Hershel McGriff's Le Mans snowplow Camaro

Hershel McGriff returned to race at Le Mans in 1982. After the not so successfull attempt with his son Doug in the Dodge Charger in 1976, Billy Hagan signed on Hershel to drive the Stratagraph 1979 Camaro with Dick Brooks.

That Camaro had already been entered by Hagan and driven by Cale Yarborough, who'd just retired from his active NASCAR career, at Le Mans in 1981.  The next year, Hagan entered two cars: the 1979 and a 1982 Camaro that he drove himself with Gene Felton. Hershel remembers the car fine. He had quite a blast trying to outrun his teammate Felton during the Le Mans night. By the way, the crew chief of the two Camaros was the famous Tex Powell!

photos: Ron Zuehlke and François Breton

Comments

[pantera gr4]

Christophe ,Thank you very much for this topic ..I was at le Mans in 1982 and i remember very well these two CAMARO ...I support the two chevrolet during all the race ..thank to post my pictures !! Francois ..

[Tom Taylor]

I would like to clarify one of the pics on this topic. It is the one of the two drivers in their firesuits. The gentleman with the Cowboy hat in the white suit is identified as Billy Hagan, but it is actually Tom Williams, who just happens to live in my same hometown of Schertz, Texas. Williams made a few USAC and NASCAR starts, but mostly raced in Texas and Mexico. He was a close friend of Tex Powell, who is originally from Houston. I will find some time to go over to Tom William's house and ask him more about his trip to Le Mans. I will report back what he says.
Tom Taylor

[Chris]

Tom,

thanks for this clarification. I checked the 1982 driver line-up and Williams was the 3rd driver with Billy and Gene on the Camaro. Here are their results:
24 Heures 1982 - Circuit de 13.626 km
Chevrolet Camaro N°81 Stratagraph Incorporated
Technique :
Catégorie : IMSA GT
Poids : 1109 kg
Moteur : V8 Chevrolet 5700 cm3
Pneus : Goodyear

Pilotes :
Billy Hagan USA
Gene Felton USA
Tom Williams USA

Résultats :
Course : 17ème
Distance : 3670 km
Moyenne : 152,92 km/h Qualifications : 34ème
Temps : 3'52"59
Moyenne : 210,902 km/h

[olivier vernez]

bonjour
il y a quelques temps je vous avez envoyer des photos de ma charger lm76 au 1.43en cours de montage .blesser a une main au mois d aout 2007 je peut seulement me remettre a finir ce modele .je vous envoie des photos des que ce modele est terminé.je fabriquerais egalement un diorama des stands avec ses comparses corvette grenwood et autres monza a tres bientot christophe

[Christophe]

Bonjour Olivier,

je suis content que vous soyez rétabli. On attend le résultat de vos maquettage avec impatience :-)