{"id":493336,"date":"2013-09-01T17:00:59","date_gmt":"2013-09-02T00:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportscardigest.com\/\/?p=15703"},"modified":"2024-03-06T19:54:07","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T19:54:07","slug":"corvettes-gentleman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/corvettes-gentleman\/","title":{"rendered":"Corvette\u2019s Gentleman"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A lot of great names are associated with the racing of Corvettes. Many of those great names\u2014racers like Bondurant, Fitch and Guldstrand\u2014either were, or went on to become, successful professional racing drivers. But in the late \u201950s and early \u201960s the Corvette also attracted an extraordinary collection of \u201cGentleman Drivers\u201d who were great competitors for the brand on the weekend, and then went back to their normal day job during the week. Perhaps one of the finest of these gentlemen was Dr. Dick Thompson.<\/p>\n

A Washington, D.C.-based dentist by day, Dick Thompson first took to racing in 1952 when he bought a new MGTD, as a second car. After going to a race at Watkins Glen that year with the MG Club, Thompson and friend Bill Kinchloe got the wild idea that they would drive down to Florida and enter a new race that was being held at an airfield in Sebring. With no experience, the duo entered the inaugural 12-Hour race and finished a surprising 8th\u2026then they drove home!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n