There are moments in the automotive world that mark a turning point—moments when innovation, craftsmanship, and passion collide to create something that has never been done before. This week in Suffolk, Virginia, one of those moments arrived.
Stephen Gaskins, owner of an absolutely stunning C8 Corvette ZR1, became the first in the world to equip his ZR1 with vertical doors. Not just any vertical doors—he chose the Eikon Motorsports V2 Series, the most advanced, highest-engineered vertical door system ever developed for the C8 platform.
A Bold Move: Becoming the First ZR1 Owner to Go Vertical
From the beginning, Stephen made it clear: if he was going to be the first ZR1 owner on Earth to lift those doors skyward, it had to be done right.
He wasn’t interested in shortcuts.
He wasn’t interested in generic kits.
He wasn’t putting the world’s most powerful Corvette into the hands of outdated technology.
Stephen wanted the best, and after months of research, studying the difference between bushing-based systems and our sealed roller-ball bearing design, he made the same decision many of Corvette owners have made before him:
He chose Eikon’s V2 Series.
Why the V2 Series Was the Only Option
The ZR1 is the pinnacle of Corvette performance—an American hypercar engineered to outclass everything in its weight category. A car like that deserves precision. It demands it.
Stephen saw that the V2 Series stands alone in:
- Sealed Roller-Ball Bearing TechnologyZero friction, zero binding, zero squeaks—unmatched smoothness.
- Billet T6-6061 + A36 Structural Steel ConstructionBuilt strong enough for the ZR1’s aggressive weight distribution and door geometry.
- Optimized C8 EngineeringGeometry specifically designed for the Corvette platform, not adapted from a universal kit.
- OEM-Level FitmentClean, precise alignment with a lift motion that feels engineered—not improvised.
When you’re making automotive history, you don’t settle.
Stephen didn’t settle.
He chose the V2 Series because he wanted a system worthy of being “the first.”
A Historic Installation in Suffolk, Virginia
Inside a private facility in Suffolk, VA, the ZR1 took its place on the turntable—lights on, cameras rolling, anticipation running high. As the V2 Series hinges, shocks, billet caps, and custom Mist Edition components were installed, the transformation began to unfold.
And then, the moment.
Those doors lifted upward for the very first time—smooth, silent, perfectly balanced—and the entire room knew they were witnessing something that would never be “first” again.
The world’s first vertical-door C8 ZR1 had just been born.
Stephen’s ZR1: A Symbol of What’s Possible
This install wasn’t just another job.
It wasn’t just another Corvette.
It was a milestone—an innovation point in the history of the C8 platform.
Stephen now owns a ZR1 that isn’t just rare…
It’s one of one in the entire world.
And he chose Eikon Motorsports to make it happen.
Pushing the Corvette Platform Forward
At Eikon, we’ve always believed the C8 deserved better engineering, better movement, and better design than anything that existed. Stephen’s ZR1 installation proves exactly that.
The V2 Series isn’t just an upgrade—
It’s the future of the Corvette vertical door system.
And today, Stephen Gaskins stands at the forefront of that future.
Thank you, Stephen, for trusting us with something truly historic.
Thank you, Suffolk, VA, for being the birthplace of the first ZR1 vertical door install.
And thank you to the entire Corvette community for pushing the platform forward with us.
Views: 2,515