Chronology of Events in the History of Corvettes

Feel free to send me comments and suggestions of other Corvette sources to check.
References are numbered in [brackets], which can be found at the end of this document. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2000 July 1

1995-2000

1995

(month unknown)

Greg and Kaija Therell found the Sting Rays Corvette Club, in Florida. [103.10]
February 9

The first alpha test C5 Corvette enters public roads for the first time. [137.310]
April 10

General Motors starts building the first C5 beta test car. [137.325]
April 28

The last ZR-1 Corvette rolls off the assembly line. During its six year lifetime, 6939 ZR-1 Corvettes were built. Chevrolet general manager Jim Perkins and Chief Corvette Engineer Dave McLellan deliver the car to the National Corvette Museum. [60.98] [62.127] [179.16]
May 28

The 79th Indianapolis 500 race opens, with a 1995 Corvette performing the role of Official Pace Car. [61.22]
June

Three Reeves Callaway SuperNatural Corvettes enter the Le Mans race in Paris, France. One qualifies for the pole position in the GT2 class, and finishes second in class, 10th overall. Another finishes third in class, and 11th overall. [59.54] (first car finishes 9th overall [119.96])
October 19

General Motors names Dave Hill Corvette's vehicle line executive, a new title in General Motors' ongoing restructuring. [137.341]

1996

March 6

Dave Hill makes the final decision to stop C4 model Corvette production and put all emphasis on C5. June 16 is set as the last day of building C4 Corvettes. [137.355]
March

General Motors begins preparing the Bowling Green assembly plant for the next generation Corvette. [122.36]
April 21

Zora Arkus-Duntov dies at age 86, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. [102.12] [82.6] [113.26] [137.363] [151.35]
June 11

General Motors holds a press conference to announce and display the new Gen II engine for the 1997 Corvette. The engine will be known as RPO LS1, a 5.7 litre V-8. [145.36]
June 21

The last Corvette of the fourth-generation "C4" body style (used since 1984) is produced. Over 300,000 cars were produced since 1984. The car is bought by Mike Yager, owner of Mid-America Design, for his museum in Illinois. [137.359] [82.6] [122.36]
June 27

The 24th annual Bloomington Gold three-day event begins. Over 1200 Corvettes attend, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. About 45,000 people attend. [145]
August

The first pre-pilot 1997 Corvettes roll of the assembly line. [137.190]
August 29

The 15th annual Corvettes at Carlisle begins, running over the weekend at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania. Over 3,500 Corvettes and 46,000 people attend. 400 members of the ZR-1 Registry club show their cars. [83.40]
At the Corvettes at Carlisle auction, a 1967 Tuxedo Black roadster with 427/435 motor and 16,000 original miles sells for US$75,000. [82.10]
September 3

Workers at the Bowling Green, Kentucky, Corvette plant begin assembling the first production 1997 Corvette. [137.360]
September

The first pilot 1997 Corvettes roll of the assembly line. [82] [137.191]
October 1

The first production 1997 model Corvette is completed. [137.361]
November

The 1997 model Corvette is unveiled to the press. [109.6]

1997

January 6

Chevrolet unveils the 1997 Corvette, dubbed "C5". A new small-block V-8 engine is introduced, the LS1, with 345 hp, and 10:1 compression ratio. [90] [115.24] [171.89]
January 8

The 1997 model Corvette is introduced in Canada, in Montreal. [115.43]
March 7

Chevrolet begins selling the 1997 model Corvette. [125]
May

At the Nevada Open Road Challenge, an ex-GTO Corvette is the overall winner, averaging 187.66 MPH on the 90-mile race. [161.52]
(month unknown)

Maisto releases its 1/24-scale C5 Coupe. [161.78]
(month unknown)

At the Bonneville salt flats, Ed Van Scoy drives his stock 1985 Corvette to a world record 203.226 MPH. [116.11]
(month unknown)

Mid American Designs purchases the 1959 CERV I, for display in its "My Garage" collection of rare Corvettes and memorabilia in Illinois. [103.12]
August 22

The "Corvettes at Carlisle" 1997 show records attendance of 48,500 over three days. [116.46] [161.79]
September

9,000 Corvette owners attend a special weekend gathering at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Chevrolet introduces the 1998 convertible Corvette. [116.38] [115.26]
November 1

Corvette assistant chief engineer John Heinricy is re-assigned to chief engineer of GM's F-platform engineering group. [127.13,70]
November

Ralph Eckler retires from the Corvette aftermarket business. [144.11]
November 16

Larry Shinoda dies of kidney failure. [127.30] (November 13 [151.35])
December 16

Location of the ABS/Traction Control System brake pressure modulator is moved from the rear of the Corvette to behind the radiator. [127.67]
(month unknown)

Motor Trend magazine selects the 1998 Corvette as its 1998 Motor Trend Car of the Year. [134]

1998

June

Jim Campbell is named brand manager for Corvette at Chevrolet Motor Division. [156.43]
August

Dave Hill officially introduces the 1999 hardtop Corvette. Price is US$38,777. [151.29]
August

Corvettes at Carlisle is held. 53,700 participants attend, with 6,000 Corvettes. [151.48] [153.52]
September 4

The Corvette Hall of Fame inducts Ed Cole, General Motors President and Chief Engineer of Chevrolet. [151.33]
The Corvette Hall of Fame inducts Bill Mitchell, head of General Motors Design staff. [151.34]
The Corvette Hall of Fame inducts Joe Pike, Corvette promoter and editor of Corvette News and founder of the National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC). [151.34]
The Corvette Hall of Fame inducts Larry Shinoda, designer and member of the 1963 Sting Ray design team. [151.34]
The Corvette Hall of Fame inducts Zora Arkus-Duntov, first Chief Engineer of Corvette. [151.35]
September 8

Baseball team St. Louis Cardinals president Mark Lamping presents team member Mark McGwire with a red 1962 Corvette, after McGwire hits his 62 home-run of the season. [151.76]

1999

January

At the 24 Hours of Daytona race, Chevrolet debuts the GT2 class C5-R Corvette race car. Ron Fellows and Chris Kneifel drive one to third in GTS class. [155.31] [172.52] [173.36] [176.7] [179.7]
March 20

At the 12 Hours of Sebring race, Ron Fellows, John Paul Jr., and Chris Kneifel drive C5-R No. 3, finishing 4th in class. Andy Pilgrim, Scott Sharp, and John Heinricy drive C5-R No. 4, but do not finish the race. [156.8] [172.52] [173.36]
June

At the Grand Prix of Sonoma at the Sears Point Raceway in California, Chris Kneifel and Ron Fellows drive a C5-R to second in class. [172.55] [173.33] [179.7]
July 17

At Knebworth House in Essex, England, 120 Corvettes take part in the longest convoy of Corvettes ever in England. 344 cars in total take part in the main event, the 20th Annual Corvette Nationals of the Classic Corvette Club United Kingdom. [176.7]
July 22

The Merrill Lynch / Crian Rodman International Challenge (BRIC) races take place at Elkhart Lakes Road America. Dozens of Corvettes take part in the various events. [177.64]
August 7

The 12th Annual Corvette Show & Go is held in Englishtown, New Jersey. [173.46]
August 14

Mid America Designs hosts Corvette Fest West, in Pomona, California. [177.40]
August 27

The Corvettes at Carlisle meet is held, at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania. About 6000 Corvettes and 50,000 enthusiasts attend. Highlights of the auctions include: 1958 convertible with 3000 miles, US$41,000; 1958 convertible with documented racing history, US$94,000; 1963 coupe, US$40,500; 1967 red roadster with 400/427 engine and side pipes, US$56,500. [155.14] [176.10] [177.52] [181.24]
(month unknown)

At the West Michigan Grand Prix in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Reese Cox drives his C5-Raqcer Parts Kit Corvette to second place. [172.52] [173.36]
September

At the Molson Indy Vancouver Grand Prix, in British Columbia, Canada, Scotty White wins first place driving a 1998 C5 Corvette. [172.52] [173.36]
September

The National Corvette Museum receives a 2000 Millennium Yellow 6-speed Corvette Convertible, number 19, to be given away in a raffle next September. [180.10]
September 2

The National Corvette Museum celebrates its fifth birthday. 6,000 Corvettes and 60,000 enthusiasts attend the five-day event. Dick Guldstrand, Dave McLellan, and Jim Perkins are inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame. Chevrolet officially introduces the 2000 model Corvette. [174.54] [175.11] [176.6,7]
September 13

The Second Annual Petit Le Mans is held at Road Atlanta, in Atlanta, Georgia. Chevrolet enters two C5-R racer Corvettes. Car #4, a C5-R Corvette race car, driven by Andy Pilgrim, Scott Sharp, and Kelly Collins, places 4th in GTS class, 13th overall. Car #3, a second C5-R Corvette race car, driven by Ron Fellows, Chris Kneifel, and John Paul, places 5th in GTS class, and 14th overall. [172.52] [173.33] [174.32] [179.7] (September 18 [176.7])
September 18

In Effingham, Illinois, Mid America Designs hosts Funfest '99 to celebrate their 25th year in business. 5,000 Corvettes and 30,000 enthusiasts attend. A 1978 Silver Anniversary Indy 500 Pace Car Replica with 1700 miles is given away. [174.48] [175.7] [176.25] [178.28]
October

At an SCCA race at Mid-Ohio, a Corvette wins SCCA T-1 class, using a Corvette-developed racing suspension package. [172.52]
(month unknown)

At a race at Pike's Peak, John Heiricy riving a C5 Corvette finishes second. [172.52]
October 10

The VISA Sports Car Championship Petit Le Mans is held at the Laguna Seca race track in Monterey, California. Nine Corvettes are entered, four are C5, five are C4 models. John Heinricy races his C5 Corvette to first overall. Chris Kneifel and Ron Fellows race the C5-R Corvette Racer to 2nd in GTS class, 12th overall. This is the last World Challenge race of the year. [172.52,55] [173.35,37] [178.20] [179.7]
November 2

Chevrolet announces it will enter a C5-R Corvette race car at the 68th 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 2000. [172.6] [179.7]
At the Specialty Equipment Market show in Las Vegas, several C5 variants are displayed. [173.20]
November 5

At the Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Dana Mecum holds the annual "Mecum in Chicago - Fall Premier Auction". 45 Corvettes are among the cars auctioned. Hightlights include 1973 convertible owned by Dwight Yoakam: US$32,550; 1953: US$91,875; 1955 "Corvette Copper": US$34,125; 1957 "Aztec Copper" fuel-injected 3-speed: US$50,400; 1966 with 36 gallon tank, 427ci 390hp engine, 4-speed: US$48,300; 1965 L78 3730 miles: US$141,750; 1965 L75 2831 miles: US$120,750; 1965 L84 1577 miles: no sale at US$122,500. [179.62]

2000

March 4

The Chevy / Vette Fest is held in Chicago. General Motors displays the Corvette Pace Car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. [180.8]
The National Corvette Museum hosts the 10th anniversary celebration of the World Record Run. [173.77]
(month unknown)

In Florida, the 48th Annual Superflo 12 Hours at Sebring is held. Corvette C5-R, #4, driven by Ron Fellows, Chris Kneifel, and Justin Bell, places 16th overall. Corvette C5-R, #3, driven by Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, and Frank Freon places 24th overall. [181.56] [182.22]
May 4

Speedvision automotive television programming introduces the "Corvette - The American Dream" series. [180.8]
(month unknown)

At Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, Round One of the Speedvision GT Championship is held. Bill Cooper, driving the Les Stanford / Pirate Racing Corvette C5, wins. In second place is MTI Racing's Corvette C5, driven by Reese Cox. [180.8]
(month unknown)

A 1969 Corvette coupe with L88 engine sells for US$107,000. [180.8]
June 8

The Route 66 Corvette Show is held, in Joliet, Illinois. [182.50]
June 17

The 24 Hours of Le Mans race is run, in Paris, France. The 2000 model Corvette is the pace car. [172.6]
June 22

The Bloomington Gold Corvettes USA meet is held. [176.74] [179.74]

End of 1995-2000

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Check my list of references for details on specific events.
Comments? Send me e-mail at: kpolsson@islandnet.com.