The Roaring Season

Roger- we have Michael Johnston who has a very original Scarab-327- from the 70s, still looks the same. It will be running with us in HSS at MG Manfield in November

Bill Ockerlund's Dekon Monza freshly restored by the Chad Raynal team at Impeccable Inc.

Bruce...did they ever look THAT sharp when new or every weekend racing ?

and some red cars for those of that persuasion

This Deuce coupe was built by Ken Schmidt of Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop, it is crazy cool and still had a lot of Bonneville salt on it, though much was washed off by the rain on the way to Laguna, it is now owned by Drew and that is the inimitable Tom McIntyre next to it.
That is Tom's # 47 Cobra behind the coupe, he also owns the '68 Penske Donohue Camaro.

John McKechnie wrote:Bruce...did they ever look THAT sharp when new or every weekend racing ?

Yes they did John, especially the Chris Cord cars, the # 20 car now owned by Ken Epsman was modified and prepared by Doane Spencer, one of the post war hot rodders who built some crazy cool and very fancy race cars.

This is where it all started, right.

A few of the Pre-1940 Sports Racing and Touring Class.


1917 Hall-Scott The Four A-7A. # 9


1916 Romano Sturtevant Special. # 18


1922 Ford Model T Speedster next to a 1915 Ford racer. # 44



1934 Ford Granite State Special. # 37


The always dapper, Ed Archer, driver of a 1915 Ford Roadster

(KH photos )

Nice stuff! Gotta love those old girls...

And that is sure some transporter for an eggshell!

Not only were there old Ford speedsters at Laguna Seca, there was also a display of more modern day Ford speedsters such as this 2016 Ford GT # 68 that had run well at Le Mans and Daytona.



1967 Le Mans winning Ford GT 40 Mark 4 # 1 on display.



2017 Ford GT 50th Anniversary edition of the 1967 Ford GT 40 win.

(Ken H photos )

My next Laguna Seca car has me puzzled at the moment, so I am hoping someone can provide a satisfactory answer.
I saw this (as written in the race programme) 1966 Ford GT 40 # 1. With a 7 litre engine. Chassis # GT/110-X1. Being an open roadster I thought that is a rare GT 40 and took these photos of it as it was being started and driven to the track for Group 7 A qualifying.






(Ken H photos )

Then on Saturday August 26th I attended our local car show in Solvang, CA and there in the corner of the parking lot was this very same GT 40 Roadster. No one was paying much attention to it but it now had a display board showing the history and I was amazed to read it's story. If it is as claimed this would be one of the rarest GT 40s ever built. This was the chassis number that Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon plus Howden Ganley first developed before it was sent to Carrol Shelby for further development. After reading this I was hoping to dscuss it with the owner on how it was supposedly destroyed and now it is back together again. Please take a look at some of the photos and notes and any input is appreciated plus read the "Hemmings" article.

Solvang Car Show and no one around !


From the information board. GT/110-X1


Interesting letter from Teddy Mayer suggesting the car had already been destroyed.





(KH photos.)

Is this really the beginning of the car I was looking at in Solvang ?
Bruce McLaren at Riverside in October 1965.




Now read this ;
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2016/12/08/the-strange-sad-tale-of-big-ed-fords-most-unloved-gt40-roadster/


( Ken H)

No Steve no connection, this GTX1 project has been around a while now. Howden Ganley mentioned it to me some time back. I understand its a very good replica attached to the reactivated GB rego . The McLaren Trust was asked for assistance early in the project , but our policy is not to involve ourselves in provenance issues.

Duncan,
You mention the word replica but this is at Laguna Seca, which states; "The intent of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion from its very beginning is to celebrate motorsports history and the entered cars’ heritage. The spirit, history and intent of the car’s original constructor always takes precedence for the Governing Committee. This is why replicas, tribute or continuation cars are simply not allowed.*"

That is why I mentioned I was puzzled. (Whoops is this a slippery slope ?)
Ken.

Group 7A. FIA Manufacturers Championship cars 1963-1973.


1970 Chevron B 16. # 121


1966 Ginetta G12. # 18


1973 Gulf Mirage. # 5


1972 Bobsy SR 6. # 115






(Ken Hyndman photos

Ken don't believe every thing you read about Laguna. I paste a para graph from the GT40 site

If the two others roadsters that you mention are the two US cars currently being built up by a wealthy US 'gentleman' using X-1 and X-2 titles then I have to mention that these will simply be inaccurate replicas to put it politely.
I have a feeling that when Ronnie's book comes out that he will explain more on these cars as well as various other similar fake cars which seem to be built up by certain wealthy people in the hope of bamboozling (polite again!) everyone, so like everyone else, I am anxiously awaiting the publication date as I think it is likely to put the cat very much amongst the pigeons!

I was being polite! others do not beat around the bush.

Crikey Ken I just reread the thread on the GT40 site and theres ANOTHER X1 being built, that is the one we were approached about I believe.

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/original-gt40s/37538-gt40-roadsters-how-many.html

I have to admit I did not know much about a Bobsy SR 6 before.
This site has some interesting reading about what Jerry Mong created.

http://teamterrificracing.net/bobsy/history.htm

Jim Trueman and Red Roof Inns was an early sponsor of Bobby Rahal as he began his career.

(Ken H )