Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

[Vinnie P.]

Photo dated 1960, Dr. Dick Thompson at the Cumberland Airport and on the trailer is a Corvette "Sting Ray"

Back on the hill is future NCRS member #14 probably guzzling "the beast"

[Tom D.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

Could that be a Michigan "M" plate on the front of the wagon? Or, perhaps there was not such thing as a "manufacturer", or "M plate" back then.

[Randy S.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

That's really a cool photo. I'll show this to my Dad who has shared with me his times of heading from Pittsburgh to Cumberland to enjoy those races.

Thanks.
Randy

[Mike M.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

did your dad run at cumberland ? did he stay at marple's motel on centre st, where yenko, donna mae mims et al stayed in the 50's and 60's. marples is long gone but we still run autos at the airport, although not scca sanctioned. mike

[Mark H.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

And I'm guessing that "Tom Payne" in the background is the same Tom Payne that would later achieve some fame driving Cobras in the mid-1960s.

[Mike E.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

Pretty sophisticated trailer and tow vehicle. Likely in line with the perceived status of the car back then. Today it would be hauled by a Peterbuilt with a stainless semitrailer hauler. Passage of time does interesting things to perspectives.

[Gary C.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

Vinnie,

Is that a Crossed Flags emblem on the grille indicating a 348 engine? Don't recall seeing many station wagons back in the day with a 348.

Gary
....

[Vinnie P.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

Vinnie,

Is that a Crossed Flags emblem on the grille indicating a 348 engine? Don't recall seeing many station wagons back in the day with a 348.

Gary
....

Gary, I posted this for Mike, and he thinks it had a 348 in it and was probably a GM company car

Vinnie

[Gary C.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

Vinnie,

Thanks. Chevys with 348 engines had crossed flags emblem in the grille whereas small blocks had a Chevy emblem.

Gary
....

[Tom D.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

What did the sixes have?

[Mike M.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

cross flags if 348, gold v under chevy logo for the sbc's, and just chevy logo if 235 ci. mike

[Mike E.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

Great Photo!...One of the most significant Corvettes in history was towed once on an open trailer.


Mike

[Patrick B.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

Here are some pictures of Dick Thompson and the Stingray at Upper Marlboro MD the same season. Mike, you passed the remnants of this old track on RT 301 on the way to my shop recently.

Dick Thompson lived in DC, so Marlboro was his home track and Cumberland was another relatively close track.

[Randy S.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

Hey Mike.

My Dad was strictly a spectator, but has mentioned seeing Donna Mae Mims, Yenko, etc run there. I'll catch up to him this weekend and ask about him for some more details.

[Michael F.]

Re: Dr. Dick Thompson, Cumberland Airport 1960

cool photo, thanks for posting