John Bolton & the Blue Goose...remember?

[Ron Mann]

Going to visit John Bolton tomorrow.

John was an "A" Production Corvette driver, Modified 3 Devin/Corvette driver "the Blue Goose", & Modified 2 Corvair Goose II.

1963 A Production Big Pocono champ
1964 A Production Spring Hershey champ & FTD
1964 A Production Fleetwood champ
1964 A Production Fall Pocon champ & FTD
1964 A Production Fall Hershey champ
1964 A Production Overall Champion & FTD Champion
1965 A Production Jefferson champ
1965 A Production Rose Valley champ
1966 Modified III Rose Valley champ
1966 Modified III Jefferson champ
1967 Modified III Duryea champ & FTD
1967 Modified III Hobbie champ & FTD
1967 Modified III Fleetwood champ
1967 Modified III Rose Valley champ & FTD
1967 Modified III Fall Hershey champ & FTD
1967 Modified III Overall Champion & FTD Champion

John had some serious competion in both classes he ran!!! Al Loquasto, Hal Keck & Don Peterson in AP
And in Modified he ran against Jack Strouse, John Van Meyer & Oscar Koveleski!!

"yea, I remember the Blue Goose...it was crazy fast, but you didn't know where it was going!" - Buddy Scolastico

The Blue Goose is still around…but in need of restoration which it is slated for down the road!! It was a Devin body with a Corvette engine and drive.

Really looking forward to this interview!!

[Number 56]

Yep, I remember the Blue Goose. It was one of the cars you had to watch run. It is on my "wish list" to own someday. I think Dan Lipperini owned it for a while. Bill Gorski & I went looking for this car in the late 1980s. Will it run again? Hope so.
Hughie

[Rich Sweigart]

Hughie,

You have a biggggggg wish list!

Speaking of restoring, how is my old Ghia?

Rich

[Number 56]

Rich
You should see my wish list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After I am done winning Le Mans for Porsche, racing in Formula 1 for McLaren, winning Indy, (Getting number 56 from Sue)
Champ car for Newman-Hass etc. etc. I want to move to Texas.

The Ghia is still sitting in the corner. This year the Speedster is on the top of the list.

Hughie

[Rich Sweigart]

Hughie,

That is a big list. I just want to drive a 917/30 once.
Thanks, I did not know that you cared to put my Speedster at the top of the list. That is mighty nice of you and for free right! LOL Poor Ghia, it has been 24yrs since I started restoring it.

Rich Sweigart

[Ron Mann]

The visit with John included Jack Chappell, the builder of the Goose. The visit was great!! Jack has the Goose back in his large collection of cars (found it in a junkyard years after he sold it!!) It will be undergoing restoration when the current project is complete. Jack and John had quite a slew of stories...many involving Oscar, Loquasto and Rutan. Also...quite a few good stories about the Goose too!!
Highlight may have been a run up the old Jefferson Hill climb with John Bolton at the wheel!!!

Pretty tricky little road!!

The top photo is the Goose…but after it was owned by Chappell & run by Bolton…"they didn't have time for pin stripes! It could be Dale Jaffe!? The bottom photo is from Hershey…Goose is blowing smoke from a blown engine, but managed to finish on 7 cylinders.

[Devil's Elbow Fan]

Hey Ron,

Thanks for the pics of the "Goose"

They really brought back memories of that car going up the Giant. A combo of Corvette horsepower & a small wheelbase ,along with "sixties" tire tech made a real handful to drive.

Always a lot of noise and a real crowd pleaser!

Also reminds me of Steve Elfeinbine (sic) with his '60 Team Fleam Corvette. What a driver. The car still had the license plate on the front!! He drove it in from Jersey and back home again! What a golden time for hillclimbing!

ANybody know the whereabouts of John V. Meyer's Special? Would love to see that car again! Wonder if his sons are still in the Locust Valley LI area?

Thanks again!
Rich

[Ron Mann]

you are welcome Rich!
It indeed sounded as if the Goose was one of THE cars to watch back in the day! Fast, Loud...and sometimes breathing fire!

Here is a bonus pix....just for you! I have more shots of this car...but nothing else prepared yet.


I looked into John Van Meyer and the car...and got no response from my leads.

I have pixs of Steve Elfenbein's car...but again nothing prepared right now....

[Number 56]

Fire Breathing for sure. My brother John worked with the old "hocky stick" at the start line and that car nearly set his pants on fire. I remember working the corners and thinking the Goose was going to set the hay bayles on fire. It was quite a fan pleaser.
Hughie