Springer Automotive Restoration
Chris Springer (408) 857-2088
Chris Springer (408) 857-2088
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Larry Park's 1968 Corvette vintage race car
This is an infamous and special Corvette, and is well known across the West Coast. The car was built by Dave
Herlinger. It was based on the chassis for Dave's 1968 big-block Corvette. Larry took his driving school in this
car in the SCCA's San Francisco Region in 1980 and began his SCCA road race career. The car was always
run as a small block in the new-for-1980 class of GT1. Larry finished his driving school in 1980 and raced GT-1
and Trans Am up and down the west coast from 1980-1983. The log book shows entries from Las Vegas,
Sears Point, Laguna Seca, PIR, and Seattle. Larry entered four Trans-Am events in each of those years and also
ran GT1 in various regional and national races, almost always finishing first. He broke track records at both
Laguna Seca (August 1981) and Sears Point (September 1981). In both cases his times were seconds (not
tenths) ahead of the standing record. He literally dominated the competition! At Laguna Seca his time was
1:12.35. At Sears Point his time was 1:46.34! At Sears Point, Larry took 1st place in the GT-1 class and 1st
overall at the 4th Annual Pacific Coast Road Racing Championships, beating out the superproduction (big-bore)
cars. The reputation and legend of this car is hard to forget. Larry eventually started his own autocross group,
the American Autocross Series, and graduated to professional road racing. Between 1979 and 1992 Larry won
five national autocross championships. His wife Pati's results were even more impressive as she became a
seven-time national champion. This is probably the fastest B-Prepared (SOLO II) car on the West Coast!
This is an infamous and special Corvette, and is well known across the West Coast. The car was built by Dave
Herlinger. It was based on the chassis for Dave's 1968 big-block Corvette. Larry took his driving school in this
car in the SCCA's San Francisco Region in 1980 and began his SCCA road race career. The car was always
run as a small block in the new-for-1980 class of GT1. Larry finished his driving school in 1980 and raced GT-1
and Trans Am up and down the west coast from 1980-1983. The log book shows entries from Las Vegas,
Sears Point, Laguna Seca, PIR, and Seattle. Larry entered four Trans-Am events in each of those years and also
ran GT1 in various regional and national races, almost always finishing first. He broke track records at both
Laguna Seca (August 1981) and Sears Point (September 1981). In both cases his times were seconds (not
tenths) ahead of the standing record. He literally dominated the competition! At Laguna Seca his time was
1:12.35. At Sears Point his time was 1:46.34! At Sears Point, Larry took 1st place in the GT-1 class and 1st
overall at the 4th Annual Pacific Coast Road Racing Championships, beating out the superproduction (big-bore)
cars. The reputation and legend of this car is hard to forget. Larry eventually started his own autocross group,
the American Autocross Series, and graduated to professional road racing. Between 1979 and 1992 Larry won
five national autocross championships. His wife Pati's results were even more impressive as she became a
seven-time national champion. This is probably the fastest B-Prepared (SOLO II) car on the West Coast!
While the car had evolved
considerably over the years, it was
purchased with all the original body
work dating back to Larry Park. It will
be restored as accurately as
possible, while meeting all current
safety regulations. This type of
restoration is more time and cost
intensive, but is more authentic and
honest to the original.
considerably over the years, it was
purchased with all the original body
work dating back to Larry Park. It will
be restored as accurately as
possible, while meeting all current
safety regulations. This type of
restoration is more time and cost
intensive, but is more authentic and
honest to the original.