Jim Gessner

Male

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About Me:

Jim was born in Washington DC in the early 40’s. He grew up in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area and in 1957 moved to New Jersey where he attended High school. College took him to Michigan and Pennsylvania. During these times he worked at many Esso stations and other garage locations. In 1958, he and a good friend started attending road races at Lime Rock, Watkins Glen and other tracks and soon began pit crewing for racing Volvos and Saab. He drag raced his 57 Bel Air, 61 SS 348/350hp Impala convert, and the 62 bubble top 300hp 4 speed Bel Air.

In the fall of 1962, Jim even got a job at the timing tower at Island Dragway in Great Meadows, New Jersey. He remembers the day when “Big Daddy”set the 200mph record. They walked the track in the morning and Don said “Today is the day, Jim…..new records”

In 1965 Jim moved to California and immediately hooked up with West Coast Racers and gear heads. Jims first Corvette, a 65 fuel injection Coupe was bought in 1969. His 1957, 60, 62 and 65 fuel injected cars have been his favorites.

Jim started the Southern California Chapter NCRS in 1981 and has been a National Member since 1976 ( #943) and served on the National Board from 1980-84. In 1987 and again in 2002, Jim helped Steve Earle with the Monterey Historic Races find the old race Corvettes to help celebrate Chevrolet’s 75th and Corvettes 50th birthdays. Many of the CORVETTES in Randy Leffingwell’s book, CORVETTE: 50 YEARS were found by Jim and his network of friends.

Jim is retired now with MS. He is still very active attending Corvette, MuscleCar, and vintage race events across the country where he keeps in touch with his many friends. The car search is never over for “VETTEFINDERJIM” and he continues to find great vintage cars from the 50’s and 60’s.

What car(s) do you own?

I have Multiple Sclerious so have sold all my collector cars. My favorite was my 64 B/P Fuel injected Corvette race car.
see www.vettefinderjim.com for more details

What do you like to do (e.g. vintage race with...)?

network with car friends and find good Corvettes for those that want to buy one. This history of CORVETTE RACE CARS has been a hobby forvever. And the creation of REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS .COM has been very rewarding.

What clubs do you belong to?

NCRS, Solid Axel Corvette Club, HMSA, General Racing

What would you like to do (e.g. go to race school; get into Vintage Racing)?

Wish I could go racing again

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