Random Photo of the Month: One Sweet 1965 Sting Ray

Saw this sweet 1965 Corvette Sting Ray "fastback" coupe at the 2013 Nebraska Corvette Association's All Corvette Car Show in September.  

This car is in the "mid-year" C2 generation that featured a completely new Mako Shark body style inspired by a deep sea fishing expedition.  The 1965 model year was the first year to offer four-wheel disc brakes and optional side pipes.  All of the cars for this model year were assembled at a plant in St. Louis, MO (now closed).

Nice car!

Random Photo of the Month: Corvette at the Roosevelt Arch in Yellowstone National Park

I took this pic at the Roosevelt Arch in Yellowstone National Park a few years ago. 

The Roosevelt Arch is located just outside of Gardiner, Montana at the North entrance of Yellowstone.  The arch was constructed in 1903 and is inscribed with the phrase "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People." A time capsule is embedded in the arch that includes a Bible, a picture of President Theodore Roosevelt, newspapers, and other everyday items.

Random Photo of the Month: 1954 Corvette Convertible

Saw this 1954 Corvette convertible at the Corvette show sponsored by the Nebraska Corvette Association in Lincoln, Nebraska in September this year.  The next car in line is another 1954 convertible.  The show featured row of nice C1 Corvettes prominently displayed at the front of the show.  Very nice.

If you ever get to Lincoln, look me up.  I'll be riding in a 2003 Millenium Yellow Corvette convertible. 

Random Photo of the Month: 1953 Corvette Prom Car

This 1953 C1 Corvette was driven to the prom after being completely rebuilt by two 16-year-old boys and a 20-year-old mechanic.  The current owner bought the car for $300 in 1961 just one month before his 16th birthday.  The car has been in the family ever since.

This photo was taken this morning at the 2013 All Corvette Car Show in Lincoln, Nebraska sponsored by the Nebraska Corvette Association (NCA).  The Nebraska Corvette Association was founded in 1967.

C7 Corvette Stingray Video Clips: Road America Road Track

Here are three short video clips of the new C7 Corvette Stingray that I recorded at the Grand AM/ALMS race weekend at Road America last month.  The sounds of live racing can be heard on the clips as background noise.

 

The first and second clips were recorded at the Chevrolet booth near the tunnel at the north end of the Road America track.  The third clip was recorded at the Corvette Corral at turn 3.  Fans were given the opportunity to sit in the driver's seat of the C7 at the Corvette Corral in the third clip.

 

Enjoy!

  

 





 

 



 

 

 

Random Photo of the Month: Corvette DP Racecar at Road America

This photo of a Corvette DP racecar was taken at the Grand Am Road Race held on August 10, 2013 at the Road America road track in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

The Corvette DP is a Gen3 Daytona Prototype racecar approved for use in the Grand American Road Racing Association (GARRA) in the Rolex Sports Car Series.  The first Corvette DP racecar was approved in 2012 with a  5.0 L V8 engine with 500 hp capable of reaching a top speed of 190 mph. 

GARRA regulates the number of chassis that are approved for use in series races.  The Corvette DP and Riley MxXXVI were approved in 2012 as Gen3 cars.  Gen2 cars can also be upgraded to meet the Gen3 standards.

Random Photo of the Month: Al's Oasis and the Black Hills Corvette Classic

 

July is road trip month.  It's also a peak month for Corvette events.  I chose this photo for July in honor of the Black Hills Corvette Classic (BHCC), an event that's marking its 42-year anniversary in 2013.   Al's Oasis is a popular breakfast stop during the "Dakota Road Rally" portion of the BHCC which is typically held on a Thursday.  Al's is conveniently located just off I-90 in Oacoma, South Dakota near the Missouri River.

The 2013 Black Hills Corvette Classic will be held from July 16 to July 20.  See you there!

Link to a Video: The Automotive Film and Arts Festival

Here's a link to a sampling of film clips promoting the upcoming "World Class Automotive and Arts Festival" to be held on August 15-17 in Monterey this year.  The 2013 event includes the Le Mans endurance race, the life of John Finch, the anniversary of the Corvette, and more.

http://www.automotivefilmfestival.com/?goback=%2Egde_52608_member_254006726

Random Photo of the Month: June is Bloomington Gold Month

June is Bloomington Gold month.  Bloomington Gold Corvettes USA is a car show, vendor show, and car auction all centered around Corvettes.  The photo above is a row of C1 Corvettes for sale by a classic car dealer at the 2007 show. 

The 2013 Bloomington Gold show will be held this weekend from June 28 to June 30 at a new venue in Champaign, Illinois.

Random Photo of the Month: Pile of Exhausts behind the Corsa Tent at Bloomington Gold

This pile of discarded exhausts was stacked behind the Corsa installation tent at the Bloomington Gold Corvette show in 2011.  Corsa was installing new exhausts on-site at the vendor show, something they do every year. 

The Corsa brand is popular with Corvette owners.  The "straight through" design decreases back pressure which increases the horsepower of the engine.  But, really, the main reason for installing one of these high performance exhausts is to give the car a deep rumbling sound that can be heard for miles on the road.  Try revving the engine.  You'll hear what I mean.  Very cool.

Random Photo of the Month: The 25th Anniversary Corvette

This is the nose badge from a 25th anniversary Corvette which also happens to be the 1978 model year.  The badge includes the C3 crossed flags emblem along with lettering acknowledging the 25 years.  This model year included a new fastback rear window, a resigned dash with new gauges, and a larger fuel tank.

Random Photo of the Month: Ron Fellows Z06 Corvette

 

 

 

The Ron Fellows Z06 Corvette

 

This is a collector edition car with a long name.  Officially, it's called the Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Championship Edition Z06 Corvette, or something like that.  Rarely is the entire name used in daily conversation.  No matter. The car is still as amazing as they come. 

 

This special Corvette is a tribute to Ron Fellows, driver for Corvette Racing in the GT1 class in the American LeMans series.  His association with Corvette Racing started in 1998 with the development of the C5-R race car.  His successful driving career included special recognition by fans as the most popular driver in ALMS for 4 consecutive years from 2004 to 2007.  Fellows has been connected to Corvette ever since, continuing as a technical expert  following his peak years as a driver. 

 

Offered for the 2007 model year, the car is a collector's dream.  Only 399 of these cars were produced with only 300 sold in the US.  Special features include a rear spoiler, a unique windshield banner, a fully-appointed red leather interior, and flashy chrome wheels.  The exterior is a striking Arctic White color with Victory Red hash stripes on the front fender.  The hash stripes include a maple leaf as a tribe to Ron's Canadian heritage.  Best of all, the console of each car is hand numbered and signed by Ron Fellows himself. 

 

Nice car!

Random Photo of the Month: Blue Devil Wheels

 

 

The Blue Devil is the nickname of the C6 ZR1, a high performance version of the standard C6 Corvette.  

 

The distinctive wheel rims and blue brake calipers are special features of the ZR1.  Afterall, a car designed for speed required special wheels.  Surprisingly, the front and back wheels of the car are different sizes.  The front wheels are 19 inches in diameter, tire size 285/30R-19, while the rear wheels are 20 inches in diameter, tire size 335/25R-20.

Random Photo of the Month: The Original Sting Ray

The original Corvette Sting Ray was unveiled to the world in 1963 as a completely redesigned car, the first of the C2 generation.  The new Corvette became an instant classic appealing to sports car buyers looking for a faster car with an innovative look.  Buyers were not disappointed.  The Sting Ray was a lighter and faster than previous Corvettes with better handling and more options including power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, an AM-FM radio, and leather upholstery.  Not bad, GM, not bad at all.

The New C7 Corvette Revealed: The Stingray is Back

The Stingray is back!  The new C7 Corvette was unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show--and it's a Stingray.

The new design features a car that is lower, wider, and longer than its predecessor. Technical advancements include a new aluminum frame, carbon fiber body parts, and increased steering stiffness all incorporated into a new body design that displaces engine heat over the top of the car through a hood vent.  The new interior features the choice of two different magnesium-framed seats, one geared toward long distance driving and the other with extra support for track use.

Nice car!