SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

[khyndart in CA]

Bobby Unser's Holman-Moody prepared 1972 Ford Gran Torino # 41 at Sonoma, June 2018.

(K Hyndman photo)

Some info about this car at this site.

http://www.mustangandfords.com/featured-vehicles/16162-1972-nascar-torino/




(Ken H)

[Paul B]

Great pics Ken of Holman Moody in their hey day.

[khyndart in CA]

Paul,
This could be your next move as they need good men at H-M at this time. (You could be living a dream! )

(Ken)

[Paul B]

Now wouldn't that be cool Ken, That spins my wheels in every direction!

[khyndart in CA]

In 1969 General Motors certainly got hit hard with this fine !

"1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
1969 had marked the sales debut of the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am however the car's smallest engine was well over the 5000cc maximum set by the series at the time and it was not used in the 1969 championship. In using the name Trans Am, a registered trademark, General Motors agreed to pay $5 per car sold to the SCCA."

(Ken H)

[khyndart in CA]

Jerry Melton also photographed the Hollman-Moody Ford Challenger at the recently opened track at the Michigan International Speedway in April 1969. An SCCA event was held to sort out the new track before the first race of the Trans-Am series in May.
The infield course that linked up with the high speed banked oval had been designed with input from Stirling Moss.
With all of Jerry Melton's photos of these two events at the speedway there is almost enough material to write a book including some that I covered last year in a thread about Horst Kwech.

(More to come..)
(Ken H)

[Roger Dowding]

" With all of Jerry Melton's photos of these two events at the speedway there is almost enough material to write a book including some that I covered last year in a thread about Horst Kwech. "

Would like to see that Ken H, - but between " Her indoors " and Moss Motors - would you have the time ??.

Thanks for all your " inputs ".

[khyndart in CA]

Roger
When I see you at Taupo I will explain to you then my methods of madness !
Ken

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
This is for you. April 1969
An Austin Healey 3000 # 22 on the banking at the Michigan Speedway...

There was plenty of space on pit road at the speedway

A Lotus Seven tucks in behind the Healey. This is before the weather changed.

(Jerry Melton photos.)



(Ken H)

[khyndart in CA]

Some of the smaller cars raced well on the high speed oval part of the track.

Start of the small sedan class race.

Evan though the Alfa Romeo Giulietta ran well it could only climb to second place.

It was the Austin Mini Cooper of Art Sutphin # 53 that came through for the win in the C sedan class race. (Sorry Bruce D !)

Jerry Milton photos

[Spgeti]

Apart from the Alfa 105 GTV2000 I also have a Riley Elf...

[khyndart in CA]

Sorry Bruce, I won't pick on you anymore !

Some class winners at Michigan in April 1969.

D Sedan class winner was Frank Mueller in his NSU # 34

Ralph Darlington in his Ferrari Dino # 66 B Class S/R winner.

Formula Ford winner Jimmy Clarke in his Lotus 51 # 4

(Jerry Melton photos..)



(Ken H)

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H, love that NSU Prinz 1000 TT - with the open tail .. cheers

[khyndart in CA]

The US had some entertaining starters /"flaggies at some of their circuits.
Jerry Melton captured "Super Starter" Ed Houlihan in action in 1969.

But none could compare to the antics of "Tex" Hopkins at Watkins Glen over several years.

1966 and Jim Clark is waved home as the winner of the USGP in his Lotus 43 and the only win for the H16 BRM engine.

1967 and Jim Clark is the winner again in his Lotus 49 # 5

Tex was still going strong in 1971 as he waves winner, Peter Revson, over the line at the end of the 1971 Watkins Glen Can-Am race, driving his McLaren M8F # 7


(Ken H )

[khyndart in CA]

One more of Ed Houlihan at the start of the infamous 1969 Trans-Am race at Michigan International Speedway. May 11th 1969.

Jerry Melton photo.

This was the first race of the 1969 Trans Am campaign.
Cars in photo from left to right.
Horst Kwech in his ill fated Mustang # 2, just ahead of Mark Donohue in his Penske 1969 Camaro # 6
Jerry Titus is in a white 1968 Pontiac Firebird # 27 behind Milt Minter's 1968 Firebird # 37.
Race winner Parnelli Jones is in his 1969 Mustang # 15 and George Follmer is in his 1969 Mustang # 16

(Ken H )

[Bruce302]

Great photos Ken, Thank you for putting them on line. The last one is one of my favorites.

Bruce.

[Trevor Sheffield]

Great photos Ken, Thank you for putting them on line. The last one is one of my favorites.

Bruce.

Laurie Powell would have given this guy a wake up call.

The correct technique is to carefully not disclose any muscle movement heralding the drop of the flag. A skilful driver watches for this preparatory signal and immediately acts accordingly. Laurie was not inclined towards personal showmanship, knew what he was doing and was true to the business in hand. He was proud that he always presided over clean starts.

Trevor.

[khyndart in CA]

Trevor,
I don't think the Formula One or Trans-Am organizations would have had these guys around for long if they did not do their duties correctly. ( They wanted the complete field from front to the rear make sure they saw the flag being waved. )
I think the main difference is what you correctly term as "personal showmanship" (That is big in the USA unlike NZ !)

(Ken H)

[Trevor Sheffield]

Trevor,
I don't think the Formula One or Trans-Am organizations would have had these guys around for long if they did not do their duties correctly. ( They wanted the complete field from front to the rear make sure they saw the flag being waved. )
I think the main difference is what you correctly term as "personal showmanship" (That is big in the USA unlike NZ !)

(Ken H)

Ken,

In places where motor racing has not become "Showmansjhip", it is logical and common practice for the starter to be provided with a podium. LOL

[khyndart in CA]

Back to the April SCCA Meet at Michigan.
John Martin was a driver for the Ron Kaplan AMC Javelin # 4.
John at 29 yrs old, had worked his way up from being a mechanic, crew chief, test driver and then given an opportunity to drive in Trans-Am.

Note the rear spoiler that was only used at this event on the Javelin in 1969.
(Which probably means this was a 1968 team car.)

Coming up to the start and Ed Houlihan's flag.

Jerry Melton photos

John went on to win the A Sedan Class race that weekend.

(Ken H)