Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging! - NCRS Discussion Boards

Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

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  • Richard M.
    Super Moderator
    • August 31, 1988
    • 11323

    Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

    Congratulations to Luke Rizzuto and his good friend John Quam for their unbelievable journey across the United States to attend the Kissimmee Winter Regional. They did this in Luke's 1965 365hp(with C60)! Corvette convertible.

    They clocked over 4000 miles, and Luke decided to take the "Long Way"! Instead of the direct highway route, they took the Spanish Trail along the lower borders of the US, partly to avoid inclement weather, but also to add a FEW more miles to help get Driven Points for his 406,000 mile '65 Corvette in Flight judging.

    At the awards banquet last night, Luke not only received the Longest Driven award, but also received a 2nd Flight award. His Corvette wasn't as pretty as all of the restored Top Flight cars, but it was a highlight of the entire show field. Everyone that looked at it probably said "look at that.....what's that doing here?" But when they found out HOW it got there, they were shocked and elated that it came.

    DSCN0917.jpg DSCN0918.jpg DSCN0921.jpg DSCN0922.jpg

    Congrats Luke!

    History......
    Luke put a ad in the Driveline about 5 years ago advertising he had original POP and paperwork. Chuck and Luke hooked up, and Luke decided some day to drive out to the Regionals to meet. It finally happened. Chuck, Luke , John and myself had a great week, attending the show, dinners, adult beverage sipping, and the Mecum Auction yesterday. We've now become lifelong friends, and we're planning a Key West Corvette trip next year when Luke and John drive out after Luke clocks 500,000 miles on his Corvette. He wants to go for Top Flight next time!

    This would not have been possible if it were not for Jim Gessner's "1965 Fuelie Survey". Luke found it when Jim's list popped out the Vin#.
    Luke formerly owned Chuck McSheehy's Black/Red '65 Fuelie. Thanks Jim! You not only found a car, but made new found friends.

    Rich
    p.s BTW, Luke is not afraid of long rides! He and John completed the Great Race in 2008 across the US. This year, they're planning another little ride.....a World Tour from Plymouth MA to Oregon, then Japan to Paris, then Scandinavia to Iceland.
    Last edited by Richard M.; January 26, 2014, 07:55 AM.
  • Richard T.
    Very Frequent User
    • February 1, 1979
    • 858

    #2
    Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

    Really really cool ! Now this is what the NCRS should be about, after all it is why the General built them in the first place.

    Comment

    • Jim T.
      Expired
      • March 1, 1993
      • 5351

      #3
      Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

      I had a 64 Corvette with factory air in 1968 and 1969. Do not remember the air conditioner pulley being as large as this one in this 1965. My 64 was a 327/300, is the 65's air conditioner pulley larger because the the 327/365 HP engine option with factory air?

      Comment

      • William L.
        Very Frequent User
        • December 1, 1988
        • 944

        #4
        Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

        What an great adventure. Congrats Luke & John.
        Bill Lacy
        1967 427/435 National Top Flight Bloomington Gold
        1998 Indy Pacecar

        Comment

        • Duke W.
          Beyond Control Poster
          • January 1, 1993
          • 15670

          #5
          Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

          Originally posted by Jim Trekell (22375)
          I had a 64 Corvette with factory air in 1968 and 1969. Do not remember the air conditioner pulley being as large as this one in this 1965. My 64 was a 327/300, is the 65's air conditioner pulley larger because the the 327/365 HP engine option with factory air?
          It has to do with the engines' operating speed range - 450-5300 for the 300 HP and 700-6500 for SHP/FI. For the same reason SHP/FI engines have larger alternator pulleys to keep the alternator from overspeeding at maximum revs, and the higher idle speed produces about the same alternator speed/current output as a 300 HP/auto idling at 450 in Drive.

          I believe the AMA specs have all the pulley ratios or at least pulley diameters so you can compute the approximate engine RPM to accessory RPM ratio.

          BTW I recall the maximum design rotor speed of the period Delco alternators is 18,000 RPM. I've never seen a spec on the R6 compressor.

          Some engines have a WOT switch that disengages the compressor to either supress the parasitic power loss or prevent overspeed or both. In modern engines it's easy to incorporate an engine RPM-compressor cutout into the engine control electronics to prevent compressor overspeed.

          When I reindexed the cams in my Cosworth Vega to a 114 deg. LSA from 106 to get rid of the way excessive overlap (The valve timing is now essentially identical to the L-79 cam.) I was able to considerably reduce the idle speed from the prior 1200, which was the lowest it would idle with acceptable stability. It was happy at 700, but the alternator would not carry the load. I had to increase idle speed to 900, and even at that speed it won't maintain normal system voltage with the headlights on.

          The pulley ratio yields 18,000 alternator rotor speed at 7000 crankshaft revs.

          Duke
          Last edited by Duke W.; January 26, 2014, 12:30 PM.

          Comment

          • Anthony C.
            Expired
            • April 5, 2007
            • 81

            #6
            Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

            Awesome car I saw it at the show. Its good to hear that some guys actually want to drive the cars and enjoy them.

            Comment

            • Richard M.
              Super Moderator
              • August 31, 1988
              • 11323

              #7
              Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

              So you wanna hear another interesting tidbit.............?

              When Luke owned Chuck's car, it's fuelie unit was NOT the original. The first owner(San Jose Cop), lost the car to theft in apx 1967. The car was recovered but the fuelie unit(vin# derivative serialized just like the engine stamp) was stolen. He acquired a replacement and sold the car to Luke that way.

              Luke sold the car, then a few buyers later, the car ended up in Canada. Chuck bought the car from the Canadian, IIRC in 1988. The car was 23 years years old, and Chuck picked it up on January 23, his birthday! Chuck Top Flighted the car in CT in 1991. Then it was hardly used for 20+ years, then he pulled the body, restored the chassis, cleaned up the engine and Top Flighted in 2012 in Kissimmee.

              Skip ahead to several months ago. Jim gessner was scowering Craig's list for Fuelie related stuff, and FOUND THE STOLEN FUELIE UNIT WITH MATCHED VIN DERIVATIVE located in Utah! Chuck buys unit. Unit arrives at Chucks house early Jan. Chuck rebuilds/restores unit. Last Saturday, Chuck and Rich re-unite Unit to engine. Chuck gets Top Flight Friday.

              DSCN0911.jpg DSCN0912.jpg

              Comment

              • Richard M.
                Super Moderator
                • August 31, 1988
                • 11323

                #8
                Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

                I got the route wrong in post1. Check it here....Wow!


                Comment

                • Mike M.
                  NCRS Past President
                  • May 31, 1974
                  • 8383

                  #9
                  Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

                  the ac pulley on 365 is larger than that on a hydraulic lifter engines compressor. and they are difficult to come by. mike

                  Comment

                  • David P.
                    Expired
                    • August 12, 2007
                    • 146

                    #10
                    Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

                    That long drive is an inspiring story. Looking forward to the 500,000 mile mark crossing!

                    Comment

                    • Richard M.
                      Super Moderator
                      • August 31, 1988
                      • 11323

                      #11
                      Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

                      Originally posted by Mike McCagh (14)
                      the ac pulley on 365 is larger than that on a hydraulic lifter engines compressor. and they are difficult to come by. mike
                      I know where there's one!

                      Comment

                      • Richard M.
                        Super Moderator
                        • August 31, 1988
                        • 11323

                        #12
                        Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

                        I spoke to John yesterday. He had to take a flight home Sunday due to family matters, so Luke is driving back to California alone. Luke dropped John off at Orlando airport at 6:30 Sunday morning and then headed west in his '65 Corvette.

                        He made it to Louisiana by Sunday night and just missed the bad weather that came down south. Knowing Luke now, I think he packed tire-chains just in case he got caught up in sow snow on this trip!

                        Yesterday he was trying to make it part way through Texas. John will keep me updated on his progress and I'll update here as I get info. Luke told me he was going to try to get 1,000 miles a day to get back for a Thursday work schedule. Wow!

                        He's a auto restorer and general contractor........He said a 193? Cord restoration and a kitchen remodel going on right now.

                        Rich

                        Comment

                        • Carl N.
                          Expired
                          • April 30, 1984
                          • 592

                          #13
                          Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

                          Kudos indeed ! Just goes to show you do not have to have a $100k tow rig to play in the sandbox!

                          Comment

                          • Michael J.
                            Extremely Frequent Poster
                            • January 27, 2009
                            • 7122

                            #14
                            Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New Mexico

                            Comment

                            • David P.
                              Expired
                              • August 12, 2007
                              • 146

                              #15
                              Re: Driving 4000+ miles from California to Florida for Flight Judging!

                              Originally posted by Carl Nicholl (7368)
                              Kudos indeed ! Just goes to show you do not have to have a $100k tow rig to play in the sandbox!
                              Amen, Carl!

                              Comment

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