Welcome to another fun-filled edition of Quick Shifts! Quick Shifts is a content feature here at CorvetteBlogger featuring links to Corvette and automotive-related stories of interest. The content that we have hand-selected for you this week includes the C8 as a daily driver, a ‘Vette obsessed neighborhood, don’t buy a used Porsche!, McLaren F1 successor and Cadillac EVs revealed, 288 GTO vs F40, a (funny?) new CEO for Ford, Changes at Road & Track, and more!
FIRST GEAR:
Engage launch control for a quick start in first with two fresh C8 reviews! First, Henry Payne of the Detroit News talks about the Mid-engine Marvel’s surprising aptitude as a daily driver. Next, automotive writing legend and fan of the site (he once gave me a schooling in my own comment section, and I was happy to have it!), Don Sherman has officially been a C8 owner for three weeks. He gives his thoughts on ownership thus far but, even more interesting is the fact that, as rare as 2020 Corvettes are at this point in time, Mr. Sherman already has three of them living within two blocks of him (with another ordered and on the way for ’21!). Read all about these Detroit Stingrays and the five other, non-eighth-generation, Corvettes that call Don’s neighborhood home on Hagerty.com.
SECOND GEAR:
CorvetteBlogger had a record month for readership in July. Corvette fever is just as hot now as it was a year ago during the frenzy of the C8’s reveal but, strangely, the internet has been relatively quiet on the new Corvette content front. Sticking with Hagerty Media for one more gear though, we do have one more semi-vetted article (that will hook you right away with a great, and creatively used, Fast and Furious quote!) to share before we open ‘er up to the rest of the vehicular spectrum in third gear.
In his second regular column, Ask Jack, Jack Baruth doles out some humorous and eye-opening advise to a fellow named Jacob who thinks/thought (hopefully past tense after getting Jack’s answer) he might be in the market for a Porsche Boxter/Cayman of the 986 or 987 variety. The whole thing is very complementary to Corvettes and will make you doubly happy that you weren’t afflicted with a slightly different, very German form of car enthusiasm than the all-American strain shared by our readership. See for yourself by following this link.
THIRD GEAR:
This past week didn’t stop at one exciting car reveal, it went all-in with a pair!
At the tender age of 74, the renowned designer of the McLaren F1, Gordon Murray hopes to strike (engine bay) gold again with the new T.50, which is being billed as the greatest, and possibly last, analog driver’s car. The specs boggle the mind: it is powered by a naturally aspirated, 12,100 (not a typo!) RPM, 3.9L Cosworth V12 that makes 654 HP, 344 lb-ft of twist, and tips the scales at a V12 record, 392 lbs. The whole car only weighs 2,175 lbs. and, best of all, has but one transmission choice; a six-speed manual. The drivetrain also fits the “driver’s car” bill with only the rear wheels receiving power. We could go on and on about this technical tour de force (wait until you see the fan-assisted aerodynamics!) but we thought it would be better in its native (UK) English. Enjoy a 40 minute video from Carfection… or just read about it from the blokes at Car Magazine.
Cadillac also pulled back the curtain on the first weapon to be used in GM’s all-out assault on Tesla; the Lyriq (also, sadly, not a typo). Even though we would have much rather seen the $200,000 flagship EV sedan and after hearing about the intricate, elegant, even artful way that Gordon Murray’s T.50 will be propelled, a few batteries powering electric motors with hardly any moving parts seems mind-numbingly boring, this Caddy is a big deal!
FOURTH GEAR:
In, possibly, the best read of the month, EVO got together two of the greatest road cars ever built, the Ferrari F40 and its predecessor, the 288 GTO for a turbocharged sibling throwdown! No further explanation needed, really, check it out here.
FIFTH GEAR:
Ford CEO, Jim Hackett is out and COO, Jim Farley will be taking over, effective October 1st. Get to know “passionate car guy,” Farley by clicking here. This promotion struck a chord with your author because 1. he actually cares about cars (which seems to be a dying trait in Detroit) and 2. the new Jim is the cousin of the late, great Chris Farley. Any relative of Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker, is alright with me!
SIXTH GEAR:
There was an interesting development in our industry this week. It seems like the move to New York has finally gone to Road & Track’s collective head. They have gone full Wall Street Journal so be careful, you only get three of their premium articles for free before getting a message about joining their new “lifestyle” brand. Read all about the changes here. Once you get past all of the nauseating buzz words, it actually sounds like a really neat thing to be a part of! Check out those extra experiences! I’ve spoken to R&T’s Editor in Chief (really great guy!) about things being tight, even at 73-year-old staples of vehicular journalism. This seems like an outstanding effort to stay profitable and relevant in this, constantly changing, world.
REVERSE:
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Corvette Racing will be missing its first Le Mans in 20 consecutive visits as the logistics of moving people and equipment to France for the rescheduled Summer Classic would have played havoc with the team’s North American IMSA campaign.
The week’s REVERSE takes us back 10 years to August 2010 following Lance Miller’s return of the No.3 1960 Briggs Cunningham Corvette with its driver John Fitch to Le Mans for the 50th Anniversary of the car’s first in class finish. They were accompanied by Corvette collector and documentary filmmaker Michael Brown who captured the experience. Here was the documentary trailer:
That’s it for this week, Corvette Nation! Now get out there and drive those ‘Vettes!
Previous Quick Shifts:
Unwrapping Rapid Blue, Miata ‘Midyear’ Tributes, Top Corvette Engines, Hooning the Electric Mustang, Classic C5 Review
Angelyne, Corvette Racing, 5 Rarest Corvettes, Bronco Revealed, AMG GT, Porsche 911 Rivals, and More!
Car and Driver’s GOAT, Cruising Ohio, Syracuse Show, New Dodge’s Previewed, C8 Review, and More!
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Lyriq looks like a jacked up Lexus soccer mom SUV.
“Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Corvette Racing will be missing its first Le Mans in 20 consecutive visits as the logistics of moving people and equipment to France for the rescheduled Summer Classic would have played havoc with the team’s North American IMSA campaign.”
So, Keith, why not enter Jan Magnussen, Mike Rockenfeller, and Marcel Fassler with the same C8.R they ran at the COTA 6Hr in February? Looking at the IMSA schedule there are no race conflicts where they need 3-driver teams, so Mike and Marcel are free. Jan, for all intent and purpose, is free, it would keep the record going, and who knows, give an opportunity for another Win, or at least a Podium Finish.
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