Throwback Thursday: The Greenwood Spirit of Sebring Corvette: An American Racing Icon

Greenwood was Corvette’s standard bearer throughout the 1970s, often fielding cars with patriotic paint schemes. His cars were among the most popular attractions in the early days and formative years of IMSA.

“He was the consummate Corvette guy through the '70s,” said Mark Raffauf, IMSA Director, Series Platforms. “He single-handedly kept Corvette in racing throughout the '70s. Not only was he a hell of a driver but all the key GM guys at one time or another drove Greenwood Corvettes.

Greenwood began building and racing Corvettes in 1969, winning SCCA National championships in 1970-'71. He began running a patriotic paint scheme for endurance races in 1971, with star-spangled blue front fenders, red stripes on the rear fenders, and an American flag on the hood. Greenwood won his class at both Sebring and Watkins Glen in 1971, in addition to capturing the IMSA GT Daytona three-hour finale with solo drives in both 1974 and 1975.

“He was always fast,” Raffauf said. “When his car showed up, people knew it.”

One of his most famous cars was the No. 76 Spirit of Sebring Corvette (ABOVE LEFT).  The year was 1976. America was celebrating its bicentennial, and that patriotic fervor carried over to the racetrack as fans cheered for Greenwood’s white widebody Corvette was trimmed in blue with red stripes, and a big American flag adorned the hood along with a Revolutionary War era fife and drum corps. Under the hood was a big-block 725-horsepower V8 that hit more than 225mph on Daytona’s high banks.

“It was bigger than a fan favorite,” said Rick Mancuso, who bought Greenwood’s iconic Corvette in 1976 and raced it the next two seasons. “When I would drive that car – especially at Daytona or Sebring – there would be a sea of American flags every time I would go by. When we had the hood off it in the garage, guys would line up to have their picture taken next to it. Everywhere we went, it was all about the flag. It was a big American entry. Internally, we used to kid John and call him ‘Captain America.’ He was an all-American kid, fast as hell.”

Mancuso, a third-generation Chevrolet dealer headquartered in north suburban Chicago, was one of several racers competing in replica Greenwood Corvettes at the club level in the Midwest. He then opted for the real thing – taking possession of Greenwood’s prize Corvette after the 1976 12 Hours of Sebring.

Knowing the popularity of the car and the allure of the Bicentennial, the French event promoters invited Greenwood to race his Corvette in that year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Greenwood borrowed the car from Mancuso and brought the “Spirit of Le Mans” to France, with the hood of his car featuring the Minutemen joined by crossed American and French flags (TOP).

In recent years, Greenwood and his brother Burt worked with Mancuso. They worked on documenting the Greenwood cars “to separate fact from fiction,” with the findings soon to be published on a website. They also plan to build recreations of the iconic Corvettes for vintage racing – giving a new generation of sports car enthusiasts the opportunity to experience the “Spirit of ’76.”