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TRACK TIME FOR CHEVELLE
Watch for more information coming soon about the Coca
Cola Chevelle making a few laps at Bolivar Speedway.
GOLDSBERRY
CREW STORY
During the
OTC Car Show this past spring, I met a couple of Goldsberry’s original crew members for the Coca Cola Chevelle: Bob Sellers and Jim Bruton.
Jim brought
out one of the
original Coca Cola Team
Uniforms that he had kept
all these years. Needless to
say it was a blast listening to their stories about the car
from back in the day.
One of the
best ones was
while on a really hard over-
night run to a race in Alabama the two were pulled over around 3 a.m. doing over 100 mph with car in tow.
Apparently,
as part of the
sponsorship Coca Cola had
also given them a Coke
delivery truck and they used
it to pull the race car. I get
the feeling a certain engine
builder of the day possibly
laid hands on the Coke truck
but I can not confirm it.
Anyway the
State Trooper
asked them what their
hurry was and Bob said,
“Well sir, you see we are
just about out of gas.”
The cop
said, “I can tell
you why!” After hearing
they really were running on
fumes he escorted them a
few miles ahead to a small
town where his brother ran
the filling station.
He rousted
his brother out
of bed and they filled up.
The cop told him he would
let them go under one
condition; he wanted to
sign his name on the Coca-
Cola Chevelle. He did, told
them to keep it under a 100
in Alabama and sent them on their way.
RACEVINTAGE.COM
Preserving the History and Legacy of Midwest Racing one old race car at a time.
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SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
The David Goldsberry, Coca Cola Chevelle Project debuted in January 2010 to rave reviews at the 23rd Annual Ozarks Area Racers Reunion at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E-PLEX. It was in good company...Watson's 57 Chevy, Friebe's big Purple Buick, and the only original survivor of those days, Scott's number 73 Chevelle.
In February it was back to the Fairgrounds for the O'Reilly AutoFest car show. Over 7,000 motorsports fan packed this annual two day show.
We missed the Lebanon I-44 Speedway Press Conference when the project decided all by itself that it was ready to hit the streets (literally). It came unstrapped and rolled off the trailer at a stop light in Springfield, MO. Fortunately no damage, other then my ego as I had to jump out of the truck and chase it down.
Fortunately there are no photos of this event, at least none have surfaced yet...
BASS PRO SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
In April we were at the 11th Annual Rock-N-Ribs Festival in the parking lot at Bass Pro in Springfield, MO. Over 25,000 participants and spectators strolled past Chevelle during the weekend event.
Two weeks later we joined the Auto Technology Department at OTC for their annual car show. The Chevelle showed it was weather proof as strong winds and persistent rains cut the event short. This was supposed to have been the first time the CT525 GM Performance Parts Racing Crate Motor was to be fired in public, unfortunately mother nature had other plans. However I did get to meet a couple David's original crew members from this car. We all got drenched but they had some killer stories to tell...I will update a few of them soon.
CLEVER HIGH SCHOOL BAND CAR SHOW - KILLER!
However a few weeks later at the Clever Band Car and Bike Show at Clever Missouri Highschool, she roared to life for the first time in public. Several of Goldsberry's children and friends were on hand for the spectacle. Just a quick note. After I ran the car for a few minutes I turned it off and of course got tons of cheers from on lookers. I looked behind the car and there was an older fellow sitting on the curb crying. I asked if he was alright and he said he had been a friend of David's and seeing the car brought back so many wonderful memories. Then he continued, when I heard it run, it was just simply overwhelming.
Last minute technical issues involving the car not being licensed and insured like a proper road car kept us out as a scheduled participant at the NSRA Street Rod Nationals in Springfield during Memorial Day Weekend.
SPRINGFIELD RACEWAY BEFORE THE GATES OPENED
Saturday June 26th the Chevelle headed out to Springfield Raceway for the Kuntz Memorial Late Model Challenge between MARS and MLRA Late Models. The fans loved seeing the car and we had a blast. The Chevelle looked like a dirt track car when we got it home after I got it stuck in the mud. Note to self, something you do not want to do in the future is attempt to turn a high horsepower, low geared, asphalt tire wearing, show car around in a field after heavy rains.
OZARK COCA-COLA, DR. PEPPER CELEBRATION
Well Dr. Pepper is 125 years old, Coca Cola has been in the Ozarks for 110 years and Ozark Coca Cola, Dr. Pepper Bottling Company was celebrating 90 plus years in business. It all culminated Saturday July 17th at the
Coca Cola plant on Packer Road with a huge celebration.
Employees, customers and the general public were all invited out to the party which included tours and of course the Coca Cola Chevelle...
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Lebanon I-44 Speedway in August watch for date
Bolivar Speedway in August first lap for the car
To book the Chevelle at your up coming event contact Randy Bowman - randy@gearheadsradio.com
