At their facility in New Hudson, Michigan, Pratt & Miller (the engineering team behind the AMLS Corvette program) introduced eco-friendly editions of their famed C6R and C6RS Chevrolet Corvettes. Jumping on the green bandwagon, the new models are smaller and lighter than the company's current race and street editions.
Now for the details; these all-new eco-friendly Vettes are powered by either high-torque electric motors or the forearm muscles of the driver. (Did we have you going for just a second?)
Yup, these are toy Corvettes manufactured by Ridemakerz, a company that uses a Build-A-Bear process that lets kids actually "build" model cars that they can have fun with after the build is complete.
The two new Corvettes, one that features "Jake" the Corvette Racing mascot (the skull), can be built at Ridemakerz stores in nine states. Models can also be ordered on-line and then assembled at home (www.Ridemakerz.com).
At the debut of the new Corvettes at Pratt & Miller's race shop, Ridemakerz 's CEO Founder Larry Andreini told us, "The new C6R and C6RS tap into American's general love of cars and their particular passion for America's sports car, the Chevy Corvette. We're excited to make these models available so that kids, parents, and any car enthusiasts can all build and trick out their ultimate model Corvette. Fathers and sons should especially be fired up about these Pratt & Miller Corvettes because of their racing record and awesome style. These cars are something they can build and enjoy together."
OK Dad, now you know what to get your kid for Christmas. Build two and you can upset the wife by racing through the living room.
Ron Fellows, long-time Corvette race driver, was also on hand to help launch the new cars. He didn't seem to mind that the cars were electric as he raced the assembled media and demonstrated that he was as fast when controlling his car via a joystick as he is when he is behind a full-sized wheel.
The event also gave Ridemakerz the chance to do something good in Detroit ... a town that could use a break these days. The company has two stores in Detroit, and to help celebrate the new C6R and C6RS, Ridemakerz contributed $2,500 to Mitch Albom's charity, The Dream Fund at the College of Creative Studies. (Albom is a Detroit-based, nationally syndicated radio talk show host and sports reporter.) Additional funds were donated based on the sales of model cars at the company's two Detroit stores.
Albom noted, "Kids everywhere love cars, but even more so in Detroit. These cars and the Ridemakerz experience will get kids and a lot of dads I know excited. I'm glad to have Ridemakerz as part of the team that supports The Dream Fund."