Vintage Racing Picture

[George J.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

Duke, 250LM production was only 32. I'm not sure that Shelby had the requisite 100 by when you state. I would need to research it, but the impression I was left with after reading Friedman's book, and "Remembering the Shelby Years" (which is a fascinating collection on interviews of those who worked there at the time) was that they really bent the rules at that time. It's all fun debate now, but when people go on about how much the Cobras kicked the Corvette's behind during those years, it needs to be with a full understanding of the production class rules and how they were "interpreted". Don't get me wrong, though, I think Shelby did an unbelievable job of going to Europe and winning the World Championship. That is a phenomenal accomplishment from a fantastic collection of people. Legendary.

[Joe R.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

George,

The same car in different colors trick was used to fool the magazines that were testing the Cobra into thinking there were more cars than actually existed. Check out this Hot Rod article:

http://www.hotrod.com/feature_stories/hrdp_1209_tribute_to_carroll_shelby/viewall.html

Joe

[Michael J.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

That also reminds me of the great seminar done at the Nationals in Hampton about all the trickery and photo-fakes use to indicate the first Corvettes were rolling off the assembly line in July, 1953.....

[George J.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

Joe, great article, thanks!

[James G.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

Yes, and so did Bondurant later. The first Cobras were 260s, but that was early '62, if this is fall '62, then they were 289s by that time, probably CSX2080 and up. I am a bit surprised the Cobras could outdo the FI '63 'Vettes, but I guess their handling was just that much better.

COBRA was 2200 pounds, and had disc brakes. CORVETTE was 3200 pounds.....and drum brakes. We lost before the engines were started.

[James G.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

I have many of these DAVE FRIEDMAN photos in my collection. The photo displayed by Mike Johnson originally was taken on February 3, 1963. Dave MacDonald is driving COBRA #198, Red Ferris from Oakland, CA in the # 11 silver 63 roadster next in line, Bill Rushton, also Northern California in the #106 silver 63 SWC. Dick Guldstrand follows in his 1963 Daytona #56 convertible that was ultimately totally destroyed later in the season due to ''roll overs''. That was his first BAUER Chevrolet sponsored car. In 1964 he drove a red 64 #56 like car which often is confused as the photos are black and white. The roller skate was displayed on the 64 car as he did not receive the item until the 1963 Year End Cal Club Awards banquets in December 1963.

Don Meline is pulling up the rear in his 1960 red #118 RPO 687 FI racer he bought brand new at Hansen Chevrolet in LA. Don was the CAL CLUB B/P Champ in 1963 with that car. He is retired today living in Big Bear Lake, CA. The engine in the car blew up in 65, and he parked it and later sold the car. Never been seen since.

Immediately following this race he went to Florida to crew for Doug Hooper and the Mickey Thompson team at DAYTONA. That race was on February 16-17, 1963.

Don crewed for DOUG HOOPER at Riverside in October 1962 and also Daytona in February 1963. He was suppose to go to France in June 63 with HOOPER and BILLY KRAUSE Both were scheduled to drive Doug's blue #119 and # 3 Thompson racer at LeMans until the ''NO MORE FACTORY RACING'' rule came down hard after Feb DAYTONA. Doug and Don told me years ago, ''NEVER QUIT YOUR DAY JOB'' as they both were fired after Daytona before they left for home in LA.

[Roger W.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

I remember reading very similar words in a Motor Trend Magazine article back in 1963.

[Michael J.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

And some SAAC members would say that CS knew how to beat Duntov without spending too much dinero......

[George J.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

Jim, great information. Keep it coming! When is the book due out?!? ; )

[James G.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

The MICKEY THOMPSON CORVETTES are interesting cars and history. Mickey had 5 Z0-6 BIG TANK cars assigned to him by Chevrolet. The first car was the Daytona blue / blue car that appeared at the RIVERSIDE RACEWAY 3 HOUR ENDURO on Saturday October 20, 1962 which was the LA TIMES GRAND PRIX weekend. This event highlighted the debut of the new 1963 STINGRAY ......and also the new COBRA by Carroll Shelby. DOUG HOOPER drove the car to a win.

This car was flown to California by Flying Tiger Airline and received on September 22, 1962 in Burbank Airport. Doug still has the original telegram showing this history. The car then went thru extensive brake testing at RIVERSIDE RACEWAY from Thursday 9-27-62 thru Wednesday October 17, 1962. The ''other'' three 63 Z0-6 CORVETTE race cars were ''driven'' back to Southern California and Seattle by Bob Bondurant, Dave MacDonald and Jerry Grant only 10 days before the race.
THESE DAVE FRIEDMAN PHOTOS HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN IN MANY YEARS. THEY SHOW THE CAR ON TRACK, A PIT STOP WITH MICKEY CHECKING THE RR TIRE AND THE ''FAMOUS'' GRAVITY GAS TANK FOR A QUICK FILL. WE WERE REAL SAFE IN THESE DAYS WITH T-SHIRTS AND SNEAKERS IN THE PIT AREA.

NOTE THE INTERIOR SHOT WHERE EXTRA SIDE PADDING ON THE SEAT HELPED KEEP THE DRIVER IN PLACE. THIS PHOTO IS AT RACE END WHEN SCCA OFFICIALS WERE TAKING FUEL SAMPLES TO MAKE SURE NO ONE ''CHEATED''.

IN TESTING, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT AT HIGH RPM DOWN THE LONG ONE MILE BACK STRAIGHT, THE VALVE SPRINGS WOULD COIL BIND DUE TO THE 6500 PLUS RPM, SO MICKEY AND DOUG INSTALLED A 3:36 RATIO DIFFERENTIAL, VS THE 4:11'S EVERYONE ELSE USED. THEY DROVE A CONSERVATIVE RACE ''TO WIN''. THEIR BATTLE PLAN WORKED. EVERYONE ELSE BROKE HALF SHAFTS, ENGINES AND OTHER PARTS AND WERE DNF......INCLUDING BILLY KRAUSE'S COBRA.

[Michael J.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

Those are great pictures and story, safety has changed alright. I have one someplace of Mickey and his crew using Shelby American Racing t-shirts to clean the grease and mud off the Corvettes, he really made a statement in those days.....

[Tim G.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

Jim, you always have great inforamtion, I can't wait to see all of your data in a book format.

[Steven B.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

Jim, when did Paul Reinhart get his?

Steve

[George J.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

Jim, thanks so much for posting those pics. Keep 'em coming!

[Steven B.]

Re: Vintage Racing Picture

Jim, when did Paul Reinhart get his?

Steve