ESTABLISHED 1963 JUNE 2013

"HOME OF THE LONGEST RUNNING ANNUAL CORVETTE EVENT ON THE PLANET" 

ESTABLISHED 1963 JUNE 2013 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 

JUNE 8, 2013 SATURDAY - COF 50TH ANNIVERSARY PICNIC NICK DILIDDO 559-439-7267 

JUNE 13-16, 2013 TAHOE CORVETTE CLUB'S 11TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW - MONTBLEU RESORT, LAKE TAHOE 

www.laketahoecorvetteclub.org FOR INFO 

JUNE 29, 2013 SATURDAY - ST. AGNES MISSION CHURCH CAR SHOW NICK DILIDDO 559-439-7267 

JUNE 30, 2013 - WORD FROM HOME CAR SHOW - JIM KOZERA 559-876-2519 

JULY 13TH SATURDAY - MYSTERY DINNER RUN BEING HOSTED BY THE NAJARIANS AND PELOIANS. 

AUGUST 16 - 18, 2013 FRIDAY - SUNDAY - THE ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION 

ALLEN TEIXEIRA FOR INFO 559-449-1505 

DECEMBER 7, 2013 COF CHRISTMAS PARTY AT PARDINI'S BILLIE TALLEY 

TAHOE 45 - SEPTEMBER 5 - 8, 2013 SILVER LEGACY - RENO, NV 

FLYER & SIGN-UP SHEET @ WWW.CORVETTESOFFRESNO.COM

Tahoe 45 

CORVETTES OF FRESNO CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A CLUB 

AND THE 45th ANNIVERSARY OF OUR TAHOE TOUR 

September 5-8, 2013 

Silver Legacy Resort Hotel & Casino - Reno, Nevada 

(COVERED SECURE PARKING ON LEVEL 4 OF THE SELF PARKING GARAGE) 

Registration: Forms available on the website: www.corvettesoffresno.com 

also released via e-mail - jim.agar@att.net 

Registration must be Received by August 15, 2013 

How Much: $190.00 per couple, $125.00 singles 

Highlights 

Welcome Social Thursday Night 

Caravan to Lake Tahoe for a Gondola Ride to Heavenly Valley & Lunch 

(not included in registration fee) 

Slot Tournament $10.00pp - Friday Afternoon 

Catch a Rising Star Comedy Show - Friday Night (some parts may be objectionable) 

Poker Run (extra hands $5.00) – Saturday Morning 

Shine & Show – Saturday Morning 

Lake Tahoe Cruise on M.S. Dixie - Saturday Afternoon 

Awards Dinner at Silver Legacy - Saturday Night 

PLEASE NOTE - DRESS CODE FOR AWARDS DINNER IS SMART CASUAL 

www.corvettesoffresno.com for Additional Details & Updates 

All Net proceeds from Tahoe 45 will be donated to Charity 

This years charities are Hinds Hospice & Marjaree Mason Center 

Accommodations 

Silver Legacy Hotel & Casino: (800) 687- 8733 Use the Group Code 913CORV 

Room Rates: Thursday $74.00 Friday & Saturday $119.00 (plus tax & resort fee) 

Buffet Breakfast for 2 each Day is Included! 

Register now so you don’t miss out on the 45th Tahoe Tour 

Register by August 15, 2013 for Room Rate Guarantee & avoid late fee of $20.

Thursday: 

1. ONE EVENT TEE SHIRT 

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE $190.00 REGISTRATION FEE? 

2. BREAKFAST FOR 2 EACH MORNING AT FLAVORS BUFFET 

3. THURSDAY NIGHT HOSPITALITY IN RUM BULLIONS BAR 

4. FRIDAY MORNING RUN TO LAKE TAHOE 

5. FRIDAY NIGHT COMEDY SHOW IN THE “CATCH A RISING STAR SHOWROOM” 

6. SATURDAY MORNING POKER RUN TO ZEPHYR COVE, LAKE TAHOE 

7. CAR SHOW AT ZEPHYR COVE 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Welcome Social - Rum Bullions Island Bar 

Friday: 

8:00 - 9:00 am - Complimentary Breakfast at Flavors Buffet 

9:30 am - 2:00 pm Caravan to Lake Tahoe for a Gondola Ride to Heavenly Valley & Lunch (this trip 

is optional & not included in registration) 

2:00 pm – Return to Reno 

4:00 – 5:30 pm - Slot Tournament - Silver Baron Room - $10.00 p/p 

Payable at Event (all event participants invited to attend) 

7:00 - 9:00 pm - Catch A Rising Star Comedy Show (some parts may be objectionable) 

Saturday: 

8:00 – 9:00 am - Complimentary Breakfast at Flavors Buffet 

9:00 – 11:30 am - Poker Run from the Silver Legacy to Zephyr Cove 

Participant’s Choice Shine “N” Show 

12:00 – 2:00 pm - Cruise Lake Tahoe on M.S. Dixie (no host lunch & drinks on board the MS Dixie) 

2:00 - 2:30 pm - Car Show Continues (vote for your favorite cars) 

6:00 - 7:30 pm - Pre-dinner Social - Silver Baron Room - No Host Bar 

7:30 – 10:30 pm - Awards Dinner and Ceremony - Silver Baron Room 

HAVE A SAFE WEEK-END - PLEASE DON'T DRINK & DRIVE 

8. SATURDAY AFTERNOON LAKE CRUISE TO EMERALD BAY ABOARD THE MS DIXIE 

9. SATURDAY NIGHT AWARDS BANQUET IN THE SILVER BARON ROOM

CORVETTES OF FRESNO, INC 

Is a non-profit organization formed by those 

owners who are proud to drive America’s only 

true sports car 

THE CORVETTE 

Our club meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the third 

Tuesday of the month at the American Legion Hall 

located at 3509 N. First Street, (North of Shields on 

the S/W corner of First Street & Dayton), Fresno. 

If you are an interested Corvette owner, we invite 

you to attend. 

The one time initiation fee is $30.00 and covers the 

cost of your Corvettes of Fresno window sticker, 

membership directory, club by-laws, nametag and 

many other goodies. 

The annual dues are $95.00 per year per couple, or 

$77.00 per year per individual. 

COF BOARD MEETING NOTICE 

CORVETTES OF FRESNO BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD 

THE FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT THE OLD 

SPAGHETTI FACTORY ON SHAW NEAR CEDAR AVE 

START TIME IS 6:30 PM - EVERYONE IS WELCOME 

The 1997 Corvette features several firsttime 

high tech innovations, such as black 

lights for the instrument panel and a 

"plastic" (composite) intake manifold. 

The first 200 production C5 Corvettes were 

painted red, not the traditional white color 

for the first production run. 

The 1997 Corvette is the first one designed 

from the ground up as a Corvette, with 

very little borrowing of parts from other 

cars. One of the few "Off the Shelf" parts 

are the exterior door handles which are 

the same ones used on the Oldsmobile 

Aurora. 

The first use of a transaxle in a 

production Corvette occurred in the '97. 

However, the first plans for one were in 

the Q-Corvette in 1958, planned for the 

1960 model. Transaxles showed up in 

Corvette prototypes in the mid '60s in 

running models. 

CORVETTES OF FRESNO, INC 

2013 OFFICERS 

President: Ron Miller 

E-mail: president@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559- 974-2616 

Vice Pres.: Bert Sherman 

E-mail: events@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-439-9699 

Secretary: Kelly Holder 

E-mail: secretary@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-907-5479 

Treasurer: Larry Minnich 

E-mail: treasurer@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-449-3331 

Membership: Harry Bellow 

E-mail: membership@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-761-6696 

Webmaster: Frank Stafford 

E-mail: webmaster@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-324-0518 

Newsletter: Jim Agar 

E-mail: jim.agar@att.net 

Phone: 559-297-2200 

WSCC Representative: Allen Teixeira 

E-mail: representative@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-449-1505 

Sunshine Person: Sharon Minnich 

E-mail: saminnich@yahoo.com 

Phone: 559-449-3331 

FIBERGLASS FOREVER IS A MONTHLY 

PUBLICATION. 

PLEASE SUBMIT ARTICLES NO LATER THAN 

THE THIRD FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH VIA 

EMAIL TO: 

jim.agar@att.net

Another Month has come and gone. It seems like they are passing faster than ever. We have planned 

some exciting activities for this Month, but first let me thank those that have worked so hard to organize 

last Months activities. 

A big thank you goes out to Jonathan Baker for organizing a terrific Rodeo Parade again this year. While 

we were moved around to several places before the parade, the wait was not as long as it has been in the 

past. Thanks to Steve Profera for locating all of the horse droppings so those of us that followed behind 

could avoid them. 

Thanks to Jon Devoe, Jonathan Baker, Bert Sherman, and all of you that participated in the Relay for 

Life. This was my first year doing the Relay and I got some great exercise walking about five miles 

around the track through out the day. What a touching silent walk around the track with the luminaries 

bordering the entire track. I thought of my Dad as I walked. I don't think many were unaffected by this 

experience. 

My run to the American Le Mans Race at Laguna Seca was a great success. This was the last time it will 

be run as the ALMS. I hope this venue will be continued with the new United Sports Car Racing circuit 

next year and we can return again for more Corvette Racing. The highlight for most of us was being able 

to drive two laps in our cars around the track. What fun! The most gratifying experience of the race was 

that Corvette came in first, ahead of the new Viper, Ferrari, Porsche, and BMW. 

Coming up we have our Anniversary Picnic at Meadow Lakes on June 8 th . Be sure to attend. This is our 

club's 50 th anniversary. You only have to bring an hors d'oeuvre and what alcohol you chose to drink. 

Everything else is being provided by the club. Thanks to our usual hard working crew of Nick and Angie 

DiLiddo, Jerry Clark, and Dave and Terri Cavanaugh. 

Don't forget the St Agnes Mission Church Car show at St Anthony's on June 29 th . 

Well enough for now. 

Your humble President. Ron Miller

CORVETTES OF FRESNO - GENERAL MEETING MINUTES 

May 21, 2013 

CALL TO ORDER: 

President Ron Miller called the meeting to order at 7:08 pm. Board Members present were, Ron Miller, Jim 

Agar, Bert Sherman, Kelly Holder, Harry Bellow and Larry & Sharon Minnich. Pledge of alliance was 

shared. 

SECRETARY IS REPORT: 

Minutes of the April 2013 meeting were published in the COF newsletter. Motion to accept the minutes as 

published was made by Jerry Najarian and seconded by Lee Delap. Motion to accept minutes as unread Billie 

Talley, Lynne Agar seconded. Motion carried. March 2013 minutes are available upon request. 

TREASURER’S REPORT: 

Larry Minnich reported the accounts activity, General Account and the Tahoe 45 Account which is on file to 

be reviewed by members only. Motion was made to approve the Treasurer’s report as read made by Angie 

DiLiddo and seconded by Lee Delap. Motion carried. 

MEMBERSHIP: 

COF has a current membership count of 102 members and 74 corvettes. 

• Harry Below reported attendance at for this evening’s meeting: 51 members and 2 guests; Art Durham and 

Jerry Clark’s friend, Lori. 

• May birthdays and anniversaries were acknowledged. All birthdays and anniversaries can be found in the 

COF 2013 Membership Directory. 

• Five new members were voted into Club Membership. Membership packets were presented to Gary Huss 

and Clay & Lan Mumby. Glen Michaels and Diane Huss were not present and will welcomed by the club at 

the next general meeting. 

COMMUNICATIONS: 

May newsletter is 24 printed pages with 36 website pages. The deadline for the next newsletter is Friday 

morning, 5/24/13. Jim states he has the new Corvette pricing lists available along with logo posters ($2), driver 

posters ($5) and Corvette Racing Shirts ($15) to any interested parties. 

WEBMASTER: 

No updates as Janie Stafford and Frank Stafford were not present. 

ACTIVITIES: 

Please refer to the Calendar of Events in the club newsletter or on the Club website, 

www.corvettesoffesno.com for more details and up to date information. Flyers and sign-up sheets available on 

side table. 

Various members spoke briefly about the recently attended activities. Jonathan Baker mentioned the good 

time had at the Clovis Rodeo Parade and Logan’s Roadhouse lunch afterward. Jonathan, Ron Miller, Bert 

Sherman & Angie DiLiddo shared about the Relay for Life event. Jim Agar spoke about the Monterey 

Peninsula Corvette Club Coast Cruise and Ron, Steve & Jackie reminisced about the most awesome time had 

at American Lemans at Leguna Seca. 

Bert Sherman opened discussion on upcoming events. *Please note that not all events listed below are COF 

sponsored events. 

• June 8th COF 50th Anniversary Picnic at Meadow Lakes. Sign-up sheet & flyers on side table. See Nick 

DiLiddo or Dave Cavanaugh for more info. No cost event. Visitors welcome. Bring an appetizer and/or 

dessert to share. 

• June 8th Car Show at Peoples Church. 

• June 13-16th Lake Tahoe Corvette Club “Corvettes At Lake Tahoe” Event – 

www.laketahoecorvetteclub.org

• St. Agnes Charity Car Show June 29th. See flyer on side table or speak with Nick DiLiddo for more info. 

• June 30th – 6th Annual Word From Home Car Show and Freedom Celebration to support our troops. Flyer 

on side table. 

• July 13th Mystery Dinner Run being hosted by the Najarians and Peloians. $15 pp, meet at 4:15 pm at Old 

Docs at the intersection of Bullard/Marks. More info. to come. Sign-up sheet at side table. 

• SOLD OUT July 12-14 Southern Oregon Corvette Association 2013 Corvette Weekend. Visit 

www.sovette.com for info./registration. 

• Steve Profera working on Museum / Lunch run to Morrow Bay/ San Simeon the last weekend of July. More 

info. to come. 

• August 16-18th Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The Chevrolet Corvette will be honored for its 60th 

anniversary. Allen Teixeira has more info. 559-449-1505. 

• Sept. 5-8th – Tahoe 45: Jim Agar gave updates. There are 23 applications that qualified for the “Early Bird 

Drawing”. 27 paid registrations received so far. Several other clubs will be attending. Polo shirts available this 

year for purchase. Sponsors still needed for raffle prizes, plaques, etc. Next Tahoe 45 Meeting is Tuesday, July 

9th at Denny’s, 7 pm. 

• Apcal concert series ongoing – Friday (free) & Saturday (cover charge) nights through the summer season. 

Fun outing for club members who may want to get together. 

OLD BUSINESS: 

• Thanks goes out to Gene Fox for help with tax preparation which saved the Club a whole lot of money! 

• There were 16 cars and 30 people that attended Wynona Herron’s Memorial. Angie DiLiddo spoke on the 

Club’s behalf. It was a touching service. 

NEW BUSINESS: 

• Change of Hotel briefly discussed for next year’s Ice Breaker Run. Nick looking at options. 

• WSCC: Allen Teixeira gave a brief update. There was great advertising in Redline this month for Tahoe 45. 

If you haven’t received your edition of Redline, please let Allen know. Allen reports that the WSCC meeting is 

on June 8th, the same day as COF Anniversary Picnic. He may need to attend by proxy. There was also a 

revision to the WSCC competitions. Allen advised us of his vote and will be voting by mail. 

• ACCC: Lee Delap briefly discussed current ongoing ACCC issues. He attended the April 5-6th Legislative 

Conference and brought back informational material to share. 

• Sunshine Report: Sharon reports that two cards were sent out this month; Gerri Ware for Carpal Tunnel 

surgery and Nonie Delap for foot surgery. We wish them speedy recovery. Bert Sherman inquired about Don 

Dosher’s health. 

NAME TAG DRAWING: 

Kitty is $20.00. The winning chip was drawn for Celia Feccia who was present and wearing her name tag. 

Next month’s name tag prize will be $10.00. 

RAFFLE: 

50/25/25 drawing had two lucky winners of $45; Gary Gagnebin and one of our visitors this evening, Art 

Durham. 

Motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Nick DiLiddo and Dave Cavanaugh 2nd the motion. 

The meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m. 

Respectfully Submitted, 

Kelly Holder 

Secretary

Membership 

Harry reported that as of the 2013 Calendar Year COF has 102 members and 74 cars. 

Members & Guests 

Total attendance: 53 - 51 Members & 2 Guests - Art Durham & Lori Kovacevich 

Nametag drawing 

Celia Feccia's Name was drawn, She was present & won $20.00 

Next Months Drawing will be for $10.00 

Remember to wear your nametag at the meeting for a chance to win. 

Club Directories and Updates 

The 2013 electronic copy of the club membership directory is available online at 

www.corvettesoffresno.com (contact Frank Stafford for the new access info) 

JUNE ANNIVERSARIES 

DAVE & TERRI CAVANAUGH 9 - CLIFF & JERRI SHAUL 14 

LARRY & SANDY DAMI 24 - GARY & NINA GAGNEBIN 29 

CHUCK & GERRI WARE 29 

JUNE BIRTHDAYS 

ROSEANNE RODRIGUEZ 1 - HELEN JOLLY 8 - LARRY DAMI 10 

DON DOSHER 10 NONIE DELAP 13 - STEVEN PROFERA 13 

LEE DELAP 15 

OUR NEWEST MEMBERS 

CLAY & LAN MUMBY (left) & GARY HUSS ARE GIVEN THEIR 

NEW MEMBER PACKETS BY HARRY BELLOW 

CONGRATULATIONS & WELCOME TO COF! 

HARRY BELLOW 

MEMBERSHIP 

50/25/25 DRAWING 

WINNERS 

GARY GAGNEBIN 

ART DURHAM 

EACH WON $45.00 

CELIA FECCIA 

WON $20.00 IN OUR 

NAME TAG DRAWING 

CONGRATULATIONS!

JUNE 8, 2013 SATURDAY - COF 50TH ANNIVERSARY PICNIC NICK DILIDDO 559-439-7267 

JUNE 13-16, 2013 TAHOE CORVETTE CLUB'S 11TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW 

MONTBLEU RESORT, LAKE TAHOE www.laketahoecorvetteclub.org FOR INFO 

JUNE 29, 2013 SATURDAY - ST. AGNES MISSION CHURCH CAR SHOW 

NICK DILIDDO 559-439-7267 

JUNE 30, 2013 - WORD FROM HOME CAR SHOW - JIM KOZERA 559-876-2519 

JULY 13TH 2013 SATURDAY - MYSTERY DINNER RUN BEING HOSTED BY THE NAJARIANS 

AND PELOIANS. 

AUGUST 16 - 18, 2013 FRIDAY - SUNDAY - THE ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION 

FEATURED MARQUE: AMERICA’S SPORTS CAR ICON, THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE, 

WHICH WILL BE HONORED ON ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY. 

ALLEN TEIXEIRA FOR INFO 559-449-1505 

DECEMBER 7, 2013 SATURDAY - COF CHRISTMAS PARTY - BILLIE TALLEY 

BERT SHERMAN 

VP ACTIVITIES 

2013 MARKS THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF CORVETTES OF FRESNO 

WE ALSO CELEBRATE THE 45th ANNIVERSARY OF OUR TAHOE TOUR 

"THE LONGEST RUNNING ANNUAL CORVETTE EVENT ON THE PLANET" 

THE TAHOE TOUR WILL BE HELD SEPTEMBER 5 - 8, 2013 AT THE 

SILVER LEGACY RESORT - CASINO IN RENO, NEVADA 

REGISTRATION IS $190.00 PER COUPLE 

COF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING 

OUR CLUB MEETINGS ARE HELD AT 7:00 PM ON THE THIRD TUESDAY OF 

THE MONTH AT THE AMERICAN LEGION HALL LOCATED AT 3509 N. FIRST 

STREET, (NORTH OF SHIELDS ON THE S/W CORNER OF FIRST STREET & 

DAYTON), FRESNO, CA IF YOU ARE AN INTERESTED CORVETTE OWNER, 

WE INVITE YOU TO ATTEND. 

NOTICE - COF BOARD MEETING CHANGE 

CORVETTES OF FRESNO BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD THE FIRST TUESDAY 

OF EACH MONTH AT THE OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY ON SHAW NEAR 

CEDAR AVE - START TIME IS 6:30 PM - EVERYONE IS WELCOME 

THE NEXT TAHOE 45 PLANNING MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE 

TUESDAY JULY 9, 2013 AT DENNY'S - ON THE CORNER OF 

BLACKSTONE & HERNDON AT 7:00 PM ALL ARE WELCOME!

PICTURES BY JOHN JOHNSON

PICTURES BY JOHN JOHNSON

We will meet at 4:15 PM and leave at 4:30. The meeting place 

is the South West corner of the Old Doc's shopping center at 

Bullard and Marks. 

There will be one mystery stop on the way to dinner that 

should be of great interest to our members. 

The cost is $15.00 per person for dinner. We will collect at the 

parking lot where we meet. Please bring CASH for your 

payment so we can pay the restaurant. 

Any alcohol ordered at the restaurant will be paid by 

the members on an individual bases at the restaurant. 

For information and to make reservations if you have not 

attended a meeting to sign up please call 

Jerry Peloian at 559-647-0655. 

The run is hosted by the Najarians and Peloians.

ALLEN TEIXEIRA 

FOR ALL INFO 

HOME - 559-449-1505 

CELL- 559-352-5840

Foxwood Enterprises 

Collision Repair Specialists 

Auto Body and Painting 

92 E. San Jose - Fresno, Ca 93710 Robert, Eli 

559-432-9051 – Fax 559-432-0673 or Ray 

4605 N. Blythe – Fresno, Ca 93722 

559-271-1610 – Fax 559-275-1605 Milton 

www.foxwoodautobody.com 

CLARK CONSTRUCTION 

559-906-0800 

Don Dukes: Owner 

1570 Menlo 

Clovis, Ca 93611 

clarkconstruction@aol.com 

JERRY CLARK: OWNER 

PLEASE SUPPORT ALL OUR FINE 

ADVERTISERS 

BE SURE TO TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR 

AD IN THE 

"FIBERGLASS FOREVER" 

CORVETTES OF FRESNO 

NEWSLETTER 

Shop: 559-297-0552 

Cell: 559-908-9782 

Fax: 559-297-1304 

Our dealership has been family owned and operated since 1944. We started as a small service station in 

downtown Clovis with only a handful of new and used vehicles for sale. In 1965, we moved to our current 

location on Shaw Ave and Freeway 168, still in Clovis. From the early Hallowell Chevrolet days to Hedrick's, lots 

of things have changed, except for our main goal: 

“to provide a quality product and outstanding service to all our customers.” 

FOR A NOMINAL FEE YOU CAN ADVERTISE YOUR 

BUSINESS ON OUR ADVERTISING PAGE, AND ON OUR 

WEBSITE 

CONTACT JIM AGAR AT: 

newsletter@corvettesoffresno.com 

ADVERTISING RATES: 

COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS: 

$80.00 PER YEAR OR $15.00 PER MONTH 

CLUB MEMBERS: 

$60.00 PER YEAR OR $10.00 PER MONTH

Auto Body & Paint 

(559) 299-0685 982 Barstow 

Fax (559) 299-0902 Clovis, Ca. 93612 

BEST UNIFORMS 

BILLIE TALLEY, OWNER 

HEADQUARTERS FOR YOUR OFFICIAL 

"CORVETTES OF FRESNO" APPAREL 

LAW ENFORCEMENT - POSTAL - FIRE 

INDUSTRIAL - TUXEDOS 

CUSTOM EMBROIDERY 

5091 N. FRESNO #112 (559) 226-4235 

FRESNO, CA 93710 FAX (559) 226-4280 

Dr. G. Randall Forrester, DC. 

875 W. Ashlan, Suite 101 

Clovis, CA 93612 

(559) 292-6191 * Fax 292-6193

New Hampshire Man Faces DUI Charges in C6 Corvette Crash 

A New Hampshire man faces multiple charges 

after wrecking his C6 Corvette on Saturday 

night, then leaving the scene of the accident. 

Bedford police say William Morel, 47, 

allegedly lost control of his yellow 2006 

Corvette on Campbell Road near Wellesley 

Road around 9 p.m. and slid off the pavement, 

striking a tree stump. 

Morel apparently took off on foot and left 

behind an injured passenger. Police found 

Morel more than an hour later walking along 

King Road about 2½ miles from the accident scene. 

They’ve charged him with driving while intoxicated, conduct after an accident, reckless conduct, and 

operating after suspension, “among other charges.” 

Fortunately, the passenger, who was carried to a Manchester hospital, suffered injuries that did not 

appear life threatening. 

The same can’t be said for the Corvette, which was badly damaged especially on the passenger side. One 

of its rear wheels also came off and was found in the road. 

Morel was released on personal recognizance bail and will appear in Merrimack district court on May 2. 

The 2014 Corvette Stingray Will Start at $51,995 

Since the new Corvette Stingray was revealed on 

1.13.13, one major question waiting to be 

answered was how much will the new C7 cost. 

Today, we are very happy to reveal that the 

2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe will have a 

suggested retail starting price of $51,995 and the 

2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible will start at 

$56,995. Both prices include a $995 destination 

fee. 

For all the refinements and innovations in the 

next generation Corvette, the fact that you can get into one for $51,995 is a watershed moment for 

Chevrolet. The new Stingray will sell for only $1,400 more than the current base C6 Coupe while the base 

convertible’s price increases just $1,240. That makes good on Chevrolet’s promise that if you can afford a 

C6 Corvette, then you can afford a C7. 

“The 2014 Corvette Stingray perfectly embodies Chevrolet’s mission to deliver more than expected for 

our customers,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “The Corvette Stingray delivers a 

combination of performance, design and technology that very few manufacturers can match, and none 

can even come close for $52,000.”

Let’s take a look a quick look at the standard features available on the new Corvette: 

• 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine with direct injection, Active Fuel Management, variable valve timing and an 

advanced combustion system 

• New seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching 

• Aluminum frame that is 99 pounds lighter (40 kg) and 57 percent stiffer than previous model’s 

structure 

• Carbon fiber hood on all models, and a carbon fiber removable roof panel on coupes 

• Five-position Drive Mode Selector that tailors up to 12 vehicle attributes 

• Dual, eight-inch configurable driver/infotainment screens, with next-generation Chevrolet 

MyLink infotainment system and rear vision camera 

• Bose 9-speaker audio system with SiriusXM radio, Bluetooth connectivity, USB 

• An all-new, fully electronic top on the convertibles, that can be lowered remotely using the key fob 

As for pricing on the optional features and content packages, Chevy tells us the Torch Red 2014 Corvette 

Stingray Coupe with the Z51 package as it was displayed at the North American International Auto 

Show in Detroit would be priced at $73,360: 

• 3LT interior package, with leather-wrapped interior ($8,005) 

• Z51 Performance Package ($2,800) 

• Competition sports seats ($2,495) 

• Exposed-carbon-fiber roof panel ($1,995) 

• Magnetic Ride Control with Performance Traction Management ($1,795) 

• Dual-mode exhaust system ($1,195) 

• Carbon fiber interior trim ($995) 

• Sueded, microfiber wrapped upper interior trim ($995) 

• Red-painted calipers ($595) 

• Black-painted wheels ($495) 

Chevy defines the 3LT and Z51 packages as: 

The 3LT interior package includes the Bose, 10-speaker surround-sound audio system; SiriusXM radio 

with one-year subscription and HD radio receiver; color head-up display; memory package; navigation 

system; heated and ventilated seats with power lumbar and bolster adjustment; premium Napa leather 

seating surfaces; and leather-wrapped dash and instrument panel, console and door panels. 

The Z51 Performance Package includes the high-performance gear ratios; transmission-cooling system; 

larger 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels and tires; larger, slotted rotors and brake-cooling ducts; 

Performance Traction Management; electronic limited-slip differential and differential cooling system; 

unique chassis tuning; and available Magnetic Ride Control active-handling system with Performance 

Traction management. Equipped with the Z51 package, the Corvette Stingray is capable of accelerating 

from 0 – 60 mph in under four seconds, and more than 1 g in cornering. 

Updated: 

Here is the full pricing and RPO list 

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Pricing 

1YY07 Corvette Stingray Coupe $51,000 

1YX07 Corvette Stingray Coupe w/ Z51 $53,800

1YY67 Corvette Stingray Conv $56,000 

1YX67 Corvette Stingray Conv w/ Z51 $58,800 

1LT Base Equipment Group $0 

2LT Equipment Group $4,210 

3LT Preferred Equipment Group $8,005 

D30 Custom Color and Trim Combinations $590 

PIN Customer Selectable VIN $5,000 

R8C Corvette Museum Delivery w/Interior Plaque Includes CFX (Plaque) $990 

ERI Battery Protection Package $100 

J6E Yellow Brake Calipers $595 

J6F Red Brake Calipers $595 

NPP Exhaust System Performance $1,195 

VK3 Front License Plate Bracket &R7E $15 

FAY Carbon Fiber Interior Appearance Package &2LT/3LT $995 

IL4 Sueded Microfiber Seat Inserts &2LT $395 

IL6 Sueded Microfiber Seat Inserts &3LT $395 

IWE Sueded Microfiber-Wrapped Trim Package &3LT $995 

UY4 Chevrolet MyLink Navigation System &1LT/2LT $795 

G7H Laguna Blue Tintcoat $995 

G7J Lime Rock Green Metallic $495 

G8A Velocity Yellow Tintcoat $995 

GBE Crystal Red Tintcoat $995 

C2M Carbon Fiber Dual Roof Package &2LT/3LT only $2,995 

C2Q Body-Color Dual Roof Package &2LT/3LT only $1,995 

C2Z Removable Roof Panel, Visible Carbon Fiber with body-color surround &2LT/3LT only $1,995 

CC3 Removable Roof Panel, 1-piece Transparent only $995

AE4 Competition / Performance Sport Seats Without Sueded Inserts $1,995 

AE4 Competition / Performance Sport Seats With Sueded Inserts $2,495 

TTV Carbon Flash Painted Spoiler & Outside Mirrors $100 

FE4 Magnetic Selective Ride Control w/ PTM 1YX*7 only $1,795 

MYC 6 Speed Paddle Shift Automatic Transmission $1,350 

Q7E Chrome Aluminum Wheels 1YX*7 only $1,995 

Q7T Black Painted Aluminum Wheels 1YX*7 only $495 

QX3 Chrome Aluminum Wheels 1YY*7 only $1,995 

RQ1 Machine Faced Aluminum Wheels 1YY*7 only $1,495 

Five 2014 Corvette Stingrays at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant 

The Corvette Museum’s Annual Bash was 

in full swing on Friday and the biggest 

crowds were always around the 2014 

Corvette Stingray Coupe and Convertible 

on display in the conference room. 

But that didn’t mean there weren’t any 

other new Stingrays in the vicinity. This is 

Vette City after all. Hunting down the new 

model cars at the factory or around town is 

an annual pastime but this year it was 

made much easier as we got directions to 

where we could find them from Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juecter. 

We weren’t the only ones on the secret though. 

During the Bash’s Friday Stingray seminar, Chief Engineer Tadge Juecter told the standing room only 

crowd that the factory has started building C7 Corvettes for testing, but because they are test vehicles, 

they cannot be displayed at the Corvette Museum. 

He then said that if you were to drive across the street to the Corvette factory, that in Lot E you would 

see a row of new Corvettes. Again, that’s Lot E he repeated to the crowd. 

So after closing time, we headed out to the museum and as we rounded the corner we could see several 

new cars behind the chain link fence. Several other enthusiasts were already there taking photos. 

It was a fantastic site to see five Corvette Stingray Coupes glistening in the light rain. Just about that 

time, the sprinkling stopped and we we able to take our fill of photos and a video.

Five different colors were on the cars: Blade Silver, Laguna Blue, Black, Crystal Red and Torch Red. All 

were Coupes with painted tops and all the cars but the Torch Red car were equipped with the Z51 

package. 

FYI, An easy way to identify the base car without Z51 is the small spoiler on the rear and the non-slotted 

brake rotors. 

About the time I wrapped up, a security guard showed up and politely asked us to leave, citing a liability 

issue. We mentioned that the Chief Engineer “invited” us to see the cars and he replied, “yes, we heard 

about that.” 

Grabbing our gear, we headed back to the car and as we were leaving, several more Corvette owners 

were pulling in. 

That guard was going to be in for a long evening! 

GM Trademarks LT5 and LTX Engine Names 

The LT nameplate has a long and storied 

performance history for Corvette and 

General Motors. 

Looks like a new chapter could well be added 

by the seventh generation of the ‘Vette. 

The LT1, of course, was a small block 

powerhouse for the Corvette from 1970 to 

1972, and the name reappeared in the early 

1990s for a motor used in the C4 Corvette, 

Camaro SS, and Pontiac Trans Am. Then 

there was the LT4, a high-performance 

rendition of the LT1, that came along for C4 

Corvette Grand Sports, SLP Pontiac Firehawks, and SLP Camaro SS. 

The LT name that stands above them all, however, is the LT5, the monster motor created by Lotus for 

the C4 Corvette ZR1 that featured a double overhead cam design and four valves per cylinder. 

With the LT1 set to reappear as the base engine in the 2014 Corvette Stingray, it’s only natural to assume 

that GM might well be creating a new LT5 for its highest-performance vehicle, especially after 

gmauthority.com reported this week that the company has reapplied for the LT5 trademark, described 

as “engines for automobiles, sport utility vehicles, trucks and vans.” 

GM also reapplied for the LTX trademark. Gmauthority.com points out that could just be the umbrella 

name for the entire LT-engine family, but the website says “we like to think ‘LTX’ could be the name of 

some range-topping motor in the works, as X is so-often tied to something extreme. Perhaps a crate 

motor, like the current LSX engine.” 

The site also notes that a thread on Corvette Forum foresees the return of the LT4 name on a motor to be 

used in the new generation Camaro in 2015. They also pointed out that GM has refiled for the L88 name, 

which of course was used for the super rare high-performance engine in the 1960s. 

All in all, looks like the good folks at GM still have plenty of performance tricks up their sleeves, just 

waiting to be revealed to enthusiasts over the next few years.

Autoweek Spies the 2014 Corvette Stingray Indy 500 Pace Car 

Great news for Indy 500 Corvette pace car 

fans. Autoweek is claiming that the 2014 

Corvette Stingray will be the pace car for the 

Greatest Spectacle in Racing and they say 

they have the spy photos to prove it. The 

photos show a specially-equipped Laguna 

Blue 2014 Corvette Stingray with safety 

lights testing at the Milford Proving 

Grounds. 

The Corvette Stingray looks stock, but upon 

closer examination you will see two strobe 

lights mounted in the front grille while a 

rear-facing light bar is mounted inside the 

Coupe with the lights visible through the rear hatch window. Autoweek also claims the Stingray’s front 

LED headlights were seen flashing a random safety pattern as well. 

The Laguna Blue Stingray is sans livery but we do notice the area right above the side rocker panels have 

been covered with camouflage, perhaps hiding the first hints of the “Official Pace Car” graphics package 

that is yet to come. 

There has been no official announcement yet regarding the official pace car at Indianapolis, but the 

Laguna Blue Corvette Stingray makes the perfect compliment to the special edition blue Camaro Hot 

Wheels models that are serving as the festival cars and will carry drivers in the parade. 

The 2014 Corvette Stingray will be the 12th Corvette to have the honor of Pacing the 500. Since 2000, 

Corvette has been the official pace car seven times. Last year’s Indy 500 Pace Car was the Arctic White 

Corvette ZR1 with the 60th Anniversary Package. 

The Indianapolis 500 starts at High Noon on Sunday, May 26th and will be televised on ABC. 

Corvettes on eBay: 1953 Survivor Corvette 

If you’re fan of original cars like we are, have we got one 

for you. Check out this unrestored Bloomington Gold 

Survivor Corvette currently up for sale on eBay. The 

31,000 mile C1 is reported to be 1 of only 2 such cars to 

claim Survivor honors and the seller has a letter from 

Bloomington Gold to back up that claim. 

Up for auction is 1953 Corvette VIN 198. It is one of the 

300 first year Corvettes to roll off of the assembly line in 

Flint, Michigan that year. In the rather succinct auction 

listing the seller states that the car has 31,584 miles on it 

since new and that everything on the car works and also 

adds that the car is “ready to ride”. Overall, the car appears to be in pretty typical Survivor condition for 

a 60 year car. A photo of the 2008 Survivor award and the letter from Bloomington Gold is included in 

the ad.

The new owner will also receive an aftermarket hardtop with their purchase. As we mentioned, the eBay 

listing is a little short on information, but the owner does list his phone number for more information on 

the car. We recommend that prospective buyers get dialing before placing a bid. 

We did some Googling for some history on the car, but didn’t find too much. Just a couple of brief entries 

in both the 1953 Registry, and the C1 registry. Side note: both sites are great reading for some known 

history on the first year (and other early) Corvettes. 

The starting bid for VIN 198 is $150,000 which is pretty consistent with the price we saw on 1953 VIN 

#244 last year also on the ‘bay. That was another unrestored car with higher mileage. 

Corvette MSRP Through the Years – The Affordable Dream Car? 

With last’s week’s 

announcement that the 

2014 Corvette Stingray 

will start at a base price 

of just $51,995, we 

thought we’d put that in 

context by looking at the 

inflation-adjusted base 

price for each model year 

from the Corvette’s 1953 

introduction. With a little 

help from the Bureau of 

Labor Statistics’ inflation 

calculator and the 

invaluable Corvette 

Black Book, we were able 

to put together the chart 

below that converts each year’s MSRP into 2013 dollars. 

Some interesting facts: 

• Most expensive Corvette in constant dollars? The 1989 C4, at $59,216 

• Least expensive? $24,004 for the 1954 Corvette 

• Over its lengthy run, the MSRP of the C3 nearly quadrupled, and even adjusted for inflation, it 

still rose more than $10,000 

• The switch between C3 and C4 saw the biggest run up in real cost, jumping 15.5% from 1982 to 

1984 

• On average, the adjusted cost of buying a Corvette has gone down since the dawn of the C4 era, 

from the mid-$56,000 range to $51k for the C6 

With the huge jump in technology for the new C7, it’s good to see that Chevy has managed to hold the 

line on costs and keep America’s Sports Car relatively attainable.

Corvette Corvair – The Concept Fastback that Almost Was… 

For the 1953 model year General 

Motors rolled out the Chevy 

Corvette, a car that took a few years 

to really catch on with a skeptical 

public. While the fiberglass body 

was a good start, the underpowered 

six-cylinder engine really hampered 

any performance aspirations. 

Sluggish sales nearly killed the 

Corvette in its cradle… but 

obviously that did not happen. 

Another thing that did not happen 

was the 1954 Corvette Corvair, a 

concept car that drew even more influence from European designers. Imagine if this had been the early 

Corvette that everybody remembered, instead of the car we know and love today? 

The fastback bodystyle was more aerodynamic than many American designs, and featured hood and 

fender gills as well. Ribbed air intakes on the hood drew fresh air in towards the driver, and it also had 

had the same wraparound windshield as the original ‘54 Corvette. It was still supposed to be a Corvette, 

just with a very different look.

Ultimately GM designers decided that a couple-style body 

would look better on the Corvette than the fastback, and 

GM very nearly killed the Corvette in 1954 anyways. 

Thankfully they gave the sports car another chance, and a 

283 V8, that really helped solidify the Corvette’s place in 

motoring history. Thank GM for that. 

The folks at Jalopnik run a regular 

feature called “Nice Price or Crack 

Pipe,” which aims to get its viewers’ 

thoughts on certain, uh, different 

vehicles. 

Recently, the site asked its viewers 

to rate this, uh, different 1976 

Corvette Stingray that to some may 

represent all that was wrong with 

that decade of styling excess. 

Styled to Excess – 1976 Corvette Stingray 

If the 2014 Stingray isn’t quite audacious enough for you, Jalopnik says this could just be the vehicle for 

you. 

The car was first doctored up with a Greenwood Daytona kind of wide-body look, but then the, uh, artist 

got a little carried away with even more custom features that begin with a pair of flying buttresses behind 

the rear vertical window. 

They then added to the effect with a huge main spoiler, another secondary spoiler, a rooftop air manager, 

and two speed hole sporting connectors – not to mention a chrome luggage rack and louvers. Maybe they 

were running a close-out special at the local accessory store, huh? 

The engine compartment and interior tone it down quite a bit, with decent-looking chrome under the 

hood and stock seats and a little bit of wood on the door panels and dash. 

Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the ad for this car proclaims that it has won multiple 

awards, though Jalopnik wonders if those honors might include “most vomit-inducing.” 

Jalopnik admits that overall the car does appear to be in “exemplary” condition, if you can get past its 

looks, with the Viper red paint, fiberglass work, and interior “all exhibiting an air of quality.” 

Oh, did we forget to tell you that all this, uh, quality work is available to the right buyer for just $39,900? 

The seller might want to jump on the first offer, however, based on the overwhelmingly negative results 

of the Jalopnik poll, which found just 5 percent (188) of the people voting for the option “Nice Price: If 

looks could kill, this Corvette would be on the FBI’s most wanted list” but 95 percent (4,o07) going with 

“Crack Pipe: There’s not enough Peyote in the world.” 

Of course, that’s the beauty of America. Out there somewhere is someone who will buy this car and 

believe in his heart that it is the coolest, most beautiful Corvette ever. To each his own, huh?

Why the Stingray's $52K sticker should come with an asterisk 

General Motors resisted 

the urge to jack up the 

price on the 2014 

Corvette Stingray, 

despite major 

enhancements on the 

seventh-generation 

sports car. 

The $51,995* sticker for 

the coupe, which is 

expected to hit 

showrooms by 

September, is just 1,400 bucks more than the current model, even with its more powerful engine, 

better fuel economy and vastly improved interior. 

Why the asterisk? Because buyers will be hard-pressed to find one at that price. 

The gouging is expected to be rampant. 

"I'd say $5,000 to $10,000 will be a typical markup, at least during the first several months," says 

Steve Hurley, dealer principal at the fortuitously named Stingray Chevrolet in Plant City, Fla., 

near Orlando. 

Hurley, one of the nation's top Corvette dealers and chairman of Chevy's national dealer council, 

says he will sell his Vettes at sticker. But he suspects many dealers won't show the same restraint. 

Price gouging on buzzed-about launches is nothing new. From the 2000 Chrysler PT Cruiser to 

the 2011 Chevy Volt, dealers have commanded -- and eager buyers have paid -- thousands above 

sticker. 

But the gouging on the Corvette could be worse than on past Vette launches because a much 

narrower network of dealerships -- just 900 of the nation's 3,000 Chevy stores -- will be selling 

them. 

Less competition usually equals stiffer pricing. 

Savvier dealers might conclude that it's better to stick to the sticker than rake customers just 

because they can. 

Gouging Corvette customers is an especially bad idea. They're more likely than most to return 

for service. And they probably drive another car for everyday use. 

That's how Chevy dealer Harry Criswell sees it. The dealer principal at Criswell Chevrolet in 

Gaithersburg, Md., already has taken $5,000 deposits on about 150 Stingray orders. He's selling 

all of them at sticker. 

Criswell admits to pricing above sticker on hot launches in the past. But it's not worth it, he 

concludes. 

"It creates too much controversy," Criswell says. "And consumers are so smart today, they'll be 

blogging and tweeting about what a jerk you are before they even drive off the lot."

2014 Corvette Stingray Adds 90 Pounds Over C6 

Every automaker, big or small, is putting an 

emphasis on “adding lightness” as Lotus 

founder Colin Chapman was fond of saying. 

Lighter cars aren’t just more fuel efficient, they 

are faster and nimbler as well. GM spilled a lot 

of ink (pixels? ones and zeros?) in its efforts to 

lighten the 2014 Corvette Stingray, including a 

new lightweight frame and use of carbon fiber. 

But at the end of the day, all those efforts still 

resulted in a car that is 90 pounds heavier than 

the outgoing C6, reports GM Authority. This 

little tidbit was revealed ahead of the Corvette 

Museum bash taking place this weekend. 

All told, the official curb weight for the 2014 Corvette Stingray without the Z51 performance package is 

3,298 pounds, exactly 90 pounds more than the 3,208 pound 2013 Corvette C6. So despite dropping 99 

pounds from the frame, 37 pounds from lightened body panels, and a few pounds here and there 

including the clever use of heat-activated “smart” materials, GM still came in slightly heavier than the 

C6. 

Then again, the 2014 Corvette is a more powerful, more luxurious, and all-around more capable sports 

car, one that will cost just $1,500 more than the outgoing model. So much respect is still due for GM’s 

hard-working engineers, who managed to put together a better car in every regard, save it is slightly 

heavier and a little more expensive. Now all that is left is to see how it performs compared to the outgoing 

model. 

Do you think 90 pounds will make any difference when all is said and done? 

Today In History (May 2): William C. Durant Takes Back Control of GM 

William C. “Billy” Durant was a former 

carriage maker from Flint, Michigan, 

whose Durant-Dort Carriage Company 

had taken control of the ailing Buick 

Motor Company, when on September 16, 

1908, Durant incorporated Buick into a 

new entity, General Motors, which by the 

end of that decade had welcomed other 

leading auto manufacturers, including 

Oldsmobile, Cadillac and Oakland, into 

the corporation. 

In 1910, with the company in financial 

trouble, stockholders blamed the problems on Durant’s expansionism and forced him out. Never one to 

give up, Durant formed the Chevrolet Motor Company, named for his partner, the Swiss race car driver 

Louis Chevrolet, in November 1911.

Durant still owned a considerable amount of GM stock, and began to purchase more shares as his profits 

from Chevrolet grew. To regain control, Durant offered GM stockholders five shares of Chevrolet stock 

for a single share of GM stock, and although GM stock value was incredibly high for the day, interest in 

Chevrolet’s stock made the five-for-one trade irresistible. As also mentioned in Yahoo! Auto News, this is 

the anniversary of that closing on May 2, 1918, when Durant took back control of GM. 

His revenge did not last long though. Only two years later, Durant’s control of the company was taken by 

Pierre S. DuPont (of the powerful chemical company by the same name) who had been buying GM stock 

for years. DuPont soon paid off all of Durant’s debt, and the controversial company founder left the 

company for good. 

Durant refused to give up on the automotive industry, though. He founded Durant Motors in 1921 and 

produced a line of cars for the next decade. The Great Depression in the early 1930s put an end to his 

company, and Durant then operated bowling alleys near the Buick complex in Flint, Michigan. These 

flopped eventually, and he spent much of the remainder of his life in anonymity. Durant passed away on 

March 18, 1947, at the age of 85. Hats off to William C. “Billy” Durant. 

2014 Corvette Stingray to Pace the 97th Indianapolis 500 

We saw the spy photos earlier this week of 

the Corvette Stingray working out at 

Milford and now Chevy has made it 

official with the announcement that the 

2014 Corvette Stingray will serve as the 

official pace car at the 97th running of the 

Indianapols 500. The “Greatest Spectacle 

in Racing” happens on Sunday, May 26th. 

This will be the 12th time that the Corvette 

will serve as the Pace Car for the 

Indianapolis 500. Since 2000, Corvette has 

paced the 500 seven times. Last year, it was 

a 2013 Corvette ZR1 with the 60th 

Anniversary package driven by celebrity chef Guy Fieri. 

“It is an honor to help inaugurate the all-new Corvette Stingray at the hallowed Brickyard and further 

the legacy between Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500,” said Jim Campbell, GM vice president of 

Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “The 2014 Corvette Stingray’s performance was influenced by 

racing, making this prestigious assignment even more fitting.” 

The 2014 Corvette Stingray has an estimated 450 horsepower from its LT1 6.2L V8 and the Z51 

equipped sports car needs no additional power upgrades to lead the pack. In fact, the only changes from 

a stock Stingray are the addition of the safety equipment and stobe lights. 

The Laguna Blue Stingray is the perfect compliment to the bevy of 2013 Camaro Hot Wheels Editions 

that are serving as the festival cars. 

“Chevrolet is a great partner of the Speedway,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway 

Corporation president and chief executive officer. “That connection is heightened this year with the nextgeneration 

Corvette in front of a very talented field of racers.”

“Fast Phil” Currin Honored by the Sebring Hall of Fame" 

“Fast Phil” Currin used his savvy brain 

to become one of the steadiest Corvette 

racers of the 1970s. 

He paid just $1,900 for his red 1963 

split-window some 47 years ago. Now 

67, Currin and his Corvette – 

nicknamed “Giantkiller” when he made 

a habit of beating newer, flashier cars – 

made an appearance at the Hall of 

Fame’s 40th anniversary at Sebring in 

March. 

While he was racing his beloved Corvette, Currin didn’t have big money coming in from 

sponsors, so he had to play it smart and finish the races to get prize money rather than risk 

blowing his engine. 

He remembers a 12-hour race that he and Giantkiller ran at Sebring in 1973, when he finished 

11th out of 72 cars and second out of 18 Corvettes, including 16 newer, more powerful models. 

“There’s some good drivers out there, but they drive so hard and recklessly that they crash,” 

longtime friend Louis Galanos said of Currin. “Phil knows how to get the car to the finish. That’s 

why he’s had a number of top-10 finishes in his career with an under-powered, older car.” 

His budget didn’t have room for pit crews, so friends from school volunteered to help him. He 

modified stock engines himself that he had bought from the Chevy dealer, and he sometimes used 

old and mismatched tires that had been discarded by other racers. 

“Virtually, there was no team out there that had less money than me,” Currin said. 

But don’t feel too sorry for Currin when it comes to his career stats. He raced his Corvette on 24 

tracks and completed 2,677 professional race laps covering 6,132 miles. He won $9,000 in prize 

money, equal to about $40,000 today. 

All these years later, some fans still remembered Currin and his Corvette at the recent Hall of 

Fame celebration. 

“He had people who would show up and get his autograph, take his picture in the car; they 

remember Phil from back in the day,” Galanos said. “Of all the cars that were there this past 

Sebring at The Hall of Fame Gallery of Legends Building, Phil’s car was the only car that was 

still owned by the driver. That’s special.”

Corvettes on eBay: Drug Dealer’s Seized 2013 Corvette Grand Sport 

Later this week, a 2013 Corvette Grand Sport 

Convertible with a rather unique history, 

despite its short-lived existence, could be in the 

hands of a new owner. 

We first told you about this yellow Corvette 

late last year after it was seized by authorities 

with just a little more than 100 miles on the 

odometer! 

The owner was arrested after a search 

warrant in Grayland, Washington yielded 8 

pounds of marijuana and tens of thousands of 

dollars in cash at the residence of 57-year-old 

Wayne Dean Bisterfelt. 

Now the car – which features the 3LT equipment package and black wheels – is being auctioned off on 

eBay, with the bid reaching $55,100 as of Monday Morning. The auction runs through May 12. The ad 

says that the car has just 108 miles after being driven from the car lot to the owner’s home. 

Pacific County Sheriff Scott Johnson said the owner of the Corvette had traded in another late model 

Corvette and paid for the 2013 model in cash. 

“We’re talking about a transaction of about $74,000 not including sales tax,” Johnson said. “Deputies 

believe that a third vehicle that belongs at the residence, a newer special edition SUV, was purchased 

with cash as well. 

It was not at the residence at the time the warrant was served.” 

Ironically, the man who was arrested had no teeth but told authorities that he couldn’t afford dentures. 

Deputies working in conjunction with the Pacific County Drug Task Force had originally entered the 

residence with a search warrant for a violation of a court order. Once inside the house, however, they 

found a large amount of marijuana and an impressive growing operation set up. No growing plants were 

found as the suspects were apparently between growing seasons, the sheriff said. 

Diesel-Powered C3 Corvette Goes Home 

They say you can’t go home again, but don’t tell that to 

this unusual 1978 Corvette. 

Back in 1981, Richard Sanson and his son, Ricky, bought 

the ice blue Corvette when it was just a pile of charred 

wreckage after it had caught fire on Interstate 77 near 

Charleston, S.C. 

They decided to make the restoration into a father-son 

project but took an unusual angle by installing a diesel 

engine under the hood.

By mid-March 1982, the Sansons were ready for the car show circuit, including a prestigious show in 

Knoxville, Tennessee, where a dealer offered them $18,000 for their Corvette. No deal, though, and the 

family was really looking forward to a show that April in Key West, Florida, where they hoped to see 

how their creation would stack up against the very best competition. 

Unfortunately, tragedy struck before they ever got to the show when on March 28, 1982, Ricky fell out of 

the door of a pickup truck and passed away after breaking his neck. 

The Corvette remained in the family as a memorial to Ricky for decades until 2009 when his mom, Jean, 

was diagnosed with a terminal liver disease and given just two weeks to six months to live. They decided 

to part with the car and sold it to a man in North Carolina, but it was a decision Richard and Jean would 

soon regret as they missed the car terribly. 

Then, just recently, they received a phone call from the sister of the man who had bought their 1978 

Corvette four years ago. She told them he had died and she had inherited the car and wondered if they 

would like to buy it back. 

It didn’t take long for Jean to call her back and say, “I want it.” 

Now that they have it back, the Sansons have no interest in selling the rolling memorial to their son. 

“I’ll drive it every day,” Jean said. “I drove wreckers for 30 years. I enjoy driving. I’ve driven tractortrailers 

and big and small wreckers. I didn’t think I’d ever see that car again. It was the most wonderful 

feeling.” 

Somehow, we get the feeling Ricky is smiling down on them. 

Chevrolet Will Target Porsche in its C7 Corvette Stingray Advertising 

When you’ve got a winner, you take on all 

comers. 

That’s the strategy Corvette and its ad agency 

are taking as the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray 

hits the showroom floor in the third quarter of 

this year. 

And guess who the Stingray will be taking direct 

aim at? 

“Our No. 1 [target] will be Porsche,” said John 

Fitzpatrick, Corvette’s marketing manager. 

“We think we have a car that’s comparable.” 

While Chevy says it will market the C7 toward the loyal faithful, it also wants to take away U.S. drivers 

who have always preferred European sports cars from Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. 

Chevy’s ad agency, Commonwealth, Detroit, has a three-part strategy to woo such drivers behind the 

wheel of the new Stingray. 

Of course, we all know about the four videos on YouTube and a camo version of the Stingray that 

appeared in the Gran Turismo 5 video game last fall.

Then there was the Stingray that was awarded to Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco after his outstanding 

performance this winter. 

The third phase begins this fall when Stingray ads will show up in high-profile entertainment/sports 

programs and theaters. 

If the campaign is successful, it might bring some sought-after younger blood to the Corvette showroom. 

The average Corvette owner is 55 as opposed to 48 for the Porsche. 

One person who thinks the Stingray could be a real winner for Chevy is David Kiley, editor-in-chief of 

AOL Autos, who says it could become a “halo” car that attracts more 20-somethings and women to the 

rest of Chevy’s car and truck lineup “with aspirational and engaging stories about the new “Vette and 

Chevy brand … [and] creative linkage to Chevy Cruze, Sonic and Equinox.” 

Of course, this “war” could be likened to trying to win a Chevy truck owner over to Ford, and vice versa. 

Chevy’s best hope may be to convince those riding the fence, who don’t have strong loyalties to Porsche 

and other European brands. 

GM Testing the C7 Corvette Stingray Against Ferrari, Porsche and Audi 

With the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray due 

on the streets in just a few short months, 

Chevrolet apparently is targeting some pretty 

stiff competition. 

MotorTrend.com is reporting that two 

Stingrays have been captured by KGP 

Photography cameras on the road with a 

Ferrari 458 Italia, an Audi R8 V10 

convertible, a McLaren MP4-12C, and a 

Porsche 911 Carrera S. 

We told you earlier that Chevy’s ad agency is 

targeting European competitors like Porsche 

with its campaign and trying to convert those 

drivers over to Corvettes. 

As for the current high-society road testing, Motor Trend says it got the following official response from 

Chevy: “A key goal for the Corvette Stingray was to develop a car that had world-class levels of 

performance, design, and technology. As we approach the final calibration of the Stingray, we want to 

ensure that it delivers one of the best driving experiences available from any sports car — regardless of 

price.” 

Also in those photos was a 2013 ZR1, which the magazine believes could indicate that Chevrolet is 

already hard at work on the C7 ZR1. 

With the C6 ZR1 topping out at 638 horsepower, Motor Trend says it has heard the seventh-generation 

King of the Hill may break the 700 horsepower barrier. 

The old ZR1 zoomed from 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds and recently lapped the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 

track in a record time of 1:33.70. At least it was a record for a little while because a revamped SRT Viper 

then narrowly bested that mark at 1:33.62.

You can bet there will be plenty more such competitions between the Corvette and the Viper, which by 

the way was not included in the testing captured by the cameras of KGP Photography. Motor Trend 

believes the absence doesn’t mean that Chevy doesn’t consider the Viper a worthy opponent but that it 

probably just couldn’t obtain a Viper to test. 

One other interesting note: the Ferrari 458 Italia and Porsche 911 have won Motor Trend’s Best Driver’s 

Car competition the past two years. Wouldn’t Chevy love to break into that exclusive territory with the 

Stingray? 

Barn Find: 1966 Survivor Corvette For Sale on eBay 

We’ve stumbled across another cool 

unrestored Corvette listed on eBay. 

Early last week we found the 1953 

Survivor up for bids and now we’ve 

got this silver 327/350hp 1966 

convertible seeking a new home. 

The hidden roadster was pulled 

from a barn in 2010 and claimed a 

Bloomington Gold Survivor Award 

in 2012. 

General Motors built 27,720 

Corvettes in 1966. Of those, 17,762 

(64%) were convertibles and 7,591 

(27%) of the total build had the L79 

327.350hp motor under the hood. 

The 1966 eBaycurrently listed on eBay is also one of 2,967 (~11%) cars sprayed in Pearl Silver lacquer 

paint. 

Currently the car shows 46,086 miles on the odometer. Just 15 miles have been placed on the car since it 

took home its Bloomington Gold Survivor Award in 2012. It was a 1-owner car until 2010 when it was 

pulled from a Virginia barn covered in years of dirt and neglect. Much of the car’s original 

documentation goes along with the sale including the Protect-O-Plate, owner’s manual and pouch, 

original keys, and sales brochure. 

As you can see in the photos, the car pretty much fits the Survivor mantra of “worn in, but not worn 

out”. The Silver Pearl paint is faded and completely missing in spots. The black convertible top is a mess, 

and there’s quite of bit of rust under the hood. The black interior is showing its age. Yup, we love it just 

the way it is. 

According to the auction listing the numbers matching car sits on a solid frame, appears to have never 

been in any accidents, and that the wipers, radio, parking brake, and speakers all still work. The seller 

also states that the original water pump was rebuilt, a new exhaust system was installed, and that new 

battery has been installed. 

The asking price for this unique Corvette is $59,000. American Car Collector’s auction database tells us 

that prices for 1966 327/350 convertibles have ranged from the mid $40,000 range to over $100,000 over 

the last several years. The vast majority of the sales seem to have occurred between $45k and $70k, of 

course, based on vehicle condition and additional options.

The No.3 Compuware Corvette C6.R with Magnussen, Garcia 

SALINAS, Calif. – (May 11, 2013) – A wellexecuted 

team effort helped Corvette Racing 

return to victory lane at the 2.238-mile, 11turn 

Laguna Seca road course for the second 

consecutive year. Jan Magnussen and 

Antonio Garcia, drivers of the No. 3 

Compuware Corvette C6.R, scored their 

first American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GT 

Class win of the season and first since 2011. 

Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner, drivers of 

the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R scored 

Corvette Racing’s first win of 2013 in the 

season-opening race at Sebring. 

Wins at ALMS Lagnua Seca 

Gavin qualified fourth for the ALMS GT Class at Laguna Seca while Garcia posted the sixth-fastest GT 

time in his No. 3 Corvette. 

Right out of the gate, the No. 4 Corvette team faced adversity as they made contact with another car but 

were able to continue on with no damage. After both cars stopped for fuel and tires just over an hour into 

the race, the No. 3 car piloted by Magnussen powered their way to the front of the field while trouble 

struck the No. 4 Corvette again when Gavin radioed the crew that his car was stuck in sixth gear. 

A full course caution coincided with the gear box problem and the crew brought Gavin down pit road 

and to their attention under yellow. The team quickly identified the problem which was a cracked hose in 

the gear box. Unfortunately the repairs cost the team five laps and they fell to the rear of the GT ranks, 

and came home in 10th position. 

At the halfway mark of the race, Magnussen had stretched out a two second lead over second place until 

a full course caution fell for a car stuck in the sand. That is when the No. 3 team decided to bring Jan in 

for tires, fuel and a driver change. It was yet another lightning-fast stop for the Corvette Racing crew 

which kept the car at the front of the field. 

With Garcia behind the wheel, the No. 3 team would not relinquish the lead again. The margin was tight 

most of the race and varied from three-tenths to almost two seconds. The crew and drivers had no room 

for error in such a close race. The No. 3 Corvette team impressively spent four seconds less on pit road 

than their competitors in second place. A number which surely factored into tonight’s victory. 

Magnussen was happy with the long awaited win in a tough race. “I have to say, today was one of the 

most perfect races we’ve had with Corvette Racing,” he said. “We were under pressure the whole way. 

We never had a big lead, we really had to work through traffic and not get stopped by the slower cars 

and lose too much time. It was a matter of being precise the whole race. The pit crew made perfect stops. 

We didn’t have any issues in the pits. We did the driver change during only a short fuel, so there wasn’t a 

lot of time to make it. I am so happy we finally get a win over a year and a half. With this one, if you can’t 

win driving like this, you can’t win. It is a lot of pressure, but we have a great crew behind us the whole 

time.

“I knew right away we had a good car, but immediately in my mind I didn’t think we would win it 

because we have been in that situation many times last year where we had a good car, and a good 

situation going, but didn’t get the win. So this race was just a really tough race because we were under 

pressure the entire time and there was no room for any mistakes in the pits or on track and the whole 

team just performed fantastic.” 

Garcia, who drove the final laps under intense pressure, gave much credit to this team. “It was brilliant,” 

said Garcia. “Even the driver change was amazing. Even if it was 11 or 12 seconds on fuel, we made it out 

on time and I could hardly even do my belts before taking off. So basically that is the main thing. The 

Corvette crew did a great job out there and all the pit stops were under yellow and even if we were 

coming in bumper-to-bumper, every time we were going out of the pits, nobody was behind us. They were 

behind, but they were further back than when we came in. You need a fast Corvette race car, but just as 

important is having a crew that performs like these guys did today. I think last year we did like 5 second 

places, so we really deserved a win or two. I thought today, with as perfect as we’ve been driving, if we 

don’t get this win, I don’t know what else to do. Everything worked, right where it needed to be.” 

Gavin teamed with Milner to win the GT class in last year’s event at Laguna Seca, finishing 3.45 seconds 

ahead of the No. 3 Corvette C6.R, driven by Garcia and Magnussen for a 1-2 finish. Gavin and Milner 

continued their success that culminated in winning the 2012 ALMS drivers’ championship, and opened 

the 2013 season with a victory at Sebring last month. 

ALMS at Monterey Laguna Seca GT Standings 

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Laps 

1. 3 Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia, Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1, 142 

2. 17 Bryan Sellers/Wolf Henzler, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 142 

3. 56 Dirk Mueller/John Edwards, BMW Z4 GTE, 142 

4. 23 Townsend Bell/Bill Sweedler, Ferrari F458 Italia, 142 

5. 91 Dominik Farnbacher/Marc Goossens, SRT Viper GTS-R Viper V-10, 142 

6. 48 Marco Holzer/Bryce Miller, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 142 

7. 06 Patrick Long/Tom Kimber-Smith, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 140 

8. 62 Matteo Malucelli/Olivier Beretta, Ferrari F458 Italia, 139 

9. 4 Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner, Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1, 136 

10. 55 Bill Auberlen/Maxime Martin, BMW Z4 GTE, 85 

Corvette Racing will be back in action next month when the team packs up and ships out to France for 

the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 23-24th. 

NHTSA Investigating 2005-2007 Corvette Headlights 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 

(NHTSA) has announced that they’re opening a 

preliminary investigation involving early C6 Corvette 

Headlights. They’ve received 30 complaints from 

drivers stating that the low beam headlights turn off on 

their own while driving at night. 

The investigation involves 103,374 2005-2007 C6 

Corvettes. “The loss of illumination impairs the 

driver’s ability to see the roadway,” NHTSA said.

There have been no injuries to date, but in one report, a driver ran over a tire while pulling off the road 

sans headlights. The NHTSA report goes on to say that the problem is intermittent and some owners have 

reported that lamp functionality comes back after some period of time. High-beams and fog lights still 

work when/if the low beams go out. 

We found a recently revived thread on Corvette Forum started in 2010 in which several owners chimed 

in about having this problem. Based on their own investigations the problem could be the under hood 

fuse box. 

NHTSA quotes an Arizona owner who was travelling “at night when my low-beams disengaged, placing 

me in the dark and almost caused a wreck. I drove the rest of the way with my high-beams”. The owner’s 

lights worked for a short time later the next day. Rather than have a dealer fix the issue, the owner 

placed a bag of ice on the fuse block to cool it and the lights relit after about 10 minutes. 

1986 Indy 500 Pace Car Corvette Convertible Stolen After Ad Placed on Craigslist 

An Indiana Corvette owner has learned a 

hard lesson about the dangers of deals on 

the Internet. 

Mike Stull decided to turn to Craigslist to 

find someone to replace the top on his 

yellow 1986 Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car 

convertible. 

He thought he had found the perfect 

person in 27-year-old Matthew Warman. 

“I put an ad on Craigslist saying, ‘Does 

anyone know how to put a top on?’ and a 

guy contacted me and says, ‘I’ve done it 

before. I used to work in a top place.’ So he said he could do it,” Stull said. Unfortunately, that was the 

last time he saw his Corvette. 

Police did manage to arrest Warman on Wednesday, but authorities determined through their 

investigation that he didn’t have the Corvette in his possession any longer. 

“(Warman) was unwilling to cooperate and tell us where the car was at,” said Sergeant Bill Lynch of the 

Bristol Police Department. 

Now Stull has decided to have a little “hair of the dog that bit him,” so to speak. He’s put another listing 

on Craigslist offering a $500 cash reward to anyone who can lead him to his car – and he won’t ask any 

questions. 

Stull had the top bid on the car three years ago at a charity event. His wife “kept nudging me, saying, 

‘Bid higher, bid higher, bid higher,’ ” Stull said. 

Here’s hoping someone can bring Stull and his Corvette back together. 

After all, he says, “Love convertibles, and a Corvette; I love Corvettes.”

One-of-One Steel-Bodied Corvette Rondine Heading to Carlisle 

Ever since its inception, there has been one 

defining feature of the Chevrolet Corvette that 

has helped separate it from the competition. That 

feature is the all-fiberglass body, which made it a 

standout among the American automotive scene 

in the 1950s. By the time the second-generation 

Corvette rolled around though, the fiberglass 

body was a cornerstone of the Corvette, which 

makes this next story all the more odd. 

Motor Authority reports that at this year’s 

Corvettes at Carlisle event, a very special and 

unique Corvette will be on hand. The steel-bodied 

Corvette Rondine (pronounced “Ron-di-nay”) 

will be on display at Carlisle, giving Corvette fans a rare look at a unique concept car. 

Built for the 1963 Paris Auto Show, the Corvette Rondine was actually assembled by coachbuilder 

Pininfarina on the then-new Corvette C2 chassis. The elegant lines and smooth-flowing design excited 

patrons at the Paris Auto Show, but this concept remained just that, and the steel body is the only one on 

a Corvette, concept or otherwise. 

Looks-wise, it shares the Corvette’s basic shape, but little else. There are no flip-up headlights, no round 

tail lights, the whole thing is very “European,” and the design went on to influence other Italian cars. 

The Corvette Rondine remained with Pininfarina until 2008, when it went to auction and sold for more 

than $1.75 million, the most ever paid for any Corvette. That is one pricey Corvette, and as such it is 

rarely seen in public. But it will be seen at the Corvettes at Carlisle event August 23 – 25. 

California Man Reunited with the 1962 Corvette He Sold in 1966 

Four years together in a Corvette can provide a 

lifetime of memories. 

Bill Ogden is proof of that. 

His miraculous story begins way back in October 

1961 when he was in his 20s and bought a white 1962 

Corvette with red interior, a 327/340 engine in the 

bay. Proving the power of marketing a car with a TV 

show, Ogden had been infatuated with Corvettes ever 

since he saw one on “Route 66.” 

For the next four years, Ogden and his Corvette were 

never separated, and they made memories for a lifetime cruising all over Southern California. He even 

met celebrities like Walt Disney, Bing Crosby, and Gene Autry. The Corvette can even be seen in the 

classic movie, “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”

“It was the best of times,” Ogden said. “To be young, single and male driving a new Corvette in Southern 

California… I couldn’t lose.” 

But like so many Corvette owners, he had to grow up and decided to do the sensible thing and buy a 

boring 1967 Olds Delta 88, getting a little over $2,000 for his beloved ‘Vette on the trade-in. 

He never expected to see the car again, but then fate stepped in more than 35 years later. At his 50th class 

reunion in 2003, his sister gave him a box of items she’d found at their parents’ house years earlier. 

“Back when I bought the Corvette, I took everything and sent it home to my Mom and Dad, along with 

some photos of me and the car,” Ogden said. “I’d forgotten all about it. I didn’t even know that stuff still 

existed.” 

Inside the box was a photo of Ogden washing his 1962 Corvette, along with the paperwork for the car. He 

soon had the fever to own another Corvette similar to his first one. 

For the next three years, he searched high and low but just couldn’t find the right Corvette. Then in 

2007, a man called him from California and said he had a white 1962 Corvette for sale. Ogden thought 

the man was asking too much for the car – until he got some NCRS paperwork on the car, including the 

VIN. He compared it to the paperwork his sister had found and discovered that miraculously it was his 

old car! 

“I never would have known I’d found my car if I hadn’t sent that bill of sale to my parents,” Ogden said. 

“I know how lucky I am. My story is unique. It rarely ever happens.” 

Having his old friend back at home brought all those wonderful memories of their good times together in 

the 1960s flooding back, so much so that Ogden decided to share the stories with other Corvette 

enthusiasts in what has quickly turned into at least a four-book series called “When We Were Young 

with Our Corvettes: California Adventures in the Early 1960s.” 

At age 76, Ogden is living proof that once a Corvette enthusiast, always a Corvette enthusiast. 

2013 Corvette Coupe Wins Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Award 

Strategic Vision announced the winners of their 18th 

annual Total Quality Awards last week. Just like last 

year, the Chevrolet Corvette Coupe took best of show 

honors in the Premium Coupe category. The C6 also 

topped the Premium Convertible/Roadster division as 

well. For the first time in more than 10 years, domestic 

cars make up a majority of the Total Quality Award 

winners. 

The Strategic Vision Total Quality award takes into account explicit owner statements on 442 vehicle 

attributes. It also looks at factors such as warranty, technical innovation, standard equipment, fuel 

economy, and others. Each category is given a weighted value. 

“Our on-going, revolutionary goal is always capturing the hearts and minds of the customer’s decisionmaking. 

That is why we use scales that include: 5) I Love It, 4) Delightful, 3) Excellent, 2) Satisfactory 

and 1) A Failure. We use specific aspects of specific emotions to create a scale that captures concrete

judgments with great clarity, thus we have Total Quality,” said Darrel Edwards, Ph.D., Founder and 

Executive Chairman of Strategic Vision. 

The 2013 Total Quality data derived from 17,568 buyers who acquired new 2013 cars between September 

and November 2012. 

The Corvette Coupe accumulated 931 total points in this year’s survey. That’s up from 812 points in 2012 

when it beat out the Cadillac CTS. Over in the Premium Convertible/Roadster category the C6 beat out 

the Porsche Boxster by a score of 959 to 957. 

Now that the sixth generation Corvette has ended production we imagine it’s just a matter of time before 

the awards start rolling in the C7 Corvette. 

C7 Corvette Stingrays on an Auto Transport 

No more will you be seeing auto transports 

rolling down the road filled with colorful 

Corvettes from the Bowling Green Assembly 

Plant. GM will be transporting the new 2014 

Corvette Stingrays to dealers with a special 

new cover to help protect the new cars as they 

are in transit. 

We got word about the new covers after 

speaking with Quality Manager Tom Hill at 

the 2013 NCM Bash. Hill said that they’ve 

been making test runs with loaded transports 

up and down the interstate and were following 

the Stingrays in video-equipped chase vehicles 

to monitor and review how well the covers do 

their job. 

It’s just another sign that shows how far Chevrolet has come to insure that the customer gets their new 

Corvette in the best condition possible. 

The fate of the covers once the new Corvettes reach their destination is unknown. 

Virginia Man is Fulfilling Life Long Dream to Get His Kicks on Route 66 

If you see a white C5 convertible on Route 66 over the 

next few days, you might just be witnessing a dream 

coming true. 

Bob Welborn, a 62-year-old Corvette enthusiast, was 

up before the sun last Thursday morning, heading 

west to live out a boyhood fantasy of driving crosscountry, 

the way Tod and Buz did in the 1960s TV 

show “Route 66.” 

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I just 

made up my mind that this year, I’m gonna do it,” 

Welborn said. “I’m not getting any younger, and my health’s not getting any better.”

It’s not that Welborn has never seen the country. As a worker for a moving company, he traveled from 

Washington, D.C., to California for years. 

But now he wants to see America from behind the wheel of his Corvette. 

His only regret is that his brother John isn’t alive to share the adventure with him. Sadly, John passed 

away from a ruptured aorta 10 years ago, but his spirit will accompany his brother along the way. In 

fact, Bob says he’ll use the time to reflect on all those trips across America that he made with John when 

the two were both working for moving companies. He plans to record his experiences each day in a 

journal. 

In case you’re thinking this is a leisurely paced trip, think again. Since Bob is a former truck driver, he 

doesn’t worry about covering long distances and says his pace may be as much as 900 miles in a day. The 

whole trip could cover 6,000 miles in seven days. 

That is, if his back holds up. The toll of driving trucks and loading furniture for years forced Bob to 

retire on disability seven years ago, and he’s undergone 10 surgeries on his spine and three operations to 

fuse vertebrae together. 

Bob has that formidable Corvette spirit, though, and with the inspiration of a dream that’s now more 

than half a century old, we wouldn’t be surprised to hear that he makes it to the Oklahoma Route 66 

Museum in Clinton, where he plans to make a photo of his car in front of it. 

As Bob puts it, “you don’t give up on your dreams. People get old because they let themselves think 

they’re old.” 

Black ‘n Blue 1967 Corvette Convertible Sells for $610,000 at Mecum’s Indy Auction 

One of the most decorated mid-year Corvettes hit 

the auction block at Mecum’s 26th Annual Spring 

Classic last Friday and the results were nothing 

less than spectacular. Up for sale was the Triple 

Crown award winning 1967 Corvette Convertible 

known as “Black ‘n Blue” for its Tuxedo Black 

exterior highlighted with a Blue hood stinger, 

Blue convertible top and a Blue interior. When 

the hammer fell, the Corvette was sold for 

$610,000. 

The 1967 Corvette was sold new by Mattingley- 

Rapier Chevrolet in Danville, Kentucky. Powered 

by a numbers matching 427/400 HP Tri-Power V8 and a 4-speed manual transmission, the Corvette is 

highly optioned with power steering and brakes, power windows, telescopic steering wheel, auxiliary 

hard top and factory air conditioning. 

Of the 815 Tuxedo Black Corvettes produced in 1967, it’s only one of four Corvettes known to exist with 

Tuxedo Black Paint and blue interior. Other accents include a teal blue soft top, blue Stinger hood and 

Goodyear Blue Streak tires.

The Corvette is documented with the original tank sticker, Protect-O-Plate, owner’s manual, title search, 

award certificates and judging sheets. The Corvette’s documentation also includes a personal letter of 

authentication from the original owner. 

The “Black ‘n Blue” 1967 Corvette Sting Ray has received just about every award the Corvette hobby 

has to offer including Bloomington Gold Certification and an NCRS Top Flight Award. Other awards 

include the VetteFest Triple Crown, Gold Spinner Concours and Top Gun award, and it took first place 

at the Meadowbrook Concours d’Elegance. 

The estimate of the sale on Mecum’s Catalog listing was $600,000-$750,000. Although the Corvette sold at 

the low end, we’re sure both the buyer and seller are pretty happy with the $610,000 hammer price 

considering it was the third highest priced car to sell during Mecum’s 2013 Spring Classic. 

Mans Buys a C5 Corvette, Crashes into Power Line Pole 

“With great power comes great responsbility.” 

That line from SpiderMan could have saved 

Battle Ground, Washington resident Ethan 

Cross a world of hurt. 

According to KATU.com, the 42 year old cross 

has just purchased the light-colored Convertible 

when he crashed into a power line pole in 

Boring, Oregon. 

Authorities responded to the wreck just after 

9:00 pm on Tuesday evening at Southeast 

Bakers Ferry Road and Highway 224. Police 

said the driver was speeding and was cited for reckless driving. 

Although he was not hurt in the crash, the driver was trapped inside his car for over an hour due to the 

fallen powerlines. It also knocked out electrical service to more than 2,000 homes. 

KATU.com mistakenly identifies the Corvette involved in the accident as a 1989 model, but based on its 

body style and wheels, we’re pretty sure they meant to say it’s a 1998 Corvette. 

Mecum’s Spring Indy Event Delivers on Second Generation Corvettes 

Dana Mecum’s spectacular annual Spring Indy Auction 

is now history and though the auction set pricing records 

with two Mustangs that sold for over a million dollars 

each, it was more of a “mixed bag” when it came to 

Corvettes. 

It was really no surprise to see the 200 quality Corvettes 

Mecum uncovered and offered for sale just prior to his 

Bloomington Gold Events which is totally Corvette 

focused. And it was the quality level of Corvettes which 

accounted for the good and bad news.

The quality of the cars accounted for a 25% increase in the average price paid for a Corvette this year on $6.6 

million dollars in sales. That’s the good news, the bad is if you are looking for a bargain in early generation 

cars they will be difficult to find. But there were more stories to Mecum’s 26th annual Indianapolis Spring 

Auction other than the 200 Corvettes that crossed the block from May 14th through the 19th. 

The first surprise was there was only a 55% Corvette sell through, only 110 of the 200 Corvettes that crossed 

the block were hammered down as sold, selling almost 25% fewer Corvettes than the year before. But 

perhaps that is the result of the owners’ high reserves placed on their cars based on over-optimistic 

expectations on the prices their cars would bring in light of the improving economy and recent market trends. 

It was the outstanding second generation cars and restomods which carried the Corvette category of the 

auction. The 2013 average price for second generation Corvettes jumped a staggering 63% to almost $105K 

versus the 2012 average price of almost $65K. And even when prices have been adjusted (removing the 

“museum cars” which sell for prices which distort the averages) the C2′s amazingly jumped 35% to almost 

$87K. And owners of these highly desirable C2′s were holding out to get the highest possible prices, sometimes 

in light of the high offer was considerably higher than similar cars sold in past auctions. 

As an example one of the lots, a 1967 427 4-speed with several prestigious awards failed to meet the owner’s 

reserve even though the high bid exceeded $225K. In 2009 a very comparable car was sold for $137K. 

Further evidence of the strength of the early generation sales was two second generation cars made it to the 

top ten of all sales, a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 427/400 HP (Lot F197) crossed the block at $610K, 

just behind the 2 million dollar Mustangs. The number eight seller was a 1963 split window coupe (Lot F199) 

which was hammered down at $240K. A first generation 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster (Lot S150.1) was 

number seven in the auction selling for $250K. 

Third generation cars were weak in the 2013 Indy event, the average price actually fell 22% and there were 

37% fewer C3′s hammered down than in 2012. Though it appears the third generation cars are currently soft 

the drop appears to be more indicative of the overall quality level of the C3’s offered this year. The fourth 

generation prices held almost exactly the same as last year with the average price coming in at a little over 

$17K, but keep in mind that almost half the C4’s were ZR1’s which consistently sold for about $20K. Few 

fifth and sixth generation cars were offered. 

This year’s auction showcased and sold five high quality restomod Corvettes. This category alone accounted 

for $722K and a silver 1967 convertible with a C6 ZR1 suspension and a 525 HP LS3 crate engine was sold for 

$210K. This category continues to show strength in the auction market and offer the buyer the ability to 

cruise in comfort with modern amenities upgraded performance but the question remains about the long term 

investment value of these cars. 

So that is the “good, the bad, and the ugly” for Corvette enthusiasts at Dana Mecum’s 26th Original Spring 

Classic. If you are one of the lucky enthusiasts who happens to own a C2, if it needs some money spent on it, 

go for it, from what took place in Indianapolis it would appear it is only an investment. 

And if you love automobiles you would have appreciated the other great cars at the auction, even though the 

“hype” over the restomod Mustang, “Eleanor”, and the 1967 Shelby GT500 “Super Snake” may have 

overshadowed some equally significant cars being offered. The next auction on Mecum’s busy annual event 

calendar is the Bloomington Gold Auction which starts June 29th in Champaign, Illinois. It is hard to imagine 

that Mecum will be able to improve the Corvette offerings at the Bloomington Gold event over the Spring 

event, but if you know anything about Dana Mecum you know he will.

Corvette Museum Begins Clearing Land for the Motorsports Park 

The Motorsports Park near the 

National Corvette Museum 

continues to roar closer and closer 

to reality every day. 

Crews hope to be done in 45 days as 

they began clearing the 184 acres of 

land last week for the track, which 

will be located off Porter Pike across 

from the museum on the opposite 

side of I-65. 

The clearing hopefully is just a 

prelude to the official 

groundbreaking as early as next 

month, museum Executive Director Wendell Strode told The Bowling Green Daily News. 

“You can already see a difference on the site from both Porter Pike and even the interstate,” 

Strode said. 

Before the groundbreaking takes place, the museum has set a goal of raising $1 million toward 

the project. The total sits at $886,000 now, and Strode feels confident the goal will be reached and 

even surpassed. 

The Motorsports Park won’t be cheap. The entire project is estimated to cost $16.45 million, 

including $9 million for the first phase that features an autocross area and one of two proposed 

tracks. Already, the museum has spent $2.7 million for the land, paid for in part by $2.5 million 

raised before the $1 million goal was set. 

Don’t fret, though. The museum plans to finance the difference and put the pedal to the metal on 

the project, with the intention of opening the track by Labor Day 2014, just in time for the 2014 

National Corvette Caravan and the 20th anniversary of the museum. 

The park will pay dividends not only for the museum but also the community, Strode says. 

The track won’t rely on spectators to make money. Instead, the museum plans to host about 70 

events a year, including driving school and car club activities and vehicle testing by the nearby 

Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant. 

Meanwhile, all the new activity at the park could mean an extra 35,000 to 70,000 room nights per 

year for visitors to Bowling Green, according to Strode. 

By the way, interested parties can adopt an acre of land in the park for $15,000.

GM Releases Pricing for 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe and Convertible 

Base price for the coupe is $51,995 including 

destination fee and $56,995 for the convertible 

model, an increase of $1,400 for both over the 

outgoing 2013. The standard package for the 

next-generation Corvette carries many 

improvements over the sixth-generation and 

Chris Perry, Vice President of Chevrolet 

Marketing, certainly sounds proud of it. “The 

Corvette Stingray delivers a combination of 

performance, design and technology that very few 

manufacturers can match, and none can even 

come close for $52,000.” 

For the buyer looking to get in on the ground floor with the standard package, features will include a 6.2 

liter LT1 V-8 engine with direct injection, Active Fuel Management, continuously variable valve timing, 

and an advanced combustion system. The new seven-speed manual transmission features Active Rev 

Matching that anticipates gear selections and matches engine speed for perfect shifts every time. The 

aluminum frame is 99 pounds lighter and 57-percent stiffer than the previous model’s structure. 

Both the coupe and convertible will include carbon fiber hoods, with a carbon fiber removable roof panel 

on the coupe. The all-new, fully electronic top on the convertible can be lowered remotely using the key 

fob. Smooth jazz and 1970’s classic rock alike will be pumped through a Bose nine-speaker audio system 

with SiriusXM Satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, USB, SD card, and auxiliary input jacks. Seating 

includes eight-way power adjustment and lightweight magnesium frames for exceptional support. A fiveposition 

Drive Mode Selector tailors up to 12 vehicle attributes to fit the driver’s environment. Dual 

eight-inch configurable driver/infotainment screens include the next-generation MyLink infotainment 

system and a rear vision camera. 

All of the standard features offered in the base models are sure to get Corvette buyers in the door, but 

with the list of add-on features available, it will cost a little more to achieve dream-package level. For 

example, the Stingray coupe shown at the North American International Auto Show was fitted with the 

major available options, and would come in at a price of $73,360. Included in the showpiece is the 3LT 

interior package which has a Bose 10-speaker surround-sound audio system, SiriusXM Satellite radio 

with one-year subscription and HD radio receiver, color head-up display, memory package, navigation 

system, heated and ventilated seats with power lumbar and bolster adjustment, premium Napa leather 

seating surfaces, and leather-wrapped dash and instrument panel, console and door panels. 

In addition, they’ve tacked on the Z51 Performance Package with high-performance gear ratios, 

transmission cooling system, larger 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels and tires, larger slotted rotors 

and brake-cooling ducts, electronic limited-slip differential and differential cooling system, unique 

chassis tuning, and available Magnetic Ride Control active-handling system with Performance Traction 

Management. The coupe is completed with competition sports seats, an exposed-carbon-fiber roof panel, 

dual-mode exhaust system, carbon fiber interior trim, sueded microfiber-wrapped upper interior trim, 

red painted calipers and black painted wheels.

2014 Corvette Codes and Pricing 

1YY07 Corvette Stingray Coupe $51,000.00 

1YX07 Corvette Stingray Coupe w/ Z51 $53,800.00 

1YY67 Corvette Stingray Conv $56,000.00 

1YX67 Corvette Stingray Conv w/ Z51 $58,800.00 

Destination Charge $995.00 

1LT Base Equipment Group 1Y*07/1Y*67 $0.00 

2LT Equipment Group 1Y*07/1Y*67 $4,210.00 

3LT Preferred Equipment Group 1Y*07/1Y*67 $8,005.00 

D30 Custom Color and Trim Combinations $590.00 

PIN Customer Selectable VIN $5,000.00 

R8C Corvette Museum Delivery w/Interior Plaque Includes CFX (Plaque) $990.00 

ERI Battery Protection Package $100.00 

J6E Yellow Brake Calipers $595.00 

J6F Red Brake Calipers $595.00 

NPP Exhaust System Performance $1,195.00 

VK3 Front License Plate Bracket &R7E $15.00 

FAY Carbon Fiber Interior Appearance Package &2LT/3LT $995.00 

IL4 Sueded Microfiber Seat Inserts &2LT $395.00 

IL6 Sueded Microfiber Seat Inserts &3LT $395.00 

IWE Sueded Microfiber-Wrapped Trim Package &3LT $995.00 

UY4 Chevrolet MyLink Navigation System &1LT/2LT $795.00 

G7H Laguna Blue Tintcoat $995.00 

G7J Lime Rock Green Metallic $495.00 

G8A Velocity Yellow Tintcoat $995.00 

GBE Crystal Red Tintcoat $995.00 

C2M Carbon Fiber/Transparent Dual Roof Package 1Y*07 &2LT/3LT only $2,995.00 

C2Q Body-Color/Transparent Dual Roof Package 1Y*07 &2LT/3LT only $1,995.00 

C2Z Removable Roof Panel, Visible Carbon Fiber with body-color surround 1Y*07 &2LT/3LT 

only $1,995.00 

CC3 Removable Roof Panel, 1-piece Transparent 1Y*07 only $995.00 

AE4 Competition / Performance Sport Seats Without Sueded Inserts $1,995.00 

AE4 Competition / Performance Sport Seats With Sueded Inserts $2,495.00 

TTV Carbon Flash Painted Spoiler & Outside Mirrors $100.00 

FE4 Magnetic Selective Ride Control w/ PTM 1YX*7 only $1,795.00 

MYC 6 Speed Paddle Shift Automatic Transmission $1,350.00 

Q7E Chrome Aluminum Wheels 1YX*7 only $1,995.00 

Q7T Black Painted Aluminum Wheels 1YX*7 only $495.00 

QX3 Chrome Aluminum Wheels 1YY*7 only $1,995.00 

RQ1 Machine Faced Aluminum Wheels 1YY*7 only $1,495.00

Harbaugh Pace Car Announcement Says Chevy C7 Corvette to Make 455 hp 

In yesterday’s official announcement from 

GM that named 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh 

as the official driver of the 2014 Corvette 

Stingray Pace Car for the Indy 500, there 

was a paragraph that described the known 

performance specs for the new C7 sports 

car. According to the release, the 6.2L LT1 

V8 makes 455 horsepower, not the 450 

estimated hp that we’ve been told since the 

engine’s unveiling last fall. 

The Corvette Forum has a thread about this, 

which unfortuately the conversation 

devolves into something else as it always does 

in the C7 section. But here is was we know: 

The official press release that was emailed to media outlets under the Team Chevy banner had this 

paragraph (the bold emphasis is mine): 

Harbaugh’s stint behind the wheel of the Laguna Blue Pace Car marks a record 12th time the Corvette has 

served in the role, starting in 1978. The 2014 Corvette Stingray coupe goes on sale this fall, with a 

convertible model coming a few months later. It is powered by an all-new 6.2L LT1 engine, which features 

advanced technologies including direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel 

Management, also known as cylinder deactivation, , to help produce 455 horsepower more efficiently. 

That same paragraph was also on the official release posted on GM’s official media site, complete with 

the double commas you see right before horsepower rating. Now, one day later, the official release on the 

media site has been “fixed” with the double comma removed and the horsepower rating changed back to 

450. 

Harbaugh’s stint behind the wheel of the Laguna Blue Pace Car marks a record 12th time the Corvette has 

served in the role, starting in 1978. The 2014 Corvette Stingray coupe goes on sale this fall, with a 

convertible model coming a few months later. It is powered by an all-new 6.2L LT1 engine, which features 

advanced technologies including direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel 

Management, also known as cylinder deactivation, to help produce 450 horsepower more efficiently. 

So was this an inadvertent leak or a typo? 

The spokeswoman giving the specs of the Corvette says that the 450 hp is the minimum and you know 

that “Chevrolet is going to give you a little bit more before it hits the assembly line.” 

We also know from the most recent Autoline After Hours video featuring Smallblock engine Chief 

Engineer Jordan Lee saying that the third party SAE testing has been completed which means that 

people inside know what that official number is. 

Finally, the contact on the issued press release is not a Chevy Communications person. It comes from the 

staff at the Indianapolis 500. So the question was were they told what the real horsepower was and let it 

slip in the press release or is this just a typo? 

We are living in fun times folks. Fun times indeed!

2002 Corvette Z06 is a True “Survivor Corvette” Following Oklahoma Tornado 

Somehow we get the feeling that the owner of this 2002 

Z06 Corvette isn’t too worried about the mud that is all 

over his pride and joy. 

We’re sure Shane Steelman is just glad to be alive after 

the EF5 tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma 

earlier this week and destroyed his home and his 

garage, where his Corvette was parked at the time. 

When you look at the photo, it’s remarkable that 

Steelman’s Corvette is still in one piece, based on the devastation all around it. Other than the mud 

covering it and some rear quarter panel and mirror damage, the car looks like it shouldn’t be too hard to 

get back to normal. It certainly gives new meaning to the term “survivor” as it applies to Corvettes, 

doesn’t it? 

Wouldn’t this car – just as it is now – make for an emotional display at the National Corvette Museum, as 

a memorial to the people who lost their lives to this terrible storm and a testament to the fortitude of the 

Oklahoma people? 

We hope Mr. Steelman’s family made it through the storm safely and we wish his Corvette a speedy 

recovery. This is one Corvette with a remarkable story behind it now. 

The 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray Ordering Process Is Now Underway 

The first order consensus period for the 2014 

Corvette Stingray began yesterday and runs over the 

next two weeks. Yesterday, GM provided dealers 

with how many cars they will get to order during the 

first consensus time period. 

Then on Thursday, May 30th, dealers can prioritize 

their orders and get them picked up by GM. The 

orders have to be on the order bank by Saturday, 

June 1st, and the orders must match any and all 

constraints. 

On Tuesday, June 4th, dealers will be allowed to make changes to the orders that got picked up as long as 

the changes fall within the constraints. 

If your order is gets picked up by GM during that first week, you won’t see any changes to your order 

status until Wednesday, June 5th. If your order status is still at “1100″ on June 5th 2013, then your order 

did not get picked up for the first week. 

For those orders that did get picked up, GM may provide the dealers with the approximate week that the 

cars will be built. However it’s important to remember that even under normal production times that 

approximate week is very flexible and could be changed many times before it stabilizes. During the 

launch of a whole new model timing of the new assembly line and quality control issues could make those 

initial dates even less likely to be accurate. 

On Thursday, June 6th, the process starts all over again.

ESTABLISHED 1963 JUNE 2013

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