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What's in a (Corvette) Name?

Sometimes it's a Racetrack!

For whatever reason, the C1 generation did not include any colors named after racetracks; that changed with the C2 generation.

Riverside Red - 1963, 1964; Riverside Gold - 1969

Riverside Red was a nod to the Riverside International Raceway, often known as RIR. It was located in Riverside County, CA and was built in 1957; it has legendary status amongst southern California racing fans. It hosted many racing formats, including IndyCar, Sports Cars, NASCAR and drag racing. The final major race, the Budweiser 400, was in 1988. See the Wikipedia entry.

Sebring Silver - 1963, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000 - Sebring Orange - 2021

Sebring International Raceway is a road course located near Sebring, FL. It is famous for hosting IMSA races, FIA WEC, Trans Am and even a Formula One race in 1959. It opened in December 1950 and currently hosts the 12 hours of Sebring which can be thought of as the American Le Mans. Wikipedia entry.

Daytona Blue - 1963, 1964, 1999; Daytona Yellow - 1969, 1970; Daytona Sunset Orange - 2005, 2015, 2016

Daytona Blue is a nod to the Daytona International Speedway located in Daytona Beach, FL which opened in 1959. There is a road course and a tri-oval which is famous for its NASCAR Cup Series races. Its most notable race is the Daytona 500, the NASCAR season opener. Wikipedia entry.

Nassau Blue - 1965, 1966, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004 thru 2007, 2009

Nassau Blue referenced the Nassau Trophy Road Races held at Nassau in the Bahamas from 1954 to 1957. Photos from the era show at least two Corvette Grand Sports participating. Recent events, starting in 2011, are known as the Bahamas Speed Week Revival. Also worth noting: Nassau Blue was available for 10 Corvette model years, more than any other racetrack tribute Corvette colors.

Glen Green - 1965, Watkins Glen Gray 2017

Watkins Glen International - nicknamed "The Glen" - is a racetrack in upper New York state. It hosted Formula One races for twenty consecutive years from 1961-1980. It still is a functioning racetrack with IMSA, Ferrari Challenge, Trans-Am, NASCAR and NASA events. Wikipedia link.

Goodwood Green - 1967

Goodwood Circuit is a historically significant racetrack located near Chichester, England. It came to life after World War II as a former RAF airfield and last hosted a race in 1966. Current events include the Goodwood Festival of Speed (a classic hill climb event) and the Goodwood Revival, a three-day festival that celebrates cars and motorcycles that competed from 1948 to 1966. (Wikipedia link)

Mosport Green - 1966

Mosport Park / Mosport International Raceway is located in Bowmanville, Ontario and was built in the late 1950s and is currently known as the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. It has hosted Formula One races and currently hosts IMSA, NASCAR, Trans-AM and motorcycle events. (Wikipedia link).

Lynndale Blue - 1967

Lynndale Farms Raceway was a short lived 2.5 mile racetrack located in Pewaukee, WI that closed in 1967. It held a number of sports car and SCCA races. Operating a racetrack is a tough business and local opposition regarding noise levels and bad weather had taken its toll.

Elkhart [Lake] Blue - 1967, 2019 thru 2023 and Elkhart Green - 1972, 1973

Road America is a road course located near Elkhart Lake, WI. It first offered road races in September 1955 and is still active with over 400 events a year, including Indy Car, NASCAR, IMSA, Trans-Am and SCCA racing.

Marlboro Maroon - 1967, 1970

Marlboro Motor Raceway, located in Upper Marlboro, MD, was originally built in 1952 as an all-dirt oval track. In 1954, it was paved and converted to a road course. A number of SCCA races were held including the 12 Hours of Marlboro and various SCCA events. It closed after the 1969 season. Wikipedia link.

Le Mans Blue - 1968, 1969, 2004 thru 2007, 2009

Le Mans is the one race track that needs no introduction if you've seen the great racing movie Ford v. Ferrari. The 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race is one of the premier racing events in the world, rivaled only by the Indianapolis 500. It was first run in 1923. Wikipedia link. Not to be confused with the 24 Hours of LeMons.

Mulsanne Blue - 1970, 1971

Mulsanne Straight is not a racetrack but a portion of the Le Mans racetrack. The 3.7 mile straight which, since 1990, is interrupted by two chicanes for safety reasons. At one time, before the chicanes were installed, cars reached 250 mph on the straight. The current record is 226.9 mph. Wikipedia link.

Silverstone Silver - 1968

Silverstone Circuit is a British racetrack in England near the villages of Towcester, Silverstone, and Whittlebury. It has held Formula One races, including the first ever World Championship Grand Prix in 1950 and it continues those duties to this day. It is also famous for hosting motorcycle races. Wikipedia link.

Monza Red - 1969, 1970

The Monza Circuit is a 3.60 mile racetrack near the city of Monza, Italy. It was built in 1922 and has hosted Formula One races from 1950 to 1979 and 1981 to present. It is famous for its high-speed oval portion, which was controversial due to safety issues, and last used in 1969. Wikipedia link.

Monaco Orange - 1969

The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most storied automobile races in history. First held in 1929, it became a regular part of the Formula One calendar in 1950. It is a 2.074 mile circuit and is a tight narrow course where passing is difficult. The driver with the most wins - 6 - is Ayrton Senna and the constructor with the most wins is McLaren, with 15 victories.

Bridgehampton Blue - 1970, 1971

Bridgehampton Race Circuit located near Sag Harbor, NY opened in 1957. In the early years, it hosted major races, including the World Sportscar Championship, Can-Am, and NASCAR Grand National. As the 1970s came about, it mostly hosted amateur events. Its demise came about in a similar manner as other racetracks: Local noise complaints, increased real estate values, and a lack of funding. It last hosted an event in 1998. Wikipedia link.

Donnybrooke Green - 1970

Opened in July 1968 as Donnybrooke Speedway in Brainerd, MN, it lacked safety barriers, runoff areas, and restrooms. SCCA and NHRA events were held at first; then CanAm races in 1970 thru 1972. Currently there is a 13 turn, 2.5 mile Competition Road Course and a 10 turn, 3.1 mile Donnybrooke Road Course. Wikipedia link.

Ontario Orange - 1970 thru 1972

Ontario Motor Speedway was a motorsport venue located in Ontario, CA and was an attempt at a west coast Indianapolis 500 race which never achieved that lofty goal. It was a 9° banked 2.5 mile oval track with a 3.194 mile infield road course. It hosted Indy cars, NASCAR and NHRA events. It did not work out as a business venture, and became a commercial real estate project. It closed in December 1980. Wikipedia link.

Mille Miglia Red - 1971 thru 1974

Mille Miglia (thousand miles in Italian) was an endurance road race first held in 1927. It was a one lap race held on public roads throughout Italy. It is known for its danger; over its 30-year history, a total of 56 people died - 24 drivers/co-drivers and 32 spectators. It was last held in 1947. It continues to be run as a rally-like 1000 Miglia event limited to legal speeds. Wikipedia link.

Brands Hatch Green - 1971

Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit in Kent, England. Originally used as a grasstrack motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986. It currently hosts many British and International racing events. It has both a 1.18 mile Indy Circuit and a 2.433 mile Grand Prix layout. 14 Formula One races were hosted at Brands Hatch; the last being in 1986. Wikipedia link.

War Bonnet Yellow - 1971, 1972

War Bonnet Raceway Park was a purpose-built 2.3-mile road course located in Mannford, OK and opened in 1967. Races include a Trans-Am Series event in 1968, two open-wheel SCCA F5000 events in 1967 and 1968, as well as various sports car races organized by the SCCA between 1967 and 1970. it closed in 1970. Wikipedia link.

Bryar Blue - 1972

Bryar Motorsports Park, located in North Loudon, NH originally opened as a 1.600 mile road coarse in 1964. It was completely transformed in 1990 into the New Hampshire International Speedway 1.058 mile oval with a seating capacity of 76,000. It currently hosts NASCAR races. Wikipedia link.

Long Beach Red - 2016 thru 2020

Long Beach Red is a tribute to the Grand Prix of Long Beach held in Long Beach, CA. It started as a Formula 5000 race in 1975 and then became a Formula One race from 1976 thru 1983. It became a CART/Champ Car and Indy Car street race starting in 1984, taking a year off due to Covid-19 in 2020. The event was the brainchild of promoter Chris Pook, a former travel agent from England and was inspired by the Monaco Grand Prix. It is currently a popular and well established event. Wikipedia link.

Lime Rock Green - 2014

Lime Rock Park is a road racing venue located in Lakeville, CT in the state's northwest corner. Built in 1956, it is the nation's third oldest continuously operating road racing venue. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. It is 1.530 miles long and previously hosted IMSA, Pirelli World Chalenge, and the Rolex Sports Car Series; it currently offers Trans-Am races. Wikipedia link.