Corvette Takes 1-2 GTS Finish in Portland

Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell take their fourth win of 2004

The C5-R Corvette Race Team won the GTS class in Round 5 of the American Le Mans Series at Portland International Raceway on Sunday. Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell drove the #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R to victory in the GTS class, third overall. Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta finished second in class, two laps behind. The win continues Corvette's undefeated streak in the 2004 season. After qualifying 1-2, the Corvettes secured the top two positions on the start, with Olivier Beretta taking the lead in the #4 Corvette C5-R over Ron Fellows in the #3 Corvette C5-R. After pit stops for both cars, including fuel and tires, Johnny O'Connell took the lead on lap 57 after Oliver Gavin came in for an unscheduled pit stop for a front right tire change. The #4 Corvette C5-R had an action-packed race, making contact with a prototype before pit lane as Oliver Gavin was coming in for a stop-and-go penalty, which resulted from an earlier incident with a different car. Later on, Gavin brought his car back to the pits again for repairs to the front right section of his nose. All the while, the #3 Corvette ran a trouble-free race and ALMS co-champions Fellows and O'Connell won their fourth race of 2004. "Today is my son's birthday and I wanted to push hard to get a win for him," said O'Connell. Ron Fellows left the track immediately after the podium festivities. The Canadian road racing expert traveled via airplane to Watkins Glen, NY for today’s NASCAR Nextel Cup test with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Fellows is set to drive the #1 Chevrolet Monte Carlo at Watkins Glen on August 15. The Corvette Racing team will return to the track on August 6 at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario. Check out http://www.corvetteracing.com for more information.


NCM Christmas Ornament Series Now Available Through the Store

We have received many requests for prior year Christmas ornaments that have been available through the Corvette Store in the past, and for the opportunity to order the entire NCM ornament collection. We are excited to announce, that each Christmas ornament offered in the Corvette Store since 1995 is now available individually or as an entire set! These ornaments are great for collectors who've missed a year or anyone that might enjoy the whole collection! Each ornament is individually priced at $15.00 or you can order the entire 10-piece collection for a discounted price of $120.00. Take a look at the ornament collection by shopping online at: http://www.corvettemuseum.com/store or call (800) 53-VETTE. Delivery ship date - mid August 2004.


Corvette and Harley Unite for the “American Rides” Event – October 8-9

Two of America’s favorite rides, Corvette and Harley-Davidson, will be united for a first-ever American Rides event scheduled for October 8-9, 2004. The event is co-hosted by Harley-Davidson Bowling Green, and offers tours of the Corvette Museum and Assembly Plant, road tours to the world famous Jim Beam Distillery and Schmidt Coca-Cola Museum, a BBQ and live entertainment at Harley-Davidson Bowling Green, informative seminars and much more. For a complete schedule of activities and to register for the event visit our website at: http://www.corvettemuseum.com/registration/AmericanRides/info.shtml


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Submitted by Bobbie Jo Lee, National Corvette Museum Communications, who can be reached at bobbiejo@corvettemuseum.com or visited on the web at http://www.corvettemuseum.com.


"NCM Central" is an electronic news report from the National Corvette Museum. Here you will find news on NCM events and happenings, Corvette Store specials, GM Corvette Assembly Plant updates, Corvette Racing reports and more.