[TCracingCA]

To cover Charlie Woit, I love the story, and in no way am I saying he wasn't fast or an awesome driver.

The big blocks came in 1965. The special HD engines in 1966, pre-L88, and the dealership performance dealerships selected to peddle the special parts, not until 1967. Guldstrand, Briggs, Nickey, Delorenzo, Yenko, etc. were not using special Corvette designed racing suspension pieces then. I have old catalogs from like Briggs Chevrolet (sponsors of John Greenwood, Jungle Jim, the Polish racers, Brock and his Ferrari coast to coast run (first Cannonball), and many others all sourced or were sponsored by Briggs). They had the HD Moog ball joints, most guys sourced heavier truck based springs variable rate units just coming out in 1964. MOst guys used bronze or steel bushings pressed into the A-arms. Guys weren't gusseting the frames or even the a-arms yet.

The first real enthusiast article on how to mod C2/C3 cars was about 1971 written by Dick Guldstrand. Prior to that was the Delorenzo small tiny book of Corvette performance, that wasn't too available. The Chevrolet Race chassis prep article wasn't until I think the second Chevrolet power book around 1975. I have Guldstrands first catalog in about late 1972. But guys were welding and gusseting things prior, As your lower a-arm mounts failed or the frame split from the hole for the steering box location.

I do have some conflicting info on Charlie, in that an interview he gave says he stopped running the Vette in 1965. That would be pre- much of anyone really having any refinement of this generation of Corvette, not even Penske. Guldstrand was fresh from winning the year end Pacific Coast Championship and was still driving prehistoric style. It was dive into the apex tight, hung the inside corner, and full on the power. The brake dive lightened the ass end and the transition to gas with steering input, promoted radical oversteer. The best tires of the day let the rear drift slide out. Basically not the faster way to corner.

Woit did claim he did an Old Timers event. Willow Springs did have an annual event called the Old Timers started in the 1970 year (but I can check if that was held earlier), and it was just a round of Regional/National SCCA BP/AP production. The events that were similar earlier, where 6 hour Enduro events. This was usually a two driver required to drive event, and even guys like Rex Ramsey teamed for a few of those. I have most of those records.

I have the largest Socal Region race records in the entire World. I have just about every program from the local tracks from 1960- forward, I have 20K magazines including the Cal Club literature for these races. I have grid sheets, for Riverside alone, I probably have 2000+ pieces of literature or more covering Riverside racing alone. I will relook for Charlie, and have went thru all of the Club literature, as I have one of the largest collections of slalom sheet records and event records for the California regions, and the WSCC. I haven't devoted much time really looking for Charlie, but have not come across his name. The big Corvette clubs, I have consulted and shared stuff with many. Even the Corvette Registry guys were referring people to me there, until I shut that down. If Charlie had ever actually showed up at a track event, I would be the guy that would have the best chance of finding such records. One day I do hope I find him.

I still would say Doug Hooper having driven old #91 into the beginning of the 1980, and then Vintage events after that still the earlier 2000s, was probably the fastest Corvette around. Full blown A/P racers running all of the L88 wares, and special parts. The only one that has better parts on a car, would be me.

I have multi-link Corvette suspensions from Bob Riley design in the late 1970s, that he marketed thru the Hot Rod mags, prior to Guldstrand acquiring that design and tweeking the uprights in the rear. I have a CVC-Apex rear suspension that was the hot shot racers that ended up mostly going over to Ford for the late 80s/early 90s Trans Am racers. I have the special rear ends to from Tom's Differential with things like 1480 u-joint 4340 axles, etc. etc. But I am a small block guy.

There is a claim that I question that he (Hooper) bought the Delorenzo C2 car, when they switched to two C3 cars. It is thought this was an original 1967 L88, but Hooper and Pohl running it, put a small block into it, competing in BP, not AP. Doug was looking for his 1966 car,, as that was the special car he said. The 1967 Car is now one of the claimed 1 of 20 L88 cars (the first L88, the black with blue stinger Delorenzo car). Hooper validated the story, and he was my friend, so I just let that be. That 1966 car as that with me and him believed was basically one of the Zora released race parts kits build cars, where the Duntov released parts packages to make the Corvette a winner. We believe 15 cars were done. Hooper got one of those, Alan Green one, Yenko for Whim got one, etc, etc. etc. Gorries up in Canada got a special parts kit. Thus this car was believed to have the HD engine parts (cross drilled crankshaft, M22 crash tranny box, the transitorized ignitiion, the HD brakes J-56, and so one, Gear drive reverse rotation camshaft). This is the car that set the top quarter mile muscle car run of 12.8 at 112 mph. The Cobra was a Competition model converted to a S/C which held the top at 12.2 Then your LS-6, Hemi cars, etc. etc. The test car ran by CD Magazine, never left the proving grounds, as the reporters were invited onto the GM facility. This car had a special 8K tach in it too.

I truly wish I could have interviewed Charlie, as I have interviewed oh so many Corvette legends and celebrities. Doug Hooper called Mulholland the Old Road.