|
The first Corvette rolled off the Chevrolet production line in mid-1953. Chevrolet intended the car to compete (in sales) with imported small sports cars. Initially, performance aspects were of secondary importance. Gradually, Chevrolet came to realize that racing success would help showroom sales.
Zora Arkus-Duntov began working for Chevrolet in 1953, and was quickly put in charge of high-performance development. In 1956, John Fitch was hired to help Chevrolet's racing team for Sebring in 1956. Early successes did indeed help improve the Corvette image, performance, and sales. Unfortunately, in 1957 General Motors signed on to the Automobile Manufacturers Association ban on factory-supported racing.
Small groups and individuals within Chevrolet continued development of racing options, with "back-door" help to outside racers. Results were mixed. In 1962, work began on a special series of lightweight Corvettes designed specifically for racing in Europe. When upper management learned of it, they forced the project to be stopped. Five Grand Sport Corvettes were completed, and sold or loaned to private racers.
At some point, the racing-support ban was lifted within General Motors. In the early 1980s, Chevrolet began development work on a Corvette GTP race car with a Lola T600 chassis and a Chevrolet V-6 turbo-charged engine. The two cars built usually qualified at or near the top, but rarely won, and often ended a race early. The program was abandoned at the end of 1988.
A new factory-based Corvette Racing team was initiated in 1996, with first races of the Corvette C5-R at the 24-hour race at Daytona in 1999. One car finished 3rd in class, followed by 2nd in 2000, and finally 1st in class and 1st overall in 2001. Factory-supported and individual racing continues today, with the Corvette C6-R and production Z06 options.
Recorded here are all known (to my research) top-three finishes of Corvettes in sanctioned races. My sources are books and magazines, so this is an incomplete list. If you can point me to additional information please do!
See my Chronology of Chevrolet Corvettes for a more complete list of events in the history of Corvettes.
END
1955
- A car race at Thompson.
- 3rd: Addison Austin in a 1955 Corvette with V-8 engine and automatic transmission.
1955
- A car race at Hagerston.
- 1st in class: Addison Austin in a 1955 Corvette with V-8 engine and automatic transmission.
February 18, 1956
- The Daytona Speed Weeks races are held at Daytona Beach, Florida.
- 1st in Flying Mile, Production Class: John Fitch in a 1956 Corvette with a two-way average speed of 145.543 MPH, a new record.
- 2nd in Flying Mile, Production Class: Betty Skelton in a 1956 Corvette at 137.773 MPH.
- 1st in Flying Mile, Modified Class: Zora Arkus-Duntov in 1956 Corvette (255 hp, 307 ci engine) at 147.3 MPH.
- 3rd in Standing Mile, Production Class: John Fitch in a 1956 Corvette at 86.782 MPH.
- 1st in Standing Mile, Modified Class: Zora Arkus-Duntov in 1956 Corvette at 89.753 MPH.
March 24, 1956
- The Florida International 12-Hour Grand Prix of Endurance race is held in Sebring, Florida.
- 1st in Sports 8000 class: John Fitch and Walt Hansgen in 1956 Corvette (307 ci engine).
April 22, 1956
- The first race of the year of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is held, at the Pebble Beach raceway in Monterey, California.
- 1st in class, 2nd overall: Richard Thompson in #46 1956 Corvette.
April 1956
- SCCA race in Palm Springs, California.
- 1st overall: Richard Thompson in #46 1956 Corvette.
June 24, 1956
- SCCA race for C-Production class cars at the Road America raceway in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
- 1st in C-Production class: Bark Henry in a Corvette.
- 2nd in C-Production class: Fred Windridge in a Corvette.
July 7, 1956
- SCCA race at Beverly, Massachusetts.
- 1st: Richard Thompson in #111 Corvette.
July 1956
- In New Hampshire, the Mount Washington hill climb race is held.
August 11, 1956
- In Bremerton, Washington, the Seattle Seafair Class C-Production race is held.
- 1st: Richard Thompson in #106 1956 Corvette.
November 3, 1956
- At the Palm Springs raceway, the last SCCA race of the season is held.
- 1st: Richard Thompson in #106 1956 Corvette.
November 1956
- End of SCCA racing seacon.
- 1st in C-Production: Richard Thompson in a 1956 Corvette.
December 9, 1956
- The Nassau Trophy race is held in the Bahamas.
- 1st in class: Richard Thompson in #15 1957 Corvette.
- 1st in S8.0 class: Ray Crawford in a Corvette.
February 7, 1957
- At Daytona Beach in Florida, the Speed Week Performance Trials are held.
- 1st in Standing Mile, Production class: Paul Goldsmith in a Corvette at 91.301 MPH.
- 2nd in Standing Mile, Production class: Johnny Beauchamp in a Corvette at 89.798 MPH.
- 3rd in Standing Mile, Production class: Betty Skelton in a Corvette at 87.4 MPH.
- 1st in Standing Mile, Modified class: Buck Baker in the Corvette SR-2 at 93.047 MPH.
- 1st in Flying Mile, Production class: Paul Goldsmith in a Corvette at 131.941 MPH.
- 2nd in Flying Mile, Production class: Johnny Beauchamp in a Corvette.
- 3rd in Flying Mile, Production class: Betty Skelton in a Corvette.
- 2nd in Flying Mile, Modified class: Buck Baker in the Corvette SR-2 at 152.866 MPH.
February 10, 1957
- At the New Smyrna Beach municipal airport in Florida, car races are held, for professionals and amateurs.
- 2nd in production class: Paul Goldsmith in a 1957 Corvette.
March 23, 1957
- In Sebring, Florida, the Florida International 12 hour Grand Prix for the Amoco Trophy race is held, round 2 of the World Sports Car Championship.
- 1st in GT 5000 class: Richard Thompson and Gaston Andrey in #4 1957 Corvette.
- 2nd in GT 5000 class: John Kilborn, Jim Jeffords, and Dale Duncanin #3 1957 Corvette.
April 7, 1957
- A car race is held at Palm Springs [Production +2.7].
- 2nd overall: Jim Hall in a Corvette.
- 3rd overall: Bob Stonedale in a Corvette.
May 19, 1957
- A car race is held at Cumberland.
- 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall: Dick Thompson in a Corvette.
May 19, 1957
- A car race is held at Cumberland.
- 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall: Carroll Shelby in a Corvette.
- 3rd in B-Production class and 3rd overall: Bark Henry in a Corvette.
1957
- Pike's Peak Hill Climb.
- 1st in sportscar class: Ak Miller in a Corvette, time 15:23.
1957
- Bonneville salt flat races.
- 1st in Sports Car Class: George Hanson in a Corvette, new record of 144.322 MPH.
June 1, 1957
- aA car race is held at Lime Rock.
- 1st overall: Bark Henry in a Corvette.
July 6, 1957
- At the Watkins Glen race course, Race #5 is held for B-Production and C-Production classes.
- 1st in B Production class and 1st overall: Dean McCarthy in a Corvette.
- 2nd in B Production class and 3rd overall: Homer Deasey in a Corvette.
- 3rd in B Production class: Don Yenko in a Corvette.
July 14, 1957
- In Marlboro, Maryland, an SCCA race is held for B, C, and D Production cars.
- 1st in B Production class and 1st overall: Richard Thompson in the Corvette SR-2.
- 2nd in B Production class and 2nd overall: Bark Henry in a Corvette.
- 3rd in B Production class: Bob Muat in a Corvette.
August 4, 1957
- In Virginia, SCCA National car races are held.
- 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall: Dick Thompson in the #211 Corvette.
- 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall: Jim Jeffords in the #155 Corvette.
- 3rd in B-Production class and 3rd overall: Fred Windridge in the #99 Corvette.
August 18, 1957
- In Montgomery, a car race is held for B-Production and C-Production cars.
- 1st overall: Bark Henry in a Corvette.
- 2nd overall: Dick Thompson in a Corvette.
- 3rd overall: Dean McCarthy in a Corvette.
October 2, 1957
- At Bridgehampton, a car race is held for B-Production and C-Production cars.
- 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall: Fred Windridge in a Corvette.
- 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall: Bark Henry in a Corvette.
October 27, 1957
- In Virginia, the SCCA National car races are held, for C-Production and F-Modified cars.
- 2nd overall (C Production): Leonard Butscher in the #135 Corvette.
November 3, 1957
- In Palm Springs, the SCCA holds National car races.
- 1st overall: Jerry Austin in the B-Production class #58 Corvette.
- 2nd overall: Andy Porterfield in the B-Production class #283 Corvette.
November 17, 1957
- At Riverside, the SCCA holds National car races.
- 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall: Jerry Austin in a Corvette
- 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall: Carl Bailey in a Corvette.
- 3rd in B-Production class and 4th overall: Hugh Woods in a Corvette.
1957
- End of SCCA racing seacon.
- 1st in B-Production: Richard Thompson in a Corvette.
- 1st in B-Modified: J.E. Rose in a Corvette.
December 1, 1957
- The Nassau Tourist Trophy race is held in the Bahamas.
- 1st in S8.0 class: Curtis Turner in the #92 Corvette SR-2.
December 1, 1957
- The Nassau Governor's Trophy race is held in the Bahamas.
- 1st overall: Curtis Turner in the #92 Corvette SR-2.
March 2, 1958
- In Phoenix, a car race is held.
- 1st overall: Hap Sharp in a Corvette.
March 22, 1958
- In Sebring, Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring race is held, round 2 of World Sports Car Championship.
- 1st in Grand Touring 5000 class: Jim Rathmann and Richard Doane in the #1 Corvette.
- 2nd in Grand Touring 5000 class: John Kilborn, Fred Windridge, and Dick Thompson in the #2 Corvette.
June 29, 1958
- At Lime Rock, a car race is held.
- 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall: Fred Windridge in a Corvette.
1958
- Pike's Peak Hill Climb.
- 1st in sports car class: a Corvette.
August 16, 1958
- Milwaukee SCCA race.
- 1st in B Production: Jim Jeffords in #4 1958 Corvette SR-2.
August 17, 1958
- At Montgomery, SCCA holds National car races.
- 1st overall: Jim Jeffords in a Corvette.
- 3rd overall: Moore in a Corvette.
September 1, 1958
- Thompson SCCA race.
- 1st in B Production: Jim Jeffords in #4 1958 Corvette SR-2.
September 20, 1958
- Watkins Glen SCCA race.
- 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall: Jim Jeffords in the #4 1958 Corvette SR-2.
- 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall: Ben Moore in the #118 Corvette.
- 3rd in B-Production class and 4th overall: Ed Leavens in the #51 Corvette.
October 5, 1958
- Vaca Valley SCCA race.
- 1st in B Production: Jim Jeffords in #4 1958 Corvette SR-2.
October 5, 1958
- In Virginia, the SCCA holds a National car race.
- 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall: Frank Dominianni in the #69 Corvette.
- 2nd in B-Production class and 16th overall: Alvin Forsyth in the #181 Corvette.
October 12, 1958
- At Riverside, a car race is held.
- 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall: Skip Hudson in the C. S. Mead #58 Corvette.
- 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall: Bob Dickson in the #166 Corvette.
- 3rd in B-Production class and 3rd overall: Bob Hoffman in the #32 Corvette.
1958
- End of SCCA racing seacon.
- 1st in B Production: Jim Jeffords in #4 1958 Corvette SR-2.
December 3, 1958
- In Nassau, the Bahamas, the Tourist Trophy race is held.
- 1st overall: Jim Jeffords in a Corvette.
January 1, 1959
- The "Frostbite" race is held in Fort Worth, Texas.
- 1st: Delmo Johnson in a Corvette.
April 5, 1959
- Pensacola SCCA race.
- 1st in B Production, 3rd overall: Jim Jeffords in a 1959 Corvette.
April 18, 1959
- At the Marlboro Raceway in Maryland, the SCCA President's Cup race is held.
- 1st in class: Richard Thompson in Bill Mitchell's Sting Ray racer (technically not a Corvette).
April 19, 1959
- Marlboro SCCA National car race.
- 1st in B Production, 2nd overall: Jim Jeffords in a 1959 Corvette.
May 3, 1959
- At Virginia, SCCA holds National car races.
- 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall: Jim Jeffords in the #1 Corvette.
- 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall: Roy Tuerke in the #99 Corvette,
- 3rd in B-Production class and 7th overall: Bob Johnson in the #133 Corvette.
May 17, 1959
- Cumberland SCCA race.
- 1st in B Production: Frank Dominianni in a Corvette
July 12, 1959
- Buckley Field, Colorado, SCCA race.
- 1st in B Production: Jim Jeffords in a Corvette.
July 12, 1959
- At Bridgehampton, a car race is held.
- 1st overall: Corvette driven by Roy Tuerke.
- 3rd overall: Corvette driven by Rob Willoughby.
August 9, 1959
- In Montgomery, the SCCA holds a National car race.
- 1st in B-Production class and 2nd overall: Corvette driven by Harold Keck.
- 3rd overall: is the Corvette driven by Ben Moore.
- 3rd in B-Production and 4th overall: Jim Jeffords in a Corvette.
September 26, 1959
- At Watkins Glen, the SCCA holds a National car race.
- 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall: #99 Corvette driven by H. Turiskey.
- 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall: #119 Corvette driven by Harold Keck.
- 3rd in B-Production class and 3rd overall: #18 Corvette driven by Ben Moore.
1959
- End of SCCA race season.
- 1st in B Production: Jim Jeffords in a 1959 Corvette.
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
|
