Bill Warner is a consummate auto enthusiast-an accomplished racing photographer, writer, and all-around good guy. Back in the '90s, Warner had a vision of producing an East Coast concours d'elegance event that would match the legendary Pebble Beach show held in California. Thirteen years ago, his dream became a reality in the form of the Amelia Island Concours. Since then, the show has been held every year at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Amelia Island, Florida. Today, the show is considered one of the top concours events in the country.
Warner's passion and dedication to racing flavor each show. Each year, he recognizes important milestones that have changed the sport, placing special emphasis on the personalities and cars that represent that milestone. The most recent show featured an impressive array of Corvette race cars, and it is these vehicles that form the basis of our story.
First up was the earliest...
First up was the earliest RPO 684 fuel-injected '57 Corvette known to have been produced. John and Sally Neas from Tulsa, Oklahoma, currently own this car. RPO 684 offered stiffer springs, bigger shocks, a fatter front antiroll bar, faster-ratio steering, bigger brakes, and a limited-slip differential. This car is considered to be one of the most successful B-Production racers of the '57 season.
Next, we inspected a '56 Corvette...
Next, we inspected a '56 Corvette SR-2 owned by Bill Tower. This car ran 152.886 mph at the '57 Daytona Speedweeks with Buck Baker driving. Wearing No. 2 at the '57 Sebring 12 hours, it finished 16th overall with Paul O'Shea and Pete Lovely at the wheel. In race trim, this car weighed just 2,300 pounds.
This beautiful '57 fuelie...
This beautiful '57 fuelie is owned by Jim Jaeger. The car finished First in the GT 5000 class and 12th overall, at Sebring in 1957.
Parked beside Jaeger's Sebring...
Parked beside Jaeger's Sebring Corvette was a black '57 fuel-injected B-Production racer. Brothers Sean, Kent, and Kevin Hussey found this car in Florida, where it had been stored for 30 years. Research uncovered that it was raced extensively from 1957 to 1964. The Husseys had Legendary Motorcars restore the racer to its present condition. Its step-by-step restoration was featured on the Speed channel show Dream Car Garage.
The Miller family (of Corvettes...
The Miller family (of Corvettes at Carlisle renown) owns the next historic Corvette on our tour. It's one of three white fuelie Vettes entered in the '60 LeMans 24-hour by Briggs Cunningham, and it features a bigger fuel tank, Halibrand knock-offs, and a special oil cooler. Driven by John Fitch and Bob Grossman, the No. 3 car finished First in GT 5000 and Eighth overall, reaching a top speed of 151 mph and running as high as fifth overall for part of the race.
Next on our tour was Jaeger's...
Next on our tour was Jaeger's No. 002 Grand Sport Roadster, the second of five GS cars converted to topless form. George Wintersteen raced this L88-powered Vette extensively in the '66 United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC). When Jaeger restored the car, he decided to store the original body and install a replica shell. Look closely, and you'll note the non-GS door handles, which are not recessed like the originals.
This Corvette, Grand Sport...
This Corvette, Grand Sport chassis No. 004, was purchased by Gulf Oil in 1963. It was the first Grand Sport to win a race, doing so at Watkins Glen in August of that year. It amassed a colorful history with owner Delmo Johnson, then went through a series of owners until it was purchased and restored by the Collier Foundation.
This L88 development car was...
This L88 development car was formerly owned by Roger Penske, who purchased it on January 14, 1966. It finished 12th overall and First in GT at Daytona in spite of a front-end crash. The Penske team repaired and repainted the Vette Sunoco Blue for Sebring, where Ben Moore and George Wintersteen drove it to a Ninth overall and First in class.
Bob Johnson drove this black,...
Bob Johnson drove this black, Doug Bergen-owned 427 coupe to many A-Production wins in the SCCA's Central Division in 1967. It was restored by Corvette Repair and is now owned by Bob Patrella.
This No. 12 Corvette is the...
This No. 12 Corvette is the car Jerry Thompson used to win the '69 SCCA A-Production national championship. Corvette Engineer Gib Hufstader and Dick Lang also drove the car to 14th overall and Second in GT at the '69 12 Hours of Sebring. It went on to finish First in GT and Sixth overall at the '70 24 Hours of Daytona.
Sunray DX Lube Company owned...
Sunray DX Lube Company owned the next two Corvettes on display. The No. 3 car (background) finished First in GT and Sixth overall at the '68 12 Hours of Sebring. Sunoco bought Sunray at the end of 1968, and the team was disbanded.
Corvette Repair displayed...
Corvette Repair displayed this driveable '69 L88 chassis, which will serve as the foundation of a John Greenwood T-top race-car restoration. This car was sold by Greenwood to Phil Curran, who raced it successfully in IMSA events.
John Greenwood? raced this...
John Greenwood? raced this Corvette at Le Mans in 1976. Although Greenwood claimed the GT pole position and ran 221 mph on the Mulsanne straight, the car did not finish due to a tire failure. It features an injected 454 making north of 700 hp.