Sad news this morning as it was announced by the Guldstrand family that Corvette racing legend Dick Guldstrand has passed away at the age of 88.
During the 1950s, Guldstrand majored in Engineering at UCLA and began his racing career in Midget and Sprint cars in Southern California. By 1957, Guldstrand became enamored with the Chevrolet Corvette and began campaigning one in West Coast road races. Success quickly followed with Pacific Coast Championships in 1964, 1964 and 1965, as well as Guldstrand being named “Driver of the Year” by the Cal Club in 1964.
Guldstrand would go on to win the GT division at the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona, as well as a trio of Trans-Am wins by 1968.
Further, in 1968, Guldstrand opened his eponymous race shop Guldstrand Engineering, which since then has become synonymous with Corvettes and high performance.
Look for a more exhaustive tribute to Guldstrand’s career and impact in the November issue of Vintage Racecar. In the meantime, our thoughts and condolences go out to Guldstrand’s family and the large group of enthusiasts whose life he touched.
Nicest guy in the world. Just saw him last month, and as always we could kid each other about still being on the “green side of the grass”. Gonna’ miss you, Dick. RIP
Sad indeed. But for the sake of accuracy, he never won a Trans Am race.
Not true, he won the 1967 4-hr St. Jovite non-championship race in a Camaro with Tom Payne, as well as races at Riverside and Las Vegas Stardust
Not true. Here is the official SCCA record of his involvement in the Trans Am. He ran five Trans Ams with a high finish of eighth.
9/18/1966 RIVERSIDE LAW SAAB U2 12 132 93 RUNNING JIM LAW 22nd OVERALL
3/31/1967 SEBRING 4 HOURS GULDSTRAND CHEVROLET CAMARO O2 14 73 65 RUNNING BOB BONDURANT 18th OVERALL
9/17/1967 RIVERSIDE GULDSTRAND CHEVROLET CAMARO O2 8 96 92 RUNNING 8th OVERALL
9/8/1968 RIVERSIDE GULDSTRAND CHEVROLET CAMARO O2 14 96 45 DNF
10/4/1970 RIVERSIDE GULDSTRAND FORD MUSTANG O2 34 79 12 DNF – ENGINE
The St. Jovite race was non-championship but appears to be true. I can’t find anything to substantiate the Las Vegas and Riverside references (these came directly from Guldstrand, some time ago, however.)
Guldstrand may have won an SCCA Regional at Stardust and Riverside, but they were not Trans Ams. Simply put, he never won a Trans Am. Highest finish in five tries was eighth. Interviews I have seen in the past with Guldstrand show that he did tend to exaggerate the truth, and his bogus Trans Am claims bear that out.
This is sad news. Dick was an exceptionally nice man.
The world just loss another great Human Being and Automotive Marvel and Gem of a man.
Mr. Dick (as I liked to call him) was not only a gear heads Gear head.
He was a kind soul and true Gentleman of the highest order.
His knowledge of how tune a big block motor and get the most out of every inch of displacement was insane!
He was always so kind to me and would go out of his way to make me happy.
I’m just sad knowing this man that had gas pumping through his veins and speeding in his heart is gone. ???
RIP Mr. Dick Gulfstrand
He was a great man, friendly, kind, funny, smart, and willing to visit with you. I well now look at his picture in my office with a little sadness.
The man for sure !!! Gonna miss him !!! What a life !!!
A true gentleman and class act in every way, the likes of which do not pass through here often.