Here is a small sampling of the vintage racecars pacing the 1.42 mile road course at Waterford Hills this weekend.
1961 Lotus Seven
1962 Lotus Super Seven
Three Austin Mini Coopers
Two MG Midgets
Six Alfa Romeos
14 Vintage Formula Vees
Six Vintage Formula Fords
1981 March 817 Can Am
1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR racecar
And one 1967 Chevrolet Corvette that makes over 600 HP…
WATERFORD HILLS HOMECOMING FOR HANLEY DAWSON CHEVROLET CORVETTE RACE CAR AND DRIVER TONY DELORENZO AFTER 44 YEARS
Bloomfield Hills, Mich., July, 19, 2011 --- The last time Tony DeLorenzo and his Hanley Dawson Chevrolet L88 Corvette raced at Waterford Hills was in the summer of 1967. The successful outing netted DeLorenzo the win in the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) A-Production race.
DeLorenzo was in his third year of a racing career that would make Corvette racing history. With partner Jerry Thompson, they would go on to a string of 22 straight victories during the 1969 – 1970 racing seasons.
The boost that DeLorenzo’s racing career needed was provided by Hanley Dawson, Jr. at Hanley Dawson Chevrolet in Detroit. Dawson agreed to Tony’s sponsorship proposal and ordered what turned out to be the first RPO (regular production option) L88 Corvette in 1967, one of only 20 built that year.
DeLorenzo won his first race with the L88 Corvette and went on to qualify for the SCCA National Championship races at Daytona that year where he finished second in the A-Production race.
The L88 Corvette would be part of DeLorenzo’s two car team in 1968 after they built a second L88 Corvette. When Hanley Dawson Chevrolet retired from sponsoring the team midway through the ’68 season, Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation stepped in and the team would go on to make Corvette racing history.
Tony’s team sold the L88 after the 1968 racing season and the Corvette passed through several owners until it was restored to street trim. Chuck Ungurean, of Coshocton, Ohio, an avid classic Corvette collector, purchased the L88 at auction in August, 2010.
The Corvette’s new owner called DeLorenzo and asked him if the L88 had ever been driven on the street. DeLorenzo said, “No; they unloaded it from the truck and we rolled it into Hanley Dawson’s service shop and started preparing it for racing”. Ungurean asked Tony if he would be interested in driving his “old” car if it was returned to racing trim. Of course Tony said “yes”.
Now, after 44 years away, Tony and the Hanley Dawson Chevrolet 1967 L88 Corvette’s homecoming will take place at the 2011 Waterford Hills Vintage Races in Clarkston, Mich., July 29 – 31, 2011.
View photos of the ’67 L88, facts about the car and Tony DeLorenzo's racing biography. Click Here ->Tony DeLorenzo's L88 Corvette Facebook Page
Can you hear the rumble of engines, yet? Can you feel the excitment? You do not want to miss this weekend!
Waterford Hills Vintage Race Weekend Schedule
Friday, July 29th 6:00–9:00pm
Concours In The Park
Admission: FREE
Saturday July 30th 10:00am–5:00pm
Qualifying and Seven Sprint Races
General admission: $10
Kids 15 & under: FREE with a paying adult
Sunday July 31st 10:00am–5:00pm
Seven Feature Races
General admission: $10
Kids 15 & under: FREE with a paying adult
Paddock passes will be available Sat & Sun: $10/each (Must be 16 or older.)
For this information and so much more go to the http://www.waterfordhills.com/ and click on the 'VINTAGE' tab