If you enjoy extreme – and sometimes ridiculous – “sports”, then I’m sure you’ve heard the name Rob Dyrdek before. If you haven’t, he’s a professional skateboarder, actor, entrepreneur, producer, philanthropist, and reality TV star. He is best known for his TV series “Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory” where he constantly does crazy and sometimes dangerous tricks involving all sorts of motor vehicles. And now, he’s decided to jump on board the Chevy Sonic’s adventure and become the first man on Earth to successfully kickflip a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic.
I’m sure you may be wondering two things. First, what the heck is a kickflip? Well, think of a barrel roll performed by a skateboard. Second, how in the world do you perform a kickflip in a Chevy Sonic? The answer lies in this video.
Pretty impressive if I do say so myself! The Chevy sonic has had quite the year of adventures thanks to the “Let’s Do This” campaign including skydiving and bungee jumping. So it’s not surprising that the Chevrolet stunt team would want to try out it’s own set of skateboard antics after Dyrdek’s kickflip. One of the team members who actually worked on Dyrdek’s stunt decided he was going to take his Sonic skiing. No, not the type of skiing you do in the Rockies… but the skateboarding definition of putting it on two wheels. Check it out below. Also be sure and swing by Classic Chevrolet and check out the Chevy Sonic for yourself.
As I’m sure we all know, street racing is illegal. Tempting if your cruising around in a Chevrolet Corvette, but still illegal. On top of that, it’s dangerous and can be costly. Don’t believe me? Well let me tell you a little story about these two Corvetteowners down in Houston.
On Thanksgiving day, a Houston man was driving home and happened to catch a sliver Corvette C5 and a silver Corvette C6 side by side at a light. Sounds like it’d be quite the scene to witness as both drivers revved their engines waiting for the light to turn green. However, this type of racing is better left off the suburban streets of The Woodlands. Being a former owner of fast sports cars, this guy knew exactly what was coming. And thanks to the wonderful world of technology we live in, he was able to record a video from his phone. Check it out.
Did you see that one coming, Dallas Ft Worth Chevy lovers? Luckily, only the Corvettes (and the drivers’ egos) were hurt. This is the perfect example of why racing is better left on the race track. A local news station down in Houston covered the story, here’s the clip:
Remember DFW, though it may be tempting to really drive that C5 or C6, don’t do it in the suburbs or on the streets. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but we do have a fairly large speedway out off highway 35 where you can really let her fly.
I’m sure most of you avid Chevrolet lovers in Dallas and Ft. Worth already know that this year marked Chevy‘s 100th anniversary. Hard to believe that Chevrolet has been winning the hearts of Americans for a century, isn’t it? Known as the top-selling auto brand of all time, Chevy was always a step ahead of the game when it came to bringing all-steel bodies, electric headlamps, automatic shifting and power steering to the working class at a reasonable price.
An article from Business Week noted that Chevy even embedded itself in American culture, sometimes changing it by knowing what people wanted to drive before they did. Not to mention their spectacular advertising and marketing efforts. Their slogans and jingles have dominated radio and TV. Here’s a fun fact for you Dallas Ft. Worth: Bands reference Chevys in more than 700 songs. Can you name a few?
In a press release, Vice President of Chevrolet of Global Marketing and Strategy, Chris Perry said, “We understand Chevrolet is more than a brand – it belongs to everyone who owns, designs, builds, sells or loves Chevrolets. The past 100 years wouldn’t have been possible without millions of people who have each made Chevrolet a part of their life’s journey.”
Boy was he spot on. As a Chevy driver, I’m sure you know exactly what he’s talking about. No other auto brand has come close to adoration Chevydrivers feel for their vehicles especially during the 1950s and `60s.
“The American car from the mid-1930s to the end of the `60s was a Chevrolet,” said John Heitmann, an automotive history professor at the University of Dayton and author of The Automobile and the American Life. “It was the car of the aspiring American lower and middle classes for a long period.”
So how do you feel about your Chevy DFW? Are you driving a new Chevrolet car or truck for the first time or have you been a lifer? Share your stories with us, we’d love to hear them! In the meantime, check out these great videos about Chevrolet history. The second one is a bit longer than the first and is for all of you history buffs out there. Enjoy!
It’s not too often that we associate sports cars, like the Chevrolet Camaro, with safety. As of last week, this is no longer the case. The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe became the first car to score the highest possible five-star rating in every individual test of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program since the introduction of the new standards in 2011.
Last year, the NHTSA introduced new, more rigorous federal testing procedures including a new side barrier test and a new side pole test. The side pole test simulates a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.
Camaro Chief Engineer, Al Oppenheiser, said that the Camaro has always been about performance including safety performance. He continued to say, “We always strive for five-star ratings, and the fact that we achieved them under more rigorous requirements is a great accomplishment.”
After watching the videos of the 2012 Camaro Coupe’s NHTSA testing, I’m inclined to agree with Oppenheiser. The 2012 Camaro’s safety specification includes six airbags, the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system and seat belt pretensioners as standard. Now one of the most popular, best-looking sports car out there is also one of the safest. Hats off to General Motors.
If you’ve been holding off on getting a Camaro for awhile due to safety issues, you no longer have an excuse. Head down to Classic Chevrolet and hop into one. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. In the meantime, check out the official NHTSA videos below and see just how safe this beast is for yourself.
I have a Friday treat for all my Camaro lovers in the Dallas Ft Worth area – an inside look at the engineering behind the 2012 Camaro ZL1 from none other than the Chevrolet engineers themselves! With more than 100 development hours spent in the wind tunnel, the ZL1 is the first vehicle in General Motors history to boast neutral or negative lift. Excited yet?
In October, we saw just how fast this little beauty is as it lapped the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife course in 7:41.27 minutes. For those of you unfamiliar with Nordschleife, all you need to know is that the Porsche 911 Turbo S, Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and the Ferrari 430 Scuderia have all been timed at around seven minutes and forty seconds at this German track. In case you missed the video of the ZL1′s 7:41 time, you can watch it here.
The 2012 Camaro ZL1 is expected to hit the dealerships this spring and will have two wheel options: a five-spoke and a 10-spoke design and will be available in nine different colors. Both the manual and automatic versions will host a six-speed manual gearbox and will also come with the same four-pack console gauges as the SS model with a boost gauge now thrown into the mix. Stay tuned for more updates from your Classic Chevrolet dealership, Dallas Ft Worth Chevy lovers. In the meantime, enjoy a video from the Chevrolet engineers. Happy Friday!
There is a very obvious way to tell when it’s time to get new brake pads on your Chevrolet car or truck: a high-pitched screeching sound when you apply your brakes. What you’re hearing is a small metal shim, called an indicator, which is giving you an audible warning that you need to replace your brake pads. It’s loud enough to be heard when your windows are up, but for those of you who like to jam out loudly in your Chevy, you may miss this audible warning.
Another way to tell that your brake pads are worn is by looking through the spaces between the wheel’s spokes. The outside pad is pressed against a metal rotor and there should be at least 1/4 inch of pad. If it’s less than that, then it’s time to take your car into a Texas Chevy Dealer. In the image below, the brake pad on the left is new, while the one on the right is completely worn.
So what happens if you don’t notice the sound or ever examine your brake pads? Eventually, you will hear a grinding or growling sound. This is bad! This means that you have worn the pads down completely and the disc and caliper are rubbing together. Let me be the first to tell you, from personal experience, that you do not want this to happen. Not only is the sound and vibration an unsettling feeling to experience, but you’ve probably now scratched your rotors creating an uneven surface. Most likely, you’ll need new rotors, which are much more expensive than brake pads.
If you are experience any issues with your brakes at all, please don’t hesitate to bring your Chevy truck or car in to see the experts at Classic Chevrolet Texas. Your car and your safety depend on your brakes, so make sure to have your brakes checked regularly!
The sky is no longer the limit for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. If you’ve seen the two most recent ads in this campaign, you know exactly what I mean. Chevrolet’s new campaign called “Let’s Do This” features the Sonic performing a variety of extreme stunts including skydiving and bungee jumping showing everyone that the all-newChevy Sonic is up for adventure. It’s turbocharged, connected and fun to drive.
Did I forget to mention that the 1.4L turbo with the six-speed manual also achieves an EPA highway fuel economy of 40 mpg? To give you a real-life scenario, imagine taking a road trip to New Orleans from Dallas in your Chevrolet on one tank of gas. That’s right, the Sonic Turbo offers up to 488 highway miles in one tank, making it one of the most fuel-efficient small cars in the market.
Along with being one of the most fuel-efficient cars out there, the Sonic goes from 0-60 in 8.2 seconds and 0 – 60 mph in 0.4 seconds when dropped from a plane. If you don’t believe me, check out the video below.
Not only is this car adventurous, it’s also safe. So safe in fact, that the Sonic was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) earlier this year and is equipped with two more air bags than its competitors. It also has a vehicle safety cage that is 60 percent high-strength steel, features a LATCH (Lower Anchors and Top Tethers for Children) system and six months of OnStar service including automatic crash response and panic brake assist technology. Should you be involved in an accident, there are sensors that will diagnose the severity of impact and control the deployment of its 10 airbags. Talk about a “Smart Car”.
So let’s recap: the Sonic is fast, fuel-efficient, safe and smart. What more could you ask for from your Classic Chevy Texas dealer? Are you ready to get adventurous, Dallas Ft Worth Chevrolet lovers? The 2012 Sonic sure is. Check out its latest bungee jumping adventure.
It’s not very often that we experience an earthquake or aftershocks in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex, but many of you probably felt the 5.6 quake that shook central Oklahoma on Saturday night. I just read that Oklahomans experienced a 2.9 magnitude aftershock this morning, and I got to thinking that most of you DFW Chevrolet drivers probably aren’t aware of what to do in the event of an earthquake. Luckily, a large number of people were sleeping when the quake hit, but do you know what to do if you happen to be in driving your Chevrolet around town? Hopefully, none of you will ever have to experience this, but here’s a few pointers on how to act in the event.
First, you need to realize what is going on. When you’re driving, an earthquake will sometimes make you think something is wrong with your car. So use your senses and look around. You’ll feel the earth shaking and start to see things falling or cracks opening. Next you need to move to the side of the road as quickly as possible. You probably won’t be the only person on the roads, so be wary of other panicked drivers. Avoid pulling under bridges, overpasses, signs, power lines, trees or anything else that could potentially fall on top of you. You should also avoid parking next to large structures like buildings. You car doesn’t offer very much protection from falling objects so it’s best to park your Chevy somewhere that has the smallest chance of being hit by falling debris.
Turn off your engine and put on the emergency brake. Turn on the radio and listen for updates, advice and warnings and stay in your vehicle until the shaking stops. Once it has, go ahead and head home cautiously. Don’t drive through flood waters, over large cracks or under bridges with visible structural damage.
Lastly, be prepared for aftershocks. As I mentioned before, Oklahoma was still feeling aftershocks from the Saturday night quake this morning. Here’s a great video providing some more information on what to do during an earthquake.
Did anyone in the DFW metroplex feel this recent quake? I slept through it, but I’d love to hear from someone first hand. Hopefully, we will never experience something like the 5.9 quake, but if we do and you happen to be driving your Chevrolet down the road, remember the advice above. Stay safe out there!
Hey Dallas Ft Worth Chevy drivers, are your headlights looking a little foggy lately? Maybe they aren’t shining as brightly as they used to? Over time, the brightness of headlights can be affected because the outside cover becomes oxidized. This gives them a foggy and sometimes yellow look. In severely oxidized headlights, you can’t even see the bulb any more. This also causes your headlights to be less bright, which can affect your visibility when driving during the night.
Now before you get ready to head to yourChevrolet Dealer in Ft Worth for a new set of headlights, try this simple and cheap solution using only Crest toothpaste, a cloth and water.
Apply a nickel-size amount of the toothpaste (make sure it’s paste and not gel) to the plastic cover of the headlight. Then, with a dry cloth, rub in a circular motion until the toothpaste is completely rubbed in. You should start to notice the grime wipe away. Once it’s all rubbed in, rinse the headlight with water and wipe away any residual paste with a wet cloth.
It’s so simple, it’s almost hard to believe, right? Well, here’s video proof that it actually does work!
Have any of youChevy owners in DFW tried this before? Let us know if it worked for you!
Hey DFW Camaro lovers, I have some exciting news. Earlier today, Chevrolet announced that its most-powerful convertible ever, the 2013 Camaro ZL1, will debut at the LA Auto show next month. According to a press release issued by General Motors, this Camaro will deliver more performance and technology than many exotic cars and ultra-luxury convertibles. I told you I had exciting news!
The ZL1 will be powered by a 580-horsepower LSA 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine, so I’m sure Camaro Chief Engineer, Al Oppenheiser, wasn’t kidding when he said, “This is a car that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you drop the top – or hit the gas.”
The convertible will share all its characteristics and engine parts with the 2012 ZL1 coupe model which recently lapped the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife course in 7:41.27 minutes. The only changes we’ll see are a tower brace under the hood, a transmission reinforcement brace, an underbody tunnel brace and a set of X and V braces under the body. All of these are aimed at stiffening the chassis to better handle and apply all the power the LSA generates. Check out this video of the 2012 Camaro ZL1 at Nordschleife.
Are you getting excited yet? The ZL1 convertible will most likely be available for purchase in the late months of 2012. Until then, I’ll be sure to keep you posted on the latest updates!
Hi, I'm Hagen Durant, General Manager of Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, TX - I am a huge car and truck enthusiast and love talking cars. I'm a cyclist, health nut, father, geek, and drummer. I look forward to giving you great information about cars and trucks, driving tips, maintenance and so much more.
If you have any questions or would like to make suggestions feel free to email them to me at hagen@classicchevytexas.com
If you enjoy extreme – and sometimes ridiculous – “sports”, then I’m sure you’ve heard the name Rob Dyrdek before. If you haven’t, he’s a professional skateboarder, actor, entrepreneur, producer, philanthropist, and reality TV star. He is best known for his TV series “Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory” where he constantly does crazy and sometimes dangerous tricks involving all sorts of motor vehicles. And now, he’s decided to jump on board the Chevy Sonic’s adventure and become the first man on Earth to successfully kickflip a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic.
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