TWO 3RD GEN C3 CORVETTES "SHARKS" STYLED
By Randy Wittine are Still Spawning Imitators
Anthony J. DeLorenzo a/k/a Tony got money from the Owens Corning Fiberglass Company to race two big block Corvettes, one for himself and the other for Gerald S. Thompson a/k/a Jer.
From 1968 to 1971 they won the A Production class for big block Corvettes in 22 straight SCCA Club races and also the national championship at the 1969 SCCA runoffs. Watch 3 min VIDEO.
They also won the GT class in longer distance races at Daytona, Sebring and Watkins Glen sanctioned by the FIA Watch 3 min 1970 Daytona VIDEO.
Both of the original chassis are documented and have been written up. One is restored to 1971 endurance racing specs and currently sits in Rick Hendrick’s collection in Charlotte NC.
The other was restored to 1970 club specs updated for circa 1987 vintage racing and resides in Harry Yeaggy’s collection in Cincinnati OH.New Paragraph
Here is a replica of the # 6 recently completed to exacting standards by Fabulous Restorations Ft Lauderdale FL (Geroge Haddad) as driven by Tony De Lorenzo and Dick Lang at the 24 Hours of Daytona Jan 31/Feb 1, 1970. Finished 14th overall, 4th in class.
It was introduced shown here at the HSR Classic 24 on Nov 8, 2017 with former GM designer Randy Wittine and former GM engineer Gib Hufstader who worked for Zora Arkus Duntov.
The # 1, 11 was built from leftover parts in 1989 well after these cars were retired by the late Greg Seyfert and former crew to replicate the car as raced by Tony DeLorenzo and Dick Lang at the 12 Hours of Sebring Mar 21 1970. Finished 10th overall, 1st in class. The car has been repaired and is available for sale following a crash by its owner.
# 12 built for vintage racing by Legendary Motors Halton Hills ON (Peter Klutt) to replicate the car driven in 1971 by Jerry Thompson and John Mahler at Daytona, 1st in class and Sebring DNF. Completed 2011. Raced periodically in the UK and Europe by Peter Halford.
# 14 built for vintage racing by Horizon Racing Seattle (Tony Garmey) to resemble car driven in 1971 by Jerry Thompson and John Mahler at Daytona and Sebring (see above). Completed 2017 for Matt Parent from Seattle. Parent and Garmey took GT class honors topping the combined four stages in Group A at the HSR Classic 24-hour races at Daytona on Nov 11/12, 2017. Read more in this Corvette race report.
# 66, 8, 73, 49 created by unknown builder for Franz Metzger. Appears as raced in 1969. Has seen action in Europe at the Le Mans Classic and other circuits in the hands of Metzger and subsequently Sebastian Margot and Claude Cassina.
# 7 built in 2000 from parts by Advanced Composite Products Harrisburg PA (Kerry Hitt). Called “Junkyard Dog” it is open cockpit with cut down windscreen used for club racing with fatter tires and wide fenders used for endurance racing. In January 1970 the O-C Corvettes appeared in a new livery for the Daytona 24-hour race. The execs at Owens Corning thought that black was too edgy and was decked out in red prior to the Sebring 12-hour race in March.
# 17 built in 2008 by Mark Rife Villages FL, veteran vintage racer and constructor to replace the ex-Mike Manner C3 Corvette he found, re-built and sold to the late Dick Mooney. Both cars are active in SVRA vintage racing. No other Corvette race cars we know of have been emulated so widely and for so long. We believe the “wow” factor lives as much for the visual graphics created by Corvette HOF Randy Wittine as for the racing legacy won by HOF drivers Tony DeLorenzo and Jerry Thompson.
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