Corvette Forum

The Top 10 Most Stolen Corvettes By Year

2012-05-15T13:50:50Z

So here�s a fact for Corvette trivia fans: In the last 30 years, which model year of Corvette has been reported stolen more than any other? If you answered the 1984 Corvette, then give yourself a hand.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau has looked a thefts of Corvettes from 1981-2011 and issued their report to the insurance industry. Over the last 30 years, 90,427 Corvettes were reported stolen in the United States and Puerto Rico with the 1984 model year leading the way with 8,554 thefts.

The NICB�s report tallied thefts of Corvettes that spanned across the 6 generations of the sports car�s 58 years from the 1953 Corvette through the 2011 models. A total of 134,731 Corvettes were identified as stolen in the period, with 1,526,747 total Corvettes produced during the car�s production lifecycle.

Because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration standardized the Vehicle Identification numbers in 1981, the NCIB disclaims the pre-1981 reports �due to the due to the inconsistency in reporting protocols and VIN systems�. Consequently, only 1981 and later data was used to produce this report, of which 90,427 Corvettes were reported stolen.

The most popular Corvette among thieves was also the most popular among consumers as well. During the extended production run of the 1984 Corvette which saw the introduction of the new C4 generation, a total of 51,547 Corvettes were produced. Thefts of the �84 Vette totaled 8,554 which makes up 9.4% of the total thefts reported. According to the report, nearly 17% of all 1984 Corvettes were reported stolen.

The top ten model years stolen account for 55,132 or 61% of thefts between 1981-2011.

The report also delves into geographical locations with California leading the way for Corvette thefts with 14,002 reports or a little over 15%. The top 10 states for Corvette thefts total 63,409 or about 70% of the total.

Here are the top 10 Model Year Corvettes reported stolen:

10 Most Stolen Model Years 1981-2011
Rank	Model Year Most Stolen	Total Number of Thefts
1	1984	8,554
2	1981	8,262
3	1979	6,399
4	1985	6,348
5	1980	6,331
6	1982	4,565
7	1978	4,129
8	1977	3,983
9	1986	3,525
10	1976	3,036
	TOTAL	55,132

Here are the top 10 states where Corvette thefts occur:

Top 10 Theft States 1981-2011
Rank	State	Total Thefts
1	California	14,002
2	Florida	8,731
3	Texas	8,198
4	New York	7,926
5	Michigan	5,467
6	New Jersey	5,287
7	Illinois	4,092
8	Massachusetts	3,821
9	Ohio	3,078
10	Missouri	2,807
	TOTAL	63,409

The complete Corvette theft data tables can be downloaded here.

The NICB went to the National Corvette Museum where they spoke with our friend Adam Boca who heads the museum�s collector car insurance program. Adam gives some great tips for insuring your Corvette and shares the story of the man whose 1965 Corvette was stolen while he went in a Nashville bar in 1970. After 39 years, police recovered the vehicle and it was returned to the grateful owner.

The NICB urges motorists to follow its layered approach to auto theft prevention. The �Layered Approach� includes using your common sense, uses of warning and immobilizing devices as well as GPS tracking devices. By employing these simple, low-cost suggestions, people can make their vehicles less attractive to thieves.

Does your car make the list? Tell us what you think in the forums!

1954 Hot Rod Corvette Gets a New Lease on Life

2012-05-14T14:51:25Z

Content provided by CorvetteBlogger.com

To paraphrase country singer George Jones, this is one old Corvette that's not ready for a rockin' chair.

John Muller of Arizona always liked the way first generation Corvettes looked, but motoring down the highway in the 1955 he once owned wasn't the ultimate driving experience.

Then he found a 1954 Corvette on eBay that he called "nearly a basket case."

By the time he got through with a two-year project at Hot Rod Express in Blue Springs, however, it was a different story. Hidden under that classic body now are a 5.7-liter, Corvette LS1 engine and a six-speed transmission, along with new brakes and suspension.

Unfortunately, one of his friends drove the car into an old oak tree a few years later, and it was time for another restoration, this time at Carriage and Motor Works in Kansas City, Kan.

Workers there completely took the car apart and repaired or replaced just about every body panel. In all, the work took about 1,700 hours and included a period-correct metallic blue paint on top of a fawn colored leather interior.

From the outside, clues are few that this is a super resto-mod, other than magnesium wheels and a lowered body. Under the hood, the original six-cylinder has given way to a late-model V-8.

Tell us what you think of this hot rod in the forums!

Corvette Racing Reigns in American Le Mans Series Monterey with One-Two Finish

2012-05-14T00:00:04Z

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Photo Credit: Drew Phillips / AOL

Gavin and Milner Score Consecutive GT Victories; Magnussen and Garcia Take Second in Six-Hour Race

MONTEREY, Calif., May 12, 2012 Corvette Racing broke its victory drought at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in convincing fashion today, sweeping the fiercely competitive GT class with a one-two finish in the six-hour American Le Mans Series Monterey. It was the team�s first victory at the central California circuit since a win in the GT1 class in 2008, and its first one-two finish since moving to the GT class in 2009.

Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner scored their second straight victory in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R by a 3.45-second margin over their teammates Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia in the sister No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R. The winning Corvette drivers completed 232 laps after rebounding from a troubled pit stop that dropped them to seventh place at the midpoint of the race.

Today�s win was the 36th career ALMS victory for Gavin, and the second for Milner after the pair won one month ago in the streets of Long Beach. The victory vaulted Gavin and Milner into first place in the GT driver standings and gave Chevrolet the lead in the manufacturers championship after three of 10 rounds. Corvette Racing has now notched 83 class wins and 55 one-two finishes.

�We had a lot of ups and downs today, but ended up with a great result,� Gavin said. �The Corvette C6.R car was spectacular and Corvette Racing did a brilliant job. We were all the way back to seventh at one point, so it took great pit stops and a fantastic setup to pull us back to first.�

�It was just a crazy day, and winning feels really good,� Milner said. �Our Corvette was phenomenal. We had one hiccup in pit lane, but this Corvette Racing team never gives up. We fought back and Oliver did an amazing job in his final stint. Just a great day for Corvette Racing!�

Gavin made the winning pass with one hour to go, taking the lead from Porsche driver Wolf Henzler. �I knew that he was strong and I needed to get it done and make it stick as soon as possible,� Gavin reported. �I got just enough inside of him and he gave me just enough road. We had a bit of a rub in the last turn; Wolf�s hard but fair.�

Magnussen put on a show in the final hour, moving from fifth to second with a series of power plays. The Dane passed a Porsche and a BMW in a single move on the front straight to take second, but subsequently lost the position to the No. 55 BMW. With 15 minutes to go, Magnussen regained the runner-up spot by following a prototype through on the inside line in the Andretti Hairpin.

�I knew it was an opportunity for something to happen,� Magnussen said. �The BMW got a little sideways, and I could see the P-car starting to pass on the inside. I was going to try to follow the P2, but he braked early and took all the air off my front end. I locked up the front brakes and kind of pushed him past the BMW.�

Antonio Garcia drove the middle stint in the No. 3 Corvette C6.R, taking the lead shortly before the four-hour mark. �It was a very hard race, which is why GT racing in ALMS is the best in the world,� Garcia said. �A six-hour race and in the end it comes down to hundredths of a second. I�m very happy for Corvette for its first one-two of the season. We were very solid all the way through, and we just need to keep digging. The next stop is Le Mans, and that is where we need to do another one-two!�

Today�s victory at Laguna Seca marked a change of fortune for Corvette Racing, which has struggled at times to come to grips with the roller-coaster 2.238-mile, 11-turn circuit.

�Last year, Laguna was probably our toughest event,� noted Engineering Director Doug Louth. �Our cars have changed a great deal from 2011, but the biggest difference this weekend was the 2012 Michelin tires and the work that engineers Chuck Houghton and Kyle Millay did to arrive at the baseline setup for this event. This is always a difficult track to keep a handle on through changing conditions, and any year that you have good cars every session and throughout the race is remarkable.�

Corvette Racing�s focus now shifts to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the crown jewel of endurance racing.

�We have a long month of June coming up, and Le Mans is a very different beast,� Milner observed. �I�m looking forward to going back and driving down the Mulsanne Straight.�

Corvette Racing�s next event is the Test Day in Le Mans, France, on June 3, followed by the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16-17.

American Le Mans Series Monterey GT Results (Top 10)
Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Laps

4 Gavin/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 232
3 Magnussen/Garcia, Corvette C6.R, 232
55 J. Mueller/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3, 232
56 D. Mueller/Hand, BMW E92 M3, 232
01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari 458 Italia, 232
45 Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 232
17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 232
007 Fernandez/Turner/Mucke, Aston Martin Vantage, 230
44 Neiman/Holzer, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 230
48 Miller/Maassen, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 229

Go get 'em Jake! Want to talk about the race? Join the discussion in the forums!

What's New This Week: May 11th Press Release Roundup

2012-05-11T23:44:33Z

by John Coyle

Corvette Forum

Sad news to end the week. Carroll Shelby died in Dallas yesterday after a long illness. He was 89.

Over the course of his life, the brash Texan had been a chicken farmer, test pilot and factory race driver for Allard, Maserati and Aston Martin. But he'll be remembered best as an automotive designer. Few cars are as imitated as his first creation, the Shelby Cobra, and his ferocious Mustangs--like the 662hp GT500--continue to deliver earthshaking performance.

The world is a little less bad ass today. Godspeed Mr. Shelby, and thanks for everything. Here's what else happened this week:

* Whether you're looking for more power or better fuel economy, aftermarket tuners can be your best friend, and Edge Products makes some of the best in the business. If you have a Ford Truck, you're going to want to check out the new CS and CTS tuners. Edge Products

* When I'm not driving my car, I spend a lot of time on my bicycle. Why? Because I like to eat, and if I didn't do at least 50 miles a week I'd weigh 300lbs. So I thought it was cool that Optima batteries has stepped up to sponsor the Build-a-Bike program, which helps underprivileged kids put together their own wheels. Optima

* Heather Peters thought that Honda misled her when it came to the mileage she could expect to get out of her Honda Civic, and while she initially, Honda prevailed on appeal. So if you want to fight a car company, class action is the way to go. MPGFraud

* If you spend any time off road, you know how important it is to keep your undercarriage away from all the sharp bits which constantly threaten to ruin your day. California company Trail Gear has just redesigned its offering for the Wrangler and in addition to the improvements, its dropped the price. Trail-Gear

* Sure, your baby might roll up in a brand new Cadillac, but they might have gotten a better deal than you thought. The General just released the sticker on the new ATS, and it's pretty reasonable. GM

Indiana Teen Crashes Mom's C4 Corvette

2012-05-09T05:26:12Z

Content provided by CorvetteBlogger

It could have been much worse, but let�s hope a 16-year-old�s joyride in his mom�s 1996 Corvette over the weekend was worth the heap of trouble he�s in now.

Seems the teenager took the sports car without his mom�s approval and wound up totaling the vehicle and ending up at the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

�(The Corvette) was her pride and joy,� Andrews, Indiana Town Marshal Van Juillerat told WANE TV. �When I spoke with the mother, she calmed down a little bit. And they understand they�re fortunate that they still have a son to deal with.�

Apparently, the boy secretly took the car early Sunday morning and crashed into a utility pole on Huntington County Road 200 North.

Juillerat said the teen was apparently following behind a friend in another car and tried to pass him but then lost control when he swerved to miss another car.

Oh, and did we mention that the boy didn�t have a driver�s license?

He�s been charged with reckless driving and driving without a license. No doubt now he won�t be getting that license for a while, and can you imagine his insurance rates?

See what members are saying in the forums!

American Le Mans Heats Up as the Series Heads to Laguna Seca

2012-05-08T17:38:41Z

by John Coyle

Corvette Forum

Even with a damaged car�most of the race was run without a hood�Corvette Racing drivers Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin were able to pull out a victory at the demolition derby that was the Streets of Long Beach. And while the team is fresh off a win and seems to have found a groove, this weekend's race at Laguna Seca still looms over the hopes for a GT Class championship.

Coming into the six-hour endurance race at the legendary California circuit, Chevrolet and BMW each have 40 points in the battle for the manufacturer's championship�and recent history doesn't bode well for Corvette Racing at the home of the famed corkscrew. Because while the lessons learned at Laguna Seca were crucial for to the team's victory at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans, the drivers of the Velocity Yellow C6.R haven't stood on the podium there since the 2008 season. With 22 championship points on the line, pressure will be on Milner and Gavin to deliver more than just a shakedown for the contest in France.

Another factor which could complicate Corvette Racing's chances is the return of one of its arch rivals�the Viper GTS-R. While a factory-backed team hasn't been on the grid since the 2000 season, the Snake casts a large shadow. Vipers took one-two finishes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1998 to 2000, finished first in class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2000, and won back-to-back titles during the 1999 and 2000 American Le Mans seasons. So while the current race car might be untested under racing conditions, this highlight reel illustrates how foolish it'd be to underestimate the SRT's impact when it rejoins the fray this summer.

In other Corvette news�and everyone, race fan or not, should like this one�ALMS is giving away a 2013 427 Convertible Collector's Edition Corvette. You can enter now by heading over to the official site and answering some questions about the sexy drop top. As if the car weren't enough, the winner of the contest will also receive a trip to the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is about as close to gearhead nirvana as you can get. What have you got to lose? Enter now!

The American Le Mans Monterey will start at 1:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 12, and will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 13. Live coverage is available starting at 4:15 p.m. ET on ESPN3.

2013 60th Anniversary Corvette ZR1 To Pace 96th Indianapolis 500

2012-05-08T16:02:06Z

Photo Credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

After weeks of anticipation, we learned this morning that the 2013 60th Anniversary Corvette ZR1 will be the official pace car of the 96th Indianapolis 500. This is the first time the Corvette ZR1 has earned the role as the pace setter and with its 638 horsepower, it�s the most powerful production car ever pace the Indy 500.

The 2013 Corvette ZR1 chosen for the pace car features the 60th Anniversary package which is Arctic White with a Blue Diamond leather-wrapped interior. The anniversary package also contains a full-length racing stripes in Pearl Silver Blue as well as special badging, gray-painted brake calipers and the �60th� logo on the wheel center caps, steering wheel and seat headrests.

This is the 23rd time a Chevrolet has paced the �Greatest Spectacle in Racing� and the 11th time for Corvette.

�Corvette embodies pure performance, so the ZR1 is a perfect car to pace the most prestigious auto race in the world,� said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. �Chevrolet is a great partner of the Speedway, and we share in the excitement of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the iconic Corvette brand. It�s even more meaningful to see a Chevrolet pacing the field at Indy since Chevy has returned as an engine supplier for the IZOD IndyCar Series for the first time since 2005.�

Said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports: �This is a truly momentous year for Chevrolet when it comes to performance, with our continued success on and off track, and especially with our return to the IndyCar Series, powering some of the fastest cars on the circuit. I can�t think of a better way to mark the 60th Anniversary of Corvette than having it lead the starting field of the Indianapolis 500.�

The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is the most powerful Chevrolet ever produced. Thanks to its supercharged 6.2 liter LS9 engine that generates 638 horsepower and a liberal use of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber that brings the curb weight of the car to 3,353 pounds, the ZR1′s power to weight ratio is just 5.2 pounds per horsepower. The ZR1 is also the most technologically advanced Chevrolet built as well, utilizing Magnetic Selective Ride Control, Launch Control system with Performance Track Management, a four-channel ABS system and Brembo carbon-ceramic disc brake rotors.

The 96th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to start at noon (ET) Sunday, May 27. The driver of the Pace Car will be announced soon but we are hearing that celebrity chef Guy Fieri may have the inside track on the selection process.

Head to the forums to join the discussion!

Sentimental Journey: Bill McElroy's 40-Year Sting Ray Odyssey

2012-05-05T15:50:39Z

Content provided by CorvetteBlogger.com

Bill McElroy and his 1966 Corvette Sting Ray coupe have been through a lot together over the past 40 years.

Back in 1971, McElroy, then 19 years old, found the car in a newspaper ad, advertised for just $1,600, nearly half what other folks wanted for similar Corvettes back then.

Of course, the car was a raggedy mess, but to Bill it was still a Corvette, and an affordable one at that.

Four years after the purchase, McElroy finally started a restoration process that focused mainly on the body.

He painted it black and added new seat covers and new carpet.

The car became his principal driver. �I drove the heck out of it,� he recalls, noting that it had 40,000 miles on the odometer when he bought it. Today it has about 150,000 miles on it.

Unfortunately, this is where the story takes a detour. In 1976, while watching TV at his home, he suddenly heard the distinctive sound of side pipes and four-speed gears grinding outside. His car had been stolen, but fortunately it was found about 25 miles away with only minor damage.

After developing an engine problem, the car was set aside, and McElroy even considered selling it. Then he came to his senses and decided he owed a second restoration to his old friend.

This time, he spent $15,000 on the restoration, redoing the suspension and transmission, installing new seats, carpet, and interior, and repolishing the moldings, replating the bumpers, installing new tires and wheels, and replacing the glass. This time he painted the car pewter.

McElroy, the longest continuous standing member of the Philadelphia Modifiers Club, doesn't drive the car as much these days but says he enjoys the attention the car gets when he does take it out.

How long have you owned your Corvette? Tell us in the forums!

What's New This Week: Press Release Roundup

2012-05-04T16:11:22Z

by John Coyle

Corvette Forum

My Jaguar XJ6 had an automatic, and so did my old pickup. But all my other cars have been sticks, it fit those vehicles, but I've always preferred rowing my own gears. So it's been depressing to see standards disappearing, and even more depressing to see what a dismal percentage of populace can drive one. So it was cool to see a story about how manuals are making a slight�very, very, slight�improvement against the automatics. Save the manuals!

* Probably the only reason you've never bought anything at Barrett-Jackson is because nobody has ever agreed to pay your way. Well, no you don't have any excuse, because Direct Lift is offering to send a lucky winner. Enter here! Direct Lift

* Does it seem like you're seeing a lot more commercials for auto insurance lately? Because consumers are apparently switching providers in record numbers. Think the guy who thought up the British gecko got a raise? JD Power

* Fisker didn't score a ton of points when Consumer Reports had trouble testing its Karma last month. But the company is aching to prove itself, and has entered an extended-range model in the inaugural Bodensee-Elektrik Rallye in Munich. Good luck fellas. Fisker

* You probably know that Optima makes the best batteries in the business. You also probably know that they're a lot more expensive than some of their competition. But if you don't want to settle, this is the time to buy a new Optima battery. Until the end of the month, customers can get $25 cash back after purchase. OPTIMA

* I knew that the ZL1 was going to be a bitchin' Camaro, but this week some of the General's engineers went out to the dragstrip and laid down some pretty wicked 1/4 mile times. How wicked? How about 11s? GM Media

Take One Giant Leap with Neil Armstrong's 1967 Corvette

2012-05-04T03:43:26Z

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Every little kid at some point in his or her life wanted to be an astronaut at one time or another. Only a very few actually end up living out there spacey dreams. Neil Armstrong did just that when he became the first person to step on the moon in July of 1969. Unfortunately, you can't be the first person on the lunar surface, but you can at least drive his Corvette if you have the winning bid on eBay.

According to the seller, Mr. Armstrong took delivery of his 1967 427/390 Corvette coupe on December 15th, 1966 from Jim Rathman Chevrolet in Jupiter, Florida. Rathman, the noted racer, had struck a deal with NASA to provide Corvettes to the astronauts. Armstrong kept this air conditioned big block for about a year before turning it back in. Since then it was kept by another NASA employee until the current owner acquired it in February of this year of a 30 year courtship. Can you say “flip”?

The car itself hasn't been on the road since 1981 as evidenced by all the storage dust in the photos. At some point in its life it sported fender flares which have now been removed. The seller states that NOS fenders come with the car. Currently it runs well enough to get it around the garage, but it will need a complete restoration to bring back to its as-new condition. The seller has several new parts to help get you started on your project.

We all know that documentation is critical when it comes to collector cars of any make, not just Corvettes. This car comes with the tank sticker which shows the following options: 427/390 motor, A/C, 4 speed, and Transistor Ignition in addition to tinted and power windows. The car also comes with the original Protect-O-Plate with “N.A. Armstrong” emblazoned on it.

With the current bid closing in on $250,000 (and the reserve not yet met) we wish there was a little more paperwork to go with this car. That's already a hefty premium over a typical 1967 in need of a full restoration. Hopefully the bidders have more information than we do, especially when you factor in all the cheddar it's going to take to get this one back to #1 condition.

Got an opinion? Join the discussion in the forums!

Corvette Joyrider Gets Busted

2012-05-01T21:34:39Z

Content provided by CorvetteBlogger.com

This video posted by WFTV in Cocoa, Florida is a Corvette owner�s worst nightmare.

You probably cringe when you have to turn the keys to your pride and joy over to a parking lot attendant when you just go to a restaurant. Imagine if the following happened while you were on a long cruise.

Companies like Premier Parking Spot in Cocoa claim they�ll shuttle you to the cruise ship, then take good care of your car while you�re away.

But WFTV�s Jeff Deal got a tip that Premier owner Jay Nieves was actually using the cars of customers while they were gone.

To test that claim, WFTV rented a 2012 Corvette and sent a husband and wife going on �vacation� to leave the car at Premier.

Just six hours after the couple dropped off the Corvette, the GPS monitoring device installed by the TV station sent WFTV a text message that the car was in motion.

The station captured Nieves and an employee joyriding in the car, peeling out on dirt roads and even taking pictures of the Corvette in front of the Premier owner�s house. They parked it at an Applebee�s, and the GPS showed Nieves even parked it at his home overnight. A couple of days later, he drove all over town on errands, including a stop at Ace Hardware.

Later, he filled it with lumber at his home and even let a dog run around inside the car.

Deal finally confronted Nieves outside the car near the business when it was parked with the top down.

�You�re going to say you weren�t driving the car? Tell me the truth. Be honest with me,� Deal said to Nieves.

�You�re completely wrong,� said Nieves.

GPS records showed the car had been driven 61 miles since being dropped off at Premier!

Maybe the dog did it!

What a nightmare! Head the forums to join the discussion.

2013 Arctic White Corvettes on Display at the NCM Bash

2012-04-28T12:41:02Z

Content provided by CorvetteBlogger.com

At the NCM Bash on Friday, visitors were greated with a lineup of 2013 Corvettes on display on the patio outside the Museum. The display included the new 427 Convertibles as well as a Grand Sport, Z06 and a ZR1, all in 60th Anniversary white trim.

At the end of the day, we were able to review the Corvettes pretty thoroughly. This latest batch of photos also captured the 60th Anniversary door sills and seat embroidery as well as the 427 floor mats.

Follow CorvetteBlogger�s Twitter feed and Facebook page as we will be uploading photos and comments from the final day of the NCM Bash.

Head to the forums for more photos from the bash!

What's New This Week: Press Release Roundup

2012-04-27T19:47:02Z

by John Coyle

Corvette Forum

First, let me say that I'm not in favor of people getting killed because of "unintended acceleration." Nobody likes getting killed. But even though the big brains over at NASA weren't able to find any fault with Toyota in those cases, the NHTSA wants automakers to install Accelerator Control Systems, which would cut the throttle when the brake is applied. Now, lots of people have written about this, but absolutely none of them have done it as hysterically as my buddy Zack over at the Smoking Tire. Check it out after you catch up on some of the other stuff that happened this week.

* Need a new fuel pump? Do you like free stuff? Then you should head over to the Holley Performance Facebook page! They're giving away a free fuel pump everyday for 60 days! That's 60 chances to win! Holley on Facebook

* One Lap of America is an awesome event. And all the competitors will have to bring their A game this year�Roush is fielding its 2013 Stage 3 Mustang. Roush

* Just a few years ago, everybody was wondering if the General was going to join the ranks of Packard, Studebaker and AMC, but 2012 first quarter global sales saw record profits for the iconic American automaker. That's great news and all, but I just want to see the C7 sans camo. GM

* You know those cool state-themed graphics U-Haul paints on the side of its trucks? U-Haul is launching a contest to color in the new Missouri "supergraphic." The image is pretty cool, and the copy starts with: "Language of bats revealed!" How cool is that? U-Haul

* A man in Virginia is being asked by the DMV to return a vanity plate he's had for seven years, because it might be deemed offensive. The allegedly offensive message? FOSAMA. Seems kosher to me. MSNBC

* At 20, Trevor Bayne was the youngest person to ever win the Daytona 500, so there's no champagne on his number 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion�but there's plenty of confetti and Gatorade. This week it's taking an honored place at the Henry Ford museum. Roush Yates

Legendary SCCA Corvette Racer Andy Porterfield Passes Away

2012-04-25T17:57:52Z

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A legend in the Corvette world for more than 50 years passed away last Tuesday in Newport Beach, Calif.

Andy Porterfield first started racing Corvettes in 1957, and amazingly he was still racing them in 2012 at the age of 80!

�Porterfield? Hell, he was racing Corvettes when I started,� racing icon George Follmer said in the October 1979 issue of SportsCar nearly 33 years ago.

Porterfield was a two-time SCCA national champion and won more than 400 races in his career that spanned 55 years. �I don�t know the exact number,� he said once. �I didn�t keep track; I just wanted to race.�

You may also know the Porterfield name through his brake business. As he was racing Corvettes, he discovered stopping is just as vital as going. Back then, Corvettes didn't have the best brakes in the world, so he switched to Ferodo linings. That led to his becoming a U.S. distributor for that British company in 1985, and today, Porterfield Enterprises manufacturers its own brake pads and rotors and distributes other companies� products.

He was also active in the California Sports Car Club, Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and a national leader for SCCA.

On the pro side, Andy competed in 41 Trans-Am races between 1969 and 1992, finishing third on two occasions in 1980, both (of course) in a Corvette.

Porterfield was born on June 1, 1931. He earned a degree in business administration at Chico State College. Until the mid �80s, he was a partner in a company that built parts for nuclear-power plants.

Memorial services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Pacific in the chapel at Pacific View Memorial Park, 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar, Calif., on April 26. The chapel is just inside the entrance to the park.

Cards or messages may be sent to the Porterfield Brakes Shop, 1767 Pacentia Ave, Costa Mesa, CA, 92627.

Sound off! Join the Discussion in the forums.

What's New This Week: Press Release Roundup

2012-04-20T23:45:13Z

by John Coyle

Corvette Forum

This is the kind of thing I really hoped was a joke. I seriously can't believe that Lamborghini is going to build an SUV. If it was something like the LM002, I might have been able to stomach it. But I almost had a stroke when I saw this piece of crap. I'm depressed about it. And Jack Baruth over at The Truth About Cars summed up my feelings. Anyway this other stuff happened this week.

* Look, taxes suck. But you have to admit it's nice when Uncle Sam sends you back some of your hard-earned cash! And if you've got some money to throw at your car, check out Superchips' Tax Rebate Promo! Superchips

* It shouldn't come as any surprise that MagnaFlow likes it loud. And the trucks of the The Traxxas TORC Series are loud. See where I'm going with this? MagnaFlow is the official sponsor of the series. Sounds like a good match to me. Traxxas TORC Series

* I met the guys from HRE while I was in Vegas for SEMA last year. And they had plenty of cool stuff on hand. Personally, I've been losing my mind over the killer retro supercar wheels they've dropped over the last couple months, and their new online catalog is packed with cool stuff. HRE

* Mikey Thompson is about as synonymous with drag racing as anything else on the planet. Are you surprised that the company is returning as the official sponsor of NMRA drag racing? Because you probably shouldn't be. Mickey Thompson

* As much as some folks want it to die, the Volt just isn't cooperating. In March, sales of the gas/electric hybrid made a big�as in 50%�jump. It remains to be see whether people will jump back in to SUVs if the price of gas drops by a nickel, but the General is optimistic. PR Newswire

* I have to admit it's been a little while since I used a map. Or at least a map that wasn't displayed on my phone. But the new interactive products from Rand McNally look pretty sweet. Rand McNally