For ..Rick Gower.. Caroll Shelby

[Joseph T.]

The two former 57 Sebring cars painted black and rose by GM and sold to Eb Rose for $1 each and the Bill Mitchell SR2..now owned by my friend Bill Tower!

Bill Howe also raced his brand new 1957 air box car this weekend at Cumberland... now owned by my friend Bill Connell.

Photo's courtesy of Jack Knabb that took the 16 mm color film that weekend in 1957!

Corvette history in the making!

Joe

[Rick Gower]

Re: For ..Rick Gower.. Caroll Shelby

Joe,

Great picture! Notice the different colored front and rear wheels. The pictures really are a great part of corvette history. They document the history as it was not as someone's idea of what it was. Thank you!

[Kevin M.]

Caroll Shelby

Joe,

You think you can talk the owner of the 16mm film into getting it transferred to digital tape then make some DVDs? I'd pay the expenses myself it is was doable.

Kevin

[Joseph T.]

Re: Caroll Shelby

Kevin

Because I own a 54 that has the original blackwidow fuelie drivetrain from one of the Eb Rose cars you see in that picture...Jack Knabb sent me the original 16 mm color film that he took at Cumberland in 1957.

Jack was at the Cumberland SCCA race in 1957..along with his friend Bill Howe.Together a few days before the Cumberland race they picked up 1957 air box car #4007 in May 1957 at the dealer across from the St.Louis Plant ( a union guy drove it over from the plant to the dealer for delivery ). Jack has pictures of the car the day they picked it up.

I transferred the 6-8 minute film to video tape..and I have that tape somewhere in the house. Somewhere along the line I was able to play it on the computer and print individual frames of Caroll Shelby, the Eb Rose cars (including the Bill Mitchell SR2 ), the Bill Howe air box car, Dick Thompson along with the Mercedes and other cars.

I will try and find that tape..and I will ask Jack for his permission to pass it on.

The really great thing..is the Bill Howe 1957 airbox car has been located..mostly intact and is now in very good hands and is under restoration..hopefully to be finished by May of 2007 for it 50th anniversary.

What most people don't know is that in 1957 when Dick Thompson won the B production National Championship..Eb Rose won the B modified National Championship.

Check out the names in the seventh race B production at Cumberland 1957 ( 10 Corvettes ) where are they all today?

Joe

[Kevin M.]

Re: Caroll Shelby

Joe,

That would be cool if possible. In fact Rob might put it up on his web stie for all to enjoy. That way these things will not be lost in a fire or flood it happends every day and history is lost forever. I copy almost every picture that is posted here as I'm sure lot's do.

Kevin

[John N.]

Re: Caroll Shelby

I am restoring 1957 Corvette race #164 serial #3963. Driver Bark Henry came in 2nd in B production points in 1957. He also won the 1956 race at Elkhart Lake with his 1956 Corvette. That race was on the cover of the first Corvette News. The 1957 car won Lime Rock and Montgomery and placed high in other races. This car is the earliest reported RPO 684 car. Artist rendition attached is courtesy of Bob Rosenthal of Rosenthal Chevrolet (sponsor of the car), Arlington, Virginia. The car was running third in the Cumberland race until it lost throttle linkage and allowed Howe to finish third.

[Joseph T.]

Re: Caroll Shelby

Very cool!