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HOT News

June 21 - Happy Fathers Day to all our Member Fathers!

FINAL PRODUCTION NUMBERS FOR GT1 & CSC LIMITED EDITIONS
Members – The FINAL numbers for the Limited Production Special Edition Corvettes for 2009 are in. If you were LUCKY enough to purchase one of these very rare GT1 Championship Editions or Competition Sport Corvettes (CSC) for 2009…CONGRATULATIONS! 

Final Production numbers for model year 2009 are coming in around 16,000 to 17,000 total Corvettes built. Not since the C5 was unveiled in 1997 in this modern era of Corvettes has production been so low. We believe that these Limited Edition GT1 and CSC will be some of the most sought after Corvette Collectibles of their era. All of these Limited Edition Corvettes represent Corvette Racing and its Successful Heritage since the Black and Silver C5-Rs took to the tracks in 1999! 
 

The GT1 and CSC Production Breakdowns are as Follows:

 

 

 

 
Competition Sport Corvette (aka Jake Edition CSR Package)

 

June 16
OVER 1,500,000 CORVETTES BUILT
56 Years after the first Corvette number 15000000 is built!
VIN 1G1YY36W295114471
 

Number 1,500,000

At the June meeting of the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association, Karen Rafferty, Chevrolet Product Marketing Director, today announced the recent production of the 1,500,000th Corvette at GM Bowling Green Assembly. "The 1.5 millionth Corvette  is a great example of how Chevy is America's Brand," Rafferty said. "For nearly 60 years we have built America's Sports Car and this milestone is a solid proof point." The 1.5 millionth Corvette, built on May 28, is a white convertible 3LT with red interior and black top (similar to the first, 500,000th and 1 millionth Corvettes built in 1953, 1977 and 1992 respectively). The first Corvette rolled off the assembly line on June 30, 1953. When the C5-C6 Registry announced the plans to build this special car on May 4, ( see Hot News below), we said," What would REALLY SET THIS CAR APART, would be to have Dave McClellan, Dave Hill, Tom Wallace, and  Tadge Juechter, the Corvette Chief Engineers who are still living, be at the unveiling of this special Corvette to sign the hood, or some special location on the car."

We don't know if that will happen, but this special car will be housed at the NCM, what better place for this autograph session to  to take place!

June 14

CORVETTE WINS 24 Hours of  LE Mans
Johnny O first American to win Le Mans four times

Corvette Racing ends on the GT1 era with a victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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Photo 24Heures Du Mans 2009

After a great effort by Corvette Racing, and the crew of the #63 Car, just a little before 7:AM EST this morning, Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia gave Corvette Racing a sixth GT1 victory in the world's largest sports car race.

The winning Corvette completed 342 laps, racing to a six-lap margin of victory over second place #73 Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R of Yann Clairay, Julien Jousse and Xavier Maassen.

The Number 63 Corvette driven by Johnny O'Connell crossed the finish line to win the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans and "Johnny O" became the first American to win Le Mans four times. "When you look at the Americans who have won here multiple times, they're all important figures in motorsports history," Johnny said. "To achieve my fourth win with Corvette Racing, driving a sports car that's an American icon, it's hard to put that into words. There is nothing more difficult and more rewarding than winning here, and sharing it with two awesome drivers like Jan and Antonio."

Dan Binks Crew Chief of the #63 got his first Le Mans win!   "Winning Le Mans is so unbelievable that I can't even talk about it. All of the people here worked their butts off, and we're just the guys who show up at the track. There are dozens of guys back in the shop working on this stuff." said Binks

Sadly, the #64 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, and Marcel Fassler retired from the lead in the 22nd hour with a gearbox problem. 22 hours into the race, Fassler radioed the crew that he was experiencing shifting problems. The gearbox problem intensified, and the car was stranded near the pit lane entrance when it lost drive to the rear wheels. In contrast, the No. 63 Corvette had a trouble-free run throughout the grueling 24-hour race, making 32 pit stops and never going into the garage for repairs. O'Connell and Garcia drove the closing stints in the race when Magnussen became ill.

"Four Le Mans wins feels absolutely great. My role in this one was for only half the race. I really have to thank Johnny and Antonio for working so hard during the last half of the race. Also a special mention to my crew chief Dan Binks. Standing on the victory podium at Le Mans is just amazing, and I hope that we can carry on" said Jan Magnussen.

This race marked the end of GT1 racing for Corvette Racing that began in 1999. Since then, Corvette Racing has become America's premier production sports car team, winning 77 races and eight consecutive American Le Mans Series championships. Corvette Racing will make the move to the GT2 category in its next race, the Acura Sports Car Challenge at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, on August 6-8. The two-hour, 45-minute race is scheduled to start at 2:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 8. The race will be televised same-day tape-delayed on NBC at 4 p.m. EST.

GT1 Results:
1st and 2nd in LM GT1 were #63  Corvette
(O’Connell/Magnussen/Garcia) and #73 Luc Alphand Aventures private Corvette (Jousse/Maassen/Clairay) and in 3rd place finished the #66 Jetalliance Racing Aston Martin DBR9 driven by Lichtner-Hoyer, Muller and Gruber, but half of the depleted LM GT1 field retired (#68 JLOC Lamborghini Murcielago, #70 Alphand Corvette C6.R and #64 works Corvette C6.R).

The #64 Corvette of Beretta/Gavin/Fassler was retired in the 22nd hour due to a gearbox failure.

The C5-C6 Registry congratulates Johnny O and Corvette Racing on this remarkable achievement!

June 9
2010 Corvette Grand Sport Pricing:

• 2010 Grand Sport Coupe starts at $55,720 including DFC

• 2010 Grand Sport Convertible starts at $59,530 including DFC

Going off the current year pricing, that's $6,205 more than the base Coupe and $5,360 for the base Convertible. Taking into account that we are expecting to see a pricing increase on the base coupe and convertibles, as well as the fact that the Grand Sport takes the place of the Z51 option which costs $1,695 and you are essentially looking at $3,665-4510 upgrade for the new wide-body design, complete with Z06 brakes, tuned suspension and a better 0-60 mph performance of 4.0 vs 4.2.  CLICK HERE FOR Grand Sport Photos and Specs.

 

June 2
Bob Lutz Say's "We Will Continue to Do Corvettes"
In an interview with Fox News today, Mr. Lutz stated the "New GM" will continue to build both Camaro and Corvette.

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June 2
GM Receives Court Authorization To Continue
 Vehicle Protection And Incentive Programs
General Motors Corporation today reported that it has received U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval to continue honoring all vehicle warranty programs and dealer incentive plans. This and other Court orders today enable GM to assure consumers that warranty coverage on GM vehicles will continue without interruption, whether they already own a GM vehicle or intend to buy a new one; that genuine GM parts will be supplied; and that GM-trained Goodwrench specialists will perform all services.

The Court also granted approval for GM to access a new approximately $33.3 billion debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing facility from the U.S. Treasury and the Canadian and Ontario governments. The court authorized GM to use up to $15 billion of the facility on an interim basis pending a final order approving the full facility. This credit facility will be used, among other things, for the company’s normal liquidity requirements, including employee wages, healthcare benefits, supplier payments, and other operating expenses.

GM intends to make payment for goods received and services provided to it on or after the filing date in the normal course of business and in accordance with terms of existing supplier agreements.

In addition, Judge Robert E. Gerber of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York today also granted approval for a number of other first-day motions that GM made as part of its chapter 11 filings to preserve the value of GM and facilitate an expedited sale of assets to the New GM as a healthy business outside of the chapter 11 context. The orders granted by the Court will ensure that the company’s business continues to function without disruption. GM has received authorization to, among other things: 

• Respect our operating and financing agreements with GMAC, supporting continued wholesale financing for dealers and retail financing for customers

• Pay dealers’ open accounts

• Pay essential suppliers and logistics providers for goods and services provided before and after the company's court filings

• Pay all non-U.S. suppliers to GM Corporation and its U.S. subsidiaries.

• Continue pay and benefits for employees and retirees; however, the amount of non-qualified pension for some executive retirees may be affected

• Preserves, on an interim basis, GM’s tax carryforwards, including a substantial amount of foreign tax credits

• Approved, on an interim basis, sale procedures and a hearing date of June 30 for the proposed sale of assets under section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code

Importantly, the Court ordered all banks to honor employee paychecks, including those dated prior to the company’s June 1, 2009 court filing.
 

May 27
Wil Cooksey Involved in Motorcycle Accident
The Registry has just learned former Corvette Plant Manager, and long time friend of the C5-C6 Registry, Wil Cooksey was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident a few days ago.  He apparently underwent seven hours of surgery, and he is going to be alright. 

Liz Cooksey on how the accident happened:
"Wil was riding with Steve Grilli, Jeff Webb and some of the guys who were here for the Corvette Forum.  His steering locked up, so he had to ditch.  His bike was destroyed.  I am not too unhappy about that.  I was always afraid, but I had ridden with him before.  Now, he says that he will never get back on a bike again.  I sure hope not." 

A special "Wil Cooksey" edition 427 Z06 Corvette was named for a very deserving man last April after his retirement from GM in May of 2008. Wil  owns the first off the line. The plant made 504 more of the special Corvettes. Only 427 of them were offered in the U.S. and Canada, with 78 more exported outside North America. The limited edition sports car is an homage to the Stingray Corvette models of the mid-1960s that had 427 engines, according to General Motors. Each car carries a hood badge that is numbered and signed by Cooksey.  Current plant manager Paul Graham said the limited edition Corvette is a tribute to Cooksey.

Wil's wife, Liz stated, "he is home from the hospital". "He will be down and out for quite a little spell.  He did not dislocate any of his replacements but he snapped his thigh and has numerous bruises and bangs.  He was wearing a helmet, and thus survived.  He was lucky and blessed.  Keep him in your prayers."

We will Liz, and we all hope for his speedy recovery.

 

Wil's  Special Edition Z06 Corvette
 

 

May 6
GM's Henderson: Corvette's future is secure, reports Autoweek
The future of the Chevrolet Corvette is secure, General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson says, even has GM dramatically slashes its size and costs.

In an exclusive interview with AutoWeek, Henderson says that not only is the Corvette's current platform undergoing continual development, but the future seventh-generation car, dubbed C7, is also on track.

He would not specify when the C7 Vette would hit showrooms.

Henderson was bullish on Corvette. Not only is he a Corvette enthusiast who drives one, he knows that it contributes to the company's bottom line.

According to GM's top man, "Corvette pays its rent."

The current sixth-generation C6 Corvette has been in production since 2005. The C6 platform used major components from the C5 fifth-generation Corvette, but with substantial upgrades.

AutoWeek reported in October that work on the C7 Vette had been put on an indefinite hold as GM scrambled to cut costs. The talk then was that the C6 platform could be as old as 12 years before the C7 was ready to go.

May 4
2010 CORVETTE ORDER GUIDE ONLINE
May 1, 2009 was the last day you could order a 2009 Corvette. Starting today, all new orders will be 2010 models.  Just as he promised, in Bowling Green, Corvette’s own Marketing Product Manager, Harlan Charles sent out the 2010 Order Guide to dealers today. You can download your copy by Clicking Here!

May 4
1,500,000 CORVETTE IS ON THE WAY !
The Registry has just learned that Corvette number 1,500,000 will be built at the end of May as a 2009 model. The car will be a White Convertible, with a 023 Red/Black interior, and a Black top. Options include the 3LT package, Automatic Transmission, Performance Axle, F55 Magnetic Selective Ride Control, NPP Performance Exhaust, Navigation, and Chrome Wheels.

Corvette number 1 (1953) and Corvette number 1,000,000 (Built July 2, 1992) were both white with a red interior so... follows this one should be the same.

What would REALLY SET THIS CAR APART, would be to have Dave McClellan, Dave Hill, Tom Wallace, and  Tadge Juechter, the Corvette Chief Engineers who are still living, be at the unveiling of this special Corvette to sign the hood, or some special location on the car.

All the members of the C5/C6 Registry would like to congratulate Chevrolet, Corvette, the Bowling Green plant, and all the folks involved with this remarkable achievement !