CENTRAL KANSAS CORVETTE ASSOCIATION
• Clarence 'Clay' Bontrager and the StingRat •
• Clarence 'Clay' Bontrager and the StingRat •
Air Capital Corvette Club newsletter from June 1976 featuring coverage of the "Oklahoma City Festival '76" and a nice shoutout to "C. Bontrager from Hutchinson in his Sting Rat"
Click on image to be directed to this feature
A Compilation of Articles and Photos from the 1976 National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC) National Convention in Orlando, Florida featuring Clarence 'Clay' Bontrager and the StingRat
Plus an Introductory Essay by Gerald Haughton, Webmaster
Plus an Introductory Essay by Gerald Haughton, Webmaster
CKCA member Clarence 'Clay' Bontrager's dominating autocross victory in his raucous rat-motored 1969 Corvette Coupe, aka the StingRat, at Daytona International Speedway during the 1976 NCCC National Convention in Orlando, Florida, against an extremely deep field of competition Corvettes (293 entrants!), is the stuff of legend.
I had heard bits and pieces of this tale during my short time with the CKCA and knew Clarence and the StingRat had "done good" in Daytona, but it wasn't until I finally got my hands on a copy of the September/October 1976 issue of NCCC's Blue Bars Magazine and studied the detailed autocross results that I began to truly comprehend and fully appreciate the magnitude of what Clarence accomplished down there nearly five decades ago.
Racing in the MA (modified A) class, Clarence clocked a time quick enough on the second of his three runs to nab FTD (fast time of day) honors for the event, not only besting the entire field of entrants in his class, but finishing well ahead of the quickest RP (race-prepared) entrant in the second round, as well. Amazing.
Yes, you read that right: Although he couldn't know it at the time, Clarence actually ran quick enough on only his second run to take FTD. Astounding.
So then what did he do? On his third and final lap, Clarence chopped yet another second off his previous already-FTD-level blast, running a remarkable 102:08 (the only racer during the entire two-day autocross event to run in the 102's, just missing the 101's by the blink of an eye). Astonishing.
Furthermore, Clarence's elapsed time on his third run beat the best RP time of 103:44 by nearly 1.4 seconds. I'm about out of "A" words to describe what a monumental feat this was. If you follow motorsports at all, where the margin of victory often begins with zero-point-zero-something, well, you know what a remarkable accomplishment this was. Awesome? Absolutely.
Such a huge improvement on the money run is a classic example of the mind, body and soul of an apex athlete all singing together in perfect three-part harmony. You've got to dig deep within yourself to seize such moments, particularly with the weight of the venue bearing down on you (Daytona!), not to mention the immense pressure of competing against some of the hottest Corvette jocks in the nation, who have all traveled to Florida's fabled World Center of Racing with the same goal as you: WIN!
Yeah, sure, your car can be bad fast (and the StingRat most certainly was).
But you have to be bad fast, as well.
Aviators call it "staying ahead of the airplane." I've autocrossed before, in Corvettes, and on motorcycles. It's all too easy to lose your focus for a split second, get behind the airplane and then become adrenaline-poisoned trying to get out in front of it again, your teeth clenched, your heart pounding and your forearms pumped up like balloons about to burst, especially if you're one of the elite few truly in the hunt for FTD glory and straining with every fiber of your being to grind out the last measure of your machine's goodness.
Mad props, Mr. Bontrager. In iconic NASA-speak: You, sir, were a steely-eyed missile man.
Clarence was ably and cheerfully assisted and accompanied in this most-excellent adventure by his cousin and crew chief, fellow CKCA member Dean Bontrager, who built the rowdy 466-inch big block in the StingRat and who did much of the bodywork modifications, and who designed and applied the instantly-recognizable paint scheme.
Several other members of the Central Kansas Corvette Association made the arduous 1500-mile journey from the Heartland to Daytona, as well; please see the Vetter News newsletter scans below.
Nearly 50 years have passed as these words are being penned, but this historic accomplishment, on such hallowed ground, by a couple of affable Kansas farm boys, still resonates to this day.
Linked in the image below is a compilation of everything I've been able to unearth regarding the convention and Clarence, Dean and the StingRat. It's notable that the NCCC devoted nearly the entire content of their September/October 1976 magazine to the event. In their own words: "The largest NCCC convention ever...memorialized in the biggest issue of Blue Bars ever."
If I uncover any additional related material in my travels, I'll post it up on these pages.
On behalf of the Central Kansas Corvette Association, I'd like to publicly thank Stuart Bontrager and Rod Givens for their help and support in this ongoing endeavor.
– GH, 09/12/2024
I had heard bits and pieces of this tale during my short time with the CKCA and knew Clarence and the StingRat had "done good" in Daytona, but it wasn't until I finally got my hands on a copy of the September/October 1976 issue of NCCC's Blue Bars Magazine and studied the detailed autocross results that I began to truly comprehend and fully appreciate the magnitude of what Clarence accomplished down there nearly five decades ago.
Racing in the MA (modified A) class, Clarence clocked a time quick enough on the second of his three runs to nab FTD (fast time of day) honors for the event, not only besting the entire field of entrants in his class, but finishing well ahead of the quickest RP (race-prepared) entrant in the second round, as well. Amazing.
Yes, you read that right: Although he couldn't know it at the time, Clarence actually ran quick enough on only his second run to take FTD. Astounding.
So then what did he do? On his third and final lap, Clarence chopped yet another second off his previous already-FTD-level blast, running a remarkable 102:08 (the only racer during the entire two-day autocross event to run in the 102's, just missing the 101's by the blink of an eye). Astonishing.
Furthermore, Clarence's elapsed time on his third run beat the best RP time of 103:44 by nearly 1.4 seconds. I'm about out of "A" words to describe what a monumental feat this was. If you follow motorsports at all, where the margin of victory often begins with zero-point-zero-something, well, you know what a remarkable accomplishment this was. Awesome? Absolutely.
Such a huge improvement on the money run is a classic example of the mind, body and soul of an apex athlete all singing together in perfect three-part harmony. You've got to dig deep within yourself to seize such moments, particularly with the weight of the venue bearing down on you (Daytona!), not to mention the immense pressure of competing against some of the hottest Corvette jocks in the nation, who have all traveled to Florida's fabled World Center of Racing with the same goal as you: WIN!
Yeah, sure, your car can be bad fast (and the StingRat most certainly was).
But you have to be bad fast, as well.
Aviators call it "staying ahead of the airplane." I've autocrossed before, in Corvettes, and on motorcycles. It's all too easy to lose your focus for a split second, get behind the airplane and then become adrenaline-poisoned trying to get out in front of it again, your teeth clenched, your heart pounding and your forearms pumped up like balloons about to burst, especially if you're one of the elite few truly in the hunt for FTD glory and straining with every fiber of your being to grind out the last measure of your machine's goodness.
Mad props, Mr. Bontrager. In iconic NASA-speak: You, sir, were a steely-eyed missile man.
Clarence was ably and cheerfully assisted and accompanied in this most-excellent adventure by his cousin and crew chief, fellow CKCA member Dean Bontrager, who built the rowdy 466-inch big block in the StingRat and who did much of the bodywork modifications, and who designed and applied the instantly-recognizable paint scheme.
Several other members of the Central Kansas Corvette Association made the arduous 1500-mile journey from the Heartland to Daytona, as well; please see the Vetter News newsletter scans below.
Nearly 50 years have passed as these words are being penned, but this historic accomplishment, on such hallowed ground, by a couple of affable Kansas farm boys, still resonates to this day.
Linked in the image below is a compilation of everything I've been able to unearth regarding the convention and Clarence, Dean and the StingRat. It's notable that the NCCC devoted nearly the entire content of their September/October 1976 magazine to the event. In their own words: "The largest NCCC convention ever...memorialized in the biggest issue of Blue Bars ever."
If I uncover any additional related material in my travels, I'll post it up on these pages.
On behalf of the Central Kansas Corvette Association, I'd like to publicly thank Stuart Bontrager and Rod Givens for their help and support in this ongoing endeavor.
– GH, 09/12/2024
Click on image above to be directed to a Compilation of Articles and Photos from the 1976 NCCC National Convention in Orlando, Florida
Individual Articles and Photos from the 1976 National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC) National Convention in Orlando, Florida featuring Clarence 'Clay' Bontrager and the StingRat
Vetter News
August/September 1976 |
Blue Bars Magazine
September/October 1976 |
Clarence and Dean Bontrager
1976 NCCC Convention – Florida |
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Vetter News
January 1977 |
Corvette Corner Magazine
September 1977 |
Vetter News
October 1977 |
Click on images above to be directed to Individual Articles and Photos from the 1976 NCCC National Convention in Orlando, Florida
Article and Photos from the 1977 National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC) National Convention in Dallas, Texas featuring Clarence 'Clay' Bontrager and the StingRat, as published in the September/October 1977 issue of NCCC's Blue Bars Magazine
Click on image to be directed to this feature
Items of interest from the life and times of CKCA member Clarence 'Clay' Bontrager:
– Source: https://kansasracinghistory.com/Hutch_Nationals/eighty-two/Hutchinson-Nationals-Champions.htm
Clarence "Clay" Bontrager and #7b – Debi Roberts photo for the Hutchinson News
Seventeenth Annual Kansas State Championship
Late Model Stock Car Races
On the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Saturday – September 12, 1981
Late Model Stock Car Races
On the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Saturday – September 12, 1981
"Clarence 'Clay' Bontrager of Hutchinson, Kansas takes a victory lap after winning the A feature race on this day"
– Source, more: https://kansasracinghistory.com/Hutch_Nationals/Fair/12Sep1981.htm
Seventeenth Annual Kansas State Championship
Late Model Stock Car Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Monday – September 14, 1981
Late Model Stock Car Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Monday – September 14, 1981
"Clay Bontrager of Hutchinson is shown here going through the north turn – Mike Cornelison photo"
28th Annual Kansas State Championship
Modified & 360 Sprint Car Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday – September 13, 1992
Modified & 360 Sprint Car Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday – September 13, 1992
"#7B Clay Bontrager of Hesston, Kansas is shown here leading several other 360 Sprint cars down the front straightaway on this afternoon – Tim Hayes photo for the Hutchinson News"
Hutchinson Nationals
360 Sprint Car, Late Model Stock Car, Modified, Road Runner & Thumper Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Saturday – July 22, 1995
360 Sprint Car, Late Model Stock Car, Modified, Road Runner & Thumper Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Saturday – July 22, 1995
39th Annual
Hutchinson Nationals
360 Sprint Car, Modified, Late Model Stock Car, Road Runner & Thumper Races
On the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday – July 23, 1995
Hutchinson Nationals
360 Sprint Car, Modified, Late Model Stock Car, Road Runner & Thumper Races
On the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday – July 23, 1995
360 Sprint Car, Modified & Street Stock Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Friday – May 21, 1999
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Friday – May 21, 1999
43rd Annual Hutchinson Nationals
360 Sprint Car, Late Model, Modified, Super Stock, Street Stock Mini-Stock & Cruiser Races
On the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday – July 18, 1999
360 Sprint Car, Late Model, Modified, Super Stock, Street Stock Mini-Stock & Cruiser Races
On the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday – July 18, 1999
– Source, more: https://www.knoxvilleraceway.com/press/2010/article/3603
– Source, more: https://tjslideways.com/2011/07/11/5000-to-win-hutchinson-nationals-this-saturday-for-ncra-sprints/
– Image source: Clarence "Clay" Bontrager's Facebook page – posted April 10, 2011: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1797670216105&set=pb.1070229760.-2207520000
– Image source: Clarence "Clay" Bontrager's Facebook page – posted August 20, 2014: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10203132249081670&set=pb.1070229760.-2207520000
– Image source: Clarence "Clay" Bontrager's Facebook page – posted August 25, 2015: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10204835995754272&set=pb.1070229760.-2207520000
It's been three years since I've had my chemo, radiation and severe blood clots in my lungs from the lung cancer. Yesterday, I found out that there are no new tumors, no changes to the cancer in my lumbar, and I am relatively healthy, and existing in limbo. So, one has to understand that there is a question of my future and I live in this post cancer treatment suspense. But then, all of us live in limbo. When God calls us home and our work here is finished, we will spend eternity somewhere. I trust and pray that you know where are you going and that you are ready, in a moments notice, to meet your maker. Therefore, my day is just like yours and my desire is to enjoy God's wonderful creation, love my family, friends, enemies and neighbors, and be a peacemaker. Eternity is next. Tomorrow is not promised.....Are YOU ready? (I hate cancer!)
– Source: Clarence "Clay" Bontrager's Facebook page – posted July 7, 2017:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/9EEyS8YHtbrBZMXo/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/9EEyS8YHtbrBZMXo/
Clarence "Clay" and Andrea Bontrager
– Image source: Clarence "Clay" Bontrager's Facebook page – posted July 12, 2017: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10210852640126621&set=pb.1070229760.-2207520000
Clarence "Clay" Bontrager –– March 23, 1947 ~ December 16, 2017
– Image source: Clarence "Clay" Bontrager's Facebook page – posted October 14, 2017: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10211580168514376&set=pb.1070229760.-2207520000
Several vintage photos and racing videos of Clarence "Clay" Bontrager and the StingRat may be found here:
– https://www.ckca.club/vintage-photos-and-videos.html
Clarence "Clay" Bontrager and his 1969 Corvette big-block Coupe – pre- and post-StingRat – are featured in this pair of vintage Vetter News "Car of the Month" centerfold features:
– https://www.ckca.club/corvette-of-the-month-oct-1974.html
– https://www.ckca.club/corvette-of-the-month-jul-1976.html
CKCA members Clarence "Clay" and Dean Bontrager's memorials may be found here:
– https://www.ckca.club/in-memoriam.html
– https://www.ckca.club/vintage-photos-and-videos.html
Clarence "Clay" Bontrager and his 1969 Corvette big-block Coupe – pre- and post-StingRat – are featured in this pair of vintage Vetter News "Car of the Month" centerfold features:
– https://www.ckca.club/corvette-of-the-month-oct-1974.html
– https://www.ckca.club/corvette-of-the-month-jul-1976.html
CKCA members Clarence "Clay" and Dean Bontrager's memorials may be found here:
– https://www.ckca.club/in-memoriam.html
Page last updated: 09/30/2024
© Central Kansas Corvette Association
Hutchinson, KS
© Central Kansas Corvette Association
Hutchinson, KS
