Velocity Corvette Club

Texas Corvette Club Listing

vccadmin — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 06:21:15 +0000

Many great clubs exist across the state of Texas; we have done our best to include them all here.

Congratulations GM on 1.5 Million Corvette

Mike — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:26:00 +0000

Chevrolet had just produced the 1.5 millionth Corvette. It was a white convertible. Congratulations GM on reaching yet another production milestone.

2010 Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1 enhancements

Mike — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:30:22 +0000

For 2010 the big news is about the return of the Corvette Grand Sport. The Grand Sport will replace the Z51 option and also offers the Heritage Edition that adds the distinctive hash mark graphics to the front fenders. However, I think while the software and computer updates that comprise the Z06 and ZR1 launch control system have more hidden performance value than would be apparent.

I was expecting a horsepower boost for the Z06 this year, but remembered that most of the performance is wasted with an impressive burnout at launch. Getting the maximum horsepower and torque of the Z06 to the ground is a huge problem for the average driver, so this forumul should balance out the Nissan GT-R equation with an impressive 0-60 MPH and ¼ mile ET improvement for the Corvette.

The GrandSport Offers:

6.2-liter LS3 V8 436 horsepower and 428 lb-ft
Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission
Manual Transmission also gets a dry-sump oiling system, differential cooler, and a rear-mounted battery
14-inch with six-piston calipers in front and 13.4-inch with four-piston
Revised shocks and springs with heavier duty stabilizer bars
18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels (Front: 275/35ZR18 Rear: 325/30ZR19)

Corvette Z06

Launch Control

Corvette ZR1

Launch Control with Advanced Racing Modes

GM to close 1,700 dealerships by June 1

vccadmin — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:53:30 +0000

General Motors Corp has told U.S. dealers it is accelerating its timetable for closing about 1,700 dealerships as it rushes to meet a June 1 deadline to restructure under U.S. government oversight, people with knowledge of the discussions said.

Source: Read the full story at Reuters

GM sales down 49 percent last month

vccadmin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:55:05 +0000

Sales are have not improved for domestic automakers even with government help and steep discounts. Reports show that annualized US car sales slipped below 10m last month.

General Motors’ monthly sales of cars and light trucks fell by 49 per cent last month, Chrysler’s by 55 per cent and Ford Motor’s by 40 per cent, including vehicles made by Volvo, its Swedish premium brand.

The expectation is that we may be reaching the bottom soon, but I expect we still have a little ways to go before we start to see the market improve.

Source:Financial Times.

Pfadt Featherlight Generation Coil Overs to Launch in February

Mike — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:19:42 +0000

If you’re in the market for coil overs, add another great option to the list. Pfadt Engineering will be releasing Pfadt Featherlight Generation coil over series next month.

The Featherlight Generation of coil overs from Pfadt have a lot to offer:

1. Inverted design for lower unsprung mass
2. Aluminum body
3. Made in the USA
4. Pfadt custom delrin spherical mounting system
5. Hypercoil Springs (rates to be released soon)
6. Single adjuster for both compression and rebound
7. Adjustable body length allows ultimate ride height flexibility
8. Non-emulsion design with separate gas chamber

The Pfadt Corvette-specific shock body design incorporates the delrin spherical mounting system.

Ultra-light weight like the name implies, the Featherlight coil overs from Pfadt will provide the ultimate in construction, design and easy track-day tuning.

The adjustment knobs are easily accessed by reaching behind the wheel so you won’t have to modify your car. The really cool thing about the custom design of our adjustment knobs is that by Summer 2009 we’ll have available in-cockpit adjustability. You’ll be able to tune your suspension damping from the comfort of the driver’s seat. Stay tuned for the cool features and interface of this option!

This launch of the Featherlight Generation single adjustable coil over is only the beginning. Pfadt’s next coil over launch in mid Summer 2009 will be the Featherlight Pro Series. The Pro Series will feature an external remote canister and independent 2- or 3-Way adjustability.

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Expect introductory pricing to be $2500 – $2600.

As many member know, VCC BLU has been running the first generation Pfadt steel coil-overs and adjustable sway bar kit for 2+ years now. It is great to see output of the research and development going on at Pfadt Engineering.

It does not surprise me that Pfadt Engineering is growing quickly and enjoying their hard won success in both racing and the market place. Pfadt’s products are both made of quality materials and are expertly engineered by Aaron.

Having the benefit of both working with and meeting Aaron and Robin Pfadt in person, I can safely say they are good Corvette people.

C6 Z06 Brake Kit Install on C5: Worth the Weight?

Mike — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 02:17:41 +0000

There is no question that the C6 Corvette Z06 brakes look impressive and provide increased clamping force, but are they worth the weight?

If you have been thinking about upgrading your C5 Corvette brakes with the C6 Z06 Corvette brakes you may want to consider the increased unsprung weight.

Weight of C5 Corvette OEM Brake Parts
Total Weight: 87.4lb

Front Rotor = 17.50lb
Rear Rotor = 13.25lb
Front Caliber = 8.10lb
Rear Caliber = 4.85lb

Weight of the 2005-2007 Corvette Z06 OEM Brake Parts
Total Weight: 126.4lb

Front Rotor = 25.95lb
Rear Rotor = 19.90lb
Front Caliber = 9.10lb
Rear Caliber = 8.25lb

With an additional 39lb of unsprung weight added to your car, personally I would have to question the absolute value when installed on a stock C5.

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We will address the braking performance improvements in a later article; but after seeing the brakes installed they definitely get a recommendation from the looks department.

Chrysler Financial gets 1.5B Government Loan

Mike — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:48:02 +0000

This article from 1983 brings up some interesting points on Chrysler’s last bailout.

Ford and General Motors would have taken over much of a bankrupt Chrysler’s market and produced cars more efficiently, reducing the cost of domestic automobiles.

I hope it will be different this time around.

GM needs a new strategy to survive

Mike — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:04:40 +0000

For 76 consecutive years GM was the #1 selling vehicle manufacturer in the world. Toyota took the top spot from GM in 2008 with three brands: Toyota, Lexus, and Scion. As the US economy continues to deteriorate through 2009, GM must make significant changes to its product lines to survive. As part of GM’s restructuring plan presented to law makers, GM plans to keep four brands.

GM brands planned to keep:

Buick – affordable luxury.
Cadillac – high tech luxury.
Chevrolet – the performance, price, MPG, and value leader.
GMC – professional grade Chevrolet models.

We all know that a government bailout of GM, Chrysler, and Ford will not be enough to save anyone. The bailout may delay the inevitable, but as long as we still practice capitalism the market makes the final decision. Up to now, the market has not been pleased with the products produced by US automakers. But all is not lost, GM more so than Ford or Chrysler is positioned to reinvent itself and establish a new era of the automobile.

To reinvent itself GM will need a strong leader, one that can separate the GM of yesterday with the organization it needs to become today. GM will have to start from the ground up and find every bit of efficiency in its manufacturing and supply lines. Manual labor will have to be reserved for the luxury brands, and complete automation of the build process combined with a new production philosophy will need to be applied to everything else.

The new GM will need highly skilled labor to operate its automated assembly lines. The US is a knowledge based economy now; we outsourced commodity manufacturing years ago. We need to change the manufacturing game once again and implement a fully automated manufacturing process.

The formula is simple: QUALITY, PASSION, PERFORMANCE, and VALUE.

If you are familiar with the Corvette, then the above formula should be easy to understand. If GM can find a way to infuse the DNA of the Corvette into every product, they will be on their way back to the top.

What the world wants is more Corvettes.

2009 Houston Auto Show

Mike — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:08:41 +0000

The 2009 Houston Auto Show was missing something this year. In my opinion the only two attractions are the ZR1 Corvette and the Nissan GTR. The show is still worth the time, but I had just wished for more excitement.

New Rule:
Never take automotive advice from a man wearing a fanny pack.