Chronology of Chevrolet Corvettes

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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.

2002

October 5

• At the Grand Prix Americas raceway in Miami, Florida, the Cadillac American Le Mans Challenge race is held, round nine of the American Le Mans Series.
  • Finishing 1st in GTS class and 9th overall is the Corvette Racing #3 Corvette C5-R, driven by Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell.
  • Finishing 2nd in GTS class and 10th overall is the Corvette Racing #4 Corvette C5-R, driven by Andy Pilgrim and Kelly Collins.
  [245] [423]

October 6

• At the Miami Street Circuit in Miami, Florida, the Grand Prix Americas race is held, round 10 of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup.
  • Finishing 2nd is the Derhaag Motorsports #40 Corvette, driven by Justin Bell.
  • Finishing 3rd is the Preformed Line Products #49 Corvette, driven by Randy Ruhlman.
  • Finishing 4th is the Trenton Forging #02 Corvette, driven by Stuart Hayner. Hayner set a new race lap record.
  • Finishing 6th is the Tommy Bahama #88 Corvette, driven by Butch Leitzinger.
  • Finishing 10th is the Derhaag Motorsports #59 Corvette, driven by Simon Gregg.
  • In 16th place, but not finishing the race, is the Stoptech #9 Corvette, driven by Mike Cronin, Jr.
  • In 19th place, but not finishing the race, is the Cenweld Corp./McNichols Co. #23 Corvette, driven by Bob Ruman.
  • In 20th place, but not finishing the race, is the Trans Tar Products #05 Corvette, driven by Mandy Gonzalez.
  • In 22nd place, but not finishing the race, is the Revolution Motorsports #10 Corvette, driven by Don Sak.
  [246]

October 11

• At the Road Atlanta raceway in Braselton, Georgia, the Trans-Am 100 Presented by the "Crank" race is held, round 11 of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup.
  • Finishing 2nd is the Tom Gloy Racing #88 Corvette, driven by Butch Leitzinger.
  • Finishing 3rd is the Revolution Motorsports #02 Corvette, driven by Stuart Hayner.
  • Finishing 11th is the Derhaag Motorsports #59 Corvette, driven by Simon Gregg.
  • Finishing 12th is the Cenweld Corp./McNichols Co. #23 Corvette, driven by Bob Ruman.
  • Finishing 18th is the Revolution Motorsports #10 Corvette, driven by Don Sak.
  • Finishing 20th is the Tom Gloy Racing #49 Corvette, driven by Randy Ruhlman.
  • In 21st place, but not finishing the race, is the Ellis Racecars #61 Corvette, driven by Gord Vipond.
  [246] [215]
• At the Road Atlanta Motorsports Center in Braselton, Georgia, the Le Petit Le Mans race is held, Round 9 of the Speedvision World Challenge GT Series.
  • Finishing 3rd is the #73 Corvette, driven by Phil McClure.
  • Finishing 9th is the #35 Corvette, driven by David Farmer.
  • Finishing 15th is the #30 Corvette, driven by Bill Johnston.
  • In 21st place, but not finishing the race, is the #15 Corvette, driven by Eric Curran.
  [247]

October 12

• At the Road Atlanta raceway in Braselton, Georgia, the Petit Le Mans race is held, round ten of the American Le Mans Series is held.
  • Finishing 1st in GTS class and 9th overall is the GM Goodwrench #3 Corvette C5-R, driven by Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell, and Oliver Gavin.
  • Finishing 3rd in GTS class and 11th overall is the GM Goodwrench #4 Corvette C5-R, driven by Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, and Franck Fréon.
  [245] [423]
• At the end of the American Le Mans series,
  • GTS Manufacturer Champion is General Motors,
  • GTS Team Champion is Corvette Racing,
  • GTS Drivers Championship: #1 Ron Fellows, #2 Johnny O'Connell, #3 tied between Andy Pilgrim and Kelly Collins;
  • GTS Chief Mechanic Award goes to Corvette Mechanic Bill DeLong;
  • GTS Tire Manufacturer Championship goes to Goodyear Tire;
  • GTS Automobile Manufacturers Championship goes to Chevrolet.
  [245] [341.78]

October 27

• At the Virginia International Raceway in Danville, Virginia, the VIR Speed Fest by Justin Bell's Motorsports Experience race is held, round 12 of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup.
  • Finishing 3rd is the Derhaag Motorsports #40 Corvette, driven by Justin Bell.
  • Finishing 4th is the Tom Gloy Racing #88 Corvette, driven by Butch Leitzinger.
  • Finishing 6th is the Revolution Motorsports #02 Corvette, driven by Stuart Hayner.
  • Finishing 11th is the Revolution Motorsports #10 Corvette, driven by Don Sak.
  • Finishing 15th is the Derhaag Motorsports #59 Corvette, driven by Simon Gregg.
  • In 19th place, but not finishing the race, is the Tom Gloy Racing #49 Corvette, driven by Randy Ruhlman.
  • In 20th place, but not finishing the race, is the Cenweld Corp./McNichols Co. #23 Corvette, driven by Bob Ruman.
  • In 22nd place, but not finishing the race, is the Power Technology #30 Corvette, driven by Dan Furey.
  [246] [215]
• Final Corvette driver standings at the end of the 2002 Trans-Am Series: 2nd Butch Leitzinger, 5th Stu Hayner. [215]
• At the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, Round 10 of the Speed World Challenge GT Series is held.
  • Finishing 6th is the #35 Corvette Z06, driven by David Farmer.
  • Finishing 16th is the #11 Corvette, driven by Craig Gelston.
  • In 17th place, but not finishing the race, is the #34 Corvette, driven by Tony Gaples.
  • In 18th place, but not finishing the race, is the #30 Corvette, driven by Bill Johnston.
  • In 20th place, but not finishing the race, is the #73 Corvette Z06, driven by Phil McClure.
  [247]
• At the end of the SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge GT 2002 season, Corvette racers rank 8th (David Farmer), 11th (Phil McClure), 18th (Craig Gelston), 23rd (Eric Curran), 29th (Bill Johnson), 30th (Tony Gaples), 34th (Henry Gilbert), and 46th (Rick Boysal). [247]

(month unknown)

• RM Classic Productions conducts the Michigan International Fall Auction. A Marina Blue 1967 convertible Corvette with 427-ci 435-hp engine and 4-speed manual transmission sells for US$69,500. [488.30]
• At auction, a 1953 Corvette sells for US$102,000. A 1957 Corvette with fuel-injected 283-ci 283-hp engine sells for US$61,000. [341.10]

November 9

• At the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, round ten of the Grand-Am Cup series is held.
  • Finishing 5th in GSI class and 5th overall is the Powell Motorsport #11 Corvette, driven by Devon Powell and Doug Goad.
  • Finishing 11th in GSI class and 43rd overall is the Powell Motorsport #02 Corvette, driven by Michael Weinberg, Stuart Hayner, and Marty Miller.
  [244]

November 10

• At the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, Round 10 of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series is held.
  • Finishing 1st in AGT class and 7th overall is the Morgan Dollar Motorsports #46 Corvette, driven by Rob Morgan and Charles Morgan.
  • Finishing 3rd in AGT class and 14th overall is the Derhaag Motorsports #40 Corvette, driven by Simon Gregg, Randy Ruhlman, and Justin Bell.
  • Finishing 4th in AGT class and 22nd overall is the Xtreme Racing Group #60 Corvette, driven by Anthony Puleo and Mark Kennedy.
  • Finishing 5th in AGT class and 23rd overall is the Dick Greer Racing - Wendy's #82 Corvette, driven by Dick Greer and Terry Lingner.
  • In 9th place in AGT class and 36th overall, but not finishing the race, is the LG Motorsports #25 Corvette, driven by Lou Gigliotti, Douglas Peterson, and Tom Nastasi.
  • In 10th place in AGT class and 37th overall, but not finishing the race, is the ACP Motorsports #19 Corvette, driven by Kerry Hitt, Doug Mills, and Owen Trinkler.
  [244]
• At the Road Atlanta raceway, the Touring Challenge for Corvettes holds its last race of the season. [342.59]

November

• At the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Gear Venders debuts an 8-speed Electron Blue 2003 Corvette, with steering wheel-mounted, dual paddle shifters; wins Best Engineering Award. [868.40]
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(month unknown)

• Some Corvette auction prices:
  • 1969 XP-819 sells for US$135,000;
  • 1967 coupe with 427-ci 435-hp engine sells for US$73,500;
  • 1967 convertible with 427-ci 400-hp engine sells for US$65,000;
  • 1957 fuel-injected 4-speed sells for US$60,000.
  [489.12]
• In St. Charles, Illinois, the Mecum Auction is held. A 1965 convertible with fuel injection, 327-ci 375-hp engine, knock-off wheels sells for US$69,500. [490.8]
• Popular Science magazine names General Motor's Magnetic Ride Control (on 2003 Corvette) as Best of What's New - Automotive Technology winner for 2002. [489.12]

December

• The January 2003 issue of Car & Driver magazine ranks the 2002 Corvette as third best car in the world in its list of the ten best cars. The Corvette is one of only two American cars on the list. [516.40]

December 26

• Steve Tate buys Corvette EX-87/5951 from the Bible Broadcasting Network, without the experimental V8 engine, which Tate bought in February. [522.28]

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