In what was likely the first public test of its type, serial Corvette owner (and frequent VETTE magazine coconspirator) Kevin Helmintoller hit the quarter-mile track last night in his new '09 ZR1.

After making a series of passes to acclimate himself to the car's beastly torque output, Helmintoller managed a best e.t. of 11.44 seconds on the drag strip at Florida's Bradenton Motorsports Park. That falls a bit short of GM's claimed time of 11.2 seconds, but it's hardly disappointing for a first effort.

An accompanying trap speed of only 123.03 mph initially had us scratching our heads (GM says the ZR1 is good for 131), but upon closer examination, a number of factors may be to blame.

First, the weather was typical early-fall Florida, with temps hovering in the high 80s and humidity climbing a fews digits higher. Perhaps more important, the constant clutch slipping (required to achieve something approximating launch traction) and repeated hot lapping employed throughout the afternoon likely conspired to keep the blown LS9 from revealing its true potential. With a few more break-in miles, some cooler air, and a pair of drag radials, the new Corvette flagship is almost certain to crack the 10s at 130-plus. Stay tuned.