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1953 Chevrolet Corvette: King of All Corvettes

The Chevrolet Corvette C1 will always remain close to the hearts of Americans, as it was the first two-seater sports car in the nation. Since it was merely an experiment at first, only 300 cars were initially produced. The external body of the Corvette was made out of fiberglass, which was considered a new composite material back then. This fiberglass material made it possible for the radio antenna to be incorporated inside the trunk lid. All the 300 units produced had a Polo White exterior and a red interior. The first 15 units produced were built hand-made in Flint, Michigan. 225 of the first 300 manufactured units still exist up to the present. At that time, the Corvette was priced at $3,498.00 inclusive of federal excise tax. It made its debut appearance on January 17, 1953 at the GM Motorama in Waldorf Astoria. As of the moment, that display is now at the Kerbeck Corvette Museum in Atlantic City.

The car had a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission and Chevrolet’s standard drum brakes. The Corvette also featured the Blue Flame inline six-cylinder trunk engine, a standard component of Chevrolet. It wasn’t what the engineering team wanted, but it was their only option because other GM brands were not willing to share their V8 motors that time. It wasn’t the best engine, although it was reliable. The engineering team just upgraded some parts to make up for it which included a radical camshaft rubbing on solid lifters and higher compression ratio cylinder head from 7.5:1 to 8.0:1. The biggest upgrade to the induction system was in the form of the Three Carter type YH sidedraft carburetors with bullet air cleaners equipped with an aluminum manifold. The result was an increase in output from 150 bhp to 4,500 RPM. Even if the engines output was upgraded, it did not do much to improve the performance. Critics said that overall, the Corvette’s performance was below average.

It wasn’t a good start for the Corvette. Sales were low in 1954. GM even thought of halting the production but thanks to Zora Arkus Dunto of GM’s engineering department, the Corvette became one of the most legendary cars in history. He upgraded the V8 with a three-speed manual transmission. Thanks to that modification, the Corvette morphed into one of greatest cars ever built. In fact, the 1953 Corvette is considered the holy grail of the Corvette lovers. This innovation also earned Arkus-Duntov the title Father of the Corvette. The car even gained the National Corvette Homecoming Sapphire Award in 2007, cementing its legacy as one of the best.

William loves writing about muscle cars and plans to one day fix up his father’s 1964 Impala that is currently sitting in his yard.

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Posted on March 24, 2011 by , Reply

Rinker and Son Sweep in Florida

Thursday, March 10, 2011

 

Rob Rinker dominated the SST-45 class in Lakeland.

Team AMSOIL powerboat driver Terry Rinker has a new racing partner for the 2011 season as his son, Rob Rinker, will race a full schedule alongside his Hall of Fame father. Kicking off the season last weekend in Lakeland, Fla., Team AMSOIL swept every heat of competition as Rob won all three heats in the SST-45 class and Terry won all seven of his heats to take the Mod U and SST-120 titles.

“Lakeland is always a fun event for us,” said Terry Rinker. “This year was even better with Rob winning. It’s going to be a fun year and hopefully we will sweep more weekends.”

Rinker Racing will compete for the PROP Tour and Powerboat Super League championships in 2011. The team’s next race is June 17 in Elgin, Ill.

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Posted on March 13, 2011 by , 1 comment

Team AMSOIL Racers to Visit Troops in Middle East

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Douglas, Hord and Jenkins will compete
in the Traxxas Troop vs. Pro Challenge
Presented by AMSOIL.

Team AMSOIL TORC Series off-road drivers Scott Douglas, Chad Hord and Mike Jenkins are heading to the Middle East for a special salute and thank-you to the U.S. Armed Forces. The tour, organized in conjunction with Armed Forces Entertainment, AMSOIL and Traxxas, will feature a fun and interactive radio-controlled off-road challenge between the TORC drivers and troops. Each stop at a U.S. Military base will feature the Traxxas Troop vs. Pro Challenge presented by AMSOIL, where troops will race Traxxas Slash 4x4s on the challenging custom-built “Traxxas Try-Me Track.” Douglas, Hord and Jenkins will act as driver-coaches to service members competing in the races, with the winners taking on the pros in head-to-head competition.

“Whenever we can add a fun ‘downtime’ activity to one of our tours it leads to a more successful mission,” said Rob Powers, founder of American300 Warrior Tours, the nonprofit organization that has worked to bring the TORC pros and sponsors to Armed Forces Entertainment. “Our organizational mission is to increase the resiliency of our troops, their families and the communities that they live and operate in by assisting the DoD’s Armed Forces Entertainment department with unique and exciting programming. The Traxxas Radio-Controlled Troop vs. Pro races are all about bringing America’s best to our service men and women and having a great time.”

Douglas will be bringing a custom “Desert Tan Troop Hood,” which he will have signed by the troops and then install on his #7 AMSOIL Ford truck for this year’s AMSOIL Cup race on September 4 in Crandon, Wis.

Tour officials will provide daily updates during their trip as the pros prepare and travel on their military adventure. The drivers will be using their Twitter feeds to keep fans up-to-date, and AMSOIL will air video recaps of the trip in early April. Follow the tour at http://www.amsoilracing.com/.

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Posted on March 13, 2011 by , Reply

AMSOIL Launches New Racing Website

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AMSOIL INC. has launched a new racing website at http://www.amsoilracing.com/ dedicated to its commitment to various forms of motorsports and event marketing. The website highlights the company’s partnerships in the top levels of motorsports, including motorcycle, off-road truck and snowmobile racing. Team profiles, event schedules and up-to-the-minute results and news showcase the company’s commitment to its marketing partners and customers. Daily columns featuring insight into AMSOIL-sponsored race teams, live streaming video and unique content provide race fans a central location to stay informed on their favorite teams, series and events.

“We have been working for some time to create a catch-all for the wide array of sponsorships that AMSOIL is involved with,” said AMSOIL Race Program Manager Jeremy Meyer. “While the new site features AMSOIL products, it is more of an entertainment and information center for our marketing efforts. Whether you are interested in our efforts as the Official Oil of Daytona Bike Week or are looking for information on the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series, we now have one centralized location to bring that information forward.”

For more information on Team AMSOIL racing, visit http://www.amsoilracing.com/.

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Posted on March 13, 2011 by , Reply

Keep Warm In Winter And Cool In Summer With Sheepskin Car Seat Covers

For a luxurious feeling while you drive as well as to protect the value of your car’s interior, sheepskin car seat covers are the way to go. In addition, they secure the upholstery from dirt, damage, and tears.

Although there are many types of seat covers, sheepskin is superior to other materials because it is the most durable and versatile. Sheepskin covers are made of a heavy-duty natural wool material that lends a classy look and performs well, even under heavy use.

Made in different sizes, these car seat covers can be purchased to fit anything from a sports car up to a van quickly and easily. Unlike “spandex” seat cover varieties, they won’t rip under stress or pulling, and they aren’t emblazoned with gaudy decorations and designs that may clash with your personal style. Sheepskin from New Zealand and Australia are generally considered to be of the highest quality.

Leather seat cover options get too cold in the winter and far too hot in the summer. Sheepskin covers, on the other hand, circulate air between you and the car seat and will only retain a modest temperature. In winter, therefore, they will help reflect your body’s natural heat to keep you warm, rather than you becoming sweaty from synthetic materials. And in warmer weather they won’t stick to your legs. What could be more perfect–they keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.

Additionally, opting for sheepskin provides a soft, cushy barrier beneath you, reducing stress on your back and legs when driving daily or over long distances. The sheepskin will also encourage blood flow by giving your skin room to “breathe”. Sheepskin car seat covers will conform to your shape over time, and resist spills, tearing, and breaking because they are made of a strong natural material. Using these products will shield your upholstery from potential wear and tear, ensuring that you can retain the value of your car during resale or leasing scenarios.

In addition to the car seats, sheepskin frequently is used for accessories such as headrests, arm rests, floor mats, safety belt covers and steering wheel covers. All of these uses have the same benefits found with the car seat covers.

Sheepskin car seat covers look great in any size and color. The same can be said for sheepskin accessories. They provide a neutral, flattering tone that will make your car look sophisticated and comfortable as well as giving you a luxurious feeling while driving.

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Posted on March 12, 2011 by , Reply
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