Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

[Joseph T.]

Does anyone have any information on the 4 hour 1957 Sebring race that took place the day before the 12 hour race and what cars and drivers participated.

Also..does anyone have any film or photo's of the 1956 Nassau, Bahamas Governors Trophy Races held the first week of Dec. 1956

Also looking for film or photo's of the Feb. 1957 Daytona Speedweeks on the beach.

Kindest Regards...Joe

[Chas Kingston]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

Looking to restore that Nassau-57, Joe? Good luck.

Ol' Geezer

[Joseph T.]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

Yes..am starting preparations for a number of 50th anniversy special events like:

* 50th Anniversary of Fuel Injection..this car has unrestored original prototype pre-production unit #32
* 50th Anniversary of the cars debut at Nassau Dec.7 1956
* 50th Anniversary of the car setting the speedrecord at Daytona Speedweeks Feb.1957
* 50th Anniversary of the New Smyrna road course event competing against the factory backed Ford Thunderbirds
* 50th Anniversary of its participation as practice car at Sebring 1957

After missing for 47 years ..this one owner car since 1958 still on the original title and still sporting the original workorder engine, RPO 581 traction bar suspension, factory roll bar, shortened steering column etc..should make quite a hit.

Anyone who would like to contribute any pictures or infomation on this amazing car will get full credit for their contribution.

I may bring the unrestored car to this years National Event in Park City.

Joe

[Scott S.]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

Joe, I for one would like to see the car in Park City. Its history sounds very interesting.
Scott Sinclair #2379
1956/7 Team Leader

[Art A.]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

Sure Joe, I can help you out alot----but you already know that don't you?

Art

[Joseph T.]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

Scott

After the car was retired it was processed and sold to Erwin Rohrer a Rockwell engineer in the Chicago area. He owned the car for 47 years until last summer when I bought it. When he bought the car it was one of two that were being sold. The sister car is still missing. These are the 2 cars that engineering prepared in late November and sent to Sebring to be sorted by Dick Thompson. See page 61 in the Ludvigsen book Corvette Star Spangled Sportscar. They were then sent to Nassau for the Governors Trophy races. This was the first race debuting fuel injection. The car is profiled in an article that appeared in Corvette News Vol. 1 #1

After Nassau..the cars returned to Florida for the Daytona Speedweeks speed trials. Paul Goldsmith set the speed record in this car.

The weekend following the 57 Daytona Speedweeks..there was Pro-Am road race set to take place at neighboring New Smyrna Airport. Ford had entered their factory backed thunderbirds..so Ed Cole sent one of the Nassau fuel injected Corvettes to make sure of a good showing. There were other private entrant 57 Corvettes that also participated. Sending this car over along with Hall of Fame driver Paul Goldsmith was important to maintian Coles objectives for Corvette.

After New Smyrna..both Nassau cars were then sent to SEDCO in Atlanta for prepping as practice cars for Sebring until the the 2 newer cars arrived.

Corey Petereson has invited me to bring the car to Park City and I said yes..but have not finalized arrangements.

Kindest Regards...Joe

[Joseph T.]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

Art..yes I do..and I hope over time we can get together. I know you are speaking at Park City. If I am able to make arrangements to bring the car..I hope to visit with you.

Kindest Regards...Joe

[Art A.]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

Joe, I was going to speak at Park City with John Amgwert, but the powers that be within the NCRS decided to withdraw the invitation for John to speak, so therefore we are not presenting and I doubt that I will attend.
As far as the documentation goes for your(my)car goes, I'm sure we can get together, however, I think the price (which increases every day) could be/is a big factor.

Regards
Art

[Art A.]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

Actually, I was talking to Dick Thompson this past weekend, at Sebring, about this very subject. He's still pretty sharp had some very interesting comments about Sebring.

Art

[Geoff C.]

Check out this old FI brochure

http://docrebuild.com/archive/archive57fi.html

http://docrebuild.com/archive/archive57fi2.html

PS I cannot even remember where I got this piece. It's pretty worn.

[Chas Kingston]

[Mike E.]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

Ther's nothing more fun than trying to document an old race car that nobody cared about documenting almost 50 years ago. When I started that on my old Gulf Oil 62, it was only 20 years old, and participants had died and memories had dimmed already by then.
Good luck!!!

[Mike M.]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

had heard the flying dentist had passed away. glad to hear he's still sucking air. also sorry to hear you won't be in Park City. regards, mike

[Patrick H.]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

The kicker is that all of the factory documentation for this car IS available!

Patrick

[Chas Kingston]

Re: Nassau/Daytona/Sebring 1957

But over-priced.

Ol' Geezer