QUICK SHIFTS: Sam Schmidt’s C8 Corvette, a New Ride for GTA Fans, DIY C8 Engine Cover Swap, Vintage Corvette Racers, and More!

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 Sam Schmidt taking a drive in his new C8 semi-autonomous motorcar, GTA online fans have a new mid-engine sports car to play with, a DIY on how to change out your C8 Corvette’s engine cover, and a fun video showing vintage Corvette racers being thrown around the Nurburgring. Our throwback for the week is a look at the 1969 Corvette ZL1 in Monaco Orange.

FIRST GEAR:

Sam Schmidt is proof that you can’t keep a racer down for very long. The former IndyCar racer turned team owner became a quadriplegic following a high-speed crash at the Walt Disney World Speedway in 2000. We’ve been following his most recent exploits with Arrow Electronics and the Semi-Autonomous Motorcar, or SAM, that allows the former racer to drive at speeds over 100 mph once again utilizing advanced sensors and cameras. His previous SAMs were built using a C7 Corvette Z06 and now Schmidt has been upgraded to the mid-engine C8 Corvette. Take a hot lap with Sam as he controls the C8 Corvette from the passenger seat with his special sunglasses and breathing tube:

SECOND GEAR:

The C8 Corvette has officially been added to GTA Online where it’s known as the Invetero Coquette D10. The latest Coquette is based on the mid-engine Chevy as it features many of the same design elements. The car was added to the game as part of the 1.51 LS Summer Special update earlier this month. The C8 Corvette may be one of the best values in exotic cars in the real world, but in Los Santos, the car will cost you a mere $1.51 million!

THIRD GEAR:

One of the top modifications we’ve seen from C8 Corvette owners is adding a custom engine cover to the Stingray’s LT2 V8 engine. After all, Chevy designers worked with engineers to show off the 6.2 Liter V8 under the rear glass so now owners are turning to the aftermarket for custom covers done in the C8’s various exteriors like Sebring Orange and Rapid Blue. Our friends at the Daily Downshift have added a weight-saving carbon-fiber engine cover to their ride, and in this video, they show how to properly remove the pesky clip on the front without damaging it.

FOURTH GEAR:

As we hit fourth gear, we bring you the sights and sounds of vintage C2 Corvette racers and a Grand Sport Replica tearing up the racetrack at the Historic GP Zandvoort and Oldtimer GP at the Nurburgring. These drivers show no fear whatsoever as they literally drift around various high-speed corners of the track. With a soundtrack that matches the excitement, this quick 3-minute 26-second video is one that old-school racing fans will not want to miss:

REVERSE:

The legend of the extremely-rare Corvette ZL1 has been well-told over the years with enthusiasts knowing that GM built just two 1969 Corvette ZL1s for the public. The all-aluminum ZL1 motors added $4,700 to the cost of the car, which was basically the same price as a base Corvette. While the existence of the first ZL1 was widely known as a Yellow Corvette with a black stripe now owned now by Roger Judski, the location of the second ZL1 was somewhat of a mystery. Seven years ago we were at the 2013 Bloomington Gold and captured these photos of the second ZL1 Corvette as it was presented for certification judging.

Thats all, Corvette Nation! Now get out there and drive and we will see you back here next week for another round of Quick Shifts!!

Previous Quick Shifts:
C8 Corvette vs Shelby GT500, C8 Tops 911, C8 Review, Shark Week, Corvette Nomad, and More!
New C8 Corvette Reviews, Ask Jack, Cadillac Lyriq Revealed, Ferrari Challenge, Farley to Lead Ford, and More!
Unwrapping Rapid Blue, Miata ‘Midyear’ Tributes, Top Corvette Engines, Hooning the Electric Mustang, Classic C5 Review