"Inspirations" for my ERA 289

Bobcat · #1 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 07:31 AM

Bartfuff1 ... you mentioned Tombstone Shaw in your post . Back in the mid/late 60`s when I raced Porsches at VIR , there was a driver who raced a Cobra at VIR . If my memory is correct , his complete name was Graham ( Tombstone ) Shaw and the Cobra was orange ( ? ) . It may have been Rangoon Red as that color has an orange tone to it , so maybe I thought it was orange . I just remember holding on to the wheel hard as he blew by me on the back straight . Is this the same guy ? Just curious , if so , what happened to him ?
Bob

Bartruff1 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 07:53 AM

With a name like that, there must be a story but I don't know what happened to him....I have a Portofino Blue Superformance with a red nose bar that I intended to look lilke the Gurney/Grant car #146 and when I was doing my "research" I would come across "Tombstone" quite often, but I haven't got around to digging up the story (Google?). CSX 2323 in it's original livery is at Bruce Canepa's Museum in Scott's Valley Ca. It was a riot to see those cars in the 60's. The Italians had never heard a big (289) American V8 and they would just go nuts when the mechanics would start them up. I might see Bondurant this winter and if so I will ask him.

Bartruff1 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 08:08 AM

CSX2130 and CSX2131 the Willment Car's that raced in Europe...39PH.. I have a great time thundering around the back roads of the Northewest living out my Walter Mitty dreams...thanks Mr. Shelby.

Bartruff1 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobcat

Bartfuff1 ... you mentioned Tombstone Shaw in your post . Back in the mid/late 60`s when I raced Porsches at VIR , there was a driver who raced a Cobra at VIR . If my memory is correct , his complete name was Graham ( Tombstone ) Shaw and the Cobra was orange ( ? ) . It may have been Rangoon Red as that color has an orange tone to it , so maybe I thought it was orange . I just remember holding on to the wheel hard as he blew by me on the back straight . Is this the same guy ? Just curious , if so , what happened to him ? Bob

You had a unique and trademark experience with Tombstone....just Google Graham Tombstone Shaw and you will find him. He was a realestate developer in the south and raced in the 50's and 60's almost killing himself and retiring . You can find him on the drivers list at VIR....