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C5
Birthday Bash
Written by Keith Fudge
Since it was first produced in 1953, the Chevrolet
Corvette has become an icon. It has permeated all aspects of American
Popular Culture from music to film and its legendary status has tickled
the fancy of many car enthusiasts. The fifth generation Corvette, or the
C5 as it has come to be known, has been said to be “arguable the
best Vette yet,” and recently, the C5 had its Third Annual Birthday
Bash on April 13-16, 2000, at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling
Green, Kentucky. Hemming’s My Classic Car host, Dennis Gage, was
in attendance and the event was co-hosted by the Official C5 Registry.
The Museum hosted an outstanding lineup of speakers, who lead seminars
and were available for questions, answers, and autographs. Other attractions
included celebrity guests, road tours, drag racing, and good food and
fun.
This event was a must for C5 Corvette owners,
prospective owners and enthusiasts. While there, participants had the
chance to learn more about the Fifth Generation Corvette, the C5, from
those who made it a reality including Dave Hill, Chief Corvette Engineer,
and John Cafaro, Chief Designer.
Dave Hill is a 36 year veteran of Chevrolet
and began his position as Chief Corvette Engineer in December 1992. He
believes that much of the success that the C5 is experiencing in the eyes
of enthusiasts is due in part to structural improvements and cost effectiveness.
The C5 has four times the structural rigidity of its predecessor, the
C4, and that is due to the one- piece Hydroform frame. Hill also added,
“The increased structural efficiency comes from the fact that there
are no welded joints, no seams, or no hinge points.” In terms of
cost effectiveness, one factor that keeps down production costs is the
fact that the C5 has one-third fewer parts than its predecessor. Still
powered by a push-rod 5.7 liter V8, the C5 turns heads and tires whether
on the track or cruising the boulevards.
John Cafaro is the C5’s Chief Designer
and he believes that there were many “engineering enablers”
that assisted him in his creation of the sleek appearance of the C5. Innovative
concepts such as the production of split-fuel tanks and the use of new
and advanced materials have helped Cafaro’s design achieve the lowest
drag coefficient of any Corvette. John told us, “The Corvette design
game is the ultimate game played in the design business in America and
around the world.” With the design of the C5, this is definitely
a game that John and his team are winning!
For more information on next year’s Birthday
Bash, rev that mouse to www.corvettemuseum.com
or call 1-800-53- VETTE.
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