Max Lagod, Corvette Trans Am and GT1 #83

1969-2001

At Blackhawk Farms, Maxwell “Max” Lagod, 18, qualified for an SCCA Regional race that he won on the very same weekend of his first drivers’ school.   The car was a 1969 Camaro Max restored and re-built that belonged to his dad.   Jerry Lagod had raced it in SCCA A Sedan against the likes of Dick Lang and in the Trans Am during the “Pony Car” era.  The Camaro languished in the family barn before Max took an interest in it.  Having grown up moto-crossing and ice racing in Fox Lake, IL, Max now became a road racer.

Under the wing of Jerry and longtime crew Jim Karlovsky, Max progressed through a series of “newer” Camaros – a used GT1 former circle track car, a used Charlie Selix built Protofab car and a new Riley and Scott Camaro that took Max to consecutive SCCA GT1 championships at the Valvoline Runnoffs in 1996 and 1997 at Mid-Ohio.

Beginning with the Bob Riley designed Greenwood Corvettes and other designs dating back to 1975, tube frame chassis continue their development through this very day.  While there are many respected builders, Jerry and Max were looking for an edge.  They found CSD Cars in Indianapolis, a new company started by Carl Seaberg.  Carl’s background included stints at Roush, Protofab, Pratt & Miller, and Riley & Scott.

Jerry committed to CSD’s new, clean-sheet-of-paper design.  This is the Max Lagod # 83 Corvette familiar to fans at Road America and on the Trans Am trail circa 2002-2005.  Max made 70 Trans Am starts in all over a period of 10 years.

Max Lagod left us way too soon on March 12, 2011, a victim of Lymphoma.  Max leaves behind his parents Jerry and Linda, his Soulmate and Partner Jennifer Brennan and many devoted fans and followers.

Donations can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at 651 W. Washington Blvd, #400, Chicago, IL 60661.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO1qZLNg774