34 replies to this topic

[terry mcgrath]

dear all,
I am keen to find all the information available on Chet Flynn particularly what he was doing car racing wise pre 1956 when he ran a mercedes 300SL at Sebring.
All information most welcome
regards


1956 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa s/n 0652 MD/TR

| 0652 MD TR MAIN | RACING HISTORY |

1957-1958
After the Cuban Grand Prix 0652 MDTR sold by Luigi Chinetti to General Motors executive Chester Flynn. Flynn drove 0652 in numerous races from mid-1957 though 1958.

May 19, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the Cumberland, MD SCCA Road Races wearing race No. 212 with unknown results.

June 23, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the Elkhart Lake June Sprints wearing race No. 156. In race number two, Flynn finished 5th overall.

July 5, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the Watkins Glenn, “Glenn Classic where he finished 1st in class.

July 14, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the Marlboro, MD SCCA Road Races wearing race No. 77, Flynn drove in race number five to an 11th overall. In the main event he scored a 9th overall.

Aug. 4, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the VIR, Danville, Virginia Races again wearing race No. 77 where he scored an 11th overall in race number two.



Aug. 18, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the SCCA Montgomery, New York Races again wearing race No. 77 where he again finished 11th overall.

Sept. 21, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the Watkins Glenn, Queen Catherine Race wearing race No. 97 where he finished 15th overall.

Sept. 21, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the Watkins Glenn “Queen Catherine Preliminary race wearing race No. 97 where he scored a 15th overall. It is believed that Ed Hugus then drove Flynn’s car in the Main Event, theWatkins Glenn Grand Prix Race wearing race No. 97 where he failed to finish.

Sept. 29, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn at Bridgehampton wearing race No. 77 where he again finished 15th overall.

Dec. 1957
Shipped by Chet Flynn and entered in the Nassau Bahamas Speed Week races.

Dec. 6, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the Governor’s Trophy Race wearing race No. 77 where he Failed to finish.

Dec. 7, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the Ferrari Race wearing race No. 77 where he Failed to finish.

Dec. 8, 1957
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the Nassau Trophy Race wearing race No. 77 where he Failed to finish.

Feb. 24, 1958
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn in the Cuban Grand Prix wearing race No. 46 where he scored a 14th overall.

Mar. 22, 1958
Chet Flynn is paired with long term friend, E.D. Martin in Martin’s brand new 250 TR, chassis No. 0730 for the 12 Hours of Sebring. 58 laps into the race, Flynn had a catastophic accident ending upside down in the infield. Flynn was badly injured and would spend at least the next four months recovering.

Jun. 15, 1958
Entered by Flynn but believed driven by Frank Baptista in the Lime Rock, CT SCCA races wearing race No. 46 to a 9th overall.

Sep. 6, 1958
Entered and raced by Chet Flynn at Elkhart Lake wearing race No. 77 where it is not known how he finished. This is the last known race for Flynn in 0652. Shortly thereafter the car was acquired by William “Bill” Burroughs and campained by him at numerous races from the Spring to Mid-Summer of 1959.

[raceannouncer2003]

Apparently a GM executive based in Venezuela and New York. Some results here:

http://www.oldracing...s... Flynn (YV)

There is also a "Flynn" in a Jaguar listed as third at Bridgehampton in 1952.

Also, this photo:

http://groups.msn.co...oto&PhotoID=637

Vince H.

[terry mcgrath]

WOW

thanks for this

but anyone else interested in racing or jaguars should check out

http://groups.msn.co...oto&PhotoID=637

[terry mcgrath]

He ran an XK120 at these 2 events does anyone have a picture of him at either event

24 may 1952 Bridgehampton 25 Jaguar XK120 Chester Flynn 3rd in Hamptons Cup Race production cars

20 setember 1952 GP Watkins Glen 31 Jaguar XK120 Chester Flynn ST C

[Andrew Stevens]

I thought there would have to be a Jaguar connection Terry

[terry mcgrath]

andrew,
how is it going with all the snow you can build a snowman in the front yard somthing you would never do in perth.
There is always a jaguar connection you should know that.
regards

[terry mcgrath]

another competition outing for Flynn was at Sebring in 1959 in a Porsche 718K

1959 10th (4th Sports 1500cc) Sebring 12 Hours
(Chester J. Flynn Porsche 718 RSK, with Ed Hugus)
DNF Le Mans 24 Hours (Ed Hugus Porsche 718 RSK, with
Ed Hugus)

[raceannouncer2003]

Another photo:

http://groups.msn.co...oto&PhotoID=794

Vince H.

[branko]

Another forum from venezuela has pictures and some info.
http://server4.foros...orum=muchasrpms
branko

[terry mcgrath]

thanks for all the responses and very interesting to see the Venezuelian connection presumably whilst working there for General Motors he saw fit to enter races as a Venezuealan? as almost certainly he must have been American? I would love find out more 1960 onwards but I can say before racing an XK in the USA he raced here in Australia whilst also working here for General Motors
terry

[terry mcgrath]

I can go back a bit in time in september 1944
Chester J. Flynn of 1 brighton rd, Trenton 6, New Jersey
owned a 1935 Auburn Speedster supercharged model 851

Love to hear anything of his General Motors days of post 1960
terry

[terry mcgrath]

I received this email courtsey of Atlas F1

My name is Eduardo Muñoz, and my late father worked with Chester Flynn between 1952-1953 and 1956 in General Motors Venezuela. My father raced with him in the 300 SL in Sebring in 1955.

As far as I know, Chester Flynn worked in GM Venezuela starting in 52-53 as Production Manager. He brought a Jaguar XK-120 (52?), and then a Mercedes 300SL (55), raced with both cars in Venezuela. He raced in Sebring 55, and then he returned to US, raced in Sebring 56, and several other races with a Ferrari until he had a bad accident in 59-60 and apparently retired.

[Jerry Entin]

Terry:
Chet Flynn was Executive Vice President of the Automobile Racing Club of Florida, organizers of the Sebring 12 Hours. From the 1962 Sebring race program:

Although he retired as an active driver only three years ago, Chet was racing motorcycles for Excelsior, Harley-Davidson and Reading Standard back in the 20's, when most of today's drivers were confining their wheeled activities to the baby carriage course. From two wheels to four, Chet moved up to Fonty Fords on the Midwest's dirt track circuit.

His job as an international automotive executive taking him all over the world, Chet was introduced to road racing in the 40's in France, Germany and Sweden. He made his mark with a resounding second overall in the Australian GP of 1950 at Bathhurst. This was in one of the very first Jaguar XK120's built. Back to the U.S. in the early 50's, Chet drove all the major U.S. road races in the post-war rebirth of the sports here.

Posted in South America in 1954 and '55, Chet became the national champion of Venezuela in a later Jaguar and one of the early 300SL MBs, representing that country on their national team at Sebring in those two years. Always having a fine nose for the latest in automotive design, Chet became one of the first private owners of Ferraris, campaigning a string of successful 2 and 3 liter models, one of which carried him to 14 U.S. championship events in 1957, in which he was never out of the money [ed: silver?]

Ironically Chet's racing career came to an end at Sebring in 1958, the course he was most familiar with and loved the best. Approaching the hairpin at better than 130 mph in a fast 3 liter Ferrari, his brakes locked and the car went into a multiple flip. Not seriously injured, he hung up his goggles and crash hat, and with characteristic firmness of decision, retired from active competition after a career spanning nearly forty years behind the wheel. His driving days behind him, Chet was free to devote more time to his executive post with the ARCF.

Cars are Chet's business and hobby. Even in his civilian job, a senior executive of General Motors Overseas Division, is in the world of automobiles. Fortunately, his charming wife Dorie likes cars in general. She never misses a race in which Chet is behind the wheel, or behind the scenes, seeing that the big and complicated 12 Hour Race blasts off on schedule."

all research Willem Oosthoek

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Jerry Entin
He made his mark with a resounding second overall in the Australian GP of 1950 at Bathhurst. This was in one of the very first Jaguar XK120's built

A result which seems to have escaped all the contemporary reports.
Especially as there wasn't an AGP at Bathurst in 1950
There was in 1952, but he wasn't second in that either
Is the rest of his pre-US racing resumé made up too?

[Jerry Entin]

David:
Dunno, just copying what the race program mentioned.

all research Willem Oosthoek

[terry mcgrath]

david and jerry,
this was why I started this thread a C.J. Flynn ran an XK120 at the Bathurst Road Races 26 march 1951 and he did come second, first was our own Hope Bartlett in his last ever race.
I discovered he was an american and I thought I would find out who he was so to speak
regards

[David McKinney]

Jerry and Willem
I wasn't doubting your words, but his

Terry
I checked John Medley's book for 1950 (the year he claimed) and 1952 (the year the AGP was held there), but not 1951. On checking that now I see he was sixth in the production sportscar handicap, but with second-fastest net time behind Bartlett's XK120

[emunoz]

Good Evening:

I have some newspaper clippings of Venezuelan the early 50´s , and the earliest race that I saw of Chester Flynn in Venezuela is in April 1954, in the II Vuelta a Aragua, a two lap 80 km road race with a Jaguar XK-120. I understand that he returned to US after 1955.

[emunoz]

The Viejas Fotos Actuales forum is being closed by MSN (as many other MSN Forums).

It has been moved to a Multiply Forum, here is the address of the Motores section, were many photos of the 40's, 50's and 60's racing in Venezuela are posted:

http://1viejasfotosa...9&page_start=20

There are several photos there of the 300SL of Chester Flynn, No. 32, look in the Sebring 55 thread:

http://1viejasfotosa...al/item/597/597

Regards,

Eduardo Muñoz

[emunoz]

Here is a website with some more photos of Sebring 55, including the 300SL:

http://www.racingspo...3-13-photo.html

[Ron B.]

Originally posted by terry mcgrath
david and jerry,
this was why I started this thread a C.J. Flynn ran an XK120 at the Bathurst Road Races 26 march 1951 and he did come second, first was our own Hope Bartlett in his last ever race.
I discovered he was an american and I thought I would find out who he was so to speak
regards

That wasn't a typo by any chance? A Certain Errol Flynn raced in Australia. But not this guy..

[emunoz]

C.J. Flynn = Chester J. Flynn, not Errol Flynn although probably they had similar ages .... I estimate that Chester Flynn may have been born 1900 - 1910

Edited by emunoz, 09 June 2011 - 01:59.

[tazio1]

Originally posted by branko
Another forum from venezuela has pictures and some info.
http://server4.foros...orum=muchasrpms
branko

I am new to this forum. It was recommended to me by one of your distinguished members!
The very first thread I opened impressed the heck out of me. I think I could get lost in this site.
These rare pics from this Argentina (or is it Venezuela) forum are priceless!
Thanks D

[emunoz]

Hi tazio1:

The pictures are from the "golden" era of racing in Colombia and Venezuela of 1950´s, 1960´s and 1970's.

You are welcome to participate and share pictures and information if you have any.

Argentinians have very good sites of Fangio, here is one of the best:

http://www.jmfangio.org/

Regards,

Eduardo Muñoz

[tazio1]

Originally posted by emunoz
Hi tazio1:

The pictures are from the "golden" era of racing in Colombia and Venezuela of 1950´s, 1960´s and 1970's.

You are welcome to participate and share pictures and information if you have any.

Argentinians have very good sites of Fangio, here is one of the best:

http://www.jmfangio.org/

Regards,

Eduardo Muñoz

Those are some beautiful cars JMF drove. I'm Partial to the Lancia D24
When I was growing up (San Diego Ca). My friends father had a 66 Lancia convertable. First sports car I ever drove. I just sold my ALFA : But I bought a 2008 Aprilia 750 Shiver
Best,
Vic

[emunoz]

Those are some beautiful cars JMF drove. I'm Partial to the Lancia D24
When I was growing up (San Diego Ca). My friends father had a 66 Lancia convertable. First sports car I ever drove. I just sold my ALFA : But I bought a 2008 Aprilia 750 Shiver
Best,
Vic

Good evening:

There is an additional thread in the Venezuelan Forum were we are trying to find out about a Ferrari that was entered in the 1955 Sebring race. It was identified as a Ferrari 340 America, but it could be a Ferrari Mondial. The car crashed in practice sessions, driven by Reina Morales and DNS. The car was registered in the race by Chester Flynn.

There is also a photo of the Ferrai 250Tr driven by Chester Flynn.

See more information here (in spanish sorry ....)

http://www.pasionala...v...?f=16&t=157

Updated the link, 08-jun-11

Edited by emunoz, 09 June 2011 - 02:02.

[emunoz]

Good evening:

There is an additional thread in the Venezuelan Forum were we try to find out about a Ferrari that was entered in the 1955 Sebring race. It was identified as a Ferrari 340 America, but it could be a Ferrari Mondial. The car crashed in practice sessions, driven by Reina Morales and DNS. The car was registered in the race by Chester Flynn.

There is also a photo of the Ferrai 250Tr driven by Chester Flynn.

See more information here (in spanish sorry ....)

http://server4.foros...orum=muchasrpms

Good Evening:

Check in this website a photo of Chester Flynn in his Jaguar XK-120, at the 2nd Vuelta Aragua in 1954. He managed to finish in 5th place in this race !


http://www.pasionala...v...?f=31&t=313

Updated link, 08-Jun-11

Edited by emunoz, 09 June 2011 - 02:09.

[emunoz]

Good Evening:

Check in this website a photo of Chester Flynn in his Jaguar XK-120, at the 2nd Vuelta Aragua in 1954. He managed to finish in 5th place in this race !

http://www.pasionala...v...?f=31&t=313

Link edited 08-Jun-11

The Forum has moved to a paid server with more control of photos and posts, and many new options.

Her is the link for the section of Chester´s Flynn Mercedes 300SL:

http://www.pasionala...v...?f=28&t=108

Regards,

Edited by emunoz, 09 June 2011 - 02:14.

[Lorraine]

Is this forum still live? Chet Flynn was my grandfather! I know a few things about his career, and of course his private and work life. If anyone is interested please let me know! I also have questions. BTW, that car accident left him blind in one eye, and he never drove a car again... he looked normal as he had a replacement, and he never even admitted it to any of us. He was a very strong man!

[caribe70]

Is this forum still live? Chet Flynn was my grandfather! I know a few things about his career, and of course his private and work life. If anyone is interested please let me know! I also have questions. BTW, that car accident left him blind in one eye, and he never drove a car again... he looked normal as he had a replacement, and he never even admitted it to any of us. He was a very strong man!

Good afternoon Lorraine,

 

Check this link of a Venezuelan Forum, about your Grandfathers Mercedes 300 Sl in the 12 hours of Sebring 1955: http://www.pasionala....php?f=48&t=108

 

Best Regards,

 

Eduardo Muñoz

Edited by caribe70, 17 April 2021 - 00:43.

[caribe70]

Good evening,

 

Here is a link to a Youtube video, form a race that took place in the Los Proceres city circuit, in Caracas, Venezuela, in February 1955.

 

If you look closely you can see Chester Flynn´s red Mercedes 300 Sl No. 146, and in minute 0:24 aprox. you can see him waving to the camera:

 

 

Best regards,

 

Eduardo Muñoz

[emunoz]

Is this forum still live? Chet Flynn was my grandfather! I know a few things about his career, and of course his private and work life. If anyone is interested please let me know! I also have questions. BTW, that car accident left him blind in one eye, and he never drove a car again... he looked normal as he had a replacement, and he never even admitted it to any of us. He was a very strong man!

Good morning Lorraine,

 

I sent you a direct message regarding your Grandfather, Chester Flynn, please check   

 

Regards,

 

Eduardo Munoz

[terry mcgrath]

Lorraine just seen this love to make contact regards terry Australia tmcgrath@bigpond.com

Good morning Lorraine,

 

I sent you a direct message regarding your Grandfather, Chester Flynn, please check 

 

Regards,

 

Eduardo Munoz

[emunoz]

Good evening,

 

Check in this Facebook Group a photo of Chester Flynn and his Jaguar XK-120 in the ll Vuelta a Aragua, March 1954,  in Venezuela:

 

https://www.facebook...209820622544509

Edited by emunoz, 17 June 2023 - 04:01.

[emunoz]

Good evening,

 

In the link shown below, you can see two photos of Chester´s Flynn Mercedes 300 SL, the first was taken by Bernard Cahier in the race and appeared in an issue of Road and Track

 

The second is before leaving for Sebring 1955. It was taken outside the General Motors Plant in Caracas, Venezuela. From Left to Right, Chester Flynn, Eduardo Muñoz Sanchez-Monge and Luis Gonzalez:

 

http://www.pasionala...=108&p=412#p412

 

Regards,

 

Eduardo Muñoz