Advancing Age is a Testing Time for Many Drivers

How old is too old to drive? There’s no definitive answer,
no matter what some so-called experts claim.

By Bill McLauchlan

It surprised me to learn recently that Bill Brack, a three-time Canadian Driving Champion, and now owner of a drivers school at Shannonville Motorsports Park near Belleville, Ontario, thinks anyone over 80 should no longer be able to drive on the province’s 400-series multi-lane highways. According to Brack, the speeds are too high and there’s too much going on for people of that age to drive safely. 

Frankly, given his background and 77-year age, I’d have thought Brack would have a broader perspective than merely establishing an arbitrary cut-off point governed by one’s age.

To give him the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he was trying to stir up some controversy to help publicize a new course at his school aimed at helping older drivers improve their road skills and gain more confidence behind the wheel.

There may be some merit to that argument on the traffic-choked main arteries running through and around the Toronto area. You need your wits about you, for sure, and high levels of situational awareness. But, as long as you’re physical and cognitive abilities are up to the job, there’s no reason to bar you from driving on high-speed highways and expressways simply because you’ve passed a specific age-related milestone.

That said, there’s comes a point in every driver’s life when age does enter into the equation. Most of us couldn’t wait to get our driving licences when we were young. But, like the cars we drive, age takes its toll. By a certain age, we are required by law to prove we’re still up to the task.

Photo: PRNEWSWIRE/Newscom

It's estimated that by the end of this decade one in four drivers in Canada will be aged 65 or older. A 2009 Statistics Canada report says about 3.25 million Canadians licensed to drive were 65 and over, with the majority in the 65 to 74 age group. Of the seniors with a valid licence, more than 27,000 were 90 or over. Ontario had the most older drivers at 1.25 million, while P.E.I. had just 15,000.

As it stands now, the requirements for older drivers to renew their licence vary widely. In some jurisdictions you’re good to go no matter what age you are. In one instance it comes mid-way through your sixth decade. And we’re talking here of renewing licences permitting you to drive passenger cars, light trucks and motorcycles. There are more stringent rules governing commercial vehicle drivers.

If you live in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward island and Saskatchewan there are no restrictions based on age. In Nova Scotia, on the other hand, a medical report must be submitted annually fro drivers age 64 and over.

Yukon drivers need to provide a medical at ages 70, 75 and 80 and every two years beyond that.

Motorists are required to renew their drivers licence at 75 or older in Alberta, Newfoundland, Quebec, the North West Territories and Nunavut. In Alberta a medical report also must be submitted and in some cases a vision test must also be done. Things are a tad tougher in Newfoundland, as a second medical is called for when a driver turns 80 and for every two years after 80. Quebec’s requirements are similar to those of Newfoundland but also call for a vision test too. A medical report is required at age 75 and 80 in the North West Territories and every two years after 80, while in Nunavut it’s at 75 and annually at 80 and over.

The requirement in British Columbia is for a medical report at 80 and every two years from then on. Ontario drivers can basically self-certify themselves as to medical fitness but it does have a mandatory Senior Driver Renewal Program which kicks in at age 80 and is renewed every two years from then on. The program involves a vision test and quiz on road rules, plus a group education session. A further road test may be required if deemed necessary. 

Whether it is time to renew or not, you also have a legal requirement to inform the licensing authorities as soon as possible if you are diagnosed with dementia.
A diagnosis of dementia is not necessarily a reason to stop driving immediately. What you should consider is whether you are still able to drive safely, what steps you can take to ensure you are up to the job, and what legal requirements you have to register your illness

Your eyesight can deteriorate too. So if you need glasses or contact lenses to do this, update your licensing information. And they must be worn at all times when driving.

Research has proven older drivers are as safe as or safer than other age groups. But bad habits do creep in over time, and it may be worth considering giving your driving a check-up. Online and on-road assessments are available for older drivers to make sure your driving is still up to scratch.

Experienced motorists may feel that driving is very much an automated activity, but should remember that it is actually a highly complex task that requires acute observation and manual skills.

Most Ontario Drivers Say safety Has Deteriorated

86 percent want province to improve road safety
and those over age 55 are speaking out loudest

By Tom Mack

This winter will surely be remembered as one of the worst on record for its long brutal cold, heavy snows, high winds and whiteout visibility conditions.

Photo: PRNEWSWIRE/Newscom

Now, as Spring, struggles to life, fluctuating freeze-thaw cycles have littered many Ontario roads with crater-sized potholes resulting in teeth-rattling rides for road users.

It’s a scenario that has led the five companies contracted to provide services under the Ministry of Transportation’s Winter Maintenance Program to release new research findings demonstrating that a majority of Ontarians want the government to make the provinces roads safer.

Overall, the survey by Ipsos Reid conducted in the first week of March, found that a significant majority of drivers feel the government should increase spending on highway maintenance to improve the quality and safety of Ontario's highways. And older drivers have made their concerns clear in no uncertain terms.

Women, respondents aged 55 and over and residents of Northern Ontario consistently expressed the highest levels of concern about road safety.

The survey shows that by a 2-to-1 margin, Ontario drivers said they find roads are in worse condition now than they were 3 years ago; in Northern Ontario drivers believe that by a 3-to-1 margin.

Fully 86 percent of Ontarians – including 92 percent of those 55 and over; and 93 percent of people living in Central and Northern Ontario – said the government should increase spending to improve safety conditions. When comparing road conditions to recent years, 76 percent of respondents said conditions worsened this winter.

“This research shows the public believes our roads are not as safe as they were before. We share their concerns,” said Geoff Wilkinson, Executive Director of the Ontario Road Builders Association (ORBA) and lead for ORBA’s Area Maintenance Contractors, referring to the government’s 25 percent reduction in spending on road maintenance. “The government has achieved hundreds of millions of dollars in savings and has not re-invested any of it.” In addition, it should be noted that the excise tax, currently at 14.7 cents on every litre of gasoline and diesel fuel sold in Ontario, generated about $3.1 billion in 2012-2013. The question must be asked: how much of that revenue is going into road infrastructure maintenance and improvement?

Wilkinson said ORBA is currently meeting with government officials in an attempt to work together to solve these road safety issues.

The OPP has issued a number of alerts and warnings this winter about the “mayhem” on provincial highways and has asked drivers to slow down. There have been several multi-vehicle crashes this winter involving hundreds of vehicles and tractor-trailers in Southwestern, Eastern, Central and Northern Ontario, causing fatalities and multiple injuries and hospitalizations.

The ORBA contractors don’t believe there’s time for Queen’s Park to sit and wait until the end of 2014 when the Provincial Auditor issues a report on the Winter Maintenance Program.

“The time to act is now, before we put more drivers in danger,” Wilkinson said.

Mustang Herd Rounds Up for a Big Drive

By Bill McLauchlan

If you were a teenager or older back in 1964 you couldn’t help but notice the fuss surrounding the arrival of Lee Iacocca’s pet project, the new Ford Mustang. It created a buzz of excitement and public interest like no car before or since.

Photo: NewspressUSA
Ford's Mustang made its public debut at the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Since then, many have owned one, knew someone who did or watched them trounce the competition on road race circuits across the nation.

Me? Well, I’ve never been an owner but had a relative who was. I was lucky enough to witness the famed Comstock Racing Team Mustangs run rampant in Canada and see those run by the Shelby, Bud Moore and other top-notch race teams in the U.S. And I even saw the original Mustang 1 Concept run some demonstration laps at the U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen in 1962.

Photo: NewspressUSA
The 1962 Mustang 1 Concept started the brand's 50-year saga.

So it’s with some regret that I have to take a pass when the Mustang Club of America (MCA) holds a Mustang anniversary event in less than a month (April 16-20) to commemorate the pony car’s remarkable 50-year run.

Groups from North America, South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand will carry their country flags to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas. The international celebration will be so large that Ford Motor Company and the Mustang Club of America will simultaneously hold it at two locations from April 16 through April 20, 2014. It is open to everyone, not just Mustang owners and MCA members.

“Even though the Ford Mustang has not traditionally been offered globally, the passion for the first pony car is truly international,” said Ronald D. Bramlett, Mustang Club of America, executive director of the Mustang 50th Birthday Celebration. “Enthusiasts from across the globe are planning to attend and share their personal Mustang stories. Some are even shipping their Mustang to the United States to drive their car as part of the milestone event.”

Charlotte Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway will give these enthusiasts an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives. MCA has also organized “Pony Drives” so Mustang owners can travel in organized groups to each venue. Some international owners are planning to drive in those caravans.

Photo: NewspressUSA

“The Ford Mustang has become a symbol of American culture,” said Steven Ling, Ford car marketing manager. “The hunger for this iconic car fueled Ford Motor Company’s decision to offer the 2015 Mustang globally for the first time. We’ll exhibit this new model at the twin events so fans from around the world can see them personally.”

The original pony car has been very popular, with more than nine million sold thus far. Since the Mustang was launched at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, it has become an important part of pop culture with more than 3,000 appearances in film and television, plus hundreds of musical references. The Mustang Club of America has chapters on every continent except Antarctica, with chapters and tens of thousands of members worldwide.

From 1964 to 1973, Ford built almost three million Mustangs at their three U.S. plants. However, few realize that Mustangs were also built at Ford locations in Europe and Latin America. A handful of U.S.-built early Mustangs were even converted to right-hand drive at Ford’s plant in Australia.

The countries being represented at the celebration include: U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, Italy and the U.K.

Details continue to be finalized for the event. Information is continuously updated on a special website, http://www.mustang50thbirthdaycelebration.com/ and at the MCA website, http://www.mustang.org/.

If you own a Mustang, modern or classic, or are just a big fan of the breed, you still have time to take part in the festivities. But better act fast as the event is fast approaching.

Boomers Drive a Boom in Small SUV Sales

By Bill McLauchlan

Is the idea of a compact SUV beginning to make more sense to you? If so, relax you’re not alone. In fact, especially if you favour a Ford, you’re on the leading edge of a demographic shift driving skyrocketing Escape sales.
  
The baby boomer preference for everything bigger over the last 35 years is shrinking, but this generation’s desire for comfort and amenities is still very much at the forefront in the choices they make as consumers.

“Those baby boomers who worked hard for and embraced the affluent lifestyle of the 1970s through the middle of the last decade – owning large homes and spacious vehicles – have reached a turning point,” says Sheryl Connelly, global consumer trends and futurist manager for Ford Motor Co. “This generation is now trending toward a simpler way of living, one that doesn’t eliminate the lavish comforts they’ve come to enjoy.

“The boomer population has always set the trends,” Connelly adds, “and now they’ve set a course for a more streamlined life that doesn’t sacrifice style and comfort.”

Image: NewspressUSA

Industry data supplied by Ford and Del Webb, part of the multi-brand homebuilder PulteGroup, show that boomers who comprised the growing market for large homes and made minivans and big SUVs popular are now shifting to still lavish, but smaller homes, condos and utility vehicles.

As the oldest of this generation – those born between 1946 and 1964 – marked their 60th birthdays in 2006, the population was estimated at about 78.2 million. Industry data suggest the baby boomer instinct for knowing what is chic continues to influence popular lifestyle choices.

The trend in homes increasing in size was a constant from the 1950s on, with average home sizes going from 860 square feet in 1960 to 2,505 square feet in 2012.

While baby boomers helped fuel that trend, evidence shows they are now breaking away, seeking cozier homes with top-of-the-line amenities and features.

Data from Ford show boomers are making the same decision with regard to what they put in their garage, moving away from the big SUV and minivan segments they dominated in the 1980s and 1990s to smaller, car-based utility vehicles that come with premium packages and styling.

The 2014 Ford Escape compact utility vehicle, for example, features 98 cubic feet of passenger volume – about a 21 percent difference from the larger 2014 Explorer’s almost 152 cubic feet. Between the Escape and the Expedition, there is an estimated 31 percent difference in passenger volume.

Baby boomers and small utility vehicles
The kind of premium content baby boomers are specifying as they downsize can also be found in the type of vehicle they now want to drive – smaller utility vehicles loaded with amenities and features.

An uptick in small utility vehicle sales started in 2004 and has continued a steady climb, according to retail sales data from Polk. Correlating with the number of adults considered to be baby boomers is the number of smaller, car-based utility vehicles being sold to that demographic.

“Trendy baby boomers want to downsize their homes and their vehicles, but they’re not willing to give up premium content in either case,” says Amy Marentic, marketing manager for Ford’s global car and crossover group. “Personally, I felt the need to downsize. My children are in college and I have no need for the larger utility any more, but I still want to feel like I’m driving something special.”

Image: NewspressUSA
Boomers are downsizing their lifestyles, driving a switch to smaller homes and smaller SUVS with premium packaging and style.

The largest demographic buying small utility vehicles such as the Escape are people between the ages of 55 and 64, according to Polk. In this key segment, retail registrations of the Escape are up 81 percent since 2009 – higher than overall industry growth. Small SUVs are most popular in this age group; more than 46 percent of Escape buyers opting for Titanium trim level are 56 or older, indicating a desire for high-series models loaded with technology and amenities.

The second-largest demographic are those between 45 and 54. The number of 65- to 74-year-olds purchasing small utility vehicles has more than doubled since 2009 – growing at more than twice the rate of new retail vehicle sales overall in the demographic, according to the same data.

“While the Escape is a compact utility built for everyone and we’re seeing strong sales across the board, sales are really being driven by these active adults in the 55- to 64-year-old range,” says Erich Merkle, U.S. sales analyst for Ford. “It’s no secret baby boomers are playing a large role in the compact utility vehicle segment, and will continue to do so well into the foreseeable future.”

The Escape is outpacing the industry in key population segments, including every age demographic above 55 years old.

In year-over-year retail sales, Escape is experiencing 24 percent growth – outpacing the national compact utility vehicle average increase of 18 percent.

Making Light Work of Going Green

Traffic Light Recognition Technology
Could Save Millions of Litres of Fuel

By Bill McLauchlan

Coping with city traffic ain’t the most fun at the best of times. But it can be a bit more bearable if you play the intersection lights to your advantage. We’re talking about working the greens here. By planning ahead and adjusting your road speed as needed you can travel a fair distance before a red light brings you to a halt.

Now, Audi is being a spoilsport and threatening to put an end to this little game. But it’s a good thing. Really.

You see, the German car maker is ready to add a little oil to the wheels of your daily grind with advanced traffic light recognition technology that could make driving through towns and cities far more fluid and free of annoying and fuel-economy-denting red light punctuation.

The Audi system harnesses the power of in-car Internet to establish a link between the car and the traffic light network via the central traffic computer in each town or city. It quickly understands the light-change sequences in the area and, on approach to a set of lights, the Driver Information System (DIS) located in the central instrument cluster then shows the speed to select in order to pass through the light during a green phase. It also displays a visual aid using red, amber or green icons.

Photo: Audi

Audi sees the light to trim down traffic stops – The evolution of the 'connected car' is continuing apace with a demonstration of the company's latest production-ready driver assist technology which enables interactivity with city traffic lights.

If a driver is already waiting at a red light, the system can calculate and count down the time remaining until the next green light is about to appear. It also interacts with the car’s automatic Start-Stop function to ensure the engine is switched on five seconds before the green light is slated to come on.

By Audi’s reckoning, this traffic light recognition method has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 15 percent and could save about 900 million litres of fuel if it were to be deployed throughout Germany.

The fully functional system is now production ready and could fitted to every Audi model subject to any necessary legislation. It was actively demonstrated recently on busy Las Vegas roads in an Audi A6 sedan as part of a trail-blazing technology display at the recent Consumer Electronics Show. Comprehensive testing continues in that city with 50 sets of traffic lights.

Testing is also underway in Verona in northern Italy, where some 60 traffic lights covering almost the entire city are involved. Further testing is also happening in Berlin, where 25 Audi customers are driving cars fitted with Online traffic information that can link up a total of 1,000 traffic lights in that city. A market launch is currently the subject of close study in the U.S.

Ready to Take Your Hands Off the Wheel?

By Bill McLauchlan

Are you ready to flip through a file or take a nap while being driven robotically to work? It may be years yet before you can do it but the driverless is here. You’ve probably seen videos of the Google car.

The technology exists – car makers from Audi to Volvo and anyone in between have all showcased various permutations. But it’ll take some hard graft on system commonalities and global legal conformity to make it happen.

So, if a busy professional life, inherent laziness or physical limitations brought on by advancing years make the prospect sound worthwhile you’ll have to wait a while yet.

But automotive supplier TRW has come up with a new steering wheel concept that helps guide automakers down the path to automated driving and the car of the future.

Photo: Rinspeed

Unveiled earlier this month at the Geneva auto show, TRW’s approach was unveiled on the Rinspeed XchangE show car. The steering wheel offers a number of multi-functional features, including hands on/off detection to support the driver during semi-automated and automated driving situations.

Guido Hirzmann, group leader, new technology, Mechatronic, commented: “Rinspeed’s steer-by-wire XchangE vehicle featuring TRW’s steering wheel system opens up a world of possibilities to the driver. With the integrated hands on/off sensor and flexible positioning of the wheel, the driver can choose whether to drive the vehicle, pass control to the front passenger, or have the vehicle drive itself in automated mode.

Photo: PR NEWSWIRE/Newscom

“Furthermore, with the increasing number of electronically controlled functions in the vehicle, certain controls can be eliminated or packaged into the steering wheel, offering more space and flexibility for the car interior. For example, with the XchangE, we have been able to remove the centre console and integrate the gearshift into the steering wheel.”

The following functions can be activated by touching transparent switches:

• A Drive Mode Manager (DMM) display, located at the top of the steering wheel, illuminating ‘A’ when the vehicle is in automated mode. If the driver touches the steering wheel, ‘M’ (manual) is lit up indicating the driver is ready to take back control of the car. If ‘Push to Drive’ or ‘PTD’ is touched, control is given back to the driver. Similarly, if the driver takes hands off the wheel, the DMM display automatically changes from ‘M’ to ‘A’ and the car continues to drive in automated mode.

• Gear Shift – the driver can move from park, neutral, drive and reverse using the relevant switches on the steering wheel.

• Turn Indicators – the indicator switches are illuminated white (ambient lighting) and when activated the corresponding left and right turn arrows flash.

• Electronic Horn System (EHS) – the horn can be activated by touching a conductive area on the wheel’s central airbag cover.

Hirzmann concluded the concept “redefines the conventional role of the steering wheel as cars evolve and as a result can help to reduce some of the driving tasks and increase comfort.”

Explorer Maintains Top Safety Stance

By Tom Mack

The 2014 Ford Explorer maintains top marks in the U.S. government’s new car safety rating program.

Both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models earned five-star overall vehicle scores in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program.

Photo: NewspressUSA

Available second-row inflatable safety belts offer improved comfort and protection for passengers. This advanced restraint system is designed to help reduce head, neck and chest injuries for second-row passengers, often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to such injuries.

The Explorer also features AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, Safety Canopy® side air curtain technology for all three rows, and dual-stage airbags for driver and front passenger. The vehicle comes standard with a tire pressure monitoring system and SOS Post-Crash Alert System™.

A Peek at Cars to Come

By Bill McLauchlan

Though the shiny auto baubles unwrapped at the 84th Geneva Auto Show garnered most of this week’s new product news, an interesting snippet emerged from the other side of the world with something of more immediate interest for Canadian family car buyers.

Hyundai’s next chart-topper?
Yesterday, Korean automaker Hyundai previewed its soon-to-be-launched, all-new Sonata sedan with the release of these first official renderings. The Korean version of the Sonata is scheduled to make its world premiere later this month in its home market while the Sonata we’ll see on our roads will be seen for the first time in April during the upcoming New York International Auto Show.

PR NewsFoto/Hyundai Motor America

PR NewsFoto/Hyundai Motor America

As you can see from these exterior and interior images this fresh treatment is likely to hit the right note with current Sonata owners and bring some new converts to the fast-growing Hyundai band.

Say Hi to Hazumi
While it is a dazzling show replete with many new models being seen for the first time, there aren’t very many from the Geneva event that we can look forward to over here, at least in the near future.

But one introduction that did catch our attention appeared when Mazda revealed its new Hazumi concept car. Why should that interest you? Well, the Japanese company stated the tidy little, dramatically-styled Hazumi “foreshadows Mazda’s next-generation subcompact car.” Reading between the lines, we’d say you’re looking at the replacement for the current entry-level Mazda2 model.

Photo: NewspressUSA

While it does carry the ‘concept’ tag, the Hazumi has all the earmarks of a close-to-production vehicle.

Also at the show, Mazda revealed for the first time a newly developed small-displacement clean diesel engine, the SKYACTIV-D 1.5. Like the currently available SKYACTIV technology in the gasoline engines powering the Mazda3 and Mazda6 we get here, this new diesel is both highly efficient and clean-burning while delivering exceptional performance with powerful torque and smooth acceleration. No word on whether or not we’ll see this new small diesel when the Hazu … er new Mazda2 makes its showroom debut on our shores.

Rate Car Quality Your Own Way

By Bill McLauchlan

A couple of weeks ago I reported on the 2014 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study in which the Lexus and Mercedes-Benz brands led the industry rankings – though General Motors sent a strong overall message with eight segment award winners and all of its individual brands (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC) scoring at or above the industry average.

Well, that and the seasonal spate of auto shows this time of year, got me thinking of a way you can come up with your own vehicle quality rating system.

Auto Show vs Showroom
If you’re in the market for a new car, auto shows are a great way to conduct one-stop, head-by-head comparisons of vehicles on your purchasing radar. That’s good for checking out individual content and features. But bear in mind that car companies finesse their display cars to make them look their best which could unduly influence your perception of a particular vehicle’s build quality.

That’s certainly something to keep in mind if you’re a first-time buyer. But it’s even more important if advancing years mean it could be the last new-car you buy and must live out your remaining driving years along with you.

So, do your build-quality comparisons at the dealership of your choice.

High-Tech vs Hands-on
First of all, forget that old adage: “They don’t build ’em like they used to.” Today’s cars are better engineered, use better materials and are machined to closer tolerances than was the case before. Precision lasers, robots and state-of-the-art paint booths can weld, braze, screw, bolt, glue and paint cars together like never before.

Yes there are highly precise automated systems in place today delivering more consistent assembly quality than ever before, but there are still men and women at many other work stations. And to err is human. Though you can’t blame those line workers for sloppy panel fits if the stamping dies that form the part become worn and in need of replacement.
Nor can you blame an interior trim piece’s poor fit if the person who installs it needs two minutes to do it right and he/she is allowed only one minute to do it.

Sam VarnHagen/Ford Motor Co.

That said, there are things you can do to make your own quality rating system – just like the audit system car companies use to assess the quality of their market competitors.

Make your own check list. Assess demerits for major or minor flaws. Is the hood out of line? Give that five demerits, for example. What you’ll get is a fair evaluation allowing you to look at any car with the same set of eyes.
  
A Critical Eye
First make a list of items you can check visually. Walk around the car. Look at the body fits and finish. Are all of the panel gaps the same? Are the trim pieces and moldings straight and properly aligned? Make sure the bumpers fit, especially the modern molded plastic kind.

General Motors/Tyler Mallory

Examine the paint surface closely. Look for colour differences, visible orange peel and any areas where excess paint wasn’t rubbed out. Overall, the vehicle should have a bright, shiny finish.

Squeaks, Rattles and Groans
Then it’s time to get physical. Open and close doors. Listen for rattles or anything else that doesn’t sound right. Take a good look at the instrument panel. Are the gaps between major elements the same? Do all the individual pieces butt together properly? Look for missing screws. Make sure the seat tracks work and perform smoothly. See if the adhesive around window glass areas is smeared. Open the hood and trunk to check inner panel lightening holes and lips for rough edges or burrs that indicate stamping dies weren’t well maintained.

It may not be as convenient as a one-stop auto show visit but you can be sure some extra leg work conducting up-close personal showroom inspections will be more reflective of how well built, or not, is any car that attracts your interest.

'Blue Devil' Rises from Sinkhole Depths

First of eight historic Corvettes recovered has only minor damage

By Tom Mack

Good news arose today from Bowling Green, Kentucky, where the recovery of the first of eight historic Corvettes that fell into a sinkhole under the National Corvette Museum last month began with the successful extraction of the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 “Blue Devil” prototype.

The car was in good enough condition to drive 20 feet (roughly six metres) to the doorway of the museum’s Skydome.

Based on initial inspection, the iconic ZR-1 sustained minimal damage, despite falling nearly 30 feet (about 10 metres) when the hole opened beneath an exhibit area on Feb. 12th.

The ZR-1 emerged from the depths of the sinkhole – where workers test-lifted the car last Saturday, just before noon today.

“The ‘Blue Devil’ is in remarkable shape,” said John Spencer, manufacturing integration manager for Corvette. “Cosmetically, the carbon fibre running boards are shattered, there's some minor paint damage, and a small crack in the windshield. Mechanically, the worst damage is a split in the oil-supply line for the 6.2-litre LS9 V8. If you fixed that, you could drive the ZR-1 back to Detroit.”

The team plans to recover the 1962 Corvette and the1993 40th Anniversary Corvette this week, and the remaining cars in the next 60 days.

“The recovery of the ZR-1 went incredibly well,” said Mike Murphy, CEO of Scott, Murphy & Daniel construction. “Obviously, there's a lot of work still to do. But, watching the ZR-1drive out of the museum was a great start to the recovery effort.”

When the cars are recovered, they will be shipped to the Mechanical Assembly facility, a small specialty shop within GM Design in Warren, Mich., where the best restoration approach will be determined. Mechanical Assembly has been part of GM Design since the 1930s, and today maintains and restores many of the vehicles in the GM Heritage Collection and GM’s historic concept cars.

For more information on the National Corvette Museum sinkhole, visit www.nationalcorvettemuseum.org