyers in the United Kingdom will be able to purchase a 2LT version as the standard version with choice of seats (GT1, GT2, or Competition) with the Z51 Performance Package offered as standard equipment. The optional 3LT version will allow additional colors and custom leather-wrapped interiors along with a choice of GT2 or Competition seats.

Last year, Chevrolet Europe announced the list prices for the generously equipped launch edition models will start in the UK at £81,700 ($115,049.94 USD) for the coupe and at £87,110 ($122,668.30 USD) for the convertible. As it’s been nearly a year since this was posted, we are not sure if the pricing will stay as listed.

Ordering details for the Launch Edition are not presented, but the person we spoke with suggested that orders could open within the next month or two with the first deliveries coming sometime later this fall. However, that is not yet set in stone.

Ian Allan Motors is the authorized distributor for Chevrolet in the United Kingdom. For questions about ordering your own C8 Corvette Launch Edition, contact them at [email protected] or visit www.ianallanvirginiawater.co.uk.

The Launch Edition configurations are the exact same configurations posted by the Corvette Prague dealership where we learned about the new 2022 Corvette exterior colors, and so we assume these configurations will be used throughout Europe with the only difference being the United Kingdom received Right-Hand-Drive vehicles while the rest of the continent will get the standard LHD configuration.

Source:
Chevrolet.com

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[PICS] Another Zora Easter Egg? This C8 Corvette Has The Original Chief Engineer’s Stamp Of Approval

[PICS] Another Zora Easter Egg? This C8 Corvette Has Original Chief Engineer's Stamp of Approval

It looks like there might be another “Zora Head” Easter Egg now gracing the C8 Corvettes!

Ryan Jaycox posted a video and pics of his find to the C8 Corvette Owners (and friends) page on Facebook. During a service stop at his Chevrolet dealer, Ryan was checking out the underbody as it was on the lift and spied the stamping of Zora on the underbody panel.

Ryan posted to the group saying “Today was the first time I’ve been under my C8 and I thought this was AWESOME, check out what’s stamped on the bottom.”

[PICS] Another Zora Easter Egg? This C8 Corvette Has The Original Chief Engineer's Stamp Of Approval

The video is inconclusive about the exact location of the stamping with Ryan adding “if I remember right it was stamped towards the center of the bottom.”.

Chevy’s Corvette Engineers have used the Zora Head badges since the beginning of the program. Inside General Motors, the C8 Corvette was codenamed ZERV, a nod to Zora’s CERV program (Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle) in the 1960s. If you didn’t have a Zora Head on your GM ID, you couldn’t get into the secure areas where development was taking place. The team would tell us whenever they were confronted with a problem, they would ask “What would Zora do?” for guidance.

The Zora Head badges were revealed to the public in April 2019 when Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter drove GM’s CEO, Mary Barra, in a camouflaged C8 Corvette prototype featuring the stickers in New York City. At the end of September, the badges began showing up as printed on the bottom of the passenger-side of the front windshield.

[PICS] Another Zora Easter Egg? C8 Corvette Has Original Chief Engineer's Stamp of Approval

Zora Arkus-Duntov advocated for the Corvette to go mid-engine after racer John Fitch was nearly cooked in a front-engine Corvette racecar. Over the years a number of mid-engine and rear-engine prototypes were produced, but Zora found resistance to the plan at every turn. After he retired in 1975, his successor Dave McLellan would also take a look at a mid-engine Corvette and despite several new mid-ship Corvettes built for styling and engineering purposes, it would languish until the current team began exploring the concept back in the mid-2000s.

Source:
Ryan Jaycox / Facebook

GM Issues Technical Service Bulletin Over Incorrect Radio Label on the 2020 Corvette

Photo Credit: Chevrolet

At least no parts are required to fix a Technical Service Bulletin issued recently by General Motors for the 2020 Corvette.

The TSB points out that a label with the wrong radio frequency identification number was affixed to the back of the radio display in the cabin of some C8 Stingrays.

The fix is simple, though. The dealer will just print a new label in color and place it inside the owner’s manual of the affected car. Reports say that GM has corrected the applicable Certificate Identification Numbers for the Near-Field Communication device with an updated label that’s added to the back of the radio display. Owners are also asked to place the letter with the new CIN in the glove compartment with their owner’s manual.

2020 Corvettes in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are affected by the TSB, but we would assume the remaining 2020 models still waiting to be produced would already have the updated label.

Source:
gmauthority.com