Difference between revisions of "Gaston Chevrolet"

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[[Image:FHP-Camaro.jpg|right|thumb|300px|2001 Chevrolet Camaro B4C used by [[Florida Highway Patrol]]]]
'''Gaston Chevrolet''' ([[October 26]], [[1892]] – [[November 25]], [[1920]]) was a [[France|French]]-born [[United States|American]] racecar champion driver and automobile manufacturer.


'''B4C''' is [[Chevrolet]]'s Special Equipment Options (SEO) code for a "Special Service" police package [[Camaro]]. The B4C package has heavier-duty (HD) features over a non-police vehicle as well as some options specific to the installation of police equipment. The Chevrolet [[Chevrolet Camaro|Camaro]] B4C option has been available since 1991 when it was introduced. Some other [[Chevrolet]] vehicle models are designated by another SEO code, known as [[9C1]] for the Caprice, Tahoe, and Nova Police vehicles.
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:GastonChevroletIndy1920.jpg|thumb|Gaston (driver) & Louis Chevrolet at the 1920 "Indy 500"]] -->
Born near [[Beaune]], in the [[Côte-d'Or]] département of France where his [[Switzerland|Swiss]] parents had emigrated to a few years earlier, he was the younger brother of [[Louis Chevrolet|Louis]] (1878-1941, founder of the [[Chevrolet]] car company) and [[Arthur Chevrolet]] (1884-1946). After brother Louis emigrated to the United States and earned enough money, he sent for Gaston and Arthur to join him. Once there, Gaston worked as an automotive mechanic and joined his brother in auto racing.


HD features include oversized front and rear sway bars; high-output alternator; larger (in years after 1991) four-wheel disc brakes; separate engine, power steering and transmission oil coolers; certified 145 MPH speedometer. Most of the heavier duty option parts come from a combination of parts from both the regular Z28 and the racing and handling package of the special 1LE option list.
In 1916, Gaston Chevrolet became a partner with his brothers in the [[Frontenac Motor Corporation]]. Driving a Frontenac race car, he competed in the 1919 [[Indianapolis 500]], finishing in tenth place while brother Louis finished seventh. The following year, Gaston Chevrolet broke the [[Europe]]an dominance at the Indianapolis Speedway, winning the race in a redesigned Monroe-Frontenac. In the process, he became the first driver in the history of the 500 mile race to go the distance without making a tire change. Following his victory at Indianapolis, he competed in several more events, winning a 100-mile match race against [[Tommy Milton]] and [[Ralph Mulford]]. With the coming of winter, racing moved to the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]], and at the [[Beverly Hills Speedway]] [[board track racing|board track]] in [[Beverly Hills, California]], Gaston Chevrolet was killed when his racecar crashed on lap 146<ref>{{cite web | url = http://carsandracingstuff.com/library/articles/2045.php | title = GASTON CHEVROLET KILLED IN RACE | work = The Crittenden Automotive Library | accessdate = July 12 | accessyear = 2008}}</ref>.


Along with the demise of the Camaro and Firebird, the B4C option was produced until 2002, when it died with them. There is considerable discussion of a B4C on the [[2010 Chevrolet Camaro]].
Gaston Chevrolet is interred next to his brothers in the [[Roman Catholic]] Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]].
 
==Indy 500 results==
<table><tr valign=top>
<td>
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Year
!Car
!Start
!Qual
!Rank
!Finish
!Laps
!Led
!Retired
|-
![[1919 Indianapolis 500|1919]]
|41
|16
|100.400
|6
|10
|200
|0
|Running
|-
![[1920 Indianapolis 500|1920]]
|4
|6
|91.550
|8
|style="background:green;color:white"|1
|200
|14
|Running
|-
|colspan=6|'''Totals'''
|400
|14
|
|}
</td>
<td>
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Starts
|2
|-
!Poles
|0
|-
!Front row
|0
|-
!Wins
|1
|-
!Top 5
|1
|-
!Top 10
|2
|-
!Retired
|0
|}
</td>
</tr></table>
 
==Awards==
*In 2002, Gaston Chevrolet was inducted into the [[International Motorsports Hall of Fame]].
*He was inducted in the [[Motorsports Hall of Fame of America]] in 2002.
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.gmfleet.com/government/products/police.jsp GM Police Vehicles Official site]
*{{Find A Grave|id=2402}}
*[http://www.thirdgenTECH.com www.thirdgenTECH.com]
*[http://www.thirdgen.org thirdgen.org site] and [http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/history-restoration/250718-calling-all-1991-1992-a-4.html Registry of 91 and 92 B4Cs, data and vins on thirdgen.org]
*[http://www.1le.net www.1LE.net]
*[http://www.9c1.us www.9C1.us]
*[http://highwaypatrol.utah.gov/history/chapter5/517.html Utah highway patrol B4C history]
*[http://www.camarosource.ca/main_new_site.php?url=new_site/rare_specialty/write-ups/b4c_police_pkg.htm Information on B4C Camaro Police cars]
*[http://www.outlawperformance.com/images/B4Cstuff/B4Cbook/92_b4c.pdf Order pamphlet for 1992 B4C option Camaros (PDF format)]


{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=[[Howdy Wilcox]]|title=[[List of Indianapolis 500 winners|Indianapolis 500 winner]]|years=[[1920 Indianapolis 500|1920]]|after=[[Tommy Milton]]}}
{{end box}}
{{Indy 500 winners}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Chevrolet, Gaston}}
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1920 deaths]]
[[Category:American racecar drivers]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Automotive pioneers]]
[[Category:Chevrolet]]
[[Category:Chevrolet]]
[[Category:Law enforcement equipment]]
[[Category:Racecar drivers killed while racing]]
[[Category:police vehicles]]
[[Category:Indy 500 drivers]]
[[Category:Indy 500 winners]]
[[Category:International Motorsports Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:People from Côte-d'Or]]
[[Category:Sports deaths in California]]

Latest revision as of 18:54, 3 February 2009

Gaston Chevrolet (October 26, 1892 – November 25, 1920) was a French-born American racecar champion driver and automobile manufacturer.

Born near Beaune, in the Côte-d'Or département of France where his Swiss parents had emigrated to a few years earlier, he was the younger brother of Louis (1878-1941, founder of the Chevrolet car company) and Arthur Chevrolet (1884-1946). After brother Louis emigrated to the United States and earned enough money, he sent for Gaston and Arthur to join him. Once there, Gaston worked as an automotive mechanic and joined his brother in auto racing.

In 1916, Gaston Chevrolet became a partner with his brothers in the Frontenac Motor Corporation. Driving a Frontenac race car, he competed in the 1919 Indianapolis 500, finishing in tenth place while brother Louis finished seventh. The following year, Gaston Chevrolet broke the European dominance at the Indianapolis Speedway, winning the race in a redesigned Monroe-Frontenac. In the process, he became the first driver in the history of the 500 mile race to go the distance without making a tire change. Following his victory at Indianapolis, he competed in several more events, winning a 100-mile match race against Tommy Milton and Ralph Mulford. With the coming of winter, racing moved to the West Coast, and at the Beverly Hills Speedway board track in Beverly Hills, California, Gaston Chevrolet was killed when his racecar crashed on lap 146[1].

Gaston Chevrolet is interred next to his brothers in the Roman Catholic Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1919 41 16 100.400 6 10 200 0 Running
1920 4 6 91.550 8 1 200 14 Running
Totals 400 14
Starts 2
Poles 0
Front row 0
Wins 1
Top 5 1
Top 10 2
Retired 0

Awards

  • In 2002, Gaston Chevrolet was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  • He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2002.

References

  1. ↑ "GASTON CHEVROLET KILLED IN RACE". The Crittenden Automotive Library. http://carsandracingstuff.com/library/articles/2045.php. Retrieved on July 12. 

External links

Preceded by
Howdy Wilcox 		Indianapolis 500 winner
1920 		Succeeded by
Tommy Milton
v • d • e
Indianapolis 500 winners
Four-time

A. J. Foyt · Al Unser, Sr. · Rick Mears

Three-time

Louis Meyer · Wilbur Shaw · Mauri Rose · Johnny Rutherford · Bobby Unser

Two-time

Tommy Milton · Bill Vukovich · Rodger Ward · Gordon Johncock · Emerson Fittipaldi · Arie Luyendyk · Al Unser, Jr. · Hélio Castroneves

One-time

Ray Harroun · Joe Dawson · Jules Goux · René Thomas · Ralph DePalma · Dario Resta · Howdy Wilcox · Gaston Chevrolet · Jimmy Murphy · Lora L. Corum · Joe Boyer · Pete DePaolo · Frank Lockhart · George Souders · Ray Keech · Billy Arnold · Louis Schneider · Fred Frame · Bill Cummings · Kelly Petillo · Floyd Roberts · Floyd Davis · George Robson · Bill Holland · Johnnie Parsons · Lee Wallard · Troy Ruttman · Bob Sweikert · Pat Flaherty · Sam Hanks · Jimmy Bryan · Jim Rathmann · Parnelli Jones · Jim Clark · Graham Hill · Mario Andretti · Mark Donohue · Tom Sneva · Danny Sullivan · Bobby Rahal · Jacques Villeneuve · Buddy Lazier · Eddie Cheever · Kenny Bräck · Juan Pablo Montoya · Gil de Ferran · Buddy Rice · Dan Wheldon · Sam Hornish, Jr. · Dario Franchitti · Scott Dixon

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