May 4
1,500,000 CORVETTE IS ON THE WAY !
The Registry has just learned that Corvette number 1,500,000 will be built at the end of May as a 2009 model. The car will be a White Convertible, with a 023 Red/Black interior, and a Black top. Options include the 3LT package, Automatic Transmission, Performance Axle, F55 Magnetic Selective Ride Control, NPP Performance Exhaust, Navigation, and Chrome Wheels.

Corvette number 1 (1953) and Corvette number 1,000,000 (Built July 2, 1992) were both white with a red interior so... follows this one should be the same.

What would REALLY SET THIS CAR APART, would be to have Dave McClellan, Dave Hill, Tom Wallace, and  Tadge Juechter, the Corvette Chief Engineers who are still living, be at the unveiling of this special Corvette to sign the hood, or some special location on the car.

All the members of the C5/C6 Registry would like to congratulate Chevrolet, Corvette, the Bowling Green plant, and all the folks involved with this remarkable achievement !

April 1
NO FOOL'IN . . BANKRUPTCY MY BE IN GM'S FUTURE
New General Motors Corp. CEO Fritz Henderson is willing to take the struggling automaker into bankruptcy if necessary and signaled such a move could come quickly if GM determines it can't meet the government's 60-day deadline for more aggressive restructuring.

Henderson's candid comments Tuesday during his first press conference as GM's chief executive were in stark contrast to his predecessor, Rick Wagoner, who steadfastly maintained that bankruptcy would put GM out of business.

Henderson said bankruptcy is not his preferred option but GM will do "whatever it takes" to reinvent itself as a competitive automaker. "We will get the job done," he said. "We will do it out of court, or we will do it in court."

A bankruptcy filing would allow GM to take dramatic steps to wipe out debts and slash costs, affecting an array of stakeholders including shareholders, bondholders, suppliers, dealers and the United Auto Workers.

To satisfy the Obama administration's demand to cut deeper and faster, Henderson said GM will have to eliminate more debt and take restructuring steps that likely will result in more job losses and plant closures.

Henderson's comments came a day after President Obama's auto task force released its analysis of viability plans submitted by GM and Chrysler LLC to justify the $17.4 billion they have received in federal aid. The task force concluded that neither automaker had outlined a credible plan to profitability and suggested that a short-term bankruptcy may be the "best chance of success" for the automakers.

The White House told GM it must complete a more aggressive restructuring plan in the next 60 days; Chrysler has 30 days to conclude a partnership deal with Italy's Fiat SpA. GM and Chrysler have struggled to win agreements from the UAW and bondholders to reduce their debt, as required under their loan terms.

Ray Young, GM's chief financial officer, told CNBC Tuesday that GM pulled its offers to bondholders and the UAW. The automaker will now re-evaluate what needs to be done to address the government's request to restructure further and faster.

Henderson said if it became clear that GM won't succeed with its restructuring before the government's deadline, he would not delay bankruptcy.

A short-term bankruptcy filing, along with billions in government-provided debtor-in-possession financing, could alleviate GM's concerns that a court-ordered restructuring would lead to a liquidation of the company, damage the brand and scare away buyers.

Either way, GM needs a clean balance sheet to reposition the company so it can operate free of government oversight and aid.

GM's new bankruptcy stance comes amid revelations the Obama administration reportedly is considering using Section 363 of the federal bankruptcy code, which could allow for a fairly quick sale of assets.

But Harvard law professor Mark Roe, a top bankruptcy expert, said it would likely take significantly longer than the 30-day bankruptcy procedure described by the Obama administration for GM to deal with its many brands and dealers, as well as liabilities to the UAW and bondholders, even under a Section 363 procedure.

"If a company went into bankruptcy and its only problem was bond debt, 30 days might be pushing it, but that's thinkable," he said. "But if it's more complicated -- and GM is more complicated -- it's hard to do that unless you do it without addressing the structural problems."

Under Section 363 of the federal bankruptcy code, Roe said, the productive portions of GM could be split off and sold, with a "new GM" emerging from bankruptcy -- without the burdens of retiree health care liabilities or nearly $28 billion in bond debt.

Until the White House said GM needed a more aggressive restructuring plan, the automaker proposed focusing on four core brands -- Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC -- and Pontiac would become a smaller, niche brand.

According to Bloomberg News, a meeting this weekend by GM's board will focus on the latest restructuring options.

March 30
GM - New Meaning - Government Motors!
5:AM EST President Barack Obama will give General Motors 60 days to craft a new survival plan without Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, and set a 30-day deadline for Chrysler to either partner with Fiat SpA or shut down.

The White House has said Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp. have not submitted acceptable plans to receive more federal loans.

Chrysler has been given 30 days to complete a partnership with Italian automaker Fiat SpA and could be destined for a sell-off if no deal is reached.

General Motors Corp. will get an additional 60 days of U.S. government help to undertake an even more aggressive restructuring effort in hopes of making it a viable company under President Barack Obama's plan to save the U.S. auto industry, expected to be unveiled today.

The new efforts could include an expedited, court-supervised restructuring to rid GM's book of billions in dollars of debts if the out-of-court process does not work, senior Obama administration officials said late Sunday on the condition of anonymity.

One scenario that could emerge is for GM to spend 60 days developing a more aggressive turnaround plan followed by a so-called quick rinse bankruptcy that could take as long as 30 days, a person briefed on the thinking said.

But all of this work will have to occur without GM Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, who is resigning as part of the conditions for more help.

GM, which has lost nearly $70 billion over the past two years, has been fighting off bankruptcy since last fall when the U.S. auto market collapsed and sales fell to near 30-year lows.

But a senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the White House was confident that GM can "survive and thrive as a company," but that it will take a more significant restructuring to achieve that.

All stakeholders will be expected to give up more to make the plan work.

"This is an industry of critical importance to the country. We want to do everything we can to help it, and help the many workers who have jobs in it, and help the communities that are affected by it," a senior administration official said.

No price tag has been put on how much additional aid GM will get if it meets the administration's requirements.

The company had asked for an additional $16.6 billion on top of the $13.4 billion approved in December.

Obama is expected to announce plans for Chrysler and GM this morning. Rumors of a possible forced merger exist.

March 30
STATEMENT FROM RICK WAGONER
On Friday I was in Washington for a meeting with Administration officials.  In the course of that meeting, they requested that I “step aside” as CEO of GM, and so I have.

Fritz Henderson is an excellent choice to be the next CEO of GM.  Having worked closely with Fritz for many years, I know that he is the ideal person to lead the company through the completion of our restructuring efforts.  His knowledge of the global industry and the company are exceptional, and he has the intellect, energy, and support among GM’ers worldwide to succeed.  I wish him well, and I stand ready to support him, and interim Non-Executive Chairman Kent Kresa, in every way possible.  

I also want to extend my sincerest thanks to everyone who supported GM and me during my time as CEO.  I deeply appreciate the excellent counsel and commitment of the GM Board and the strong support of our many partners including our terrific dealers, suppliers, and community leaders. I am grateful as well to the union leaders with whom I have had the chance to work closely to implement numerous tough but necessary restructuring agreements.  

Most important of all I want to express my deepest appreciation to the extraordinary team of GM employees around the world.  You have been a tremendous source of inspiration and pride to me, and I will be forever grateful for the courage and commitment you have shown as we have confronted the unprecedented challenges of the past few years.  GM is a great company with a storied history.  Ignore the doubters because I know it is also a company with a great future.

March 29
BREAKING NEWS FROM WASHINGTON!
7:53PM EST The Obama administration asked Rick Wagoner, the chairman and CEO of General Motors, to step down and he agreed, a White House official said.

On Monday, President Barack Obama is to unveil his plans for the auto industry, including a response to a request for additional funds by GM and Chrysler. The plan is based on recommendations from the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, headed by the Treasury Department.

The White House confirmed today Wagoner was leaving at the government's request after The Associated Press reported his immediate departure, without giving a reason.

General Motors issued a statement last night that did not officially confirm Wagoner's departure.

"We are anticipating an announcement soon from the Administration regarding the restructuring of the U.S. auto industry. We continue to work closely with members of the Task Force and it would not be appropriate for us to speculate on the content of any announcement," the company said.

The surprise announcement about the classically iconic American corporation is perhaps the most vivid sign yet of the tectonic change in the relationship between business and government in this era of subsidies and bailouts.

Wagoner has been CEO for 8 years and at GM for more than 30. It is not yet clear who would replace him, or what role the administration would play in that process.

Industry sources had said the White House planned very tough medicine in Monday's announcement, which turned out to be an understatement. And it went to the very top. The measures to be imposed by the government will have a dramatic effect on workers, unions, suppliers, bondholders, shareholders, retirees and the communities where plants are located, the sources said.

Obama said Friday in an interview with CBS’s “Face the Nation,” broadcast Sunday, that the carmakers were going to have to do more.

“There's been some serious efforts to deal with a combination of long-standing problems in the auto industry,” the president told host Bob Schieffer. “What we're trying to let them know is that we want to have a successful auto industry, U.S. auto industry. We think we can have a successful U.S. auto industry. But it's got to be one that's realistically designed to weather this storm and to emerge at the other end much more lean, mean and competitive than it currently is.

“And that's gonna mean a set of sacrifices from all parties involved — management, labor, shareholders, creditors, suppliers, dealers. Everybody's gonna have to come to the table and say it's important for us to take serious restructuring steps now in order to preserve a brighter future down the road."

The Obama administration calls its task force “a cabinet-level group that includes the secretaries of Transportation, Commerce, Labor and Energy. It will also include the chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, the EPA administrator, and the director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change. The Task Force will be led by Treasury Secretary [Tim] Geithner and [National Economic Council] Director Larry Summers.”

The panel’s chief adviser is Steven Rattner, a well-known investment banker and former New York Times reporter

February 9
Bob Lutz moves to Senior Advisor Role;
Will Retire at End of 2009 - Tom Stephens Becomes Vice Chairman-Global Product Development.

GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner today announced that Robert A. Lutz, GM Vice Chairman – Global Product Development, will transition to a new role effective April 1, 2009 as Vice Chairman and Senior Advisor. Lutz, 76, will provide strategic input into GM’s global design and key product initiatives until his retirement at the end of 2009. He will continue to report to Wagoner.

Wagoner also announced that effective April 1, 2009 the GM Board of Directors elected Thomas G. Stephens, Vice Chairman – Global Product Development, reporting to President and Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson. Stephens, 60, is currently Executive Vice President, Global Powertrain and Global Quality. In this new assignment, Stephens will maintain his responsibility for overseeing GM’s global quality activity.

Concurrent with this appointment, GM is restructuring its global powertrain group to integrate powertrain functional activities into their respective global GM functions. Accordingly, in his new role, Stephens will have responsibility for global powertrain engineering, in addition to global design, product engineering, product planning and program management. Powertrain manufacturing will report to Gary Cowger, Group Vice President of GM Global Manufacturing and Labor Relations. Other staffs that support the GM Powertrain organization will be integrated into their respective global functions. These moves represent another important step in GM’s restructuring initiative to create a leaner, more efficient organization.

“Tom Stephens is the perfect guy to take the reins of GM’s global product development,” Wagoner continued. “He’s had extensive experience in virtually every aspect of our global product development activities. With his 40 years at GM, Tom has an extraordinary understanding of our products and our organization, and is highly respected worldwide. I’m confident that with Tom’s passion for great products and vast knowledge of advanced propulsion, he will continue to raise the bar in executing outstanding GM cars and trucks.

February 4, 2009
Corvette Racing Announces 2009 Driver Lineup

Marcel Fassler and Antonio Garcia to Join Corvette Racing Roster for Three Endurance Events

DETROIT - Corvette Racing will have a new driver lineup for the 2009 American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Antonio Garcia will join defending ALMS GT1 champions Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R for the Sebring 12-hour, Le Mans 24-hour, and 1000-mile Petit Le Mans endurance races. Marcel Fassler will be teamed with 2005-07 GT1 champions Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R in the three long-distance races. Canadian Ron Fellows, a member of Corvette Racing since its inception, will continue with the team in an advisory and ambassadorial role.

The new additions to Corvette Racing's driver roster have extensive experience in world-class GT competition. Garcia, 28, of Barcelona, Spain, has raced with distinction in the European Touring Car Championship, the World Touring Car Championship, and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. He was part of the winning GT1 team in the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans, and recently shared in an overall victory in the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Fassler, 32, of Einsiedeln, Switzerland, has competed in the DTM, the European Le Mans Series, A1 Grand Prix, and the FIA GT championship. Driving a Corvette for the Phoenix Carsport team in the FIA GT series, Fassler won the prestigious Spa 24-hour race in 2007, and continued that success in 2008 with five pole positions and a win in Adria, Italy, finishing fourth in the championship.

"Antonio and Marcel have the ability, the experience, and the mindset that we look for in a Corvette Racing driver," said GM Road Racing Group manager Steve Wesoloski. "We've seen their speed on the track, and we know they have the discipline and team-oriented attitude that's essential for success in endurance racing. Our international driver lineup reflects the global marketing objectives of the Corvette Racing program."

Corvette Racing will run in the GT1 class in the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the Grand Prix of Long Beach in preparation for its 10th participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Following its return from France, Corvette Racing will begin its transition to the GT2 category at the Mid-Ohio round of the ALMS as the team prepares for a full-season GT2 program in 2010

January 8, 2009
OWN A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY..... CAMARO NUMBER ONE!
One very passionate Camaro enthusiast at the 2009 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction will come away with the keys to the first regular retail production-built unit of Chevy’s all-new, 21st Century Sports Car. This first Camaro built for regular retail production will have a VIN ending with 100001*.

December 1
TWO SPECIAL EDITION CORVETTES ARE SCHEDULED FOR EARLY 2009 !
Members, rumors have been flying for months that there will be a Special Edition Corvette coming out in early 2009. WELL, THEY ARE COMING !

The latest gossip focuses on NOT one, but two special editions for the Spring 2009 production time frame. One of them is believed to be a C6 “Racer Edition” with a very attractive price. Three different colors are rumored to be in the running for this C6 “Racer.” A very unique feature for this “Racer Edition” will be the inclusion of the European Differential Cooler coupled with the Z51Performance Handling Package.

The other Special Edition will be a tribute to Corvette and the GT Racing Series. This Special Edition will be a LIMITED run available in two colors and will allow the purchaser to be able to equip it as they would like. What makes this so unique is that NO two (due to the limited numbers produced) may be alike based on how they are ordered and equipped.

November 27
HAPPY THANKSGIVING ! ! !
Members, we wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful weekend with your family!

There has been quite a bit of misinformation published about the Corvette Plant and its operation schedule. THE FACTS ARE:  The Bowling Green Assembly Plant will be closed for the Thanksgiving break beginning Thursday, November 27^th through Monday, December 8^th. The Plant will reopen on Monday, December 8^th and operate at normal schedule through Tuesday, December 23^rd when it will close again for the Christmas Holiday break with a special extended break until Monday, January 19^th, 2009.

Beginning Monday, January 19^th the production rate for C6 Corvettes will be reduced to 11 Corvettes per hour, but ZR1 production will continue at the current rate of 7 per day. As a note of interest, there have been 14,000 2009 Corvettes produced up to the Thanksgiving break and approximately 400 have been ZR1s

November 11
MOBIL 1 OIL AVAILABILITY RESTRICTED!
Members, Your Corvette maintenance intervals could be affected by this news!

 On October 1, 2008, the Big Three Automakers were notified that due to Hurricane Ike and its effects on the Texas Gulf Coast, a negative impact on the production capacity of Mobil 1 has occurred.
Click here for FULL STORY!

October 27
NEW VLE APPOINTED FOR CORVETTE
Effective November 1st, Eugene (Gene) Stefanyshyn - GM’s Global Rear Wheel Drive Vehicle Line Executive, is new VLE  for Corvette.

Gene's duties include Corvette, Sky, Solstice, Camaro, XLR, and Pontiac G8. Gene is based at GM Holden, Australia...

Gene Stefanyshyn’s background includes stints at the Saab Technical Center in Sweden, and at Opel’s International Technical Development Center, which he says was helpful with regard to working with his international colleagues on the Epsilon variants.  He was vehicle line executive (VLE) overseeing the North American "Epsilon" platform models.
The C5/C6 Registry congratulates Gene on his new position.

October 25, 2008
More Hot News About Tom Wallace
The C5/C6 Registry has just learned CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Tom Wallace and Karla Berger. Tom and Karla were married today in Las Vegas, NV. We all wish and Karla a long and happy life together, and hope to see them at many more C5/C6 Registry events!

October 23, 2008
TOM WALLACE ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT EFFECTIVE 11-01-08
Members, Let us be the first to Congratulate Corvette’s Chief Engineer and Vehicle Line Executive, Tom Wallace, on a magnificent career at General Motors!

Tom has always been a fantastic friend of the Official C5/C6 Registry and its members.

His leadership of Corvette over the last few years has been outstanding! Having a “Racer” at the helm of our beloved Sports Car has certainly shown through with the recent introduction of the 2009 ZR1 as a true American made Race Car…we mean, “Gentleman’s Corvette”!

Tom shared with us some time ago that he has always been committed to Corvette and its lifestyle, and being promoted to Chief Engineer of Corvette was certainly a dream come true!

From all of us at the Official C5/C6 Registry, A BIG C5/C6 THANK YOU goes out for the difference you have made in Corvette and the exciting Corvette’s you have brought us!

A little bit about Tom:
Tom Wallace was born in Pittsburgh, PA. He began his GM career as a cooperative student with Buick Motor Division in 1970. He held several engineering positions focusing on engine technology and played a key role in the development of the turbocharged Buick Grand National coupes of the early '80s. Wallace most recently was vehicle line executive for Small/Midsize Trucks.

After competing in amateur drag racing and gymkhana, Wallace started road racing with the Sports Car Club of America more than 30 years ago. He has competed in a variety of sedan and GT classes with raced-prepared Oldsmobile, Buick and Chevrolet models. He raced professionally in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) American Challenge series in 1978-79 in several endurance races, including the Sebring 12-hour and Daytona 24-hour events. Wallace now races regularly in the Detroit area and has twice won the GT1 championship at Waterford Hills Raceway. He has competed in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs six times. His sons, Brian, 35, and Tom, 38, are avid road racers who also have competed the SCCA Runoffs.

September 9
Corvette Racing Announces Future Plans
Corvette Racing will aim for a sixth victory in the GT1 class in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans before entering the GT2 category in the second half of the American Le Mans Series 2009 season. Corvette Racing will launch a full-season assault in the restructured GT division in 2010.

Corvette Racing representatives announced the plans today in a media teleconference.

Corvette Racing will run a limited schedule in the GT1 class in the first half of the 2009 ALMS season as it prepares for its 10th participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. The team will race in the GT1 class in the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the popular Grand Prix of Long Beach. Following its return from the classic 24-hour endurance race in France, Corvette Racing will compete in the GT2 category in selected ALMS events in 2009 in preparation for a full-season program under new international GT class regulations in 2010.

"Corvette Racing will be well positioned for the future of production-based sports car racing worldwide with the plans we are announcing today," said Steve Wesoloski, GM Racing Road Racing Group manager. "The international regulations are converging around a single, global GT class, and we intend to continue Corvette's motorsports heritage by racing against manufacturers and marques that Corvette competes with in the marketplace.

"The GT1 class has been a platform for GM Racing and our partners to develop the most technically sophisticated race cars in our history," Wesoloski said. "We intend to apply the tremendous success we have had in the GT1 category to make the next-generation Corvette C6.R a strong contender in the new GT class."

Manufacturers currently represented in the ALMS GT2 class or confirmed for future participation include Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, BMW, Ford, Dodge, and Panoz. Other manufacturers produce high-performance cars that could compete in the new GT category.

"In accordance with the regulations, the new version of the Corvette C6.R race car will be available to independent teams," Wesoloski said. "Corvette and Chevrolet are global brands, and we look forward to seeing production-based Corvette race cars competing in series around the world under the leadership of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)."

The new GT Corvette C6.R race car will be based on the production Corvette's chassis and body design. A 6.0-liter version of the LS7.R small-block V-8 will power the Corvette GT2 entry in the transitional 2009 season. A new naturally aspirated 5.5-liter version of the production GM small-block V-8 will be developed to meet the new GT regulations that will take effect in 2010. The chassis and powertrain specifications of the new Corvette GT entry will be submitted to the ACO and FIA for homologation approval.

"Competing in GT2 will be a true test of our team's determination, talent and technology," said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing program manager. "The level of competition in the category is already fierce, and that promises to become more intense with more manufacturers and top-tier teams. We've explored alternative paths, and we believe that competing in GT is the right road for Corvette Racing to take in the future.

"We will continue our commitment to cellulosic E85R ethanol racing fuel in the current GT1 Corvette C6.R and the next-generation Corvette C6.R that will compete in the new GT class " Fehan said. "Corvette Racing's green racing initiative is proof of our commitment to using alternative fuels at the highest levels of motorsports."

July 25
MICHELIN INTRODUCES CUSTOM-TUNED TIRES FOR YOUR CORVETTE
Members,
Here is the latest tire news from Michelin for replacement Run-Flats for your C5 and C6.

Give our dedicated Corvette tire representative Tom O’Grady at Direct Performance a call at 800-938-3456 ext.1879 or email him at togrady@discounttireco.com for all the details on this new and exciting Corvette replacement Run-Flat tire offering from Michelin. You can reach Tom Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm ARIZONA time.