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C4 and C5 owners listen up
January 1st, 2012 
dave787
Our friends at BF Goodrich tell us that they are introducing a new performance-tire line in March 2012, with fitments for C4 and C5 Corvettes.
Johnny O’ Connell and Corvette Make The Cut
January 1st, 2012 dave787 Five drivers and a legendary American sports car will join the prestigious Sebring Hall of Fame in 2012. Hans Herrmann, Geoff Brabham, Denise McCluggage, Johnny O’Connell, Jim Downing and Chevrolet’s Corvette will be inducted at ceremonies on March 16th, the day before the 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida.
Of interest to VETTE readers is Johnny O’Connell—Sebring’s all-time winner with seven class wins and an overall victory in 1994. He holds the Sebring record for class podium finishes with 12. His string of 20 consecutive starts is also a Sebring record. While his early victories came driving for Nissan, he is best known for his success while driving for Corvette. He has four class wins at Le Mans.
The Chevrolet Corvette is an American automotive icon that has proven itself over six decades of competition at America’s greatest sports car race. Since its first appearance at Sebring in 1956, Corvette has earned an incredible 17 class wins. Corvette joins Porsche, Audi and Ferrari as automotive makes to be inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame.
Induction ceremonies will take place Friday, March 16, during a luncheon at the Chateau Elan Hotel and Conference Center, overlooking Sebring’s famous Hairpin turn. The luncheon is open to the pubic with admission proceeds benefiting the Sebring Hall of Fame. Derek Bell will serve as emcee for the event. Tickets are $200 and must be purchased in advance by calling 800-626-7223 x218.
The Sebring Hall of Fame was established in 2002 at Sebring’s 50th Anniversary. The non-profit organization is dedicated to preserving Sebring’s history.
Andy Pilgrim
January 1st, 2012 dave787
Corvette Hall of Fame Inductee Andy Pilgrim joined the Corvette Racing team in 1999 after a successful career in IMSA racing where he earned four championships in four consecutive years. Teamed with Ron Fellows, Pilgrim scored the team’s historic first victory at Texas Motor Speedway in September 2000. In 2001, Pilgrim finished second in GTS in the Sebring 12-Hour and Le Mans 24-Hour endurance races, and was on the winning team for the Petit Le Mans season finale at Road Atlanta.
In 2001 he was selected as Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr.’s teammate in the 24 Hours of Daytona, finishing second in the GTS class behind the sister Corvette C5-R. Pilgrim left the Corvette program in 2004 but stayed with General Motors, driving for the winning team at the Daytona 24 in a Doran-Pontiac, and spent the rest of the season driving for the new Cadillac CTS-V factory team in the SPEED World Challenge GT Series. Pilgrim won the driver’s championship in the CTS-V, and finished 3rd and 2nd in the series in 2006 and 2007. He also made his NASCAR Busch Series debut, driving two road course races for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s JR Motorsports team. In 2011, he joined former Corvette Racing teammate Johnny O’Connell in driving the factory Cadillac CTS-V Coupe in the World Challenge and made his Sprint Cup debut driving the 46 car for Whitney Motorsports, finishing 26th.
Pilgrim started the Andy Pilgrim Foundation in 2008 to educate new street drivers and raise awareness of the problems of distracted driving. He has a long history of attending and serving as an instructor at the Museum’s High Performance Driving schools, and has hosted golf tournaments in conjunction with the Museum’s annual C5/C6 Bash with proceeds benefitting the Museum.
Bob McDorman
January 1st, 2012 dave787
More About the 2012 NCM Hall of Fame Inductees
Corvette Hall of Fame Inductee Bob McDorman has been one of the premier Corvette enthusiasts for more than 50 years. His automobile collections have literally contained hundreds of Corvettes, many of which have been the most sought after and prized Corvettes in the world. McDorman’s collection once included 150 collector cars, all GM, and mostly Corvettes housed in eight buildings on the grounds of his dealership in Canal Winchester, Ohio. Bob spent 16 of his early years working in GM dealerships learning the ins and outs of running a successful business. In 1965 he purchased the Ralph Smith Chevrolet dealership in Groveport, OH and in 1968 moved it to the 33-acre lot in Canal Winchester where he remains today.
Each September McDorman hosted an annual “Corvettes and Chevys on the Canal,” which raised over $275,000 for the local children’s hospital. In addition to being a Lifetime Member of the National Corvette Museum, he has loaned Corvettes for Museum use, including several rare Corvettes for display, and has supported many programs of the Museum including bricks, membership, events, advertising and donations. McDorman was awarded the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award in 1978 and 2007, 2010 Bloomington Gold “Great Hall” Inductee and numerous other humanitarian and achievement awards.
Introducing Hertz’ Adrenaline Collection
January 1st, 2012 dave787
Hertz is Renting Corvettes in 2012
Hertz thinks renting Corvettes to its customers is back in fashion, in fact, they’re advertising their new sports-car rental-car program as the Adrenaline Collection.
Here’s what they have to say about the program:
Get ready for the ultimate car rental experience. Inject some exhilaration into your trip with the aggressive new Adrenaline Collection™ from Hertz. Head-turning, heart-pumping specialty performance versions of five of the most popular muscle cars on the road today:
Our cars include:
• Chevy Camaro SS
• Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible
• Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
• Ford Mustang 5.0 GT Premium
• Dodge Challenger R/T
Relive the 60’s and 70’s muscle era with the aggressive new Adrenaline Collection™. Each model has new modern body lines and colors & designs that are reminiscent of those famous classic hot rods. Hold on tight to that three-spoke racing wheel and enjoy the ride. Your vacation just got a lot more exciting.
Drive an automotive icon. With the Corvette Convertible, Hertz puts you behind the wheel of the definitive American roadster. Beneath the sensuous sheet metal is a roaring 430-horsepower V8, connected to the 19” rear wheels through a six-speed transmission with manual shift mode. Climb in and fire up your ticket to open-air motoring nirvana.
2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Continues to Bring the Track Back to the Showroom
January 1st, 2012 dave787 This year, Corvette continues its tradition of track-to-street technology transfer with the 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition.
“Designed to further incorporate technology developed through racing, the Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Corvette’s first race in the 24 Hours of LeMans,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet General Manager. “With a limited production of 500 units, this car is a must-have for the true Corvette collector and driving enthusiast.”
“For track use, the Z06 Carbon is the best-balanced Corvette yet. It combines the lightweight and naturally-aspirated Z06 engine with the road-holding and braking of the ZR1,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette Chief Engineer.
The Corvette Z06 Carbon will be available in two colors: Inferno Orange and the all-new Supersonic Blue. Black headlamps and mirrors, a ZR1-style body color spoiler, body color door handles, carbon fiber raised hood and black carbon fiber rockers and splitter enhance the Z06 dynamic design and reduce mass and aerodynamic lift. For track events, customers can also choose to install the Euro-styled racing numbers that come with each car.
The Z06 Carbo boasts Brembo® carbon ceramic brakes with specific dark gray metallic calipers. These brakes were first introduced on the ZR1. Black 20-spoke 19-inch front/20-inch rear wheels complement the car’s Michelin PS2 tires. Other mechanical features include Magnetic Selective Ride Control, a first for the Z06, and enhanced cooling equipment.
The Z06 Carbon’s ebony leather and suede interior is complemented by blue or orange seat stitching to match the exterior color chosen. Other features include a unique steering wheel emblem, sill plate, logoed headrest and a special carbon pattern engine cover. The suede enhancements on the steering wheel, shifter, seat inserts, armrests and doors add to the luxury of this limited edition Z06.
For the ambitious racer, an optional Z07 performance package, that includes the mechanical upgrades introduced on the Z06 Carbon, can be added to any 2011 Z06 model. This package also includes Competition Gray 20-in. spoke wheels and all the chassis and cooling upgrades.
The CFZ Z06 carbon fiber package, which includes black carbon fiber rockers, splitter and roof panel with the full-width body color spoiler, can also be purchased, with or without the Z07 package, on all 2011 Z06 models.
The 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition, as well as the new Z07 and CFZ packages will be available in late summer, 2010.
