Sebring has become synonymous with Corvette racing. John Greenwood saved Sebring from oblivion.
The 1974 race was scratched because the FIA demanded long overdue safety improvements that called for a new pit wall. Alec Ulmann, the original promotor, decided the cost was simply not worth it and walked away.
It’s easy to forget how the Watergate Scandal shocked our confidence, followed by the Arab Oil Embargo, gas lines, a recession and an economy on the brink.
Greenwood stepped up to promote the race in 1975 and guarantee a purse of $30,000.
To be truthful, Greenwood cared less that the glitzy world-renowned Ferraris, Alfas, Maseratis and Jaguars were “no shows”.
What Greenwood cared about most was protecting his nascent business that began with a fortuitous deal to race on BF Goodrich T/A Radial Street tires. (Shaved for racing).
John got into Corvettes via his dad, an executive at GM. Drag racing on the streets of Detroit quickly gave way to club racing at the Waterford Hills 1.5-mile road course in Clarkston, MI.
The holy grail was beating the “unbeatable” Owens Corning Corvettes of Tony DeLorenzo and Jerry Thompson at the 1970 SCCA Runoffs.
Winning that championship paved the way to long distance racing at Sebring, Daytona and Le Mans plus the Trans Am series.
John recruited drivers from a Who’s Who list: Don Yenko, Dick Smothers, Marietta Bob Johnson, Allan Barker, John Cordts, Ron Grable, John Greendyke, Mike Brockman, Dave Heinz, Jerry Thompson, Tony Adamowicz, Carl Shafer, Vince Muzzin, Gib Hufstader, Dick Lang, John Cargill and John’s younger brother Burt.
John ventured into supplying parts, authorizing dealerships and building cars for customers. His wide-body fender kits were all the rage for racers, a product from hooking up with Randy Wittine (GM designer) and Zora Arkus Duntov (Corvette chief engineer).
Greenwood made his final appearance behind the wheel at Sebring in 1977 with Rick Mancuso and his brother Burt.
Author and historian Lou Galanos requested that we organize a tribute to John Greenwood when he passed away in July, 2015 after a long illness. The event took place that November, fittingly at the HSR Classic 24-hour race at Daytona.
Photo credits: Greenwood Archives, SCD, Louis Galanos, Larry Van Scoy
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