Jump to content


Photo

'60/'70s Formula B racer Joe Grimaldi


  • Please log in to reply
14 replies to this topic

#1 Mike Summers

Mike Summers
  • Member

  • 129 posts
  • Joined: June 06

Posted 26 September 2011 - 23:12

While researching the history of a car, Kevin Hodgkinson of Chevron book fame, tells me that Joe Grimaldi was a well known Southern California formula car driver and somehow later connected to March racing cars. Anyone out the have any info on how to contact Grimaldi, his family, friends or crew that might have worked or raced with him. Anyone have any pics of him driving a Chevron??

Mike Summers

Advertisement

#2 E1pix

E1pix
  • Member

  • 23,429 posts
  • Joined: January 11

Posted 26 September 2011 - 23:17

I might have photos.... Pro or Amateur? What Years?

The name does sound familiar....

#3 Mike Summers

Mike Summers
  • Member

  • 129 posts
  • Joined: June 06

Posted 26 September 2011 - 23:22

In particular, 68/69/70 he was supposed to be a very successful Chevron FB driver.

thanks

ms

#4 E1pix

E1pix
  • Member

  • 23,429 posts
  • Joined: January 11

Posted 26 September 2011 - 23:45

My thinking was he was a Runoffs competitor but my first year there was 1972 — and my first photos were 1975. I don't know why, but when I think of Joe's name my mind has a Doug Shierson connection. Probably in err....

For photos, you might try Mark Weber in St. Louis. You can find him through SCCA, but I'm not sure his work goes back quick that far (50/50).

RA Historian posts here, he might have photos as well, you could PM him.

Jerry Entin also posts here, he ran F5000 in that period and knows everybody.

I do not see a Joe Grimaldi listed in either my 1968 or 1969 entry lists from Road America in FB, nor my 1972 through '75 Runoffs programs.

Happy Hunting.

Edited by E1pix, 26 September 2011 - 23:50.


#5 raceannouncer2003

raceannouncer2003
  • Member

  • 2,944 posts
  • Joined: March 05

Posted 27 September 2011 - 06:39

Apparently he was from New Jersey. Maybe try Gordon Kirby. He apparently knew him. Here is the link to Kirby's website:

http://gordonkirby.com/

Vince H.

#6 Allen Brown

Allen Brown
  • Member

  • 5,538 posts
  • Joined: December 00

Posted 27 September 2011 - 08:34

Grimaldi was from Midland Park, NJ and raced in pro FB from 1967 to 1974. At first his company was Springdell Racing but some time around 1971 he formed The Race Shop (with Doug Shierson) and was the main March dealer for a while. Douglas Shierson Racing was still using Race Shop engines as late as 1980.

He owned a Chevron B14 in 1968 and a Chevron B15B in 1969, quite possibly the same car updated.

Grimaldi is still alive but don't expect him to have records of cars that passed through his hands. He has been quoted recently as saying that they are long gone.

#7 Allen Brown

Allen Brown
  • Member

  • 5,538 posts
  • Joined: December 00

Posted 27 September 2011 - 08:37

I might have photos.... Pro or Amateur? What Years?


Mosport Park 25 Aug 1968
Lime Rock 02 Sep 1968
Brainerd 22 Sep 1968
Lime Rock 02 Aug 1969
Lime Rock 01 Sep 1969
Mont-Tremblant 07 Sep 1969
and probably SCCA Nationals as well. Car number 72.

I'd be very interested in anything you can turn up as well.

#8 E1pix

E1pix
  • Member

  • 23,429 posts
  • Joined: January 11

Posted 27 September 2011 - 18:46

Alan, as mentioned above I started shooting in 1975. Dang, too young! :)

Thanks for asking regardless. :wave:

#9 Allen Brown

Allen Brown
  • Member

  • 5,538 posts
  • Joined: December 00

Posted 27 September 2011 - 22:12

Sorry - I didn't spot your post #4.

But now I see:

I do not see a Joe Grimaldi listed in either my 1968 or 1969 entry lists from Road America in FB, nor my 1972 through '75 Runoffs programs.

Would you mind sending me scans of the 1972 and 1973 Run-Off entry lists for Formula A, Formula B, A Sports Racing and B Sports Racing? I have the results but not the entry details:
http://www.oldracing...php?RaceID=RR72
http://www.oldracing...php?RaceID=RR73
http://www.oldracing...p?RaceID=RR72FB
http://www.oldracing...p?RaceID=RR73FB
http://www.oldracing...p?RaceID=RR72BS

Many thanks
Allen

#10 Mike Summers

Mike Summers
  • Member

  • 129 posts
  • Joined: June 06

Posted 27 September 2011 - 22:14

Thanks all for your input. My info was that Grimaldi was from So California. Allen, I just sent you a PM. Anyone have contact info for Grimaldi or where to start looking??

Mike

#11 gfastr

gfastr
  • Member

  • 37 posts
  • Joined: January 11

Posted 28 September 2011 - 01:02

Thanks all for your input. My info was that Grimaldi was from So California. Allen, I just sent you a PM. Anyone have contact info for Grimaldi or where to start looking??

Mike

Maybe there's more than one Joe Grimaldi but the best known in American racing circles was from the east coast. Grimaldi was involved with Fred Opert Racing at one time (late 60s?) then partnered (if I recall correctly from that long ago) in a prep shop called Springdel Racing.

His racing career started sometime in the early/mid 1960s in SCCA "modifieds" ( have a photo of him from Thompson 1965 in Chevy-powered D-Jag) then he moved into open-wheel racing, SCCA Formula B & C.

#12 Marc Sproule

Marc Sproule
  • Member

  • 984 posts
  • Joined: April 10

Posted 28 September 2011 - 01:08

I met Joe in '75 when I went to my first Atlantic races. By then he was concentrating on building engines for Doug Shierson's Atlantic program.

Jerry Entin knows Doug's widow Fern and might be provide contact info.

Not sure if GKirby is in contact with him these days but it might be worth contacting GK through his web site.

#13 raceannouncer2003

raceannouncer2003
  • Member

  • 2,944 posts
  • Joined: March 05

Posted 28 September 2011 - 05:42

Found this link. Maybe him?

http://www.apexspeed...ead.php?t=23767

Also, fourth in FB in 1967 at the Daytona Runoffs according to this link:

http://www.virhistor...rc/1967-res.htm

Vince H.

Edited by raceannouncer2003, 28 September 2011 - 05:44.


#14 Jerry Entin

Jerry Entin
  • Member

  • 5,920 posts
  • Joined: December 02

Posted 08 October 2011 - 01:29

Marc: I asked Fern Shierson for you, and she didn't know of his whereabouts. Thought he may have moved to North Carolina though.

#15 hiteknz

hiteknz
  • Member

  • 139 posts
  • Joined: September 03

Posted 22 October 2011 - 06:47

Back in 77 /78 here in NZ ,I had a pair of 48mm Weber carbs that came off a Formula Atlantic engine that apparently were modified by Grimaldi ,they were extensivly modified in the venturi and butterfly area