Just heard from one of my racing buddies that John Fitch has passed away at 95.
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Larry
2002 Z51 Convertible
1969 L46 Convertible -
Re: John Fitch
Yes, the paper said he passed away at his home in Lime Rock Ct.... -
Re: John Fitch
Don Klein for Autoweek wrote this obituary. Little long, but very good
We lost more than just one of our own early Wednesday. We lost a national treasure. At age 95, American John Cooper Fitch--the first Sports Car Club of America national champion and a star in European sports-car racing in the 1950s and '60s--died at 1:20 a.m. from Merkel carcinoma, a rare skin cancer, at his home surrounded by family in Lime Rock, Conn.
Fitch, who went on to become a pioneer in racing safety, was born in Indianapolis on Aug. 4, 1917. After his parents divorced, his mother married an executive at the Stutz company who introduced his young stepson to racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But the boy wasn't impressed by what he saw.
Based in London, Fitch flew many successful bomber escort missions. On one, he achieved elite status by shooting down a Messerschmidt ME 262 jet fighter.
Like many of his contemporaries, he started out campaigning an MG-TC, primarily at nearby Bridgehampton, N.Y. But unlike many of his contemporaries, Fitch was good. So good, in fact, that he caught the eye of Briggs Cunningham, the wealthy racing enthusiast who encouraged Fitch to enter the 1951 Grand Prix of Argentina. Fitch couldn't afford a competitive car of his own, but he was able to borrow an Allard that had been wrecked in a previous race. This is a story Fitch loved to tell.
He also clinched the support of Cunningham, whose financial clout allowed Fitch to race cars that complemented his considerable skills. Notably, Fitch scored a number of impressive victories in the early '50s in Cunninghams at then-fledgling road courses like Elkhart Lake and Watkins Glen. But Cunningham had bigger plans: He had his sights set on Le Mans. His goal was to win the world's most demanding endurance race with an American car and driver, and Fitch was to play a leading role in that quest.
The second landmark event, of course, was Le Mans. Fitch was waiting in the Mercedes-Benz team trailer, just behind the pit wall, having a last-minute cup of coffee before taking over from teammate Pierre Levegh. But he never got that chance. A crash involving Levegh's 300 SLR, Mike Hawthorn's D Jaguar and Lance Maklin's Austin Healey resulted in what has remained the worst disaster in the history of automobile racing. The crash killed more than 80 people, and changed Fitch's life forever. It was then that he realized something had to be done to improve racing and highway safety, a challenge that became an overriding pursuit for the rest of his life, leading to, among other innovations, the development of the ubiquitous yellow, sand-filled Fitch Inertia Crash Barriers--the yellow crash barrels seen on racetracks and highways--that have saved thousands of lives around the world.
But Fitch's racing career didn't end with Le Mans. At the end of 1955, Chevrolet's Chief Engineer, Ed Cole suggested that he help develop the Corvette into a world-class race car. The two hit it off, and in early 1956, Cole asked Fitch to develop and manage a team of Corvettes he planned to enter at Sebring, just six weeks hence. Corvette father Zora Arkus Duntov had already turned down Cole's request, claiming that it would be impossible to make the slow, overweight production two-seaters competitive in such a short amount of time, but in typical Fitch fashion, Fitch rose to the occasion.
Four cars were entered, but different engines put them in two different classes: B and C Production. Against overwhelming odds, the team won both classes, giving them the team prize as well. Years later, Corvette Racing's present-day manager Doug Fehan led his drivers in a standing ovation for Fitch, remarking that he had almost single-handedly achieved in six weeks what today would take an entire dedicated organization years to accomplish.
In 2010, Fehan again led his drivers in a salute to Fitch, this time at LeMans, where, at age 93, Fitch reunited with the 1960 Corvette that he and Bob Grossman co-drove to give Corvette its first significant international victory 50 years earlier (Autoweek, Aug. 16, 2010).
Fitch's motorsports achievements have been immortalized by numerous awards, including his induction into the Corvette, SCCA (inaugural class), Sebring, New England Racer, and Motorsports of America Halls of Fame. In June of 2012, he was inducted into the Bloomington Gold Great Hall.
Autoweek, April 14, 2008), he did his best to go it alone at home, even at the expense of his declining health. To no-one's surprise, Fitch remained fiercely stubborn and independent to the end.
RIP JohnDick WhittingtonComment
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Re: John Fitch
I met Mr Fitch at the premier of The Quest movie at Carlisle, Pa.
Quite a man.Comment
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Re: John Fitch
One of the greatest. He will be missed.
GeorgeComment
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Re: John Fitch
John was a truly remarkable man of so many talents. This is a great loss to all auto enthusiasts.TerryComment
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Re: John Fitch
One great Gentleman. I had the priveledge to meet and know him many times. A ''real'' AMERICAN HERO. What a movie and book can be written about John. Godspeed my friend.Over 80 Corvettes of fun ! Love Rochester Fuel Injection 57-65 cars. Love CORVETTE RACE CARS
Co-Founder REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS.COMComment
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Re: John Fitch
You are right Jim, a great guy and hero. He contributed more than most of us can dream of. The first time I got to talk with John was at Monterey years ago for the Corvette gathering at the Historics. There was a book signing and when talking to Dave McC he asked "How would you like Fitch's autograph?" I said I sure would. He said John had taken a break and would be back soon. Shortly after he came back I got to speak with him about P-51's, the MB's at LeMans, the SS at Sebring, and his safe barriers. Since then I had questions John has graciously answered. I had been taking my time finishing my last letter to him and oddly 10/31 I added my last remark. Unfortunately, it won't be mailed.
You were a great man John Fitch. May you rest in Peace and continue your good work.Comment
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Re: John Fitch
Just got a copy of this JAY LENO 1991 INTERVIEW with John. Great interview.
Over 80 Corvettes of fun ! Love Rochester Fuel Injection 57-65 cars. Love CORVETTE RACE CARS
Co-Founder REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS.COMComment
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Re: John Fitch
Jim,
That was definately a great interview.
Thanks very much for shareing it.
Bruce BComment
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Re: John Fitch
Jim, also thank you for the postings. I just plucked my R&T from the mailbox and as the irony of time would have it there is an eight page story about John Fitch entitled "Almost Famous".
Steve
From the National Corvette Museum:
Racing Legend John Fitch Passes
At the age of 95, legend John Fitch died on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 from Merkel carcinoma, a rare skin cancer, at his home in Lime Rock, Conn. A true pioneer of Corvette racing, Fitch was the first Sports Car Club of America national champion and a star in European sports-car racing in the 1950s and '60s. He was the only American ever to drive for the Mercedes-Benz factory team, and also raced the Corvette "SS" and the test mule, which later became the Sting Ray Racer. He was the first manager of Connecticut's Lime Rock Park Raceway, and is noted as one of the prime movers behind the project's beginning, and was still involved with the raceway's operations.After retiring from racing, Fitch became a successful specialty car builder and safety engineer, and developed the "Fitch Barriers", the familiar yellow crash barrels we see on highways and racetracks, which have saved the lives of many motorists. Fitch was also responsible for conducting the world's first Advanced Driving School.John Fitch was inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame on September 1, 2000.Last edited by Steven B.; November 1, 2012, 05:49 PM.Comment
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Re: John Fitch
MICHAEL BROWN , who produced the movie ''THE QUEST'' just posted this tribute
Over 80 Corvettes of fun ! Love Rochester Fuel Injection 57-65 cars. Love CORVETTE RACE CARS
Co-Founder REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS.COMComment
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Re: John Fitch
Some years back I met John Fitch totally by chance. I had been up and down every aisle parts hunting at Carlisle and decided to take a break when I noticed something taking place in the grandstand area. John Fitch had just taken the stage along with the Briggs #3 car and was graciously answering questions regarding his fascinating life. The more he spoke the more I was drawn in. I came away with the conclusion that his time as a Corvette racer was only a small chapter in his almost unbelievable story. He told a story about his friend Orville Wright and I was blown away. I mean here I was in the presence of someone who personally knew one of the Wright Brothers. I believe someone was videotaping that day. It would be great to get a copy of that tape. RIP John, you are what legends are made of and will be missed by many.
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Re: John Fitch
One of my favorite photos of John Fitch which was taken in October, 1974 at Lime Rock Park when he was driving one of my cars as preparation for an article on the 300 SL that he was writing for Automobile Quarterly (Vol. 18, No. 2).
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