Tony DeLorenzo and his 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 race car are being inducted into the Bloomington Gold Great Hall in St. Charles, Illinois, on June 24, 2011.
The Bloomington Gold Corvette USA’s show is honoring the 50 people and 50 cars that played the most significant roles in the Corvette phenomenon. They are being selected for induction into the Great Hall, 10 at a time, from 2010-2014.
DeLorenzo’s early career was bolstered when Hanley Dawson, Jr., from Hanley Dawson Chevrolet in Detroit agreed to sponsor DeLorenzo in SCCA A-Production racing in 1967. Dawson ordered what turned out to be the first production RPO L88 Corvette built that year, one of only 20 produced. DeLorenzo and his team raced the car for two years before selling it. He went on to become a Corvette racing legend and was inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame in Bowling Green, Ohio, in September of 2009.
DeLorenzo said, “I am stunned and amazed to receive this honor. I was following my dream of becoming a racing driver and had no idea that it would lead to all this. There are a lot of people who worked very hard to make this happen and it is difficult to properly thank them.”
The L88 Corvette is being returned to its 1967 racing livery at CMP Fabrication in Waterford Michigan. Central Ohio collector Charles Ungurean and Terry Michaelis from Pro Team Corvettes in Napoleon, Ohio, are behind the effort to preserve the racer for all to see at vintage races and shows throughout the Midwest this summer.
In addition to Tony DeLorenzo, the following people and organizations will also be inducted into the Bloomington Gold Great Hall in 2011: M.F. Dobbins; Ralph Eckler; Dan Gale (deceased); Roger Judski; Gary Mortimer; Naber Brothers; NCRS; Joe Pike(deceased); and Bob Wingate.
The cars chosen for the Bloomington Gold Great Hall in 2011 include: 1955 Corvette (First V8); 1956 SR2; 1960 Le Mans Racer; 1960 Route 66 TV Show (Icon only); 1963 Harley Earl Design Vehicle; 1965 396/425 “State of The Art”; 1967 DeLorenzo L88 Racer; 1978 Indy 500 Pace Car (Icon only); 1971 ZR2; and 1969 ZL1.
About Bloomington Gold – Bloomington is the “granddaddy” of Corvette shows, the longest running continuous national Corvette show. The organization’s 39th annual show is being held at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois, June 23-26, 2011.
For more information, visit www.bloomingtongold.com.
[Source: Tony DeLorenzo]
