{"id":304572,"date":"2021-04-10T01:38:46","date_gmt":"2021-04-10T05:38:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportscardigest.com\/?p=304572"},"modified":"2024-03-06T01:41:51","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T01:41:51","slug":"chevy-thunder-class-amelia-island-concour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/chevy-thunder-class-amelia-island-concour\/","title":{"rendered":"Amelia Island Concours (2021) – Earth-Shaking CHEVY THUNDER Class Added"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

The 26th annual Amelia Island Concours\u00a0d\u2019Elegance\u00a0will feature a CHEVY THUNDER class to honor the\u00a0history-making cars and engines and has provided the average American motorist the luxury of having power on demand and even created a muscular image to Chevrolet\u2019s iconic \u201cbowtie\u201d emblem.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Chevy Thunder, as the slogan states, is \u201cthe heartbeat of America.\u201d\u00a0Chevy\u2019s small blocks, big blocks, and dedicated pure racing engines set records and were seen dominating all types of American motorsport essentially for greater than half a century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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https:\/\/youtu.be\/XnClLZbNh6I<\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\u201cThe design and execution of\u00a0Chevy\u2019s V-8 engines, especially the \u2018small block,\u2019 is elegant without being exotic or exclusive,\u201d<\/em><\/p>\r\nBill Warner, founder and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d\u2019Elegance<\/cite><\/blockquote>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

They have claimed numerous victories, from eleven\u00a0Indy 500 victories, 24 wins at the Daytona 500, Le Mans, Sebring, IMSA GTP, NHRA Pro Stock, GTO & GTX, Trans-Am, Can-Am, Sprint Cars, IROC, Baja<\/a> & Desert racers,\u00a0and\u00a0F5000<\/a>.\u00a0They also claimed victories at\u00a0Swamp Buggies, club racers, Dune Buggies<\/a>, Hot-Rods, kit cars, and even offshore powerboats.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Since it was introduced in 1955, the\u00a0Chevrolet Small Block\u00a0has provided mobility to generations of American families along with attracting race car builders and hot\u00a0rodders.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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\u201c Anyone who\u2019s ever attended a drag race, a NASCAR race, a Trans-Am or a Can-Am has heard and sometimes felt,\u00a0Chevy\u00a0Thunder. It\u2019s the clear and unmistakable voice of American motorsports.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\r\nBILL WARNER<\/cite><\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Chevy small block power even made an appearance within the front row of the 1981 Indy 500<\/a>, it outran the\u00a0legendary\u00a0Offys\u00a0on the dirt tracks of America, dominated the NASCAR high banks, short tracks, and road courses. In fact, in 1957, the fuel-injected\u00a0Chevy\u00a0small-block was so dominant in NASCAR racing that they banned it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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1978 Chevrolet Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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The small-block Chevy Thunder also dominated the international scene as it claimed victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona<\/a>, 12 Hours of Sebring, the BOAC 6 Hours at Brands Hatch, the 1000 Km of the\u00a0Nurburgring, dominated Can-Am by winning 33 consecutive races at one point, claimed the inaugural 1971 IMSA GTO championship<\/a> and the 1984 IMSA GTP title.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

No other manufacturer has completely commanded the NHRA Pro Stock competition with 24 national titles won.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The reach of the Chevy V-8 even went beyond the automotive realms, extending into the music scene. In 1962, the Beach Boys wrote a song paying tribute to Chevy\u2019s big-block Turbo-Thrust V-8\u2019s power and social impact. They titled the song \u201c409,\u201d and songwriter Gary Usher\u2019s lyrics had \u201c\u2026 4-speed, dual-quad,\u00a0positraction\u00a0four-oh-nine!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ever since 1917, when the first V-8 arrived in the form of the \u201cSeries D\u201d V8 engine of 1917-1919, the Chevy V-8 power has reached almost every aspect of American life. It has powered cars, trucks, towing trailers, and delivering groceries.\u00a0It has gone up against Scarab, McLaren, Chaparral, Eagle, Lola, Corvette, and Camaro to claim championship wins. Even a few Chevy V-8 engines replaced the much more expensive and renowned Italian V-12s in American sports car racing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins the Chevy Thunder Seminar panel. Photo courtesy of Chevrolet Motorsports.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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A CHEVY THUNDER seminar will be held on Friday May 21, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. joining the panel of Chevy-powered insiders. Other Panelists include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n