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Generation: C3 Year: 1969 VIN: Race Numbers: 11, 60 Ownership: 1969 to 1983 - Al Mason 1983 to 1988 - Perry Mason 1988 to 2002 - Eugene Pettipas 2002 to present - Bill Cotter Sponsors: Sunoco fuels BFG Goodrich Radials BFG CAM 2 Drivers: Al Mason (1970-71) Al Mason and Jacques Duval (1972 to 1975) John Powell (one race) 1974 Bill Adam (two races) (1975) Eugene Pettipas (1988 to 2002) Bill Cotter (2002 to present) Status: restored and vintage raced Original Color: Tires/Wheels: Originally 8 x 15 inch rims were permitted in the race series. This changed for 1973 and 10 inch rims were permitted Tires were BF Goodrich street radial (shaved). Initially the 60 series tires were used but then they switched to the 50 series in 1973: Engine: Original big block (427 L88) Changed to LT1 small block at the end of the 1972 season Driveline: 4-speed manual Top: Interior: Condition: Restored and vintage raced URL: The Canadian Connection, Corvette Enthusiast, pages 70-73, Vol 8, No 10, October 2005. Unique Characteristics: Modifications: Notes/Race History: At the end of the 1970 race season, Al Mason decided to switch from Camaros to Corvettes. He bought a used 1969 big block roadster and by 1971 he was ready to race in the Canadian (CASC) regional/national series. The car was painted in Sunoco blue reflecting his first sponsorship. By 1972 Al had obtained a three year sponsorship contract from BFG (Canada) and was set to run the Eastern Canada Endurance Series. The deal was similar to that offered to Greenwood in the USA but, obviously, not for quite as much money. Jacques Duval was co-driver for the 1972 Endurance Series but his heavy foot resulted in a blown engine. For 1973, rules changed and Al was permitted fender flares, wider wheels and additional suspension modifications. He visited with Greenwood at the Troy (MI) shop and purchased the necessary items. The engine was converted to an LT1, in the hopes that the smaller high-revving engine would take Duval’s driving style. For 1973 Duval was again co-driver and again blew and engine, this time a the Nova Scotia event. Harry Bytzek in the following Porsche (also BFG sponsored) spun in the oil . For 1974 the season continued downhill. The BFG sponsorship ended and so did the racing career for this car. Al drove it on one more regional race and Bill Adam drove it (again in Sunoco blue) at the 1975 SCCA TA at Mosport. Bill also took the car to Circuit Mont Tremblant in the fall, for the CASC run-offs, but had some problems there. See separate story published in Corvette Enthusiast. The car sat in storage until Al’s son (Pery) bought it in 1983. Perry restored it with the intent on vintage racing but the restoration job was too nice. He did minor club races and shows. In 1988, Perry sold the car to Eugene Pettipas (Aarmdale, NS) who converted it to an automatic transmission and added hand controls (Eugene was the first paraplegic to earn a CASC driving licence). Eugene raced it locally and then, in 2002, sold it to Bill Cotter of Seattle (WA). Bill performed another restoration to the BFG format and races it to the present. Registry ID Number: 98 View Original Size  Al and Perry Mason |