57 Corvettes at Hershey Hillclimb

[David G.]

Attached are several photos of Frank Bucks 57 Corvettes at the hillclimb last weekend.
He did not run the black cold airbox car this year, Instead he ran the # 77 car that he just bought
from that west coast 2 weeks ago.
The weather was spectacular both days with only one formula car crashing on the course.
Franks son Adam drove for the first time this year and posted 56 second runs that were the second
fastest for the weekend. The fastest that the blue car had gone before with 2 old guys driving was 59 seconds.
Not too hard to figure out I guess.
Dave Gray

[James G.]

Re: 57 Corvettes at Hershey Hillclimb

I am very excited to see this car back on the track. JOE FREITAS is one of my best friends. The history of him and his racing days of Corvettes is not as well know as it should be. This cars history is discussed here. http://registryofcorvetteracecars.co.../view_cars/319

In May 1961, Joe Freitas from Fontana, California, was home from Korea and the US Army and went to the Sports Car Races at Santa Barbara. While there he met the famous Dave MacDonald, described by many as “ the best natural driver ever”


Later that summer a deal was struck and Joe bought Dave’s 61 Corvette. Joe’s first race at Cotati in November 61 resulted in a 2^nd place finish behind Paul Reinhart in B/P class.





At the close of the 1962 SCCA season, 22 drivers in A/P (15 in Corvettes) were awarded points nationally. The A/P class in the Pacific Coast Division SCCA was won by Joe and the B /P class (283 engine) by Paul Reinhart.


In the winter – spring of 1962-63, Joe bought Dave’s old 57 Corvette # 4555 which Dave owned and raced with great success in 1960. While employed at Shelby America, Joe raced the 57 in between work and racing the Cobra.


Joe dropped out of SCCA Racing in 1965. In 1991, he discovered vintage racing and after many years rebuilt his tribute car using all the parts he saved from the original car including the vin tag and title. In 2002 Joe raced his old 57 Corvette at the Monterey Historics celebrating 50 years of the Corvette . It was a very exciting race with a drag race finish. Ron Cressy spun his 59 at turn 11 and Joe avoided him, and then drag raced Ken Epsman up the hill.........3 feet short of victory.