<VV> RE: [fastvair] Which Car ?

[James Rice]

All:  As I was nearing complication of the Powered By Corvair article which
appeared in the Jan. Communique, Warren acquired the Thomas/Roe car in
question.  I had planned to include some material on it in the article, and
had acquired a couple period photos.  But Communique editor Mike and I
decided to not do include the material, but to work with Warren to do
another feature strictly devoted to the car and the people.

Warren's information is essentially correct.  Roe had two cars.  He bought
the Thomas Corvair when it and several other cars (mostly hopped up Chevy
II's) were offered for sale as the Cheetah effort was developing.  (I have
the ads from Comp Press/Autoweek & SCCA's Sportscar.)  It is this car that
was at the '87 Monterey Historicals with Roe as driver.  It DNS due to a
varity of problems.  See Sept or Oct '87 Communique for that story.

Doug's original car was run for some unknown length of time by one of his GM
friends and crew member.  I do not know what happened to it.

There is much more info and photos in the files Warren got with the car
which need a detail review.  If you want to help with this effort, send
Warren money so he can copy what he has and send to Mike or myself.  We
refuse to be responsible for the originals.  Warren has committed lots of
money to getting the Thomas/Roe car restored and equipped so he can bring it
out for all of us to enjoy.  Help him.  (He did not tell me to tell you
that.)

Historically yours
James Rice







-----Original Message-----
From: Levair@aol.com [mailto:Levair@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2004 4:16 PM
To: fastvair@yahoogroups.com
Cc: virtualvairs@corvair.org; ricebugg@mtco.com; S_levair@iquest.net;
FREDSCLASSICS@aol.com
Subject: Re: [fastvair] Which Car ?


In a message dated 3/7/04 11:05:17 AM Eastern Standard Time,
robbins@monticello.net writes:

<<
 Which car did Warren get to restore? Was it the Doug Roe 1960 car or the
 other car that he drove  mentioned in the How to Hot Rod Corvair book? I
was
 confused when I finally opened the book to see it.
  >>
The story the way that I  understand it, is that when Doug Roe lived in
Michigan he had and early coupe family car that he played with but not to
any great
extent. I don't know what happened to this car or if it is even of any
concern.
   When  Doug moved to Arizona at the GM proving grounds, The Bill Thomas (
Cheetah racing fame) drag car ( a 1960 coupe) which Chevrolet and Bill
Thomas
developed in house as a "skunk works" under  "car research and development"
to
avoid the agreed upon corporation wide "racing ban" was there.
  The drag car had a naturally aspirated engine, . The carbs were fed by 3
holes on each rear fender. These holes are still on the car but , blocked
internally . This naturally aspirated version was road raced some by Mike
Jones with
many wins against other "skunk works" cars.
   Doug Roe took over the development on this car and turned it into a
turbocharged  hill climb and road racer with many documented wins. It had
the turbo/
carb mounted near the rear seat back. It had the snow plow front end and the
huge rear scoop on the rear deck lid. The front and rear lids were
fiberglass
and the entire rear clip  slides off so that the engine and drive train can
slide straight out the back.
   The car was forced to runs with A sports/ racing cars and ran entirely
window less.
   The car was red when Thomas ran it and Hugger Orange when Doug ran it.
  This is a very short hand description of the car and events. They are the
same car and I have the original 1960 title to prove it.
   Does this help or just muddy it up even more?
   I invite all other helpfull memories of the car's history, even if they
disagree with what I think that I now know. .
   Warren
.