Road Rumblings

Chevrolet Introduces Special Edition 2022 Cor vette Stingray

Chevrolet recently celebrated Corvette Racing’s 2020 IMSA season by introducing the 2022 Corvette Stingray IMSA GTLM Championship Edition, the company announced. In left-hand drive markets, Chevrolet will release just 1,000 of these distinctively styled Corvettes, which resemble the No. 3 and No. 4 Corvette C8.R race cars. These special edition cars were designed to commemorate the mid-engine Corvette C8.R’s inaugural season. In 2020, Corvette Racing swept IMSA’s sports car championship series, taking the Manufacturers, Drivers and Team titles. Corvette Racing captured six victories and seven pole positions and set the fastest class race laps in six events during IMSA’s 2020 sports car championship series. During the 2020 series, Chevrolet won the GT Manufacturers title – its 13th since 2001. Jordan Taylor, Antonio Garcia and the No. 3 Corvette C8.R crew won the GTLM Drivers and Team championships.

The 2022 Corvette Stingray IMSA GTLM Championship Edition is based on the 3LT trim with Z51 Performance Package. Each car includes Corvette Racing-themed graphics packages. Accelerate Yellow No. 3 editions feature gray graphics and Hypersonic Gray No. 4 editions feature yellow accents. Additional exterior content (varies by market): High-wing spoiler in Carbon Flash, Yellow brake calipers, Black Trident design wheels, with the “Jake” logo on the center caps, and black lug nuts, Exterior mirrors in Carbon Flash, Black side rockers & Splash guards. Inside, the Special Edition features a Strike Yellow and Sky Cool Gray cabin that mimics the exterior yellow and gray racing theme, with standard GT2 seats (Competition Sport seats are available), along with yellow seat belts and a C8.R Special Edition numbered plaque. Each car comes with a custom-fitted indoor car cover rendered to the appearance of the No. 3 or No. 4 Corvette C8.R race car, per each Special Edition’s color and graphic scheme. Corvette Stingray’s LT2 6.2L V-8 engine enters 2022 with an upgraded direct injection fuel system, improved engine calibration and an enhanced Active Fuel Management range. It remains rated at 490 horsepower or 495 horsepower, with the available performance exhaust system. Driving through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, a Z51-equipped model is capable of 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, the company said.

New Budget-Friendly Cast Accessory Drive Units For LT1 And LS Swaps

Swapping an LT1 or LS engine into a classic can bring to light some hurdles you will need to overcome. One of them is how to drive the accessories like the alternator, power steering pump, and/or your air-conditioning compressor. While many aftermarket companies have created complete billet aluminum systems to accomplish this. Many enthusiasts feel the cost is too far out of their budget. That’s where these new cast units from Vintage Air can save the day. Vintage Air is a leading manufacturer of complete performance air conditioning systems for classics, trucks, hot rods, and street rods, and has stepped up and announced the release of its all-new Cast Front Runner drive system for GM LT1 and LS engines. The new Cast Front Runner provides a simple and more compact solution for mounting accessories to LT1 and LS engine-equipped vehicles. For starters, the Cast Front Runner systems are made in the USA from precision-cast A356-T6 alloy aluminum with passages engineered for optimal coolant flow. The billetaluminum cartridge-type water pump features OEM bearings, seals, and impeller. This system is the shortest and most compact frontdrive system available, which provides more space for electric fan modules and accessories. Additionally, the low-profile casting clears OEM and most aftermarket throttle bodies without a wedge spacer. The Front Runner drive system improves the aesthetics of the engine and reduces its overall package area. The folks at Vintage Air make it clear that all castings are pressure-checked to ensure zero porosity, and no modifications are required to install the OEM timing solenoid or OEM temperature sending unit. The cast housing incorporates both side and bottom exit NPT-tapped heater hose outlets, providing multiple options for increased suspension and frame clearance. The kit includes a billet aluminum water pump, crankshaft, and power steering pulleys, ATI balancer, Mechman 170-amp hairpin-style alternator, Detroit Speed aluminum-body power steering pump, and a genuine Sanden A/C compressor. A compressor clutch and tensioner covers are also included, along with ARP 12-point stainless steel bolts and hardware. The Vintage Air Cast Front Runner systems are available either with or without power steering, and there are several finish options available: polished accessories with chrome pulleys, chrome accessories and pulleys, natural-finish accessories with black hard coat pulleys, or chrome accessories with black hard coat pulleys. The Vintage Air Front Runners are proudly made in the USA, come with all parts necessary for a complete installation, and include a three-year warranty against manufacturer defects. For more information on the Vintage Air Cast Front Runner for GM LT1 and LS engines or other products, visit www.vintageair.com or call (800) 862-6658.

Ringbrothers Builds 1970 Chevrolet Blazer to Support Veterans Organization Ringbrothers debuted its latest bespoke vehicle, a custom 1970 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 4×4 powered by a 430 horsepower LS3 engine, the company announced. The vehicle was built for an Omaze sweepstakes experience to support Team Rubicon, a non-profit organization that mobilizes veterans to continue their service by helping people prepare, respond and recover from disasters. The sweepstakes opened on the Omaze website on June 7 and will be running until Sept. 16. “We began building Blazers a few years back, and they’ve really taken off in popularity since then,” said Ringbrothers co-owner Jim Ring. “This is first time we are building a vehicle that will be given away. The finished product is mild and classy, yet any enthusiast will instantly know it’s not stock.” The Ringbrothers 1970 Chevrolet K5 Blazer has been modernized inside and out. The new LS3 engine delivers 430 horsepower and is lubricated with Motul engine oil while a custom Flowmaster exhaust system adds an aggressive tone. The Ringbrothers K5 Blazer also rides on a custom set of HRE forged wheels shod in General Grabber all-terrain tires paired with a QA1 suspension system. In addition to the modern performance upgrades, the Blazer’s original hardtop has been replaced with a bikini soft top and custom roll bar for additional safety and open-top driving enjoyment. The bodywork was completed using 3M auto body products and finished with a fresh coat of “Growler Green” BASF paint. Body modifications include a new hood and enlarged wheel wells as well as custom billet Ringbrothers parts including door handles, hood hinges and dash bezel. The custom interior by Upholstery Unlimited includes leather seats, door panels, dash pads, side panels, console and soft top. “We have completed a few Blazers now and each build is unique and different from the last,” said Ringbrothers co-owner Mike Ring. “This Blazer comes with all the modifications and upgrades an enthusiast could want.” Click http://www.omaze.com/ringbrothers for more information.

Legal Street Racing Event Retur ns

Returning to kick off cruise week for 2021, Roadkill Nights is back with legal street drags on Woodward Ave., sponsors Dodge and MotorTrend announced. For the sixth year, Roadkill Nights powered by Dodge returns as the traditional kick-off to the Motor City’s weeklong celebration of classic cars and car culture with legal street drag racing, classic and modern muscle car show, interactive experiences and activities at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan, on Aug. 14. Drivers will have the opportunity to drag race in front of spectators on historic Woodward Ave. as it is transformed from a street into a sanctioned, 1/8-mile drag strip.

“Roadkill Nights legal street racing powered by Dodge is back this summer,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand CEO – Stellantis. “Our Brotherhood of Muscle spoke that they were ready for it to return, so we’re doing it. Plus, this year we’re going to take it up a notch with a TV-versus-online build-and-race challenge. The ‘build rules’ are going to be really loose, so we should see some serious hardware being built to find out who’s faster: the TV or the Internet stars.” Also returning for 2021 are Dodge thrill and drift rides in Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcats, where participants can go for rides on the M1 Concourse skidpad and north loop portion of the track. Other returning activities include the high-octane virtual head-to-head racing in Dodge Challenger SRT Demon simulators; classic and modern muscle car show; dyno testing; “Roadkill” stunts; flamethrower, wheelstander, pro-mod exhibitions; family-friendly activities; and an array of food truck offerings (subject to change). Roadkill Nights is shifting gears this year with a new celebrity showdown format providing four automotive social media influencers each with a Dodge Hellcat, $10,000 in cash for car modifications and one task: build drag racing machines capable of besting Eric Malone, star of MotorTrend’s series “Fastest Cars in the Dirty South,” in a drag race. MotorTrend will capture it all this year within a one-hour “Roadkill Showdown Special” to air on MotorTrend’s streaming service and on MotorTrend TV. “After a COVID-19 hiatus in 2020, we are proud to partner with Dodge and bring back for our fans Roadkill Nights,” said Eric Schwab, MotorTrend Group’s Group SVP, Head of Revenue and Partnerships. “If you’ve ever dreamed of watching street-legal drag racing down Woodward Avenue, come to our event. We have Dodge thrill rides, a car show and streetlegal drag racing. It’s going to be an absolutely epic day for anyone with a passion for cars.” Click http://hotrod.com/events/roadkillnights for more information.