The Roaring Season

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. That was a shame as they missed out on some great dueling throughout this almost thirty car field of Historic Trans Am cars. 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.

( Ken H photos.)

Time for some Ford vehicles in Group 6.

Robert Stockwell in his 1965 Ford mustang # 15

Colin.Mullan driving his 1967 Ford Mercury Cougar # 15
Steve Eftimiou driving through the paddock area in his 1969 Ford Boss 302 Mustang # 21

(Ken H photos..)

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.

An early Porsche 911 with a priority parking spot !
The distinctive pink 1987 Camaro # 28 of Walter Brown.
The very patriotically painted 1970 Camaro # 48 of Lance Smith.

(Ken H photos.)

Approaching the home stretch.
Porsche owners always get the best parking spots !

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the unmistakable pink 1987 Chevrolet Camaro # 28 of Walter Brown.

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( Ken H photos

Wow, amazing photos Ken! Thanks for sharing.

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.
John Wiggans passing by in his 1963 Corvette # 57
Sitting quietly is John Anderson's 1963 Corvette # 27 among a group of Corvettes and a Mustang.
(Ken H photos.)

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
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


( Ken H photos..)

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

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 Ken

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
Some other cars at the track.

A Lola T 296 # 18 driven by Chris Bender.
Plus a 1982 Mercury Capri # 07 driven by Chris Schandler.

(Ken H photos..)

Good stuff Ken.

Great pics Kenny, Thank you for your dedication.

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

Some cars from Europe at Laguna Seca.
Jeff O'Neill in his beautiful 1960 Maserati T-61 # 6
James Alder in his 1952 Jaguar XK 120 # 33
Ransom Webster in his 1960 Porsche Abarth GTL # 49


(Ken H photos )

Some cars from other countries.
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Ransom Webster in a 1960 Porsche Abarth # 49


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Greg Creitz in his 1973 Porsche # 172


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Jeff Alder in his 1952 Jaguar XK120 # 33


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


(Ken H photos..)

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

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



( Ken H..)

khyndart in CA wrote: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.

A bit of British
1966 Marcos 1800 GT # 38

Two Elva 1961 Triumph TR 4 # 11 1963 MGB # 20


( Ken H pix.)

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..
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