Dead Man's curve

[Dennis O.]

I have been surfing the web, and came across "Dead Man's Curve" by Jan and Dean. It got me thinking, did a race between a high end Corvette and an XKE ever take place? I don't think the XKE would have a chance. When I had my new '67 L79 coupe back in the day, there was a rich guy who had a '66 Austin Healy At the local A&W that talked the talk and wanted to race, but I couldn't pin him down. I had close ratio and 3.70 gears; I think he was pretty smart. Anybody have any input?

[Bob H.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

Don't know if it happened but certainly may have. Jan did crash his Corvette near there and nearly died as a result.

[Joe L.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

I have been surfing the web, and came across "Dead Man's Curve" by Jan and Dean. It got me thinking, did a race between a high end Corvette and an XKE ever take place? I don't think the XKE would have a chance. When I had my new '67 L79 coupe back in the day, there was a rich guy who had a '66 Austin Healy At the local A&W that talked the talk and wanted to race, but I couldn't pin him down. I had close ratio and 3.70 gears; I think he was pretty smart. Anybody have any input?

Dennis-----


I'm sure many races between Corvettes and XKE's took place. How many of them at or near Deadman's Curve I have no idea. XKE's were actually pretty fast cars in 6 cylinder form and even faster in V-12 form. I never liked their narrow track, though.

Also, Jan did crash his Corvette near Deadman's Curve but well after the song of that title was recorded, so the song was not about an incident that Jan had experienced prior to writing the song. And, when he crashed, he was definitely not racing an XKE.

[Mark H.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

The Summer 1984 issue of the Restorer has an article by Jim Blanchard (he doesn't appear to be an NCRS member anymore) about him purchasing Jan's 1958 Corvette in 1963 for $1800. It was a fuel injected 4-speed.

[Michael J.]

[Michael J.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

This is where CW puts it, but many are not convinced and pick a place farther out of the Valley...

http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/deadman.asp

[Dennis O.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

I'm pretty up on the actual story of Jan Berry. What I would really like to know is how a 6 cylinder XKE would fare against, say a 340 HP '63 Corvette in a drag race. I do know the guy with the new '66 3000-6 spent a lot of time ducking me.

[Rich C.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

Factory A/C to boot!

'73 LS-4 454 Coupe owned 24 years!
'96 LT-4 CE Coupe

[David K.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

I can barely tell it is a C2 by the crumpled front bumper and the right door. Must be the spare on top of the motor as it does not match the RF tire on car, at least the way I am seeing it. What a mess!

[Gary F.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

Another shot of car showing full front.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

Can someone answer the question:

How would the Corvette do in a race with a XKE?

[Mark H.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

I found these specs for the Jaguar online: http://www.automobile-catalog.com/pe..._roadster.html


I think his 0-60 times are a little optimistic. But going against a fuel injection Corvette, the Jaguar is about 200 pounds lighter but down almost 100hp to the Corvette. I don't think the Jaguar stands a chance.

[Michael J.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

I had a friend with a 300HP '63 'Vette, and in '68 he was running 14.6 second 1/4 mile times. I would agree, an XKE would not stand a chance against a higher than base engine C2 Corvette.

But if we consider the other drag race song, Shut Down, I would say there was no FI C2 that could come close to beating a SuperStock 413 Dodge with 2X4s.

[Duke W.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

This is where CW puts it, but many are not convinced and pick a place farther out of the Valley...
http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/deadman.asp

I would agree. Back in the seventies I made many late night aggressive runs over that stretch of Sunset in both the SWC and Cosworth Vega. That turn has a maximum pucker factor rating, but there are several others along the stretch that are as challenging. The one that's burned into my brain is blind, over a rise, and somewhat off camber...real easy for a neutrally set up car to snap into oversteer. I can't imagine what it would be like in an early 911 that has big time trailing throttle oversteer.

Duke

[Steven B.]

Re: Dead Man's curve

I have been surfing the web, and came across "Dead Man's Curve" by Jan and Dean. It got me thinking, did a race between a high end Corvette and an XKE ever take place? I don't think the XKE would have a chance. When I had my new '67 L79 coupe back in the day, there was a rich guy who had a '66 Austin Healy At the local A&W that talked the talk and wanted to race, but I couldn't pin him down. I had close ratio and 3.70 gears; I think he was pretty smart. Anybody have any input?

'loved the '60's. In the mid 60's we had a fellow in town who had an E Type, three E Types in consecutive years. A couple of times we faced off, once at a standing start and another time a 100 mph stomp down. I had my '57, 2X4 Duntov cam, 4 speed, 3.70. The '57 came through each time by large margin. A few years later my best friend in college had a big AH. No problem there, either. Shorty is long gone, as are his E Types and Marty's 3000 is gone, also. The '57 is awaiting a clean-up. Steve