LM24 Corvette Racing 50 Years - Now with Video! (merged)

racelance · 2 Jun 2010, 00:15 (Ref:2702893)

My father had a dream to take his beloved 1960 Cunningham Corvette #3 that won its class in the 1960 Le Mans race back to the same circuit 50 years later. Unfortunately he passed away in 2004 from a little known disease called amyloidosis. I'm making sure his dream comes alive next week, here's a brief video we made to help get the word out prior to our departure. Please help us spread the word: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WES77NLxCpY.

Thanks in advance!

Sincerely,

Lance

WMUCarGuy · 2 Jun 2010, 00:35 (Ref:2702901)

That's awesome Lance! I'm glad you were able to accomplish your father's dream and it'll be great to see that historic car at Le Mans once again!!!

GT2-R · 2 Jun 2010, 01:23 (Ref:2702917)

Great initiative Lance! Hope to see a lot of pictures of this magnificent car and it's driver around the internet!

Good luck and enjoy the race

.

racelance · 2 Jun 2010, 02:03 (Ref:2702926)

Thanks guys, I'm excited about the festivities and of course I'm very much looking forward to the race as well.

Life is good,

Lance

fieldodreams79 · 2 Jun 2010, 04:58 (Ref:2702950)

Life is good, indeed, Lance and good luck on the journey. Your dad had a wonderful, ambitious idea and I am looking forward to seeing all come together. Send some footage of 'vette at LM back.

Perhaps the SPEEDtv guys know of this?

**Aysedasi** · 2 Jun 2010, 05:14 (Ref:2702955)

Fantastic Lance, I'm sure the Radio Le Mans team would be interested too. And welcome to the forum by the way (I moved your post into the specific Le Mans sub-forum).

HORNDAWG · 2 Jun 2010, 05:40 (Ref:2702960)

Sounds like a wonderful tribute to your father Lance, enjoy!

L.P.

GT6 · 2 Jun 2010, 07:40 (Ref:2702996)

Will the car be at St Saturin on Friday? It would be nice to see it along side all the other corvettes there.

Down F0rce · 2 Jun 2010, 08:53 (Ref:2703024)

That's an awesome story, I'll look forward to seeing the car! Any details on where exactly it will be displayed?

nobster · 2 Jun 2010, 08:53 (Ref:2703026)

Lance, I am sure that will be an emotional moment for you, but one you will always treasure! Great initiative, I am sure it will be appreciated by all racefans.

Tim the Grey · 2 Jun 2010, 10:25 (Ref:2703091)

Lance? Do a web search on Le Mans Classic? It's run every other year. I don't know how long you are over for, but it's this July 9-10-11... THAT is where this car should be, as you could actually RACE it on circuit, again.

http://www.lemansclassic.com/

There is much activity on the Historic Forum in here.

racelance · 2 Jun 2010, 12:12 (Ref:2703161)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Down F0rce

That's an awesome story, I'll look forward to seeing the car! Any details on where exactly it will be displayed?

Agenda for the '60 Le Mans Corvette

Date

Time

Location

Description

5/28-6/9/2010

24/7

Le Mans Museum

Leading into the 24H race the car can be displayed at the Le Mans Museum. - EVERYONE IS WELCOME (I'm not certain of the cost)

6/7/10

10am-?

Start Finish Line

Richard Prince requested the car be available for a photo with the current C6R's at the start finish line. (Richard Prince will be driving the car to the start/finish line - still waiting for final approval from ACO)

6/9-11/2010

24/7

Le Mans Museum

The 1960 Corvette will be the special display and should be under cover/tent. This area will be secure 24/7.

6/10/10

2pm

Corvette Pitlane Suite No. 132-135

Corvette Racing Le Mans Motorsports Media Briefing. Agenda for the Media briefing was provided on 5/25 & confirmed by Todd Christensen. Only Lance, Don & John Fitch will attend.

6/11/10

9:00am

Drive to the British Welcome

Lance & Kevin will get the '60 Le Mans Corvette and drive it to the Great British Welcome. The feature Marquee will be Corvette and Doug Fehan will be this year's guest of honor. Gerard has confirmed that the museum will allow us to take the car out at this point.

6/11/10

noon

British Welcome VIP Luncheon

John Curtis invited John Fitch, Don Klein, Kevin Mackay and Lance to attend this function. Doug Fehan will be the guest of honor.

6/11/10

2pm

Corvette Pitlane Suite No. 132-135

Corvette Racing Le Mans Motorsports Media Briefing. Agenda for the Media briefing was provided on 5/25 & confirmed by Todd Christensen. Only Lance, Don & John Fitch will attend.

6/11/10

9:30am - until staging for the drivers parade

Great British Welcome

Great British Welcome, which 2010 Marquee of Honor is Corvette. Doug Fehan is Guest of Honor and the convenient thing is that all cars selected from their crowd to participate in the Drivers' Parade come down to the center of Le Mans in a motorcade escorted by police. You could join that. The '60 should arrive at the event no later than 9:30am. John Curtis cell phone #: ++33 (0) 621 542 396 (organizer of the event) FREE OF CHARGE - Everyone is welcome to attend!

6/11/10

4:15-5:45pm

Staging begins

Cars have to gather (pre-stage) in the center of town around 4L15 p.m. and the Parade starts only at 6 p.m.. This is unfortunately necessary, as this medieval town center with narrow streets becomes a giant mess in the afternoon! This will be an Police escort from the Great British Welcome to the staging area for the Parade. Lance and Judy will take the car down to the parade for staging.

6/11/10

6-7pm

Parade Begins

At the very beginning of the Parade, each car drives up a small wooden stage and driver and/or passenger are briefly interviewed by a master of ceremony. The whole thing is heard throughout the Parade route. Lance will drive with John Fitch by his side. John will enjoy the crowd and hand out hero cards. Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy the parade, it usually lasts for about an hour and most people said it's a "must see!" event.

6/11/10

7pm

Drive back from the parade

GERARD: Will it be easy for us to find the Corvette Corral once we depart from the parade? Can you supply me with directions?

6/11/10

7-?

Corvette Corral (Pig Roast)

We have a whole pig roasting at the Corral for a simple but fun BBQ, live music and relaxed chatting with our Corvette fans. No language problem with 90% of them: about 40% British.(although...!), 10-15% Americans (from US bases!). Dutch, Finns, Swedes, etc also speak English. We would be delighted to have your gang with us! That evening is obviously less noisy than the Saturday, so it's appropriate for speeches including, there, a thorough presentation of the Foundation for example. (I'll have laptop and beamer). Let's make sure you also bring posters to remain during the whole event, and again, those little cards would be made available for people to contribute later privately. I do not know the price of this event, I'll ask again to try and figure out the details and will let everyone know at a later date.

6/12/10

10am-?

Le Mans track Parade Lap

1960 Corvette will be at the lead of the parade of Corvettes with John Fitch driving and me as a passenger. Once finished the parade the car will go back to the Corvette Corral area for display purposes (and media exposure) - Everyone is welcome! This would probably be best viewed in the Corvette Pit Lounge if you're interested in watching, you will need your credentials to get access.

6/12-14/2010

24/7

Corvette Corral

1960 Corvette will be located in the secured Corvette Corral until picked up on Monday. Everyone can attend.

6/14/10

Morning

Corvette Corral Pick-up

the 1960 would be picked up and delivered back to Le Harve Port for its journey back to the USA.

racelance · 2 Jun 2010, 12:16 (Ref:2703166)

Sorry the above post didn't come out the way it was supposed too... but you get the idea of where / when the car (and myself) will be during our visit. I'm well aware of the Classic... however I don't have the time, our business is quite busy during the summer months... heck, I really couldn't swing the Le Mans trip, but I knew what I had to do! You only live once and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to live out my father's dream.

Here's a PDF file that I used for a presentation at the National Corvette Museum about a month ago if anyone is interested in more details: 1960 Corvette #3 going to Le Mans.

Here's more information on my best friend and father: click me.

Thank you for all the warm welcomes and support!

Sincerely,

Lance

Down F0rce · 2 Jun 2010, 12:32 (Ref:2703181)

Thanks for the info! I'll give you a wave at the parade.

Corvette Racing · 2 Jun 2010, 17:48 (Ref:2703350)

Heard about it before and I am very much looking forward to seeing it in person. Compliments to you and your late father for all that you have done to bring this legend back in more ways than one!

AndrewF31 · 2 Jun 2010, 20:12 (Ref:2703427)

Terrific story Lance. Wish you the best in this endeavour.

As I'll be watching from home, hopefully Radio Le Mans will get a hold of this story and go have a chat with you and Fitch during this truely special moment.

A fantastic tribute to your father and this great car.
I'm sure he'll be smiling as he watches his treasures rolling around at Le Mans.

racelance · 2 Jun 2010, 20:42 (Ref:2703445)

The #3 arrives safely to the French port of Le Harve. Tonight the car will be transported down to the famous Le Mans Museum! On Monday the vehicle will be pulled out of the Museum for a photoshoot by Richard Prince along with it's older brothers (the C6.R's) right at the start/finish line of the Le Mans circuit!

Life is good,

Lance

Pictures below:

racelance · 2 Jun 2010, 20:43 (Ref:2703446)

Here are a few more, right after they pulled the car out of the container - LIFE IS GOOD!

As you can see in the pictures, the #3 is back on the French soil:

Down F0rce · 2 Jun 2010, 20:51 (Ref:2703453)

Beautiful!

**Aysedasi** · 2 Jun 2010, 21:23 (Ref:2703473)

Sensational, absolutely gorgeous! What a beautiful machine! Keep us updated Lance with any more pics you take once you get to the circuit - if you get the chance, that is!

fieldodreams79 · 2 Jun 2010, 22:50 (Ref:2703510)

she is a beut, for sure, and in classic American racing colors, which i'd like to see on modern cars. it's great to see her back on French soil, where she made history, and it is very cool to see her making (virtually) the same trip back to La Sarthe. Hopefully, the ACO will allow the photo next to the current Vette on the S/F line; I am hoping and assuming that it will be a P&M Vette and not a GT1?

Pretty awesome, Lance! thanks for all the info and updates.

out of courtesy and at the risk being somewhat off topic, how did the Bowties get the numbers 1 through 4 at their first trip to LM in 1960? i am unfamiliar with how they were numbered back then. and amazingly, all 3 other Vettes in 1960 event finished the event unclassified.

dxk1 · 2 Jun 2010, 23:08 (Ref:2703517)

Lance, what a great feel good story!! Good luck and I hope things go well for you with the car at the track. I hope the track visitors realize what a great historic car you have and appreciate its beauty even after all these years. Keep up the good work.

DK

racelance · 3 Jun 2010, 01:46 (Ref:2703561)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

she is a beut, for sure, and in classic American racing colors, which i'd like to see on modern cars. it's great to see her back on French soil, where she made history, and it is very cool to see her making (virtually) the same trip back to La Sarthe. Hopefully, the ACO will allow the photo next to the current Vette on the S/F line; I am hoping and assuming that it will be a P&M Vette and not a GT1?

Pretty awesome, Lance! thanks for all the info and updates.

out of courtesy and at the risk being somewhat off topic, how did the Bowties get the numbers 1 through 4 at their first trip to LM in 1960? i am unfamiliar with how they were numbered back then. and amazingly, all 3 other Vettes in 1960 event finished the event unclassified.

Thanks for the compliments... The ACO already confirmed the photograph for Monday at 5pm with the Pratt & Miller C6.R's. The photographs will be taken by Richard Prince - he's a wonderful photographer. Big bore wore the lowest numbers

.

Life is good,

Lance

**Aysedasi** · 3 Jun 2010, 05:10 (Ref:2703601)

Am I right in thinking that, in the days before qualifying, the cars were numbered and lined up according to their displacement?

Le Vieux · 3 Jun 2010, 06:02 (Ref:2703612)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Am I right in thinking that, in the days before qualifying, the cars were numbered and lined up according to their displacement?

That's my understanding too, but I'm not sure when that arrangement ended.

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