Allentown Area Corvette Club, Inc. ‘Vetter’s Letter February 2015 President Jeff Mohring 610-392-6898 [email protected] Vice-President Laura Hegyi 610-730-2695 Secretary Carol Jenkins 610-317-9277 Volume 22, Issue 2 From the val Office Hello Corvette Enthusiasts, February marks the beginning of two meetings per month (2nd and 4th Weds.) through November, and signals the beginning of Z06 deliveries to our lucky members. At our next meeting on Wed., Feb. 11th, please bring suggestions of charitable organizations that are near and dear to your hearts. It has been over 5 years since Treasurer Janet Mohring 610-965-8593 we, as a club, discussed whom AACC supports through our fundraising efforts. At this meeting we will compile a list of charities. For each charity, please provide a Membership Marty & Laura Hegyi 610-730-2695 [email protected] description and contact information (mailing address and website). A vote will follow after your suggestions are compiled. Please begin to think of items for our all important Tricky Tray auction at Spring‐ Events John Kostick, Jr. 610-432-7172 Merchandise & Clothing Carol Mickley [email protected] NCM Ambassador Rich Ringhoffer 610-867-6494 Newsletter & Web Editors Kevin & Michelle Minnich 610-530-0923 [email protected] Webmaster Michelle Minnich 610-530-0923 [email protected] Sponsored by: fest. Grocery store gift cards, restaurant gift cards, oil changes, car detailing supplies, wine baskets, and anything else you can think of are welcome. Let us all make this year’s Springfest and Tricky Tray the very best it has ever been. Also, please bring in items for "Support the Troops" for Blair and Valerie Ferguson. The donation box will be located at the entry of the Palm Room at the Blue Monkey during club meetings. Be safe & be well, Jeff Mohring AACC President AACC Meetings @ Blue Monkey The Allentown Area Corvette Club meets at 8:00 p.m. in the Palm Room (upstairs) at the Blue Monkey, 1092‐1094 Hower‐ town Road, North Catasaqua, PA. Full menu and bar service is available. Upcoming Club Meetings 398 Stoke Park Road Bethlehem, PA Feb. 11 & 25 Mar. 11 & 25 Apr. 8 & 22 Page 2 Allentown Area Corvette Club ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 This Month February 2015 11—Club Meeting, Blue Monkey, 8 pm, N. Catasauqua, PA (p.1) 25—Club Meeting, Blue Monkey, 8 pm, N. Catasauqua, PA (p.1) 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 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 27—Men’s Breakfast Club, Location TBD, 9 am (p.3) Upcoming Mar. 01—McCoole’s Red Lion Inn, Noon, Quakertown, PA Mar. 15—Brick Tavern Inn Luncheon, 12:30pm, Quakertown, PA Mar. 22—Allentown St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Post-Party, Allentown, PA Apr. 19—Stroudsmoor Country Inn Buffet, 3-6pm, Stroudsburg, PA Allentown St. Pat’s Parade & Party May 03—AACC Springfest Corvette Show, Center Valley, PA Sun., 22 Mar | David Hornung invites everyone to dust off your Corvettes, tape on some green shamrocks, and join him for the 2015 Allentown St. Sep. 13—AACC Fiberglass & Steel All-Chevy Show, Bethlehem, PA Patrick’s Day Parade. We will again seek individuals willing to escort Lady Oct. 05-11—AACC Mystery Trip America pageant series. Your club officers and Board members will meet soon to set our overall 2015 event calendar. Be sure to check this column for new events as they are announced. Hibernians, and Nancy Weber is trying to get a few beauties from the Miss As usual, Susan Hornung will prepare things at the homestead for the post‐ parade party, to which everyone is invited. A sign‐up sheet is circulating at club meetings in preparation for parade drivers and party goers alike. The staging time and location will be announced closer to the parade, but please let your interest be known so Dave and Susan can make plans. Page 3 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 Strap On Your Bib! AACC is more than Corvettes. It’s about friendships and, of course, food! In order to support restaurants that donate prizes for our Springfest Tricky Tray, we hold luncheons at their establishments. Bonnie Corona arranged for two such lunch events during March. Thinking of You Carol Jenkins (Daughter, illness) Loretta Sandy (Surgery) John Shedlock (Illness) Watch for interest sheets and special menu offerings during If any club members know February. of a member who is in the hospital, has had surgery, Sun., 01 Mar | McCoole’s at the Historic or has lost a loved one, please notify VP Laura Hegyi (610-730-2695, Red Lion Inn, Noon, Quakertown, PA [email protected]) or one of the other www.mccoolesredlioninn.com Board Members. Quakertown, PA Bacon With The Boys www.thebricktaverninn.com AACC’s men are invited to join President Sun., 15 Mar | Brick Tavern Inn, 12:30pm, Jeff Mohring for breakfast the last Friday of each While not a previous Springfest donor, another dining opportunity month. The time is 9am has been arranged by the Cutros: but the location varies Sun., 19 Apr | Mike & Cindy Cutro invite fellow AACC members to join them for the American Harvest Buffet at The Stroudsmoor Country Inn (257 Stroudsmoor Road, Stroudsburg, PA 18360, around the Lehigh Valley. Contact Jeff at 610-392-6298 or [email protected] if you are hungry. www.stroudsmoor.com). They have arranged for a private dining room (from 3:00 – 6:00pm ) along with a dedicated parking area for all Corvettes. PLEASE ARRIVE BY 2:45 PM SO THAT WE CAN PARK Follow our group on THE CORVETTES TOGETHER. The price is $27.95 (plus 6% tax and 18% gratuity) per person. The quality of the food and venue are outstanding. The grounds are lovely for a stroll after dinner. There will be a sign‐up sheet at club meetings or contact Mike Cutro at [email protected] or via cell# 201‐572‐8023. See what you missed on “AAVetteClub” and “EACC” Page 4 Allentown Area Corvette Club ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 Membership Corner February Babies As of AACC’s meeting on January 14th there were: 202 active members 6 potential members Current Potential Members of AACC are: Lisa Dove.................................... Hellertown, PA ........................... ‘82 Cpe Scott & Rosemarie Krantz .......... Northampton, PA....................... ‘87 Cnv Lawrence & Glenice Kurz ........... Stewartsville, NJ........... ‘13 60th 427 Cnv Lou Soto ..................................... Bethlehem, PA ........................... ‘02 Cpe We all look forward to seeing you at upcoming AACC meetings & events! 5 Roy Johnson 6 Karin Benton 8 Peter Peppel 10 Pete Lileck 12 Chuck Sandy 13 Mary Anne Ruch 14 Nancy Jessee Joy Stear In Memory of Brent Peters 17 Randy Apgar Beverly Ann Smith Brent L. Peters, 68 years of Whitehall and Venice, FL, 20 Joann Warmkessel formerly of Orefield, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 24 Thomas Bauer, Jr. 2015 in Venice. He was the husband of Debra (Cunningham) Peters for 27 years last May. Born in Allen‐ town, Brent was the son of the late LeRoy Peters and the late Luella 27 Betsy Goodin Buell Ruch (Zimmerman) Peters Zettlemoyer. Brent was a graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School and Muhlenberg College. He was a career banker, start‐ ing at First National Bank and Merchants Bank, both of Allentown. He was especially proud of his involvement as an original organizer, Chairman, Presi‐ dent and CEO of East Penn Bank in Emmaus. Prior to retiring from banking in 2014, he was a Founder, President and CEO of the Bank of Bird‐In‐Hand, Lancaster County, PA. Baby Salijko Baby Salijko went through surgery on 28‐JAN and everything went Brent was an active member of the community and his involvement in many well. He is having a hard time with organizations showed in all of his interests. His commitment to community the pain which the doctors are service extended to his past leadership roles as Chairman of the Board of trying to find a solution for at Sacred Heart Hospital, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Assoc. of Community such a young age. Bankers, President of the Emmaus Rotary Club, and Chief of Greenawalds Fire Company. Brent also had numerous board positions with organizations Baby Salijko (Gary III) is the 10‐month old son of Faulkner’s Finance man‐ including The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Wildlands Con‐ ager, Gary servancy and Phoebe Ministries. He enjoyed boating, fishing, sporting clay Salijko II. He shooting and his 1961 Corvette. He was a member of Venice Freedom Boat was born with (Continued on page 5) neuroblastoma. Page 5 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 Kingfish Dinner Sun., 25 Jan | New AACC members Randy and Cheryl Beck welcomed 35 guests to their restaurant, Kingfish American Bistro & Wine Bar (Bethlehem, PA), for a relaxing dinner. After some warming drinks at the bar, the group adjourned to the banquet room for a private dinner featuring many fresh seafood options, which were a hit with the crowd. Thanks to the Becks and Mike Cutro for organizing the evening. Barrett-Jackson Nets $293 Million Graham Kozak, AutoWeek.com Sat.‐Sun., 10‐18 Jan | The TV coverage is over and the results are in. Barrett‐Jackson’s Scottsdale Auction set a few records. Total sales were $292.8 million (up from $248.6 million in 2014). 2,532 lots were sold of 2,939 lots offered — an 86‐percent sell‐through rate, compared to last year’s 82 percent. Average prices were up, too: last year, the average lot price was $107,096. This year, it was $115,729. Much of that boost came from the Ron Pratte Collection, which included big‐ticket items like the 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 “Super Snake” and the legendary GM Futurliner Parade of Progress bus. Those two items sold for $5,115,000 and $4,000,000, respectively, with the latter sale benefiting the Armed Forces Foundation. Another top GM seller was the 1954 Pontiac Bon‐ neville Special Motorama Concept at $3,300,000. Brent Peters Image: AutoWeek Continued... (Continued from page 4) Club, Maskenozha Rod and Gun Club, Allentown Area Corvette Club, the Masonic Lodge and the Rajah Shriners. Above all, Brent loved his family and cherished his time with them. Survivors: wife, son, Stephen of Portland, OR, daughters: Amanda Wisell of Ft. Collins, CO, and Alana wife of Toby Douglas of Decatur, GA., sister, Eileen wife of Ron George of Schnecksville, grandson, Keiran Wisell, granddaughter, Chloe Peters, uncle, cousins, niece and nephew. Services were held Friday, January 23, at Keller Funeral Homes, Fogelsville, PA with interment at Fogelsville Union Cemetery. Online Condolences may be offered to the family at www.KellerFuneralHomes.com Contributions: In lieu of flowers contributions in his memory may be made to Sacred Heart Hospital Foundation, 421 Chew St., Allentown, 18102 or to Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew St., Allentown, 18104. Published in The Morning Call on Jan. 18, 2015 Page 6 Allentown Area Corvette Club ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 Think Spring — Think SPRINGFEST!! Marty & Laura Hegyi (‘69, ‘07) It's never too soon to start thinking about spring and our upcoming 14th Annual Springfest Corvette Show at DeSales University on May 3rd. We are again counting on 100% support of all club members to make this show a success. Please complete the registration form on pages 7‐8, mail in your check, and bring your ‘Vette to the show. We need items for our tricky tray auction as well as monetary sponsor and trophy donations. If you own a business or know someone who does, please consider being a sponsor, or asking them to contribute. A sponsorship letter and form are available at club meetings or by contacting us at [email protected]. The sponsor and trophy donations are required by March 15th. Partial proceeds from the show go to our various club charities. In addition, “Day of Show” volunteers are needed to assist in set up / teardown, parking, registration, vote tallying, 50/50 tickets, Tricky Tray, etc. Sign‐up sheets for these tasks will be available starting at our February 25th meeting. Paul Koerner, Certified World Class GM Service Technician, returns as our special guest this year. He will conduct two FREE 1‐hour Technical Seminars and Q&A sessions regarding C6 and C7 Corvettes. Paul will also do a Technical Presentation on the new 2015 Z06. We are predicting it will be sunny and 70 degrees, so please join in, help out and let's have some fun! Thank you for your support and we hope to see you there! Marty & Laura Hegyi AACC Springfest Co‐Chairs Callaway C7 Mark Vaughn (AutoWeek.com) Mon., 05 Jan | Callaway unveiled their C7 Corvette, concentrating on the powertrain since Chevy had already done a great job on the suspension straight out of the factory. Supercharged power in the Callaway Corvette SC627 can be yours for under $80,000 with per‐ formance rivaling the new Z06 (costing up to $100,000). Callaway says the SC627 Corvette will do 0‐60 in 3.4 seconds and the Image: AutoWeek quarter mile in 11.0 at 126 mph. That just about matches the acceleration of the Z06 but with a narrower tire, Callaway points out. Skid pad, slalom speeds and maybe lap times are better in the Z06, but the SC627 is willing to concede some track performance to get the benefits of better daily driveability and a lower price. Build your Callaway: $17,995 SC627 Supercharged Pkg.; $2,890 Sport Exhaust; $3,890 Nine‐Spoke Wheels, Black Chrome (19x9F, 20x10.5R); $395 Carbon Flash Emblem Pkg.; $2,000 NCM Delivery; No Charge Owner Delivery at Callaway Facility; $2,900 Extended Powertrain Contract; $540 Embroidered Car Cover. Allentown Area Corvette Club 14TH ANNUAL SPRINGFEST Judged Corvette Show For information call: Marty Hegyi (610) 730-2846 Laura Hegyi (610) 730-2695 or e-mail us @ [email protected] Sunday, May 3, 2015 – 8:30 am – 3 pm (Rain or Shine) at Pre-Registration - $20 (due by 4/25/15) Registration after 4/25/15 - $25 Registration: 8:30 -10:30 am PARTICIPANTS MUST BE REGISTERED BY 10:30 am DeSales University 2755 Station Ave. Center Valley, PA 18034 WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE OUR SPRINGFEST SHOW SPONSORED BY : Clean-up: 8:30 -11:00 am JUDGING WILL START PROMPTLY @ 11:00 am Awards presented: 3:00 pm Participation Gift to first 100 pre-registered FAULKNER CHEVROLET 298 Stoke Park Rd. Bethlehem, Pa 18017 Sales Tel# 866-457-4666 BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: 3 Awards per Class A-’53-’62 B-’63-‘67 C-’68-‘73 D-’74-’82 E–’84-’96 F-’97-‘04 G-’05-‘08 H-’09-‘13 J-’14-‘15 You have seen Paul @ NCM & Carlisle PAUL KOERNER L-Custom CERTIFIED WORLD CLASS GM SERVICE TECHNICIAN Best of Show Award Faulkner’s Choice Award Will present two FREE 1-Hour Technical Seminars on C6 & C7 CORVETTES K-Modified Maximum of 2 awards per car AACC member’s cars will be judged by nonAACC participants. (7 classes, 2 awards per class) He will also perform a TECHNICAL PRESENTATION ON THE NEW 2015 Z06 Partial proceeds benefit Local Charities VENDORS - DOOR PRIZES 50/50 DRAWING - TRICKY TRAY AUCTION INDOOR FOOD COURT - INDOOR RESTROOMS MUSIC by: DJ BRIAN KEITH www.AllentownCorvetteClub.org AllentownArAllAll AACC SPRINGFEST CORVETTE SHOW DIRECTIONS TO DESALES UNIVERSITY 2755 STATION AVE. CENTER VALLEY, PA 18034 From Points South Take I-476, the Northeast Extension of the PA Tpk, to Exit 32/44 (Quakertown). Turn left onto Rte 663 North toward Quakertown, turn left onto Rte 309 North, and proceed 8 miles to the intersection of Rte 309 and Rte 378. At the intersection bear right and follow Rte 378 North. Make a right on Preston Lane. Make a right onto Landis Mill Road. Make a left onto Station Ave. From Points West Proceed East on I-78 to Rte 309 South (Exit 60). Once on Rte 309, stay in the right lane and use the jug handle to turn left onto Center Valley Parkway. Go approx. 2 miles then make a right on Rte 378 South. Travel approx. 2 miles and make a left on Preston Lane. Make a right onto Landis Mill Road. Make a left onto Station Ave. From Points North Take I-476, the Northeast Extension of the PA Tpk, to Exit 33/56 (Lehigh Valley). Follow Rte 22 East from the interchange exit for 1/8 mile to Rte 309 South (direction of Quakertown). In a few miles Rte 309 joins with I-78 East. Continue south on this combined road until Rte 309 branches off toward the South at Exit 60. Once on Rte 309, stay in the right lane and use the jug handle to turn left onto Center Valley Parkway. Go approx. 2 miles then make a right on Rte 378 South. Travel approx. 2 miles and make a left on Preston Lane. Make a right onto Landis Mill Road. Make a left onto Station Ave. From Points East Follow I-78 West across NJ and into PA to Rte 309 South (Exit 60A). Continue south on Rte 309 for about 3 miles to the intersection of Rte 309 and Rte 378. Turn left onto 378. Go approx. 1 mile and make a right on Preston Lane. Make a right onto Landis Mill Road. Make a left onto Station Ave. NEW CLASS DESCRIPTIONS STREET STOCK (A thru J): Factory stock appearance - 5 or fewer modifications MODIFIED (K): 6 or more modifications such as, but not limited to, chrome, custom wheels, Non-stock paint colors and stripes CUSTOM (L): Custom Paint, Graphics, Interiors, spoilers, skirts, fender flares, Lambo doors, blower, turbo, retro mods, etc… ALL SHOW CAR CLASS ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE VERIFIED BY THE ALLENTOWN AREA CORVETTE CLUB JUDGING COMMITTEE Make checks payable to AACC and mail to: Laura Hegyi, P.O. Box 16, Hellertown, PA 18055. Pre-registration due by 4/25/2015. Name: Address: City: State: Phone: Club Affiliation: E-Mail Address:______ Year ___ _ ____ _____ Model (coupe, convertible, Z06, GS, etc.) _____ Circle your Class (see information above) Zip Code: Street Stock _________________ ___ Modified ______Color __ _________ Custom I understand the Allentown Area Corvette Club, Faulkner Chevrolet-Cadillac, and/or DeSales University are not responsible for loss or injury to me or my property anytime during this event. I expressly release the promoters from any liability for such loss or injury. I also agree to provide and pay my own insurance. Participants recognize that the judging and awards are based on the criteria set by the Allentown Area Corvette Club and shall be the official determination to winners of any awards. Alcohol is strictly prohibited on the grounds during the event. By signature below, I agree to these terms. Signature: Page 9 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 2015 Z06 Driving Impressions Brent Davis, CorvetteOnline.com Thu., 15 Jan | Those of us that relish in the automotive world know that there rarely seems to be a shortage of news items, press releases, or spy shots of the latest and greatest vehicles to hit the streets and test tracks. While the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is not exactly the newest item in automobiles, it certainly is one of the best. This past week, Chevrolet invited Corvette Online out to the beautiful grounds of the Spring Mountain Motor Ranch in Pahrump, NV to get a taste of what the new supercar is really all about. Image: CorvetteOnline.com The attending Corvette Online team was able to speak at length with many of the people responsible for helping create the new Corvette, to further educate us on the technology that allows this car to do what it does so well. Everyone from Chevrolet was more then happy to help and answer any questions we had, except for future secrets of course, which we tried. Z06 and Z07 For those not up to speed on the specs of the new Z06, we can give you a brief summary, at least of the parts that make it perform. The Z06 accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in a thumping 2.95‐seconds when equipped with Chevy’s newest eight‐speed automatic, 8L90 paddle‐shifted transmission. For those that opt for the more traditional manual gearbox, you can expect a slightly slower time of 3.2‐seconds. The quarter‐mile is achieved in 10.95‐seconds again with the automatic, beating the manual by a quarter of a second. However, the same top speed is achieved with either gearbox, topping out at 127‐mph. When compared to the standard Z06, the Z07 package simply put is a road racer’s dream. The package includes Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and an aerodynamics package that includes side skirts and front and rear diffusers with removable canards in the front and an adjustable rear spoiler sitting just behind the rear deck lid. Thanks to a combination of theses technologies, a Z07 equipped car will come to a complete stop from 60 mph in 99.6‐ feet and pull a stomach wrenching 1.2 g of lateral acceleration on the skid pad. Track Attack As far as time behind the wheel is concerned, we were given two separate opportunities. The first was to put about a dozen laps on a Z06 equipped with the Z07 package. A few instructors from the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School took the cars out to warm everything up (fluids, tires, brakes, etc.) and we were glad they did as the tempera‐ ture was still pretty cool at around 50‐degrees in the desert that morning. (Continued on page 10) Allentown Area Corvette Club Page 10 ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 Z06 Impressions Continued... (Continued from page 9) We were led around by an instructor for a couple laps to get an idea of the track layout and were given some instruc‐ tions about braking points and gear selection. Undoubtedly they were keeping it mellow in an effort to keep all of these beautiful cars on the track. None the less [sic], it was still great to get behind the wheel of the 2015 Z06 and feel that even at a 50 [sic] or 60‐percent pace it still out performs the majority of the cars on the road. For some folks, racing begins and ends within a quarter‐mile. While we can certainly appreciate all forms of mo‐ torsports, there are those of us at Corvette Online that prefer a race track with a few more bends and curves in it. While the Z06 is definitely no slouch at the strip, it really shines on the road course especially with all of the Z07 en‐ hancements. The 650 lb‐ft of torque and 650 hp were first noticeable when we hit the back straight where at one point we broke 130 mph. Luckily, there were four carbon ceramic brakes waiting to bring this beast down to a reasonable cornering speed, and they did so very quickly. The amount of negative acceleration generated by standing on the pedal was literally breath taking as you compress your ribcage into the safety harness. Surprisingly, the feel of the pedal just never changed. There seemed to be no thermal loss or fade which instilled confidence that the braking force would always be there when you need it. The new Z06 weighs in at 3,524‐pounds, not exactly a featherweight, especially considering you can find other sports cars well below the 3,000‐pound mark at the track. That being said, you simply don’t feel it. The car handles so well and is so perfectly balanced, we never once got the feeling that the Vette was falling into corners and subsequently trying to gather itself back up as you exit a corner. The car handles remarkably, so long as you don’t upset the vehicle by your own mistakes or over power it out of the corners, [sic] it feels flawless. Thanks to the massive Michelin tires measuring at 285/30ZR19 in the front and 335/25ZR20 in the rear, the car has ex‐ ceptional grip. The tires really stuck well, especially considering how cold the track was for those of us that ran in the morning media session. In speaking with some of the guys from Chevrolet, there is even more involved aerodynami‐ cally then you could imagine. To give you a couple examples, the Z06 is able to flow more air through the front intake with the grill installed than with it simply removed. Considering the lack of advanced degrees in physics, we don’t ex‐ actly know why, but it’s impressive none the less [sic]. To remove all of this air, the heat exchanger in the Z06’s hood contains a row of louvers. While you wouldn’t realize looking at it in passing, each individual louver is sitting at a slightly different angle, optimizing the amount of hot air removed from the engine compartment. Again the Z07 package really shines when it comes to road racing, thanks to the increase in aerodynamics. While they (Continued on page 11) Page 11 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 Z06 Impressions Continued... (Continued from page 10) don’t come in to play much with the tighter corners, you could certainly feel how settled the car was as you pushed past the 100 mph mark. The rear wicker bridge undoubtedly was contributing with how calm the rear end felt, espe‐ cially under high‐speed braking. The Performance Traction Management (PTM) system offers five different settings for a variety of track conditions and drivers. Once you are inside of “Track Mode” you have five settings to choose from, all of which intervene by means of torque reduction and brake application at varying levels. This enables a driver new to performance driving to start in the most conservative setting, and move up as their skills progress, ultimately ending up at the final setting with no computer intervention. Considering Chevrolet’s generosity in allowing us to drive these cars on a track, we decided to keep the PTM on the lower settings, and decided to keep the drive relatively mellow. However, we were still able to feel the majority of what the amazing new Z06 has to offer for the track. We would absolutely love the opportunity to spend some quality time behind the wheel and to see just how much of a supercar Chevrolet has really created. Touring Time The second part of the driving experience didn’t require a helmet or a race track. We were given separate Z06s configured with a range of trim levels, transmissions, and carbon fiber aesthetics. We then went for a beautiful drive through the Nevada and California deserts, bordering the infa‐ mous Death Valley, which added up to around a 90‐mile loop. Chevrolet’s goal for this portion of the exercise was that we would see an additional side of the Z06 off the road course. Driving the Z06 on public roads really drove home the point that the Z06 wasn’t just built to tear up the track, but it can also be well mannered enough to get to and from the track, take downtown for a Saturday night out, and drive to work on Friday. The first feature we toyed with, [sic] was the magnetic ride control. Since you can adjust this on the fly, it is very easy to feel the difference as you move the selection knob back and forth. The road we were driving on certainly had its rough sections which were picture perfect for testing. With “Tour Mode” selected, the car is still ridged [sic] enough to be a sports car, but not unpleasant by any means. The two‐hours we spent in the car were very comfortable and we definitely could have happily continued driving through the rough, sun‐beaten, desert roads. (Continued on page 12) Allentown Area Corvette Club Page 12 ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 Z06 Impressions Continued... (Continued from page 11) Switching the PTM knob into one of the five track modes however, makes for a different experience altogether. The car instantly becomes ridged [sic] and responsive, letting you know just how smooth or rough of a road surface you are on. That being said, we wouldn’t have it any other way. This type of rigidity and responsiveness is exactly what you want for track driving, and we absolutely loved it. Considering we were now on the street, with many miles ahead, it wasn’t long before we reached down, restoring the comfort of our Z06. Two other features we thought were pretty neat, was [sic] that the steering and exhaust are also adjustable. The sys‐ tem defaults to aligning exhaust and noise choices with the PTM. You can however go into the settings with the touch‐ sensitive LCD and customize your settings. Being that we can seldom leave well‐enough alone, we just had to play with the settings. Both the exhaust and steering are adjustable as you are driving just like the magnetic ride control system, so you can instantly compare any differences. The exhaust has a “Stealth Mode” which does a remarkable job at quieting the mas‐ sive LT4. It still makes a decent exhaust note under full‐throttle acceleration, but it’s nearly silent while cruising at high‐ way speeds. Perhaps we were not able to fully appreciate the “Track Mode” exhaust notes when on the track thanks to our hel‐ mets, but it [sic] is ferocious. We were pleasantly surprised with both the volume level and sound quality inside the cockpit during full‐throttle acceleration on the highway. The steering is adjustable by ratio, giving the driver a more forgiving vehicle on the road, making it comfortable to drive and a little more passive. The wheel then transforms into a precision tool for the track allowing corner steering angles without getting crossed up and having to reposition your hands, so long as you stay on your line, that is. So is the Z06 still a street car? Yes, it can be as much of a street car as it’s [sic] more tamely outfitted cousin, the Sting‐ ray, whenever you want or need it to [sic]. True, it can only transport two adults, but it still has ample cargo area for trips to the grocery or hardware store, or even a few duffle bags for weekend trips – golf anyone? That being said, we think owners will truly be doing both the car and themselves an immense disservice if they don’t make time to run their Z06 on the track, especially if equipped with the incredible Z07 package. With these added fea‐ tures, this car is easily in the top one‐percent of performance cars on the road today, yet maintains a laundry list of luxuries that are often stripped away in the quest for more speed and agility. Since the day we drove these cars on the track at Spring Mountain, when asked to describe the new Z06 in one sen‐ tence, we simply respond, “a luxurious, street legal road race car.” Page 13 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 Rolex 24 GTLM Win for Corvette C7.R CorvetteRacing.com Sun., 25 Jan | Corvette Racing returned to Victory Lane for the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Sunday, scoring a hard‐earned GT Le Mans class victory in the opening race of the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Ryan Briscoe won in their No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R in Corvette Racing's second race back at Day‐ tona since 2001. GTLM pole‐sitter Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Simon Pagenaud placed third in class following a strong run. Garcia crossed the finish line by 0.478 seconds. The winning trio completed 725 laps – 2,581 miles ‐ for the team's sec‐ ond Rolex 24 victory. Corvette Racing captured a Rolex 24 overall win 14 years ago but didn't race at Daytona again until last season in the first race for the TUDOR Championship as well as the Corvette C7.R. "This is my second 24‐Hour race with this team," said Mark Reuss, GM Executive VP of Global Product Development, Purchasing & Supply Chain. "To come here to see the Z06 in its second year win at Daytona is special. It has been a long time since this team has won at Daytona. Everybody on this team worked so hard and it shows. They never gave up, and there were a couple of things that went wrong as they always do in a 24‐hour race. The car and the drivers and the team, they worked so hard, and it all came together. The harder you work, the luckier you get. So here today with the C7.R, just so proud." Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President Performance Vehicles and Motorsports added: "To have both of the Corvette C7.R teams on the GTLM podium for the Rolex 24 Hour is a testament to the Never Give Up attitude of the crew and drivers. Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Simon Pagenaud continually battled back from adversity to get a podium finish. "It is a special day to take this victory in front of our Chevrolet and Corvette owners," Campbell added. "The support from our guests in the Corvette Corral at Daytona and Chevrolet fans around the world is a huge reason for today's suc‐ cess." The two Corvette C7.Rs were the class of the field throughout the race. For much of it, the GTLM fight resembled a 24‐ hour sprint race. The rate attrition was extremely high with nearly every car in the class experiencing at least a moder‐ ate amount of damage or mechanical trouble. The only one that stayed out of significant trouble was the class‐winning Corvette. The Garcia‐Magnussen‐Briscoe trio led more than 360 GTLM laps and took the lead for good with 90 minutes left when the then‐class leader experienced trouble in the pitlane. The No. 3 Corvette responded shortly thereafter with a per‐ fect stop for tires and fuel to increase its lead. Garcia ‐ as he, Magnussen and Briscoe had been throughout ‐ was pre‐ cise and clean in the final run to the checkered flag. The crew of the No. 4 Corvette had to repair front and front‐side components and lost four laps in the meantime. Nev‐ ertheless, the result was enough to send both Corvette C7.Rs to the TUDOR Championship podium for the first time since last April's Long Beach round. Sunday's results placed both Corvette Racing entries in the top two positions of the Tequila Patrón Endurance Chal‐ lenge in GTLM. The competition is made up of the four long‐distance events on the TUDOR Championship. Page 14 Allentown Area Corvette Club ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 NEW 2015 Daytona Sunrise Orange Stingray 3LT Coupe, Jet Black leatherwrapped int., 6.2-L (455HP), 8-spd. AT w/Paddle shift, MyLink/Nav, HUD, Performance Data Recorder, Heated & cooled seats, ZF1 Appearance Pkg., Black machined wheels, Multi-mode performance exhaust, Transparent roof panel, Underhood liner with crossed flag logo, Front premium carpet mats, Carbon Flash badges, Carbon Flash spoiler and outside mirrors, MSRP $72,990 ..........................................................See Sandi! USED 2012 Arctic White Z06 Coupe, Ebony & Red Int, 1475 miles, 7.0-L 505HP, 6spd. Manual, 1LZ trim, AM/FM/CD (Stock#0264) $61,950 List ....................See Sandi! Be sure to get a deal on your luxury fix! Faulkner is offering BLOWOUT PRICING on all remaining 2014 Cadillac XTS, ATS and CTS models in stock! AACC members receive 10% off GM Service, Parts and Accessories. See Sandy about our vehicle discounts. Present your membership card to enjoy the savings! Faulkner Chevrolet Cadillac 298 Stoke Park Road Bethlehem, PA 18017 Local: (610) 867-4177 Sales: (85) 535-9080 Service: (855) 450-0639 Sandi Kirby Sales Manager Direct: (610) 849-1150 [email protected] ALL CORVETTES purchased from Faulkner Chevy include a free 1-year AACC membership! Page 15 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 NCM News & Events Engine Build Program Offered for Z06 08 Jan | Starting March 2015, Corvette Z06 customers will be able to assemble the 650‐hp supercharged LT4 engine for their cars at the new Performance Build Center inside the Bowling Green Assembly Plant. The Engine Build Experience is selected with order code PBC and is offered on all Z06 trim levels. The $5,000 package includes a full day with a Performance Build Center engine assembly technician who instructs and oversees the build, a personalized en‐ gine plaque identifying the owner/builder and the date of the engine build, and profes‐ sional photography of the experience. The National Corvette Museum handles the concierge services for the customer, fol‐ lowing up on the scheduled build date and handling logistics on the day of the build. Travel and lodging costs are the responsibility of the customer. Museum Reports Highest Attendance in History 15 Jan | 2014 was a record year at the Museum with 251,258 visitors, thanks to the 20th Anniversary Celebration, Grand Opening of the Motorsports Park, and the Sinkhole. Our 2nd highest attendance was in 1999 with 200,900 guests. The GM Corvette Assembly Plant also reported an increase in visitors, welcoming 55,785 for the year. Their previous recorded high was in 2006 with 45,845. The Museum attendance for 2014 represents a 67% increase over 2013's atten‐ dance. Sinkhole is Filled, Other Work Continues 15 Jan | With the exception of a small area surrounding our HVAC duct, the filling of the sink‐ hole is complete. The SMD team used "manufactured sand" (a crushed limestone) to fill the hole, and with the aid of two remote controlled Bobcats, the sand was spread and compacted throughout the process. It took 10 days to fill it. You can watch last week's video update on that process online. This week, the team has been working to remove the remaining existing concrete slab floor in the Skydome. Tune in to our YouTube channel for an update! NCM Bash Registration Open 22 Jan | April 23‐25 marks the start of event season at the Museum. This year's Bash offers activities at both the Mu‐ seum and Motorsports Park, plus the opportunity to see the 2016 Corvette and hear from the engineers and designers as to what's new with the latest model. Corvette Racing's Tommy Milner, Doug Fehan and Dan Binks will be here for a (Continued on page 16) Page 16 Allentown Area Corvette Club ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 NCM News & Events (Continued from page 15) seminar and autographs. Jim Mero will share Corvette Nurburgring stats (and stories of what its like to test the car), and Dave Wickman of GM Proving Grounds will also present. Guided road tours, celebrity choice car shows, Ladies' Oasis, Garage Party with the women of GM, C4/C5/C6/C7 Spe‐ cialist Paul Koerner, Golf with GM, Meet & Greet BBQ, Parade Laps, Autocross, Banquet with Dueling Pianos and more round out this great event. Check out the complete agenda and register online at www.corvettemuseum.org/ registration/bash/info.shtml. 2015 Corvette Hall of Fame Inductees Announced 29 Jan | The National Corvette Museum has announced the following inductees to be recognized as part of the 18th Annual Corvette Hall of Fame Ceremony in 2015: Herb Fishel in the category of Racing; Rick Hendrick in the category of Enthusiast; and Russ McLean in the category of GM/Chevrolet. These three individuals will be recognized with the high‐ est honor bestowed by the Museum for their contributions to the past, present and future of Corvette. The 2015 Corvette Hall of Fame recipients will be inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame during a ceremony and ban‐ quet on Friday, September 4, 2015. Their induction will take place as part of the Museum’s 21st Anniversary Celebra‐ tion September 3‐5, 2015. The National Corvette Museum established the Corvette Hall of Fame in 1998 to confer the highest honor and recogni‐ tion upon the most influential individuals in the history of the Corvette. The award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to 2015 Events their respective fields, each having reached the highest level of accom‐ NCM HPDE ........................... Apr 23‐24 plishment. Inductees must also reflect the highest standards of integrity NCM Bash ............................ Apr 23‐25 and character to positively enhance the prestige of the Corvette and the MiM Tail of the Dragon Tour National Corvette Museum. ........................................ Apr 26‐29 Find more NCM news online at www.CorvetteMuseum.com or call 1.800.53.VETTE(538.3883). National Corvette Museum, 350 Corvette Drive, Bowling Green, KY 42101. © National Corvette Museum 2015 C4 Gathering.......................May 14‐16 MiM LeMans Tour ................Jun 11‐21 NCM Cruise to Greece/Italy ..Jun 20‐27 VIR HPDE...............................Jun 29‐30 NCM HPDE ............................... Sep 3‐4 21st Anniversary Celebration . Sep 3–5 Current NCM Raffles MiM Boots, Fun & Fast ....... Sep 14‐19 Crystal Red Cpe | 8spd AT, ZF1, 2LT, 2015 tix @ $100 ......................2/12 MiM 1‐Lap of KY Tour ............. Oct TBD 2 Cruises (Greece/Italy) | June 20‐July 4, 1000 tix @ $50 .................2/19 Vets 'n Vettes ..........................Nov 5‐7 Arctic White Z06 Cpe | 7spd MT, 2LZ, 1000 tix @ $300 ....................2/26 NCM HPDE ......................... Nov 14‐15 Page 17 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 22, Iss. 2 | February 2015 Corvette Classifieds If you have something Corvette-related to sell, contact the newsletter editors to run a free ad. We will make all efforts to run your ad until the item sells. Contact Kevin & Michelle Minnich at [email protected] or call 610-530-0923. Neither Allentown Area Corvette Club nor the Newsletter Editor(s) are responsible for ad content or for any exchanges as a result of ads published. 1965 Convertible — Maroon/Maroon int., black soft top, numbers-matching, L-79 327/350, 4-spd., whitewall tires, knock-offs, teak wheel, power antenna, AM/FM, aftermarket A/C. PA inspected + alignment. Runs great. Stress cracks in body. ‘67 wheels mounted, originals included. 92,000 miles. Asking $49,900. (Harry, 610-216-0596) AACC Car!! 1978 Anniversary Coupe — 25th, 2-tone Silver, Red leather int., AT, A/C, Alloy Wheels, AM/FM stereo w/ 8-track, PB, PS, PW, Tilt/Tele. All original, everything works great! Suspension redone 1999, new seats in 2013, brand new carpet. 63,212 miles. Garage kept, 3-owner. (Dennis, 215-679-2719, [email protected]) AACC Car!! 1986 Coupe — Black/Red int., AT, AM/FM/Cass., Good condition. 126,000 miles. $6,500. (Frank, 610-849-2470, [email protected]) 1996 Collector’s Edition Coupe — LT-4, 6-speed, Preferred Equipment Group (electronic AC, Bose audio, 6-way power Driver’s Seat), Selective Real Time Damping, Traction Control, ABS, blue removable roof panel, 5200 miles. $28,995 negotiable. (Alan; H: 908-479-6930, C: 908-303-3083) 1998 Convertible — Silver exterior / Black interior / Black top, AT, Non-smoker, 10 disc CD changer, Brushed wheels, New tires ALL ORIGINAL, Like New w/ 20,800 miles. $24,000 Firm. (Greg, 610-509-3276) 2000 Convertible — Light Pewter / Black interior / Black top, 6-spd, Active Handling and Ride Control. 6,500 miles & All Original! (Joe; H: 610-366-8842, C: 610-762-8860) AACC Car!! 2013 60th Anniversary 427 Convertible — Arctic White, Blue Diamond, 7.0L 505HP, 6-spd Man., 1SC Pkg., Carbon Fiber Pkg., 60th Anniv. Design & Stripe Pkgs., Power Top, NAV/CD, 7481 miles, 1 of 837, KBB: $68,805. Asking $62,995. (Len, 610-923-7534). Black Leather Jacket with red accent piping — Lambskin, Size L, “Corvette” lettering and crossed flags logo on back and left front chest, C1/C2 flags on both sleeves, Like New, Not worn in 5 years, climate controlled storage, Originally $399, asking $200 OBO. (Marty, 610 730-2846 or [email protected]) Garage Space — Single-car space with electric opener and AC power (for battery charger). Near Dieruff High School, Allentown, PA. Price negotiable. (Joy, 610-433-1323) Holley 750 Carburetor — Single pump, dual feed, electronic choke, shiny finish, like new, used less than 100 miles on a C2. Asking $325. (Gary, 610-767-3605) Old Radios Repaired — Analog only, not digital. Specializing in OEM radios from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Cost is $125.00 + parts. If I can’t fix it, there is no charge! (Tom Himmelsbach, 610-751-5314) A L L E N T O W N A R E A C O R V E T T E C L U B , I N C . P.O. Box 90896 Allentown, PA 18109 Phone: 610-530-0923 Fax: 610-849-1342 [email protected] 298 STOKE PARK ROAD BETHLEHEM, PA 18017 www.FaulknerMotors.com Sales (877) 260-1080 Service (877) 625-6238 Visit us on the web at www.AllentownCorvetteClub.org 1092-1094 Howertown Road North Catasauqua, PA www.bluemonkeysports.com
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