Team Zora USA dazzles at Rolex Monterey Motorsports reunion

Monterey, CA – Conceived by Historic sports car racer, Michael D. “Mike” Moss and, Martyn L. “Marty” Schorr, founding editor of VETTE Magazine and longtime friend of Zora Arkus-Duntov, TEAM ZORA USA celebrates the Corvette, America’s Sports Car that has excelled on the world stage of racing. It’s also honoring the legacy of its Godfather and first Chief Engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov. TEAM ZORA USA’s first public appearances were at the 2024 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.

“Zora’s passion for performance and racing turned Chevrolet’s sporty car into America’s Sports Car in 1957,” said Moss, owner and driver of TEAM ZORA USA’s Spirit of Zora 1957 Fuel Injection Corvette that will compete in multiple 1000 Miglia events in the United States and Italy (Mille Miglia) in 2024-2025.” It’s currently being competition-prepped for grueling 1,000-mile events by Tony Pardo at RM Motorsports, Wixom, MI.”

“Marty and I have assembled a Dream Team of racers, racecar builders and tuners, a former GM & Chevy engineer and restoration specialist with significant Corvette credentials, and a team manager specializing in travel and hospitality, to support our mission.”

TEAM ZORA USA debuted at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, August 14-17, 2024, with the historically-significant 1960 Fuel Injection Corvette (#111) raced by teammate, Jacob “Jake” Angel, Bainbridge Island, WA. It’s wrenched by teammate and legendary Corvette racer and tuner, Larry Webb. Originally built by Chevrolet in 1960 for Dave MacDonald, it was prepped for competition by MacDonald and Bill Thomas and raced for the first time on July 4th, 1960 at the Rose Cup in Portland, OR. It has never been registered for the road!*

Mike Moss’ Spirit of Zora 1957 Corvette, with its 283 cubic-inch, 283 horsepower small-block V-8 with Rochester Fuel Injection, was the first production American car with an engine producing one-horsepower-percubic- inch displacement and available with Rochester Ramjet Fuel Injection. Under the direction of Zora Arkus-Duntov, the 1957 Corvette was the first production Corvette that could be ordered with multiple carburetion and fuel injection engines, four-speed transmission, Positration rear axle, and competition suspension and brakes for sports car racing. It is respected worldwide as one of the most significant performance models in the Corvette’s more than seven-decade history!

“During the 1960s and 1970s, Zora and I had a wonderful relationship,” said Marty Schorr, TEAM ZORA USA Chief Communications Officer. “It started when I was editor of Hi-Performance CARS Magazine, later evolving when I consulted on the building and marketing of Baldwin- Motion’s Phase III GT, the first “tuner” Corvette. Just after he retired in 1975, I founded VETTE Magazine and produced it for five years. It was the first regular-frequency newsstand magazine for Corvette enthusiasts and was continually published for more than 40 years”

First and foremost, Zora was a racer. In 1954 and 1955, while working at Chevrolet as an assistant staff engineer, he was invited by Ferry Porsche to pilot a factory Porsche 1.1-liter 550 RS Spyder at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. General Motors approved, and he went on to win Class honors in both years!

Mike Moss currently competes in HSR & SVRA Historic road racing in a 432 cubic-inch Dart/Chevy-engined Lola T70 Mark IIIB and the ex-Peter Revson Can-Am Lola T163, powered by a 513 cubic-inch fuel-injected Dart aluminum engine. Both cars are maintained and supported by RM Motorsports. In addition to Lola sports racers, Mike 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.

TEAM ZORA USA and the Spirit of Zora 1957 Corvette Fuelie will proudly represent the United States in the 43rd re-enactment of the Red Arrow, the 2025 1000 Miglia (Mille Miglia ‘Storica’) in Italy. It will be competing in a field dominated by iconic Italian, English, German and French sports and GT cars, many with incredible racing heritage. The original Mille Miglia was established in 1927 as a speed/endurance race on public roads between Rome and Brescia. Dubbed the “World’s Most Beautiful Road Race” and the “World’s Unique Traveling Museum” by Enzo Ferrari, it was also one of the world’s most dangerous road races.

In 1957, the tragic crash and death of Scuderia Ferrari driver Alfonso de Portago, co-driver Edmund Nelson and nine spectators outraged the public, ending the Mille Miglia. The 1957 race figured prominently in Michael Mann’s 2023 Enzo Ferrari biopic, FERRARI.

Today, the 1000 Miglia or Mille Miglia ‘Storica’ is a regularity race for historic cars. Only cars built before December 31, 1957 and related to a car that competed in at least one Mille Miglia from 1927 to 1957, are eligible for entry. However, cars due to their historical/sports characteristics are also eligible to participate in 1000 Miglia events in the Guest List category. The 1953-1957 Corvette has been approved.

* Jacob “Jake” Angel: TEAM ZORA USA chassis/suspension consultant, teammate, and noted western states Corvette racer. Crewed by TEAM ZORA USA’s Larry Webb and represented by Mike Velsher’s Northwest Vintage & Classic, Jake raced his FI Corvette 168 laps in 2023 and won a SOVREN (Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts) Championship. He also owns and races a 1988 Challenge Series Corvette. Since 2014, Jake & family have owned and operated Jake’s Pickup, an organic restaurant and food emporium on Bainbridge Island, WA.

For more information about TEAM ZORA USA, please contact Martyn L. Schorr: 941.957.0827, Text: 941.685.0827, MLSchorr@Verizon.Net TEAM ZORA USA will be competing in 2024 & 2025 1000 Miglia events.

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/

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