WEvTB Y FREE PRES, The Auto S~ection, MARCR 28',1990, PAGE A13 TrouloSofterroad service beun b by M ziuriua egion UM cdealers announced on March 12 the launch ,of the TroubleShooter program., on-going free road service for strandted motorias throughout Durham Region. Seven hours a day, five days a week, one of two TroubleShoters (aetually a modifled 1990 Pontiac TranSport or Chevrolet Lumina APV), patrols the roade of Durham, looking for motorists in trouble. Driven by trained operators, each is welequipe to handie any nminor roadoide emergency or repir Extra gasoline, windshield washer fluid, a fire exatinguisher, a tool it, battery. cables, blanketsý, a flrst aid it, spare fan belt8 and mor are all part of the TroubleShooterls gear. For ittations of a more serious nature, each TroubleShooter is also equipped with a celular phone. A stranded motorist xnay even call home to explain why he or she will be late for dunner. Motorists are invited to watch for the brightly-painýted TroubleShooter' next time they travel the roads of Durhamn. As a counmunity project of' Durhamn GM dealers, TroubleShooter service is available to drivers cf ail cars and light trucks, ne matter what the make or model. Chevrolet Corvettes set world endurance records Chevrolet's Corvette (L98 and ZR-1 models) broke three world endurance records and set nine international class standards in Texas recently. Upon confirmation by Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the record books will show new world records for 5,000 kilomneters and 5,000 miles, as well as a new world mark for the most prestigious automotive endurance standard of ail - the 24-heur endurance run. The new 24-hour record, set by the Corvette ZR-1 sports car, is an average 175.885 miles per hour (nearly 282 km/h) -- ahmoat 15 mph faster than the record set by the legendary automotive ih-performance pioneer Ah Jenkins in bis famnous Mormon Meteor HlIon the Bonneville Sait Flats in 1940. The Jenkins' record (the last major pre-World War II endurance record stil on FIA books) was 161.180 mph. 'Driving at speeda approeching those of race cars for a total of 29 hours non-stop certainly says a lot about the quality and exceptional durability of thd LT5 engine in the new Corvette ZR-1," says Rich Taylor, director of engineering for Gen;eral Motors of Canda. "Twenty-nine hours at sustained.. high speed places extreme demtnds on any engine, especially a' stock production engine.u Championship endurance Pontiac is launcéhing a restyled Firebird this spring as an early 1991 model. General Motors of Canada previewed the Firebird lineup at the Toronto Auto Show (Feb. 15-25). The 1991 Firebird four-model lineup includes Firebird, Fiebird Fonnula, Trans Am and the top-cf-the-hine Trans Arn GTA. New exterior styling changes give the 1991 Pontiac FIrebird a more contemporary appearance. Changes include redesigned front and rear fascias, new aero package and taillmamp on Trans Amn and GTA models, and new rear dock spoiler design (except the base Firebird model). Other changes for the 1991 Firebird lineu, which begin rçroduction in F"ebmr at the an Nuys, California assembly facilhty, include repositioning of the centre high-mounted stop lamp under the rear mlass, sinaler rectracale h alogenj mini-headiamps, and new 16-inch alumunurn wheels and touring tires oni the Trans Am. New exterior colors for 1991 mnclude arctic white and medium green metallic. Ail 1990 and 1991 Firebird models are equipped with supplemental inflatable restreints (air bags) in a redesignied steering wheel hub. Standard engiînes include the 3.1-litre MPI Vfor Firebird, 5.0-litre TBI V8 for Firebird Formula; and the 5.0-litre TPI V8 for the Trans Amn. The 5.7-litre TPI V8 is available as an option specialist Tommy Morrison, who organized and managed the time trial was driving the Corvette Z-Iý, at 10:55 a.m. EST on Saturday, March 3, when it passed the 24-hour milestone. It was on its 548th trip areund the 7.7-mile (12.4-km) Firestene test facility near Fort Stockton, Texas. Eight veteran endurance drivers, including three Corvette engineers, took turns behind the wheel. They braved gusty- winds and freezing temperatures throughout the night on Friday (March 2). Two Corvettes had started the time trial under gray skies that morning. Both ran steady 175- to 180-mph laps for the flrst six hours, estalishing eight FIA International Category A, Group il, Class 10 records in the process. Car #2 was retired at that point and air-freighted te Geneva, Switzerland, where it is on display at the Geneva Auto Show which started this weelc. The Geneva car was powered by a stock 5.7-litre overhead valve V8 engne (L98) modifled with Off-th-helf components te produce about 350 horsepower. It set clasa records at three distances: 100, 500 and 1,000 kilometers; and at both one-hour and six-heur intervals. Tlhe remaining Corvette, dubbed Car #1, continued alone. This second vehicle was a 1990-model Corvette MR-1, on the FIrebird Forula, Trans Amn and Trans Amn GTA. The top-of-the-line 1991 Pontiac Trans Arn and GTA feature the 215-horsepower 5.0-litre V8 mated te a 5-speed manual or the 235-hersepower 5.7-litre V8 mated te a 4-speed automatic transmission. They also feature dual cataytic converters for fr-ee exchaust breathing. For handling performance te, match these engines, the Trans Arn and GTA have the WS6 performance-tuned suspension as standard equipment. The WS6 owner IWI assistance iii case et a mechanicai breakdown. The driver calsa a teil free number frovm anywhere in North America and a tow truck is dispatched to, the breakdown location. If possble the problem will be corrected on the spot. If flot, the car wiil bo towed te the nearest Volkswagen dealer or partici- pating garage. If the driver is 120 kor fnther fi-am home, one night's lodging (up te, $100) is provided. If the car cannot be repaired the same day, a loaner car is provided for up te two days. Guaranteed Mobility is valid for six years provided the owner lias the recomineded annual maintenance and repairs performed by a Volkswagen dealer. It is aise, fully transferrable upon the sale cf the car withing that period. powered by a 100-per cent pro-. duction 5.7-litre, 32-ývalve, doublb overhead cam V8 (LT5) engine, producing 375 horsepower. It performed flawlessly tbroughout the attempt. At a steady 5500 rpm (slightly more than three-quarters throttle), the ZR-1 circled the ALIO TWO-WHEEL ALIGNMENT Most cars' lonesome West Texas oval traclc about once every two-and-a-half minutes, stepping about every 80 minutes for a driver change and te take on 40 gallons (152 litres) of gasoline. 1Passing the 5,000-km mark at dawn, it nailed the 24-heur record in late morning and continued for nearly five additional hours until it had shattered the 5,000-mile standard. The previous record cf 156.827 mph held by an experimentail Mercedes vehicle was bottered by nearly 17 mph (27 km/h) with-an average speed cf 173.791 mph. E T FOUR-WHEEL ALIGNMENT IQ Most cars TRUST CANADIAN TIRE CANADASI1CHOIICE * B à is i R id On 9 Utll n IW 4 P d e n t 1 0 0 1 5 0o f0 e e l a g r ts rvc e n C a na d a . by K om i 4 f tAso iCa mC id a ). n , RSSD][IRTE STORE CANADIAN TIRE WHITBY 400 Glenhili Drive SERVICE 668-1296 HOURS: Mon. - Fn.: 7:00-arn Io 9:00 pm Saturday: 7:30 arn to 6:00 pm STRAIGHT TALK ON Restyled Fîrebîrd to be offered thîs sprîang À 1 Is your car hard to steer or does it pull to one side? Are your tires wearing unevenly? Our specially trained technicians use state-of-the art equipment to inspeot ail the key components of your vehicle's suspension and they wilI adjust your front andlor rear wheels as required. Let our experts set your car straight today! Rear-wheel shims and installation extra, if required AUTO SERVICE PROMISE - Fix your car right. Qur trained technicians know their job. - Do only the work that is needed.. If extra work is required weIi cati you first. - We wili guarantee our work and parts nationwide. CUSTOMER SHUTTLE SERVICE Leave your car with our service department and we wiII pick up and deliver you anywhere in Whitby and* surrounding area. Just another rçason why it makes sense to bring your car repairs to Canadian Tire in Whitby. 117rmnmxr Emimin TvnlnL-let rnlL- - à . ý *.. - -. - - -- - - - - - - -,tAjýý