vendors by name - Carlisle Events

CHIP’S CHOICE DISPLAY
CHIP’S CHOICE #309
1971 FACTORY ZR2 CORVETTE
Owned By: Ed Foss
Zora’s Last Stand: Born of Russian students in
Belgium, Zora Arkus-Duntov, Corvette’s legendary
fi rst chief engineer, was nothing if not sophisticated.
He studied engineering in Europe’s best schools and
raced against Europe’s best drivers. Zora’s approach
to the Corvette was sophisticated too, except for one
simple, unshakable belief: The more cubic inches,
the better. The L-88 and super-rare ZL-1 both ended
in 1969. Was this to be the end of high-horsepower,
high-displacement Corvettes? Not by a long shot —
enter the ZR factory production option. Zora’s mandatory
1974 retirement was on the horizon, but while
he had anything to say about it, Corvette would have
a big-block performance option. Although only 64
1970–72 Corvettes had the ZR option, they left their
mark on Corvette’s rich history. Based on the humongous
454 cubic-inch engine, the ZR-2 option featured
the LS6 engine package and required a 4-speed
manual. For 1971, just 12 were built. These rare ZR-2
models coincide with the fi rst rumblings of the Corvette
phenomenon. With government intervention
into the auto industry, fuel shortages looming, enthusiasts
with keen perception saw the end — at least for
a while — of high-performance Corvettes. Perhaps it
was time to celebrate, preserve and restore the great
Corvettes already built. As one of the only two 1971
ZR-2 convertibles this 8,703-mile original is Zora’s last
fi ngerprint on Corvette performance.
CHIP’S CHOICE #310
2008 FACTORY Z06 CORVETTE
Owned by: Frank and Barbara Stech
In the fall of 2010, I started looking for a sixth generation
Z06. I had previously owned one and regretted
selling it as soon as I made the fi nal deal. I wanted it
30 2012 CORVETTES AT CARLISLE CarlisleEvents.com
to be a 2008 or 2009 model and I also wanted, if at all
possible, for it to be black like the one I sold. I looked
at a for sale ad in the Corvette Forum and saw a black/
Ebony 2008 Z06 for sale. Included in the option list
on the car was the 2LZ option with navigation. The
car had only 1,800 miles on it and was located below
Charlotte in a small town called Indian Trail. In mid-December,
my wife, Barbara, and I left home and took the
550-mile trip to North Carolina to look at the car. What
I saw was exactly what I thought I would. It was basically
a new car with the new-car smell still intact. The
owner’s name was Mark Detomaso. Mark purchased
the car at City Chevrolet in Charlotte in February 2008.
Mark’s wife told Barbara that Mark only drove the Z06
to church on Sundays and for an occasional drive from
time to time. He was running out of garage space and
decided to sell the Z06. I had the car shipped to my
house in January 2011 between winter snowstorms.
Since purchasing the Z06, I have taken it on two
NCRS National Road Tours — Novi Michigan in 2011
and San Diego, CA. The Z06 is a muscle car with all the
creature comforts anyone could expect in a modern
car. There are days we traveled close to 500 miles and
I never felt tired from the drive. Another thing that
amazes me is the fact that the car gets close to 30 mpg
on the open road. Our Z06 now has 12,000 miles. I
have only had to do routine maintenance on the car
since I have owned it and I would like to thank Jon
Rose from Rose Detailing in Carlisle, PA, for helping me
with the detail work on the car.
Disclaimer – We recognize the new gen Z06 Corvettes
aren’t true “big blocks”, however we were compelled to
shine some light on the 427 small block with 7 liters and
505 hp. Heck, it certainly deserves the credit!
O ur very good
friend and
Corvette enthusiast,
Del Liberty,
is now in a place
where cancer
doesn't exist. Our
sincere blessings
to his family and
friends during this
diffi cult time. Del's smile will be missed by many.
We enjoyed our times together during Corvettes
at Carlisle and other Corvette events around the
country. I was thrilled to see Del during a recent
event, Back to the Beach, in Maine earlier this summer.
I'll always remember Del smiling after enjoying
a quick stint in the Carlisle Blue ZR-1. Del your
smile and passion for the hobby will live on forever.
May you rest in peace my friend!