When Corvette royalty gathered, this iconic Grand Sport stood apart
2026-03-25
This weekend, ahead of the historic 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race, Chevy gathered a special selection of Corvette Grand Sports to celebrate this defining model line. The cars were selected carefully, then framed by the racetrack that helped cement the Grand Sport’s legacy. Among those in attendance were racing legend Roger Penske and even one of the five original Grand Sports, the same model Penske had raced to glory at the very same track.
But for sheer passion, one owner and her car stood apart. That’s Maureen Waller and the very first Admiral Blue production pilot car, the iconic C4 Grand Sport #0001, affectionately called “The Skunk.”
“It's hard to get emotional over a car,” Waller said as she reflected on #0001, which her and her husband purchased on April 3, 2021, following a long courtship with the car. “And it's not something I thought I would ever do.”
Waller has been a Corvette enthusiast for decades, but the crown jewel in her collection was trailered down to Florida for the event, where a set of blockbuster Grand Sports, one from each generation, gathered to celebrate the history of this iconic model line. Waller paused to reflect on the moment, while the right words found the way to her lips.
“To have this vehicle in an event like this and especially to be invited by General Motors... I know this would have been the highlight for him.”
Waller was speaking of her late husband, Rich. The couple’s lives were shaped by a devout passion for the Corvette Grand Sport, and before his passing from cancer in November, 2021, the Wallers were able to buy #0001, fulfilling Rich’s dream to own the “First Skunk.”
Seeing the #0001 perched against Sebring’s curves with those other Grand Sports, brought with it a wave of heavy emotion for Waller.
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“I haven't used the car a lot [recently.] I probably won't drive the car like I drive my other Corvettes. Even though it's been a few years it.... it still kind of tugs at my heartstrings a little bit too much,” she said.
A fabulous article from Corvette Magazine detailed the origins of Waller’s C4 Grand Sport, from its journey as a pre-production test mule through its sale to, and ownership by John Heinricy, the de facto head of the C4 program. Following its stint as a vehicle for review by the automotive press, Heinricy took in the car, the very first C4 Grand Sport prototype in existence.
The Corvette Magazine article notes:
“In late December 1995, Heinricy learned that #0001 would be shipped to now-defunct Jack Cauley Chevrolet outside Detroit, where he could complete the purchase. The car arrived on December 21, and six days later it was in Heinricy’s possession. For two years his wife, Rita, used it as her daily driver, then, for the next 24 years, John took it to car shows and autocrosses. He had numerous wins driving #0001 at SCCA SOLO 2 events in upper Midwest, the Corvette Club of Michigan autocrosses, the 2015 C4 Gathering at the National Corvette Museum, and other competitions.”
Maureen and her husband entered the equation years later when, through their close ties to Heinricy and the Corvette community, they were offered #0001 in mid-2018. With Rich’s ongoing illness a concern, the Corvette Magazine article noted, the couple passed on the offer. It was a decision Rich questioned during his second bout with cancer, which he faced through 2021.
“He thought he’d never have the #0001,” Waller said. So Maureen rang Heinricy back up in early 2021, with Rich’s birthday approaching, and asked if the car was still available. Heinricy said “yes,” and the pair surprised Rich with the car during the Corvettes at Carlisle in late August of that year.
“When we had the opportunity to get number one behind [Rich’s] back,” Waller laughed, “it was surprising. It was so good.”
Rich succumbed to his battle with cancer in November, 2021, but cherished the #0001 in those final months. Seeing “The Skunk” at Sebring among the other legendary Grand Sports, Maureen noted, “I know he would’ve loved this. I know he’s looking down and loving this. Seeing our car with the 1963 Grand Sport was very emotional to me, because my husband was so into Corvettes, and so into the five Corvette Grand Sports built in 1963.”
It was a bittersweet trip to Sebring for Maureen, who said the event ran like clockwork and that she was treated like royalty. Best of all, she’s still excited about what was next for the Corvette Grand Sport.
“Seeing the '93 with the '63 and the C8 was probably what touched me the most.”
This weekend, ahead of the historic 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race, Chevy gathered a special selection of Corvette Grand Sports to celebrate this defining model line. The cars were selected carefully, then framed by the racetrack that helped cement the Grand Sport’s legacy. Among those in attendance were racing legend Roger Penske and even one of the five original Grand Sports, the same model Penske had raced to glory at the very same track.
But for sheer passion, one owner and her car stood apart. That’s Maureen Waller and the very first Admiral Blue production pilot car, the iconic C4 Grand Sport #0001, affectionately called “The Skunk.”
“It's hard to get emotional over a car,” Waller said as she reflected on #0001, which her and her husband purchased on April 3, 2021, following a long courtship with the car. “And it's not something I thought I would ever do.”
Waller has been a Corvette enthusiast for decades, but the crown jewel in her collection was trailered down to Florida for the event, where a set of blockbuster Grand Sports, one from each generation, gathered to celebrate the history of this iconic model line. Waller paused to reflect on the moment, while the right words found the way to her lips.
“To have this vehicle in an event like this and especially to be invited by General Motors... I know this would have been the highlight for him.”
Waller was speaking of her late husband, Rich. The couple’s lives were shaped by a devout passion for the Corvette Grand Sport, and before his passing from cancer in November, 2021, the Wallers were able to buy #0001, fulfilling Rich’s dream to own the “First Skunk.”
Seeing the #0001 perched against Sebring’s curves with those other Grand Sports, brought with it a wave of heavy emotion for Waller.
“I haven't used the car a lot [recently.] I probably won't drive the car like I drive my other Corvettes. Even though it's been a few years it.... it still kind of tugs at my heartstrings a little bit too much,” she said.
A fabulous article from Corvette Magazine detailed the origins of Waller’s C4 Grand Sport, from its journey as a pre-production test mule through its sale to, and ownership by John Heinricy, the de facto head of the C4 program. Following its stint as a vehicle for review by the automotive press, Heinricy took in the car, the very first C4 Grand Sport prototype in existence.
The Corvette Magazine article notes:
“In late December 1995, Heinricy learned that #0001 would be shipped to now-defunct Jack Cauley Chevrolet outside Detroit, where he could complete the purchase. The car arrived on December 21, and six days later it was in Heinricy’s possession. For two years his wife, Rita, used it as her daily driver, then, for the next 24 years, John took it to car shows and autocrosses. He had numerous wins driving #0001 at SCCA SOLO 2 events in upper Midwest, the Corvette Club of Michigan autocrosses, the 2015 C4 Gathering at the National Corvette Museum, and other competitions.”
Maureen and her husband entered the equation years later when, through their close ties to Heinricy and the Corvette community, they were offered #0001 in mid-2018. With Rich’s ongoing illness a concern, the Corvette Magazine article noted, the couple passed on the offer. It was a decision Rich questioned during his second bout with cancer, which he faced through 2021.
“He thought he’d never have the #0001,” Waller said. So Maureen rang Heinricy back up in early 2021, with Rich’s birthday approaching, and asked if the car was still available. Heinricy said “yes,” and the pair surprised Rich with the car during the Corvettes at Carlisle in late August of that year.
“When we had the opportunity to get number one behind [Rich’s] back,” Waller laughed, “it was surprising. It was so good.”
Rich succumbed to his battle with cancer in November, 2021, but cherished the #0001 in those final months. Seeing “The Skunk” at Sebring among the other legendary Grand Sports, Maureen noted, “I know he would’ve loved this. I know he’s looking down and loving this. Seeing our car with the 1963 Grand Sport was very emotional to me, because my husband was so into Corvettes, and so into the five Corvette Grand Sports built in 1963.”
It was a bittersweet trip to Sebring for Maureen, who said the event ran like clockwork and that she was treated like royalty. Best of all, she’s still excited about what was next for the Corvette Grand Sport.
“Seeing the '93 with the '63 and the C8 was probably what touched me the most.”
