The John Lacko Collection.

[khyndart in CA]

John is finding more photos in his files than he first realized. He is enjoying being able to share them with us on TRS and it is always a pleasure to call him up and listen to him describing some of the race tracks, events and drivers he has met. He has a wonderful memory and I feel privileged to be in contact with him. He is a busy man with with his photography business, being involved in many organizations in his home town of Kalamazoo, Michigan, including the local newspaper and doing a lot of work at the nearby Gilmore Car Museum or taking vintage car photos at tracks such as : Indianapolis Speedway, Lime Rock and Road America etc. at most weekends.
John wants to present his photos in chronological order and so far we are stiii on one of John's first meets at Riverside in 1967.

A site of the Gilmore Car Museum.
https://gilmorecarmuseum.org/

From photos of`early Can Am races to present day historic events John has a vast selection to sort through for me to enter here.
It may take a while but we both hope you enjoy John's work from over 50 years.
Two examples before John prepares them for TRS. Again thank you John.

1968 Can Am race at Laguna Seca. Denny Hulme in the rain.

Greg Thornton Lotus. 2017 Historic meet.


(Ken H..)

[khyndart in CA]

John has presented some more photos of the April 1967 Riverside, CA. United States Road Race of Champions. USRRC.

Bob Bondurant driving through Turn 6 in his McLaren Elva MK 3. # 51

Another of Bob Bondurant.

(John Lacko photos )

Sadly a few weeks later at Watkins Glen Bob had a terrible accident in this car when a suspension component broke and the car flipped 8 times. Bob's legs were badly broken and this led to his retirement from driving but also led to him starting up the well known

(Ken H )

[khyndart in CA]

October 2021 Newsletter;
From Bob Bondurant;
BOB BONDURANT LATEST NEWS

Hello Fabulous Fifties Buddies,

Wow, it's been a wild year, and I can't thank my friends enough for reaching out and always checking up on me and Pat. Aside from the mandated vaccination in the assisted living home and my near death reaction to it, I have pulled out of it surprisingly sharper than I was before the seizure, stroke, and coma! I don't have an explanation for it, but I guess it's like another day on the race track, you just race for the win. I beat all odds and I'm here to tell about it!

(Photo: 2013 at Legends of Riverside event by Steve Johnson)

Another thing that keeps me going daily is the news my wife Pat shares with me on everything from fan mail to negotiations on the new Bondurant Racing School and potential partners. This exciting news allows me to draw up the original training facility that I wanted in the past but there was not enough land in Chandler, AZ to build it the proper way.

The idea of a new Bondurant School just gets me up every day looking forward to continuing to be able to save lives! Other exciting news is there was a fantastic article written on us in FORBES magazine in the July issue, so we must have been doing something right all these years to make FORBES...right?!

I don't know if any of you are following NASCAR, but two of my young Bondurant graduates that I instructed a few years ago, Chase Elliot and Kyle Larson, remain on the podium weekend after weekend, and I'm so proud that I personally instructed these two champions!

On another celebrity kind of note, one of my best experiences in training Hollywood actors from James Garner, Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, and Nicholas Cage for racing movies, I have to say Christian Bale has to be one of my favorite celebrities that I have trained! As you may not know, I trained Christian personally for the movie FORD V. FERRARI and gave him many hours of one-on-one stories of me and Ken Miles who I spent hundreds of hours with over several years as the only two test drivers for Carroll Shelby on the Cobras, GT350Rs, and the GT40. Christian was completely engaged in hearing the stories from the 50s and 60s racing days, which we both felt helped him understand the era of the movie he was making. The wonderful thing is that he checks in pretty frequently with us to see how I am doing, and that makes my heart grow really big.

I am happy to share that I am doing very well. I am in a beautiful assisted living home in Paradise Valley with a wonderful staff and I get to see Pat 3-4 times a week and she always has goodies, whether it's fudge or fan mail!

I hope this finds everyone as well and happy as I feel today and that you have as many fantastic memories of the Fabulous Fifties as I do!

All the best,

Bob Bondurant.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bob's loss of the driving School is very sad and reminds me of the Bob Jane saga.

An article describing what has been taking place in Arzona.

https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/money ... 90964.html




(Ken H.)

[khyndart in CA]

Peter Revson in the other Dana Chhevrolet sponsored Mclaren Mk 3 # 52 going through corner 5 at the Riverside International Raceway.

(John Lacko photo..)



Ken H

[khyndart in CA]

April 30th 1967.
Turn 6 at Riverside.
Mike Goth in his Lola T70 Mark 3 # 4 entering and exiting the turn.

(John Lacko photos.

Mike Goth was one of the first Formula A / 5000 foreign drivers to come out to NZ.
I found this rather interesting New York Times article regarding expenses in 1969 / 1970.

Jan. 1970 $ 16000.00 NZD = $ 17,920 USD
Oct. 2021` $ 16000.00 NZD = $ 11,417 USD !

https://www.nytimes.com/1970/01/04/arch ... ormat.html

Bay Park. Dec 1969
American driver, Mike Goth's Surtees TS 5 # 96

( Ken H photo..)



(Ken H..)

[khyndart in CA]

Fred Baker had his team at Riverside from Florida.

Fred Baker in his Porsche 906E # 22 followed by Mexican driver Moises Solano in his Lola T70 # 99

The other Baker Racing Team car was driven by Charlie Kolb.
It was Lola T70 # 12

(John Lacko photos..



(Ken H.)

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H,

Reading the comment John Lacko started his racing photo's in 1967.
Question ?? In your vast collection of " Stuff " of others like Jerry Melton etc, - Would you have any photos or copies Programmes, etc for the 1955 Sebring 12 Hour Race - known also as the " Florida Grand Prix ".

I am putting together some information in connection with the Nash Healey's and mainly Austin Healey's [ 100S, many 100M several and 100's that raced in the event.

There were 7 100S entered 6 of which were all shipped from Donald Healey Motor Company in February 1955 in time for Sebring in March 1955 - the 7th car was a works car that was actually originally a modified 100 from 1953/54 that became an " S " ..

The 6 100S being readied for the shipment AHS3501 - 3506

[Steve Holmes]

This is such a cool thread Ken, and I'm loving the amazing images and info for each. Keep 'em coming!

Its interesting to see how many Chevrolet dealers during the 1960s ran multiple cars in a variety of competitions. Dana Chevrolet, as well as the McLaren, was also campaigning a Camaro in 1967, prepared and driven by the great Dick Guldstrand. The ca still exists and races with the Historic Trans-Am group and is one of my all-time favorite racing cars: http://www.historictransam.com/Drivers/ ... aro56.html

John has presented some more photos of the April 1967 Riverside, CA. United States Road Race of Champions. USRRC.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]70590[/ATTACH]
Bob Bondurant driving through Turn 6 in his McLaren Elva MK 3. # 51

[ATTACH=CONFIG]70591[/ATTACH]
Another of Bob Bondurant.

(John Lacko photos )

Sadly a few weeks later at Watkins Glen Bob had a terrible accident in this car when a suspension component broke and the car flipped 8 times. Bob's legs were badly broken and this led to his retirement from driving but also led to him starting up the well known
[ATTACH=CONFIG]70592[/ATTACH]




(Ken H )

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
Try this site, I think it will have most of what you are asking for.
Check the Gallery and Technical Data and programme etc.

https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/S ... 03-13.html

https://www.racingsportscars.com/covers ... 03-13e.jpg

( Note Stirling's co driver in A/H # 44 was Lance Macklin who was involved a few months later at the 1955 LeMans disaster.)

Good luck with your project Mr Dowding,
Cheers,
Ken H.

[Milan Fistonic]

Roger,
Try this site, I think it will have most of what you are asking for.
Check the Gallery and Technical Data and programme etc.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]70643[/ATTACH]

https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/S ... 03-13.html

https://www.racingsportscars.com/covers ... 03-13e.jpg

( Note Stirling's co driver in A/H # 44 was Lance Macklin who sadly lost his life a few months later at the 1955 LeMans disaster.)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]70642[/ATTACH]

Good luck with your project Mr Dowding,
Cheers,
Ken H.

Lance Macklin wasn't killed in the Le Mans crash. He died aged 82 in August 2002. I believe he lived in New Zealand for a time after he retired from racing.

[khyndart in CA]

Yes Milan, you are correct.
The Macklin car was involved in the LeMans crash but Lance managed to walk away from the wreckage.
His car at LeMans was chassis SPL 226B
The car # 44 at Sebring was chassis SPL 258BN


(From the A/H 100S Registry.)

SPL 226B 1B136878 7, 25 green green 100/100M/100S Donald Healey Motor Co. England Healey Motors NOJ393 Scott, Jack U.K.


SPL 258BN SPL258BN 23, wht/blue, spgrn rebuilt spruce green Donald Healey Motor Co. England Healey Motors OON441 OON441 Moore, Frank Brisbane Qld. Aust.



(Ken H)

[Roger Dowding]

Yes Milon, you are correct.
The Macklin car was involved in the LeMans crash but Lance managed to walk away from the wreckage.
His car at LeMans was chassis SPL 226B
The car # 44 at Sebring was chassis SPL 258BN


(From the A/H 100S Registry.)

SPL 226B 1B136878 7, 25 green green 100/100M/100S Donald Healey Motor Co. England Healey Motors NOJ393 Scott, Jack U.K.


SPL 258BN SPL258BN 23, wht/blue, spgrn rebuilt spruce green Donald Healey Motor Co. England Healey Motors OON441 OON441 Moore, Frank Brisbane Qld. Aust.



(Ken H)

Ken H,

Quite convoluted history to some of the Donald Healey Motor Company - 100S and " Special Test Cars " NOJ391 NOJ392 and NOJ393 " OON439/440/441 were all 100S but some were built as ordinary 100 models and rebodied. and as noted repainted from white over blue to green. In the Six that went to Sebring together from the DHMC factory only one was green - Jackie Coopers, AHS3504
Thanks,
I must checkout the Registry.

Have seen the website you mention and got a few photos, but not many of the 100 / 100M / 100S that raced.
Interesting the control the Officials had in the Main Race as some cars started and were " Flagged Off " as they had not qualified.
How did that happen ??

More work to do and thanks again Ken H.. will keep looking.
Some of the Healeys and others in a garage at the Sebring 1955 Race.
Car closest is not an S - drum brakes !!

The Macklin Healey at Le Mans 1955 - the start

with a Porsche

The Macklin Healey at Le Mans 1955 after the crash
Cunningham #22 passing - the rather unusual car that ran an Offenhauser Engine.

photo says Allan Dick archives but is on several websites

[ have 1;43 scale models of both the 100S #26 and the Cunningham #22

More to come on the Austin Healey thread, and Ken H- will "borrow "some of your information
Cheers
Roger

As an aside Joe Armour from Australia has been writing a very detailed record of the 100S cars for many years - still not finished but will be the " Bible " of the cars when completed.

Taking this information [ Post #32 ] and images to the Austin Healey thread too !

[khyndart in CA]

Riversde. April 1967.
Two well known drivers from the early days of Can Am events.

Sam Posey in a McLaren M1B # 2.

Lothar Motschenbacher, competed in almost all Can Am races from 1966 t0 1974.

in his McLaren Elva Mark 2 # 11

( John Lacko photos.)

[khyndart in CA]

The USRRC racing group thought they were competetive but they were not prepared for the Papaya Orange painted pair of cars from Colnbrook !
When the 1967 Can Am Series began in September 1967 at Road America there was no better prepared team than Bruce and Denny in their sparkling McLaren M6As. As Bruce's F1 effort had been delayed by the unavailability of the BRM V-12 engine, he had more time to develop the Can Am car. They did this so well that the series became known as the "Bruce and Denny Show"over the next two years.
At this first event McLaren's qualifying lap was a full 10 seconds than the previous best !
The new Can Am level had risen so much that Mark Donohue was quoted in "Road &Track " The USRRC series was fine, but it was like playing tennis with your wife !"

(Ken H )

[khyndart in CA]

A good description of McLaren M6A and what the 1967 Road America Can Am meant as a new era in racing began.

https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z11 ... n-m6a.aspx

The 1967 Road America Can Am event on You Tube.

[video=youtube;5Wf2oUfbw4M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wf2oUfbw4M[/video]


(Ken H)






(Ken H)

[Steve Holmes]

Brilliant photos Ken. Lothar was one of the great Can-Am privateers, and raced several McLarens throughout. He managed to get his hands on a couple of the factory team cars after McLaren was done with them, including a 1969 M8B, which he raced and crashed a couple of times in 1970.

The Sam Posey McLaren was prepared by Ray Caldwell of Autodynamics. Caldwell and Posey were a partnership for several years in the Can-Am, and including the construction of the Caldwell D7, which I think was funded by Posey. He came from money, and could always afford top equipment.

Posey and Caldwell approached Chrysler Corporation about running a factory supported car in the 1970 SCCA Trans-Am series. Dan Gurney's AAR got the gig to run a pair of Plymouth Cudas for himself and Swede Savage, while Caldwell and Posey ran a Dodge Challenger for Posey. They had a pretty rough season, and never won a race, which Chrysler wasn't too impressed about. The relationship between Posey and Caldwell soured as a result, and I believe they split at the end of the year.

Riversde. April 1967.
Two well known drivers from the early days of Can Am events.

Sam Posey in a McLaren M1B # 2.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]70658[/ATTACH]


Lothar Motschenbacher, competed in almost all Can Am races from 1966 t0 1974.

in his McLaren Elva Mark 2 # 11

[ATTACH=CONFIG]70659[/ATTACH]
( John Lacko photos.)

[khyndart in CA]

[quote="Steve Holmes"]

Steve, I found this article in a 1970 magazine regarding # 77 ( you may have to enlarge it to read it.)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]70765[/ATTACH]

Taken in 1970

Taken in May 2021. ( Ken H photo.)
(It may not have had much success racing but it was / is a magnificent looking machine, now prepared and driven by Richard Goldsmith


(Ken H. )

[Ray Bell]

An interesting sidelight to these Barracudas...

They used a unique version of the A833 4-speed gearbox, this one had an all-alloy case which was coated with something (iron filings?) which made them attract a magnet. I think it was one of these cars, or perhaps an earlier model, which was offered to Pete Geoghegan to replace his Mustang.

[khyndart in CA]

If things go as planned I am going to Laguna Seca on Friday and Richard Goldsmith has invited me to keep the wheels clean on his # 77 1970 Dodge Challenger and the drinks and snacks replenished at this Velocity Invitational Event.

https://velocityinvitational.com/

https://velocityinvitational.com/?page_id=394

A chance for more photos. Is that ok ?

( Ken H )

[Paul B]

Hi Ken,
Some great pics there! Love the old Healey and Can Am shots.
Hope you are all well.

Cheers