Article: Hollywood Sport Cars McLaren MkI

[Bruce302]

I believe Doane would, amongst other refreshing, re-chrome the headers after every race weekend. His level of presentation was that high.
The shots of the engine are evidence of his expectations, that is pure show car standard.

Bruce.

[David McKinney]

I think your last point is right, Steve. The first production model was known as the M1, and the second the M1B, at which point the M1A designation was applied to the earlier cars. Presumably the same for the McLaren-Elva Mk1 and the McLaren-Elva Mk2

[zombie289]

Great article as usual Steve, can't beleive how detailed that thing was, for being a 'race car'

[Steve Holmes]

More shots from the early test session. The top photo shows, left to right, Doane Spencer, Jim Adams (I think?), and Chic Vandagriff.

Second photo is likely from the same session. I expect thats an HSC Ferrari just to the left of picture. Chic probably grabbed it off the lot to get out to the track. Or perhaps it was his personal car?

[Steve Holmes]

These are interesting photos, taken at the first race event for the HSC McLaren, at St. Jovite. These are quite significant images, in that this is also the first ever race for the new SCCA Can-Am series, on September 11, 1966. John Surtees opened his account with a race win here in his Lola T70, and would finish the season as the inaugural Can-Am Champion.

Note here the HSC McLaren has received its second rebuild, with Doane converting it to MkII/M1B bodywork. Looks like its also had a wheel change from Star Of David to the more typical Halibrand. Also, in the photo of the car on the trailer, note the race numbers have not yet been applied. The rebuild ran so late the team didn't have time to add these before they arrived at the track.

[Steve Holmes]

The HSC team missed Rounds 2 and 3 of the 1966 Can-Am, but returned for Round 4 at Laguna Seca, which comprised two heats. Here, Dave Friedman captures perfectly Jim Adams in the HSC McLaren dropping down through the Corkscrew, followed closely by Mark Donohue in the Penske Lola T70. Behind Donohue the towering aerofoil of one of the Chaparral 2E's of either Jim Hall or Phill Hill can be seen.

Adams finished 11th and 9th in the two heats. Phil Hill won the opening heat, notching up the one and only race win for a Chaparral in the Can-Am.

[Steve Holmes]

One more from Laguna Seca 1966. Bob Tronolone photo shows Jim Adams being closely pursued by Chris Amon in the factory M1B. Amon retired from both heats.

[OCTARD-USA]

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You were right about those shown in the photos above. From left to right, as you view this photo, that is Doane Spencer, Jim Adams and Chic Vandagriff.

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And in this image above, from left to right, as you view the photo, we have Dennis Swan, Chic Vandagriff (seated) and Doane Spencer.

Dennis Swan, who was Doane Spencer's apprentice during this effort, and even earlier on the HSC Sunbeam Tiger, is now with Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan (RLL) Racing. At RLL, Dennis is involved with both the American Le Mans Series BMW Z4 GTE, and many of the historic cars in the BMW Motorsports North America collection.

Great article, Steve!

-Chad

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Chad, fantastic info!

[Steve Holmes]

Great photo this one, here is the Hollywood Sport Cars towing rig. What a beauty! But how cool is the big Yamaha sign in behind it!

[Steve Holmes]

Moving to the 1967 season, the Hollwood Sport Cars McLaren was featured as the race programme cover car for the Stardust Raceway round of the 1967 United States Road Racing Championship. The USRRC first began in 1963, as a national series for big-bore sports cars. Its popularity in its formative years prompted its creators, the Sports Car Club of America, to create an international series based on the same concept, which they called the Canadian-American Challenge Cup, or Can-Am for short.

The 1967 USRRC comprised 8 rounds.

[Steve Holmes]

Here is the HSC McLaren at the Stardust USRRC round. You can see how much the car has changed from the previous year, with Spencer having widened the rear bodywork to squeeze fatter wheels and tyres underneath. The switch to Chevy power was probably the biggest change for 1967 though. Note also the car is now running as #39, rather than Spencer's favoured #55. Do you know why this came about Chad?

[Steve Holmes]

Couple of really great John Wilson photos here, which show the McLaren at the 1967 Santa Barbara Road Races, which it won. The first shot has Jim Adams leading Roaring Season member Jerry Entin, also driving a McLaren MkII/M1B.

The second shot is that of the victory lap, with Adams celebrating with Chic's kids. Is that Cris up front Chad? Don't you miss scenes like this in motorsport? Who doesn't love a victory lap with the chequered flag held by the driver. What a superb photo.

[Steve Holmes]

More from 1967, this being the Kent, Washington round of the United States Road Racing Championship. Sitting in the pits, basking under the hot sun, the bright metallic blue paint really pops!

[Steve Holmes]

By the time the HSC McLaren appeared at the penultimate round of the 1967 Can-Am, at Riverside (October 29), it had sprouted an adjustable rear wing, supported by end plates molded into the rear bodywork. Note the rear wheel openings look to have grown also.

[OCTARD-USA]

Note also the car is now running as #39, rather than Spencer's favoured #55. Do you know why this came about Chad?

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Number 55 was Jim Adam's doing. Jim used #55 in his MGA, the HSC MGB, the HSC Tiger, and the HSC McLaren.

I asked Cris Vandagriff for his thoughts and he believes that his Dad/Chic Vandagriff thought their bad luck would go away by changing to #39. It worked at Santa Barbara, but overall, luck was not in abundance with the HSC Mk1/M1A.

I will ask Jim Adams for his recollections as well.

-Chad

[OCTARD-USA]

The second shot is that of the victory lap, with Adams celebrating with Chic's kids. Is that Cris up front Chad?
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This is Cris Vandagriff and his sister taking the victory lap with Jim Adams at Santa Barbara. When I first showed Cris this photo he mentioned that this may be the only time his sister ever stepped into a race car.

[Steve Holmes]

Great info Chad, thanks heaps.

[Steve Holmes]

Following the 1967 Riverside Can-Am race, Jim Adams hung up his helmet, albeit, temporarirly, and the HSC McLaren was sold, first to Ted West, who then quickly passed it on to Harvey Lasiter. Lasiter paid $4,000 for the McLaren, less motor, having just sold his Cheetah sports cars. Lasiter shared the car with his buddy Doug Hooper, and they picked up sponsorship from the music group The Mama's And The Papa's.

These photos are both from 1968, the second shot having been taken by Dave Friedman.

[Steve Holmes]

This is a great shot of the McLaren in the Riverside pits for the 1968 Can-Am.