Chris Cord
| Chris Cord | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 15, 1940 Beverly Hills, California, US |
| Died | July 28, 2022 (aged 82) |
| IMSA GT Championship | |
| Years active | 1975–1993 |
| Championship titles | |
| 1987 | IMSA GT Championship – GTO Class |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1978 |
| Teams | Porsche Kremer Racing |
| Best finish | 6th (1978) |
| Class wins | 1 (1978) |
Chris Cord (July 15, 1940 – July 28, 2022) was an American racing driver and investment banker. He won the Group 5 SP class at the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1987 IMSA GT Championship in the GTO class.
Racing career
At the age of 15, Cord was a crew member for his father's team racing club races in California.[1] After family friend Ernie McAfee died in a racing accident at Pebble Beach in 1956, Cord switched to motocross racing.[2] Cord made his racing debut in the 1975 IMSA GT Championship at Riverside International Raceway.[3][4]
At the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans, Cord won the Group 5 SP class and finished sixth overall for Porsche Kremer Racing.[4]
Cord entered a 1980 Chevrolet Monza for the 1980 24 Hours of Daytona.[5]
Cord was recruited by Dan Gurney to drive a Toyota Celica for All American Racers for the 1984 IMSA GT Championship.[4]
Cord won the 1987 IMSA GT Championship in the GTO class, winning four races.[4][3][6] Cord was leading the GTO class of the 1987 24 Hours of Daytona with 30 minutes to go until the rear suspension of his Celica broke and was forced to pit for repair, resulting in a second-place finish in class.[7] Cord's win in the final race of the season at Del Mar Fairgrounds clinched the manufacturers' championship for Toyota.[8][9]
In 1988, Cord won two more races in the GTO class, including a comeback win at Mid-Ohio.[10]
Personal life
Cord graduated from the University of Southern California with a business degree.[11] He was the grandson of Errett Lobban Cord, the founder of the Cord Corporation, which also ran Cord Automobile.[4]
References
- ^ Borzi, Pat (June 16, 1987). "GTO leader, 46, is making up for late start". The Miami Herald. pp. 1C–2C. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ Glick, Shav (October 24, 1987). "He Rebounds After Hitting Wall: Aase Back With Cord on Gurney Team Today at Del Mar". The Los Angeles Times. pp. 4, 27. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ a b Armijo, Mark (May 16, 1987). "On the fast track: Chris Cord finds success in both racing, board room". The Arizona Republic. p. G/NW5. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e Pruett, Marshall (July 30, 2022). "Chris Cord, 1940-2022". RACER. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ Fannin, Earl (January 27, 1980). "Chris Cord's Monza will challenge foreigners". The Florida Times-Union. p. C-8. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "Chris Cord 1987 Season Results IMSA Camel GT Championship". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ Kelly, Godwin (February 2, 1987). "GTO Battle Goes Down To Wire". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. p. 7C. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ Glick, Shav (October 25, 1987). "IMSA Racing at Del Mar : Cord Gets a Victory, and So Does Toyota". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ Garrity, Karl (October 25, 1987). "Cord gets gift win in IMSA GTO race". North County Times. p. D-3. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ McHale, T.E. (June 6, 1988). "Anger helps Cord capture race at Mid-Ohio". News Journal, Mansfield, Ohio. p. 5-B. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ Fabrizio, Tony (January 30, 1986). "Racer's respect: Chris Cord finally a Daytona favorite". Jacksonville Journal. pp. 1C, 4C. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
External links