Carlisle's 2019 Race Car Reunion Was Full of Amazing Corvettes

Vintage Heaven

By now, we've covered nearly every aspect of this year's Corvettes at Carlisle you can possibly imagine. Except, well, one of the coolest - the Race Car Reunion. Lost in the C8 madness, this gathering of vintage racers is well worth checking out, and thankfully Hot Rod was there to soak it all up on film for us. 

Photos: Hot Rod

Incredible Gathering

Every five years beginning in 1998, Kevin Mackay, owner of Corvette Repair, has organized this special event. And this year, it was well represented with a host of incredible cars. That includes the iconic Cunningham Corvette, which enjoyed some parade laps at Le Mans as recent as 2010. 

Photos: Hot Rod

>>Join the conversation about this Race car reunion at Carlisle right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!

Fine Replica

The Fabulous Restoration #6 L88 Owens Corning Corvette you see here might look like the real deal, but it's actually a replica of the 1970 24 Hour of Daytona car that finished 13th overall. At that very same race, Jerry Thompson co-drove the No. 7 Corvette to a 6th place finish and first place in the GT class. 

Photos: Hot Rod

>>Join the conversation about this Race car reunion at Carlisle right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!

Sebring Participant

This gorgeous C1 Corvette has quite a bit of racing history in it as well. The car saw action in the 1956 12 Hours of Sebring, where Robert Gatz and Don Davis drove it to a 23rd place overall finish and 7th in its class. The car has since been restored by Corvette Repair to its original racing condition. 

Photos: Hot Rod

>>Join the conversation about this Race car reunion at Carlisle right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!

Purple People Eater

Affectionately (and appropriately) known as the Purple People Eater, this unforgettable C1 won the 1959 B-Production championship with driver Jim Jeffords behind the wheel. Corvette Repair just finished restoring the car, which made its show debut at Carlisle. 

Photos: Hot Rod

>>Join the conversation about this Race car reunion at Carlisle right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!

DNF

Unlike the Corvettes we've seen before it, this particular 1962 participated in the 1962 12 Hours of Sebring and was driven by Jerry Grant and Pat Pigott, but didn't finish the race. A broken fuel pump ended its day early, but we won't exactly deduct points for that little mishap. 

Photos: Hot Rod

>>Join the conversation about this Race car reunion at Carlisle right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!

One of Two

It may not sport the Gulf livery we've all come to know and love, but this C2 is one of two Z06s that the oil company brought to Sebring in 1963. Driven by Dr. Dick Thompson and Jerry Grant, this incredible racer did not finish the race due to a broken transmission. 

Photos: Hot Rod

>>Join the conversation about this Race car reunion at Carlisle right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!

Quite the Looker

This British Racing Green C3 L88 Corvette is quite the looker as well. It was purchased brand new in 1968 by a fellow named Doug Bergen, then it participated it the Watkins Glen 6-Hour race that same year. Driven by Columbus Bob and Marietta Bob Johnson, the car took home a class win. 

Photos: Hot Rod

>>Join the conversation about this Race car reunion at Carlisle right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!

Wreck to Racer

This particular 1968 Corvette racer didn't start life as a race car, but rather a regular old 'Vette that had been crashed. However, a mechanic named Leldon Blackwell transformed the car into an L88 racer, then campaigned it for several years on the track. 

Photos: Hot Rod

>>Join the conversation about this Race car reunion at Carlisle right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!

Rare Racer

This particular 1957 Corvette might look a little worse for wear, but it's undoubtedly one heck of a find. One of just 47 "Air Box" cars produced, it too has an extensive racing history. Thankfully, the car is currently in the process of receiving a full restoration. 

Photos: Hot Rod

>>Join the conversation about this Race car reunion at Carlisle right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!

For help with service and maintenance on your car, check out the how-to section of LS1Tech.com.