1953 NASCAR Racer that Saved the Corvette

Published on September 14, 2015September 14, 2015 by Scott

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Photos courtesy Terry Michaelis.

by Jim Donnelly as republished from Hemmings Daily Blog

A lot of car people, and especially a lot of people who like Chevrolet, know the basic framework of the story. The Corvette started out as a show car during the Motorama shows presented by General Motors and made it to production on the cheap. Snail-like sales of the hallowed originals – just 300 in 1953 – nearly led to the car being dropped. Folklore has Zora Arkus-Duntov delivering an over-my-dead-body ultimatum that kept the Corvette alive. The real story is more complicated and compelling. It involves a very special early Corvette that predicted its future remaking as a true sports car with V-8 power. The car is also being extensively shown at some of the country’s most prestigious car shows.

It’s in the collection of Pro Team Corvette, the dealer and restorer of classic Corvettes based in Napoleon, Ohio. We’ve been in touch with Pro Team president Terry Michaelis, who has not only been generous with information on Corvette number 211, but is also asking the Hemmings Nation for help on researching its racing history. But first, let’s look at the car. Continue reading “

1953 NASCAR Racer that Saved the Corvette” →

John Greenwood Tribute Event in Daytona, FL. Nov 12-15

Published on September 12, 2015September 13, 2015 by Scott

A Tribute to John Greenwood’s Groundbreaking C3 Corvette Race Cars

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Poster design by Scott Teeters, main photo by Bill Oursler

To celebrate John Greenwood’s racing and street Corvette achievements, Jan Hyde of Registry of Corvette Race Cars has organized a special “John Greenwood Tribute Event” for November 12-to-15, 2015 at Daytona International Speedway.

In the entertainment industry, there are a handful of one-name legends that include; “Elvis,” “Cher,” “Ringo,” “Liberace” and a few others. In the Corvette community we have; “Duntov,” “Shinoda,” “Callaway,” “Yenko” and a few more. The name, “Greenwood” is definitely in that short list. Just say, “Greenwood suspension,” or “Greenwood body-kit,” or “Greenwood racecar” and a huge bundle of understanding comes to mind. Continue reading “

John Greenwood Tribute Event in Daytona, FL. Nov 12-15″ →

Greenwood’s Sebring 1975 Corvette

Published on September 8, 2015September 9, 2015 by Scott

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The Illustrated Corvette Designer Series No. 211

by Scott Teeters as written for Vette Magazine and republished from SuperChevy.com

John And Burt Take The “Racer Kit” Off-Planet

The L88 “racer kit” package was huge success for the Corvette and brought racing glory through the late ’60s and into the ’70s. Winning L88s included the “Owens Corning,” “Rebel,” and the Greenwoods’ “BFGoodrich Stars & Stripes” cars. After the Greenwoods’ sponsorship expired, John and Burt Greenwood took their Corvettes to a new level. Making power was easy but tires were so wide that the L88 factory flares weren’t big enough. Enter the final “racer kit,” the widebody. Continue reading “

Greenwood’s Sebring 1975 Corvette” →

Corvette Timeline Tales: Aug 16, 1969, Astoria-Chas 1967 L88 Corvette Sets A/Sports Production Nat’l Record

Published on August 16, 2015August 18, 2015 by Scott

August 16, 1969 – AHRA Summer Nationals, at the New York National Speedway, John Mahler drives the Astoria-Chas 1967 L88 Corvette to a A/Sports Production class record.

Dateline: 8.16.15 – Charlie Snyder was a car crazy Long Island teenager who came of age when Joel Rosen and Marty Schorr launched their Baldwin-Motion Phase III Supercars. Schorr was also editor of CARS Magazine, so the enterprise also got plenty of ink via road tests, how-to tech features, and advertising. Snyder bought a new Marlboro Maroon ’67 427/435 Roadster and quickly turned in into a street racer, then a drag car.

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Unfortunately, Charlie was drafted and killed in Vietnam, but his friends back home fulfilled his dream by setting a national record with his “Ko-Motion Astoria-Chas” Corvette, with an 11.04 @ 129-mph run. Later, John Mahler ran a 10.47 et at a local track. Then the car was trailered to Chas’ sister’s house, garaged, and covered for the next 31 years! The car was eventually sold to businessman Glen Spielberg who was just a wee lad living on Long Island when Charlie’s car was spending lots of time at the Motion performance shop. Spielberg bought the car from the Snyder family with the promise that he would never restore or race the car. Continue reading “

Corvette Timeline Tales: Aug 16, 1969, Astoria-Chas 1967 L88 Corvette Sets A/Sports Production Nat’l Record” →

What’s New In Vette Vues Magazine! 8/15

Published on August 15, 2015August 17, 2015 by Scott

Here’s what’s in the August 2015 issue of Vette Vues Magazine!

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Dateline: 8.15.15 – The cover story for the August issue of Vette Vues is “Victory At Le Mans!” There’s an old saying in road racing that goes, “If you win the 12 Hours at Sebring or the 24 Hours at Daytona, all of America will know. But if you win the 24 Hours At le Mans, the WHOLE WORLD will know. The Corvette Racing Team scored their eighth Le Mans win since the debut arrival of the C5-R cars in 1999. BRAVISSIMO! Corvette Racing Team!

Feature stories in the August issue include:

Circle City Corvettes Caravan to the Beach – Article & Photos by Charley Robertson

Second Annual Indianapolis Grand Prix – Story by Tom Fielitz & Photos by Dave Estes

“Eyes On Design” In Detroit 2015 Show Coverage – Article & Photos by Wayne Elwood

“Corvette Milestones: August” – Story & Graphics by K. Scott Teeters

“The John Meyerhoff and Mary Carol Plott Corvette Love Affair, Pt 2” – Story and Photos by K. Scott Teeters Continue reading “

What’s New In Vette Vues Magazine! 8/15″ →

From Race Car to Exotic: Preserving C5R-006 For What’s Next

Published on August 15, 2015 by Scott

Pratt & Miller Builds One Hell-of-a Corvette Race Car!

Photo-1 Dateline: 8.15.15 / Story by Jan Hyde, www. RegistryofCorvetteRaceCars.com VIDEO at the bottom of this post!

A story about the # 4 Pratt & Miller C5R-006 that we Corvette race car enthusiasts hope might inspire more collectors to share the rewards by taking their cars for an outing at the track. Expert Corvette Race Car specialists Nigel Dobbie (UK), Jonny Bens (BEL), Marwin Moonen (NE) and Wayne Ellwood (CN) contributed to this story. Nigel Dobbie is the author of Corvette Racing The GT1 years published in 2010 by www.silverwoodbooks.uk .”This car was put through the wringer!” in the words of Dan Binks, Pratt & Miller?s esteemed Crew Chief.

Photo-2-Original-C5-R # 4 Racing in the ALMS 2002/2003 with the Corvette Racing Team
During the 2003 season, C5R-006 in the hands of Andy Pilgrim and Kelley Collins won the GTS class in the ALMS race at Road Atlanta on June 29.

Pratt & Miller completed chassis 006 (and sister car 005) in November 2001. It debuted at Sears Point on May 19, 2002 where Pilgrim and Collins finished second in class and won at Mosport later in the year. (Chassis 005 & 006 missed Le Mans because the team needed extra time to prep, ship overseas and test, drawing older Chassis 003 and 004 back into service). Continue reading “

From Race Car to Exotic: Preserving C5R-006 For What’s Next” →

1956 SR-2 Corvette, Chevrolet’s Purpose-Built Corvette Racer – VIDEO

Published on July 21, 2015August 4, 2015 by Scott

Corvette Mike’s Beautiful Video Presentation of the 1956 SR-2 Corvette Racer

Dateline: 7.21.15 “Corvette Mike” of Anaheim, California, the car dealer that ONLY sells used, refurbished, and restored Corvettes, produced this beautiful video of the stunning 1956 SR-2 Corvette Racer. I covered this car in Part 2 of my Vette Magazine “Corvette Experimental, Prototype, Concept, and Show Car Corvettes” series that ran in the December 2014 issue. That article is republished in its entirety at the bottom of this post.

VIDEO HERE: Continue reading “

1956 SR-2 Corvette, Chevrolet’s Purpose-Built Corvette Racer – VIDEO” →

John Greenwood Spirit Of Sebring 75 Corvette Racer To Cross Mecum Block

Published on July 19, 2015August 4, 2015 by Scott

The 1974 C3 Corvette IMSA ‘Spirit Of Sebring’ Racer To Cross Block at Mecum Monterey Auction.

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Editor’s Note: The Mecum Monterey Auction at the Hyatt Regency Montery, CA Hotel is August 13-15, 2015, Lot #R436

by Sean Szymkowski as republished from GM Authority.com

Dateline: 7.19.15 There are plenty of historic, and iconic, Corvettes roaming the lands, but when it comes to endurance racing, the 1974 C3 Corvette Spirit of Sebring race car is one of the most iconic Corvettes there is.

The 1974 C3 Corvette sees a unique wide body kit applied for aero duties, and is powered by the legendary L88 big-block V8 engine. But the engine wasn’t the only legendary piece to this vehicle. The 1974 Corvette IMSA racer was driver John Greenwood’s personal favorite, and was the only Greenwood vehicle to be raced under the team name. Continue reading “

John Greenwood Spirit Of Sebring 75 Corvette Racer To Cross Mecum Block” →

John Greenwood Art Prints Special Offer!!!

Published on July 19, 2015August 4, 2015 by Scott

SPECIAL OFFER For John Greenwood Fans

For a limited time, we are offering 12, 11-inches by 17-inches art prints of the late John Greenwood’s racecars, as seen in my “Illustrated Corvette Series,” Vette Magazine monthly column.

12-Greenwood-Prints-72 Dateline: 7-19-15 The Illustrated Corvette series has been in every issue of Vette Magazine since the spring of 1997, with over 220 installments. In the 18 years the column has been running, I have written and illustrated stories about John and Burt Greenwood’s cars five times. We offer two print versions of each story: one with the story copy and one without. Then I created two single image layouts for a total of 12 prints. Continue reading “

John Greenwood Art Prints Special Offer!!!” →

Corvette Racing Legend, John Greenwood Passes

Published on July 13, 2015August 4, 2015 by Scott

A Brief Tribute to Corvette Racing Legend, John Greenwood
Dateline: 7.13.15 (There are four videos at the end of this post)

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The Corvette community lost another legend last week. On July 7, 2015 John Greenwood died. During the 1970s John and his brother Burt arguably made more of an impact of Corvette racing than anyone in their time.

Their most stunning legacy was the development of the Corvette wide-body, also known as the “Batmobile.” The wide-body kit was the last of what was unofficially known as “Duntov’s Racer Kit” series of Chevrolet engineered parts for road racing Corvettes.

By 1974 racing tires had almost quadrupled in width from those of the early 60s and were beyond the L88 fender flares that had been out since 1968. Racers were also learning about and making better use of air downforce. Chevrolet designed the wide-body kit and Greenwood developed and marketed the parts into a huge aftermarket enterprise, along with building all-out racing Corvettes for customers. The Greenwood brothers engineered suspension parts and setups and made them available to customers.

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The wide-body look was so popular that complete street versions were offered by Greenwood and privateers could build their own street versions by purchasing the body kits. John and Burt also made body kits for C4 Corvettes, but the term “Greenwood body” will forever be linked to what it undeniably the wildest Corvette look ever

Below is a tribute to John Greenwood written by Registry of Corvette Race Cars and Vette Vues contributing writer/photographer, Wayne Ellwood that was published on July 13, 2015. Many thanks to Wayne Elwood for his brief overview of John Greenwood’s racing career. Condolences to the Greenwood family. – Scott

John Greenwood, Innovator and Influencer
Died on July 7, 2015 age 71
Greenwood held sway in Corvette racing for a decade

By Wayne Ellwood

The son of a GM executive, John Greenwood began drag racing as a teenager on Detroit’s famed Woodward Ave strip. A few years later, he caught the road-racing bug after entering his new 1968 Corvette in a parking lot solo event. That was enough. When he took his big block Corvette to Waterford Hills it marked the start of a remarkable career in SCCA and IMSA, a full-blown race shop, a sponsorship program with the BF Goodrich Tire Company, a thriving cars and parts business, and three trips to the 24 hour race at Le Mans, France. Continue reading “

Corvette Racing Legend, John Greenwood Passes” →

Chevrolet’s First Z06 Corvette Race Car

Published on June 28, 2015June 30, 2015 by Scott

The Illustrated Corvette Designer Series No. 218

Words and Art by Scott Teeters as republished from Vette Magazine’s SuperChevy.com

The original Z06 was Zora Arkus-Duntov’s “racer kit” for the then-new 1963 Sting Ray. Unlike modern Z06s, there was no flash to the first Z06, it was strictly hardware designed for the racetrack—no badges, special body panels, or designations at all! But considering the official “we don’t race” policy of GM, 199 1963 fuel-injected Corvettes with heavy-duty brakes and suspension wasn’t anything in GM’s big picture. But, if you wanted to race your Corvette in 1963, it was everything, and Duntov made sure you got what you needed.

Continue reading “Chevrolet’s First Z06 Corvette Race Car” →

Dave MacDonald Inducted Into National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame

Published on September 27, 2014March 18, 2015 by Scott

Corvette Racing Legend, Dave MacDonald Inducted Into National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame

Dateline: 9-27-14 Auto racing legend Dave MacDonald was inducted into The National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame on August 28, 2014, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. MacDonald’s induction took place 50 years after the extremely talented young driver was tragically killed in his rookie race at the 1964 Indy 500 that also claimed the life of driver Eddie Sachs. After the race, an investigation determined that there was, “No driver error.”

MacDonald learned his driving skills in Southern California behind the wheel of several championship-winning first generation Corvettes. A gentle, quiet family man off the track, MacDonald was known as “The Master of Oversteer” and a fierce competitor. His driving skills were such that they attracted the attention of two other legends in auto racing of that time, Corvette Chief Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov and Carroll Shelby. MacDonald drove prototype test cars for Duntov and was eventually hired by Shelby to drive Cobras professionally.

His induction into The National Corvette Museum’s Hall of Fame was well deserved and more than a little overdue. Regardless, Dave MacDonald now has a prominent and permanent place in Corvette history.

I have written extensively about the life and times of Dave MacDonald and have had the pleasure of getting to know the MacDonald family. I have Dave MacDonald’s younger brother Doug to thank. Many years ago I created a piece of line art for VETTE Magazine as a column filler “spot art” illustration. Later I included the illustration as an art print on my IllustratedCorvetteSeries.com website and mistakenly titled the print, “Dave MacDonald’s 1961 Corvette Racer.”

The 2014 National Corvette Museum's Hall of Fame inductees included: Race Car Driver Dave MacDonald, Corvette Engineer and Race Car Driver John Heinricy, and Automotive Journalist & Author, Jerry Burton.

The 2014 National Corvette Museum’s Hall of Fame inductees included, left-to-right: Automotive Journalist and Author Jerry Burton, Corvette Engineer and Race Car Driver John Heinricy, and Race Car Driver Dave MacDonald.

Continue reading “Dave MacDonald Inducted Into National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame” →