Image:DrDickThompsonTheFlyingDentistVIR2007.jpg

Legendary Corvette Driver Returned to VIR Danville, Va. (April 4) – Dr. Dick Thompson, the “Flying Dentist” who drove Corvettes and Porsches to numerous victories in sports car races of the 50s and 60s returns to one of the classic race tracks of the era, VIRginia International Raceway, for that track’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, the Heacock Classic Gold Cup Historic Race, June 8, 9 and 10.

The “Flying Dentist” started racing in 1956, winning the Sports Car Club of America’s national championships in that year, plus 1957, 1960, 1961 and 1962 in A, B and C Production classes. He won a feature race at Sebring in class in 1957, drove a Corvette Grand Sport to a Watkins Glen victory in 1963, the same year he captured third at Daytona. Again at Daytona, he won GT in 1970. Putting his knowledge of the cars and racing to good use, he wrote The Corvette Guide in 1958, as a handbook for Corvette racers. He was inducted into the Corvette Museum’s Hall of Fame in 2000.

While he was best known as a Corvette specialist, Dr. Thompson also drove other cars, usually Porsches, and drove both marques at VIR’s first weekend of racing. At VIR, he won the B Production heat race in a Corvette and took third in a Porsche Carrera GT in the F Sports class. Thompson duplicated those finishing positions in the feature races for those classes. In the weekend’s top race, the 24–lap “Grand Prix” Thompson secured an entry in a Jaguar XKSS and finished fourth overall and in class, behind Carroll Shelby, Walt Hansgen and Charles Wallace, in a Maserati 450S and a pair of newer Jaguar D–types.

Dr. Thompson also surprised VIR with a 50th Anniversary present – a donation of the sterling silver trophy he won at the track in 1966. “We are excited and honored to have Dr. Thompson join us for the Gold Cup and are very thankful for the donation of this important piece of VIR history,” said VIR’s General Manager Josh Lief.

Web: <a href="http://www.virclub.com">www.virclub.com</a> (Photo by Sherry Lambert)

originally posted to Flickr as Dr. Dick Thompson - “Flying Dentist” @ VIR - 2007

1980-01-01 00:10:25

Sherry Lambert Stapleton