Remember that vintage stretch of off-site test area back in the ’60s called Woodward Avenue? Well, it isn’t in Kentucky. That fact was driven home by the Kentucky State Police this past week when two General Motors employees were caught street racing two new C8 Corvettes.
According to reports, the two GM engineers, Alexander Thim and Mark Derkatz, were racing their Corvettes down Lover’s Lane in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Wednesday night. The report states that Thim and Derkatz exceeded the posted 45 mph speed limit by at least 26 mph, a feat easily obtained by the mid-engine Corvette’s 495 horsepower LT2 engine. Speculation is that the two men were likely exceeding 71 mph, since “26 mph-plus” is Kentucky slang within the judiciary branch to automatically set up a hearing and the likelihood for the offender to kiss their driving privileges goodbye for a while. The fact that the cars were escorted off to the impound lot by roll-back only helps to cement the lack of lucidity the two men exhibited, and the negative view Kentucky has for this sort of thing.
Even so, that may be the least of their worries. Chevrolet, and the Corvette specifically, have VERY deep roots within the Bowling Green community. This is the town where all Corvettes have been built ever since Corvette production moved from St. Louis, Missouri in 1981. The community of Bowling Green is also heavily invested in the National Corvette Museum, which is located right across the street from the Corvette Assembly Plant.
GM has not commented about the situation, but with so much connection to GM and Corvette, we think that the two gentlemen who may soon find walking as a major form of mobility, may have a VERY long walk to the HR department before this is all said and done. Many folks use the term “Mexico” loosely to geographically-locate their shenanigans behind the wheel, but in this case, those shenanigans were securely rooted in Corvette’s hometown. Maybe they never heard the adage, “Don’t crap where you eat.”