Zora Arkus-Duntov The Brilliant Innovator

**Steve Shauger** · #1 10-10-2022, 06:34 PM

This article focuses on the transformation and innovation of brake technology over time. The depth and scope of his automotive knowledge is staggering. This is a small sample of what he contributed and insight into his analytical mind, resolving issues and improving performance.

**dykstra** · #2 10-11-2022, 10:52 AM

These old articles are so cool! Thanks for posting.

**juliosz** · #3 10-11-2022, 02:14 PM

If you get a chance, the book "Zora, The Legend Behind the Corvette" by Jerry Burton is a great read. One of the funnier stories is based on the adversarial relationship he and Bill Mitchell had. Apparently Mitchell used to call Zora, Zorro during their heated exchanges which really got under his skin.

**napa68** · #4 10-11-2022, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juliosz

If you get a chance, the book "Zora, The Legend Behind the Corvette" by Jerry Burton is a great read. One of the funnier stories is based on the adversarial relationship he and Bill Mitchell had. Apparently Mitchell used to call Zora, Zorro during their heated exchanges which really got under his skin.

It's a great book! I suspect Zora would have been a hoot to hang out with

**Keith Seymore** · #5 10-13-2022, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by napa68

I suspect Zora would have been a hoot to hang out with

I think you are right.

When I joined the Engineering/Assembly Production Engineering group, the gentleman I replaced had worked for Duntov years earlier. He said if you had to be on your toes if you heard Duntov "rump rumpity" rumping around in the building area or near the track because he would run you over.

Sadly (to me, anyway) this track has been removed and turned into a pedestrian walking trail, indicative of the emasculation of General Motors, IMHO.

K

**Keith Seymore** · #6 10-13-2022, 04:42 PM

He said Duntov would come in to their program reviews to get an update on their various projects.

He would ask "How urr u do-ink?".

The would respond with their long, detailed, technical information.

He would nod, and when they were done excuse them by saying "Do da bist u caan".

I told this story to some of the guys I work with, so when I say that they know were it comes from.

K

**dykstra** · #7 10-13-2022, 11:02 AM

I met The Man at Bloomington Gold in 1985.
I was 12 years old at the time and waited in line for an hour and a half!
Looking back, I would have waited three hours if I had to.
Great times for sure.
This must have been in my down time working for Bill and Jan S. selling BG shirts.lol

**olredalert** · #8 10-13-2022, 03:31 PM

----So you were slacking off, Dave? LOL!....Bill S

**dykstra** · #9 10-13-2022, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olredalert

----So you were slacking off, Dave? LOL!....Bill S

In between the corn dogs and snow cones and chasing Zora around, I might have been slacking a little……

**olredalert** · #10 10-13-2022, 09:40 PM

I spent many hours with Zora at different Corvette shows. He really liked Danny Gale (one of the main boosters of the Corvette Museum, and a good friend of mine, RIP)) to be at the shows with him as they drank about the same copious amounts of alcohol. At one of the national NCRS meets north of Boston Zora was given a golf cart to use to go up and down a long hill up to the host hotel. Zora thought the golf cart was way too slow and I watched him take it part way apart and mess around with it. Then we all saw him racing up and down that long road with several turns at alarming speeds. Several of us (not me) went on rides that weekend and all were relatively terrified! I never could figure out what he did to that cart, but in all the whole thing was hillarious!.....Bill S

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