Zink
History
Ed Zink started his auto racing career at the dirt ovals of Tennessee and North Carolina in the 1950s. In 1962, Zink designed and built his first road racing car, the Zink Petit. The Zink Petit was a racing car built according to SCCA H-Modified class. The car was powered by a 850 cc (52 cu in) DKW engine. The car made its debut at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs in 1960. Tommy van Hoosier failed to finish at Daytona International Raceway. Bill Greer won the most prestigious SCCA race in the H-Modified class in 1963.
After a short stint in sporscars with the Zink Z-4 the Tennessee constructor introduced the Zink Z-5 Formula Vee. The car was introduced in 1965 and was dominant in its class until 1970. The Z-5 won the Formula Vee race at the Runoffs for five years in a row. In 1967 the Zink Z-5s finished in the first five places. As a measure to counter Zink's dominance the SCCA outlawed stressed-skin metalwork in 1967. Zink's dominance was broken in 1971 with Lynx winning the Runoffs.
After a short stint in sporscars with the Zink Z-4 the Tennessee constructor introduced the Zink Z-5 Formula Vee. The car was introduced in 1965 and was dominant in its class until 1970. The Z-5 won the Formula Vee race at the Runoffs for five years in a row. In 1967 the Zink Z-5s finished in the first five places. As a measure to counter Zink's dominance the SCCA outlawed stressed-skin metalwork in 1967. Zink's dominance was broken in 1971 with Lynx winning the Runoffs.
Formula Super Vee
Zink also joined the Formula Super Vee market. With steep competition from Royale, Lola and Zeitler, John Finger was the best driver in a Zink in the 1971 US Formula Super Vee championship. Finger scored one podium finish and ended in fifth place in the championship.
Harry Ingle finished second in the same championship the following year. Ingle won the 1973 Formula Super Vee Runoffs. It proved to be the only Formula Super Vee Runoffs win for Zink.
Tom Bagley was successful in the Zink Z-11 winning three races in the US Formula Super Vee championship. Bagley was second in 1975 and winning the championship in 1976. Later Formula Super Vee cars were less successful.
Zink Cars is a former constructor of Formula Vee cars among other racing cars. Zink Cars was formed in 1962, as of 1974 all manufacturing of the Zink racing cars was taken over by Citation Engineering.
Ed Zink continued creating cars until the 1980's. He passed away in 2003.
Harry Ingle finished second in the same championship the following year. Ingle won the 1973 Formula Super Vee Runoffs. It proved to be the only Formula Super Vee Runoffs win for Zink.
Tom Bagley was successful in the Zink Z-11 winning three races in the US Formula Super Vee championship. Bagley was second in 1975 and winning the championship in 1976. Later Formula Super Vee cars were less successful.
Zink Cars is a former constructor of Formula Vee cars among other racing cars. Zink Cars was formed in 1962, as of 1974 all manufacturing of the Zink racing cars was taken over by Citation Engineering.
Ed Zink continued creating cars until the 1980's. He passed away in 2003.
1969 Zink Z-9 Volkswagen Formula Super Vee
1974 Zink Z-11 Volkswagen Formula Super Vee
1977 Zink Z-14 Volkswagen Formula Super Vee
1974 Zink Z-11 Volkswagen Formula Super Vee
1977 Zink Z-14 Volkswagen Formula Super Vee
?-1970
Z-9 - 1972 - ?
Z-11 - ?
Z-14 - 1979
Z-9 - 1972 - ?
Z-11 - ?
Z-14 - 1979
1969 Zink Z9 Super Vee
1969 Zink Z9 Super Vee
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This car is a 1st generation car that was raced in the Gold Cup Series under Simoniz sponsorship. The car has extensive documented history including photos of the car being constructed.
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1975 Zink Z11-02
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This Zink Z-11 Super Vee is chassis number 2 of 4. (This car is 1 of 3 made in 1975. Originally raced in 1975 Lou Gigliotti wearing number 2. Lou came to fame in the trans Am series and still sponsors some cars.) It was built in 1975 in Indianapolis by Citation Engineering's Steve Lathrop. It was driven in the Bosch Gold Cup by Lou Gigliotti, Billy McConnell, and Tom Bagley. Bagley had much success in Super Vee competition, a feeder series for CART/IndyCar, winning more Super Vee races than any other driver. Bobby Rahal, Michael Andretti, and Al Unser, Jr. competed in the Super Vee series.
The Zink Z-11 featured in-board rear brakes and in-board front suspension. Power is from a 2-liter, air-cooled Volkswagen engine using Solex dry sump lubrication. |