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| Friday July 25, 2008 | | Retiring GM Executive To Drive Corvette Z06 Pace Car At Brickyard |  Discussion
|  In 1997, when John Middlebrook served as Chevrolet's general manager, he said: "Corvette is now, and will continue to remain Chevrolet's flagship. It is our technological and image showcase. Even more importantly, Corvette stands as the most singularly dramatic example of what we mean by 'Genuine Chevrolet.' Corvette is much more than just a car. It's a love affair. Words alone fail to convey the passion it inspires." Just 11 years later, Middlebrook, who retired July 1 as GM vice president of global sales, service and marketing operations, will share with the world his passion for Corvette, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NASCAR as he leads the field to green in the 2008 Corvette Z06 Pace Car for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 27, 2008. "It is great honor for me to have the opportunity to drive the Corvette Z06 Pace Car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," Middlebrook said. "There is a tremendous Chevrolet heritage at the Speedway dating back to the involvement of Louis Chevrolet in the Indianapolis 500 in the early-1900s. To play a small role in continuing that tradition behind the wheel of the 505-horsepower Corvette Pace Car for NASCAR's 15th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is a memory I will embrace." Middlebrook, whose career with General Motors spanned nearly five decades, has made tremendous contributions to GM in a variety of roles over his career and is well known and highly respected and admired throughout the industry as a true sales and marketing professional.  "John has been an outstanding steward of motorsports throughout his career, and it's only fitting to pay tribute to what he's meant to GM and to the sport by having him drive the Pace Car at the Brickyard," said Ed Peper, North American vice president of Chevrolet. "He is a true leader, and all of Chevy will be cheering him on as he drives the car he loves—the Corvette Z06 Pace Car—as he leads the entire NASCAR Sprint Cup starting field to the green flag in Sunday's race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway." Said Joie Chitwood, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief operating officer: "John Middlebrook has been a valued friend and business partner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for decades. His leadership, knowledge and experience have been a driving force behind the longstanding relationship between IMS and Chevrolet. We're looking forward to seeing him drive the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard field to the green in a Corvette Z06." 2008 marks the 15th time that Chevrolet has paced the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and the fourth consecutive time Corvette has led the pack. Chevrolet's pacing tradition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway also extends to the Indianapolis 500 where Chevrolet has paced that esteemed race 19 times with Corvette leading the field 10 times. Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Pace Cars: 2008 - Corvette Z06 2007 - Corvette Z06 2006 - Corvette Z06 2005 - SSR 2004 - Monte Carlo 2003 - Monte Carlo 2002 - Monte Carlo 2001 - Monte Carlo 2000 - Monte Carlo 1999 - Monte Carlo 1998 - Monte Carlo 1997 - Monte Carlo 1996 - Camaro 1995 - C/K 1500 1994 - Monte Carlo The 15th running of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, July 27. Live coverage will be provided on ESPN and the IMS Radio Network. You can discuss this story with other Corvette Enthusiasts on the Kerbeck Corvette Message Board! Dave Salvatore Corvette Manager | | Source: Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
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| Sunday July 20, 2008 | | MYSTERY CORVETTE ON MOVIE SET HAS PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS | Discussion
|  This photo, found on the "Ultimate Transformers Resource" fan site seibertron.com, is a spy photo from the set of the upcoming Transformers movie sequel, "Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen". The photo has two completely different groups of people asking questions.
First are the Transformers fans who want to know what is it? Is this a new character? What's its name? Is it good or evil? No one who knows for sure is talking, but with the attention this car has been getting in many blogs, I think it will be a new main charater. The car is surrounded by Autobots [those are the good guys, for any readers who might have missed out on Saturday morning cartoons of the 80's], which leads many to believe this new car is also a good guy in alternative mode.
 The second group interested in this car is the car enthusiasts who want to know what is it? The shape of the car's fenders as well as its split rear window and aggressive port behind the rear wheel are all well-known Corvette styling cues, suggesting the fantasy car is Corvette-based.
Jalopnik published the first photos. "We're now told," they write, that the car "is a Corvette concept." Based on an email tip, Jalopnik says the photo may be "a 2010 (or 2012) Corvette." They continue, "We're starting to think GM's decided the auto show scene isn't where they're going to capture the next generation of car lovers. Instead, they've decided -- why not take the show to the people by way of the silver screen?" They acknowledge, "we're speculating here — but the idea itself may actually make some sense." In a later post, Jalopnik runs two more photos of the mystery 'vette. Edmunds Inside Line asks, "Could GM really be unveiling a new concept car in a film, rather than at an auto show? It certainly would be effective in garnering wide publicity." Autoblog picks up the speculation. "Do we officially know that these are Corvettes of some sort?" they ask. "No, but the fender shapes, split rear window, and the port aft of the front wheel are familial styling cues that seal the deal. We're dying to know if this is just a movie creation or a concept that's in the pipeline to be revealed publicly at some future time." GM made a big splash with the 2010 Camaro playing the part of Bumble Bee in the first Transformers movie, why not do it again? Seen among the ranks of the set were the n
ew Chevrolet Beat and Chevrolet Trax mini-car concepts, so GM is obviously looking to market to many different groups of people through the action film due to be released June 26, 2009. While I think it would be great for General Motors to release a car this way, I'm a little skeptical. My best guess is the car is more likely to be an old Corvette wearing a Chip Foose-designed skin for Hollywood. You can discuss this story with other Corvette Enthusiasts on the Kerbeck Corvette Message Boards!
Dave Salvatore
Corvette Manager
 | | Source: Multiple - Listed in Story |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Thursday July 17, 2008 | | [VIDEO] 2009 Corvette ZR1 LS9 Engine Build | Discussion
| Automobile Magazine gets to tag along with Master Engine Builder Bruce Blomfield as he assembles one of the first production 2009 Corvette ZR1 LS9 engines at GM's Performance Build Center. Each of the supercharged 638 hp LS9s are assembled by hand and the entire process takes about four and a half hours. You can discuss this story with other Corvette Enthusiasts on the Kerbeck Corvette Message Boards! Dave Salvatore Corvette Manager | | Source: Automobile Magazine via CorvetteBlogger.com |
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| Friday July 11, 2008 | | Video: Corvette ZR1 at the Nurburgring | Discussion
| GM posted this video on their GMNext website of the Corvette ZR1 doing a lap of the Nurburgring. It's a cockpit video with a stat overlay, showing the car hitting close to 180 mph on the final straightaway. Put on your headphones and crank up the volume, because the engine and road sounds come through clearly. You can almost feel the car hitting the apexes. Final lap time: 7:26.4. If you'd like more information on how to get a Corvette ZR1 from Kerbeck, please send an email to zr1@kerbeck.com. Please include a daytime phone number where you can be reached. | | Source: GMNext.com |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Wednesday July 2, 2008 | | GM Unveils Corvette S-Limited for Japan | Discussion
| OK, so maybe you won't see this Corvette in the Atlantic City Showroom of Kerbeck Corvette, but it's still very cool!!! 
In celebration of GM's 100th Anniversary, GM Asia-Pacific has unveiled the Corvette S-Limited, a 30-car special for the Japanese market. priced at ¥7,980,000. The allotment is split evenly by color -- 15 in Arctic White and 15 in Black.
All the cars get the full leather-wrapped interior package; a rear spoiler, mesh grillework , and screened inserts for the side coves and the plate between the exhaust outlets. 'Vettes in Japan are probably scarce enough that they still draw plenty of attention.
Hey, in the land where the best-selling car's engine displaces 660 cc's, a thundering, 430-horsepower American pushrod that displaces 6.2 liters is always gonna make people look. Appropriately, the Corvette S-Limited officially goes on sale on the Fourth of July.
You can discuss this story with other Corvette Enthusiasts on the Kerbeck Corvette Message Board!
Dave Salvatore
Corvette Manager
| | Source: General Motors |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Tuesday July 1, 2008 | | [VIDEO] 2009 Corvette on the Nürburgring! | Discussion
| As mentioned in an early post of the Kerbeck Corvette blog, Tadge Juechter blogged about the 2009 Corvette ZR1's time of 7:26.4 on the Nürburgring. He also mentioned, a video of the run is forthcoming. In the meantime, this video was just posted by the guys at BridgetoGantry.com. Because Tadge doesn't mention whether or not the ZR1 had the track to themselves, and the video shows another car on the track, we're unsure if this clip is actually from the 7:26.4 runor not, but it's fun none the less! Dave Salvatore
Corvette Manager
| | Source: BridgeToGantry.com |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Monday June 30, 2008 | | Happy National Corvette Day! | Discussion
| Thanks to the hard work of the crew over at Mid America Motorworks (with some help from the Kerbeck Corvette blog story from 06/20/08) and everyone else who signed the petition and made the phone calls, emails and letters, The US House of Representatives has named June 30th will from this point on be known National Corvette Day!
The Chevrolet Corvette, the first sports car of the country, came off the assembly line on June 30, 1953. This Monday, it will be the 55th anniversary of the Chevrolet Corvette. It will be in honor of the Chevrolet Corvette.
Here is the actual text from the resolution:
"H. Res. 970
In the House of Representatives, U. S., June 26, 2008. - Whereas the Chevrolet Corvette is America's first sports car;
- Whereas the first production Corvette rolled off a Flint, Michigan, assembly line on June 30, 1953;
- Whereas the Corvette is now manufactured in Bowling Green, Kentucky;
- Whereas the Corvette is the most widely respected production sports car in United States history;
- Whereas the Corvette is truly a symbol of American pride;
- Whereas General Motors is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2008; and
- Whereas the 30th of June would be an appropriate day to designate as `National Corvette Day':
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives supports the designation of a `National Corvette Day' to honor the Chevrolet Corvette."
Like the words from many other important pieces of legistation (Where in the course of Human Events, and We the People, etc) this document brings tears to the eyes of a red-blooded, Corvette-loving Americans everywhere. And while I'm sure the House will be critizied by some for spending time on something like this when there are many other important issues, I say kudos for taking a little bit of time to recognize an icon that in all corners of the world symbolizes the American Spirit! Happy Birthday Corvette! You can discuss this story with other Corvette Enthusiasts on the Kerbeck Corvette Message Board! Dave Salvatore
Corvette Manager | | Source: Kerbeck.com |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Sunday June 29, 2008 | | Michelin Serves up Two New Tires for Corvette | Discussion
| Earlier this week, Michelin invited select media to Laurens Proving Grounds, its testing facility, in Laurens County, S.C., for the launch of its two new tires for the Corvette, the Pilot Sport All-Season Plus and the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP.
The tires were put to the test in exercises in wet braking, wet handling, dry handling and comfort against competitors’ tires.
The Pilot Sport A/S Plus, though not visibly different from the original Pilot Sport, contains technology that allows for improvements in all-weather performance, wet grip and tread-life, according to Michelin.
The tire features three specialized rubber compaounds across the tread, helping to elevate a car's performance in virtually every type of weather, from wet to dry to winter conditions. Directional tread pattern and wet-weather silica compound combine for extreme wet-weather control. The tapered grooves of symmetrical tread design channel water away from the tire's contact patch to provide excellent wet grip in wet conditions, the company said.
The Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires are the first UHP tires to be backed by a 45,000-mile manufacturer's limited warranty, Michelin said.
The Pilot Sport A/S Plus tire goes on sale in the U.S. Sept. 1. It will be available in 59 sizes, 25% more sizes than the previous generation. At launch, the tire will be available in 29 sizes and the remainder will be introduced in March 2009. Complete sizing options will range from 205/55ZR16 up to 265/30ZR22.
Michelin’s other new offering, the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP, is now available for the Corvette C5, C6Z06 as a plus-one fitment and additional sizes for the C6 model in October.
A UHP summer tire, the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP evolves from the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 family of low-profile, Z-rated tires. The tire offers all the impressive performance characteristics of Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires, plus run-flat capability. It also delivers comfort levels similar to those of standard Pilot Sport PS2 tires, while delivering improved cornering control, thanks to an advanced sidewall and variable contact patch technology, the tiremaker said.
The tire features a unique, asymmetric tread pattern and a highly-customized tread compound, to delivers wet and dry performance for crisp cornering and high-speed capability. The asymmetric tread design presents large outer shoulder blocks and continuous intermediate and center ribs to enhance steering response and cornering stability. The inner lining tread design features a higher groove to rubber ratio with wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches that help channel water through the footprint to enhance wet road traction, Michelin said.
Available on Aug. 1, replacement tire sizes for the Corvette C5 include: 245/45ZR17 95Y and 275/40ZR18 99Y. Replacement tire sizes (as a plus-one fitment) for the Corvette C6Z06 include: P285/35ZR19 (87Y) and P335/30ZR20 (94Y).
Available in October, replacement tire sizes for the Corvette C6 will include: 245/40ZR18 93Y, 285/35ZR19 99Y.
You can contact the Kerbeck Corvette parts department at 609-345-6463 for availability and pricing.
You can discuss this story with other Corvette Enthusiasts on the Kerbeck Corvette Message Board.
Dave Salvatore
Corvette Manager
| | Source: PR Wire |
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| Saturday June 28, 2008 | | Help Design the Kerbeck Corvette 2009 ZR1 Poster! | Discussion
| The official Corvette ZR1 numbers are in and they're good, very good! EPA-estimated fuel economy of 14 city and 20 highway, 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds, 0-100 mph in 7.0 seconds, Quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.3 seconds at 131 mph! The Corvette ZR1 also has a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h), making it the fastest Corvette ever produced and ranking it among the global super cars of commensurate performance. This year, Kerbeck will commemorate the new "King of the Hill" with this years poster. Pictured below is a Chevrolet Corvette advertisement from 1957 with two German drivers at a race track leaning against their car and pointing at the new, 1957 Fuel Injected Corvette. The caption reads: "UND SO HELFE MIR. HERMANN, I WAS HOLDING 5900 R.P.M. AND HE CAME PAST ME LIKE A STUKA...AND PLAYING THE RADIO, TOO!"  In our concept, we have two drivers at a race track, leaning against their car pointing to the new, 2009 Corvette ZR1. Our question to you is this...what should our caption read, what is the one driver saying? Send your idea to dave@kerbeck.com with the subject line "Poster Contest". Also, be sure to post it on the Kerbeck Corvette Message Board so that everyone can see it! If we use your entry on our poster, we'll give you a ZR1 hat and one of the first posters off the press! If we use your caption, you'll be required to sign a disclaimer to allow us to use your words. Thanks for your help, it should be fun. Keep it clean, thanks!
 If you would like more information on the new “King of the Hill”, send an email to zr1@kerbeck.com. Please be sure to include your name and phone number in the email and someone will call you with more information. Dave Salvatore
Covette Manager
| | Source: Kerbeck.com |
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THIS STORY WITH OTHER CORVETTE ENTHUSIASTS! |
| Friday June 27, 2008 | | Corvette ZR1 destroys Nissan GT-R times at the Ring! | Discussion
| Looks like the Nissan GT-R's impressive Nurburgring lap of 7:29, set last April, has been chewed up and spit out by the upcoming 2009 Corvette ZR1. Perhaps trying to prove there is no replacement for displacement, the Corvette supercar -- equipped with a 638 horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 -- has just come off a day on the 'Ring with GM development engineer Jim Mero behind the wheel and has responded to Godzilla's run with a 7:26.4.
Most car enthusiasts are quite familiar with the Nürburgring. Built in the 1920’s near Cologne, Germany, “the Ring” is considered to be the toughest and most challenging race track in the world. Over the last two weeks, GM have been doing their final tuning and testing there before we start ZR1 production cars. This morning (Friday June 27), General Motors development engineer Jim Mero drove the Corvette ZR1 around the Nürburgring in a time of 7:26.4. Jim commented after the lap that conditions were good except for a strong headwind down the main straight and that the lap was solid, but he felt there were a few places he could have gone faster. The car was bone stock with the exception of the communications and safety equipment. The tires were production Michelin Pilot Sport 2’s. These tires have been developed specifically for the ZR1 and will have impressive wet traction and wear (tread wear rating = 220), in addition to excellent dry road holding. Chassis alignment and vehicle height were set to factory specs. Likewise, the engine calibrations were absolutely stock, emissions compliant and the car ran on pump (not racing) fuel. The vehicle was exactly like the cars that will be built in Bowling Green, Kentucky and sold around the world later this summer. According to to Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter, despite posting one of the fastest times ever run by a production car, Nürburgring lap times were not an over-riding priority in the development of the ZR1. The truth is, if the only priority was speed at the ring, the car would not be very pleasant to drive on American roads. The ZR1 is an incredibly capable track machine, but unlike most ultra-high performance cars, it is very easy to live with on a daily basis. The timed lap was run with a rolling start, a departure from our previous practice of standing starts. This is more aligned with current industry practice. The lap was electronically timed and confirmed with two hand-held stopwatches. An in-car video will be posted when the engineering team returns from Germany. Look for it the week of July 7 on the GM Next website or right here on the Kerbeck Corvette Blog or Kerbeck Corvette website! | | Source: GM Next |
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