Dr. Dick Thompson-the legendary ‘Flying Dentist’-won the 1961 SCCA B-Production National Championships with this 1961 Chevrolet Corvette. This Corvette has been in the winner’s circle numerous times while driven by famous racers including Don Yenko and Ben Moore.
During the 1961 season, the Corvette was raced at the 12 Hours of Sebring where Delmo Johnson and Dave Morgan placed first in the Grand Touring 3000 class. Their vehicle was the number 4. Bud Gates and Harry Heuer in the #83 car placed 2nd. Don Yenko and Ben Moore placed third in their #1 car.
This 1961 Corvette was originally ordered by Yenko Chevrolet for Grady Davis, executive vice president of Gulf Oil. It came standard with a 315 horsepower, fuel-injected engine, Borg-Warner four-speed transmission, Posi-traction rear axle and heavy-duty brake, steering and suspension. A Chevrolet Engineering ‘Sebring Package’ was fitted to the race car that included a 37-gallon fiberglass fuel tank, hood louvers, headlamp covers and auxiliary front anti-sway bar.
In the mid-1970s, the Corvette ‘Sebring’ race car was changed over to a street car, serving as a customer-attraction in a Cadillac dealer’s showroom. It was meticulously restored back to its 1961 ‘Sebring’ configuration in the mid-1990s.
~Susan Cameron in Corvette Vagabonds/Facebook