Seemed like a good idea at the time

https://www.wdrb.com/news/gm-e...12-c709cd229281.html

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) —Two General Motors (GM) employees were arrested after a state trooper caught them racing 2020 Corvettes in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Alexander Thim, 27, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, and Mark Derkatz, 30, of Winsdor, Ontario, are facing the charges of reckless driving, racing a motor vehicle on a public highway and speeding 26 mph or more over the speed limit, according to WNKY.

A trooper noticed the three new Corvettes turn onto Lovers Lane and pulled over Thim and Derkatz. The third driver of the Corvette was not racing, according to the citation.

Derkatz, who was driving a white Corvette, was traveling at 100 mph in 45 mph zone, while Thim, in a red Corvette, reached 120 mph, according to the citations.

The suspects told police that they were employees at GM and had just left Cue Time Cocktails and Billiards.

Both men posted $1,000 bail and were released from the Warren County Regional Jail.

Saw this on the news. Truly two hillbilly's that decided "Hold my beer and watch this".

Well played, fellas!

What makes it even worse is that there is a drag strip in Bowling Green.

Thim is dim. Lover’s Lane? Hmmmm....

Then again, maybe they were just shaking down the new models for quality problems that you know are going to show up later. That’d be my story anyways.

I can imagine the temptation to "borrow" and wring one out must be great. It's practically a gearhead's dream.

The article isn't clear as to where they got the cars. Did they buy them with an employee discount or use a "five finger" discount? I'm guessing they filched them.

Fortunately, the officer stopped the vehicles before the drivers could shift into third gear.

Just doing a little quality assurance officer as part of our factory testing team. These units seem good to go for the customer....

In thinking about this, if GM were smart, they'd use this as marketing.

quote:

Originally posted by Skull Leader:
What makes it even worse is that there is a drag strip in Bowling Green.

And a race track at the museum!

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:
Mark Derkatz, 30, of Winsdor, Ontario

Of the two, I believe the Canuck is in the worst trouble. Besides going even faster (120 vs 100) than the American, there could be knock-on effects to his ability to work and drive in the States.

Yeah, the Corvette plant has a track on permessus. What assclowns!



ARman

These cars are being sold before they get to a dealers lot, unless they were used for testing there's no way that any mileage wouldn't be noticed and questioned. If I'm gonna lose my job over one I want 8 hours driving time and I at least want to see 150mph flash up on the speedometer.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
if GM were smart, they'd use this as marketing.

If GM were smart? OK, but if they were they'd make cars we'd all want. So GM isn't smart. But then neither are these employees. It leaves us with a big zero. And these high horsepower cars can only go 100 or 120? Bet that won't sell many cars. Oh, these ex-employees too, I'd guess.

quote:

Originally posted by sigspecops:
These cars are being sold before they get to a dealers lot, unless they were used for testing there's no way that any mileage wouldn't be noticed and questioned. If I'm gonna lose my job over one I want 8 hours driving time and I at least want to see 150mph flash up on the speedometer.

I'm sure GM has several new Corvettes for testing purposes considering that it's an entirely new model. They're probably demo models. It is Bowling Green, the Corvette plant practically made that town. Who knows the real story. I cannot say when I was that age that I did not do 176 mph on I-95 back in the 90's in a 1993 Mustang Cobra that I used to race.

Now condoning what they did by any means. But, most people I know would've done the same thing at that age given a new corvette.

quote:

Originally posted by sigspecops:
These cars are being sold before they get to a dealers lot, unless they were used for testing there's no way that any mileage wouldn't be noticed and questioned.

The first batch of saleable vehicles produced are called the captured test fleet. These are driven by execs and engineers prior to sale to use for final debug prior to officially going on sale at the dealers. Most of these will then go into the employee fleet and later be sold with mileage in the company employee purchase program. Since these are the next gen Vette, some will get special build features, fluff, and buff, and go to special buyers.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
if GM were smart, they'd use this as marketing.

If GM were smart? OK, but if they were they'd make cars we'd all want. So GM isn't smart. But then neither are these employees. It leaves us with a big zero. And these high horsepower cars can only go 100 or 120? Bet that won't sell many cars. Oh, these ex-employees too, I'd guess.

The Corvette can certainly go much faster than 100 or 120 mph, the two clowns got caught doing 100 and 120. GM makes a lot of nice cars and if I had the dollars I definitely would be onto a C8

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
Saw this on the news. Truly two hillbilly's that decided "Hold my beer and watch this".

Well played, fellas!

"Alexander Thim, 27, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, and Mark Derkatz, 30, of Winsdor, Ontario,"

Proving, once again, that hillbillies(or rednecks) are everywhere.



.

quote:

Originally posted by dynorat:
The first batch of saleable vehicles produced are called the captured test fleet. These are driven by execs and engineers prior to sale to use for final debug prior to officially going on sale at the dealers. Most of these will then go into the employee fleet and later be sold with mileage in the company employee purchase program. Since these are the next gen Vette, some will get special build features, fluff, and buff, and go to special buyers.

Why would you spoil a Corvette thread with facts. Then, we'd have nothing to discuss.

dynorat hit it on the head, Captured Test Fleet vehicles in the hands of Engineers.

And the standard Stingray will do 194 mph top end.

The Z51 optioned model several MPH less due to the rear wind downforce.

FN, any word on your delivery date?