FIRST Corvette "racer"??

[Loren L.]

I've recently run acroos some information - with a picture! - that would appear to be the first Corvette run in an "official" race - ON ICE!! This would have been in Jan/Feb of 1954 at the "St Paul (MN) Winter Carnival";
the picture is not the greatest, but it would appear to have a black top, =ing a 1953 model.
Any other claimants?

In a semi-related area, does anyone know what Addison Austin (MD area) did to his 54 to change it and have it called "Chevrolet Special" back in '54 or '55. Maybe some contact in the Cumberland area, Doc?

[Mike M.]

Re: FIRST Corvette "racer"??

loren: never heard of addison austin. what part of md is his nest? maybe can run him down. mike

[Mark S.]

Re: FIRST Corvette "racer"??

Loren:

Several Corvettes have raced in the St. Paul Winter Carnival's ice racing venues over the years. The Winter Carnival runs on the last week of January and the first week of February every year. Typically this race took place the second weekend of the carnival; which would put it on the first week of February. I believe that Corvette News may have had a picture of a later Corvette in this ice racing series (I'm going from memory).

[Loren L.]

Mark, who would have "sanctioned" or

arranged the paper work/coordinated for the Carnival? Car Club? SCCA?
Carnival committee? Owner's name is shown as "Russ Lee"; might be interesting to know if he/family member is still around - get him on the Corvette Quarterly cover as the "oldest known Corvette racer" - at least if he finished well.

[Mark S.]

Re: Mark, who would have "sanctioned" or

Loren:

The ice races were coordinated by the festival committee of the carnival which was responsible for running all the events. The festival committee in the early years worked directly with the local ice racing organization (which sanctioned the event). In the later years, the festival committee contracted out the ice racing event to the ice racing organization to improve cash flow and limit liability. I was Festival President in 1992; when we did a large Ice Palace. That year, I bid the ice racing out to the two local ice racing organizations. John Menard was mad because his organization did not get low bid. I will try to trace Russ Lee. My neighbor raced a Mini Cooper for many years. A lot of time was spent studding the tires, in preparation for these races.

[Mike E.]

Re: Mark, who would have "sanctioned" or

Mark--
Please explain to Loren, who has lived in Phoenix way too many years, why one would put studs in tires for ice racing. I know he comes originally from Minnesota, but as old as he is, I'm sure he's forgotten Minnesota, and he lived there before tires were invented.
Mike

[Mark S.]

Re: Mark, who would have "sanctioned" or

Loren:

The first ice racing organization (according to my neighbor) was the IIRA (International Ice Racing Asspciation). This group goes back through the 1960s with their records. You may be right on the SCCA being the first group to sanction the races. Evidently, ice racing was started for something to do in the winter.

[Mark S.]

Re: FIRST Corvette "racer"??

Loren:

I called 3 Russel Lee's in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area; hoping to find Russ or a connection. At this point, I am striking out!

Mark

[Loren L.]

Got any oldtimers that served on the

Committee? As I recall, there were also a couple of longtime Corvette clubs in the Twin Cities...are they still around? If so, maybe you could bribe their newsletter editors to run a question> Good luck.

[Mark S.]

Re: Got any oldtimers that served on the

Loren:

I will keep at this. My neighbor is an old "Corvettes Of Minnesota" member; and he can't remember. It is ironic, but today, Corvettes Of Minnesota has very few members with Corvettes.