Zip Corvette is proud to sponsor Rich and Kyle Skinner and their 1962 Corvette in this year’s Hemmings Great Race presented by Coker Tire! The Skinner brothers are no strangers to the Great Race – in fact, it’s a family affair, including the car!
The brothers were born into the car world – their grandfather was in the car body shop business for most of his life which influenced their dad, Rick Skinner, who then influenced his boys to love and appreciate classic cars.
The 1962 Corvette that the Skinners are driving in this year’s race was their dad’s very first car. Rick bought it when he was only 15 years old. It was wrecked and in need of repair. Rick and his dad fixed it up and it has been in the family ever since. The family folklore says that the car was wrecked by someone trying to evade the police after a bank robbery! While the brothers can’t prove all the details of that story, it sure has made for some interesting conversations over the years.
Rich and his dad Rick participated in the 2023 Great Race Spring Rally in Auburn, Indiana and also in the 2023 Great Race from St. Augustine, FL to Colorado Springs, Colorado in that same 1962 Corvette. Kyle and mom Jackie served on their pit crew! The family planned to participate again in 2024, but Rick passed away unexpectantly. Rich enlisted Kyle to carry on the family tradition in this year’s race, driving the 1962 Corvette that started it all.
When they’re not racing, Rich, 43, works in the cybersecurity industry and Kyle, 41, is a middle school counselor. They agree that they keys to success in the Great Race are to not miss a turn, have fun and hopefully finish the course!
Held each summer at the end of June, the Great Race is the ultimate time, speed and distance rally designed for classic cars. Originally, it was a two-week, cross-country torture test for vehicles built before World War II. But rules changed with the times and the cut-off year incrementally progressed. Now, 40 years later, the cut-off year is 1974, which opens the field for 1950’s classics, muscle cars and more. Corvettes are a natural fit, as the cars handle and perform well and typically withstand the rigors of the nine-day, 2,300-mile road rally.
Zip Corvette is cheering on Rich and Kyle as they honor their dad and keep a family tradition going strong in this year’s Great Race!
