Don Yenko race history

[DarrylD]

I've heard the highlights of his racing career, but does anyone know exactly how many races he won? What tracks? Which cars? And where did he get his start in racing. Dirt, SCCA, drag racing, etc.? Just curious.
Darryl

[JoeC]

I believe Don Yenko started road racing in the late 50's. Here is a partial list and a cool picture. I have a bunch of other pics found on the web.
1957 Is listed as DNF at VIR in a B/P 1957 Corvette
1961 Nation Champ in a Corvette
1962 Nation Champ in a Corvette also raced at Sebring where press called him "sideways Don Yenko"
1963 1st in class at VIR in B/P Corvette won the "Tar Heel Trophy" for class domination
1965 drove the Eggers Mini Cooper and a Corvette
1968 1st in GT at 24hr Daytona in the DX oil 1967 L88 Corvette Yenko/Revson
1968 Sebring drove DX oil 1968 L88 Corvette Yenko/Rodriguez
1969 won the Citrus 250 at Daytona in a 1968 Camaro
1969 Sebring 10th overall Yenko/Grossman in the Best Photo Camaro
1972 Sebring Corvette Yenko/Greenwood
1974 24hr Daytona ran 21 hrs then DNF in a Corvette
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1169942&a=8610132&p=37587221

[DarrylD]

Great stuff Joe! The reason I asked is because I've always found it interesting that he built Yenko Camaros that are popular in drag racing, but most of his own experience is Corvettes and road racing. Makes me wish he would have built some production Yenko Corvettes too! The DNF at VIR in 1957, is that Virginia? Otherwise it doesn't ring a bell.

[Rowdy Rat]

I was looking through some old issues of "Corvette News" last nignt and I can confirm the 1957 date as the "official" start date for Don Yenko's racing career. There was a paragraph or so in a 1969 issue that mentioned that Don was on his way back from a trip, passed by where the race was being held, and decided to enter. He didn't have a racing license, so he made up a license number and the rest is history...

Regards,

Stan Falenski

[JoeC]

VIR = Virgina International Raceway
I am looking for more info on DonÃs racing cars and career. He built the Yenko Stinger Corvairs and got it approved for SCCA but I have not found any info on him driving it in any races although he may have. As with the 427 cars, I think he was mainly interested in selling them. Don Yenko and Bill Hartly built and raced some rare Corvettes. He had one of the SR2 Corvettes that he raced around 1965. He had a 1966 L72 M22 that I have read was one of two made with a special engine code that was a predecessor to the L88. It was set up for racing for Mike Summers with best Photo sponsorship. Don also raced a few L88 Corvettes but I do not know if he actually owned the cars. There are more pics in my photopoint album that I use for posting at
albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1169942&a=8610132 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1169942&a=8610132)




[Edited by JoeC (01-25-2001 at 08:54 AM).]

[DarrylD]

I thought my Corvette books just started covering his career once he 'hit it big', but the way he kind of just exploded on the scene in '57, I really wasn't missing much of his racing history. Those early issues of "Corvette News" seem to be a great sorce for historical information.Thanks Stan & Joe!
Thanks for sharing your photopoint album with us Joe. I didn't have time to look at them, but I'll go back later. By the way, is it a Yenko Chevelle that you have? Or what? Is there a picture of it in the album or somewhere on the web?

[COPO]

Joe C,

What kind of racing do they do there? http://www.yenko.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/laugh.gif

quote: VIR = Virgina International Raceway


I guess the spell checker wouldn't have caught that one.

[Chevy454]

I doubt if any knows for sure how many races Don participated in, but I know the total would be in the 100's, with many wins, as he was a very successful as a racer. According to Don, he did not drive/race a Stinger becuase he did not want to compete against his own cars. He said that he would rather support others in their efforts. Don knew that the real money was in selling cars, not racing.
Don's first race was in 1957, at New Smyrna Beach near Daytona, FL. in a stock 3 speed Vette with modified exhaust. He was on vacation and saw a sign that read " Enter for Sports Car Racing Here", bluffed his way into racing by giving an imaginary competition driver's number to the girl at the gate and found himself driving between veterans Paul Goldsmith in a four speed Vette (Don had never seen one) Marvin Panch in a Thunderbird with a bellypan and GMC blower. Because of transmission problems, Don ran the entire race in second gear. He crossed the finish line in third place, with a 3-4 foot flame coming from the rear of his car. The modified exhaust on Don's car was aimed at the rearend hosuing and had set it on fire. Don had caught the racing bug and now was a "racer". His first full year of racing he blew up 5 engines at such courses as Cumberland, Dunkirk and Akron. In 1961 Don finished national runnerup and easily won the national championships in his Corvette in '62 and '63. In 1964 he won the Northeast Divisional championship and was runnerup in the same league in '65. By 1966 he was driving for Gulf Oil and just missed winning the national championship at Riverside because of an official error. He had numerous class wins at the 12 hour Sebring race and the grueling Daytona 24 hours (1971 4th overall and 1st in class) and even raced at LeMans. Don is best known for winning the Citrus 250 at Daytona in 1969, during what we now call "speed week". The race was similar to IROC, as there were drivers from several different racing bodies. Don, representing SCCA racing, was racing a 1969 Camaro against such drivers/cars as Parnelli Jones/'69 Mustang, Loyd Ruby/'69 Camaro, Joie Chitwood/'69 Camaro, and Bob Tullius/'69 Javelin. Don's first place plaque and related newspaper articles from Don's scrapbook were displayed at the last Supercar Reunion. Tom @ sYc

[JoeC]

It is difficult to find information on the Camaros Don Yenko raced. I believe the car he raced at Daytona in 1969 was a 1968 302 cu. in. Camaro white with two thin blue stripes wearing the number "11". (Tom what does your scrapbook show?). The 1969 Sebring records list Don as 10th place in a 1969 ZL1 Camaro with Bob Grossman as co-driver. The first time I read this I dismissed it as a misprint. I just read another article on Sebring 1969 and it also states that Yenko/Grossman beat all the Corvettes in a "sleeper" Camaro with a ZL1 engine. The car was part sponsored by Yenko Sports Cars. I wonder if it was a real ZL1 or L72 Camaro or just a fabricated race car. This is the first I ever read of anyone road racing a ZL1 Camaro. I will keep digging for info/pics on this car.

[sYc]

Joe; The info I quoted was from the Daytona newspaper out of Don's scrapbook. I will double check as I have several other items of interest from the race. Also, I have photos of Don's '68 and '69 Camaros, from his photo collection. The '69 is kind of neat, as there is a Yenko emblem on the rear panel. Tom

[DarrylD]

Is the 69 Sebring race the only race that mentions the ZL-1? If you have a picture of it, maybe you can find pictures of the car at other races where they might not mention the fact that its a ZL-1. Like Joe said, though, there's a good chance it's just a car they stuck a ZL-1 motor in to race. Tom, can you post a picture of the '69 with the Yenko emblem on the back? Even if its black and white, I'm sure everyone would like to see it.

[DarrylD]

By the way, how old would he have been when he started racing in '57?

[JoeC]

Don Yenko was 59 according to his obituary in 1987. So if he began racing in 1957 he would have been 29. Does anyone know Don's birthday? In the early 1980's, when he was over 50 years young, he was labeled by a press person as "the old man of racing". After this at one of the races he attended with Kim Mason (from Yenko Honda) he made a joke of it and walked up to his race car with a cane in his hand. I saw a picture of this but do not recall where. Vic Edlebrock Jr. has a restored ex-Smokey Yunick 1968 Trans-Am Camaro. In an article about this car, the author lists one of the Camaro's previous owner/drivers as Don Yenko. This may have been the same car that Don used to win the Citrus 250.

[Chevy454]

Don was born May 27, 1927 in Mongahela, PA. His was killed in a private plane crash at 1:45pm, Thursday, March 5, 1987 at the Yeager Airport near Charleston, WV at the age of 59.
At the 1969 Nascar Citrus 250 Grand Touring event at the Daytona Int. raceway in Daytona Beach, FL. Friday, February 21, 1969. Don drove a 1969 Camaro, #11, to the pole position and to the win. Don's average speed for the race was 104.036.
I have several pictures of Don's '68 and '69 Camaros. The '68 car was white with blue hood and two narrow stripes on the top, trunk lid and rear panel. The filler cap is located in the trunk lid. The wheels were the 5 spoke Atlas mags. This car was sponsered by Yenko and Best Photo service. In one picture it shows Don as the driver and another as Don and Dick Guldstrand as drivers. This Camaro has the Yenko metal emblem on the front fenders, where side marker lamps would be. The '69 Camaro was white with a blue hood, 2 narrow stripes on the top, hood and rear panel. This car ran the 10 spoke wheels and showed Gulf as the only sponser. It had a metal Yenko emblem at the center of the rear panel. On the top of the car was a strobe light with lettering on the roof that read "Strobe by Grimes". Tom

[Chevy454]

I was just going through some more of my Yenko items and ran across some interesting stuff. In a press release for Don Yenko by Yenko Sportscars, Inc., it states, Yenko won over 85% of his races with four national titles and 7 divisional titles. But here is what I found was VERY interesting. Quote, "Yenko Sportscars went on in 1968 to produce 427-Camaros and in 1969 distributed over 350 special 427 Camaros, Chevelles and Chevy IIs through its network of 70 some hi-po Chevrolet dealers. The 1969 Camaro, campaigned on the NHRA circuit, reached the World Finals." If you add together the numbers for Camaros-198, Chevelles-99- and Novas-37, you reach 334, close to the 350 mark. This total may have included some or all of the 1968 Camaros. This total goes hand in hand with the picture that shows a transporter loaded with Yenkos and a sign that reads, "The 350th unit Sold". This does not support the theory (magazine article) that Yenko built/sold 500 Camaros. Tom

[JoeC]

Tom, this is the 1968 Camaro I thought was the Citrus 250 winner. It looks like it is on a high bank track like Daytona. Do your pictures show both the 68 and 69 Yenko Camaro race cars with the same white with blue stripe paint and wearing the same number "11"? I believe Yenko raced a 1967 L88 Corvette in the 1968 24hr Daytona with co driver Dave Morgan so this picture cannot be the 68 24hr Daytona. Was there a Citrus 250 in 1968 and in 1969?

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1169942&a=8610133&p=39513532

[Dr. Pete]

As far as Don's racing goes, here are some actual facts: The 1967 L-88 Corvette was a factory L-88 and was raced at Sebring in 1967 and finished 1st in GT. That same car raced at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1968 and placed 1st in GT. Without digging up my info, I believe that in 1967 Don Yenko and Dave Morgan drove the car at Sebring. However, at Daytona, that same 67 L-88 was driven by teamates Jerry Grant and Dave Morgan. Don drove the new 68 Corvette with Peter Revson. The 67 was car #31 and the 68 was car #29. Car number 29 was converted to SCCA racing specs after Daytona and Don won some regional championships with that car in 68 and 69.

As far as the Camaros go, I believe the 68 may have been one of Smokey Yunick's "cheater" Camaros that were outlawed by some organizations. The 69 Camaro was not a factory ZL-1 but if my sources are correct, it was a Z/28 that was a host to both small block and big block powerplants. It also raced up in Watkins Glen and down in Sebring and finished quite well. I'll have to do more research on the Camaros, but the Corvette info is accurate. Don did drive many other Corvettes in competition but there is not enough room here to list.

[JoeC]

Seems like they changed the cars and their numbers for every race. I have an article on the 1968 12 hrs of Sebring were Yenko drove a red white and blue 1968 L88 Corvette wearing the number "2" co-driver was Pedro Rodriquez. Smokey Yunick had a Trans Am Camaro there that had a lot of trouble getting through tech. After finally passing tech it set the 13th fasted overall qualifying time with a 3:01 lap. Mark Donahue had second fastest Camaro time with a 3:02 and Don Yenko was fastest Corvette with a 3:04. The Camaros were quicker because they could fit bigger tires then the Corvettes. This is from Corvette News Vol 11 No.5. The same issue had the article where Don was testing a 68 L88 for LeMans. Pictures from this testing day.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1169942&a=8610132&p=37178520
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1169942&a=8610132&p=37178516

[DarrylD]

Well, since I started this and everybody has contributed so much, I figured I better dig out my books and try to do some of the dirty work. The little information I have just concours with what has already been said though, so I'll just post a pic. The photo says " Don Yenko at Sebring in '65". Check out the truck running lights on the roof!
<img src=http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1471938&a=11075850&p=39594715>

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I don't have much info regarding Don Yenko's racing career. I have researched his Sunray DX days, and have always referred to one article with several pic's in it. The article agrees with several other posts, the pic's are posted below with some explanation. (Credit given to Richard Prince for a fine article and excellent photos, VINTAGE Motorsport, April/May 1997.)
M

These two pics are of the '67 DX Vette that was raced by Don Yenko, Dave Morgan and Peter Revson. The car is the first '67 L88 available to the public, and was driven from the St. Louis plant to Yenko Chev. where it was prepared for the race at Sebring. The second pic is of Morgan, Yenko and Revson respectively.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=378134&a=2796938&p=39595858&Sequence=0&res=high
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=378134&a=2796938&p=39595860&Sequence=0&res=high

These two pics are of the Dave Morgan/Hap Sharp DX Vette at Sebring in '68. This car finished 6th overall, and 1st in class some 29 laps down from the overall winners. Yenko did not race with Morgan in '68.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=378134&a=2796938&p=39595857&Sequence=0&res=high
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=378134&a=2796938&p=39595866&Sequence=0&res=high

Here is the #2 DX Vette of Pedro Rodriquez at Sebring in '68, mentioned by JoeC. You can barely see the Thompson/Delorenzo #4 Vette behind the Ferrari #39.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=378134&a=2796938&p=39595862&Sequence=0&res=high

Finally, the #29 DX Vette of Thompson/Delorenzo at Daytona in '68, Yenko was racing with Revson and came in 4th.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=378134&a=2796938&p=39595864&Sequence=0&res=high

[copomusclecars]

Do you recall what edition of Corvette news that was in?

[markus37]

Just noticed this old thread. ..I can clarify a few things. .the 68 Camaro Don won the Citrus 250 in was the Smokey Yunick car which Vic Edelbrock claims to own .Vic's car has been rebodied twice. Smokey said there were only 8 parts on that car that he,made.. the ZL1 CAMARO was a Trans Am car owned by Bob Grossman..was built out of the remains of 67 and 68 purchased from the New Jersey Insurance salvage pool and welded together. later updated with 69 sheetmetal..very fast .much lighter than Corvettes it competed against in the GT class at Daytona, Sebring and Watkins Glen..was originally red.

[JoeC]

There were at least two ex Smokey Yunick 68 Camaros or built from 67-68
both were raced in 1969 racing season both in the same race at least once
Don had one and the other was run by another name driver


Don raced a red ZL1 powered 69 Camaro with Bob Grossman with Best Photo sponsor at Sebring with the ZL1 but also ran in other races with a 302

Don Y and Grossman ran a white/blue hood 69 Camaro with Marlbank sponsor in 1970 Sebring with a ZL1
not sure if it was the same car

it was a very clean looking race car in 1970 Sebring
the red one was pretty beat up looking in some photos so not sure if they rebodied it or built a new car
Don built cars from wrecks, insurance recovery cars, used street cars , used racecars, and some were new such as some of the Corvettes

http://www.sportscardigest.com/1970-24-hours-daytona-race-profile/3/

[markus37]

The red car and the Marlbank car are the same car. Grossman provided the,car and Chevrolet, thru Yenko, the ZL1. The second Yunick Camaro was the Gene White car, driven mostly by Tiny Lund. That is, what Smokey told Warren. Fortunately, I was there for much of the history.

[markus37]

Forgot to mention, Warren and I searched for that car for years. ..I talked to the guy who built the car . Last year at PVGP, a guy stopped to visit..told us where the car,went !

[markus37]

Mike Summers , owner of Best Photo, bought the Yunick car..the deal was that Don drove in the pro events, Mike in the,SCCA amateur events.

[JoeC]

Mark do you know Tony Randazzo I believe they are in PA. ?

http://www.tonyrandazzo308.com/aboutme

on his site they show the 1969 Yenko Grossman ZL1 Camaro with Best Photo and Yenko on it

caption says " This was our Randy's Auto Body 427 Aluminum ZL 1 Camaro co-owned with Drivers BoB Grossman and Don Yenko we Finished First in GT at 12 Hrs. of Sebring Fla. 1969"

[markus37]

I tracked him down in Florida a few years ago..had a nice conversation about the car and how he built it...had some special parts from Chevrolet front spindles ,differential and axles..etc. he was trying to find the car like Warren and I were

[cudino]

I can add some info about Don's SCCA racing history.

For the 1968 season Don was A-Production National Champion of the Midwest (MW) division, scoring 51 points in his '68 427 Corvette roadster. He then went to the SCCA National Championship ARRC race at Riverside, where he came in 5th (Car #9). In this race he ran against Tony Delorenzo's '68 Vette (Car #4), who took 2nd. There are several very nice pictures of both of these cars/drivers during this ARRC race within the Dave Friedman collection at the Henry Ford collections website, including these two links, along with a link to this ARRC racing result:
Picture of Don's car:
https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/427027
Picture of Tony's car:
https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/426996
1968 ARRC Riverside Racing results:
http://www.virhistory.com/cars/arrc/scans/68-res-2.jpg

For the 1969 Season Don was again A-Production National Champion of the MW division in a 427 Corvette, and also went to the National Championship runoff ARRC race in Daytona (Car #91), where he took 2nd place in A-Production class.
1969 ARRC Daytona Racing results:
http://www.virhistory.com/cars/arrc/1969-res.htm

- Wade

[PeteLeathersac]

'
If any help, here's a few old ads w/ some of Don's racing successes I'd posted previously in the old newspaper thread.
:beers:
~ Pete


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