Tribute To Zora Arkus-Duntov Event At The Petersen Auto Museum

[John]

On July 27/28th, at the Petersen, there will be a series of different events as part of that tribute weekend.

Petersen Museum Hosts Tribute to Zora Arkus Duntov
By ANDY BOLIG JUNE 26, 2019
The name Zora Arkus Duntov is synonymous with Corvette performance. Zora is noted by many as the father of the Corvette. He didn’t create it, but he created it into the iconic performer that it still is today.

Zora first saw the Corvette at the 1953 Motorama at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, where Chevrolet was revealing the car to the public. He was instantly enamored, and his experience as a noted racecar driver allowed him to see the hidden potential of the little two-seater. Soon after securing a job at GM, Zora began building the Corvette brand into the powerhouse that he envisioned.

Many of Zora’s exploits have been recorded over time, and we have many of his efforts still with us, standing as examples of his forward thinking and engineering mind. In fact, the mid-engine Corvette that is just now coming to fruition, was a dream that Zora held onto until the day he passed. We are still seeing his influence today!

The Petersen museum is celebrating Zora’s contributions to Corvette during their Zora Duntov Tribute Weekend, being held on July 27, 28. They will be celebrating the man who made Corvette the icon it has become through several events spanning two days, starting with a night of entertainment, food by Drago, and a Corvette display. A special VIP reception will be followed the next day by a Corvette rally, cruise-in, and a once-in-a-lifetime panel discussion. There are several ticket options available and you can check out the Petersen website to purchase tickets and for any additional information.

For much more information on the event’s components and pricing, please go here: https://www.corvetteonline.com/news/...-arkus-duntov/

[Klinn]

I wonder if GM will lend some Corvette concept cars to the museum for this event? Would make a nice supplement to their own collection.

[ZORA 69]

I did my own little Tribute to Zora. My Florida Vanity plate on my 2019 that will be transferred to my 2020 is ZORA 69. I get some inquiries on the meaning of 69 part starting with the DMV that is hesitant to issue tags with certain content. The 69 of course stands for the year (1969) that GM took the first mid engine to the New York Show in May of that year. I thought for sure in honor of ZORA GM would have made the New York show the place for the reveal as it was the 50th anniversary. And, I feel that they may have had that in mind when they showed up in Manhattan with Mary Barra and drove the mule car around .

[John]

I wonder if GM will lend some Corvette concept cars to the museum for this event? Would make a nice supplement to their own collection.

Actually so far the reverse has happened, that one night after the Museum was closed, perhaps around two years ago, GM “borrowed back” both the C5 mid engine concept car done by John Cafaro and the other C5 ME concept done by Tom Peters. It was probable they went to the GM Michigan Tech Center or to its Heritage Center. When and where might we see them next?

Good question Klein, and might these two and/or other ME concepts return to NCM prior to the 25th Anniversary event?