Page 16 - Beep Beep April 2023

BEHIND THE WHEEL
This month our intrepid ‘driver’ Noel St John-Wood drives Paul Baltzer’s latest Corve:e Purchase.
On a recent trip to Brisbane I called in to see a friend and fellow Club member Paul Baltzer. He tends to have a different car every time I visit and this time was extra special as he had just taken delivery of his new Corvette C8 C51 Stingray. After an agonising order wait of 4+ years and a final price tag over $220,000 he was excited and I was, as expected, drooling over this impressive machine.
Paul offered me a ride so I jumped in without hesitation. It’s difficult to assess a new supercar driving around the suburbs of Brisbane at limited speed, but the car handles bumpy roads surprisingly well while acceleration and cornering is what you would expect from a mid-mounted, dry sump, alloy V8 with around 369 KW (around 500HP).
There are so many features on this amazing car but the memory lift front suspension won me over as the most practical as we pulled into Paul’s dipped driveway.
The history of America’s version of the sports car centres around the Chevy Corvette with new models bringing a stunningly beautiful new shape every time.
I have always admired the ’65 Corvette as the most impressive model, inside and out. The new C8 Corvette has impressed me even more with its eye watering body style and jaw dropping cockpit- style interior – no room for holding hands though!
Paul is obviously impressed with his new car and its many electronic suspension and performance features which he is struggling to operate and adjust with ease unlike the older models with controls that have an ease of adaptability, albeit limited capability.
Paul explained he is apprehensive about driving the Corvette amongst traffic, and shopping centre car parks are no-go zones but he revels in owning a car that is rare to see in public.
To wrap up...
The new Corvette is stunning in every respect, would sit alongside McLaren, Ferrari etc. with ease and Paul says it’s a buzz having the new car in his stable.
Photos from Noel St John-Wood
Photos from Noel St John-Wood
Cheers Noel SJW
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