| Corvette Racing History close to home |
Subject: Corvette Racing History close to home by biggrizzly on 2010/3/10 4:51:12 OK, this is kind of unbelievable and I should know my club history better but I have been doing some research and recently dug up a fellow that came out to our club meeting by invitation and had the pleasure of meeting tonight which has just blown my socks off. This guy is a Corvette Racing Historian and has been traveling the country and collecting Corvette Racing memorabilia, stories and cars for 30 years. Well actually he wasn't old enough to drive when he started!! His name is Domenico Idomi and is an unbelievable source of information. Anyhow, I was searching up information on Dr. Dick Thompson the Corvette Racing Legend as he was one of the original founders of my club, the Corvette Club of America and a member for years until he moved to Florida. Dr. Dick Thompson. The ultimate weekend racer, Dr. Dick Thompson was the leader of a culture of racers whose dream was to buy fast cars and race them with minimal modification. This dentist-turned-driver piloted one of the first Corvettes at Pebble Beach in 1956, finishing first in his class. Later that year, he won the SCCA C-Class national championship, and the following year he took a production Corvette to first place in the GT class, 20 laps ahead of the pack. In 1963, he drove one of the five legendary Corvette Grand Sports to win at Watkins Glen. He worked with GM styling chief Bill Mitchell on the famed Corvette Stingray Racer. Dominic has just recently purchased one of the original Dick Thompson Corvettes and brought with him many photos and examples of his meticulous research of vehicles. One of his goals is to purchase the old Marlboro Racetrack in Upper Marlboro, MD and create a Corvette Racing Museum on that location. Marlboro Raceway, Upper Marlboro, MD Wikipedia - Marlboro Raceway This old racetrack is 20 minutes from my house and I barely remember it ever existed. The older guys in the club remember it and have actually been there in the past. More information to come as I dig it up. |
