Great video. Very informative. I was 18 at the time and already dreaming of owning a vette. Finally got one 20 years later. I’ve heard of that series but never knew the true history of it. Thank you. Cheers from Toronto. 🇨🇦🍷🇨🇦
One of the big names you missed was Paul Newman. And the challenge cars have straight pipe exhaust with no cats and just ditching the cats and putting in straight pipes took the TPI from 245hp to 300 just ditching cats and mufflers!
With a TPIS cat back, SLP Ram Air, underdrive pulley, and SSCA chip my 1985 Corvette at the drag strip beat a stock 1987 Corvette by 1.1 seconds in the 1/4 mile!
Other than the one in the NCM, I've seen two privately owned Challenge cars. The first, back in '07 was in the showroom of the former Grabiak Chevrolet in New Alexandria, PA. The other was at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in 2021 in which Corvette was Marque of the Year. My next C4 will be a Challenge car, no doubt. Love 'em. Absolutely love 'em. ❤️
That's too funny Lyle :-) The one and only Vette I have is a 09 Z06, and never had a clue it was the most versioned year offered. Definitely won't forget, lol. Cheers from Canada :-)
I was there 1988,Meadowlands N.J. for my 23rd bday,awesome and they all sounded so cool,got up front close to see Mario Andretti also,saw the Corvette Challenge Vette at Malcolm Konner Corvette also when I went with my friend to pick up his 88 drop top,miss the 80's!!
I remember in the late 70s Kawasaki did this called the tournament of Champions, 10 identical sleds driven by the top drivers and same thing when it's not your machine it's a lot easier to try and push someone off the track
I went to Mosport in Ontario Canada. we went with our Corvette club and got to do a parade lap before the Corvette challenge race .it was so exciting to watch the race.
Protofab was located in wixom Michigan and was owned by Bob Riley and Gary Pratt. Together they built some famous race cars in the 80's. Pratt co-owner Pratt & Miller and Riley still builds race cars in NC.
Pretty cool they got the Corvette Challenge to be a thing, sounds like it was some good fun. Major thing to point out though... They made the it illegal for the Corvette to compete in the showroom stock category because the others competing couldn't be bothered to step up their game and (in basic) threw a tantrum and threatened to leave. Just because the Corvette was kickin' *ss and taking names... Wow... very unprofessional. Worse yet the S.C.C.A. allowed it.
The best part of the Show Room Stock was the 24 hrs of Nelson at Nelson Ledges in Ohio near me. Often Chevy would drive the cars to the race win then drive them back to their shops. That was rubbing it in on the Porsche teams. Also the Nelson race permitted the cars from the coming model year. So often it was a first look at the coming models. Those were golden times. The Escort series. I did work for BFG. They would make the first Gen Comp TA soft then cut the tread down. It would be a slick after a few laps running on a layer of rubber for grip. They had tricks.
If you could get GM to do that it would be a miracle. I’m a GM guy for better or worse, but they continually shout themselves in the foot I’m surprised they have any toes left . Then again who knows
Great video. Very informative. I was 18 at the time and already dreaming of owning a vette. Finally got one 20 years later. I’ve heard of that series but never knew the true history of it. Thank you. Cheers from Toronto. 🇨🇦🍷🇨🇦
One of the big names you missed was Paul Newman. And the challenge cars have straight pipe exhaust with no cats and just ditching the cats and putting in straight pipes took the TPI from 245hp to 300 just ditching cats and mufflers!
With a TPIS cat back, SLP Ram Air, underdrive pulley, and SSCA chip my 1985 Corvette at the drag strip beat a stock 1987 Corvette by 1.1 seconds in the 1/4 mile!
As soon as i see C4's you know i'm already here! 🔥
SWEAR
Funny you brought up Mandy Pilgrim. I just spoke to him on Thursday. Great driver very under rated.
Other than the one in the NCM, I've seen two privately owned Challenge cars. The first, back in '07 was in the showroom of the former Grabiak Chevrolet in New Alexandria, PA. The other was at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in 2021 in which Corvette was Marque of the Year.
My next C4 will be a Challenge car, no doubt. Love 'em. Absolutely love 'em. ❤️
That's too funny Lyle :-) The one and only Vette I have is a 09 Z06, and never had a clue it was the most versioned year offered. Definitely won't forget, lol. Cheers from Canada :-)
Spoiler alert!
I was there 1988,Meadowlands N.J. for my 23rd bday,awesome and they all sounded so cool,got up front close to see Mario Andretti also,saw the Corvette Challenge Vette at Malcolm Konner Corvette also when I went with my friend to pick up his 88 drop top,miss the 80's!!
Would Love to see a C8 Corvette Challenge. That would be fun and would give GM great insight on improving their C8's.
I remember in the late 70s Kawasaki did this called the tournament of Champions, 10 identical sleds driven by the top drivers and same thing when it's not your machine it's a lot easier to try and push someone off the track
I had the pleasure of going to Powell’s driving school. Great guy and great experience at Mosport in Ontario Canada.
I would love to see another Corvette challenge
I went to Mosport in Ontario Canada. we went with our Corvette club and got to do a parade lap before the Corvette challenge race .it was so exciting to watch the race.
As you mentioned some great videos out there to enjoy on YT.
Protofab was located in wixom Michigan and was owned by Bob Riley and Gary Pratt. Together they built some famous race cars in the 80's. Pratt co-owner Pratt & Miller and Riley still builds race cars in NC.
One is at the Corvette museum
I think it would be cool if GM started a corvette challenge with the C8. I believe it would be really popular.
Pretty cool they got the Corvette Challenge to be a thing, sounds like it was some good fun. Major thing to point out though... They made the it illegal for the Corvette to compete in the showroom stock category because the others competing couldn't be bothered to step up their game and (in basic) threw a tantrum and threatened to leave. Just because the Corvette was kickin' *ss and taking names... Wow... very unprofessional. Worse yet the S.C.C.A. allowed it.
Did you even watch the video bro
The best part of the Show Room Stock was the 24 hrs of Nelson at Nelson Ledges in Ohio near me. Often Chevy would drive the cars to the race win then drive them back to their shops. That was rubbing it in on the Porsche teams. Also the Nelson race permitted the cars from the coming model year. So often it was a first look at the coming models.
Those were golden times. The Escort series. I did work for BFG. They would make the first Gen Comp TA soft then cut the tread down. It would be a slick after a few laps running on a layer of rubber for grip. They had tricks.
Corvette challenge? You bet!
2013
Base
Z51
GS
427 Edition
Z06
ZR1
Cool story Lyle.
Another R9G? heeelll yaaa
If you could get GM to do that it would be a miracle.
I’m a GM guy for better or worse, but they continually shout themselves in the foot I’m surprised they have any toes left .
Then again who knows
2012.
You only named 8 versions, I have a trivia nerd in our club and I want to stump him on this one, but I want to be correct!!! What did I miss?
I’ll check once back in the shop
Wouldn't a C8 Challenge for a pile of prize money spark a Corvette buying frenzy.
I have a ‘09 Z51, you forgot to list that version… that makes 10 correct?
No, that was an option in the base cars, not a stand- alone edition.
What do you think of the yanko being made? I would really like it if they used the wide body of the z06
Was that the real Malcom Konnor?
2019?
2005
2000
The Corvette was over qualified lol
🤷♂