Random Corvette Fact of the Month: Competitive Driving Mode

Did you know that your C5 Corvette has a Competitive Driving mode?  The Competitive Driving mode allows more wheel spin than standard driving mode, while leaving the Active Handling intact.  This makes the car more responsive and more nimble without completely removing the stabilizing protections of the fully automatic Active Handling system.

To activate the Competitive Driving mode, hold down the Traction Control button for 5 seconds.  It's that easy.  The words "Competitive Driving Mode" will appear on the Driver's Information Center on the dash.  Push the button again to return to standard driving.  Standard driving also resets when the car is turned off.  

 

Random Photo of the Month: Crazy Woman Creek

This "big sky" picture was taken in northern Wyoming near Crazy Woman Creek close to the Big Horn Mountains (mountains seen in the distance).  There are numerous local legends and myths explaining how the Crazy Woman Creek got its name. The most plausible of these tells the story of a trader's widow who survives a hit in the head with a tomahawk and is secretly nursed back to health by women of the Crow tribe.     

Corvette Racing Greats: Meeting Four Legendary Racecar Drivers

I had the rare opportunity to meet four Corvette Racing celebrities this past summer at the Road America ALMS race at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.  Friends and I met Johnny O'Connell, Tommy Milner, Ron Fellows, and Bob Bondurant.  What a treat!

Johnny O'Connell signing autographs at a Corvette Racing seminar

Johnny O'Connell
Johnny O'Connell was Corvette Racing's most prolific driver winning more races for Corvette than any other driver during his 10-year career.  He has a record number of Sebring 12-hr class victories (8) and  38 career ALMS wins.  Johnny recently moved from Corvette Racing to the newly-formed Cadillac Racing Team in 2011 as the leading full-time driver for the new team.

Race car driver Tommy Milner meeting fans during the pre-race festivities.

Tommy Milner
Tommy Milner is the newest driver on the Corvette Racing Team starting his first full year on the ALMS circuit in 2011.  Tommy is taking the place of Johnny O'Connell in the #3 car.

Ron Fellows answering fan questions at the Corvette tent before the ALMS race.

Ron Fellows
Legendary driver Ron Fellows has retired from a full racing schedule with Corvette, although he still races in selected events.  Ron has the distnction of winning the fan-favorite ALMS Popular Driver Award for 4 consecutive years from 2004 to 2007 in addition to winning numerous ALMS races and championships.  Currently, Ron is an Ambassador and Technical Advisor to the Corvette Racing Team.

Bob Bondurant and his wife Patricia meeting fans and signing autographs.

Bob Bondurant
Bob Bondurant was a racecar driver of Corvettes and Shelby Cobras in the 1960s.  However, Bob is best known as the founder and owner of the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in Arizona that utilizes Grand Sport and ZR1 Corvettes as training vehicles.  Bob has trained several famous actors for racing movie roles over the years including James Garner, Clint Eastwood, Robert Wagner, Tim Allen, Tom Cruise, and Nicholas Cage.  That's cool.

A Johnny O'Connell autograph on a promotional C6.R Racing brochure.