Although I’ve been a Corvette enthusiast for nearly 40 years and have owned 20 Corvettes over that time, I was a bit embarrassed recently when a feature on Tony DeLorenzo popped up from our CorvSport archives. I thought to myself, I should know more about this man! Just who is the man who owned that iconic L88? How did he get into racing Corvettes? Was he inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame? [Author’s Note: This article is FREE and not behind a paywall–although one feature contained inside is for our premium members and does encourage our readers to join the CorvSport movement. Thank you for your support!]
This CorvSport Profiles feature is designed for your busy lifestyle, with just enough cool information for you to learn more about Tony DeLorenzo (as I have!). But if you have a few hours to kill, we’ll give you enough fun stuff to view for the afternoon!
What’s Inside This Edition of CorvSport Profiles
- Ten Cool Factoids About Tony DeLorenzo
- Interview: Tony DeLorenzo
- DeLorenzo’s First Corvette L88
- From The National Corvette Museum: Anthony DeLorenzo And Gerald Thompson
- Video: 2009 Corvette Hall of Fame Inductees Tony DeLorenzo and Gerald Thompson
1) Ten Cool Factoids About Tony DeLorenzo
- The son of GM Public Relations Executive Anthony G. DeLorenzo, Tony’s association with high-performance GM machinery dated back to his early youth, when the family driveway was home to an ongoing parade of factory executive demo cars that included General Manager Ed Cole’s Silver fuel-injected 1963 Corvette split-window coupe, which he loaned to DeLorenzo Sr. before production officially began.
- When Tony’s attention turned to sports car racing, he asked his father if he could order a new 1964 Corvette company car for the summer, but Sr. was unaware that his son planned to take the Corvette to the SCCA’s driving school at Watkins Glen.
- While working at his summer job with Chevrolet Sales Promotion, Tony received the phone call of a lifetime, from Zora Arkus-Duntov, who after enquiring as to Tony’s plans for the Corvette, asked him to deliver the car to Chevrolet Engineering in Warren, Michigan, to “take care of a few things.”
- Arkus-Duntov soon presented Tony with his Corvette, which had been extensively modified, including revisions to the brakes, suspension, and engine.
- The trip to Watkins Glen ended with the chief instructor telling Tony he didn’t need any more instruction, and his racing career began soon after at the wheel of a more affordable 1965 Corvair.
- As Tony polished his driving skills in SCCA A Production competition, Arkus-Duntov’s Corvette Engineering Group began developing the new 427 Mark IV engine for use in the Corvette as a full-bore endurance racing engine, and in 1967, their work came to fruition as the centerpiece of the racing-purposed RPO L88 option package.
- The L88 instantly established its racing dominance, with Hanley Dawson Chevrolet in Detroit, supplying the young DeLorenzo with all the equipment and financial backing necessary to mount a full campaign in SCCA A Production racing.
- Delivered into the Hanley shops directly from the transporter, the car was immediately prepped to A Production specs and then entered into its first event at Wilmot Hills, Wisconsin, which it won handily.
- Teamed with Chevrolet engineer and accomplished Yenko Stinger Corvair racer Jerry Thompson, who won the 1967 SCCA National D Production Championship, they raced the car successfully through the 1968 season under sponsorship from Hanley-Dawson Chevrolet and then Owens-Corning.
- Tony DeLorenzo and Gerald Thompson were the most successful duet in FIA and SCCA A-Production racing, winning 22 straight races from 1969 to 1971.
*These factoids were curated from our own features.
2) From The CorvSport Archives
This feature was written by contributor John Zimmerman and initially published in our sister publication, Sports Car Digest.
Interview: Tony DeLorenzo
Tony DeLorenzo’s father, Anthony G., was a newspaperman, a reporter for UPI who then went to work for the
Photo: Courtesy of Tony DeLorenzo
Kudner Agency where one of the clients was GM’s Buick Division. There he was “discovered” and hired away by GM president Harlow Curtis. This ultimately led young Tony into the world of motorsports, where he raced an A Sedan Corvair in 1965 and ’66 before spending most of the rest of his career driving Corvettes, highlighted by a couple of seasons where he and teammate Jerry Thompson won 22 consecutive races, often finishing 1st and 2nd. His exploits with Corvettes has earned DeLorenzo enshrinement in both the Corvette Hall of Fame in Bowling Green, Kentucky (2009), and the Great Hall at Bloomington Gold in Illinois (2011). These days he’s racing vintage cars and is a regular participant in various tributes celebrating the Corvette’s 60th birthday. VR Associate Editor John Zimmermann recently spoke with Tony about his career and his accomplishments.
How did you first get involved in racing?
DeLorenzo: My uncle Chuck was vice president of sales at Peter Hand Brewery, which made Meister Brau beer and had the Meister Brauser racing team. He took me to Meadowdale one day; I think I was 16 or 18. They had been racing the Scarabs, and they had the follow-on car to the Scarab, the Chaparral Mark 1—both built by Troutman and Barnes. I was about 20 feet away from this Chaparral on jack stands when the crew chief started it. That was a 389-inch Chevy with Hilborn injection, probably a roller cam, and who knows what else. You can imagine the sound it made. I was once and forever hooked. That’s what gave me the fever I still have. “Hitting the light pole was an act of god, because had I not hit it, I’m afraid I would have hurt a lot of people.” Join the CorvSport Movement to Continue Reading
3) From the CorvSport Archives
This article was first published on our sister site SportsCarDigest.com. It has been re-published for CorvSport readers to enjoy, for FREE.
DeLorenzo’s First Corvette L88
This 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible was the first Corvette produced with the RPO L88 option package. The only Tuxedo Black 1967 L88 built in convertible form, it was driven in competition by Tony DeLorenzo Jr., one of the most successful Corvette racers in history.
The son of GM Public Relations Executive Anthony G. DeLorenzo, Tony’s association with high-performance GM machinery dated back to his early youth, when the family driveway was home to an ongoing parade of factory executive demonstrators that included 389 Tri-Power Pontiacs, a customized and turbocharged 1963 Corvair from GM Styling Chief Bill Mitchell’s personal collection, and Chevrolet General Manager Ed Cole’s Silver fuel-injected 1963 Corvette split-window coupe, which he loaned to DeLorenzo Sr. before production officially began… Continue Reading For Free or Save for Later
4) From The National Corvette Museum
This piece was initially published by the NCM on 9/01/2009.
Anthony DeLorenzo And Gerald Thompson
RACING CATEGORY 2009 INDUCTION
Most racing fans recognize the De Lorenzo / Thompson names as the drivers of the Owens – Corning Fiberglass (OC) Corvettes in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. The two were the most successful duet in FIA and SCCA A-Production racing, winning 22 straight races from 1969 to 1971.
Tony attended SCCA’s drivers’ school in Watkins Glenn, NY in 1964 and a year later began racing an A-Sedan Corvair. Tony’s dad (General Motors Vice President of Public Relations) purchased a ‘64 Corvette Coupe and let Tony and his brother spec out the car. Their order caught the attention of Zora Arkus-Duntov himself who called them to make sure they were able to handle their car… Continue Reading For Free
5) Video From The National Corvette Museum
Video Preview From The NCM:
“Most racing fans recognize the De Lorenzo / Thompson names as the drivers of the Owens – Corning Fiberglass (OC) Corvettes in the late ’60s and early ’70s. The two were the most successful duet in FIA and SCCA A-Production racing, winning 22 straight races from 1969 to 1971. Tony attended SCC A’s drivers’ school in Watkins Glenn, NY in 1964 and a year later began racing an A-Sedan Corvair. Tony’s dad (General Motors Vice President of Public Relations) purchased a ’64 Corvette Coupe and let Tony and his brother spec out the car. Their order caught the attention of Zora Arkus-Duntov himself who called them to make sure they were able to handle their car. “Jer” landed a job as Engine Development Test Engineer at Chevrolet’s Engineering Center in Warren, MI in 1960, and a year later began racing a ’56 Corvette at Detroit area tracks. During the ’65 – ’66 season Jer and Tony met, becoming friends and competitors. In 1968 they received their first direct sponsorship, making Tony and Jer instrumental in putting Corvette racing on the map. Their OC racing record was unmatched by any other team. Today, both men are still involved with building and racing vintage Corvettes.”
Video Stats:
- Views: 3,629
- Length: 5:24
Top Comment:
- “Thanks toTony’s brother, Peter, I have finally enjoyed this nostalgic walk back in time!” @rogerclarke2191
2009 Corvette Hall of Fame Inductees Tony DeLorenzo and Gerald Thompson
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