May 2021. Laguna Seca. Trans Am Speedfest.

[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

Then we had the "big boys" show up.

2005 Audi R8 LMP # 2

2012 Ave-Riley AR-2 # 70

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.

1969 TVR # 51

1964 Porsche 356C # 64

(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

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

Another Mini Mania prepared Mini # 62

Randall Green's beautiful 1963 Lotus 23B # 63

Mark Brannon's 1962 Lotus 23 # 7

(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.

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

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

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.

Greg Meyer in his 1959 Sadler Mark 4 # 84

Robert Manson with his 1949 Baldwin Mercury Special # 77

( Ken H pics..)

[khyndart in CA]

John Fudge in a 1964 Huffaker Genie 1600 Mk VII # 156

Bob Roth in his 1963 Genie MK 7 # 4

(Ken H )

[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..

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

1966 Marcos 1800 GT # 38

Two Elva

1961 Triumph TR 4 # 11

1963 MGB # 20

( 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

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 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..)

[khyndart in CA]

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 )

[khyndart in CA]

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..)

[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

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..)

[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 Ken

[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

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..)