Road and Driver

Go quicker–go faster. That’s been the goal of many a Corvette devotee since Zora Arkus-Duntov joined Chevrolet’s engineering team in 1953 and set out to make the Corvette do just that. Six generations of production Corvettes have gone quicker and faster than their predecessors. But, in more than a few cases, it has taken an owner’s urge, plus aftermarket hardware, to make it happen.

Photo Gallery: 1999 Chevrolet Corvette - Dual Purpose 10-Second C5 - Corvette Fever Magazine

Photo Gallery: 1999 Chevrolet Corvette - Dual Purpose 10-Second C5 - Corvette Fever Magazine

Hopefully, you’ve all thawed out successfully and are itching to roll up your sleeves and start working on your Corvettes–I know I certainly am!

Photo Gallery: Corvette Weekend Projects - DIY Corvette Maintenance Projects - Corvette Fever Magazine

Photo Gallery: Corvette Weekend Projects - DIY Corvette Maintenance Projects - Corvette Fever Magazine

As the weather begins to warm up for most of the country, drivers begin thinking of spring and the services needed to maintain their vehicles now that winter has passed.    

Unfortunately, it’s during this time of year that automotive myths are often unintentionally perpetuated.

Knowing which stories are myths and which ones are fact can be difficult. Because of that, NAPA’s 2009 Technician of the Year, Jack Gregory, is dispelling some common myths to keep everyone’s vehicle running smoothly in 2009.

Myth: Filling your cooling system with all water and no anti-freeze will save you money while not harming your vehicle.
 
Fact: The vehicle’s cooling system requires a mixture of half water, half anti-freeze. “Too much anti-freeze causes the vehicle to run on higher than optimal temperatures,” cautions Gregory. “Too much water can cause lower operating temperatures and possible freezing.”
 
  
Myth: Driving at 56 mph will give you the best fuel economy.
 
Fact: Although most vehicle manufacturers base their product’s gas mileage at 56 mph, driving at that speed doesn’t guarantee the best gas mileage. Keeping a consistent speed, whether it’s 25 mph or 65 mph, will ensure the best fuel economy.
 
  
Myth: Over inflating tires helps with gas mileage.
 
Fact: Over inflated tires cause wear in the middle of the tire. Under inflated tires causes wear on the outside of the tire. “Drivers should inflate tires to the recommended level to maintain maximum fuel economy and improve the life of the tires,” says Gregory.
 
  
Myth: Driving closely behind an 18-wheeler will protect you from headwinds and allow your car to use less gas.
 
Fact: Driving closely behind an 18-wheeler doesn’t help with gas mileage, is dangerous and can be illegal. A sudden stop from the 18-wheeler could force a driver to slam on the brakes or even worse, cause an accident.
 
  
Myth: A vehicle can run a long way on empty.
 
Fact: Once a gas gauge reaches empty, about two gallons of gasoline remain in the vehicle’s tank. It’s always best to not test your vehicle’s limits, especially with colder weather affecting most of the country. 
 

“Vehicle owners should talk with their regular automotive technician about information they’ve heard from others before acting on the info,” says Gregory. “A quick 10-minute stop at your regular service shop will make sure you’re acting on correct guidance.”

SEMA model legislation (S.B. 476) that would create a vehicle registration classification for street rods, replicas and modified vehicles will be considered by the North Carolina Senate Commerce Committee.    

Introduced by Senator Don East (Don.East@ncleg.net), S.B. 476 defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949, a modified vehicle as an altered vehicle manufactured after 1949, and a replica vehicle as a vehicle originally sold unassembled and manufactured from a kit.  The bill allows replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model year designation as the vehicle intended to be replicated. 

We Urge You to Contact All Members of the North Carolina Senate Commerce Committee (Contact Information Below) Immediately to Request Their Support for S.B. 476

• S.B. 476 provides specific registration and titling classes for street rods, modifieds and replicas.  Street rods are of a pre-1949 vintage; modifieds are of the post-1949 era. 

• S.B. 476 requires that the title of a replica vehicle must clearly indicate that the vehicle is a replica and not an original.

• S.B. 476 allows for the use of non-original materials and creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model year designation as the production vehicle intended to be replicated.

• S.B. 476 provides an avenue by which the state can accurately and fairly title and register these specialty vehicles.

• S.B. 476 remedies previous inconsistencies in state titling and registration policy for replicas. 

• S.B. 476 provides a method by which inoperable vehicles, such as restoration projects, may be titled.

• S.B. 476 recognizes the immeasurable amount of time, money and attention automotive enthusiasts invest in their hobby cars.  Street rods, modifieds and replicas are the same crowd pleasers that participate in exhibitions and as parade vehicles, and whose owners regularly contribute to charities and civic events.  This legislation represents an opportunity to acknowledge this family hobby and to protect it for future generations. 

DON’T DELAY!  Please contact members of the Senate Commerce Committee immediately to urge support for S.B. 476 

North Carolina Senate Commerce Committee

Senator R.C. Soles – Chair
Phone: 919/733-5963
Email: RC.Soles@ncleg.net

Senator David Hoyle
Phone: 919/733-5734
Email: David.Hoyle@ncleg.net

Senator Floyd McKissick
Phone: 919/733-4599
Email: Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net

Senator Tony Rand
Phone: 919/733-9892
Email: Tony.Rand@ncleg.net

Senator Tom Apodaca
Phone: 919/733-5745
Email: Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net

Senator Phil Berger
Phone: 919/733-5708
Email: Phil.Berger@ncleg.net

Senator Doug Berger
Phone: 919/715-8363
Email: Doug.Berger@ncleg.net

Senator Harris Blake
Phone: 919/733-4809
Email: Harris.Blake@ncleg.net

Senator Julia Boseman
Phone: 919/715-2525
Email: Julia.Boseman@ncleg.net

Senator Peter Brunstetter
Phone: 919/733-7850
Email: Peter.Brunstetter@ncleg.net

Senator Debbie Clary
Phone: 919/715-3038
Email: Debbie.Clary@ncleg.net

Senator Katie Dorsett
Phone: 919/715-3042
Email: Katie.Dorsett@ncleg.net

Senator Tony Foriest
Phone: 919/301-1446
Email: Tony.Foriest@ncleg.net

Senator James Forrester
Phone: 919/715-3050
Email: James.Forrester@ncleg.net

Senator Linda Garrou
Phone: 919/733-5620
Email: Linda.Garrou@ncleg.net

Senator W. Edward Goodall
Phone: 919/733-7659
Email: Eddie.Goodall@ncleg.net

Senator Steve Goss
Phone: 919/733-5742
Email: Steve.Goss@ncleg.net

Senator Malcolm Graham
Phone: 919/733-5650
Email: Malcolm.Graham@ncleg.net

Senator Neal Hunt
Phone: 919/733-5850
Email: Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net

Senator Jim Jacumin
Phone: 919/715-7823
Email: Jim.Jacumin@ncleg.net

Senator Clark Jenkins
Phone: 919/715-3040
Email: Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net

Senator Vernon Malone
Phone: 919/733-5880
Email: Vernon.Malone@ncleg.net

Senator Martin Nesbitt
Phone: 919/715-3001
Email: Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net

Senator William Purcell
Phone: 919/733-5953
Email: William.Purcell@ncleg.net

Senator Bob Rucho
Phone: 919/733-5655
Email: Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net

Senator Larry Shaw
Phone: 919/733-9349
Email: Larry.Shaw@ncleg.net

Senator Josh Stein
Phone: 919/715-6400
Email: Josh.Stein@ncleg.net

Senator Richard Stevens
Phone: 919/733-5653
Email: Richard.Stevens@ncleg.net

Senator Don Vaughan
Phone: 919/733-5856
Email: Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net

Testifying recently before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, New Mexico Kia dealer and American International Automobile Dealers (AIADA) member Bob Cockerham told Senators that an inability to secure loans to buy vehicles from manufacturers was forcing him to lay off workers, close dealerships, and sell his home.

During the hearing, Perspectives from Main Street on Small Business Lending, the committee heard from struggling small business owners who asked the government to work to make financing available for small businesses.

“Consistently we have seen the large, ‘too big to fail’ corporations literally given billions of taxpayers’ dollars in bailouts, while the small businesspeople, like ourselves, have received, and asked for, nothing,” said Cockerham in his written testimony. “The greed of Wall Street is driving America’s small businesspeople into bankruptcy.” Cockerham, who is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has reduced his workforce from 80 people to 17, and fears that without sufficient floorplan financing, he and his wife Mary will have to declare personal bankruptcy.

In his testimony, Cockerham reiterated the requests made by AIADA Chairman Russ Darrow earlier this month in a letter sent to President Barack Obama. He asked for readily available retail credit to help generate automobile sales and operating capital loans to help dealers meet cash flow requirements, such as payroll. He also asked that the Small Business Administration loan guaranty program be further enhanced to include an updated size standard in order to provide working capital for auto dealers and be allowed to include floorplan financing. Said Cockerham: “The average floorplan loan is approximately $4.9 million. If the group of lenders continues to shrink, or they put more restrictions on credit, the result is simple. Dealers cannot buy what they cannot finance.”

Thanks in part to inaccessible financing, approximately 1000 dealerships closed last year and 50,000 jobs were lost. “This is not just a Bob and Mary problem,” Cockerham told the hearing room. “Thousands of businesses are in peril and we need some help.”

   The 57th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring was a history-making event for Corvette Racing. For Johnny O’Connell, it was a record-setting eighth Sebring class victory. For Jan Magnussen, it was his milestone 100th career victory in the American Le Mans Series’ landmark 100th race. For Antonio Garcia, it was his first win with Corvette Racing. And for Corvette Racing, it was a perfect performance that included an ALMS record for laps completed in the GT class at Sebring to jump start the 10th anniversary of America’s premier production sports car racing team.

O’Connell, Magnussen and Garcia completed 349 laps in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R to take a one-lap victory in the GT1 class over Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, and Marcel Fassler in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R. The Corvettes finished sixth and seventh overall, and the winning car set a record for the most laps completed by a GT car in ALMS competition in America’s most demanding endurance race. The No. 3 Corvette C6.R also won the inaugural Michelin Green X Challenge race-within-a-race with the best score in the GT classes based on performance, efficiency, and environmental impact.

“In our final race in the GT1 class at Sebring, I think we raised the bar high by setting an all-time laps completed record and running a flawless race,” said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. “Today was an example of what we’ve done since the inception of this program – continuous improvement. This gives us a solid foundation for going to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and completing our mission over there.”

Gavin started on the GT1 pole with Magnussen in close pursuit. The first round of pit stops at 49 minutes into the race proved decisive. Magnussen pitted first, handing off to O’Connell. One lap later, Gavin pitted and was replaced by Beretta. The two cars emerged from their stops side-by-side, with O’Connell taking the lead for good in Turn 10. The No. 3 Corvette C6.R then held its advantage through 11 long hours of racing and 11 more pit stops.

“I had the advantage of a killer lap going out of the pits,” said O’Connell, who extended his record as the all-time leader in Sebring victories with his eighth career win on the historic circuit. “Maybe our car was a little better in that stint. I came by as Olivier was coming out of the pits on cold tires, so he had knife for a gunfight on that first lap. Anytime you get close dicing like that it’s a lot of fun, and Olivier was pushing me every bit of the way.

“I don’t know why this place has always been special for me, but a lot of it is that I’ve been here with good people,” O’Connell continued. “When you have a race car prepared by Corvette Racing and the support of Chevrolet, this is how you want to start a year. To have won this so many times with Ron Fellows, and now to do it with Jan and Antonio, makes me very excited about the future. Not only did we win the race, we also won the Michelin Green X Challenge, so there is a lot for Chevrolet to be proud of today.”

Magnussen reached a milestone with his 100th career victory. The 35-year-old racer from Denmark has scored wins in single seaters, touring cars, prototypes, and GTs. His resume now includes 23 ALMS victories.

“Winning my 100th race in the 100th ALMS event is perfect,” said Magnussen. “I’m so happy for Johnny, and to welcome Antonio to the team with a win couldn’t be better. We had a nearly perfect race – we didn’t make any mistakes and everything went according to plan. A victory here is the best possible preparation we could have for Le Mans.”

Garcia completed a trio of endurance racing victories after wins in the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Spaniard notched his first ALMS victory in his debut with Corvette Racing.

“Starting off with a win with my new team, I can’t ask for anything more,” Garcia said. “Everything went perfectly, the team did a magnificent job, and the pit stops were awesome. For me today was a learning race, and I think I achieved everything that I wanted.”

The gap between the two Corvettes was never more than 30 seconds through the long day of racing. Gavin and Magnussen started and finished the race, running five stints, while their teammates each completed four stints.

“It came down to a couple of little things that just didn’t quite work out for us,” Gavin said. “We had some bad luck with the cautions and safety car, and we were a little off on tire pressure or the setup on a few stints. There was really almost no difference in performance between the two Corvette C6.Rs, so it was going to take just one small thing to throw it one way or the other. Unfortunately it didn’t work out our way today, but there’s a lot of positives for us to take away from this. We had a car that was strong and that we all could drive well.”

Beretta agreed: “It was a good race, but we just had some little issues and some bad luck on the pace car,” he said. “Congratulations to the No. 3 Corvette, they did a perfect race. We are leaving Sebring with two cars in perfect condition, and that is the most important thing.”

Marcel Fassler has raced Corvette C6.Rs extensively in Europe, and the Swiss driver was delighted by his first race with the Corvette Racing team. “This gives me confidence going to Le Mans because the car was reliable on a very tough track,” Fassler said. “To finish second is never nice, but the No. 3 Corvette today was a little faster and they did a good job. I congratulate them, and I really look forward to Le Mans.”

Corvette Racing backed up its overall victory in last year’s inaugural ALMS Green Challenge with a win in the first Michelin Green X Challenge at Sebring. Created jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, SAE International and ALMS, the Green X Challenge ranks the competitors on the amount of energy used, greenhouse gases emitted, and petroleum displaced.

“Today’s race was the final appearance by Corvette Racing in the GT1 category at Sebring, and we ran an absolutely perfect race with cellulosic E85 ethanol fuel,” said Steve Wesoloski, GM Racing Road Racing Group manager. “We accomplished our mission and demonstrated Chevrolet’s technical capabilities. This same technology is applied to other vehicles in Chevy’s product line, and that’s what we’re demonstrating every time the Corvettes are on the race track.”

Corvette Racing’s next event is the Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach in Long Beach, Calif., on April 18.

Three-time American Le Mans Series GT1 champion Oliver Gavin posted the fastest time in the GT1 category in qualifying for Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Gavin piloted the black No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R to a 1:57.882 (112.994 mph) lap around the 3.7-mile, 17-turn road course. The Englishman edged Jan Magnussen’s best time in the yellow No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R by.321 seconds, denying the Dane his third straight GT1 pole in Sebring.

Gavin has previously started at the head of the GT1 class three times in Sebring, most recently in 2005 when the grid was set by practice times after rain cancelled qualifying. This year he put together a quick time on the second of his three timed laps to claim the 18th pole of his ALMS career, tying him for second on the series’ list of pole winners.

“It’s great to come away with a pole as we begin the 10th anniversary for Corvette Racing,” Gavin said. “Anytime you manage to beat Jan in qualifying, you’ve earned your money.

“Sebring is a tough event, very hard on the cars and the drivers, and great preparation for Le Mans,” Gavin continued. “Everyone is very mindful of the fact that Le Mans is the goal, but all of us would like to have the first 10th anniversary victory here in Sebring.”

Magnussen was quicker as the two Corvettes completed their first flying laps, but slowed slightly on his second lap. He cut Gavin’s margin on his final lap with a 1:58.203 time, but not enough to unseat the polesitter.

“We’ve been trying a lot of different things throughout the week, and it looks like we took a step in the wrong direction for qualifying,” Magnussen said. “The car is good and we know what we have to do to get back on track with just a small adjustment. I think these were the warmest conditions we’ve had so far this week, and that definitely played into what we were doing.”

Gavin agreed that track conditions were difficult today: “The track seems a little light on grip, and if someone runs off the racing line and gets some sand on the track, then it’s a real effort to get the tires cleaned off for the next few corners,” he said. “In fact, on my third timed lap I ran through some sand, ran a bit wide, and made a mess of the lap time. Fortunately my second lap was quick enough to get the pole. Ben Brady and Jason Trompeter, the new engineers for the No. 4 Corvette C6.R, worked their magic and came up with a car that was very, very good.”

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 21. The race will be televised live on SPEED from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 11 p.m. ET.

Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring GT1 Qualifying:

Pos./Drivers/Car/Time/Speed

1. Gavin/Beretta/Fassler, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:57.882/112.994 mph

2. O’Connell/Magnussen/Garcia, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 1:58.203/112.687 mph

Commercial fleets use advanced micro-glass oil filters to extend the life of heavy duty trucks and equipment.  These high tech oil filters use special synthetic glass microfibers about 10 times smaller than conventional cellulose filter fibers to provide superior filtration.  High performance lubricant manufacturer Royal Purple is now bringing this technology to the consumer market.    

Royal Purple new high performance oil filters combine advance micro-glass technology  and high capacity with optimized flow characteristics for maximum performance and filter life.  Each Filter features:

v    100% synthetic micro-glass media for superior particle removal with 99% filtration efficiency    

v    A high performance silicone anti-drain back valve that prevents dry starts even in extreme conditions

v    A heavy gauge steel back-plate for maximum burst strength

v    An extra heavy-duty nitrile-rubber base gasket with special lubricity compounds to reduce torque during installation and ensure a leak-free seal

v    Ultra-strength filter housing that provides extra protection against puncture from road debris 

Royal Purple oil filters allow change intervals to be extended up to 12,000 miles.   Vehicles still under warranty should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended filter change intervals.  While Royal Purple filters are fully compatible with all synthetic and conventional oils, Royal Purple recommends using heir high performance motor oil which also has a 12,000 mile life.

Royal Purple high performance filters are currently available exclusively at Pep Boys.  The filters will be available at other auto parts retailers this November, 2009.

About Royal Purple

Royal Purple makes synthetic products for numerous automotive and consumer needs. For more information on Royal Purple or its products, contact Royal Purple Inc., One Royal Purple Lane, Porter, TX 77365, 281-354-8600, www.royalpurple.com.