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Lobby display at GM Design Center, 1964 Chevrolet Corvair

I started my thirty year career at the Chevrolet Engineering Lab on June 16, 1964. My first assignment was as a technician supporting an engineering team (headed up by Norm Luther) that was doing test track analysis of the Chevrolet Corvair. We were to document and test the rollover tendencies of the Corvair to provide data for courtroom cases that were then being conducted at the time. The tests included seven days a week working shifts to compare the Corvair against the Ford Falcon; the nearest competitive vehicle. Mario Andretti was often at the scene to witness the outcome of the many attempts to roll over the Corvair test vehicle. A van would apply side loads to the Corvair through a strain gauged arm on the track and at the same time a helicopter would film the tests from above. Often GM Chief Engineer Zora Duntov could be seen zooming around the test track in a sleek Corvette.

It was exciting times to be involved with the many test projects that GM was involved in. I remember it as a time when I learned a lot of engineering field tips, one of which was to always have a couple of rolls of duck tape handy. It could be used for almost any type of fix on the track and in later years; even proved its value in emergency repairs in space flight.

I later was assigned to working in the heavy duty truck brake test area. We had a rig in the back of the lab called "The Flintstone". Dan James and I spent a lot of hours gathering test data after we ran tests using the heavy concrete wheels that provided accelerated braking tests to the brakes linings and associated parts of the big trucks. Between bouts of being out in the cold temperatures outside taking measurements, Dan and I would take a coffee break and do the Jumble Puzzle inside the locker room.

My last years at GM had me assigned to working on engineering test procedures. I worked with many fine individuals and we developed some excellent uniform test specs on the GMUTS (General Motors Uniform Test Standard) Committee. I still see some of the people I worked with when they come down to Florida during the winter months.

I only hope that the technicians and engineers now working at the CPC Engineering Center are having and enjoying the fine career experiences we all had during my tenure at General Motors. I retired on December 31, 1994.

Article submitted by Tom Gilmore

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