racing car colors

[James G.]

Re: racing car colors

I've read this thread with much interest, wondering why we would be repeating things that are common knowledge. Then I realized that most common knowledge is the product of our ages and experiences and that what I was reading was the passing of information from one generation to another and that the system was working to perfection. Kudos to those who have provided concise and accurate explanations on the color issue. My first Corvette, a '59, was white with large blue stripes - I wish it were still with me.

When and where was that Ed ? I love the race history. See our www.registryofcorvetteracing.com website.

Just last weekend, we found a 62 fuel injection fawn beige with fawn interior car with no radio and had a hard top only and "RPO687 BIG BRAKES an SUSPENSION". The car also has a chrome roll bar that was on the car when the owner bought it in 1965. Never hit, and 80% complete. We are chasing the history right now.

Your car may have had race history and you can help with that search today. Dave Dawdy in Rolla, MO has been chasing his 1960 history for 25 years. When purchased, it was white with a blue cove, fuel injection emblems, RPO 687 brake, and a roll bar. I get three inquiries a week for history help, so your sharing really helps.
Regards,
JIM GESSNER

[Chris S.]

Re: racing car colors

Jim
i don't belive that my car was raced however i bought a cool photo off of ebay. it showed a 57 and a rail car getting ready to drag. i will try and scan it and share it with the group. Might be some one out there that was there. i also have a 62 photo and it was Don Gist's 62. photo taken in florida december 1962. it was white with a dark colored cove and stripes down the middle. i assume it to be blue? Maybe there is some histopry there? I got a great black and white photo of it.

chris

[Clark K.]

Re: racing car colors

Chris, way back early in the last century nations were assigned racing colors. Originally the USA was assigned white with a blue frame. When the frames were no longer greatly exposed the blue frame became racing stripes. Italy was assigned red, and I am sure you have heard of British racing green. Steve

The "racing colors" assigned to automobiles takes its practice from international treaties, etc. For example, by international agreement in the late 19th century, all capital warships (battleships) were assigned a paint scheme according to their nationality. The U.S. Navy ships were assigned white hulls with buff superstructures. Imperial Russian ships were assigned black hulls and yellow smokestacks. That way, you could tell at some distance the nationality of the ships when their "colors" (flag) was not visible.
-Clark

[James G.]

Re: racing car colors

Jim
i don't belive that my car was raced however i bought a cool photo off of ebay. it showed a 57 and a rail car getting ready to drag. i will try and scan it and share it with the group. Might be some one out there that was there. i also have a 62 photo and it was Don Gist's 62. photo taken in florida december 1962. it was white with a dark colored cove and stripes down the middle. i assume it to be blue? Maybe there is some histopry there? I got a great black and white photo of it.

chris

Chris i remember DON GIST with a 60 White with blue cove. I have thought that Dave's car might be this car. I look forward to seeing your pictures.

[Rick G.]

Re: racing car colors

Jim,

I really appreciate all that you do to preserve the history of old race cars. I thoroughly enjoy your registry!

Thank you,

Rick Gower

[James G.]

Re: racing car colors

Thanks Rick,
If we go back to the history of Corvette, we realize that if Ed Cole had not pushed for factory involment in SEBRING and DAYTONA in the 50's, the car would have been cancelled. Think about the decision to go racing when your company sells 700 cars in 1955 and 3467 in 1956. Oh yea, let's give them fuel injection and 4 speed, then we can double production to 6339 in 1957.

Maybe GM should look back, and get a "pair of brass balls", and start building cars AMERICA wants !! And get the govermenent out of the car business.

[John S.]

Re: racing car colors

Amen Jim!
Your friend, John

[Chris S.]

Re: racing car colors

here is one of the pictures of the 57 and rail car lined up. Maybe someone will reconize where and when. its hard to read the front lisc plate, maybe some has better eye sight than i. I will put the Don Gist picture here in a little bit.

[Chris S.]

Re: racing car colors

picture of Don Gist's 62.

[Jim W.]

Re: racing car colors

picture of Don Gist's 62.

Chris, Your photo has Valkaria written on it. That was a drag strip on the East Coast of Florida South of Melbourne. Don Gist raced there and also at Masters Field (old air base) in Miami in the 1960's. My high school buddies and I went often. (Sorry, no photos.) For years, Gist had a car lot nearby in Lake Worth and often had several super fast cars available for sale.

[Chris S.]

Re: racing car colors

that is cool i'm glad you know of it personally, i bought the picture becuase i think the old black and white photos are cool and part of history!

[Stuart F.]

Re: racing car colors

And to think this has all evolved into NASCAR where they race their "billboards" around and around in a circle so the public can view the ads over and over again until the products they are hawking become generic. How perverted it has become. Even the puppet drivers have so well memorized their many sponsors and products that they spew forth a well rehearsed string at every TV or radio broadcast opportunity. The only unique component is probably the corporate name on the engine's valve covers. No wonder the people only watch now a days to see the crashes.

Stu Fox

[Loren L.]

Re: racing car colors

wow and holy cow you know some great info. Racing for the glory not the money! Some of our professionals should go by this. Honest buck for an honest days worth of work. It is a disease we the public have created paying out these high prices. But then agian this also created the frenzy of car prices. Carrol Shelby junked his cars in Europe do to costs involved tansporting the cars home. go figure them cars are going for 7 million. he sure didn't, although i think he has done well. Thanks for sharing.

First, I would think that when he had access to Big Henry's checkbook,
Ole Shel didn't hesitate to use it. Second, Chevrolet sometimes went a little bit beyond Mom and Apple pie...(see chapter titled "Yunick, Henry")..
...and some believe Dr. Dick Thompson actually saw his '56 Corvette before he got to Pebble Beach...(he might have...it's unclear how long the car was part of the Motorama display before it was removed in SF/Oakland and held at the Regional Office). But it is clear that Ed Cole's right-hand mechanic, Frank Burrell, traveled with the car and saw it back to Engineering after each race for "service". Each story is fascinating.

[Jim W.]

Re: racing car colors

Chris, Found another photo online of Don Gist's '62.

[Chris S.]

Re: racing car colors

same car? looks like mine is a before picture and yours and after. Quite a trophy in the front seat!