Gene Felton is not a guy you’d want to line up with on a road course anywhere. The gentleman can wheel pretty much whatever you put him in, though he’s done fantastic work in IMSA in the GTO and Challenge series. One of IMSA’s winningest drivers of all time, you’d think that he’d be wheeling around a Porsche or a Jaguar of some kind. Nope…one of Felton’s more infamous rides is a 1977 Chevrolet Nova. The Nova is how a silhouette race car should be done: a real 1977 Nova body is draped over a custom chassis that was put together by Billy Hess of Hess Racing in Mooresville, North Carolina. Packing big-boy power under the hood and a driver who has more than enough skill to wheel and deal, the only reason why the Nova isn’t out more is due to Felton’s age. At eighty-two years old, the Nova’s violent tendencies take their toll on his body.
The #96 Nova racked up a healthy win streak of it’s own, with twenty-five wins and four IMSA American Challenge trophies in a row (1977-1980). While he might be more famous for his Kelly Challenge series Camaro or the Oldsmobiles he ran in GTO, the Nova’s legend is sealed in stone. Crank your speakers and listen as man and machine put on a hell of a show at Road Atlanta!
Gene is 82 and he’s driving and shifting gears like that??? I have a new hero! Day-um, that just inspires me. I tip my cap to you Sir. You are living life as it should be lived. Totally dig the, “out of the norm”, 77 Nova body as well. Great story.
Need to know more about that Nova—PLEASE