Jim Rathmann, Chevy dealer, dies
11-25-2011, 07:30 AM
#1
Racer
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Jim Rathmann, Chevy dealer, dies
Jim Rathmann 1928-2011 made his mark in the world of sports, manned spaceflight and business with his dealership in Melbourne Florida. Winner of the 1960 Indianapolis 500 in what many consider the best running of the classic race!
Rathmann, A friend to many of the first Astronauts who were training at Cape Canaveral, arranged a deal where the Astronauts could lease Corvettes for very little money. Check out the moive "The Right Stuff"
He was well known in our area of the space coast.... May he rest in peace.
Rathmann, A friend to many of the first Astronauts who were training at Cape Canaveral, arranged a deal where the Astronauts could lease Corvettes for very little money. Check out the moive "The Right Stuff"
He was well known in our area of the space coast.... May he rest in peace.
11-25-2011, 03:11 PM
#4
I learned a bit about circle-track driving, racing rental karts with some old timers including Rathmann's great rival, the late Rodger Ward. If you got in front of his line and were going slower, he'd ram you into the boonies!
Great fun.
Great fun.
12-05-2011, 08:29 PM
#5
I feel very fortunate that I was able to meet him and discuss the early astronauts and their corvettes back in 2000. He was truly a part of Indy, space and Chevrolet history. May he rest in peace
12-05-2011, 11:15 PM
#6
Instructor
I lived in Titusville and worked at the Cape 1965/69, when we formed the Cape Kennedy Corvette Club in late 1966 Mr. Rathmann was kind enough to sponsor us. He attended a few of our xmas parties and came to one or two of our low speed events held at his dealership. We tried to get him to drive from time to time, he always thanked us but said "no". Sorry to hear of his passing, he will be missed. Bill
12-06-2011, 02:55 PM
#8
Drifting
Sorry to hear that.
My '59 was used as a test car for an experimental fuel injection system from 1959 to 1962. My dad kept a log on the car during that time and there is one entry in the notes column "JR". In 1969 or so I asked him what that stood for: Jim Rathmann! He drove the car with the experimental system on it.
I met Rodger Ward in the early 60s when he visited the guy (Bob McKee) installing a Buick aluminum V8 in a Cooper Monaco for Rodger to run in road racing.
That Indy 500 race in 1960 must have been something to see.
My '59 was used as a test car for an experimental fuel injection system from 1959 to 1962. My dad kept a log on the car during that time and there is one entry in the notes column "JR". In 1969 or so I asked him what that stood for: Jim Rathmann! He drove the car with the experimental system on it.
I met Rodger Ward in the early 60s when he visited the guy (Bob McKee) installing a Buick aluminum V8 in a Cooper Monaco for Rodger to run in road racing.
That Indy 500 race in 1960 must have been something to see.
12-06-2011, 08:11 PM
#9
Gosh, I had not seen that until tonight.....sad to hear that. My '65 Coupe was purchased by the original owner from Jim Rathmann himself off his dealership showroom floor back in September of '65 (one of the last '65s built). He talked the original owners into having the frame undercoated like hell to protect it from the salty air along the FLA coast. It worked...when the car was restored in 1990 the frame was perfect and they had to spend hours and hours stripping the undercoating off.
RIP Mr. Rathmann.
RIP Mr. Rathmann.
