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Ernie Nagamatsu

For the Fourth of July: MacDonald’s #00 Vette

July 3, 2023 By pete

Art by Ed Tillock

Story by Ernie Nagamatsu

For a fitting Fourth of July, we are very happy to publish an article about the Max Balchowsky-built Corvette Special #00 as raced by Dave MacDonald, who launched his career racing Corvettes, graduated to Cobras and King Cobras, then on to Indianapolis in 1964, where he tragically died driving the Thompson Sears Special at the age of 27. Says Keeper of the Flame Ernie Nagamatsu, “Dave was the ‘chosen one’ in American motorsport, winning championships with ease at all levels. He was on a ‘mercurial’ rise as fans everywhere watched his journey. Dave was the ultimate American hero, being a crew cut handsome as a movie star Hot Rodder, family man, racing American sports cars.”

Nagamatsu was instrumental in the reconstruction of the famed #00 Corvette special, and describes the Official Launch and first viewing of the 1961 #00 MacDonald Corvette, after a two- year build, at Kent, Washington, Pacific Northwest Historic Races this past weekend.

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Tagged With: Corvette Special #00, Dave MacDonald, Ernie Nagamatsu, Max Balchowsky-built Corvette Special, Old Yeller V, Pacific Northwest Historic Races, Rich MacDonald

Inter Team Memo: A Rare “Esprit de Corps”

March 27, 2023 By pete

Photo by Vince Johnson

By Ernie Nagamatsu

In our ‘life-time journey,’ we sometimes have the fortuitous opportunity to share and experience the “Esprit de Corps,” that is felt to the marrow of our bones. That life journey experience includes the hurdles and challenges thrown down like huge gauntlets at our feet. During our recent races in Australia, special ‘team’/ ‘Esprit de Corps,’ was the mystical convergence of people/friends that were on a journey and mission, which happened to include an iconic old yellow race-car.

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Tagged With: Australia’s Phillip Island Classic, Ernie Nagamatsu, Ol Yeller race car, racing team spirit awards

Old Yeller II Down Under

January 23, 2023 By pete

By Ernie Nagamatsu
Photos by Sam Snape

The American “Backyard Special,” 1959 Old Yeller II Buick Special was shipped to Australia to face off against some of the rare and iconic Formula Cars from Down Under. The event was the Summer Festival at Sydney Motorsports Park held on December 3-4, 2022. It was an honor for the Old Yeller II to be placed in the most challenging grid of race-cars with exceptionally skilled drivers.

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Tagged With: Elfin racecars, Ernie Nagamatsu, Historic Motorsports Racing in Australia, Max Balchowski, Old Yeller II, Sydney Motorsport Park

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