TEAM ZORA USA – Pulpaddict

SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 FUELIE & LEGENDARY CORVETTES.

SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM CELEBRATES THE SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 FUELIE & LEGENDARY CORVETTES FROM GM’S HERITAGE CENTER AND THE REVS COLLECTIONS.

SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 FUELIE & LEGENDARY CORVETTES.

The TEAM ZORA USA (Michael Moss, Martyn Schorr, Ken Kayser & John Cutrone) SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 FUELIE & LEGENDARY CORVETTES are on display in Speed-Style-Legacy: The Corvette Story exhibit at the Saratoga (NY) Automobile Museum. Prepared for endurance racing by RM Motorsports, Wixom, MI, for the 2026 Mille Miglia in Italy, the ’57 Fuel Injection, 283 horsepower Corvette, replete with Sarasota Café Racers livery, is sharing space with rare production Corvettes, number four of five 1963 Grand Sports (Revs Collection), and iconic Concept & competition Corvettes from GM’s Heritage Collection. The special exhibit of 13 Corvettes (1954-2019) runs through October 2025.

In 1957, the Corvette was the first production Corvette powered by an engine producing one-horsepower-per-cubic-inch displacement and available with optional Rochester Ramjet Fuel Injection engines, four-speed transmission, and Positraction rear axles. It is also respected worldwide as one of the most significant performance models in the Corvette’s more than seven-decade history!

“The 1957 Fuel Injection Corvette reinforced Chevrolet’s high-performance image and shaped the future of the Corvette as America’s Sports Car. Fuel-injected 1957-1962 Corvettes dominated SCCA B/Production racing for years,” said Kenneth Kayser, TEAM ZORA USA Corvette Racing Historian.

“On May 19^th, 1957, three 1957 Fuel Injection ‘customer’ racecars driven by Dr. Dick Thompson, Carroll Shelby, and Bill Howe Jr., finished First, Second, and Third, respectively, at the SCCA Regional at Cumberland, MD. One week later, at the SCCA Nationals at Elkhart Lake, WI, four B/Production Corvettes, led by Jim Jeffords, finished 1-2-3-4! Dick Thompson and his Fuel Injection 1957 Corvette would win SCCA’s coveted National Champion honors in 1957,” added Kayser.

Born on Tuesday, June 25, 1957, in St. Louis, MO, the Spirit of Zora Corvette was painted Venetian Red with Shoreline Beige coves, dashboard, and interior trim, fitted with red upholstery, and powered by the highest performance engine available in 1957. Prior to mechanical and race-prep at RM Motorsports, Corvette specialist Bo Martin, of Martin Autobody, Bradenton, FL, detailed and buffed out the Venetian Red paint and painted the coves and interior panels (Shoreline Beige), which had been incorrectly resprayed silver years ago.

SPIRIT OF ZORA 1957 FI CORVETTE TECH SPECS

Engine: RPO-579C, 283-CID, 283-HP V-8

Induction: Rochester Ramjet Fuel-Injection

Air Cleaner: 1957 “Sebring” dual filter-element

Cylinder Heads: “539”

Compression Ratio: 10.5:1

Camshaft: Duntov “097” Solid-Lifter .393/.399-inch-lift, 287/287-degree-duration, lightweight valve train.

Crankshaft & Rods: Forged Steel

Transmission: RPO-685 Borg-Warner Close-Ratio T-10 Four-Speed

Rear End: RPO-677 Positraction 3:70:1

Suspension, Brakes & Steering: RPO-684 HD Racing Components, 16.4:1 Fast Steering

Wheels: RPO-276 15×5.5-inch Wide Steel w/Small Hubcaps

Tires: Dunlop CR65 Vintage Racing, 600L-15 w/#204 compound

Interior: Column-Mounted 8,000-rpm AC Mechanical Tach (RPO-579D engine option), and Radio Delete Block-Off Plate

SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 FUELIE & LEGENDARY CORVETTES.

Speed – Style – Legacy: THE CORVETTE STORY Exhibit

1957 Spirit of Zora FI Corvette

1961 Mako Shark

1963 Corvette #004 Grand Sport

1969 Manta Ray

1972 Reynolds Aluminum XP-895 Corvette

1978 Indy 500 Pace Car

2012 Daytona Prototype Corvette

2014 C7.R Race Car

Plus, rare & high-performance 1954-2019 production Corvettes!

Special thanks to SAM’s Brandon Sals, Megan Hennessey, and Bob Bailey for photos and cooperation. For more details about the SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 FUELIE & LEGENDARY CORVETTES show, and other events at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, please visit https://www.saratogaautomuseum.org/the-corvette-story

TEAM ZORA USA was founded in 2024 by Michael Moss and Martyn Schorr to celebrate the Corvette – America’s Sports Car – that has excelled on the world stage of racing for decades, and honor the legacy of Zora Arkus-Duntov. The Spirit of Zora ’57 FI Corvette has received its FIVA (Federation Internationale des Vehicules Anciens) ID card and is registered to compete in the 2026 1000 Miglia (Mille Miglia Storica) in Italy.

Follow TEAM ZORA USA on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564994129830

For more information on the Mille Miglia and other 1000 Miglia events worldwide, please visit

https://1000miglia.it/en/

To learn more about FIVA, check out https://www.fiva.org/en

SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 CORVETTE FUELIE

Prepped for the 2026 Mille Miglia in Italy, Team Zora USA’s SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 CORVETTE FUELIE rocks at Corvettes on the Circle!

SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 CORVETTE FUELIE

Competitive Historic racer Michael Moss – Lola T70 & Gurney Eagle – wins Class and Favorite Car “gold” with his SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 CORVETTE FUELIE at the 26^th Annual Skyway Corvette Club’s Corvettes on the Circle show on May 3^rd. Held at St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, FL, this year’s show hosted more than 175 Corvettes spanning eight generations of America’s sports cars.

Team Zora USA and the SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 CORVETTE FUELIE celebrate the Corvette’s legacy of excelling on the world stage of racing for decades. The team’s mission is to honor the legacy of Zora Arkus-Duntov by competing in 1000 Miglia events, including the 2026 Mille Miglia in Italy.

Mike Moss conceived Team Zora USA with friend and teammate Martyn Schorr – author, founding editor of VETTE Magazine, and a friend of Zora during the 1960s-1970s. Its mission: Competing in 1000 Miglia events and paying tribute to the Godfather of the Corvette. Even though a Corvette did not participate in the original Mille Miglia between 1953 and 1957, Corvette is on the 1000 Miglia Guest List of Approved Cars because of its historical significance. Team Zora USA’s ’57 FI Corvette has been issued a FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens) ID Card, issued for historically-correct vehicles competing in international events like those sanctioned by 1000 MIGLIA S.R.L.

A longtime competitor in HSR & SVRA Historic road racing, Moss has driven a variety of vehicles, from a B/SP Corvette Sting Ray to a Lola T70 Mark IIIB (432 cubic-inch Dart/Chevy) and the ex-Peter Revson Can-Am Lola T163 (513 cubic-inch fuel-injected Dart aluminum engine).

He also owns and races a trio of important, vintage Indy 500 racecars. Two are powered by Ford quad-cam V-8s: 1966 Gerhardt 66, naturally-aspirated Ford, driven by Gordon Johncock, and a 1969 Dan Gurney Santa Ana Eagle, turbocharged Ford, driven by Denny Hulme and Swede Savage. A turbocharged Offy powers the third, a 1969 Mongoose driven by Bill Vukovich. RM Motorsports, Wixom, MI supports his racing efforts.

The Venetian Red with Shoreline Beige coves, dashboard, and interior trim, with red upholstery, SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 CORVETTE FUELIE is powered by the highest performance engine – RPO-579C, 283 cubic inches, 283 horsepower – available in 1957. It’s fitted with Rochester Ramjet Fuel-Injection, Sebring dual filter-element air cleaner, and Duntov solid-lifter .393/.399-inch-lift, 287/287 degree-duration camshaft, and lightweight valve train. An RPO-685 B-W close-ratio four-speed and RPO-677 Positraction 3:70:1 rear complete the powertrain.

SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 CORVETTE FUELIE Its original chassis sports RPO-684 HD suspension, brakes, and fast 16.4:1 steering. Steel wheels are RPO-276 15×5.5-inch-wide, fitted with Dunlop CR65 Vintage Racing #204 compound 600L-15 tires. A column-mounted 8,000-rpm (RPO-579D engine option) AC mechanical tach and Radio Delete Block-Off plate distinguish it from typical street-driven Corvettes. Mechanical race-prep was executed by Tony Pardo and his team at RM Motorsports. Local Corvette specialist, Bo Martin at Martin Autobody, Bradenton, FL, detailed and buffed out the Venetian Red paint and painted the Shoreline Beige coves and interior panels.

SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 CORVETTE FUELIE In addition to Moss, a longtime supporter of the National Corvette Museum, and Schorr, Team Zora USA includes John Cutrone and Kenneth W. “Ken” Kayser, above, Bob Elkins photo. Cutrone is the Team Manager as well as a Cultural Attaché to Italian Food & Wine Festivals. He will be handling hospitality and logistics support for the Mille Miglia and other events in Italy. Kayser is the team’s Corvette Racing Historian. He’s a retired career GM and Chevrolet engineer, Rochester Fuel Injection expert, author, and President of Tachometer Publishing. He’s written and published The History of GM’s Ramjet Fuel Injection on Chevrolet’s V-8 Engine and its Corvette Racing Pedigree, and several books on the Corvette and Zora Arkus-Duntov. Team members are also members of Sarasota Café Racers.

The next event for the SPIRIT OF ZORA ’57 CORVETTE FUELIE will be The Corvette Story, Speed-Style-Legacy Show at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY. It will share space with historic high-performance Corvettes, racecars, one of the five Grand Sports, and iconic Corvette Concept Cars from GM’s Heritage Collection, including the legendary Mako Shark and Manta Ray. For more information, please visit https://www.saratogaautomuseum.org/current-exhibitions

Check out the hosts of the 26^th Annual Corvettes on the Circle Show, the Skyway Corvette Club, @ https://skywaycorvetteclub.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=475459

Ken Kayser’s books on Corvette history, Ramjet Fuel Injection, and Zora Arkus-Duntov are available @ https://www.tachometerpublishing.com/

TEAM ZORA USA @ MONZA

The Three Mossketeers – Mike Moss, John Cutrone & Hank Gruenberg – all members of the Sarasota Café Racers, spend a week in Italy preparing for the 2025 Mille Miglia. They represent TEAM ZORA USA @ MONZA!

Similar to a travel industry FAM (familiarization) trip, The Spirit of Zora ’57 FI Corvette driver Mike Moss and TEAM ZORA USA teammate, John Cutrone were joined by Hank “Tifosi” Gruenberg on this dream trip: Milano to Monza to Modena. As guests of Maserati Corse, the motorsport soul of the luxury Italian carmaker, the Mossketeers had all-access creds for the Fanatec GT World Challenge Race, and an exclusive test session of the new Maserati MCXtrema racecar at Monza, Italy’s Temple of Speed.

The trip was curated by Cutrone, to gather hospitality, food & wine information as he will be managing TEAM ZORA USA during the Mille Miglia He is creating an agenda for Mike Moss and co-driver Bud Bennett who will be traveling the historic Brescia-Rome-Brescia route. Gruenberg, an experienced Ferrari driver will be sharing his driving and luxury goods shopping experiences in Italy with the Team.

Monza and Maserati racing were the trio from Sarasota, FL’s prime attractions. Mike is one of the lucky 62 who will be receiving a very limited production MCXtrema, and was at Monza for his first on-track experience with Andrea Bertolini, Maserati’s test and development driver. Bertolini, at just 19, was the youngest Scuderia Ferrari test driver, later moving up to work in the experimental and development labs at Ferrari. He won the WEC Championship (GTE AM) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015, and is currently Maserati’s Chief Test Driver.

After hot laps with Bertolini in an MCXtrema, Mike Moss shared his experiences trackside with Italian motorsports media and TEAM ZORA USA: “Holy crap! That was the most exhilarating experience ever. The violence of the braking, flying through the S-turns, the G-forces. Unbelievable. Andrea was amazing. He brakes at the last possible point throwing you violently forward, and then turns like the car is pegged to the track. The car never slipped in the turns. It was a violent ride. A real racecar with a real race driver. Nothing can prepare you for what you go through.”

Clearly blown away by Bertolini’s driving expertise and the MCXtrema’s capability at speed on a legendary racetrack, it should be noted that Moss is an experienced Historic racing driver. He pilots his ex-Peter Revson Can-Am Lola T163 powered by a fuel-injected 513-inch aluminum big-block, Lola T70 Mark IIIB with a 432-inch Dart/Chevy, and a Ford quad-cam Turbo Gurney Santa Ana Eagle. This was not his first rodeo!

TEAM ZORA USA’s Monza/Maserati adventure is being followed by an exhilarating week of driving, visiting automotive museums and collections, and experiencing fine Italian food, wines and hotels in preparation for the Mille Miglia ‘Storica’ next year.

For more information about Maserati Racing and the MCXtrema, please visit https://www.maserati.com/us/en/corse

Follow TEAM ZORA USA’s 1000 Miglia experiences in the USA & Italy, the preparation of The Spirit of Zora ’57 FI Corvette progress and TEAM ZORA USA @ MONZA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564994129830

GM’S MARK REUSS CHECKS OUT TEAM ZORA USA CORVETTE!

Corvette historic racer Jake Angel blogs about sharing a common interest when GM’S MARK REUSS CHECKS OUT TEAM ZORA USA CORVETTE!

On the last day of racing at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, I had a well-dressed visitor in the paddocks. While I have been racing two Corvettes – ’60 Fuelie & a Corvette Challenge car – for years and follow GM Corvette Racing, I was not aware of who he was.

He was wearing a white button-down shirt with a Corvette Racing logo, looking at cars pitting around mine. We shook hands and when I asked him if he was working for Chevrolet, he responded, “Yes, I’m Mark Reuss and actually the president of GM.”

I’m embarrassed to admit the name had not immediately rang a bell, I was just excited and I wanted to show him my racecar. Then my brain fog lifted and I realized I was talking to the president of General Motors! “If you’re into Corvette Racing, can I show you my ’60 Fuelie?”

We talked about C1 Corvette racecars for a few minutes, and I explained that my car – nicknamed “Baby Shark” – was wrenched by TEAM ZORA USA teammate and legendary Corvette racer and tuner, Larry Webb. And, Chevrolet had originally shipped it from St. Louis to Los Angeles for road racer, Dave MacDonald. MacDonald and Bill Thomas prepared it for its first race – the Rose Cup in Portland, Oregon on July 4^th. Since then, it has been a racecar and never registered for the road. I also told him story behind the TEAM ZORA USA and Spirit of Zora livery.

We spent about 15 minutes together, yelling over the scalded-cat- like sound of the Jackie Stewart Tyrrell warming up in our paddock. When Mark was leaving, he realized that he was out of business cards, so he took one of mine and photographed it next to my racecar’s livery so he could connect the dots when he got back to his office. He wished me well on the next round on the track, and I was still in shock that GM President Mark Reuss, a vintage Corvette owner, and Corvette Racing’s Chief Cheerleader, was interested in “Baby Shark” and our connection with TEAM ZORA USA.In the words of Jerry Garcia in the Grateful Dead hit single, HE’S GONE, “nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.”

PHOTOS: Bill Dolph.

For more information about GM’S MARK REUSS CHECKS OUT TEAM ZORA USA CORVETTE! and TEAM ZORA USA, please contact Martyn L. Schorr: MLSchorr@Verizon.Net

TEAM ZORA USA will be competing in 2024 & 2025 1000 Miglia events in a ’57 Corvette Fuelie. For the 1000 Miglia calendar of events worldwide and the history of the Mille Miglia, please visit https://1000miglia.it/en/history-of-1000-miglia/brescia-city-of-the-1000-miglia/

ROMAN HOLIDAY 2: Fantastico!

ROMAN HOLIDAY 2: Fantastico!

ROMAN HOLIDAY 2: Fantastico! Team Zora USA will bring a fuel-injected ’57 Corvette to the 1000 Miglia Warm Up USA in Virginia in October 2024 and the 1000 Miglia in Italy in 2025 to Celebrate America’s Sports Car! More about our car and team coming soon. Ciao!