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Ray Dillon of North Liberty Indiana, is the major force in putting this car together. Given only six weeks to build a winning car and team, Ray had to use his connections to accomplish this feat. First, he provided the chassis from his own vast stock of parts used to build Camaro's and Monte Carlos for stock car racing. Actually, two cars were built in this short time, but the first was not felt to be fast enough. Once satisfied with the chassis, body modifications were necessary to accommodate the larger tires etc. To handle this problem, Ray had Cecil McCall of CCR (stock car fiberglass suppliers) build new front and rear outside fender panels flared to handle racing tires and wheels. These are by the way, available from Dillion Industries for about $100.00 a piece. Dillon contact Bo Laws of Orlando, FL, to build the Avanti engine. Bo's reputation was well supported. Not only did the engine produce over 630 HP (considerably over Bo told me later) but it ran flawlessly for the whole 24 hours. Dillon then persuaded Joe Ruttman, a former South Bend Motor Speedway rival, to be his top driver. Not only did Ruttman do a fantastic job with No. 28, he also led the Daytona 500 for 58 laps two weeks later. This certainly illustrates his skill. Herb Adams of Pontiac fame and Mike Meldeau were also selected to drive the Avanti. Meldeau, an Orlando Goodyear tire dealer is given credit for selling Stephen Blake on the idea of running the Avanti in the 24 hour race. To quote Stephen Blake "Ray has done an unbelievable incredible job on this Avanti." Saturday Feb. 5 Lap #30 - The Avanti fails to come around. We assume it has gone into the pits but when we check, it's not there. We can not find it anywhere on the track. Press Notes Page 3 item 66 gives the answer later: "No. 28, the Avanti entry, hits wall near entrance to high bank and goes behind wall. (time 4:30 P.M.) As Lydia Hinshaw reported the next morning in the Sunday News Journal: "TOO MUCH FUN LAND RUTTMAN, AVANTI ON THE BANK" "Joe Ruttman was laughing and dancing a jig for television
cameras in his pits after coming out of Avanti #28, The Oakboro NC
driver was obviously having the time of his life with the Avanti.
In fact, he had too much fun on lap 30 as he spun into the
banking. Ruttman had trouble restarting and the car wound up back
in the garage where the problem was found to be the battery. Mostly rear suspension and drivetrain. I go home about 11:30
P.M. for 4 hours sleep. I arrive back at 4:00 A.M. The car is in
the pits and the rearend is all apart. I am prevented from taking
any pictures as no flash bulbs etc. are allowed. I go to breakfast
and go by the News Journal for a handful! of Sunday morning papers
showing the Avanti on the sand bank and the story by Linda Hinshaw
? which I take back to the crew. The Finish: The Avanti finishes 27th. It has run 410 laps in 24
hours. The winning car is a Porsche Turbo 618. The best placing
American built car is a Chevy Monza that covers 553 laps. It had
started 31st. PIT NOTES:
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