Rob Willis

It's been a busy, but very fun August for me and my 2011 Corvette Grand Sport.


8.03.12 - 8.04.12
First, my parents and my g/f and I went up to the ALMS (American LeMans) series race at Mid-Ohio and did the corral. I've been doing it for years and always enjoy it. The race was great other then the suspension part failure for the one C6R. The corral tent wasn't as well stocked (drinks and food) as some years but still worth it. The corral always has the factory drivers and a few GM engineers or Corvette higher ups pick one car each from the corral as their favorite. I was lucky enough to have Antonio Garcia choose my car, he said "it looks almost like our race car.." on his judging sheet that he signed and I got an awesome looking plaque to go along with it signed by him.

























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8.07.2012
I decided to make a day long trip and head down the museum and factory. I've been MANY times before, including watching my 2007 be built, but I've never actually been there with one of MY corvettes. So the g/f and I left southern Ohio bright and early with a 2pm CEN factory tour time. We got there early enough and spent some time in the museum and ate a quick lunch at the new cafe. This is the first time I've been down since the remodel/expansion. We left the museum and headed over to the factory for the tour. After doing the 4+hr tour with a well-informed tour guide my 1hr tour with the college kid wasn't even enough to wet my whistle, but the g/f enjoyed it. Lots and I mean LOTS of 427 'verts going down the line. Quite a few 60th white packages, and lots of the two different blues on the line. I bet I didn't spot but 5-7 base body coupes. EVERYTHING was widebody. We ran back over to the museum to finish our tour and hit the gift shop, not to mention see the 9/11 exhibit that is on loan to the NCM. It was moving and awesome.







































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8.09.2012
After getting back from the 4hr trip south to Bowling Green I had to check my car over real good. I had a HPDE (high performance driving event) with 10/10ths Motorsports which I've run with many times. If anyone is looking to see what their Corvette can do check out Bill's organization. He runs a great event everytime (mostly ohio, indiana, etc). Got the brakes bled, all the suspension components checked, and my car along with my dad's truck all packed up. Three hour drive back north to Mid-Ohio.

The first two sessions it was wet and raining pretty decent. I sat out. Risk versus reward just was too high for me, especially since I had already bolted on the Hoosier R6s. Got three great afternoon sessions after lunch. Car ran flawlessly with everything I could throw at it. Couldn't match my best of 1.40, but ran multiple 1.41s and lots of 42s, 43s, etc. I wish I lived closer to a racetrack. It's a shame Bluegrass Motorsports Park in KY never got finished.

Video with Data from the last session of the day (I got out first in the line) - be sure to change quality to 720p:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eTVOQ--ucg





















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milt IV

Nice pics! Looks like you had an awesome time.

george vee

Thanks for posting, I enjoyed all the pics

BWF07

First off Congratulation on the Corvette Corral Award. They don't give that many away and with all the Corvette's that are normally in a corral that is a nice award. I know, I received one at the St. Pete GP the first year that ALMS was there.
Now thanks for posting the pictures and it looks like you had a great time.

jack5hd

Rob Willis

I'm totally NOT one to brag, but I'll mention that last three ALMS races I've went to (MidOhio '11, Petit LeMans '11, and MidOhio '12) I've won an corral award from the team! Talk about lucky. I think they like that it's yellow like the race car, has race seats and harnesses, and AP Racing calipers, tow hook, carbon splitter and skirts, zr1 spoiler. They all comment how it looks like the race car.

Mid Ohio 2011 - Doug Fehan picked it
Petit LeMans 2011 - Richard Westbrook picked it
Mid Ohio 2012 - Antonio Garcia picked it

...and I'm totally one of those guys that at the local car cruise-in or show I take like 10min to clean it, cause I'd rather bs with the guys or look at the cars - don't really care about the awards/trophys.

BUT, I feel extremely honored to be chosen three times!

AORoads

me, too! that was really excellent, both the writeup and the pics. Thanks!

2vette2

Glennm27

NOW there's a guy that knows how to really have fun with his Corvette. Looks like an awesome trip and lots of fun. I was also at Mid Ohio for the ALMS race and was in the Corvette Corral but we headed back home here to PA after Sunday's Indy Car race...

Thanks for sharing all your pics and video........

RO55

Outstanding! The video was great thanks for sharing.

sam90lx

Very Cool. You will never forget that one!

Rob Willis

My plan was also to make it up to the open house today in Wixom, MI where they build the ZR1, Z06, and dry sump GS motors - but just too busy to make the 4hr drive each way and have to go into work tonight midnights..

Oh well...

Rob Willis

I'd like to think so!

peter pan