Willy T Ribbs finally scores in VROC; Corvettes score in sprint races
Check out event poster with former Indy racer and team owner Dick Simon serving as Grand Marshall. Dick opened the doors for Lynn St James to compete at Indy. More on this connection below.
Now in its 5th year, the Vintage Race of Champions (VROC) is the centerpiece of the extravaganza staged by SVRA President Tony Parella at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Originally billed as the Pro Am, the tag-team race puts pro drivers into the seats of vintage Group 6 Mustangs, Camaros and Corvettes which typically fill more than half the field.
The 2019 event moved from early June to early August to schedule the SCCA Pro Trans Am Series also controlled by Parella. Read more here: http://rcrc.squarespace.com/keeping-track/2019/8/3/trans-am-at-indy-motor-speedway
# 36 Willy T. Ribbs won the VROC after many tries paired with Edward Savadjian in a big block (AP) 1969 Corvette prepped by Duntov Motors and owned by Jim Kitzmiller. # 59 Geoff Brabham paired with Peter Klutt swapped the lead but faded when the power steering belt broke near the end.
# 27 Boris Said took the honors for small blocks (BP) by finishing 3rd overall, paired up with Jim Caudle in his 1969 Corvette.
# 64 Jim Heck/Lyn St James looking good pre-crash
# 64 1964 BP coupe Jim Heck formerly shared with Dick Simon fared worse. Having served well for so many years, now headed for a new frame and re-build.
# 64 Lynn St James, Simon’s replacement, approached too fast, lost it in the sweeping right hander entering the front straight, banged the walls twice as the 50-minute race neared its end.
She was shaken up but fortunately not hurt and released.
VROC opening laps commentators: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2rM4qxQ15I
# 05 Scott Borchetta was the winner of the Group 6 sprint race big block class.
# 37 Clair Schwendeman won the small block class finishing 5th overall.
# 30 Mark Horner topped Group 12a in C4 WC ex Izzy Sanchez vs # 26 Rick Ortman & # 11 Jon Miller.
VROC Corvette Results compiled by Jan Hyde
Sprint race Corvette results compiled by Jan Hyde
This Corvette race report reflects opinions, observations and information gathered from a variety of unofficial sources and may differ from other accounts.
