NCM HALL OF FAME 2019
Welcoming the 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees: Tom Peters-GM, Dollie Cole-Enthusiast and Briggs Cunningham-Racer
The National Corvette Museum (NCM) held its first Hall of Fame ceremony in 1998 to recognize individuals who have positively influenced Corvette engineering, design and marketing. That first class included Ed Cole, Zora Arkus-Duntov, Bill Mitchell, Joe Pike and Larry Shinoda. This year three new inductees have joined this class of Corvette enthusiasts. This brings NCM Hall of Fame total to seventy-three inductees. They are joining a distinguished group of significant Corvette advocates. Each individual was inducted because they have supported preserving Corvette’s evolution and history. They were selected through an extensive vetting process by a NCM selection committee and approved by the NCM Board of Directors. This process is designed to ensure that each candidate has had a positive impact on the Corvette brand. As in previous years one person is selected to represent one of three categories; GM-Chevrolet, Racing and Enthusiast. The 2019 class includes Tom Peters (GM-Chevrolet), Dollie Cole (Enthusiast) and Briggs Cunningham (Racing) and these three join the previous class of seventy inductees. Each inductee had their accomplishments reviewed in an excellent NCM video presentation at the 2019 NCM Hall of Fame banquet. Here is a summary of their accomplishments.
TOM PETERS – GM – CHEVROLET
Tom Peters was hired VP of General Motors Design Chuck Jordon in 1980. Tom soon was offered a position with Jerry Palmer, Corvette Chief Designer for Chevy 3 Studio. Tom worked on the C4 ZR-1 and the Corvette Indy, which was his first concept vehicle. He was promoted to his own design studio and worked on advanced proposals for the C5. The C5 design success enabled him to become the design director for the C6 and the C7. His new title was Director of Design for Performance Car Exteriors for Corvette and Camaro. Tom and his team were deeply involved in developing the dramatic exterior of the mid-engine C8 Corvette. His design goals for that design was to create a unique personality while maintaining the brands unique personality, character and soul. From our early indications, we think Tom and his team have accomplished that goal. Tom is proud of the new C8 and after 35 years with the General, he recently decided to retire from the company. Chevrolet’s Director of Truck Exterior Design Rich Scheer has been named to assume Tom’s vacated position. Tom’s final thoughts about being involved in Corvette design throughout his career was “Each day that I walked into that studio, I felt honored and blessed and I never took it for granted.” Your induction into the NCM Hall of Fame is well deserved.
BRIGGS CUNNINGHAM – RACING
Briggs Swift Cunningham lived his life as an American Sportsman. His family was very successful, which allowed him to commit his time and resources to automobile and yacht racing. He formed a lifetime friendship with two of his Yale University classmates Miles and Sam Collier. All three shared a love for automobile racing. In 1950 he raced two Cadillacs at the famous endurance race. The first was a 1950 Coupe de Ville that finished 10th overall. The second was a streamlined Cadillac dubbed “Le Monstre” driven by his two friends Sam and Miles Collier. The duo finished 11th overall. They were slowed after hitting a sandbank during the race. After Le Mans Cunningham returned to the United States and was racing at Watkins Glen when his friend Sam Collier was killed driving a Ferrari. He was very shaken by the loss of his close friend, but decided to continue racing.
In 1951 he created the B.S. Cunningham Company in West Palm Beach, Florida. His goal was to build an American sports car that would compete for an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. From 1951 to 1955 his company built and raced five different models of his American built sports cars. Each were powered by American V-8 engines and driven by American drivers. His Le Mans performance record was noteworthy. In 1952 a Cunningham C4.R finished 4th overall, 1953 a C5.R finished 3rd overall and in 1954 a C4.dR finished 3rd and 5th overall. One of his cars also won the 1953 12 Hours of Sebring and his team totaled 14 wins with cars of his company’s design. He became so prominent in racing he made the cover of TIME magazine. In 1958 he skippered a sailing yacht to victory in the 1958 America’s Cup race. The boat that he funded and raced was named “The Columbia”.
In 1960 Briggs purchased three new fuel injected Corvettes and entered them in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Two crashed and were withdrawn. The third Corvette driven by Bob Grossman and John Fitch finished 8th overall and first in the GT class. It was a Corvette record that stood until a C5.R finished 8th overall at the 2001 24 Hour Le Mans race. As the years have passed enthusiasts have searched for these famous Corvettes. Fortunately, the No. 3 entry and 8th place finisher was located and purchased by the late Chip Miller, co-owner of Carlisle Events. Corvette Repair in Valley Stream, NY restored this significant Corvette. The No. 2 Corvette has been located and restored and resides in California. The No. 1 Corvette was found and is awaiting restoration. The No. 3 Le Mans Corvette remains as part of the Miller family collection.
Briggs Cunningham retired from racing in 1965 and opened a museum in Costa Mesa, California in 1966. The museum displayed many of his racing and privately owned cars. The museum also featured GM’s CERV I and CERV II development vehicles. The museum closed in 1986 and the collection was sold to Miles Collier in Naples, Florida where it remains today. Briggs Cunningham passed away in 2003 at the age of 95. His impact on Corvette history makes him a deserving new member of the NCM Hall of Fame.
DOLLIE COLE – ENTHUSIAST
Dollie Ann Cole was married to Ed Cole, President of General Motors. She was never content to just be an executive’s wife, instead she gained a prominent reputation as a successful businessperson and a staunch defender of the automobile industry. She was also a passionate supporter of the Corvette.
Mrs. Cole (Dollie) was colorful and outspoken and she lived life to the fullest. She was a successful model, test driver and pilot. She became a senior editor for a publishing company and had a reputation for getting things done. When Tony de Lorenzo’s L88 race team needed a sponsor, she arranged for Tony to meet with the President of the Owens Corning Company to plead his case. The result of that meeting was the creation of the famous Owens Corning Corvette racing team.
Dollie was a strong supporter of charitable organizations that supported people with disabilities, children, animals and families of fallen officers. She served on many national board of directors including the National Corvette Museum. She held that position in 2000 and 2001. The Museum Executive Director Wendell Strode had this to say about Dollie, “When the Museum was struggling, she pushed for a new business plan and succeeded against strong opposition. She reached out to her many contacts in corporate America to generate revenue for the museum. She hosted fundraising events and helped us become more visible locally and nationally.” Dollie loved Corvettes and the National Corvette Museum. She used that passion to get others excited and involved and that helped the Museum become the focal point of America’s sports car. Dollie passed away in 2014 at the age of 84. Her passion and support for Corvette makes her a worthy addition to the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame. Vette
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