{"id":8540,"date":"2014-10-16T16:13:34","date_gmt":"2014-10-16T23:13:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=8540"},"modified":"2015-11-11T10:55:40","modified_gmt":"2015-11-11T18:55:40","slug":"legendary-racer-frank-dominiannis-62-corvette","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/legendary-racer-frank-dominiannis-62-corvette\/","title":{"rendered":"Legendary Racer Frank Dominianni’s ’62 Corvette"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RJ69<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cYou gotta go see Frank Dominianni,\u201d Corvette race car restorer Kevin Mackay told RacingJunk.com. \u201cHe\u2019s the one that got me interested in racing. According to Kevin, Frank opened Hi-Speed Power Equipment in 1947. \u201cHe\u2019s the one that got me excited enough about these cars to start the passion going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frank was in his mid-80s then and had a great smile, a brilliant twinkle in his eyes and a wry sense of humor. \u201cYou want to do a story about me?\u201d Frank asked. \u201cI hope you can write fast, so I\u2019m still around when you finish it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frank\u2019s shop was loaded with tools, old parts, racing awards and faded old photos. He had a row of plaques he won a Bridgehampton in the mid-\u201960s. Frank also raced at Watkins Glen and Elkhart Lake. \u201cAll over America,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Frank said he raced an MG TC in the 1950 Watkins Glen event. He had kept a color photo of the car at speed. Frank raced against the likes of Augie Pabst, Briggs Cunningham and the Brooks Stevens team.<\/p>\n

Frank was a true racer\u2019s racer and one of the most feared road course drivers on the East Coast circuit during the \u201860s. Frank started with Soap Box Derby racing cars and model airplanes. He then advanced to homemade midget racers. During the \u201850s and \u201860s he raced an Elva, Allards and MGs. He then rounded out his career with the \u201862 Corvette. It was campaigned until 1971. <\/i><\/p>\n

From the moment Frank took to the track, his competitors saw a driver who commanded their respect. He was known for his foot-to-the-floor, stab-and- steer technique. He filled his shop with trophies and awards.<\/p>\n

In 1959 the New York Times <\/i>dubbed Frank Dominianni, \u201cOne of the top three drivers whose spectacular performances made the B production class one of the most interesting of the road race season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frank Dominianni bought the \u201862 \u2018Vette new and clocked 11,000 miles\u00a0 during his racing career. It was ordered with RPO 276 Wide Wheels, the RPO 488 24-Gallon Fuel Tank, the RPO 582 360-hp fuel injection V-8, heavy-duty brakes, heavy-duty steering and off-road exhaust.<\/p>\n

In April of 1962, a report on Frank was given at Virginia International\u00a0 Raceway in the race results: \u201cTo everyone\u2019s surprise the Corvettes stayed in the reasonable vicinity of the track with the notable exception of Francis Dominianni who left the track innumerable times, led a parade of three Corvettes through station G, neatly spun in front of the Scarab at the Oak Tree and was leaving a stench around the track that several watering eyes identified as nitro. Don Yenko\u2019s old Corvette walked away with BP and Don took the first N.C. Challenge Cup home with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frank passed away in November 2011. His wife, two daughters, a son, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren survived him. His SCCA Championship \u201962 Corvette resides in the Mid Americam Motorworks MY Garage Museum in Effingham, Ill.<\/p>\n