Top Corvette Race Cars on display at Lime Rock Park HF40
Some heroic folks pulled off an early celebration of Corvette’s 70th anniversary at Lime Rock park’s 40th Historic Festival over the Sept 1-5 Labor Day Weekend. This event will surely be remembered.
The crowd witnessed a top-notch collection of race cars rarely seen in one place as well as vintage racing action. Editor’s note: Racing action and 12 epic GM Concept cars are reported on separately.
The 1957 Corvette SS prototype # 1 from the Indy Museum lasted only 23 laps at Sebring, just weeks before GM withdrew from racing. Duntov spirited his creation there in the cover of night to escape the crusher.
The 1959 Sting Ray Racer # 11 was created by GM styling chief Bill Mitchell on a chassis that served as a test mule for the SS. He hired Dr. Dick Thompson who won the SCCA CM title in 1960. It now belongs to the GM Heritage Center in Detroit.
The 1963 Grand Sport chassis # 3 004 traveled from Naples FL courtesy of the REVS Institute for display AND entrusted to race by Dave Handy of SASCO Motorsports. Some might argue it’s the best example of all 5 Grand Sport chassis, back in the day and now.
The 1963 ZO6 Corvette # 1, courtesy of John Justo from Rhode Island was designed to prolong the Corvette’s supremacy but was blindsided by Carroll Shelby’s Cobra. Driven by Dr. Dick Thompson for Gulf Oil exec/sportsman Grady Davis, it’s considered the best of the breed. Now for sale, this beauty in wide fender Sebring trim would enjoy nice company in the REVS collection.
The 1969 FIA and SCCA AP Corvette # 12 traveled from the Rick Hendrick Collection in Charlotte NC. This one, driven by Jerry Thompson is one of 2 winning Corvettes built by Troy Promotions and Tony DeLorenzo that were sponsored by Owens Corning Fiberglass.
The 1956 SR2 # 1, the 1960 Corvette Briggs Cunningham # 3 Le Mans class winner and the 1968 FIA and SCCA AP # 3 Corvette sponsored by Sunray DX came from the stellar collection of Irwin Kroiz in Ambler, PA.
The 1966 FIA Corvette # 9, the 1967 SCCA AP Corvette # 92 and the 1968 SCCA AP Corvette # 12 came from the collection of Kevin Mackay in Valley Stream, NY.
The 1959 SCCA BP Corvette # 614 came from the collection of Steve Earle in Oregon. Corvette HOF Bob Bondurant won the Cal Club title for Washburn Chevrolet in Santa Barbara before Earle found it, had it restored and raced in the Monterey Historic Races he presided over from 1974-2005.
The 2002 SCCA GT1/Trans Am Corvette # 83 made its final appearance in 2008 at Lime Rock with the late Paul Newman. Soon thereafter, current owner Giovannie LiDestri won it for $ 250k at auction for display at the Rochester NY headquarters of LiDestri Foods, the leading supplier of tomato condiments for the “Newman’s Own” line.
Attendees at HF40 were touched by an unveiling in honor of Paul Newman for his charity Hole in the Wall Gang camp to help children with life-threatening diseases. With lots more to come at dinner-sessions hosted by the new owners of Lime Rock Park and by GM.
Celebrity Mike Joy and former track owner Skip Barber hosted a panel of Trans Am drivers tied in with the Historic Trans Am, a group of collectors who race cars that conform to original 1966-71 specs.
Display organizer and judge Lowell Paddock hosted a panel of GM designers that included Michael Simcoe (C8) and John Cafaro (C4).
The enthusiasm of top GM execs Mark Reuss President (pictured with Simcoe) & Jim Campbell Head of racing was felt throughout.
Not to be outdone, John Nikas from Hagerty held forth on Le Mans and top American driver John Fitch at a time when tension between France and Germany was still raw.
Photo credits: Andrew S. Hartwell, Brian Morrison, Rich Martin, Jan Hyde
