During the National Corvette Museum’s  annual C5/C6 gathering last Friday, Executive Director Wendell Strode announced, at an evening banquet hosted for donors that had pledged $1,000 or more; that the Museum’s Motorsports Park Project had acquired an additional 92 acres of land for the development of the track, supplementing the original 70 acres set aside for it.

Upon hearing the news, a number of members came forward with an additional $15,000 and by the end of the night, a further six acres of land had been committed to the project.

“We’re so thrilled with the support for the project,” declared Strode. “In a tough economy it means a lot to have so many supporters step up to the plate.”  Instead of waiting for sponsors to generate a total of $35 million for work to begin, the Motorsports project has been broken down into two separate, smaller ‘phases.’

The first will be construction of the two mile ‘west’ road course, along with an autocross track and skid pad, while the second will comprise the ‘east’ road course, a karting track and quartermile drag strip, as well as another separate autocross/skid pad.

Corvette Racing Program Manager Doug Fehan, who attended the banquet, remarked that the Motorsports Park project is the “jewel in the crown that is Corvette. Nobody has a museum funded by the people who buy the car, love the car and have a passion for the car.”

[Source: National Corvette Museum]

A one-of-a-kind 2011 Corvette Z06; built by Chevrolet to celebrate the car’s first appearance and inaugural victory at Le Mans back in June 1960, will be auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson’s Westworld collector car auction on January 21st, with all proceeds going to the National Corvette Museum, located in Bowling Green Kentucky.

Outwardly, the Z06 looks similar to any other, but incorporates a number of unique features, including special Arctic White paint and blue racing stripes to commemorate the original winning 1960 #3 Cunningham Corvette racer, Competition Gray headlamp pockets, blue brake calipers,  ZR1 style rear spoiler, black carbon front splitter and rocker panels, carbon fiber fenders and floor pans and special 50th anniversary Le Mans emblems.

Hardcore ‘Vette enthusiasts will probably recognize the car as the same one driven by Ron Fellows at the ‘Legends of Le Mans’ event at Laguna Seca last year. The car was accompanied  on the track by the 1960 Le Mans winner, along with the 1967 Bob Bondurant/Dick Guldstrand; 1973 BF Goodrich and C6.R Corvette racers.

All proceeds from the Barret-Jackson auction of this car will be used in development of the National Corvette Museum’s  planned 500 acre motorsports park, which will incorporate road courses, a karting track, skidpad, autocross course and a drag strip.

[Source: Autoweek]

The very first 2011 Corvette to roll off the assembly line is a Z06 model built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Corvette’s first Le Mans class win. With styling similar to that 1960 Briggs Cunningham Corvette, it gets Arctic White paint and blue racing stripes, as well as a big #3 on the door. In addition, the B pillar features a 50th Anniversary logo. Other details include the Z07 performance package and a CFZ carbon fiber package, plus Cyber Gray wheels.

VIN #00001, the car is a one-of-one and according to CorvetteBlogger, will be auctioned off at a fundraiser for the National Corvette Museum.

For more pics of this rare Corvette, hit the link below.

[Source: CorvetteBlogger]

To celebrate its 15th anniversary the National Corvette Museum (NCM) is holding a raffle for a new 2010 Corvette Grand Sport. Tickets aren’t cheap at $150 a pop, but with just 2,009 tickets being sold the odds of winning are pretty good.

The NCM Corvette Grand Sport Coupe was custom designed by the folks at the museum using the same white, black and red as their logo. “This special ‘one off’ NCM Corvette Grand Sport coupe was created and inspired by the hard work and dedication of the people who work at the National Corvette Museum,” said Corvette Designer Kirk Bennion to the CorvetteBlogger. “The chosen colors of white, black, and red were based on the NCM logo. The stripe design embodies the true ‘passion for competition’ that the Museum has for Corvette’s long racing heritage. The Corvette Museum not only displays Corvette’s history but is also dedicated to presenting Corvette’s latest offerings. This is why we chose the new for 2010 Corvette Grand Sport for NCM’s 15th Anniversary!”

The 2010 Grand Sport is powered by a 430hp LS3 V8. It gets wider front and rear fenders, a large rear spoiler and a Z06-style front -splitter, as well as bigger brakes and wider tires than the standard Corvette.

Second prize in the raffle is a not-too-shabby $10,000, while the second runner-up gets $5,000.

The NCM Corvette Grand Sport Coupe will be auctioned off on September 6th at the museum’s 15th anniversary celebration.

[Source: CorvetteMuseum via CorvetteBlogger]