AVANTI AT DAYTONA 24 HOURS !
by By Dick Datson

.Preface: Dick Datson has been involved in one form or another in the quest for maximizing performances of any and all Studebaker power plants. He has authored and published many articles under the banner of Total Performance Avanti, Hawk, Due Canto The Studebaker Performance Publications etc., as well as running organizations with the stated interest in demonstrating the capabilities and endurance of Studebaker engines. So, it was kind of poetic justice that he was at Daytona from the arrival of the Avanti GTO, attending the actual race and was on a first name basis with many of the major players. Dick has graciously allowed Avanti Magazine reprint permission of his day by day blow by blow account of this significant event in Avanti History. We thank him. Editor

Monday, Jan. 31:
I've had the weekend to think about the Avanti. Though the credentials are impressive, it's hard to get really excited. According to the news release, the car has been built by Dillon Enterprises, the engine by my long time friend Bo Laws of Orlando, and the drivers are to be Joe Ruttman, Mike Meldeau, and Herb Adams. All are first class drivers with considerable experience. Maybe that is what's bothering me - this whole thing sounds like the kind of fantasyland story you would expect to hear at some old car meet. Well, I wait until a decent hour, after 9 AM, and call Bo Laws. Fred, the long time shop foreman answers and I ask where the Avanti is. There's a long pause and Fred comes back with "You'd better get over there (the track) -they're running right now. So, not knowing how long this "fantasy" is going to last I grab the camera with the half roll of color film in it, and head for Daytona International Speedway. I have no credentials as they won't be available until Tuesday, so I talk my way in. I find the Avanti sitting in the sheltered NASCAR portion of the pits.

Sure enough, its very professionally done, though obviously missing a few details here and there. I watch for a while as the mechanics install bracing behind the wide plexiglass rear window. It becomes obvious as they work on this and other last minute jobs that they are both experienced in race car work. I also note they are dipping into a sizeable stock of parts from a nearby semi-trailer. This is no "low bucks" adventure.!

Eventually the car is ready. At a guess I would say about lunch time. Joe Ruttman takes it out on the track and one time around. I scamper to a point where I could get a good picture. No luck, as he is back in the pits before I can do anything. Another change or two to the suspension and he's back out - for one more lap.
And so it goes for the rest of the day. The cars cornering problems are licked (apparently) and everyone seems pleased. The front end is lifting at high speed due to the front of the car being too high off the ground. It's the middle of the afternoon and the crew pull much of the front spoiler etc. off the car to make changes.
There is little chance of them getting it back together in time for another run so I leave.

Tuesday Feb. 1:
Today is "credentials" day so there is no more practice until Wednesday.

That bothers Blake, who came up with a solution to the problem six weeks ago. He would enter the Avanti in the 24 Hours of Daytona. We want people to know we're in business, said Blake. We're racing for two reasons, business awareness and because we've designed new front and rear suspensions that need to be tested."
Stephen Blake spoke repeatedly about his need to change Avanti's image. Many changes are apparently under way at Avanti and you can be certain that it will shortly be sporting, and more competitive with imported and domestic "sports cars" and less attractive to the power ashtray, wide whitewall set to quote a piece from "National Speed Sports

Wednesday Feb. 2:
I'm at the track fairly early today as I could bear them practicing very early from my home. The Avanti is on the track when I arrive, but pulls in after a couple of laps. Nothing is done that I can see so I assume that they are ready to attempt to qualify. They haven't spent much time on the track practicing compared to some others I've seen and I wonder if they know what the hell they are doing- The car seems to run and handle well, but there's no way of determining how the Avanti stacks up against the competition at this point.

Eventually the Avanti is fired up and Joe Ruttman takes it back on to the track. It makes three quick laps and pulls back into the pits. The announcer comes in on the public address system:

"AVANTI NO. 28 HAS JUST SHATTERED THE
EXISTING GTO CLASS RECORD"

I'm shocked. Everyone is shocked. There's bedlam in the pits. This was not supposed to happen. Suddenly the racing world is taking the Avanti seriously

 

 

 

 

Thursday Feb. 3:
The Morning Journal carries an interview of Steve Blake by Lydia Hinshaw. It starts out like this:

"HEY WORLD THAT'S AN AVANTI" People go racing for a lot of reasons, but Stephen Blake probably is the first to do it because of a car's identity crisis. If you spot one in a car show says Blake, it will probably be surrounded by onlookers wondering out loud what it is.

That bothers Blake, who came up with a solution to the problem six weeks ago. He would enter the Avanti in the 24 Hours of Daytona. We want people to know we're in business, said Blake. We're racing for two reasons, business awareness and because we've designed new front and rear suspensions that need to be tested."

Stephen Blake spoke repeatedly about his need to change Avanti's image. Many changes are apparently under way at Avanti and you can be certain that it will shortly be sporting, and more competitive with imported and domestic "sports cars" and less attractive to the power ashtray, wide whitewall set to quote a piece from "National Speed Sports

News". "The end result of the Avanti race car project will be a flashy street version of the $22,000 car in an effort by Blake to change the demographics of the Avanti buyer from a wealthy, 50ish (individual) to a younger group." .1
Both Dillon and Avanti employees I talked to during the week were more blunt and colorful in their description of the Avanti "image" problem and its close association with "antique car clubs and collectors." I don't think these people will find the "new" Avanti Corp. anxious to enhance its "instant antique" image anymore.

Thursday and Friday are uneventful except for the fact that Avanti #28 is screwed out of its record setting lap. The third lap (with Ruttman slowing down) is picked for the qualifying lap, rather than the fastest (record setting lap). The Avanti team protests, but to no avail. They will start Saturday 14th behind two slower GTO class Camaro's, #45 &#4, in positions 9 and 10. They had both qualified with 1:50 laps, 3 seconds slower than the Avanti's best time. Well nothing to do but wait for race day.



 

 

 

 

 

Next Page
Back to the Avanti at Daytona 1983 Main Page

Any Questions Email: MarkvanDev@StudebakerClubs.com
© Copyright Dick Datson 1999, All Rights Reserved