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Generation: C3 Year: 1968 VIN: Race Numbers: 2, 6, 12, 14, 30, 67, 72 Ownership: Tony DeLorenzo, Jerry Hansen, Gary Bergman, Mike McCarthy, Bud Hickey, John Thompson (Menlo Park, CA) Sponsors: Sunray DX Corp (1968) Owens-Corning (1969-71) Troy Promotions Inc. (TPI) Goodyear Drivers: Tony DeLorenzo; Jerry Thompson; Jerry Grant; Dave Morgan; Hap Sharp; Jim Harrell; Dick Lang; Gib Hufstader; Bill Morrison; John Mahler; Gary Bergman(post O-C) Mike McCarthy (post O-C) Status: Car was restored as the #12 Owens-Corning version and is owned by John Thompson of Menlo Park (CA). This is the car driven most frequently by Jerry Thompson car and is fully documented. Original Color: white Tires/Wheels: Earliest configuration: 15 inch American Racing Torque Thrust 15 inch Goodyear Bluestreak R Subsequently: 15 inch Minilite wheels 15 inch Goodyear Blue Streak racing slicks Engine: Car was delivered with a L89 427 which was re-built as an L88 for racing. This modification was accepted by SCCA as meeting their rules for a production engine, as it used factory parts. Driveline: M-22 Rockcrusher four-speed, 3.36:1 positraction; J56 big brake Top: roadster/hardtop Interior: Black – basically stock as per FIA regs but with racing seats and tilt steering column Condition: Fully restored by Art Simon for Bud Hickey, in the # 12 Owens-Corning paint, circa 1988 URL: Dick Lang driver references: http://dicklang.blogspot.com/2008/05/1968-mid-ohio_04.html Magazine Articles: •"Champ Corvette”, Car Life, Vol 17, No:2, March 1970, pages 12-20. •“Tompson/DeLorenzo: The Winningest Team in A/Proud”, Motor Trend, Vol 22, No:11, Nov. 1970, pages 78-82. •“That’s Number 11 Up There…That’s a Vette” by Pete Biro, originally printed in Corvette News, April/May, 1971 and re-printed in Best of Corvette News, pages 224-229. •“If You Spot These Two in Your Mirror, Move Over”, originally printed in Corvette News, (date unknown) and re-printed in Best of Corvette News, pages 210-215. •“Sebring ‘73”, Pete Biro, Corvette News, June/July 1973, Pages 4-7. •“The Glory and the Dream”, Jerry Heasley, VETTE, Vol 12, No: 8, December 1988, pages 36-39. •“Red, White & Wonderfule”, by Terry Jackson, Corvette Quarterly, Vol 4, No: 3, Fall 1991, pages 34-37. •“Back Out Front”, J. William Lamm, Corvette Fever, Vol 11, No: 10, December 1989, Pages 28-31 •“Back to the Future”, matt DeLorenzo, Autoweek, Vol 45, No: 27, July 3-9, 1995, pages 17-19. Unique Characteristics: Because there are several reconstructed, or tribute, cars being raced in historic races, it is important to the owners of original cars that information in respect of these cars be precise. For the most part, the owners of re-created cars are clear in their statements that these are not original cars. At this time, it appears that: •# 1 is owned by Harry Yeaggy and is the restored version of the Tony DeLorenzo L88 car. It is restored in SCCA TRANS-AM trim •# 12 was shown at Monterery in 2002 is the Jerry Thompson car (#2), It was restored as #12 in FIA endurance race trim. It is owned by John Thompson of Menlo Park (CA). •# 11 is a reconstruction of an Owens-Corning car, in the color scheme for the 1970 Sebring FIA endurance race. The car was built in 1990 by Tony DeLorenzo and his team, for historic racing. Currently owned by Mark Innocenzi. •# 7 is a re-creation (of the Jerry Thompson car) •# 71 is owned by Jerry Thompson and Kerry Hitt. It is a re-creation expressly built for historic racing and is acknowledged as such. Modifications: The original team modifications to a stock Corvette included balancing and blueprinting the engine, fitting a unique 850 cfm Holley carb, adding roll bar (cages toward the end of the 1970 season), fuel cell, taking down the windshield, replacing the suspension bushings with heim joints, cutting notches in the trailing arms to fit bigger tires, and rewiring the car. Notes/Race History: This car was purchased specifically for DeLorenzo and Thompson to participate in Don Yenko's Sunray DX Oil team. It first appeared at Daytona in 1968, running as # 30. At Sebring 1968, the DeLorenzo car ran as # 2. The new Yenko L88 rans as #3. The 1967 Yenko L88 was run as # 4. See separate entry under numbers 30,2 for more details on the 1968 Sunray DX configuration). After the first two endurance races, the Sunray DX sponsorship disappeared. Tony and Jerry ran the two “DeLorenzo-owned” cars in several more races, mostly SCCA “Nationals” for the balance of 1968. They would occasionally hired other drivers as required. The cars would be changed-out to run whatever class or series rules required. By mid-season, Dollie Cole had helped DeLorenzo acquire new sponsorship from Owens-Corning. The 1968 car ran as # 5 various races and as # 4 in the ARRC race at Riverside…painted in an early O-C paint scheme. Based on the O-C sponsorship, Tony decided to run the 1968 car and to acquire another newer 1969 L88 for the upcoming season. But finding enough financing to keep two cars was always an issue and, with the decision to purchase a new 1969 L88 (one of the first four “second-generation” L-88 cars) for the 1969 season, it was necessary to sell the 1967 (possibly car to Don Yenko?) The two Owens-Corning cars made their debut in the new O-C colors, designed by Randy Wittine, at the 1969 FIA 24 Hours of Daytona. Tony DeLorenzo and Dick Lang drove the new car, listed as # 66, while Jerry Thompson and Jim Harrell drove the 1968 car, listed as # 67. At the Sebring event, DeLorenzo and Thompson drove the # 1 car, while Dick Lang and Gib Hufstader drove the # 2 car. The 1968 and 1969 cars continued to be campaigned for many years under several owner/drivers. The 1968 car was eventually next sold to Jerry Hanse. It was painted Hugger Orange before it left the shop. Subsequently sold to …Bobbie Rinzler (# 88) and then to west coast racer, Gary Bergman. Gary had previously purchased the Herb Caplan car but after an accident, he sold that car to Phyllis Stiles and purchased one of the former Owens Corning cars from back east. Bergman pulled the motor for a rebuild and had the body repainted. At that time very few people even knew Bergman’s Corvette was from Owens Corning. It sat in his shop for probably eight or ten years. He never put it back together. The car was then purchased by Mark McCarthy, who had a long history of SCCA championships in a Triumph. It was Mark McCarthy who bought it. Mark installed a new motor and raced it a few times and then parked it in his garage for another ten years or so. About 1988, Mark was going through a divorce and the car was sold to Bud Hickey from Sacramento. The car was purchased for about $5,000. Bud restored it and sold it. The car is currently owned by John Thompson, Menlo Park (CA)…..” After running as the O-C sponsorship through 1970, the car was sold to Jerry Hansen (Minneapolis, MN) in 1971. It was subsequently sold to west coast racer, Gary Bergman. Bergman pulled the motor for a rebuild and had the body repainted in a dark blue. Bergamn never actually raced the car. It was purchased by Mike McCarthy who installed a new engine and ran it several times in local SCCA events. the car then sat for several years. About 1988, Mark was going through a divorce and the car was sold to Bud Hickey from Sacramento. The car was purchased for about $5,000. Bud restored it circa 1988. Registry ID Number: 326 View Original Size  Bill Oursler |