“Mr Corvette” as Guldstrand was known, ran the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967 with fellow American Bob Bondurant. Their trip to France was an adventure in itself. On arriving at Orly airport in Paris, they realised that a member of the Dana Chevrolet Inc. logistics team had forgotten to load the car’s trailer.Guldstrand and Bondurant had no choice but to drive the Corvette C2 to Le Mans. Racing car engines generally don’t appreciate speed limits and the car spluttered whenever it was restrained below 100 kph. The sight and sound of the Corvette raised a few eyebrows in the towns and villages along the way.

The pair also attracted a following at the race itself but the crowd could do nothing to prevent a mechanical breakdown on the dashing red, white and blue car. A few months earlier, at the 12 Hours of Sebring, while racing for Roger Penske, Guldstrand and co-driver Dick Thompson’s hopes were dashed by an accident that put an end to their race. Yet all was not lost for Guldstrand. The same year, he won the GT class at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

The following year, the electrical engineering graduate founded Guldstrand Engineering in Culver City in his native California and devoted his time to preparing racing cars. His business was a sort of throw-back to his hot-rodding high school years. Guldstrand remained close to Corvette owners and was delighted to return to Le Mans in 2005 for a special parade.

The ACO extends its deepest sympathy to Mr Guldstrand’s family and friends.

Cécile Bonardel / ACO — Translated from French by Emma Paulay

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, 10 & 11 JUNE 1967. Dick Guldstrand and Bob Bondurant’s #9 Corvette C2 in action.