Allentown Area Corvette Club, Inc. ‘Vetter’s...

Allentown Area Corvette Club, Inc.

January 2020 Volume 27, Issue 1

President Joe Iervolino 973-219-6307 [email protected]

Vice-President Gary Warmkessel 610-767-3605 [email protected]

Secretary Carol Jenkins 610-417-8836 [email protected]

Treasurer Mike Best 610-767-6079 [email protected]

Membership Laura Hegyi 610-730-2695 [email protected]

Activities Jeff Mohring 610-392-6898 [email protected]

Merchandise & Clothing Elizabeth [email protected]

NCM Ambassador Al Fuller 610-972-0560 [email protected]

Newsletter Editors Kevin & Michelle Minnich 610-530-0923 [email protected]

Webmaster Michelle Minnich 610-530-0923 [email protected] Sponsored by:

398 Stoke Park Road Bethlehem, PA

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES…

After a most successful 2019, we have much to look forward to in

2020. Together with our Club Officers, our Board and our member‐

ship, my goal is to improve on the successes of 2019 in the New Year. These suc‐

cesses provide an excellent template to build on and improve as we move for‐

ward. Integral to these efforts is our membership and their continuing support of

the many club initiatives. Your support has been at the forefront of the Club’s

success in the past and is necessary as we move forward. Broader participation,

especially from our newer members, is important. This will help to bring forward

new ideas and strategies and should include leadership of club activities and func‐

tions. Let us all look forward to 2020 and build on our success past with broader

participation, new ideas, strategies so we may realize the full potential of a grow‐

ing club.

Once again, best wishes to all our membership and

their families for a healthy, happy and prosper‐

ous New Year.

Joe Iervolino

AACC President

From the val Office

The Allentown Area Corvette Club meets at 7:30 pm at the Paragon Hall at

Se‐Wy‐Co Fire Company (3621 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem, PA).

There is ample parking, so please do not block the fire engine doors.

AACC Meetings

Upcoming Club Meetings*:

Jan. 08 Feb. 12 & 26 Mar. 11 & 25

‘Vetter’s Letter

*Only one meeting in January – 2nd Wednesday of the month

Joe

This Month 08—Club Meeting (p.1)

12—Blue Dinner (p.4)

17-19—AutoMania @ Allentown Fairgrounds (p.5)

25—Snow Tubing @ Blue Mtn. (Raindate 02/08) (p.5)

03/14—Wert’s Café Lunch (p.5)

03/21—Phantoms Hockey Night (p.5)

03/28—Meguiar’s Detailing Clinic (p.5)

05/02—Faulkner Car Show (Raindate 05/16) (p.6)

05/22—Iron Pigs Game Night (p.6)

05/25—Memorial Day Parade & STT Fallen Soldier Visit (p.6)

06/06—AACC Springfest @ PSU-Lehigh Valley (p.6)

Allentown Area Corvette Club ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 27, Iss. 1 | January 2020

Coming Up

Membership Corner

Join our group on

See what you missed on “AAVetteClub” and “EACC”

As of AACC’s meeting on December 11th there were:

235 active members 4 potential members

The Board of Directors voted in these

New Active Members during December:

David & Maria Cannillo...................... Asbury, NJ ..............................’14 Cpe

The following are currently Potential Members:

Jim Boyle ............................................ Schnecksville, PA....................’99 Cnv

Tim & Cathy Collins ............................ Breinigsville, PA .....................’07 Cnv

Ed Kordeck ......................................... Allentown, PA ........................’03 Cnv

Thank you for your interest in our club!!

We look forward to seeing you at upcoming AACC meetings & events.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19

AutoMania

20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

January 2020

AutoMania

AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 27, Iss. 1 | January 2020

AACC Sponsors Official Chevrolet Dealer:

298 Stoke Park Road Bethlehem, PA 18017

877 260‐1080

FaulknerMotors.com

Official Tire Dealer:

3699 Eberhardt Road Whitehall, PA 18052

610‐433‐9696 cjtire.com

Official Tire Brand:

www.MichelinMan.com

5611 Hemlock Place Orefield, PA 18069

610.533.1923 Angel34.org

AACC Charity

Thinking of You If you know of a member who is hospitalized, had surgery,

or lost a loved one, please notify VP Gary Warmkessel

([email protected], 610‐767‐3605) or another

board member.

Recap: Christmas Carole 1944

Sat., Dec. 07 | Elizabeth Garnto organized front‐row seating for 26 club

members and their families at Allentown’s 19th Street Civic Theatre. 2019

marked their first production of “Christmas Carole 1944” in over 20 years.

This variation on the traditional program was a

huge hit! Civic Theatre is open year‐round. Check

them out at http://www.civictheatre.com.

Recap: Holiday Pizza Party & Potluck Wed., Dec. 11 | With the huge 50th Anniversary celebration back earlier in

2019, AACC skipped the traditional holiday party. As a small make‐up, Lou

and Bernie Toth organized a pizza party and potluck prior to our regular

meeting. Most wore either red or green and some even donned their ugly

sweaters. This was a packed meeting with plenty of terrific food compli‐

ments of AACC’s awesome cooks and bakers. Thanks to the Toths for orga‐

nizing the evening and to the Board for sponsoring the pizza and drinks.

From the Toths:

We want to thank

everyone for their

contributions to last

night’s party which

helped make it such

a success. Once again

our club came

together showing we

are truly a great club

and an awe-

some group

of people.

Photo by

John Popowycz Mike & Cindy Cutro await the start of the

meeting along with Christine Coyle.


Trivia Time Wed., Dec. 11 | Corvette Trivia continued at the December meeting. Marty Hegyi asked a

few questions (for prizes) with a focus on Corvette horsepower. Winners were: Mike Cutro

(’20 @ 490 HP), Dave Hornung (’53 @ 150 HP), and Pete Lileck (’09 ZR1 @ 638 HP).

Prepare for next month — brush up on Corvette facts with “Corvette 101” on the LINKS tab of AACC’s website.

My Marketplace by Kevin Minnich (’00) Wed., Dec. 11 | During the December meeting, Michelle and I discussed our recent trip with

Corvette’N America Tours to Arizona’s Route 66 and the Grand Canyon. After flying into Phoe‐

nix, we rented a ‘19 Torch Red convertible, dropped the top, and headed north to Flagstaff—

our home base for the next few days. Our 4‐day Corvette (only) tour included day trips from

Flagstaff to the red rocks of Sedona; Hackberry, Seligman and Williams along historic Route 66;

and the majesty of the Grand Canyon. A slideshow of our favorite photos and videos (shot us‐

ing the C7’s Performance Data Recorder) ran throughout the meeting. Dwayne & Cindy Bublitz

(tour owners) did a wonderful job with expert advice, flawless routes, and personalized service. Visit

www.corvettenamerica.com to learn more about their Corvette‐only tours of our beautiful western states.

Marty Hegyi’s My Marketplace continues at the first regular meeting each month through Spring. Contact Marty if you

have a Corvette related product or service to present to your fellow club members. Marty will assist as needed.

Wed., Dec.11 | Joel Dean led a collection to support those who lost their townhomes in

the Allentown (PA) fire on Sunday, October 20th. $1,065 was donated to the Fountain

Street Fire Fund — $565 donated by AACC’s members and an additional $500 approved by our Board. This fire

displaced 13 families and 47 people and led to the demolition of 10 ravaged row homes that stood since 1905.

Recap: Allentown Row Home Fire Relief Cares!

Dinner at Blue Grillhouse Chairs: Mike & Cindy Cutro (’14) Sun., Jan. 12 | Join Mike Cutro for a prix fixe dinner at Blue Grillhouse (4431 Easton Ave, Bethlehem).

A sign‐up sheet and special menu are available at meetings. Cocktails at 2pm, dinner served at 3pm.

$46/person must be paid in advance. Soft drinks and bar service are additional cost. Checks will be issued per table;

you can run a separate bar tab. This event is wait‐listed. www.bluegrillhouse.com

Coupons from your 2020 Dream Come True calendar are valid for this event.


Sat., Jan. 25 | Join your fellow and potential club members for a fun day tubing at Blue Mountain Ski Area (1660 Blue

Mountain Drive, Palmerton, PA 18071). Meet at the ski area’s lower parking lot at 9:45am. Our time slot is 10am to

1pm. You are free to stop when you are tired or cold and enjoy lunch in the Slopeside Pub & Grill on your own time.

Cost is $25/person. Payment is due Jan. 8th. Make checks payable to “AACC” and mail to Bobbie Paul, 1033 Resolution

Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Call Bobbie @ 610‐764‐1206 with questions. This event is open to family members as

well. ( Raindate for this event is Feb. 8th) https://www.skibluemt.com/winter‐sports/snowtubing/

Snow Tubing @ Blue Mountain Chair: Bobbie Paul (‘06)

Sat., Mar. 14 | Back by popular demand is a lunch at Wert’s Café (515 N. 18th St., Allentown).

We have capacity for 50 guests in a separate room, can order from the full menu, and will dine

at 11:30am. Pay at the restaurant — one check per couple. Less than a dozen spots remain.

Lunch at Wert’s Café Chair: Jeff Mohring (‘04, ‘16)

Sat., Mar. 21 | Seats are still available when our Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL affiliate of the

Philadelphia Flyers) battle the Cleveland Monsters (affiliate of Columbus Blue Jackets) at 7:05pm.

Seats are $23 each. Pre‐paid parking passes are $6. Contact Mike Best (610‐767‐6079 or [email protected]). Payment is due

by Jan. 8th and this event is open to friends and family. Make your checks payable to “AACC” and mail to Mike Best,

5233 Spruce Street, Schnecksville, PA 18078.

Phantoms Hockey Night Chair: Mike Best (‘13)

AutoMania Allentown 2020 Fri.‐Sun., Jan. 17‐19 | Meet Ike Eisenhart and Jim Bambu at AutoMania Allentown. Held at the

Allentown Fairgrounds (302 N 17th St.), this is a great opportunity to interact with likeminded

auto enthusiasts in a family‐friendly atmosphere. This is the perfect setting to buy, sell and trade all things automotive

with a great array of parts, literature, services and more. $10 daily admission. carlisleevents.com/events/automania

Sat., Mar. 28 | Phil Sapienza returns to demonstrate First Place Auto LLC’s offering of exterior, interior

and engine bay cleansers and protectants from Meguiar’s. The detailing seminar will take place in the

service entry area at our club sponsor, Faulkner Chevy‐Cadillac, from 2 to 4pm (rain or shine). Attend

and learn the secrets to make your car stand out at a show! P.S.: Bring a friend and a folding chair.

Contact Dennis Corona to be added to the attendee list: 610.349.2620 or [email protected]

The Devil Is In The Details Chair: Dennis Corona (‘07)


Oink On! Fri., May 22 | Baseball season may be over but AACC already has

plans to head to Coca‐Cola Park in Allentown to watch the Lehigh

Valley Iron Pigs battle the Buffalo Bisons (AAA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays) in 2020. This private event will be in

the PenTeleData Party Porch along the first base line. The $37/pp cost includes game ticket, buffet meal, and soft

drinks. A cash bar is available, and be sure to stay for the post‐game fireworks! (Parking $5 extra at gate.) Event details

will be shared via email, so stay tuned and watch for the interest sheet at an upcoming club meeting.

As of the December meeting, this event is already wait‐listed.

9th Annual Faulkner Chevy-Cadillac Show Sat., May 02 | AACC will again partner with Faulkner Chevy‐Cadillac (Bethlehem, PA) for their 9th Annual Car Show.

The event is expected to run from 9am to 2pm and be open to ALL vehicles. Registration information and further de‐

tails will be announced after plans are finalized. Watch for online registration to be posted on Faulkner’s website in

2020. To do our part, AACC needs volunteers to help with setup, registration, parking and tear‐down. Watch for sign‐up

sheets at club meetings. Raindate for this event is May 16th.

Spring[fest] is Coming Chairs: David Hausman (’99) & Joe Iervolino (‘98) Sat., Jun. 06 | David Hausman and Joe Iervolino, along with their planning committee, are preparing for a bigger and

better 2020 Springfest Corvette Show. AACC returns to the campus of Penn State Lehigh Valley (Center Valley, PA).

Watch for the event flyer and registration shortly. This year’s show will again be a Corvette‐only judged show, occur

rain or shine (don’t worry — Joe guaranteed sunshine), and feature the ever‐popular Tricky Tray. Ken Lingenfelter will

return as our special guest. Partial proceeds will again benefit Angel 34.

There will be plenty of opportunities for you to join a committee, donate to the Tricky Tray, or sponsor a trophy class.

Memorial Day Parade Chair: Valerie Ferguson (‘17) Mon., May 25 | AACC again expects to participate in the Bethlehem Memorial Day

Parade. The parade starts at Liberty H.S. and ends at Memorial Park (Dewberry Ave.)

with a brief ceremony. Following the parade, Valerie Ferguson will lead the Support

The Troops Fallen Soldier Visit — a short drive and stop to pay respect and honor

two local servicemen who were killed in the War on Terrorism.

NEW for 2020 is the formation of a “Green Team” ‐ to help maintain the memorial gardens we visit. A weekend during

April will be selected. Watch for more information on both opportunities as the dates get closer.

Cares!


Thu.‐Mon., Jun. 25 to 29 | Dennis Corona, with the help of few others, will lead a trip to Watkins Glen, NY for a long

weekend of touring, tasting, and racing. The destination is the IMSA 6 Hours at the Glen race. The 4‐day Corvette Corral

Weekend pass is $182/couple ($112/single). A group booking was made for Fairfield Inn & Suites (Horsehads, NY) at

$1,160/room for 4 nights. Limit of 20 cars. Reply only to the Dec. 4th email to confirm your participation.

Scott & Jeanette Marakovits will arrange group dinners and other non‐race activities during the trip.

Watkins Glen Race Trip Chair: Dennis Corona (‘07)

C8 Corvette is a Loss Leader by Scott Evans (MotorTrend.com) Fri., Nov. 29 | The all‐new mid‐engine C8 Corvette's impressive $59,995 starting price is only good for the first year, as

we reported back in August, and unless it goes up by $20,000, Chevrolet will continue to lose money on low‐trim cars, a

senior GM source tells MotorTrend.

We had a feeling the $59,995 starting price was too good to be true, and a GM source confirmed as much to us explain‐

ing the price would rise for the 2021 model year. This isn't much of a surprise, as the base price of a C7 rose nearly

$2,000 in its second year and by another $2,000 the following year. While we still don't know how much the C8's price

will rise in 2021, a more senior GM official tells us it would have to go through the roof in order to cover GM's cost.

According to our source, the original budget for the C8 project assumed a starting price of $79,995. This is certainly rea‐

sonable considering the enormous amount of work needed to redesign the car into a mid‐engine configuration, but it's

a huge jump from the C7. In order to keep customers from revolting, Chevy is taking it on the chin and willingly losing

money on every C8 it sells for less than $80,000. No doubt a factor in the C8's laundry list of options and dress‐up parts

is the hope buyers will load up their cars with extras and turn their $60,000 Stingrays into $80,000‐plus Stingrays. The

C8 Stingray Z51 3LT we tested rang up at $88,305.

More critical are the base prices of upcoming performance variants including Z06 and ZR1. According to our source, the

sweet spot for profit and volume is between $80,000 and $100,000. Once the car crests six figures, our source says,

sales volume drops off precipitously. This will be a trick for Chevrolet, because the C7 Z06 starts at $82,990, which

doesn't leave the company much room for an increase without upsetting customers and breaking out of the sweet spot

in price and volume. The C7 ZR1, meanwhile, already starts at $135,090, so Chevrolet has more discretion to price the

C8 ZR1 knowing full well it will be a low‐volume car.

Elizabeth Garnto is AACC’s Merchandise Liaison with A&D Fashions Embroidery (Emmaus, PA). Select from their online

catalogs: www.sanmar.com and www.alphabroder.com, or apply the club logo to your own item for $6. Email

Elizabeth with the item number/description and size ( [email protected]). Once your order is placed,

please mail a check payable to "A&D Fashions Embroidery" and either mail to Elizabeth Garnto, 720 N 2nd Street,

Emmaus, PA 18049 or pay her at a meeting. Select 50th Anniversary merchandise samples are still available.

Club Clothing Chair: Elizabeth Garnto (‘98)


Get Your Kicks on Route 66 by Nancy Jessee (‘07) A trip across Route 66 is a bucket list trip for many Corvette owners. It was ours and we finally made the trip this past Septem-

ber. We did Route 66 from Saint Louis to Santa Monica. We did not start in Chicago, as we started our journey from the Na-

tional Corvette Museum Anniversary in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The distance between Chicago and Saint Louis is about

350 miles. It would add another day or two to your trip, depending on the number of stops you make.

We did a great deal of research and had several books and maps prior to going. The

best sources were the Ghost Press Map Series. They are about $13.95 on Amazon.

There is one map for each state on Route 66. Each map shows the towns and high-

lights of sights along the route, as well as the Interstate where Route 66 no longer

exists. The most useful part of these maps were the written directions for following

Route 66. The directions detail where to turn, where Route 66 does not exist or may

be a rough road. It does take one person to follow the directions for the driver. We

also found that the GPS tended to follow the interstates. We set the Corvette GPS to

our end point for the day and then used the Waze app on our phone for the day’s stops.

We left Bowling Green on September 1 and arrived in Santa Monica on September 15. The weather was perfect. We had sum-

mer-like weather but low humidity, so it was very comfortable.

We went with Debbie and Charlie Meade, our friends from Pawleys Island, SC. We both have red Corvettes which attracted

much attention all along the route. I would recommend not doing this trip with more than 4 cars, as it complicates the decision

process and being able to stay together. We communicated with two-way radios along the entire trip.

Our plan was to travel about 300 miles per day. Within the 300 miles, we had several stops. Once we planned how far we

would travel each day, we would find a hotel at our end point. We stayed mostly in Hampton Inns. However, there were a few

places we had to book well ahead of time, and I will detail these later. We began planning the trip a few years ahead of time.

As we planned each segment, then we would book a hotel.

We did not plan restaurants along the way. Sometimes we ate our big meal at lunch and just had a light snack at the hotel in

the evening. It all depended what we found on our travels. Each evening, we would have a glass of wine at the hotel and dis-

cuss the plans for the next day.

As you all know, there is not much room to pack items in a Cor-

vette. We had a C6 and a C7. Each morning was like putting a puz-

zle together. We each had one bag and one shared bag, a small soft

cooler and a snack bag. We did laundry a few times during the trip

— all of the hotels we stayed in had a guest laundry on-site.

Our trip ended on the pier in Santa Monica, CA, but we extended

our trip and headed north along the Pacific Coast Island to Santa

Barbara, Solvang, Hurst Castle, Carmel. Monterey Bay, San Jose,

Santa Cruz, Bodega Bay, Napa Valley, and Yosemite,

We [truly] ended our trip in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Balloon Fiesta is always the first week of October. This is defi-

nitely a must see. Safe Travels!

Ghost Press maps

End of the Trail

(Santa Monica, CA)


Kicks on 66 Continued... Our Itinerary:

Day 1: Bowling Green to Saint Louis: (276 miles)

Toured the Gateway Arch

Stayed Hampton Inn, West Saint Louis

Day 2: Saint Louis to Joplin, Missouri

Stops: Giant Rocking Chair in Fanning, Missouri

Sinclair Gas Station Museum in Ash Grove

Day 3: Joplin, Missouri to Clinton, Oklahoma

Stops: Cars on the Route in Galina, Kansas

Blue Whale in Cartoosa, Oklahoma

Rock Café, Stroud, Oklahoma

Lincoln Motel, Chandler, Oklahoma

Round Barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma

Pops in Arcadia, Oklahoma

Day 4: Clinton, Oklahoma to Tucumcari, New Mexico

Stops: Clinton Route 66 Museum, this was one of the best museums on Route 66

U Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas

Devils Rope Museum, McLean, Texas

Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas

Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico

Day 5: Tucumcari to Taos, New Mexico

Side Trip north through Enchanted Circle

Day 6: Taos to Gallop, New Mexico

San Miguel chapel in Santa Fe

DeVargas House in Santa Fe

Fiesta in Santa Fe Plaza

Continental Divide

We passed Albuquerque when coming back to do the Balloon Fiesta on the return trip

Day 7: Gallop, New Mexico to Williams, Arizona

Stops: Painted Desert

Petrified Forest

Wigwam Hotel, Holbrook, Arizona

Winslow, Arizona

Meteor Crater

Day 8: Williams, Arizona

Explored Williams, last town to be bypassed by Inter-state 40

Day 9 and Day 10 : Grand Canyon, Arizona

El Tovar Hotel – on canyon south rim (you need to book these rooms a year ahead.

Did bus tour and hiked the south rim

Day 11: Grand Canyon to Kingman, Arizona

Stops: Seligman, Arizona

Day 12: Kingman, Arizona

Mohave Museum

Arizona Route 66 Museum

Mr D’s Route 66 Dinner

Day 13: Kingman, Arizona to Barstow, California

Stop in Oatmen, Arizona

Day 14: Barstow

Day to do wash, explore

Calico Ghost Town, Main Street Barstow

Day 15: Barstow to Santa Monica — the end of Route 66

Radisson Inn: across from Santa Monica Pier

You can drive onto the pier but not up to the sign. It is best to get your pictures early in the morning, there are far less people.

Photos by

Nancy Jessee


1,200 HP Hennessey Twin-Turbo C8 by Nick Yekikian (Automobilemag.com) Wed., Dec. 04 | If you can't wait for the C8 ZR1, Hennessey may have the mid‐engine 2020 Corvette for you.

The new mid‐engine C8 Corvette has caused quite a bit of fanfare over the last several months, even before reports

surfaced that a 900‐hp ZR1 will eventually reprise its role as top dog of the Vette range. But what if you don't want an

entry‐level Stingray, don't want to wait for more factory power, or, because you're insane, won't be satisfied with 900

horses? Have no fear, John Hennessey is here.

The Texas‐based tuner recently announced that

he and his team will offer up to 1,200 horsepower

via a specially designed twin‐turbo system for the

LT2 V‐8, which will also have its internals fortified

with forged aluminum pistons and forged steel

connecting rods. When I spoke with Hennessey at

the C8 reveal in July, he mentioned that, while he

was excited to start working on the new C8, he

was worried that Chevy might intentionally prevent tuners like him

from making big changes to the engine. Based on the limited info in

the release, his team is likely still working out the details on its C8 of‐

fering, but given the announcement happened, Hennessey's initial

concerns about the mid‐engine Corvette's tunability have seemingly

been put to rest.

Hennessey Performance Engineering will also upgrade the Tremec

eight‐speed DCT in some unspecified fashion, and will offer a series of

other upgrades to make the C8 Corvette a little racier on the outside.

The company plans on offering a carbon‐fiber aero kit that includes a

huge rear wing and a new front splitter—and we also spot a wicked‐looking roof scoop we hope to see on customer

cars. Bigger Brembo brakes, new wheel‐and‐tire packages, and Penske suspension mods will also be made available to

help tame all that extra grunt. A lightweight, stainless‐steel exhaust will also be available upon request.

No word on pricing yet, but we're sure a Hennessey C8 won't come cheap. To give you some idea of what to expect,

back when the C7 Corvette was new, Hennessey's 1,000‐hp supercharged HPE1000 package added nearly $68,000 to

the price of a C7 Stingray. But, you know, what price beastliness?

http://hennesseyperformance.com/

9281 SW I‐10 Frontage Rd

Sealy, Texas 77474


RHD C8 Deliveries to Begin in 2021 by Sam McEachern (GMAuthority.com) Fri., Dec. 06 | While North American deliveries of the C8 Corvette are set to begin in February of 2020, the right‐hand‐

drive (RHD) variant of the new mid‐engine sports car won’t arrive on Australian shores until 2021, according to Aussie

publication Motoring.com.au.

The reason for the delay is the same reason that North American buyers of the car will be receiving their cars a few

months later than initially planned: the UAW strike. General Motors Australia had originally promised customers that

the car would arrive in select Holden showrooms by late 2020, but with the 40‐day strike pushing the start of North

American deliveries back from December to February, the car’s Australian arrival has also been delayed.

While customer cars aren’t expected to arrive in Australian ports until 2021, an anonymous GM Australia source told

Motoring.com.au that a small number of cars for media and marketing purposes will arrive shortly before Christmas.

The only C8 Corvette variant to be sold in Australia will be the range‐topping 3LT model with the Z51 Performance

Package. The car will also be marketed as a Corvette, and not as a Holden or Chevrolet, and will only be sold at certain

Holden showrooms. The trim level of the car will simply be called ‘Z51’.

It is not clear if GM plans to sell the right‐hand‐drive

C8 Corvette in any markets apart from Australia. While

it may also be able to find customers in markets like

the United Kingdom and Japan, GM has not yet con‐

firmed its arrival in any other right‐hand‐drive mar‐

kets. The automaker will also ship the car to Saudi Ara‐

bia, a left‐hand‐drive market, and has hinted that it

may be headed to China as well. All C8 Corvette vari‐

ants will be built at the Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky.

The C8 Corvette is expected to cost around $150,000 AUD when it arrives in Holden showrooms in 2021 – equivalent to

about $102,605 at current exchange rates. It will feature the same 6.2‐liter LT2 V8 engine as the North American‐spec

version, which is good for 495 horsepower and 470 pound‐feet of torque. The car will also utilize the same dual‐clutch

eight‐speed transmission and will feature an electronic limited slip differential, just like Z51‐equipped models to be

sold in the U.S. and Canada.

Editor’s Note: It took 66 years and 8 generations, but this is the very first Corvette

with a right‐hand‐drive layout straight from the factory.

Image: Motor1.com


ZR1 Not The Only C8 Hybrid by Sam McEachern (GMAuthority.com) Mon., Dec. 09 | Last month, we heard rumors the C8 Corvette ZR1 will pair a twin‐turbocharged V8 with an electric

front axle, making it a 900‐horsepower hybrid with all‐wheel drive. While these well‐placed rumors certainly have us

excited for the future of the new mid‐engine Corvette, the ZR1 isn’t the only C8 Corvette variant that will be a hybrid,

according to a new report from Jalopnik.

The website claims to have seen engineering documents that pertain to a different Corvette

hybrid model that will pair an electric front axle with the C8 Corvette’s naturally aspirated 6.2‐

liter LT2 V8 Small Block engine. This model will allegedly be offered in both coupe and converti‐

ble variants and should have 550‐600 horsepower on tap – likely placing it between the stan‐

dard Corvette Stingray and the track‐focused Z06 in the Corvette model hierarchy.

The lesser Corvette hybrid model is said to feature an 85‐kW (about 114 horsepower) electric motor on the front axle,

along with a small 1.94‐kWh lithium ion battery pack mounted in the vehicle’s central tunnel. A battery of this size indi‐

cates the hybrid system will mainly be for increasing the vehicle’s performance and not its fuel economy, as such a

small pack cannot enable electric‐only driving for long periods of time. The front‐mounted electric motor should also

be able to achieve a torque vectoring effect on the front axle, applying a burst of torque to the wheel that needs it

most at exactly the right time.

The Corvette hybrid will feature a different “High Mounted Damper” front suspension design, too, which shifts the lo‐

cation of the front suspension dampers upwards to make room for the axle shafts for the front‐mounted electric mo‐

tor. This design should carry over into the ZR1. The document Jalopnik viewed indicated the car will come with carbon

ceramic brakes as well, along with staggered wheel and tires sizes measuring in at 275/30R20 in the front and

345/25R21 in the rear. An electronic limited‐slip differential will sit out back, handling power distribution of the LT2 V8.

It’s not clear how much power the lesser Corvette hybrid will produce, though it should be good for up to 600 horse‐

power, if not more. Calculating its output is not as simple as adding the outputs of the 114‐horsepower front axle and

495‐horsepower LT2 V8 together, as the electric motor and V8 motor may achieve peak outputs at different points in

the rev range. You can bet it will be fast, though – with the electric motor filling in the gaps in the LT2 V8’s torque curve

to provide seamless acceleration.

This mystery Corvette hybrid could be called the Corvette E‐Ray, a nameplate which GM filed a patent application for

back in 2015. This would make sense, as the model Jalopnik describes uses the same engine as the Corvette Stingray,

but pairs it with an electric motor. Jalopnik says General Motors may have also benchmarked the Acura NSX while de‐

veloping the model, with the two cars featuring similarly sized batteries and likely similar power outputs.

It’s not clear when the so‐called Corvette E‐Ray may debut, but it is expected to arrive before the C8 Corvette ZR1.

However, GM has yet to even start building the standard Corvette Stingray coupe and Corvette Convertible models, so

these hybrid variants are likely still quite far away.


Bill Mitchell’s C2 Needs New Home Sam McEachern (GMAuthority.com) Sun., Dec. 15 | Those in attendance at Russo and Steele’s upcoming Scottsdale 2020 auction will have the rare oppor‐

tunity to buy one of the more famous examples of the C2 Corvette – Bill Mitchell’s 1967 COPO Corvette Convertible.

This car actually crossed the auction block at RM Sotheby’s

Auburn 2019 sale earlier this year, but it seems it didn’t find a

new owner, with Russo and Steele now featuring it at its up‐

coming [Jan. 16‐19] Scottsdale event as well.

As we reported back then, this car was originally ordered by

celebrated General Motors [designer] Bill Mitchell, who later

gave the car to his wife. He utilized the Central Office Produc‐

tion Order system (or COPO) to appoint it with luxury features

like a telescoping steering column and power steering and

brakes, along with the optional Big Block Tri‐Power 427 cu. in.

V8 engine.

Once the car was built, Mitchell had it shipped to the GM

Technical Center in Warren, Michigan and applied the red ac‐

cents and pin‐striping over the Ermine White body. His wife[,]

Marianne Mitchell[,] drove the car for two years before the

couple sold it to their neighbour [sic]. It has traded hands a

number of times over the years and is currently owned by a

private collector. The car is being offered for sale in mint con‐

dition, though it’s not clear how many miles it has racked up

since its last major overhaul. The winning bidder will also

receive a notebook signed by famed Corvette engineer Zora

Arkus Duntov, furthering its appeal to the Corvette faithful.

RM Sotheby’s expected this one of a kind C2 Corvette would

fetch between $650,000 and $850,000 at its Auburn auction, but it didn’t sell, so perhaps the owner has adjusted their

expectations for the upcoming Russo and Steele auction. Either way, this is one of the most well‐known and unique

examples of the C2 Corvette ever built, so it will assuredly sell for a small fortune whenever it actually does manage to

trade hands.

The listing at https://russoandsteele.com/vehicle-details/?

show_vehicle=174771&current_index=3&total_results=140&tsauction_id=204&=&caryear=&caryearto=&search_text=&page=feat

ured&showpage=1


Tadge Juechter Talks 2020 Corvette by Andy Bolig (LSXmag.com) Mon., Dec. 16 | The 2020 Corvette has been a very hot topic for many enthusiasts since the car’s official reveal earlier

this year. Much has been learned, but there is still so much more we’d like to know about this new, exciting Corvette.

One of the best ways to find out the truth about many aspects of the car is by going directly to the people who created

it. Autoline did just that and brought a 2020 Corvette and its Chief Engineer, Tadge Juechter, into the studio for a not‐

so‐quick Q&A session.

Tadge has been working on the Corvette brand since around 1993. As

such, he has seen many changes and advancements in the car’s pro‐

gression. His humble and amicable personality could easily be over‐

shadowed by the immense depth of knowledge he has about all things

Corvette. In this interview, Autoline’s John McElroy joins Greg Migliore and Gary Vasilash in a tag‐team Q&A about all

things C8.

Tadge not only knows a lot about the new C8 (obviously), but he also has a way of explaining that information devoid

of marketing catch‐phrases and scientific, engineer‐speak. Tadge connects with the typical car guy because he is a typi‐

cal car guy! This fact becomes all the more evident throughout the video as Tadge gives his explanation as to why vari‐

ous decisions were made throughout the car’s gestation.

The video . . . [contains] much more valuable [information] than simply design cues and decision‐making, as Tadge goes

into what it was like, trying to bring up the idea of a mid‐engine Corvette when those in tall buildings didn’t see the

need for one. The parallels between today and Zora’s era are surprisingly similar. Interestingly, Tadge reports that GM’s

head “car guy” at the time, Bob Lutz, said, “If anybody starts work on a mid‐engine car, they’re fired!” Clearly, the class

between passion and corporate dictates is not relegated only to Zora’s tenure.

Tadge now admits that they were working on the C8 back when the C7 was first revealed, a fact that he gets grilled on

by John McElroy, as he asked Tadge about a mid‐engine car back then. Of course, Tadge gave a slippery answer that

dodged the question, a tactic he used a couple of times in this video as well . . ., [like] [w]hen John asked about an all‐

electric Corvette and an all‐wheel variant of the C8.

What Tadge DID share was well worth watching the video though! He not only went into what it took to get manage‐

ment on‐board [sic] with the idea of a mid‐engine Corvette but also what it took from an engineering standpoint to

make it all happen. He explains why the C8 coupe[’]s rear glass is so thick, and also why the C8 now has adjustable ride‐

height, even though they’ve wanted to have it on Corvette for generations.

Tadge goes on to explain his personal fears by [sic] making the mid‐engine Corvette and also gives some idea how

much faster the new platform is over the C7 generation. He explains the car’s handling dynamics devoid of only the

most necessary physics and informs the panel (and us) how this new platform actually puts less strain on the car’s tires

than the out‐going [sic] model.

(Continued on page 15)


Tadge Talks Continued...

Why No Manual?

Of course, Tadge also addresses the question of why the C8 isn’t offered in a manual variant. His blunt reply was,

“Because no one is willing to make one at a loss!” For the low numbers necessary, it would be cost‐prohibitive to cre‐

ate one for C8. To ease everyone’s mind, Tadge does explain that the thought of no third pedal was a hard one to ac‐

cept for the entire Corvette team. He even explains that “I’ve NEVER purchased a car in my entire life that wasn’t a

manual!” More than just a numbers game, he goes on to explain the various reasons why a manual would wind up

bringing more compromises to Corvette than benefits.

Audiophiles will appreciate the conversation where Tadge explains that the Bose system in the C8 Corvette is the loud‐

est one ever installed by GM or Bose. He even tells how the folks at Bose truncated the system as they felt it was too

loud. To which Tadge replied, “Don’t do that! Let the customer truncate it! Some people like it at 11!”

All in all, the interview goes on to show not only

the vast knowledge that Tadge has about this re‐

markable new car, but also why he is so sought‐

after for interviews. He communicates in such a

down‐to‐earth, and interesting way that you can

easily get caught up in the conversation and forget

that this video is over an hour long. Even so, it is a

great watch and for those interested in the next‐

generation Corvette, it brings a vast knowledge of

what it took to get to this point, and also what to expect once we start seeing them on showroom floors and on the

road. You would do well to invest the time to watch this video. You’ll be glad you did!

Video of this news segment is available at https://youtu.be/BBfXm1Yczdo. Run time: 1:18:46.

(Continued from page 14)

Correction — ‘67 Coupe Restoration by Kevin Minnich (’00) My December 2019 article on Ron Witko’s 1967

coupe restoration project indicated the wrong

color. The correct blue is Marina, not Laguna.

Ron is not changing the history books with the

factory original exterior colors. My bad.


Vettes Coming to B-J Scottsdale 2020 by Patrick Morgan (CorvetteForum.com) Tue., Dec. 17 | Auctions always have our interest at Corvette Forums. For one, some seriously rare and unique cars

come up for sale. But also, it is a great way to use auction prices as a barometer for the collector‐minded enthusiasts

among us. We checked out the listings for Barrett Jackson’s Scottsdale 2020 Auction taking place January 11 ‐ 19, and

there are a ton of amazing Vettes crossing the block.

Here are our picks for the top five coolest Corvettes of the show, presented in no particular order.

1‐of‐142 1959 “Big Brake” Corvette

Big brake Corvettes were incredibly popular for racing.

The upgraded stoppers addressed one issue with cir‐

cuit racing by reducing brake fade. Not only were the

brakes heavy duty, but the suspension was as well.

Invariably, you’d find the new owner at a local racing

track to show off his new wares, and often times win‐

ning. This particular 1959 example, lot #1039, received

a frame‐off restoration, and is numbers matching. With fewer than 150 made, it’s not often you see these being of‐

fered.

1996 Corvette Grand Sport

Instant recognizability. That’s one thing that can de‐

scribe the C4 Grand Sport. Aside from wearing the

iconic blue and white paint, this particular Grand Sport

is fitted with the rare two‐tone black and red interior

and has been amazingly preserved. Covering just 2144

miles, everything on this car is pristine as it was when

it left Bowling Green. Lot #425.1 offers an example to own a very early example of the grand sport. This one is #42 of

1000.

1953 Corvette

The Corvette’s beginnings weren’t pretty if you looked

behind the scenes, but the result was beautiful. First‐

year Corvettes – all 300 of them – were built by hand

in Michigan. The configuration is known by all enthusi‐

asts: Polo White paint, Sportsman Red interior, the

“Blue Flame” inline 6‐cylinder engine, and two‐speed

(Continued on page 17)


Coming to Scottsdale 2020 Continued...

automatic transmission. Lot #1423 is the Corvette #105, and was restored in 2018. The restoration was exquisite, earn‐

ing NCRS Top Flight points of 96.2, and even comes with a custom hardtop.

2020 Corvette C8 VIN #001

From the first, to the newest. One of the coolest Cor‐

vettes on offer is this one. Vin #001. That’s right, it is

the first C8 Corvette. In itself, that’s incredibly cool,

but even cooler is that 100% of the proceeds for lot

#3007 will go to charity. Mind you, the images here

show a red Corvette, but the listing indicates VIN #001

is Black with an Adrenaline Red interior and the Z51

package. We already know plenty of things about the

C8, but the fact that this one will benefit a charity makes it all the more significant. Proceeds will benefit the Detroit

Children’s Fund. We expect this one to pull in some big money.

1963 Corvette Grand Sport Recreation

Most of the list here is made up of numbers matching

and all original Corvettes, but customized ones can be

had at Barrett Jackson as well. We found a 1963 Cor‐

vette Grand Sport recreation that looks like a blast to

drive. The signature fixed headlights offer distinct

Grand Sport styling. An open top and steeply raked

windscreen guarantee fun on a sunny day. Power

comes from a 327/300 V8 mated to a 4‐speed manual

and we feel custom made Corvettes like this are the most fun to drive. Lot #463 is simply begging to go for a journey.

(Continued from page 16)

Images: Barrett Jackson

Not exactly an auto show — but as much of a spectacle — the 2020 Barrett‐Jackson Collector Car Auction

in Scottsdale returns to cable TV (Discovery Channel and Motor Trend TV)

from Jan. 11‐19.


1954 C1 Barn Find with 33,000 Miles by Brett Foote (CorvetteForum.com) Fri., Dec. 20 | It isn't every day you see original paint and only 33,000 miles on a 1954 Corvette on Craigslist. So when

Indiana resident Kevin Harris ran across this barn find, he was obviously skeptical. Especially when he had just read an

article about the exact same car in Super Chevy's Rare Finds. And when

Harris reached out to the seller, he repeated the same story. This was

his grandfather's car up until he died in 2011. The Corvette was parked

in 1966 and used as storage space. Nobody else wanted it, so he took

it. Harris was in California at the time but arranged to have his brother

John go look at it.

Once John arrived at the car's location, a farm just north of Ft. Wayne,

he was admittedly overwhelmed with what he saw. The seller, Dave

Leicty, proceeded to tell him all about the car's history. Turns out, a doctor in Churubusco, Indiana bought this and an‐

other new Corvette in 1954 ‐ one for himself and one for his wife. The wife didn't like it, so she traded it in for a 1955

Thunderbird. That's when Leicty’s grandfather, Donald J. “Tod” Pressler, bought the Corvette used. He drove it for 11

years before the car was parked for nearly 50 years.

To his credit, Pressler did a fantastic job of preserving the car. He put it

up on jack stands, pulled the spark plugs, oiled the cylinders, and

drained the gas before leaving it be. The original paint and top are in

pretty darn good condition. The only thing missing is the ignition

shielding. There's a scratch on the fender that occurred back when

Pressler's daughter attempted to pull the car out and wash it for him

one day. And there are a few rust holes in the muffler. Otherwise, the

old 'Vette is in amazing shape.

Incredibly enough, the car sits roughly 20 miles from the Chevrolet dealership it was originally sold at. Peeking inside

the car, you can tell that it's barely been used. John believes that the passenger side window has never even been

rolled down. And even the 1966 Indiana license plate remains on the back of the Corvette.

Based on his brother's recommendation, Miller bought the car without

seeing it himself. Amazingly enough, the seller was asking $53,000.

When Miller asked him how he came about that price, Leicty told him

that he had had it appraised two years prior at $63,000. We'd wager

that the amazing find is worth a little bit more than that today.

Images: Super Chevy


Mid-Engine Reunion at Amelia Island by Keith Cornett (CorvetteBlogger.com) Mon., Dec. 23 | Want to see what is being billed as one of the largest mid‐engine Corvette gatherings featuring both

historic GM prototypes as well as the new 2020 Corvette Stingray? The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is planning

such a display for their March 2020 show in Northeast Florida.

The star of this gathering is Chevrolet’s mid‐engine 1964 GS IIB (Grand

Sport IIB) which will be making its first appearance outside the Chapar‐

ral Gallery of the Petroleum Museum in Midland, TX. Considered to be

a successor to the 1963 Grand Sports built by Zora, the GS IIB was cre‐

ated by GM Chief Engineer Frank Winchell as a state of the art Chevy

powered race car that was the successor to the GS II that was built and

then destroyed after a brief testing period. The GS IIB featured a pro‐

totype 327 V8 engine while the monocoque body designed by Larry Shinoda was covered in 0.32″ of sheet aluminum. A

radical single‐speed automatic transmission developed by Chevy’s Jerry Mrlik was also included.

Following the construction of the GS IIB, the car was shipped down to Jim Hall in Texas where it underwent high‐speed

testing. With a total weight of 1450 lbs, the car reportedly reached a top speed of 198 mph.

One of the crazier stories we’ve heard told about the GS IIB is that at one

point while engineers were making a high‐speed run, airflow got under

the doors and they “just popped off” according to the account at Remark‐

able Corvettes.

“The Mid‐Engine Corvette Class is a dream class,” said Bill Warner, foun‐

der and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours. “Having a historically

significant car at The Amelia that’s never been seen in a concours before

is a dream for us. Thanks to Chaparral and the Petroleum Museum that

dream has come true.”

Joining the 1964 Corvette GS IIB on the Amelia Concours’ Silver Anniver‐

sary field will be CERV I, CERV II, CERV III, Corvette XP‐819. XP‐895, XP‐897

GT, Aerovette, and the Indy Corvette. The Mid‐Engine Corvette reunion is

scheduled for March 8, 2020 to celebrate the arrival of the mid‐engine C8

Corvette.

Discounted advance sale tickets for the Silver Anniversary Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

are available now for $100. at www.ameliaconcours.org.


For Sale: 2005 Corvette Z06 EX Car by Alex Sommers (CorvetteBlogger.com) Wed., Dec. 25 | Jay Leno says that the “Best cars are the ones with

great stories.” If you are a collector that shares the same mantra then

this might be the most desirable ‘Vette on the market! Our friends at

GT Motorcars in Wallingford, CT are currently in possession of the very

first C6 Z06 “experimental car” ever built. This 2005 testbed car came

off the line on February 4, 2005 and has lived a life that could make

most car enthusiasts, and the Dos Equis guy jealous.

This is THE car that set the official Nürburgring time (remember when Chev‐

rolet actually published those?) of 7:42.99 in June of ’05 with Corvette Rac‐

ing’s Jan Magnussen at the wheel. This was an incredible achievement at the

time (and still impressive today as the much hyped new Supra just ran a

7:52.17 in the hands of German car‐mag, Sport Auto), magnified even further

by the fact that it was from a standing start as opposed to the industry stan‐

dard flying “hot lap.” Jan commemorated the occasion by signing under the

center console lid, making for an even cooler story to tell your friends when you walk them around the car.

While in Europe, this experimental “Blue Devil” was also the one to set the Z’s published top speed of 198 mph on a

two‐way run in Papenberg where it averaged 198.6 after reaching the magical 200 mph mark on the Autobahn.

This car continued to add hard to spell tracks to its resume with a trek to Belgium’s Spa‐Francorchamps where our fa‐

vorite Ride and Handling Engineer, Jim Mero, piloted the devil for a pre‐screen for the Z’s press show. Upon its return

to the States, this car continued checking off bucket list items at VIR where Corvette Racing’s most successful American

driver, Johnny O’Connell took it for a spin.

The EX Z06 comes from a well‐known family’s Corvette collection/museum with historical documents and original pa‐

perwork. It still features all of the harnesses, roll cage, Sparco seats, and GM stickers that were fitted for testing pur‐

poses and used by all of the famous drivers that were there for all of the early research and development of one of the

greatest Corvettes in in history, one that still holds the distinction of most powerful naturally aspirated vehicle in Gen‐

eral Motors history, nearly 15 years after this test vehicle was born.

You can add this piece of history and all of the incredible stories that come

with it to your collection for the not‐so‐bad price of $80,000. The only down‐

side is that with an “EX” VIN, this car can’t be registered and therefore isn’t

exactly legal for road use. This car’s legal status should be considered a moot

point though for connoisseurs as this is one of the coolest C6 models that we

have ever seen made available and it could anchor any collection (even Mr.

Leno’s) with its prominence and multitude of great stories.


Faulkner Chevrolet Cadillac

298 Stoke Park Road Bethlehem, PA 18017

Local: (610) 867-4177

Sales: (855) 535-9080 Service: (855) 450-0639

Sandi Kirby Cadillac Sales Manager

Direct: (610) 849-1150 [email protected]

CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2017 Watkins Glen Gray Metallic Z06 2LZ Coupe, Kalahari int.,

8-Spd. AT, 10,295 miles Sale Priced $69,990

PRE-OWNED 2004 Lemans Blue Metallic Convertible, Commemorative Edition, Shale leather

int. and Shale cloth top, 6-spd, HUD, Selective Ride Control, 15,755 miles Sale Priced $20,550

PRE-OWNED 1995 Dark Red Metallic Convertible, Black leather int. and cloth top, AT, side

pipes, Chrome wheels, Non-smoker, 52,458 miles Sale Priced $11,990

PRE-OWNED 1995 Bright Aqua Metallic Coupe, Black leather int., AT, Targa roof, Aluminum

wheels, stock, 54,258 miles Sale Priced $11,995

ALL CORVETTES

purchased from

Faulkner Chevy

include a free

1-year AACC

membership!

Current AACC members receive 10% off GM Service, Parts and Accessories.

See Sandi about our vehicle discounts. Present your membership card to enjoy the savings!

www.FAULKNERMOTORS.com

** Sale pricing as of Dec. 28, 2019

Few of the featured 2019 Demo vehicles remain. Stop by now for your best deal: Suburban 4WD 1500 LT ($49,519) Malibu LT ($23,705)

Visit FaulknerMotors.com for an online valuation of

your trade-in


NCM Ambassador’s Corner by Al Fuller (’19) Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable Holiday Season, and keeping their Corvettes all warm and cozy

in anticipation of a very exciting upcoming car season. I’m hoping to utilize some space in the ‘Vetter’s Letter to provide a

few insights and updates on the NCM and our hobby versus taking time out of our already busy meetings. Of course, I hope to

attend most of the meetings – feel free to reach out to me there, and/or via my email or mobile if easier.

First off, I would like to touch on something you may have seen in the media recently, related to C8 availability. A GM VP

was apparently on record as saying the entire 2020 C8 production is sold out. This is simply not true. There are still available

allocations out there, especially at the larger dealerships. The C8 availability equation is very complex, what with the strike,

people backing out of orders/changing their minds, others having double ordered at different dealerships. Bottom line is, there

will most likely be (limited) allocations available throughout most of the model year. On the other hand, we have some dealers

selling allocations they do not have…so we need to be careful. If you are interested in a 2020 C8 and don’t yet have an order

placed with a dealer, I am more than willing to try and help…and can explain the process and pitfalls.

In terms of the NCM, I’ll try and highlight some new items every month. I’ll also be looking to understand how many AACC

members are also NCM members; and looking to increase those numbers. One benefit of NCM membership you may not be

aware of is the access to special “Member’s Only” pages. On NCM’s website, 8 www.corvettemuseum.org, click the “Who

am I?” button in the upper right corner, log in and voila – special access to videos, wallpaper, and other valuable information.

The videos in particular are very helpful, and feature members of the Corvette Engineering, Design and Production Teams

giving presentations on the C8. Lots to learn!

One other item that is not frequently mentioned is the “Corvette Buyer’s Tour.” This is different than “Museum Delivery” –

which is the option (which must be part of your original vehicle order – just like any other options, it cannot be added to or

removed from your order after a certain point in the process) where you actually take delivery of your new Corvette at the

NCM instead of at your Dealership. I’ll touch on this in detail in a future update. For now, I want to talk about a less known

option, called a “Buyer’s Tour” – this is separate from your new car order, is handled directly with the Museum, and can be

purchased up until a few weeks before your car is built. This option basically allows you to actually watch your car being built,

and is an incredible experience. I did my first one in 2005, when it was a secret offering from BGAP (and was free). The NCM

took over the program shortly thereafter and made significant improvements. I’ve since watched my 2008 Z06 and my 2014

Convertible being built, and would’ve seen my 2015 Z06 being built if not for Rick Hendrick selecting that exact day to take

delivery of his VIN #001 Z06 Convertible… In any case, it’s a phenomenal experience, and I expect/

hope it will be available again not too long after the start of C8 production. Reach out to me if you

would like more details.

I’ll try and provide further insights and tips, etc. in coming months. Until then, be sure to “Save The

Wave!”

Respectfully,

Al


Museum in Motion: Le Mans

Sun., Dec. 08 | Join us on our 5th adventure to France for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Here is

the chance to see Corvette Racing in the new C8.R against the world’s best GT cars in the most famous race of all. Just a

few highlights of the tour include stops in London, Paris and of course Le Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans Track). We will

have professional guides with us the entire trip to assist with our travels. After four nights in London and three nights in

Paris, we will travel to Angers where we will stay throughout the Le Mans race. We depart Angers and travel back to

Paris for one last free day, then check out of our hotel and continue with your plans of either more travel or to the air‐

port. Hotels, ground transportation, tour tickets, all breakfasts, some meals, Le Mans admission with grandstand seats

and Corral tickets are included. We have a very limited number of openings so make your plans early to join us in mak‐

ing memories, new friends, and seeing beautiful London & France.

View the complete itinerary & register at https://www.corvettemuseum.org/event/mim-lemans/

Striving for Sensory Inclusiveness

Sun., Dec. 08 | In 2020, the National Corvette Museum will begin taking

steps to become an ”inclusion certified” museum. This will let individuals

and families affected by autism and other sensory diagnoses know we are

a sensory‐safe place for all guests.

In an effort to kick off this new initiative, the Museum partnered with local

organizations that are already community leaders in raising awareness and

promoting inclusion through special trees in our exhibit areas. Thank you

to our friends from the Kelly Autism Program and the H.I.V.E. Come see the 50s/60s inspired tree and the 'donut' in‐

spired tree by our friends!

Performance Gallery Undergoing Remodel

Thu., Dec 12 | The National Corvette Museum

has embarked on a major exhibit remodel, bring‐

ing one of the Museum’s earliest display spaces

up to date with a design that truly reflects the

sleek and stylish nature of America’s favorite

sports car. Funding for the exhibit was garnered through a private donation. The new exhibit is planned to open in late

March, 2020 – with an official ribbon cutting slated to take place during the Michelin NCM Bash April 23‐25.

Read more at https://www.corvettemuseum.org/museums-performance-gallery-undergoing-major-remodel/

NCM News & Events


NCM News & Events Continued... CAR-TOON CREATURES, KUSTOM KARS AND CORVETTES: The Art and Influence of

Ed “Big Daddy” Roth

Thu., Dec. 12 | The National Corvette Museum has teamed up with Tom Peters, retired Director of Exterior Design for

the 8th Generation Stingray Corvette, to put together a new exhibit:

Car‐toon Creatures, Kustom Kars and Corvettes: The Art and Influence of

Ed “Big Daddy” Roth.

“Ed Roth was one of Tom’s biggest artistic influences growing up,” said

Bob Bubnis, Museum Historical Media Coordinator and lead Curator of

this exhibit. “Back in the 1950s and ’60s, kids who liked cars bought hot

rod magazines along with t‐shirts, models, stickers and toys from Roth Studios. They featured caricatures of cars

with giant smoking slicks and fire coming out of the exhaust, with blown engines and cartoon monsters at the wheel.

Tom would begin copying those drawings, and in the process, he learned about how to draw cars with personalities

and attitudes. The monsters were just cool. The most notable one was Rat Fink, who will serve as the mascot through‐

out this exhibit.”

Read More at https://www.corvettemuseum.org/ratfink/

Museum Welcomes Four New Board Members

Fri., Dec. 13 | At the December National Corvette Museum fourth quarter board

meeting, four new board members were officially added with their terms starting

January 1. Joining the team are Shannon Lamarche, Michael LaRocca, Jerry Mosbacher

and Neil Watanabe.

Read more about each new Board member at

https://www.corvettemuseum.org/museum-welcomes-four-new-board-members/

National Corvette Museum

350 Corvette Drive

Bowling Green, KY 42101

© National Corvette Museum 2019

2020 Events MiM Daytona Rolex 24 @ Daytona .Jan. 22‐27

MiM Plantation Tour...............Mar. 31‐Apr. 04

Michelin MCM Bash ........................ Apr. 23‐25

MiM Dragon Run @ Biltmore ......... Apr. 26‐29

The Gathering @ NCM....................May 14‐16

MiM @ Le Mans...............................Jun. 05‐16

26th Anniversary Celebration ......... Sep. 03‐05

Current NCM Raffles

Visit https://raffle.corvettemuseum.org for tickets.

‘19 Black Z06 Cpe | 1000 Tix. @ $250 ............................ Jan. 23

‘19 Blade Silver GS Cnv | 1500 Tix. @ $150 ....................Feb. 20

‘20 Black Cpe | Unlim. Tix. @ $20...................................Apr. 25

Corvette Classifieds If you have something Corvette-related to sell, contact the newsletter editors to run a free ad for six (6) months. Ads may be removed at any if space is necessary for new posts. Contact Kevin & Michelle Minnich at [email protected] or call 610-530-0923.

1964 Roadster — Riverside Red with Black interior and White top, Original 327 / 300HP, Muncie M20, Posi Rear, Knockoff wheels, PS, Base coat-clear coat paint, many new parts. (Hellertown, PA) $44,900 (Barry, 484-821-6968)1909

1972 Stingray Coupe — Green with Saddle leather interior, 454ci, 4 speed manual, 78,000 miles, numbers-matching motor. The car is located in Eagleville, PA. Asking $36,500.00 (Bill, 610-716-9526)1907

AACC CAR!! 2000 Black Fixed Roof Coupe — Ebony leather int., Z06 clone with Z06 floor mats, badging, side ducts, 6-spd Manual. Aftermarket Bluetooth radio with Kicker sub and amplifier, digital speedometer on windshield, drilled & slotted rotors, red powder-coated calipers. Includes C5 soft cover (black) and factory floor mats. 54,150 miles. $16,000 obo. (Jaden, 610-428-4517)1910

2003 50th Anniversary Coupe — Anniversary Red, Auto, fully loaded, new tires, 38,000 original miles. Local car. Asking $22,500 (will consider all offers). (Bob, 908-627-1955)1908

AACC CAR!! 2003 Electron Blue Coupe — 1SB Preferred Equipment Pkg., Heads-up display, AT, Magnetic Selective Ride Control, Polished aluminum wheels, Transparent removable roof, 11k miles. $20,000. (Joe, 610-762-8860)1912

REDUCED!! AACC CAR!! 2010 Velocity Yellow 3LT Convertible — Ebony leather int. with Black top, Automatic, Dual Mode Exhaust, Bose, Heads-Up, Heated Seats, Power Top, etc. 28k miles. $29,900 obo. (Ken, 267-249-8362)2001

AACC Car!! 2013 Night Race Blue Metallic 427 Convertible — Blue top, Light Cashmere int., 60th Anniversary Edition, Chrome wheels, light-up WindResistor, 1SB package. Garage kept with 24,360 miles. Asking $49,900 (Paulinea, [email protected] or 609-351-0172)1909

2014 Torch Red 3LT Coupe — Fully loaded with Body Color Dual Roof Package, Multi-mode Performance Exhaust, Competition Carbon Sport Seats, Brownstone Suede/Leather Seats. Sticker Price was $75,585. Less than 3,000 miles, never seen rain, and purchased in 2016 from a car museum. $46,500. (Dave, [email protected])1906

1966 Big Block Used Engine Parts — KB203-060 Pistons with pins and connecting rods. Make offer. (Bob, 610-330-0848)1907

1974 Ignition & Spark Plug Wire Shields — 5 chrome ignition pieces and 3 non-chrome spark plug wire pieces. Make offer. (Bob, 610-330-0848)1907

C5 SpeedLingerie Bra — Pewter color. Well cared for & safe to 120 mph. Seller will pay shipping. New: $599, asking $250 obo. (Ernie, 610-504-8707)1906

C6 Accessories — Roof Panel Sunliner, Black w/ holes (removable/reusable) great sun protection. $25. (Valerie or Blair, 610-438-8885)1808

C7 Accessories — Shelf for hidden space behind Nav screen, $25; LT1 Performance interior badge (mounts below heater controls, $50; Clear plastic floor mats, $20; Formed plastic sill protectors with Velcro mount, $40; WeatherTech black floor liners, $75. (Joel, 610-533-2259)1909

2002 Z06 Factory Original Wheels — Wheels are as new. $950. (Tony, 610-390-1696, [email protected])1912

NEW!! C6 Aluminum Wheels and Tires — From a 2010. Great condition with plenty of tread. $1500 obo. (Ken, 267-249-8362)2001

7,000-lb. Revolution 4-Post Lift — 5’-3” rise and 15’-10” length, 110V. $2,000. (Joe, 610-762-8860)1912

NEW!! Franklin Mint 1:24 Scale Models – ALL NEW IN BOX. Corvettes (‘53, ‘55, ‘56, ‘57 racer, ‘58, ‘63 Cpe, ‘67 L88, ‘68 427, ‘78 Silver Anniv., ‘86 Cnv, ‘93). Also Franklin Mint ‘70 Datsun 240Z, MRCFUJIMI ‘90 Nissan ZX, Brookfield ‘96 Viper GTS, Griot’s ‘55 M-B 300 Gullwing and ‘64 Fer-rari GTO. Also rare wooden and plexiglass display case holds about 8 of these cars at a time – looks like a garage with a checker floor and mir-rored back. Donald (Bethlehem, PA; 610-866-3180, [email protected])2001

1965-66-67 Corvette Coupe — Prefer a small block and stick. A/C would be a plus. (Ken, 267-249-8362)2001


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