Taking Grill Teeth out for Racing?

[Bob B.]

Hi all,

We've all seen pics of old Corvette race cars with various of the grill teeth missing. My '57 is no different. But I've looked at the attached pic as much as I can and I can't see any hint of the horizontal bar. It is either missing or painted black. I talked with Bob Spicer, one of the drivers and best friend of the owner (deceased), and he says he doesn't remember a painted bar, but thinks maybe the owner devised a way to hold the teeth in minus the bar (to save weight).

Any thoughts or comments?

Bob

[Bill W.]

Re: Taking Grill Teeth out for Racing?

They would use "plumbers tape" . thin strips of steel with holes about every inch . fastened to the tooth and up to the grille oval mounting studs .

[Bruce B.]

Re: Taking Grill Teeth out for Racing?

Why was this done?

[Mike E.]

Re: Taking Grill Teeth out for Racing?

The rules were that you had to run the stock grille. I believe that the rules failed to mention "all of the pieces of the stock grille.". They saved weight by doing the teeth and bar removal. Anything for an edge!!!

[Duke W.]

Re: Taking Grill Teeth out for Racing?

To expand on what Mike said, SCCA production-class rules back in the fifties allowed the removal of bumpers and most exterior trim, but not the "grille". As far as I know this may still apply to the "production" classes (E through H-production).

However, a creative owner could have argued that some, or all of the "teeth" were trim items, and if the SCCA tech inspector appreciated creative rule interpretation, maybe you could get away with it, but it would likely open the door to a protest if you won your class.

When I raced an EP TR3 back in the seventies all bumpers and exterior trim were removed, but it still had the one-piece stamped aluminum grille.

Duke