December 31, 1968

[copo-2]

Remembering back a long time ago, I was in Oklahoma City attending an AHRA National event. Having a little knowledge about the car beforehand and success it was having from the Drag World publication that those who had membership of AHRA was continually updated on class records and proceedings of member tracks. Being in the pits, I heard from the timing tower the call for the “Pro Stockers.” to the staging lanes. Knowing this car was in attendance, this would be the first opportunity to see it perform in competition? Hurrying to the bleachers, waiting for it to stage for the run, the burnout process began. During this process, the ZL-1 broke the passenger side axle. Like a boomerang, the tire and stub part of axle departed away from the car for a distance twisting and turning only to return back to the car and ending with the axle stub penetrating into the body.

[1stGenFan]

When I attended the 1st Fred Gibb Memorial Car Show in 1999, with "Little Hoss", I spoke to Helen about the dealership's racecars. Discussing the #1 ZL1, she said she asked Bill to show her the passenger door repair that was done, due to some damage that occurred on the track. This must have been from the broken axel. This request of Bill would have been when he visited the Gibb's early on with his newfound ownership of the #1 ZL1. This convinced her the car Bill had was their old car, as well as the VIN, found in the New Car Log book.