The backwards 'K' was actually a "turned upside down K" I learned that last week at the reunion. Jim Jeffords first drove for Nickey in March 1958 at Sebring. He had purchased the SR-2 Corvette and Nickey sponsored it with Ron Kaplan as crew chief. The car was purple at that time. The SCARAB followed in 1959 and was run under the Nickey Nouse name, purple and white paint.
In 1958, Nickey had two 58 Corvettes. One in the east, one in California. In 59, the PPE 3, did all the duty nationwide.
Jim won the SCCA 'B' Production Championship in both 58 and 59 in these PURPLE PEOPLE EATER Corvettes. The PPE III car is now owned by the Miller family ( Corvettes of Carlisle) and the Scarab is owned by Auggie Pabst. The 58 Corvettes are still missing, so keep the search going.
Tom Stephani, son of one of the brother owners, Jack Stephani owns the "Vigeanuea", a mid engine Gennie from 1968 era that was originally owned by Pondurosa Cowboy Hoss Cartwright ( Dan Blocker) All the above cars performed at the 2004 edition of the Brian Redmann Classic Vintage race at Road America. July 15-18.
