<VV> VM, 60 Piranha and John Fitch

[James P. Rice]

All:  Got my VM double issue Monday.

I always crack up laughing when there is a picture and/or comments about the
"60 Piranha" Zucchi runs.  He enters it as a 1960 and under 2-liter class,
when it is from 1967 and is over 2 liters.  Unless, of course, he has
successfully accomplished what Bill Thomas and at lease 2 other engine
builders were unable to do back in the day, which is build a 2 liter Corvair
which actually generates power to be competitive with the Lotus Twin-Cam,
BMW and Porsche engines.  What a hoot!!

I've been tempted to blow the whistle on him, but my sometimes perverse
sense of humor enjoys him fooling some very pompous west coast vintage race
organizers and racers.

The VM issue has a story on John Fitch's military career and life by
normally reliable writer and historian Art Evens.  Besides being inaccurate
on several things, probably result of believing without verifying everything
John thinks he remembers, it tells a tale which does not need to be told,
especially in a magazine devoted to automotive history.  As a subscriber
since 1987 and past contributor to VM, I am embarrassed and ashamed of this
expose.  Totally uncalled for in any publication, unless of course, you like
to read the National Enquirer.  If I find the time, I'll probably tell VM
about it.  At this point, I do not care if I burn whatever bridge I still
have with them.

Historically Yours,
			James Rice

PS see the Communique for Jan 2004 for info on Corvair powered sports-racing
car, and last March's issue with the article on John Fitch.

****************************************************8

Message: 8
Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 15:35:55 -0500
From: "Rick Norris" <ricknorris at suddenlink.net>
Subject: <VV> Vintage Motorsport Annual
To: <fastvair at yahoogroups.com>
Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org

Got my copy of Vintage Motorsport 2012 Annual. I always look through it to
see if we got any ink.
Page 26, bottom shot of the 60 Piranha driven by Frank Zucchi at Sonoma
Historic Motorsports Festival hosted by the GRL or General Racing Ltd.
You can see the Corvair parts hanging out the back and bottom. Wish he could
get to the Mitty.
Also on Pg. 102, left lower corner shot is of Eric Wood with two lovely
Trans Am queens at the Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival hosted by the VSCDA.
Eric is the brother of Curt Wood, Stinger owner and old time racer. He and
Eric both were at the 2011 Mitty with us.

The Annual is a supplement with the Vintage Motorsport magazine. Not sure if
it is available at the news stand or not.

Rick Norris
#36 Sunoco Corvair
www.corvairalley.com