Allentown Area Corvette Club, Inc. ‘Vetter’s Letter February 2019 Volume 26, Issue 02

President Mike Cutro From the val Office 201-572-8023 [email protected] "Growth is impossible without change. And if you cannot change Vice-President your mind, you cannot change anything in your life. Sometimes you Dennis Corona 610-349-2620 need to look at things from a different perspective." [email protected] Stacy Calcatera Secretary Carol Jenkins 610-417-8836 In February, we are in a bit of a lull as far as car activities go, but behind the [email protected] scenes, there is a lot going on! David Hausman and Joe Iervolino and the entire Treasurer Springfest committee are in full swing preparing for June 1st. Jeff Mohring is in Mike Best 610-767-6079 the process of working on our 50th anniversary celebration along with coordinat‐ [email protected] ing and planning activities for 2019 and beyond. Laura and Marty Hegyi are final‐ Membership izing the plans for the Bowling Green trip in August. Marty & Laura Hegyi 610-730-2846 Based on last year’s survey, you told us what you wanted from AACC. This will be 610-730-2695 [email protected] the most celebrated and fun milestone year in our history. Be there to make Activities AACC Corvette history with us! Jeff Mohring 610-392-6898 Best Regards, [email protected] Mike Cutro Merchandise & Clothing Mike Elizabeth Garnto AACC President [email protected] Special note: Doug and Linda Sheriff from Angel 34 will be guest speakers at NCM Ambassador Rich Ringhoffer our February 13th meeting. They will be available at 7pm for a meet & greet. 610-867-6494 The meeting may run slightly longer due to their attendance. Let's give them Newsletter Editors a warm AACC welcome by having a great turn out! Kevin & Michelle Minnich 610-530-0923 [email protected] Webmaster AACC Meetings Michelle Minnich 610-530-0923 The Allentown Area Corvette Club meets at 7:30 pm at the Paragon Hall at [email protected] Se‐Wy‐Co Fire Company (3621 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem, PA). Sponsored by: There is ample parking, so please do not block the fire engine doors.

Upcoming Club Meetings: 398 Stoke Park Road Bethlehem, PA Feb. 13 & 27 Mar. 13 & 27 Apr. 10 & 24 Allentown Area Corvette Club Page 2 ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

This Month February 2019 13—Club Meeting (p.1) with special guests from Angel 34 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 22—Bacon with the Boys (p.6) 27—Club Meeting (p.1) 1 2

Looking to 2019 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

3/17—Allentown St. Pat’s Parade and Post-Party 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 03/23—Phantoms Game (p.4) 03/30—Wert’s Café Lunch (p.4) 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 04/06—Car Prep Demo featuring Meguiar’s products (p.4) 04/26—Iron Pigs Game (p.4) 24 25 26 27 28 04/28—Stroudsmoor Inn Luncheon 05/04—Faulkner Car Show 05/25—Springfest Judging Clinic 06/01—AACC Springfest Corvette Show @ PSU-LV (p.5) Membership Corner As of AACC’s meeting on Jan. 9th there were:  237 active members  2 potential members

The Board of Directors did not vote in any New Active Members during January.

See what you missed on The following are currently Potential Members:

“AAVetteClub” Paul & Paula Smith ...... Center Valley, PA ...... ‘19 Z06 Cpe and “EACC” Thank you for your interest in our club!! We look forward to seeing you at upcoming AACC meetings & events. Join our group on Page 3 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

Thinking of You If anyone knows of a member who is hospitalized, had surgery, or lost a loved one, please notify VP Dennis Corona ([email protected], 610‐349‐2620) or one of the other Board Members.

My Marketplace Wed., Jan. 09 | During our January meeting, Marty recruited three of the fairer sex to offer some detailing tips each uses when preparing their Corvettes. Laura Hegyi explained the benefits of a compressed air can for removing hard‐to‐ reach areas and packaging tape for gathering carpet fibers and surface dust. Joann Warmkessel loves her NAPA glass cleaner (less than $3/can) and swears by microfiber cloths but admits that newspaper works well. Jeanette Marakovits offered negative tips — don’t go too long between washings (it makes things much worse), don’t wash in direct sunlight (it hastens drying and causes water spots), don’t wear jewelry while detailing (great risk of scratches), don’t use any cleaning mitts that fall on the ground, and “don’t do a good job — they’ll want you to help again!”

Marty Hegyi’s My Marketplace continues at the first regular meeting each month through Spring. Contact Marty if you have a Corvette‐related product or service to present to your fellow club members. Marty can assist with your presen‐ tation if needed.

Recap: Dinner at Blue Grillhouse Sun., Jan. 27 | A group of 38 AACCers enjoyed cocktails and dinner at Blue (Bethlehem, PA). The annual dinner event helps cure the "winter blues" on a non‐important NFL football night and gets everyone ready for the “big game.” The event was again chaired by Mike and Cindy Cutro.

Bacon with the Boys Chair: Jeff Mohring (‘04, ‘16) Fri., Feb. 22 | AACC’s boys and girls are invited to join Jeff Mohring for breakfast on the last Friday of the month. The time is 9am but the location varies around the Lehigh Valley. Contact Jeff at 610‐392‐6898 or [email protected].

Editor’s Note: Don’t let the title fool you — all genders are welcome to this monthly event! Allentown Area Corvette Club Page 4 ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

Phantoms Hockey Night Chair: Mike Best (‘13)

Sat., Mar. 23 | Seats are still available when our Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers) battle archrivals Wilkes‐Barre/Scranton Penguins (affiliate of Pittsburgh Penguins) at 7:05pm. Seats are $23 each and in section 111, towards the end of the ice in which the Phantoms attack twice. Pre‐paid parking passes are $6. Contact Mike Best (610‐767‐6079 or [email protected]). Payment is due by Feb. 13 and this event is now open to friends and family.

Lunch at Wert’s Café Chair: Jeff Mohring (‘04, ‘16) Sat., Mar. 30 | Back by popular demand is a lunch at Wert’s Café (515 N. 18th St., Allentown). We have 50 seats available in a private room, can order from the full menu, and will dine at 11:30am. Pay at the restaurant — one check per couple. This event is wait‐listed.

The Devil Is In The Details Chair: Dennis Corona (‘07) Sat., Apr. 06 — Phil Sapienza returns to demonstrate First Place Auto LLC’s offering of Meguiar’s auto detailing products. The rain‐or‐shine seminar will take place inside the service bays at our club sponsor, Faulkner Chevy‐, just off PA‐22 at PA‐512. New and potential club members are especially encouraged to at‐ tend and learn the “secrets” to make your car stand out at a show. Be sure to bring a folding chair if you don’t feel like standing for a few hours. Please contact Dennis Corona at [email protected] or 610.349‐2620 with any questions.

Back to the Ballpark Fri., Apr. 26 | Spring Training didn't even start yet, but we already plan to head back to the ballpark. This private event will be in the PenTeleData Party Porch along the 1st base side. The $37/pp cost includes game ticket, buffet meal, and soft drinks. A cash bar is available, and be sure to stay for the post‐game fireworks! (Parking $5 extra at gate.) This event is now open to family and friends, but is wait‐listed. Payment is due by March 1st.

Although none of the articles in https://members.fotki.com/AAVetteClub this month’s publication featured Site managed by Michelle Minnich photos shared on Fotki, we invite you to visit both club sites to http://public.fotki.com/EACC relive the 2018 happenings. Site managed by Len Feinberg Page 5 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

The [New] Springfest 2019 Chairs: David Hausman & Joe Iervolino Sat., Jun. 01 | David Hausman and Joe Iervolino, along with their planning committee, released the 2019 Springfest Corvette Show flyer, which is posted on  AACC’s website. Many things are new for this year — new venue (Penn State Lehigh Valley), new day and date (Sat., June 1st), new sponsor (Michelin Tires), and even a new online registration option (https://springfest2019/eventbrite.com). Some elements remain consistent from past years — Corvettes only, judged show, rain or shine, Tricky Tray, sponsored by Faulkner Chevy, and plenty of awe‐ some ‘Vettes!

The event flyer is posted online now and will appear in this newsletter beginning in March.

Helping David and Joe with the event will be these committee chairs: Sponsorship (Elizabeth & Bruce Garnto), Tricky Tray (Donna Snowden & Jim Flader), Registration (Denise Iervolino), Operations (Jim Fagan), and Judging (Marty Hegyi). There will be plenty of opportunities for you to get involved on one—or more—committees, so watch for sign‐up sheets as the show nears. Together we can make this the biggest Springfest yet!

Camaros at 2019 Bloomington Gold by Steve Burns (CorvetteBlogger.com) Fri., Dec. 28 | Big news out of the Bloomington Gold camp this week! After several years of contemplation, the show will be expanding to include Camaros in addition to Corvettes for the 2019 show. This is the first ever that another mark has been part of the Bloomington event.

Camaro owners will have many of the same opportunities as Corvettes throughout the June 20th – 22nd event. Atten‐ dees will be able to participate in the driving laps around the speedway, take part in the road tour, and be able to pe‐ ruse many Camaro‐centric vendors. Survivor, Gold, and Benchmark Certification of Camaros isn’t currently offered but could be added somewhere in the future.

“Not only do a lot of our customers have Camaros in their garage, [the Camaro] is a nice stepping stone before entering the Corvette hobby. Why not share the fun that so many Corvette owners are having at Bloomington Gold with owners of another Chevrolet vehicle with the same need for speed?” says Guy Larsen, Bloomington Gold Owner and President. He went on to say “After sharing the idea with a number of our sponsors, customers, and key Camaro players at GM, we decided now is the time to move forward with the addition.”

Bloomington Gold 2019 will take place June 20th – 22nd at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. General admission tick‐ ets, lap times, garages, and suites . . . can be purchased [online at  bloomington‐gold‐corvettes‐usa.myshopify.com].

This is HUGE shift for the Granddaddy of Corvette shows. It’ll be interesting to see how this all comes together as the 2019 event approaches. . . . Allentown Area Corvette Club Page 6 ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

Jim Perkins Passes at Age 83 by Mitch Tally (CorvetteBlogger.com) Sun., Dec. 30 | The Internet is abuzz with rumors about the upcoming mid‐engine Corvette. But if it weren’t for a man named Jim Perkins, there might not have ever been a C5, C6, or C7, much less a much‐anticipated C8.

Perkins passed away Friday after a career that took him literally from the bottom of the rung to the top of the ladder at Chevrolet.

If not for an uncharacteristic begging by General Motors for Perkins to return to the flock after soaring overseas to help launch the brand in Japan in the late ‘80s, the C5 might not ever have been produced.

Upon his return to GM in 1989, Perkins told Motor Trend:

“I didn’t recognize Chevrolet when I went back. It had lost its pride. There was so much infighting among sales, marketing, product planning, distribution, you name it. Everywhere you looked was a silo with its own management, and that’s the kiss of death. It took about a year to replace some top managers with people who would be a lot more responsive. TCE [Total Customer Enthusiasm] had to start at the top, so we had to move some people out who had been there a long time and had a bad attitude about things.”

Perkins knew Chevy needed a shakeup from the top down, as well as a halo car that wasn’t going to be the aging C4 Corvette. When he got back in 1989, though, GM brass had determined that the Corvette was “nonessential,” and there wasn’t going to be a C5, according to former Chevrolet PR leader Ralph Kramer.

In an interview with Automotive News, Kramer gave the credit for the eventual existence of the C5 to Perkins:

“It was Perkins who found the money to go ahead and get the proto‐ types built. If it wasn’t for that, that car was destined to be shelved. He had the opportunity to move some funds around and he did that sur‐ reptitiously, causing no end of anguish among the auditors.”

During his time with Chevy in the early 1990s, Perkins also did what he could to restore the image of Chevy by creating employee, dealer, and product councils, …[allotted] funds for NASCAR and truck develop‐ ment, touted Chevy’s American bona fides, and led the way, of course, to his crowning achievement – the C5.

Ironically, though, Perkins wasn’t there for the launch of the 1997 Corvette as he retired from the company in 1996. Apparently a hard worker from the get‐go, though, Perkins soon became CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group until 2005, when he then turned his attention to building specialty products for Hendrick’s aftermarket Camaros.

So when the new C8 Corvette eventually makes its debut in the coming months, don’t forget to give a little nod of the cap to Jim Perkins for his role in paving the way for this supercar. Page 7 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

Why Still Matters by Steven Cole Smith (AutomobileMag.com) Wed., Jan. 02 | It’s long been said the first automobile race likely occurred shortly after the second car was built—just like it’s probable your own competition history began when your age was still in single digits and you raced a friend or a sibling to the corner, to the dinner table, or to the exit at school. Wanting to know who's fastest begins with a simple foot race then extends to racing multimillion‐dollar sports cars until they break, crash, or win.

But there's even more to sports car racing. It is one of the few mo‐ torsports where "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" may still apply: No one looks at a Ferrari Formula l car or a NASCAR Monster En‐ ergy Cup car and believes the machines on the track share any meaningful parts with supposedly related street models. In multi‐ ple sports car classes, though, the cars not only resemble the models they represent, but they also often begin life as a real production car. And technology from the circuit does make its way into production models, something sports car racing has prided itself on for decades.

Take Porsche, for example: The company created the 550 for its first factory racing program, and it immediately won the Nürburgring race in 1953. A five‐speed transmission with Porsche‐developed synchronization gave birth to the transmission introduced in the 901/911 production cars in 1963. Porsche used two spark plugs per combustion cham‐ ber in its race engines—and that idea was introduced in the 911 Carrera in 1990. The 959, developed in 1983 for a par‐ ticular racing class, had an all‐wheel‐drive system with variable control of the center differential lock; Porsche adapted it for use in the 1990 Carrera 4.

Tech transfer of course applies to performance, but it has also resulted in massive safety improvements: advances in tires, brakes, traction control, crash absorption, collapsible steering columns, data gathering, and more. And everything developed for racing is automatically tested under grueling conditions.

"It's difficult to imagine what the Corvette brand would look like without the Corvette Racing program,” Tadge Juechter (above), chief engineer for Corvette, says. "For 20 years we have been working toward total integration of the race and street car teams. Endurance racing provides us with a treasure trove of information in any number of areas—aerodynamics, engine performance, and chassis, to name a few. That kind of real‐world data is highly valuable to production engineers and designers, and we have made great use of those lessons from the racetrack." Allentown Area Corvette Club Page 8 ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

IMSA Celebrates 50 Years (IMSA.com) IMSA announced their 2019 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race schedule. Whether in‐person, on TV, or in the IMSA app, be sure to cheer on Corvette Racing to another GTLM championship!

 Jan. 24 to Jan. 27—Rolex 24 At Daytona (Daytona Beach, FL; Race Duration: 24 hours)

 Mar. 13 to Mar. 16—Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (Sebring, FL; 12h)

 Apr. 12 to Apr. 13—Grand Prix at Long Beach (Long Beach, CA; 1h 40m)

 May 03 to May 05—Sports Car Challenge at Mid Ohio (Lexington, OH; 2h 40m)

 May 31 to Jun. 01—Detroit Grand Prix (Detroit, MI; 1h 40m)

 Jun. 27 to Jun. 30—Six Hours of the Glen (Watkins Glen, NY; 6h)

 Jul. 05 to Jul. 07—Sportscar Grand Prix (Bowmanville, ON; 2h 40m)

 Jul. 19 to Jul. 20— (Lakeville, CT; 2h 40m)

 Aug. 02 to Aug. 04— (Elkhart Lake, WI; 2h 40m)

 Aug. 23 to Aug. 25—Michelin GT Challenge at VIR (Alton, VA; 2h 40m)

 Sep. 13 to Sep. 15—Weathertech Raceway Laguna Beach (Monterey, CA; 2h 40m)

 Oct. 09 to Oct. 12— (Braselton, GA; 10h)

3,910 Corvettes Sold During 4Q2018 by Keith Cornett (CorvetteBlogger.com) Thu., Jan. 03 | GM released their sales totals this morning for Fourth Quarter 2018. During the months of October, November, and December, the automaker reported a total of 3,910 Corvettes sold. This is a 36.8% decline from the number Corvettes sold during the 4th quarter of 2018. It also represents a decline of 15.7% from the 3rd Quarter ’18 sales of 4,639.

For the 2018 Calendar Year, GM sold 18,791 Corvettes in the USA, a decline of 25.1% over the 25,079 delivered during 2017.

The 4th Quarter 2018 sales figures represent the lowest quarterly sales period for Corvette in 2018, even underper‐ forming 1st Quarter’s 4,457 Corvettes sold during the traditional winter months. But perhaps the most interesting number is the Calendar Year sales of 18,791 which harkens back to the sales totals seen during the final years of the C6.

(Continued on page 9) Page 9 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

Declining C7 Sales Continued...

(Continued from page 8)

The figure is nearly half of what it was during 2014 which saw the sales of 34,836 Corvettes during the C7’s first full year of production.

One of the positive signs for Corvette sales has to do with the 2019 Corvette ZR1. Based on VIN sequence numbers, Chevrolet built an estimated total of around 1475 ZR1s during the 2018 Calendar Year. And if you figure the average price on a ZR1 is roughly $130K, that equals $192 million in ZR1 sales. These are estimates of course, but not too shabby for a single model…

We checked the current offers at Chevrolet.com and other than the lease deal for the base Stingray, there is nothing else shown as the moment for any discounts or incentives for Corvettes. As always, check with your dealers to see what they can offer.

With GM raising prices on all Corvette models and a new C8 on the horizon, I do not see this trend of declining sales ending anytime soon. . . .

“American Original” Documentary Andy Bolig (CorvetteOnline.com) Wed., Jan. 09 | Paul and Todd of Everyday Driver have just finished their 5th feature‐length documentary, “American Original.” In the film, the guys compare 13 Corvettes from all generations of current production to explore the history, legacy, and contributions the Corvette has made to the world of automobiles.

Shot in a wide range of locations around Salt Lake City, UT, the film is simultaneously a Corvette retrospective and a travelogue of great roads and experiences. Enjoying Corvettes from every generation is both exhilarating and a great way to see the USA. Paul and Todd bring the viewer along through dialogue and the sights and sounds of various gen‐ erations of Corvettes. Everything from the latest C7 ZR1, to the earliest‐styled solid‐axle are highlighted and the viewer is brought along for the ride.

“American Original” is available now for purchase or streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Vimeo. Blu‐rays are also available on Amazon.com. You can watch the . . . trailer [at  https://www.corvetteonline.com/news/american‐ original‐documentary‐focuses‐on‐all‐generations‐ corvette/].The only thing better than watching someone having fun driving Corvettes is actually driving your Cor‐ vette, and since much of the country is white and fluffy right now, this may be the perfect time to get in a little “seat time” without having to clean off any road salt! Allentown Area Corvette Club Page 10 ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

2019 Grand Sport Drivers Series Andy Bolig (CorvetteOnline.com) Fri., Jan. 25 | There has been a lot of chatter about a proposed commemorative edition Corvette to be revealed at a press session today as part of the Rolex 24 festivities. The Daytona Speedway app leaked a photo of four cars and their accompanying drivers who created them, which was enough to keep the internet churning until GM officially pulled the covers mid‐day today.

…[T]here are four driver‐spec’d Grand Sports that will be made available to race fans who want to feel connected to their favorite driver. For those who have a mutual respect for all four drivers repre‐ sented, we’d suggest saving your pennies or asking your local dealer for a group discount.

While each of these gentlemen have made it their goal to make Corvette the fastest car on the track, higher‐ups at Chevrolet didn’t ask their input when it came to powering these special editions. Each 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Drivers Edition will have the same 460‐horsepower 6.2L V‐8 as all Grand Sports, along with the requisite dry‐sump system, Michelin Pilot Super Sports rubber, Brembo brakes and additional cooling accessories. All these cars will get black wheels with red stripes and red calipers.

Choices range from the various packaged aesthetic goods chosen by each driver[:] Antonio Garcia, , , and . Each car will have a commemorative dash plaque bearing the designing driver’s name. Beyond that, you can choose from the other options available to Grand Sport buyers, such as a manual or auto trans‐ mission and adding the Z07 package on top of the already‐capable Grand Sport. The Drivers Edition Grand Sport pack‐ age is only available on Grand Sport Coupes, and can be had in 1LT and 2LT trim levels for $4,995 or in the 3LT package for $5,995, The price difference owing to the addition of carbon fiber interior pieces.

On a recent thread started at the Corvette Forum, some enthusiasts were hoping for a bump in horsepower as a nod to these guys’ penchant for going fast on track. Others spent their time waiting for the reveal by correcting spelling errors in the marketing flyer that was posted to the thread. Perhaps [they were] diverting their angst from simply getting 460‐ horsepower as the only option. We feel that each of these drivers are well deserving of a special edition Corvette. Their skill has kept Corvette out in front, and even the street cars that we enjoy today have been honed by their time behind the wheel. With the next‐generation Corvette sightings becoming more frequent, it’s safe to assume that these cars may stand as the last of the front‐engine special edition Corvettes. They will surely help move cars from dealers’ show‐ rooms at a time when everyone is focused on what’s next.

(Continued on page 11) Page 11 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

2019 Drivers Series Continued...

(Continued from page 10)

 Corvette Racing driver Tommy Milner chose Elkhart Lake Blue paint with silver stripes and red fender hash marks for his special edition.

 The Oliver Gavin edition wears Shadow Gray with Torch Red stripes and a red interior.

 Danish racer, Jan Magnussen chose an Arctic White exterior paint and Crystal Red stripes with gray hash marks.

 For those who desire a C7.R‐based paint scheme, you’ll enjoy the Antonio Garcia edition, which bears Racing Yellow paint, a black hood stripe with the Corvette Racing Jake logo and red fender hash marks.

Plug-In For A Safe Driver’s Discount? Andy Bolig (CorvetteOnline.com) Mon., Jan. 28 | The amount of information that our modern cars contain about us is truly staggering. The extent that the OEMs have embraced technology has brought us some of the most powerful, fuel‐efficient and drive‐able [sic] cars of the automotive age. We can enjoy the benefits of computerizing our cars all the way from the fuel pump to the mil‐ lionth mile, and everything in between.

But would you allow that information to be “used” to perhaps garner you a better rate on your mandated insurance? Many insurance companies are now offering devices that insert into the car’s factory OBD‐II port under the dash and literally “report” on your driving style, using inputs from your car’s or your cell phone’s sensors.

Sold as “discounts for good drivers,” these devices are both judge and jury when it comes to your insurance bill. As with anything, if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to worry about, right? It depends, and the best way to know is to check with your particular insurance company and find out what information they use (it varies by company) and how they obtain it.

For instance, Progressive’s Snapshot system is a “usage‐based” insurance policy. According to Progressive’s website, Snapshot uses information “such as the time of day you drive, sudden changes in speed (hard brakes and rapid accel‐ erations), the amount you drive, and, for customers using the mobile app in some states, how you are using your mo‐ bile phone while driving.” While location data is collected as well, Progressive states it doesn’t impact the Snapshot results you earn, but may be used for underwriting purposes.

Other programs, such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save will monitor vehicle speed as well, but the hammer only falls if you ever drive your vehicle above 80 mph. You wouldn’t do that, would you? Companies like State Farm use various other information acquired through either mobile devices or your car’s OnStar or SYNC sys‐ (Continued on page 12) Allentown Area Corvette Club Page 12 ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

Plug In Continued...

(Continued from page 11) tem. Some other criteria used by State Farm’s Drive Save & Save program include the typical mileage, speed, accelera‐ tion/braking and time of day, but also rate your turns, measured by the sharpness at which turns are taken.

One of the issues with monitoring the acceleration and deceleration of your car through sensors is that the inputs are not put into perspective. The biggest offender is “heavy braking,” which Progressive reports as “slowing down anything over seven mph/second.” Watch your speedometer the next time a yellow light pops up or an‐ other driver buts [sic] in front of you and you need to slow down, with or without the approval of an OBD‐equipped device. Would your insurance company prefer you coast through the intersection or swap insurance info with the other driver? What does the device say?

Many companies are now offering downloadable Apps that use the GPS and accelerometers in your phone to deter‐ mine your driving. This solves the occasional issue where the device threw codes in the car’s OBD‐II system, but false readings for acceleration and deceleration can be garnered if your phone is loose in a console or cup holder.

Of course, there are always issues with ...[doling] out absolute praise (discounts) or punishment (surcharges for “aggressive driving”) without the human characteristic of reason. Think twice about loaning out your Corvette to your wild cousin who likes to play pranks on you! Also, participation in any of these programs is likely not the best idea for even an occasional track‐day vehicle. One member on the Corvette Forum mentioned that his program was dinging him for “excessive acceleration,” thanks to the throttle‐blipping of his GM supplied “rev‐matching” in his C7 Corvette.

While the attraction of getting a discount can be quite appealing at times, the old adage of “nothing for free” has never been so true. Many of these programs are marketed as “making better drivers,” and while we’re all for tightening a few of the loose nuts behind the wheel, we think some context is definitely in order. With so much technology like lane‐awareness flowing behind the dashboards of our cars, can we at least give discounts to those who use their turn‐signals? Now THAT would be a benefit to ALL drivers on the road!

There are definitely times that these programs work, but there can also be pitfalls. Being fully informed is the best way to know if any pay‐by‐usage system is right for you. . . . Page 13 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

Trials And Tribulations at Rolex 24-Hour Nigel Dobbie (CorvetteOnline.com) Wed., Jan. 30 | The delay of the mid‐engine C8 means Corvette Racing is going one more year of racing with the ven‐ erable C7.R. The same six drivers who competed in 2018 are continuing for 2019. For the four regular‐season guys, this gave the Corvette marketing department a chance to utilize each driver’s design skills to come up with some special edition Grand Sports, which were announced at Daytona before the Rolex 24‐[h]our race.

Qualifying went okay with Jan Magnussen in the #3 Corvette getting a tow around the banking from Olly Gavin in the #4. This yielded the #3 Corvette getting [s]econd place on the GTLM grid for the race; Olly Gavin started [e]ighth in the #4 car.

Jan Magnussen in the #3 Corvette C7.R took the GTLM class lead on lap 5 and Olly Gavin moved up to [f]ifth by the end of the first stint. Then, disaster struck as Gavin made an error in [judgment] and clipped the #3 Corvette in pitlane [sic] during a full‐course caution. The contact broke the right, front steering arm of the #3 Corvette. This resulted in drop‐ ping the #3 Corvette behind the GTLM class leaders by three laps.

A Class Of Trials

The #912 Porsche had problems with its brakes in the first hour and the #62 Ferrari spun its tires at the first pit stop, earning a drive‐through penalty. The #67 Ford GT, with at the wheel, made an even bigger mistake and performed an improper wave‐by, meaning he gained a lap, so he was penalized 3‐1/2 minutes. They also had to go behind the wall for repairs in the first hour. The #24 BMW suffered steering wheel problems. It has a special wheel for Alex Zanardi and a more conventional wheel for the other two drivers. The steering shaft connector got bent as the car was dropped off of the jacks during a pit stop, just as Zanardi was trying to attach the wheel.

All of this was most uncharacteristic for the GTLM class. They are normally very professional and ... all of the cars are seen nose‐to‐tail lap after lap [regularly], but not this year at Daytona. The result of all this was [that] the #66 Ford GT led the GTLM class ahead of Tommy Milner in the #4 Corvette, the #911 Porsche, #62 Ferrari and the #25 BMW. Tommy Milner then added to the woes for Corvette Racing as he had to do a drive‐through penalty for jumping too early at a restart.

The #3 Corvette, with Antonio Garcia... and then [at the wheel], worked incredibly hard to get its laps back. With the help of some full‐course caution periods, they were back on the lead lap by 11p.m. – only to drop back again when the dashboard failed in the car and it ran out of fuel! Waiting to be [taken] to the garage, combined with the time required to replace the complete dash cluster meant that they were now seven laps back from the lead‐ ers.

With rain starting around 5:00 a.m., Tommy Milner was back in the car. Unfortunately, just after 6:00, he had a big ac‐ cident spinning off‐track in Turn 1. The #4 Corvette slid all the way over to broadside the tire barriers, resulting in a lot of damage to the car. Luckily Tommy walked away from the accident. The #4 was recovered back to the pits where the (Continued on page 14) Allentown Area Corvette Club Page 14 ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

2019 Rolex 24 Continued...

(Continued from page 13)

Corvette Racing team rebuilt the car and had it back out on track, now 10 laps behind the class leaders.

When the #4 car returned to the track, the race was still running under yellow flag conditions due to Tommy’s accident. Although this helped minimize the lost time, it didn’t help once they were back on track, as there were no opportuni‐ ties to gain the laps back. At 7:22, IMSA red‐flagged the race because the rain was getting heavier. It stayed like that until 9:00, when the race went back to green, only to be straight back to yellow when one of the GTD Porsches hit a slow‐moving , littering the front‐straight with debris.

IMSA got the race going again, but eventually the heavy rain returned, leaving them no choice but to put out the red flag again. For the record, the #25 BMW won the GTLM Class and the #3 finished [s]ixth and the #4 [e]ighth. The overall race victory went to the #10 Cadillac DPi of Racing. While the weather and mishaps may have dampened Corvette Racing’s efforts, rest assured there is a long season ahead. Both teams will be ready for the next race at the 12 [H]ours of Sebring on March 11‐18th. Page 15 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

NCM News & Events 2019 Corvette Hall of Fame Inductees Announced Thu., Jan. 17 | The National Corvette Museum has announced the following inductees to be recognizedas part of the 22nd Annual Corvette Hall of Fame Ceremony in 2019: Dollie Cole in the category of Enthusi‐ ast; in the category of Racing; and Tom Peters in the category of GM/Chevrolet. These three indi‐ viduals will be recognized with the highest honor bestowed by the Museum for their contributions to the past, present and future of Corvette.

The 2019 Corvette Hall of Fame recipients will be inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame during a ceremony and ban‐ quet on Friday, August 30, 2019. Their induction will take place as part of the Museum’s 25th Anniversary Celebration August 28 – 31, 2019.

Dollie Cole – Enthusiast

Dollie Ann Cole was a force of nature. Although she was happily married to Ed Cole, President of General Motors, she was never content with just being the auto execu‐ tive’s wife. She instead gained a reputation as a respected businessperson, a staunch defender of the automobile industry, and a strong supporter of Corvette.

Colorful and outspoken, she lived life to the fullest, doing everything from being a model, to becoming an accredited test driver and pilot, as well as the Senior Editor for a publishing company. She was also known for getting things done when no one else could. When privateer racing efforts got stuck, sometimes all it took to get some clan‐ destine support from GM engineering was to let Dollie know about it.

Dollie also provided leadership for several charitable organizations in support of dis‐ abled people, children, animals, and families of fallen officers. She served on several national and local boards, including PBS, The Smithsonian National Air and Space Mu‐ seum, and the National Corvette Museum, where she presided as its Chair in 2000 and 2001.

“Dollie took her position on the board very seriously,” Museum Executive Director Wendell Strode remembers. “When the Museum was really struggling, she pushed for a new business plan against strong opposition. She leveraged her contacts in corporate America and GM to open doors to find ways to generate revenue for the Museum. She hosted some large fundraising events for us, and on more than one occasion she would even write a check so that we could be involved in some activity that would make us more visible locally and nationally. Dollie was very proud of her affiliation with the National Corvette Museum. She worked hard to get others excited, involved, and proud of the Museum that represented America’s sports car.”

(Continued on page 17) Allentown Area Corvette Club Page 16 ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

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Faulkner Chevrolet Cadillac Sandi Kirby 298 Stoke Park Road Cadillac Sales Manager Bethlehem, PA 18017 purchased from Direct: (610) 849-1150 [email protected] Faulkner Chevy Local: (610) 867-4177 include a free Sales: (855) 535-9080 Service: (855) 450-0639 1-year AACC membership! www.FAULKNERMOTORS.com Page 17 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

NCM News & Events

(Continued from page 15)

Briggs Cunningham – Racing

Briggs Swift Cunningham was the very definition of the quintessential American sports‐ man. He came from a wealthy family, which provided him with the means to fully com‐ mit himself to his passion for racing. While cars were his primary focus, he also took to the waves, winning the 1958 America’s Cup race in a yacht named “The Columbia” that he funded and skippered.

“Mr. C” thrived on automobile competition and set his sights on challenging the Euro‐ peans on the international circuits, for America and with American technology. To do that he pulled together the best of the best to build cars and teams. A talented driver himself, he also hired drivers like Dick Thompson, John Fitch, , Stirling Moss and others who had the nerve and the skill to win. In the process he became one of the most prominent figures in the racing world, to the point of making the cover of TIME magazine.

Corvette had come along at just the right time for Briggs as it was already being hailed as America’s sports car. It had proven itself earlier in SCCA championships, confirming its ability to be competitive. After talking with Corvette engineer Zora Arkus‐Duntov, Briggs bought three 1960 Corvettes to take to France for the most famous race on the planet, the .

On June 25th, 1960, the three race modified Cunningham Corvettes, painted white with blue stripes, went up against the best in the world. Despite putting on a good run, the #1 Corvette driven by Briggs and Bill Kimberley would be the first to fall when rain would cause the car to flip and then catch fire. Corvette #2, driven by Dick Thompson and Fred Windridge, would also wreck, taking it out of contention. Cunningham Corvette #3 however, driven by Bob Grossman and John Fitch, would make history as the first Corvette ever to win its class at Le Mans, and secure Briggs Cunning‐ ham’s place for all time in the Corvette Hall of Fame.

Tom Peters – GM/Chevrolet

Growing up, Tom Peters remembers sketching everything, including cars. Still, it wasn’t until his second year in college, where he studied fine art and advertising illustration, that he learned about industrial design. “Someone in class brought in an Art Center catalog and it was an epiphany for me. Paging through it I saw all these drawings of cars and products, and these exciting pictures of people working around models and mock ups. I knew right then where I needed to be.”

(Continued on page 18) Allentown Area Corvette Club Page 18 ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

NCM News & Events Continued...

(Continued from page 17)

Tom would graduate from Art Center, and in 1980 he was offered a position by Chuck Jordan at GM.

Tom’s work in the Advance Studio caught the eye of Jerry Palmer, Corvette Chief De‐ signer for Chevy 3 Studio, who offered him a position on the team. Tom worked on the ZR‐1 Corvettes and other variants as well as the Corvette Indy Car, his very first con‐ cept vehicle. He eventually got his own studio and was asked to come up with an ad‐ vance proposal for the C5 Corvette. His imagination, hard work and ability to inspire the best from his team led to Tom becoming Design Director for the C6 Corvette and later the C7 Stingray, ultimately serving as the Director of Design for Performance Car Exteriors for Corvette and Camaro.

“My goal in working on future Corvettes was to create a unique personality that is still distinctively Corvette–with a character and soul that is both new and timeless. The best and most wonderful thing about working on Corvette is doing it with people in design, engineering and marketing, who have such a strong passion for the car and for the people who drive them. You’ve heard about the people who make this car their goal in life—the ones who pass that love for the car down through the family. It’s a special car to those who drive them. It is a part of their lifestyle and a part of American culture in general. It’s been amazing to have some part in that. Each day that I walked into that stu‐ dio, I felt honored and blessed. I never took it for granted.”

Since its inception in 1997, 71 individuals have been inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame. Bios, photos and in many case videos of each are available on the Museum’s website at  www.corvettemuseum.org.

National Corvette Museum 2019 Events 350 Corvette Drive MiM Daytona Rolex 24 ...... Jan. 23 Bowling Green, KY 42101 Michelin NCM Bash...... Apr. 25‐27 © National Corvette Museum 2019 MiM Dragon Run@Biltmore ... Apr. 28‐May 01 C4 Gathering @ NCM...... May 16‐18 Current NCM Raffles MiM Branson Experience ...... Jun. 04‐08 Arctic White 2LT Cpe | Unlim. Tix. @ $10...... Feb. 07 MiM Le Mans @ France...... Jun. 06‐18 Le Mans Race Weekend @ NCM...... Jun. 15‐16 Page 19 AllentownCorvetteClub.org ‘Vetter’s Letter | Vol. 26, Iss. 02 | February 2019

Neither Allentown Area Corvette Club nor the Newsletter Editors are responsible Corvette Classifieds for ad content or for any exchanges as a result of ads published.

If you have something Corvette-related to sell, contact the newsletter editors to run a free ad for six (6) months. If your item does not sell within this timeframe, we ask that you contact us and we will continue to run your ad as space permits. Contact Kevin & Michelle Minnich at [email protected] or call 610-530-0923.

1954 Roadster — Sportsman Red, Completely restored to NCRS standards. One of 100 in this color. Serious inquiries only please.

(Joan, [email protected])1802 1964 Coupe — 327-365hp matching #s. All original. 75k miles. Everything works! 3rd owner / had it for 33 years. Silver Blue Acrylic laquer. Ex-

tremely good condition. Frame-off resto. Never wrecked or pieced together. Needs NOTHING—LIKE NEW! $74,000. (Don, 412-720-7760)1808 1965 Coupe — Red with black int. Side pipes. Original engine and interior. Original style knock-off rims. Underbody was checked 2 years ago an in

excellent condition. SC car. (Cathy, 843-839-9800 or [email protected])1901 1968 Roadster — Cordovan Maroon, Tobacco int., 350cid, 4-spd. AT. 17,376 miles! No history of body or mechanical damage/repair although It has not been driven for some years-stored under a tarp in a garage in Bucks Cty., PA. Selling due to medical issues. Contact for

additional information (Richard, [email protected])1807 1994 Black Rose Coupe — Black interior, 6-spd., 52K+ miles. A former AACC club member car. Inspected, PA Classic tag, ready to enjoy. $9,500

(Tom, 610-751-5314)1805 AACC Car!! 1998 Pearl Purple Metallic Convertible — Rare color combo (1 of 10) w/ Pewter leather & white top, 6-spd., Dual-zone AC, PS,

Memory, CD, Real time damping, 52k miles. $19,500 (Dave, 610-390-9484)1805

1999 Convertible — Platinum, needs 4 new tires, scratch on right bumper, 80,000 miles. $10,000 OBO. (Jim, 610-936-2830)1808 1999 Torch Red Coupe — Light Oak int., 6 speed manual, 20,200 original miles, garage kept, never driven in rain, excellent condition.

Build Sheet, Window Sticker, Owner's Manual, all documentation. $19,000 (Jay, 610 392-7044, [email protected])1806

2002 Silver Coupe — Black interior, 6-spd., 24,300 miles. $18,125 (Stacie, 484-619-5563)1805 AACC Car!! 2013 Night Race Blue Metallic 427 Convertible — Blue top, Light Cashmere int., 60th Anniversary Edition, Chrome wheels, light-up

WindResistor, 1SB package. Garage kept with 24,360 miles. Asking $52,000 (Paulinea, [email protected] or 484-863-0097)1810 2016 Night Race Blue 2LZ AT Z06 Coupe — Black interior, Carbon Flash racing stripes, NAV, Performance Data Recorder, APR carbon fiber skirts and front wheel spats, X-Pel on front and sides plus full ceramic coating by Oakes Detail. Genuine GM Z06 indoor cover, Corvette battery

tender. $65,000. (John, 302-234-5750)1712

1965-67 AM-FM Corvette Radio — p/n 986281, fully serviced, good chrome, works great. $325. (Tom, 610-751- 5314)1802

1974 Ignition Box and Cover — Contact for info and pricing. (Carmel, 610-704-7006)1901 Custom C3 T-Tops — (non-OEM) Mahogany painted frame with tinted center, show only (does not lock). Includes protective cases. $150.

(Charlie Kelley, 610-437-4960)1808 2002 Silver Z06 Items — Many parts including OEM decklid, hood, emblems, lugs, mats, racing helmet. Many additional items.

(Bill, [email protected])1804 C6 Tires — 4 original tires from 2006 Z06, Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar, 328 miles. 2- 275/35/ZR18, 2- 325/30/ZR19. Tire Rack lists at $1566,

asking $450. (Rick, 610-767-7468)1712

C6 Accessories — Roof Panel Sunliner, Black w/ holes (removable/reusable) great sun protection. $25. (Valerie or Blair, 610-438-8885)1808

100 gal. Fuel Storage Tank — Aluminum with hand pump, ideal for the back of a pickup truck. $50. (Ernie, 610-504-8707)1808 C6 Car Cover — Fits Cpe/Z06/GS. 2 years old. Indoor/Outdoor (but only used indoors) with mirror pockets & fleece lining. Storage bag. You may

take it home to try it first. Will not ship. $75. (Art, 610-760-8883)1812 ALLENTOWN AREA CORVETTE CLUB, INC.

P.O. Box 90896 Allentown, PA 18109 Phone: 610-530-0923 [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

August 28-31, 2019