BEAST 2, a STREET SKINNER

[ZRWON]

I previously had owned two ZR-1s, a steel blue metallic, '91 # 300, last know to be in France, and a turquois metallic '91 now in Ohio.



In 2003, I became the proud custodian of '93 ZR-1, #211, aka BEAST2, my 3rd and probably the last ZR-1 I'll ever own. BEAST2 was built for the late Doug Johnson by Jim VanDorn and his AutoMasters team (Street Skinner package, custom paint, and some other goodies). Jim said in an article published about the Black Widow ZR-1s, "Mr Johnson is the owner of the last "Black" LT5 engine to come from within MerCruiser"... guess that makes BEAST 2 the unofficial 9th and last Black Widow

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...lackwidow.html

Here's BEAST2:

[-=Jeff=-]

I remember reding when a tree took out Beast (1)

is the Motor in Beast 2 the original motor from the first Beast?

[ZRWON]

Originally Posted by -=Jeff=-

I remember reding when a tree took out Beast (1)
isthe Motor in Beast 2 the original motor from the first Beast?

YOU HAVE GOOD MEMORY...lucky only the body, interior and frame were damaged!
BEAST1 was built by JVD from Doug's '90 #596 ZR-1 with >100K miles on it. JVD convinced Doug to get "Agreed Value" insurance @ $45K. When the tree hit it Doug got the $45K and then purchased the totaled 596 car back for $4500. It was then trucked back to JVD's in Palm Desert who had just purchased the '93 #211 ZR-1 for some Pirate race stuff.


ALL the STREET SKINER stuff was salvaged from BEAST1 and installed in the
'93 and JVD had it painted the same Viper Sunshine Yellow with pearl added to make BEAST2 look like BEAST. Took him from early Feb to May '99 to get all the original performance stuff out of the wreck and installed in BEAST2. IMHO, it looked better than the original BEAST. It was delivered to Doug at Corvette Museum in May, 1999.



Doug died May 4, 2002. JVD stayed in touch with Donna, his widow, and the car was not driven much, if at all. All that time I hoped that I would be able to buy it if Donna or no one in the family wanted it. Finally in mid 2003 Donna decided to sell it. Jim had the car sent to his shop in Palm Desert, CA. for some much needed R&R . By late October Jim advised they had it all back to quality running condition including a few things I requested and in a heartbeat I told him to put it on a truck to me. It was in my driveway on Whidbey Island Wa in early November.
I am so grateful to JIM and all the others who knew Doug for all the pictures, stories, and a zillion other things they have sent me to document Doug's involvement with Vettes, Pirate Racing, and BEAST2. I'd be very appreciativel if any reading this has some stories, pictures etc about Doug and BEAST that you would like to share with me...PLEASE. Thanks, Bill

[-=Jeff=-]

I think I met Doug ONCE in 1998 without knowing it

I when to the NCM the same weekend the Corvette Chat guys were there

They all lined up one by one for pics at the museum. I think I might even have a pic of Doug and Beast 1

[ZRWON]

Originally Posted by -=Jeff=-

I think I met Doug ONCE in 1998 without knowing it

I when to the NCM the same weekend the Corvette Chat guys were there

They all lined up one by one for pics at the museum. I think I might even have a pic of Doug and Beast 1

Jeff, Vette Chat was where I first met Doug. He convinced me to buy my 1st ZR-1. On Vette Chat my user name was LTWON because when I 1st got active with that group I owned a '70 Green LT-1 roadster. Were you active; what user name did you use? I'd like that pic of Doug and Beast if you ever find it. Just email me a copy and I'll print a photo of it and put with all my other docs. Tks, Bill

[-=Jeff=-]

Bill I will look, not sure I have one though

I was probably on vette chat in 1998 as vettn89

if you were at the Vette chat weekend at BG in 1998 I was there in this car: