Fellows adds to records with signature 'Vette
Canadian racing hero honoured with first-ever signed special edition Corvette, Arctic white Z06<!-- PUBLISH DATE -->
Feb 10, 2007 04:30 AM
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Gerry Malloy
<!-- CREDIT 1-->Special to the Star
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History was made this week in Chicago with the introduction of the Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Champion Corvette Z06 – the first signature-series model to honour a Canadian race driver.
"I'm honoured and flattered to have my name on a car of any type, let alone this very special Corvette," says Fellows, who was born in Windsor and lives in Mississauga.
"This is very cool."
Fellows has played a major role in both the development and racing success of the Corvette at Le Mans and in the American Le Mans Series, where it has won six consecutive GTS/GT1-class manufacturer's championships.
"The special signature-series Z06 model that bears his name will forever link him to one of the greatest eras in factory racing," says Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager.
Fellows helped test and develop the first Corvette C5-R race car and recorded the team's first win in 2000. He also won the ALMS GTS class championship in 2002 and shared that position in 2003 and '04, as well as recording class wins at Le Mans in 2001 and 2002.
Fellows says that when the idea of the signature-series model was first proposed to him last fall, his response was: "You want to do what?"
But he enthusiastically agreed and took part in the design reviews as the concept progressed through the fall and winter.
He says the designers quite effectively captured his personality with the graphics treatment. "It's subtle, not super-loud."
Fellows is particularly pleased that the car features a full-width rear spoiler, which will be a very valuable asset for racing, he says.
He expresses his thanks to everyone at Corvette production for making the car a reality, adding that it is also an honour for his family.
The Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Champion Corvette Z06 is distinguished by Arctic white paint (including the door handles) that is accented with a racing-style red fender stripe and Fellows' autograph. The front fender graphics are reminiscent of those on the Corvette GT1 race car and include callouts of the championship years when Fellows was at the wheel.
There is also a maple leaf logo motif incorporated with the graphics, a nod to Fellows' heritage. As well, the car's paint and graphics use a red-over-white colour scheme.
The car's special red interior includes tech-pattern trim and a red leather-covered armrest with a Corvette-signature "cross flags" logo that is hand-signed and numbered by Fellows.
The reality of the project "really hit home" a couple of weeks ago, Fellows says, when he visited the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Ky., to see the first three models come off the line.
It took Fellows half a day to sign all 399 cars in the series – a real workout for his arm, which is still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.
The Ron Fellows Z06 is the first signed special edition in Corvette's 54-year history, and is the first Arctic White Z06 ever offered.
If you want one, you'd better get your order in quickly. Only 399 are planned for production, of which just 33 will be destined for Canada. When they're gone, they're gone, the company says.
Price? Ahem, $100,795 a copy.
Appropriately, No. 001 in the series – the car unveiled this week at the Chicago auto show – will be Fellows' own.
Source: Toronto Star -
http://www.thestar.com/Wheels/article/179664
