Velocity Invitational. Sonoma Raceway. November 10-12 2023.

I made the 750 mile round trip to Sears Point across the bay, north of San Francisco.
The traffic getting there was awful but the one day I had at Sonoma Raceway made it all worthwhile.
The tributes to Bruce McLaren and the team were outstanding and the programme is a "keeper".
My photos don't do the event justice but until I get my act together here is a video of the Saturday action.
The announcer during the Historic Trans Am event is our good friend Chad Raynal,(At Taupo Jan. 2019) who gives a wonderful account of all the cars and their history etc.
So, here we go;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6iF6IDBCVc&t=23697s


(Ken H.)

Must have a good look Ken H, the cars on the preview page are an interesting mix of eras and types Road Rally Race Sports and Racing cars etc.

The first Bruce McLaren sports car the M 1 BMMR 1 was beautifully built in tiny premises in Feltham, London, 60 years ago.
The Sonoma Invitational was to honor that occasion and many different McLaren race cars were brought there to be on display or to compete.
The oldest McLaren sports car there was M1 BMMR 2-64. The history was on display.

Did sports cars back then have to carry a full spare tyre? What was the point of that as it looks like a dangerous object at face level if one had an accident !


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(Ken H photos )

I think I found the answer to the spare tire location.
" The M1A had been designed to meet the then-prevailing FIA Appendix C regulations, which had been written years earlier to maintain the illusion that the racers were in fact road-going sports cars. The distinctive bulbous windscreen on the M1A is in fact to provide a place to mount the required spare tire. By mid-1965, the new Group 7 unlimited sports racing car rules had been agreed to, so road niceties were abandoned and the distinctive Can-Am shape began to appear in the M1B-wide and muscular rather than small and curvy."


(Ken H)

This 1967 McLaren M5A # 19. is powered by the 3 liter BRM P 101 V-12 engine. The only M 5A ever built.
It is the car that Jack Brabham was driving at the 1999 Goodwood Revival meet and he crashed hard and I don't think he raced again.
Derek Bell said that even on a 4 lane highway it would have been hard to pass Jack ! He was still racing hard at 73 years old.
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Jack Brabham in the McLaren M 5 at Goodwood,1999.

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The same M 5 A today.

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(Ken H. Last 2 photos)

Wow! Love that McLaren with BRM V12!

The M4B, the predecessor, I believe is now in NZ but sans BRM 2 litre engine.

Another rare McLaren at Sonoma was the 1970 Indy car an M15A -2 # 73.
It was to have been driven in the 1970 Indy 500 by Denis Hulme but his hands were badly burnt while he was testing the M15A -1 # 19 due to a faulty fuel filler. Fuel was a big issue and the tub was very wide, so as to accommodate enough fuel for the thirsty 159 ci (2.65-litre) turbocharged Offenhauser engine. Peter Revson drove this car in the 1970 race.

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A 1968 Can Am M8A-2 # 5

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Is this the car that I did not contribute to ?

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(Ken H photos)

1967 M6A-1 car that Bruce McLaren drove to win the 1967 Can Am series. Car number 4 was on display at Sonoma.
My current photo was blurred so I'm displaying two that I took of the car in 2011 also at Sonoma.
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(Ken's 2011 photos.)
The car is part of Richard Griot's collection. Many of us have Griot's products in our garages.
http://mclarenautomotive.ru/en/lates...ordinaire.html

Here is a clip of the first Can Am race of the 1967 series and this car was driven by Bruce McLaren. Denis Hulme won the race and was in the midst of also becoming the Formula One champion of 1967. A remarkable achievement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl-et-Po2ME


(Ken H )

The Ragtime Racers are always fun to watch.
Attachment 75685

https://www.ragtimeracers.com/

This 1908 Mercedes was on display.
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(Ken H)

Ragtime website is really worth a visit!

Note the two different driving positions of LHD and RHD on the "Ragtime" cars.
The changeover was 1908
"Thus, most American cars produced before 1910 were made with right-side driver seating, although intended for right-side driving. Such vehicles remained in common use until 1915, and the 1908 Model T was the first of Ford's cars to feature a left-side driving position."

I also learned that they drove with two people because they had no mirrors.

(KH)

Monterey 2022
1954 Ferrari 625 F1 ◊
$3,000,000 - $4,000,000 USD | Not Sold a year later, November 2023.
United States Flag | Monterey, California
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( Ken H photos.)




https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/m...625-f1/1266240

1970 Porsche 917-016 # 21 on display from the Petersen Automotive Museum.

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(Ken H photos.)

After reading Ray and Allan's comments on Ray's thread, I feel very spoilt here in California.
Some Groups are smaller such as Can Am and Formula but the racing is still good and tight.
Please let me know if my inputs are a bit too much.

Ken H.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by khyndart in CA

After reading Ray and Allan's comments on Ray's thread, I feel very spoilt here in California.
Some Groups are smaller such as Can Am and Formula but the racing is still good and tight.
Please let me know if my inputs are a bit too much.

Ken H.

---

Not for me, please keep posting!

I always enjoy the 1947- 1961 Sports Car Groups.

A fine example is this 1958/59 Sadler Meyer Special # 4 beautifully restored.
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(Ken H photos)

An overview of when this car was for sale can be found at this site.
https://www.fantasyjunction.com/sold...ecial/overview

And that's what a knobbly Lister could have looked like. The 50's era comment about "give a brit a sheet of alumimium and he'll make something ugly" stands proven.

Even if I have got the quote wording slightly wrong.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GregT

And that's what a knobbly Lister could have looked like. The 50's era comment about "give a brit a sheet of alumimium and he'll make something ugly" stands proven.

Even if I have got the quote wording slightly wrong.

---

A bit of Maserati around the nose and overall a little of Reventlow Scarab, about it, I like it and I also like a " Knobbly " Lister too
Cheers Greg T.

Roger

Funny you should say that Greg. It's an American car!
Personally I find most of the cars of that period very appealing. A car stylist I met once said the cars that appeal remind you of a shapely lady lying on her stomach, the rise over her breasts and buttocks always make for good looks, as long as she wasn't the fat lady!

Another rare car there was a 1954 Sorrell Kurtis Special # X15
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John Mote jr driving.
(Ken H photo)
Some facts and history here.
http://dmtrg.com/2023/07/21/john-mot...s-special-gmc/

Greg, I think the British cars shown here are shaped more to what Oldfart is describing than the American specials !

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A US built 1957 Monsterati Special # 35

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A US built 1952 Streets Manning Special # 15

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A British built 1950 Allard K-2 # 63

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A British built 1955 Jaguar D-Type # 23

(Ken H photos)
I'll say no more on this issue !

" A British built 1955 Jaguar D-Type # 23 "
in Ecurie Ecosse colours - very nice !!

Some more US Specials from that era.

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A 1949 Baldwin Mercury Special # 77

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A 1953 Kurtis 500S Dodge # 9
alongside a 1953 Tatum GMC Special # 25

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1953 Tatum GMC Special # 25

(Ken H photos.)

1955 Chevrolet Mistral Roadster Chassis 747513 # 55

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A 1957 Maserati 200SI # 67

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(Photos Ken H.)

" 1955 Chevrolet Mistral Roadster Chassis 747513 # 55 ".

Any History on the Car ? Ken H
- didn't realise that there were some Mistral bodies in the USA.
That distinctive cutaway / crease - in the front guards / fender

Attachment 75821

Mistral Booklet and Brochure from the 2 New Zealand companies involved -
- Weltex - of Bob Blackburn Christchurch - Blue Booklet
and Emslie and Flockton Dunedin Paper Brochure

Roger,
This one is for you; https://www.conceptcarz.com/profile/...t-mistral.aspx

Because I could not get a programme until later in the day I did not know it was Kiwi ex-pat, Tony Garmey, from Drury, that was driving the 1953 Tatum GMC Special # 25. Tony won all the Group 1 races at this weekend.
His restoration work has a great reputation over here.
Moss Motors did an article on him a few years ago. https://mossmotoring.com/shop-profil...g-performance/



(Ken H)

Ken H,
" Kiwi ex-pat, Tony Garmey, from Drury, that was driving the 1953 Tatum GMC Special # 25. "

Thanks for the links and the note about Tony Garmey;
Mark Garmey [ son I believe ? ] - is a Buckler Guy here in New Zealand, and races a Red with white stripes Buckler 90/3. the third NZ chassis
- built by Rick Harris, 1957, It has a De Joux body and was in many hands including Barry Cottle in 1959, Peter Preston in 1961, Rhys Nolan " Oldfart " in 1970 and others to Mark Garmey - details from Rhys.

Thanks Ken H,
had a read of the links,
Cheers and Merry Xmas ..
Roger.

A car with heaps of grunt!

1977 Greenwood Corvette # 40.

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Detailed in this link.
https://www.nweuro.com/1977-greenwood-corvette


(Ken H photo.)

I saw the Greenwood Corvette racing at Le Mans in 1976. I think it had to retire due to a fuel leak.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nigel watts

I saw the Greenwood Corvette racing at Le Mans in 1976. I think it had to retire due to a fuel leak.

---

Indeed, wasn't there but #76 " The Spirit of Le Mans " John Greenwood IMSA Corvette was running at " 8th place, in the first hour was but forced to retire with holed fuel cell after a tyre puncture on the Mulsanne Straight, where in practice it was unofficially fastest of them all at 215 mph '.

Notes from the Brooklands Book series " Le Mans ' The Porsche Years ' 1975 - 1982.

I first saw this one at HD about 10 years ago. I've seen it from time to time since then but don't know whether it's still around today.

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They certainly are mean looking machines, Nigel
Some information on the 1976 Le Mans Greenwood Corvette.
https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/m...le-mans/293845

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Photo Darin Schnabel ©2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions


(Ken H)

Slightly off topic Ken, but thanks for the B series help.

" Some information on the 1976 Le Mans Greenwood Corvette. "
Didn't realise that the Mancuso version of the Greenwood Corvette was the Le Mans 76 Car.

Here is it on a trailer in a " Corvette Garage behind a Chev Tow Truck. In Mancuso Livery the pale Blue.

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In its Le Mans 76 guise with the Sebring 76 car - are they the same Chassis ?

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All Spark models from John B, about 10 years, the Chev Truck is a Matchbox Model purchased in the 1990's and the Trailer GMP from Stoker a couple of weeks ago.

Next to the Greenwood Corvette being prepared, was the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda # 42.
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(Ken H photo )

Some history on this car as per historictransam.com
" Documented History:

This car (AAR chassis #50211) is the first of three Plymouth 'Cudas constructed by Dan Gurney's All American Racers (AAR) for competition in 1970 Trans-Am Championship. It was driven by Dan Gurney and Swede Savage during pre-season testing and used in all of AAR's and Chrysler's preseason promotional photographs.

It was driven by Dan Gurney in the first two races, then the rest of the Season by Swede Savage. Swede had 3 pole positions, a 2nd at Road America, and finished 5th in the driver's championship.

The car was acid dipped (then referred to as "chemically cleaned") and has many titanium parts that were carried over from Dan Gurney's Champ car and F1 efforts. The transmission was aluminum cased but sprayed with cast iron spray, to pass tech and the magnet test.

Gurney had intended to run a full season of Trans Am however budget cuts by Chrysler forced AAR to reduce its two car effort to a single car for Savage after Gurney had run just two races. Savage subsequently drove this 'Cuda for all of the remaing races of the season except Mid Ohio.

Plymouth finished fifth in the 1970 Trans-Am Championship with no wins and just 15 points, compared to Dodge’s 18 points (for fourth position). This car earned 12 of Plymouth’s 15 points.

AAR sold this car to Goodyear Tire at the end of the 1970 season and Goodyear toured the car across the United States along with several other racers as part of a national promotion.

In 1982, Ed Skanes purchased the car and refurbished it for display and the occasional vintage race, retaining ownership until selling it to Harry Lipetz in 2003. It was then sold in 2006 to Andy Boone, who sold it to Bill Ockerlund in 2014."

Plus more on the car at this site;
https://www.transamcuda.com/gallery/...s/swede-savage

I took some photos of this machine that did not have much success back in the Trans Am series but I liked it's looks, the crew and the driver.
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(Ken H photos )

Tom McIntyre in his
1968 Penske Sunoco Camaro # 6

PENSKE/DONOHUE “UNFAIR ADVANTAGES”

Oversized filler neck for more capacity 40 gallon Daytona tank.
Prototype dual carburetor manifold with cowl air induction.
Extensive chassis development by Donohue and Chevrolet including engineered roll cage.
Holes around number roundel for infamous number switching between cars for technical inspection and qualifying at Sebring. Penske sent the “legal” car through tech twice with switched numbers and qualified the lightweight car with each set of numbers as well!
Acid dipped body Vacuum retracted brake pads for quick service.
The Penske Sunoco Camaro team won 10 of 13 races in 1968 to deliver the Trans Am Championship to Chevrolet!!!
This was a Trans-Am series record which would stand for 19 years.

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(Ken H photos.)