Corvettes spark the return of the US Vintage GP to Watkins Glen
One of the world’s great historic racing events returned to action at Watkins Glen after getting wiped out in 2020. Energized fans and racers arrived from across the US. Those from neighboring Canada were still confined.
Scott Borchetta # 98 1969 C3 Corvette pulled off another win against some impressive competition in the 21-car Group 6 field.
Mark Hilderbrand # 28 1972 big block C3 coupe was 2nd, prepared by Jeffrey Camp and crew at Duntov Motors.
Mike Donohue # 33 1963 C2 roadster was 3rd, expertly equipped by ex IMSA GTP crew chief Curt Geaches.
Clair Schwendeman # 37 1968 C3 roadster was 4th, also prepared by Duntov Motors.
Rick Mooney # 42 1968 C3 roadster posted the 6th fastest speed, prepared by Stewart Black Motorsports.
We look forward to a showdown with Canadian Peter Klutt’s “old school” C3 Corvette race car next year.
Group 6 C2 Corvettes of Jim Glass # 11, Patrick Sessions # 63, Brian Cooper # 65, John Maitino # 13 and Bill Melvin # 17 (just acquired from Bruce Trenery at Fantasy Junction in California) drew attention to the Corvette marque.
Perhaps to the chagrin of purists, most of the motors in these nearly 60-year-old Corvettes are changed out to dry sump to help them live longer in vintage racing today.
Jeff Bernatovich # 90 C4 1996 SCCA GT1 finished a close 3rd among the “big dogs” in Group 10. It took a heap of will power and an exceptionally motivated crew to repair this car (a) that a competitor intentionally wrecked at the HSR Mitty in April (separately reported) and (b) then caught fire at the HSR Glen earlier this July.
Martin Hosek # 39 in his first outing was 8th overall, 1st in class in this C3 1982 IMSA GTO ex Steve Gentile & Lou Franchi acquired from Ray Mulacek.
Jeff Lyman # 77 also in his first outing was 6th overall, 5th in class in this street C6 2008 ZO 6 turned into a very cool “one off” race car. Its previous owner, a victim of the racing bug, went a bit overboard such as a rear air diffuser.
Engine gremlins kept Bill Schwacke’s C1 1955 # 55 off pace but he still won his class in Group 4.
Ray Zisa # 4 and Rick Ortman # 26 were 1st & 3rd in Group 12A with their sleek C4 R9G World Challenge Corvettes.
In Group 11, Kurt Schultz brought out this # 10 2013 ex Wayne Taylor C6 Grand Am DPi. It proved no match for two lightning-fast 2005 Audi R8 ALMS LMP but as they say, we all need to start somewhere.
This immaculate 1960 Corvette owned by Todd Reder won the Judges Choice award at the Saturday Car Show.
It’s hard to overstate the efforts of WGI President Michael Printup, SVRA chief Tony Parella & staff, the village of Watkins Glen and the IMRRC for the downtown festival and 6.6-mile road race enactment. And of course, all the attendees for bringing the Watkins Glen Historic Grand Prix back to life in the face of a deadly disease.
Credit Rich Martin for photos.
Video: Group 6 race https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOYCnXlEOGM
