May 2021. Laguna Seca. Trans Am Speedfest.

[khyndart in CA]

It was exciting to get back to the track again. It was decided not to allow spectators at the track or open the stands due to Covid precautions. I managed to get a pit entry ticket and set off early on my 200 mile drive. The parking was free but there was no programme or access to any of the areas to get action photos such as taken by Ray and Nigel in NZ.

So I have a few of what I call "paddock and pit pics".

I am a fan of the Historic Trans Am class and as there was an entry field of over 30 cars I did spend most of my time amongst them including my pit duties of cleaning the wheels and listening to all the stories etc..great stuff.

Once again my camera failed to charge properly but I had an older back-up one and I will share what I took during my one day" back at the track."

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( Note the stands are empty but the field was full !)
Ken H photo

[khyndart in CA]

It was wonderful to once again see the beautifully prepared cars lined up in the paddock area.
Such as the cars of Bill Ockerlund.
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The cars of Richard Goldsmith.
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Bill and Richard, stalwarts of historic saloon cars in the US.
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Two views of the Ken Epsman stable.
With the 1971 AMC Javelin # 2 in front of the 1984 Pontiac.
Ken is behind the Javelin in the orange driving suit.

Jim Hague drives the # 16 1971 Boss 302
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1984 Pontiac Trans Am # 53


(Ken H photos.)

[Roger Dowding]

Good stuff Ken H ,keep,em coming ..

[khyndart in CA]

These original Trans Am cars have been fully restored. The glory days of the Trans Am are being recreated. It is fantastic stuff.

Bill Ockerlund has the 1970 Boss Mustang # 15 driven back then by Parnelli Jones.
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Bill also has the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda # 42 driven then by Swede Savage.

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(Ken H photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

Trundling to the track.

Jeff O'Neil in
1969 Ford Boss 302 Mustang #15
Originally Driven by Parnelli Jones and George Follmer

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Craig Conley - California
1970 Boss 302 Mustang #25 (The only Trans Am car painted in "Grabber Green" from the factory.)

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Ken Adams - CA
1969 Boss 302 Ford Mustang #45

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(Ken H photos )

[khyndart in CA]

Dennis Singleton in 1970 Pontiac Firebird #92 - Originally driven by Jerry Titus.

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Accelerating away from the pit lane over the hill toward Turn 1.

(Ken H photos )

[khyndart in CA]

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Rick Jeffery. 1967 Z28 Camaro # 96


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Karman Cusack. 1968 Mustang # 22


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Ken Epsman. 1971 AMC Javelin # 2





(Ken H photos..to be continued )

[khyndart in CA]

Lance Smith in
1970 Chevrolet Camaro #48
Originally driven by Dick Hoffman
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Gary Underwood , California in
1967 Dodge Dart #18
Originally Driven by Ron Grable and Jim Hensel
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Tom McIntyre driving
1968 Sunoco Camaro Z/28 #6
Originally Driven by Mark Donohue.

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Richard Goldsmith driving
1970 Trans Am Dodge Challenger #77
Originally Driven by Sam Posey.
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Richard giving the "thumbs up" that all is well with his beautifully prepared Dodge.


(Ken H photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

Tomy Drissi was a busy man at Laguna Seca.
He drove the 1970 Chaparral Chevrolet # 1 - "Factory" Trans Am Camaro in the Historic Trans Am races.

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Originally Driven by Jim Hall
Built by: Jim Hall's Chaparral Cars, Inc.

Then Tomy came out to drive in the modern day Trans Am series. (Almost running me over in the process!)
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Camaro # 8

Veteran driver Boris Said in his Dodge Challenger # 2
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Ernie James in his Ford Mustang # 98 was quick.
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Chris Dyson in Mustang # 20 led most laps on Sunday until an incident near the finish forced him to come in for a tyre replacement.
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(Ken H photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

Different fins and spoilers seen at Laguna.
From a 1956 Ford Fairlane 500. to a 2020 Chevrolet Camaro.
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(Ken H photos.)

[khyndart in CA]

1970 Trans Am footage showing this actual Mustang # 15 of Parnelli Jones winning at Laguna Seca.

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(Ken H photos..)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGvP2YdI0aM

[khyndart in CA]

Back to the Pro Trans Am race on Saturday.
Tire change for Lou Gigliotti"s Chevrolet Corvette # 28
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Mitch Marvosh leaving the course in his Ford Mustang # 29
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Adrian Wiostowski's Chevrolet Camaro # 3 lost fuel pressure.
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Doug Peterson's Ford Mustang # 87 had a rough day amongst the close racing !
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Here is a short clip of the Sunday race which can lead into a full coverage of the controversial finish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81q_tceWulo


(Ken H pics..)

[Roger Dowding]

Don't remember the " CORKSCREW " sign even though sat there for many hours back in August 1982. The hills do look familiar would have walked up and down them many times on the weekend.
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[khyndart in CA]

Ah, but Roger as the Scots would say " Will ye nae come back again ?"
We could have a fun time poking around in the paddock / pit area but with my leg and back issues I will leave you to roam the hills "laddie"

Cheers,
Ken

[khyndart in CA]

A little something for Paul B

1963 Ford Falcon Sprint # 5 driven by Michael Eisenberg.
This was the only 1963 Bodied Ford Falcon to race in the Trans Am series. It competed in the August 14, 1966 Marlboro MD 12 hour Trans American Sedan race and the September 10, 1966 Green Valley TX 6 hour Trans Am race. The driver in both events was Jim Taylor.
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Then it was time to go out and run with "all me mates !"
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Sadly Mike Eddy was unable to run his 1964 Falcon # 17 due to a cracked cylinder head.
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(Ken H photos..)

[Roger Dowding]

Ah, but Roger as the Scots would say " Will ye nae come back again ?"
We could have a fun time poking around in the paddock / pit area but with my leg and back issues I will leave you to roam the hills "laddie"

Cheers,
Ken

Ken H,

Not too sharp myself may need to borrow a Golf Cart to get up the Hills..
The Paddock Pit area - yes could spend all day there.

Love the Falcons, hope Paul B - has a look too !! Racing the 63 model in '66, already an old car by racing standards ??.

Cheers
Roger

[khyndart in CA]

This car was impressive on the day I was at the track.
John Hildebrand - California in his 1964 Pontiac Tempest/GTO #49
Winner of the Historic Trans Am race after a wonderful race with no one in the stands to cheer him on
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Each time they came around there was a different leader.
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( Ken H pics..

[khyndart in CA]

It was a marvelous sight to see this just one lap from the end of the Historic Trans race heading onto the front straight.
An AMC Javelin, a Boss Mustang, a Camaro and John at the back of the group in his Pontiac.
A lap later the Pontiac came though to win the race.
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John Hildebrand was so intense he did not realize it was the last lap and did not know he was the winner when he came back off the track !
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It is just starting to sink in. He was very calm after a stirring drive.
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( Ken H pix..)

[khyndart in CA]

Other class acts at Laguna Seca May 1st.

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(Ken H pics..)

[khyndart in CA]

White and of British origin.

1961 Jaguar E-Type coupe # 99
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A 1957 Lotus Eleven # 102
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1963 Lotus 23 B # 21
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(Ken H pics..)

[khyndart in CA]

One class there were D Sports racers which are like smaller Le Mans type race cars not much bigger than a go kart.
This explains a bit about this class.
" D Sports Racing now known as Prototype 2 is a Sports Car Club of America class for purpose-built, 'LeMans-style', closed wheel roadracing cars. It has been called the one racing category that remains unfettered by regulations that have throttled innovation elsewhere in motorsport.[1]

Usually known simply as DSR, the class began in 1968. DSR evolved from the SCCA's older H Modified class, which traces its roots back to the early 1950s. Today's DSR cars normally use a 1000cc four cylinder engine sourced from a Japanese motorcycle. Several other engines are allowed.[2]

DSR's generally weigh under 1000 lbs with the driver and make 200 bhp at 13,000rpm. The relatively low cost of the engines and some new chassis manufacturers led to an explosion in growth of the class between the years 2000 and 2008.[3] DSR's were the fastest class at the SCCA National Championship races in 2008." (Wikipedia.)

This is an example of one.
This is John Manfroy’s Prototype 1 class Stohr 01D with Dauntless bodywork # 8
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Then we had the "big boys" show up.

2005 Audi R8 LMP # 2
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2012 Ave-Riley AR-2 # 70

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Ken H pics..

[khyndart in CA]

Move over young fella we're coming through !
Ned Spieker's 1957 Maserati 200 SI Roadster # 67 passing the 2006 Riley X1 Daytona Prototype # 15 of Spencer Trenery.
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1969 TVR # 51

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1964 Porsche 356C # 64

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(Ken H pics..)

[khyndart in CA]

These Minis put on a good show on the track.
Don Racine drove the # 61 Mini. Don owns the Mini Mania Company where I spent a lot of my "piggy bank" dollars from 1992 to 2010 when I joined Moss Motors. Don has slowly forgiven me over the years !
https://www.minimania.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2Pqs75HV8AIVTD6tBh2fCgmKEAAYASAAEgIc6PD_BwE

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Don's son Dennis is often quicker than his dad in his 1966 Cooper S # 177

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Another Mini Mania prepared Mini # 62

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Randall Green's beautiful 1963 Lotus 23B # 63

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Mark Brannon's 1962 Lotus 23 # 7

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(Ken H photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

I came across this car and found that the owner lives close to Los Olivos.
He has restored this 1982 Ralt RT 4 # 9 back to as it raced at Calder Raceway. Aust. in 1983 when driven by Paul Radisich.

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Paul Radisich Ralt RT4, 1983. Calder Raceway. Australia.

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The same car. Laguna Seca. May 2021 (Although the nose looks different ?)

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The NZ connection.

(Ken H pix..)

[khyndart in CA]

It has taken me too long to enter my photos but not having a programme just makes it a little more difficult for me.
So here are some more pics.
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Greg Meyer in his 1959 Sadler Mark 4 # 84

Robert Manson with his 1949 Baldwin Mercury Special # 77
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( Ken H pics..)

[khyndart in CA]

John Fudge in a 1964 Huffaker Genie 1600 Mk VII # 156
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Bob Roth in his 1963 Genie MK 7 # 4

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(Ken H )

[Roger Dowding]

Laguna Seca - in 1982 - Those Trans-Ams were just old Race cars - 10 - 15 years old and yet to become " Historic ".
There were a few at the event though - like the Shelby 350GT's Coupe's rather than the Sedan style .
Keep the pictures coming -
" not having a programme just makes it a little more difficult for me. "
B***er that you didn't get a programme Ken H..

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Looking at the programme - don't remember the Grand Sport Corvette, maybe before I took and interest in them - that was late 1980's onwards.
Cheers

Roger

[khyndart in CA]

A bit of British

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1966 Marcos 1800 GT # 38

Two Elva
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1961 Triumph TR 4 # 11
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1963 MGB # 20
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( Ken H pix.)

[Grant Ellwood]

I came across this car and found that the owner lives close to Los Olivos.
He has restored this 1982 Ralt RT 4 # 9 back to as it raced at Calder Raceway. Aust. in 1983 when driven by Paul Radisich.

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Paul Radisich Ralt RT4, 1983. Calder Raceway. Australia.

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The same car. Laguna Seca. May 2021 (Although the nose looks different ?)

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The NZ connection.

(Ken H pix..)
I was at Calder for that race ( if I have the date right) when Paul held off Alan Jones after the rear wing broke on Paul’s Ralt. Several other F1 guys were running there too, Laffite and Piquet if my brain is working OK.
Very good team Paul and Graham Watson, tight budget but always punching well above their weight.

[khyndart in CA]

Grant,
You were correct in that it was a very good field.

Australian Formula Pacific > Australian Gold Star 1983 > Calder 13 Nov 1983
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This was the car at Laguna Seca. May 2021.
Ralt RT4/83 [351] - Ford BDD #9 Watson Motor Racing



( Ken H..)

[khyndart in CA]

Some cars from Europe at Laguna Seca.

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Jeff O'Neill in his beautiful 1960 Maserati T-61 # 6

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James Alder in his 1952 Jaguar XK 120 # 33

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Ransom Webster in his 1960 Porsche Abarth GTL # 49


(Ken H photos )

[khyndart in CA]

I did not know much about a 1987 Renault Sports Racer before, so I will share this;

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Harris Koenig in his 1987 Renault Sports Racer # 37
(Ken H photo..)

Sports Renault
Wheelbase ................... 92 in.
Length ...................... 144 in.
Height ....................... 39 in.
Width ........................ 67 in.
Track, fir ................ 56.5/57.5 in.
Weight (with driver and fuel) ... 1300 lbs.
ENGINE
Position ....... Transverse, amidships
Type ................... In-line 4, ohc
Displacement. ............... 1700cc
Compression ratio .............. 10:1
Bore .................. 81mm/3.18 in.
Stroke ............... 83.5mm/3.28 in.
Horsepower ....... 85SAE @ 5000 rpm
Torque ......... 108 lbs/ft. @ 3000 rpm

Sports Renault (1984 article.)
Think for a minute what most racing should
be. Simple. Straightforward. A true test of
driving skill rather than a seemingly never-ending, never-won, costly process of upgrading
equipment. Great fun. Close. Competitive. And
most of all, affordable.
For over a year SCCA has been developing and
refining just such a concept. Now it's proudly
being introduced as Sports Renault, a technically
advanced, exciting, affordable, one-design class
of single-seat sports racing machine for Region.al
and Nation.al competition beginning in 1984. And
best of all, SCCA is aiming to deliver a Sports
Renault in semi-kit form for under $10,000 excluding
the cost of shipping and a battery.
The concept of Sports Renault is a no-nonsense, long
overdue one aimed at producing a high quality
racing machine. The SCCA will be the sole source
of supply for all Sports Renault vehicles and will
strictly control build quality and compatibility of
replacement parts. Rules will concentrate on providing equal performance while minimizing
expenses and will be strictly enforced by the SCCA.
Sports Renault will run on high quality street radial
tires to help control costs and to further make sports
Renault a comfortable, easy-to-adapt-to racing
experience. Special programs will also be
developed to keep replacement costs to a
minimum. This innovative concept is even being
applied to the method of shipping and building the
· semi-finished racers. The chassis will be bolted to
a large crate; the engine will be placed in its bay;
bodywork in primer will be attached to the chassis;
and all necessary componentry, wheels, tires, and
instructions will be included.

History as per Wikipedia.
" Spec Racer was first conceived as low-cost sports racing class by a director of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), Ted Cronin, in the early 1980s. The car was developed and originally manufactured by Renault/Jeep Sport USA in Livonia, Michigan under direction of Vic Elford. The car, designed by Roy Lunn, was introduced into SCCA Club Racing in 1984 as "Sports Renault." After Renault bowed out of the program in 1989, the car was renamed "Spec Racer (SR)." The original Sports Renault/Spec Racer is now an SCCA Regional-only class and a few Renault powered cars still compete in National Auto Sport Association (NASA), Midwestern Council of Sports Cars Club (MCSCC) and Independent Motorsports Group (IMG) events. By 1994, the supply of rebuildable 1.7-liter Renault engines was drying up in the United States. The SCCA made the decision to replace the original Renault drivetrain with a 1.9-liter engine and five-speed transmission manufactured by the Ford Motor Company.

Now known as Spec Racer Ford.
Spec Racer Ford is a class of racing car used in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and other series road racing events. The Spec Racer Ford, manufactured and marketed by SCCA Enterprises (a subsidiary of SCCA, Inc.), is a high performance, closed wheel, open cockpit, purpose-built race car intended for paved road courses, such as WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Road America, Watkins Glen, and many other tracks throughout North America. With more than 1,000 cars manufactured, it is the most successful purpose built road racing car in the United States.


( Ken H..)

[Bruce302]

Great pics Kenny, Thank you for your dedication.

[ERC]

Good stuff Ken.

[khyndart in CA]

Thank you Ray and Bruce.
It has taken me 1 month to enter 1 day of photos from the event, just imagine if I had hung around for 3 days !

A Masters Series is beginning this year for Formula Atlantic and Formula Two cars.
This is an example of the car Bobby Rahal drove in the 1978 US Atlantic Series.

Ralt RT 1 # 10

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Some other cars at the track.

A Lola T 296 # 18 driven by Chris Bender.

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Plus a 1982 Mercury Capri # 07 driven by Chris Schandler.

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(Ken H photos..)

[Oldfart]

I got really excited about the Sports Renault way back then, to the extent that I arranged a visit to look at one when visiting the US in 1986.This is a multi page spread, so if anyone wants more, just ask. Sorry to hijack Ken69815

[khyndart in CA]

Rhys,
That is not hijacking, that is sharing a wonderful "what if" memory.
Thanks for that.
Ken

[khyndart in CA]

I had photo I thought would not show much but on closer inspection I thought was worth sharing if you see the speed limit sign.

This is Ed Sevadjian driving past at approx. 150 mph on the front straight at Laguna Seca in his Trans Am Camaro # 38

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Ed was also involved with Colby Hillman and this beautiful 1968 Corvette # 11.
known as the "Mecca" Corvette due to the sponsorship of the Mecca Oil Co.
Some good restoration and Corvette information etc. at this Duntov Motor Company site.
https://www.duntovmotors.com/news.php

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( Ken H photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

I always enjoy seeing Corvettes either "trundling" from the paddock to the track or just assembled sitting still.

Ed Humus in his 1958 Corvette # 58 approaching the starting grid.

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John Wiggans passing by in his 1963 Corvette # 57

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Sitting quietly is John Anderson's 1963 Corvette # 27 among a group of Corvettes and a Mustang.

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(Ken H photos.)

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, amazing photos Ken! Thanks for sharing.

[khyndart in CA]

An early Porsche 911 with a priority parking spot !

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The distinctive pink 1987 Camaro # 28 of Walter Brown.

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The very patriotically painted 1970 Camaro # 48 of Lance Smith.

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(Ken H photos.)

[ERC]

If only we'd had zero cost digital pics 60 years ago, how different this site would be!

So many missed opportunities, when trying to make a couple of rolls of 36 black and white last the weekend - and a fair chunk of the weekly (youth) wage also spent on processing and the cost of (selective) enlargements prohibitive.

[khyndart in CA]

Time for some Ford vehicles in Group 6.

Robert Stockwell in his 1965 Ford mustang # 15

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Colin.Mullan driving his 1967 Ford Mercury Cougar # 15

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Steve Eftimiou driving through the paddock area in his 1969 Ford Boss 302 Mustang # 21

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(Ken H photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

As Lance Smith swings his 1970 Camaro # 48 onto the track one can see that spectator stands were empty due to the Covid restrictions at the time.
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That was a shame as they missed out on some great dueling throughout this almost thirty car field of Historic Trans Am cars.
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And that was just in one class !
I felt very privileged that I was allowed to enter the track as a team member and I am very grateful to those who arranged it.
My camera battery was not charged as I had hoped so I just snapped away as much as I could between 9 am and 4 pm with a back up phone camera. It has taken a while to format the shots down to TRS requirements so excuse the delay but I think I did a pretty decent job of it.
It may be a while before I get back to a live meet but I'm glad I had this opportunity to share this one day "back at the track".

As the shadows lengthen it is time to say farewell to these magnificently maintained machines.

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( Ken H photos.)