The two lives of a monster Corvette Race Car
It all started when I spotted this # 88 racing Camaro on Saturday June 3, 2023 at the third annual Greenwich Concours hosted by Hagerty.
This car was displayed by Michael Lindgren, a fellow Chowderhead who claims it is one of two built in 1970 by Jim Hall’s famed Chaparral team, backed by Chevrolet in the wake of Roger Penske’s flight to AMC for more dough.
Maurice “Mo” Carter, a Canadian standout, went on to race this Camaro in Trans Am and IMSA. Carter also teamed up to drive Corvettes with legends John Greenwood and Tony DeLorenzo at Daytona and Sebring.
The incident that sticks out in my mind however erupted at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1980. Carter was looking after the monstrous 1978 Corvette of fellow Canadians Doug Rowe, Bill Adam and Jacques Bienvenue, bearing his signature # 88. A mere provocation it was not!
Word has it that during scrutineering, Carter verbally attacked an official about his German nationality which led to the Corvette’s ouster. The record simply states the car did not qualify.
Some thirty-four years later the ex-Doug Rowe # 88 Corvette showed up with a French team at the inaugural 2014 HSR Classic 24 at Daytona.
Car owner Eric Roturier enlisted Patrick Caldenty and his crew to manage the operation. The drivers were ex F1 pilot Jean Marc Gounon and his son Jules, a star on the rise.
This beast now sported a rear wing and other upgrades but dropped out early.
In 2015 they survived all four sessions to win their class thanks to a near miracle if you check out the chewed-up tires.
Ride along here: https://www.facebook.com/HSRrace/videos/1078347249000038/
The years to follow were not so forgiving. In 2017 it was a broken half-shaft. In 2018 Pro Racer Jordan Taylor was at the wheel when the clutch failed halfway through the first session. Replacement requires an engine removal and a huge amount of work which ended their day.
In 2019 French driver Jim Pla finished a credible 5th in the IMSA/Trans Am class at the Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion at Laguna Seca Raceway.
The HSR Daytona 24 that once drew teams from 19 different countries is only a shadow of itself ever since the pandemic. Now owned by IMSA, there is reason to hope for its revival.
Photos thanks to Bruce Stewart, Christian Vignon, Dave Ferguson, Larry Van Scoy, John Avery, Mike Matune
