COMSCC is committed to excellence in high speed driver education, safety, time trialing without taking ourselves too seriously.
Club By-Laws
History of our Club
1958
In April, Corvettes of Massachusetts is formed and has its first meeting at the Boston Yacht Club. Dues are $5 per year. May 10, 1958 official vote allows women Corvette owners to join.
1959
Non Corvette owners are allowed to join, but without voting rights. Stated goals were to run and promote interest in automotive events, encourage better driving, and to provide for social events. Dues increased to $7.50.
Mr. Corvette himself, Zora Arkus-Duntov, speaks at a club meeting which draws 120 people.
1960
The club becomes COM Inc., as incorporation papers are signed making COM a Commonwealth of Massachusetts not-for-profit corporation.
1961
Alan B Shepard (a Corvette driver) is given honorary membership.
1962
The start to COM’s present day activities begin with several “driving practice” events at Thompson Raceway in Connecticut.
1963
The Four Wheel Drift (COM news) begins. COM’s involvement with the (in)famous Salisbury Beach autocross begins.
1964
Non Corvette owners are allowed full membership status.
1965
By-laws rewritten removing any stipulations about car ownership requirements. A driving clinic is held at Thompson Raceway with noted driver Don Yenko.
1966
Rights are acquired at Salisbury Beach for high speed autocrosses. COM for the first time is involved in the actual control and running of a high performance series.
1967
COM drivers dominate SCCA A and B Production classes. COM runs two time trials at the new (1965) Bryar Motorsport Park.
1968
COM President Peter Consiglio wins the SCCA A Production national title at the Runoffs, held at Riverside, CA. He won driving a 427 Cobra which miffed Chevrolet sufficiently that COM was dropped from their list of official Corvette clubs. COM Treasurer John Paul also goes racing in a big way, winding up as World Champion of Endurance racing, with his feats at Sebring, LeMans, etc.
1969
COM loses the use of Salisbury because of hot rod activity, and impromptu racing (not by COM members of course).
1970
COM settles into a Bryar venue time trials format.
1971
COM expands its Bryar schedule to 5 events plus 2 drivers’ schools. Marty Kindelan becomes COM’s first female treasurer.
1972
COM wins “Best Group Display” at the Boston Autorama car show.
1973
COM runs 7 Bryar events, entry fees being $15. COM driver Ken Duclos wins the SCCA Runoffs in his Formula B.
1974
Japanese nimble/fast sports sedans make their way into COM (and elsewhere) big time. The 14 car classes are amended to divide Prepared classes from the Street driven classes.
1975
Sue Meyer is elected as the first female President. COM driver Dirk Wrightson wins the Formula C class at the SCCA Runoffs held at Road Atlanta. COM T-shirts are first sold, and become as sought after then as they are today.
1976 to 1984
Several more Autorama awards (the club ‘earned’ cash awards then). COM settles into a regular pattern of 5 drivers’ schools/time trials plus 5 road rallies. The Arthur Kelley Memorial Award is established in 1982 and given to the COM member for “outstanding achievement in a new role”. (Art Kelley had been a good friend of COM since its early days, and as the sports car editor for the Boston Globe had done many good things for the club).
1985
Weekend fee set at $55. Membership at all-time high of 257. No more free beer! (liability concerns)
1986
COM drivers put on a 15 lap race as a prelimary to the “big show” stock car races in May and June at Bryar. The first (and hopefully last) time a COM car drowns in Bryar Pond. Doug “submarine” Kelley reluctantly abandons his vehicle as it finally settles in; 8 feet below the water’s surface!
1987
Weekend fees increased to $70. COM drivers Dave Laughlin and Sam Shanaman move up to the IMSA Firehawk Touring Series.
1988
Barb Platt elected as the second woman President. Keith and Rose Bryar sell their facility to Bob Bahre of Maine.
1989
A year of transition for Bryar to New Hampshire International Speedway. COM runs two events only at NHIS and one at Bridgehampton (which starts the club to look at other tracks in the region). The rally interest wanes and COM is set on a path of being a time trial and drivers’ school club. COM drivers Dave Laughlin and Sam Shanaman finish 3rd and 4th respectively in the IMSA Firehawk series including an outright win at Watkins Glen.
1990
NHIS is open and ready to go. COM runs 4 events (at $90 per) at NHIS and one at ‘The Bridge’. Membership is at 250.
1991
The drivers’ school format is changed to todays format of establishing logical groups of student drivers based on experience and assigning an instructor to each student, allowing for the “one-to-one” instruction that works so well. The rally series officially ends. COM driver Paul Tosi wins the 3 hour Firehawk race at Road Atlanta.
1992
Sadly, COM driver Mark Kent is killed during practice for the 12 hour race at Sebring. COM institutes a flagging requirement rotation system for all drivers. Membership climbs to 280.
1993
COM implements a 1-800 number to keep members and any interested party current on upcoming events.
1994
The most ambitious schedule in club history is undertaken with 10 time trials, with events held at NHIS, Lime Rock Park, Bridgehampton, Pocono, and a first time at Le Circuit Mont Tremblant.
1995
Nine time trials are scheduled; Pocono is dropped from future schedules. Membership grows to 350.
1996
COM implements its (popular) web site.
1997
The last event at Bridgehampton is held.
1998
COM picks up a date at Mosport Park; time trials are cancelled however, when a member ends upside down in Moss corner (in a loaned car!). Several Mustang Cobra drivers have brake hose failures during the same weekend at NHIS. One Cobra is totaled, the others managed with less or no damage. Ford says ‘never thought that people would be driving them at high speed’ – (right!). Membership stands at over 500.
1999
The technically challenging and high speed Watkins Glen International is included in the schedule. A weekend fee is now about $190.
2000
Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia is added to the schedule. Attendees say this is a “keeper”. Some COM drivers put together a team to drive and support a spec Miata in the 24 hour endurance race at Moroso Park in Florida. The team is in first place (in class) at the 9 hour mark when the motor lets go.
2001 and beyond
A commitment to excellence in high speed driver education, safety, time trialing, and not taking ourselves too seriously.