How Zora Arkus-Duntov's Two Factory-Modified Chevy Corvette Race Cars Won The 1956 SCCA National Championship

Chevrolet engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov’s insistence on sending Corvettes head-to-head against the fastest European sports cars in 1956 produced the first national championship for the marque and, in the process, may have saved the poor-selling two-seater from GM’s chopping block. Factory driver Dr. Dick Thompson’s path to the unlikely SCCA C-Production title got a crooked start on 17 Mile Drive, the tree-lined public road near Monterey, California, hosting the Pebble Beach Road Races for the seventh and final time this fateful April 22nd.

A newly available eight-barrel intake and solid-lifter “Duntov” cam for Chevy’s 265 propelled “The Racing Dentist” to the class trophy—a first for any Corvette—and shocking domination of exotic Jaguars and Mercedes 300SLs for six laps of the 15-lap production feature, until the dual disadvantages of cast GM drums and three forward gears baked the brakes. Although the effort was overshadowed by the death of pioneer hot rodder Ernie McAfee in a Ferrari the same day, positive enthusiast press and increased showroom traffic encouraged Chevrolet Engineering to hurriedly prepare a twin for Thompson to drive in western-region SCCA meets (rather than continue trucking a single race car and crew across country). HOT ROD staffers Racer Brown and Bob D’Olivo maintained the second car in D’Olivo’s home garage. Factory Corvettes 46 and 106 never met, but collectively clinched a timely national championship that helped ensure the survival of “America’s sports car.”

SOURCE: HOT ROD

AUTHOR: Dave Wallace