Chevy Presents Corvette Corral @ Petit Le Mans

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CORVETTE – A FORCE TO RECKON WITH AT PETIT LE MANS

BRASELTON, Ga. – The Corvette Racing team featuring two-time American Le Mans Series GTS Champion Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Max Papis, Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Jan Magnussen will be a force to reckon with at the upcoming 10-hour spectacular road race known as Petit Le Mans. Their strong fan base of Corvette owners will have a presence unmatched at any previous ALMS event.

Plans are underway for an ALMS/IMSA GM sponsored “Chevy Presents Corvette Corral @ Petit Le Mans” co-hosted by The National Corvette Museum and The Official C5 Registry. The Corvette-only Corral will accommodate 400 plus cars.

Three fun-filled days of racing, informative seminar presentations, distinguished celebrities and all around Corvette-camaraderie are in store for this unique breed of loyal
road racing enthusiasts.

Starting on Thursday with the opening of the “Chevy Presents Corvette Corral @ Petit Le Mans,” a behind the scene tour of the Corvette Racing paddock, welcome remarks by IMSA Race Director, Marty Kaufman and tentative plans include “Corvette Parade” and photo opportunity on the legendary Road Atlanta race track for all.

Friday starts bright and early with the arrivals of three planned Corvette Caravans, followed by a fun display and Corvette Celebrity Pick Car Show. A chance to show off their pride and joy will surely create excitement within the Corral as invited Corvette Celebrities have a chance to judge the field, rewarding the lucky owners with a special trophy at Saturday’s award presentations.

A lucky Corvette enthusiasts in attendance will get a chance to participate in not only drawings for a “hot lap” in the ALMS Official Pace Car but also the honor of being an official entrant flag bearer at the pre-race ceremonies on Saturday of the “Chevy Presents Petit Le Mans.”

Capping off the Friday’s recognition ceremony will be the announcement of the winner of the coveted “Best In Show” award. The winning enthusiast and a passenger will have the prestige of driving their winning Corvette as part of the official pre-race parade at the race start on Saturday.

Also, a special auction to benefit the National Corvette Museum will be presented. The winning bid will entitle a lucky Corvette owner and passenger to have their Corvette as part of the official pre-race parade and pace car “flying lap.”

The weekend continues on Saturday with the “Chevy Presents Petit Le Mans for the American Le Mans Series (Round 8) Race – 1,000 miles or 10 hours maximum.” Surely not to miss an opportunity to meet and greet two of Corvette’s top men, Dave Hill, Corvette Chief Engineer and GM Performance Cars VLE and retired Corvette Chief Engineer, Dave McLellan. Planned activities also include trophy presentations to the winners of Friday’s Celebrity Choice Car Show, and Most Club Members Participation and Longest Distance Driven Awards. The IMSA Technical staff will present an informative “Scrutineering” presentation at the IMSA Tech compound.

Special discounted admission as follow: $100 Corvette Corral Entry includes Two 4-Day Supertickets (admission to Chevy Presents Petit Le Mans and activities) plus Parking Pass (Corvette Corral is strictly for Corvette only parking), commemorative dash plaques to the first 400 participants, Corvette Celebrity Choice Car Show, and Corvette Corral seminar presentations.

Deadline for advance ticket price: September 13, 5:00 pm EST. After 9/13/04, $150.00 full price

Ticket information and purchase, please contact: Road Atlanta Motor Sports Center at (800) 849-7223 or www.roadatlanta.com.

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CHEVY PRESENTS CORVETTE CORRAL @ PETIT LE MANS

Tentative Schedule as of 8/12/2004


Wednesday, September 22, 2004

9:00 am – on Corvette Corral open for Corvette parking

10:00 – 10:30 am Practice – Star Mazda Series (track)

10:45 – 11:05 am Practice – SPEED World Challenge Touring (track)

11:15 – 11:35 am SPEED World Challenge GT (track)

12:35 - 1:05 pm Test Session - ALMS (LM GTS / LM GT) (track)

1:05 - 2:05 pm ALMS (All Classes) (track)

2:05 - 2:35 pm ALMS (LM P1 / LM GTP / LM P2) (track)

2:50 - 3:20 pm Practice - Star Mazda Series (track)

3:35 - 3:55 pm Practice - SPEED World Challenge Touring (track)

4:05 - 4:25 pm Practice - SPEED World Challenge GT (track)



Thursday September 23, 2004

7:30 am - on Corvette Corral open for Corvette parking

8:30 am Corvette Caravan Arrivals

8:30 - 9:00 am Practice - Panoz Racing Series (track)

9:15 - 9:45 am Practice - Star Mazda Series (track)

10:00 - 11:00 am Practice - American Le Mans Series (All Classes)(track)

11:15 - 11:45 am Practice - Panoz Racing Series (track)

12:00 - 12:20 pm TONKA Super Truck Racing Series Exhibition (track)

12:30 – 1:30 pm IMSA Tech Session: Race Control, presented by Marty Kaufman, IMSA Race Director

1:20 - 1:40 pm Qualifying - SPEED World Challenge Touring (track)

1:50 - 2:10 pm Qualifying - SPEED World Challenge GT (track)

2:25 - 3:25 pm Practice - American Le Mans Series (All Classes) (track)

3:40 - 4:10 pm Qualifying #1 - Panoz Racing Series (track)

4:00 – 5:00 pm Team Corvette Racing “Meet & Greet”

4:25 - 5:10 pm Qualifying - Star Mazda Series (track)

5:25 - 5:45 pm TONKA Super Truck Racing Series Exhibition (track)

5:45 – 7:00 pm (Tentative, track permitting) First 100 Corvettes registered. Corvette Victory Parade Lap(s) with professional photo at start/finish line (Track)

7:00 – 9:00 pm American Le Mans Night Practice (All Classes)



Friday, September 24, 2004

8:00 am Corvette Caravan Arrivals

9:00 - 9:30 am Qualifying #2 - Panoz Racing Series (track)

9:45 - 10:45 am Practice - American Le Mans Series (All Classes) (track)

11:10 - 12:00 pm SPEED World Challenge Touring Race (track)

12:15 - 12:35 pm TONKA Super Truck Racing Series Exhibition (track)

12:35 - 1:35 pm ALMS Drivers Autograph Sessions (Paddock – Team Transporters)

1:00 – 2:00 pm Celebrity Choice Car Show Display & Judging * (subject to availability)

Ron Fellows Dave McLellan
Johnny O’Connell Jim Campbell
Oliver Gavin Nate Love
Olivier Beretta Don Panoz
Jan Magnussen Scott Atherton
Max Papis Wendell Strode
Steve Shannon Dan Adovasio
Doug Fehan Jake Drennon
Gary Claudio Mike Swaine
Dave Hill Doug Robinson

Celebrity Choice “Best In Show” Trophy. Winning Corvette will be given the opportunity to drive with parade and pace car at start of Petit Le Mans.

**Must meet IMSA Safety inspection.


1:35 - 2:20 pm Star Mazda Race (track)

1:40 - 2:00 pm Donnie Wilson, Michelin Race Tire Engineer for Corvette Racing, Q&A Session

2:40 - 3:00 pm Qualifying - ALMS (LM GTS / LM GT) (track)

3:00 pm Drawing for “Hot Lap” in the ALMS Pace car with expert driver and two flag bearer (Corvette Racing) at pre-race ceremony.
*Free tickets to Corral participants at sign in.


3:00 pm Auction: “Drive Your Corvette” with pre-race official parade car and pace car at start of Petit Le Mans auction to benefit the NCM.
**Must meet IMSA Safety inspection.


3:10 - 3:30 pm Qualifying - ALMS (LM P1/LM P2/LM GTP) (track)

3:40 pm New Century Mortgage Fast Qual Pole Award (Victory Circle)

3:55 - 4:45 pm SPEED World Challenge GT Race (track)

5:00 – 6:30 pm Johnny O’Connell’s Benefit Auction (Victory Circle). Proceeds to benefit “Alzheimer Association of Georgia” and “Guest House,” a Senior Citizens (Dementia afflicted) Day Center.



Saturday, September 25, 2004

7:00 am Corvette Caravan Arrivals

8:00 - 8:30 am Warm Up - American Le Mans Series (All Classes)(track)

8:45- 9:30 am Panoz Racing Series Race (track)

9:00 – 10:00 am Meet & Greet with Dave Hill, Corvette Chief Engineer & GM Performance Cars VLE and Dave McLellan, retired Corvette Chief Engineer

10:20 am Pre-Race Ceremony (Head of Grid/track)

11:35 am Chevy Presents Petit Le Mans for the American Le Mans Series (Round 8) RACE – 1,000 miles or 10 hours maximum (Track)

12:00 pm Lunch

1:00 – 2:00 pm IMSA Tech Session (IMSA Tech Trailer): “Scrutineering” presented by Charlie Cook, IMSA Technical Director
Topics covered:
Weight and measurements - overall length;
Overall width; wheel base; overhangs

On-the-lift: flatness of prescribed flat bottom; diffuser configuration

Stall Test: Restrictor Diameter


3:00 pm GM VIP “Meet & Greet” (VIP list TBA)

5:00 pm Celebrity Choice Car Show Awards; Distance Driven and Club Participation Awards Presentations
H. Doug Robinson, IMSA Executive Director, presenter

[gaijin]

Just received confirmation today that ZR-1/C5/C5R Chief Designer, John Cafaro will be attending the event and will participate in a Q&A presentation on Saturday afternoon in the Corvette Corral.