Ford Flathead! Unfortunately, Ron passed before he could see through his dream to race. And what an engine! This beauty is powered by a 296 c.i. He’d been planning for a while too… the engine (built by Chris Zootis Performance Center in Healdsburg, CA) was dropped into the Studebaker in 1994. Not to the Studebaker, but to the guy who would put him in touch with #653.Īs it turns out, Blue Beauty was built by Ron Zampa who planned on racing it himself.

The search led him to a neighboring garage. With salt flat racing on his bucket list, Gord went a-searchin’. Sitting on the patio, basking in the California sun, enjoying Napa wine, when suddenly Gord and his Wife’s peace was disturbed by the loud sound of a racing engine. For Gord, his timely meeting with Blue Beauty happened while on vacation… in Napa of all places. This 1953 Studebaker Coupe looks like she was born on the salt! In fact, this was her first time there – as well as Gord’s! People end up on the salt from every corner of the earth it seems, and with all sorts of fascinating stories about how they got there.

The moment my Studebaker and I drove out on to the salt this year during 2010 Speed Week, what was the first thing I did? Look for other Studebakers of course! And what was the first one I found but Gord Driedger’s Blue Beauty. Bonneville Salt Flat Racing Vintage Studebaker

Studebaker bonneville salt flats