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Long forgotten Callaway C6 Super Natural LM GT2
racecar and limited edition Le Mans Street Car. (Image source: callawaycars.com)
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Sixty Years of Corvette's History of Racing at Le Mans
Funny, I suppose one whom lives by thou
Sword, shouldn't be to annoyed to also Die by thoust Sword; Err Keyboard when
relying heavily upon good 'Ol Al Gore's wondrous invention, Zed Internetz'
doing thoust Heavy lifting, Eh?
As it's annoying enough over the sketchy
"Broad Brush Strokes" painted over John Greenwood's Le Mans
Adventures some forty-plus years ago. But Shit! Try finding any definitive
information upon Callaway Corvette's racing at Circuit de la Sarthe, Uhm, Ah,
Crickets; Bueller?
Reeves Callaway's first "Tuner"
Corvette to race at Circuit de la Sarthe was his Mega Bitchin', as Randal, Thy
No Fenders Moniker King would opine... Was the 1994 #51 Callaway C6 Super
Natural Corvette LM GT2, based upon the C4 Vette' body platform, for which
reportedly only four Racing models & five Street versions were built.
As it appears that Callaway's High Water mark
at Le Mans came the following year, when the car finished a very respectable
ninth place Overall, and runner-up in its GT2 Class,.
With somebody with the Sir-name Unser on its
Driver's roll. As Johnny Unser wheeled' the #73 Callaway Competition Vette'
with Co-drivers Frank Jelinski and Enrico Bertaggia.
Ironically, Corvette lost the GT2 Class Scrum that
year to a rival Honda NSX GT No less! As the two now go Head-to-Head in Indy
Cars.
While I recall briefly meeting Johnny during one of
the Indy 500 Legends Day's outings, where he mused that "Uncle Bobby"
(Unser) still thought he knew how everything should be done. Even giving Johnny
instructions on how to coil up the RV's garden hose correctly...
Next, the Callaway's C12 replaced the
previous Corvette racer at Le Mans beginning in 1997, contesting the ACO's GT2
Class against such Competizione as the All Conquering Dodge Viper GTS/R's, Porsche
911 GT2's and a brace of Saleen Allen Speedlab Mustangs to Boot.
With the C12's High Water mark reportedly
being when it captured the Class's Pole position in its final outing at Circuit
de la Sarthe in 2001. As Callaway's Le Mans efforts seemingly served as the
bridge to General Motors finally deciding to enter its Factory team under the
auspices of Pratt & Miller Engineering, beginning in Y2k', nee Double
Buckshot, Ought', or simply 2000.
As when I think of Corvette Racing and it's
Bad Arse Banana Yellow Vettes', I immediately think of Johnny 'O', (O'Connell)
and Ron Fellows, along with "Mad Max" Papis and Scooter', nee Scott
Pruett in Thee lead Dawgs' Vette', prior to "Ollie's," nee Oliver Gabins
arrival. Whilst I vaguely recall Frank Freon in the Seester' Corvette, and
totally forgot 'bout Bad Arses Kelly Collins and Andy Pilgrim.
As I tend to believe it was a long ago Speed
Freaks interview where Johnny O' regaled us all 'bout his getting a speeding
ticket in France with his son in the car, a "loaner" Corvette Obviously...
Upon his way to Le Mans for that year's event.
Naturally, today when I think of Corvette
Racing, I think of MAGS', aka Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia, whom the team
calls "Thee King 'O Spain," the aforementioned Ollie' and Tommy
Milner, along with Thar Endurance event team-mates Mike "rocky"
Rockenfeller and Marcel
Fassler.
As Jan, father of Kevin "Bacon"
Magnussen of Haas F1 Fame just contested his 151st race for Corvette Racing at
Trois Rivieres, Canada, with the front engine C7'R's seemingly to finally be
reaching the end of their fruitful competition life, albeit having claimed
eight GT Le Mans Class victories at Le Mans to Date.
But Yuhs can never count out the Corvettes, especially
with the likes of Longtime Crew Chief Danny Binks manning the Pumps! As it's
funny knowing that Binks came to Corvette Racing from Blue Oval rival Roush
Racing, where he led Tommy Kendall to three consecutive SCCA Trans Am
Championships in a Mustang.
Whilst I totally enjoyed the very brief Racer
interview with Corvette Racing's Manager Doug Fehan, who's been Thar since
Day-1 and has seen plenty 'O Ups 'N Downs. Especially enjoy the part 'bout the
team donning Beret's and Fake Mustaches for their first team photo.
Yet like I said before, this year's 24 Heurs
du Mans wasn't what Corvette was hoping for, especially with Messer Fassler being taken
out of competition thru No fault of his own.
As now we just
await the arrival of the new C8.R racecar, Corvette's first mid-engine chassis,
along with ponderin' what it's powerplant will be?
