The Roaring Season

A week earlier on his way up to Mosport in Canada, Jerry Melton had stopped in at the US Road Racing Championship race at Mid Ohio.
There were drivers such as Mark Donohue competing there in his Sunoco Special Lola T70 Mk3B # 16 entered by Roger Penske.



Mark Donohue during practice.


(Jerry Melton photos 1967 )

By race day the Donohue Lola had been upgraded to have the rear view mirror installed.
Also Mark had a different helmet on.



As they came around on the pace lap, pole sitter Mark Donohue is on the right in car # 16, beside him is Chuck Parsons in the Simoniz McLaren # 26. Row 2 is Jerry Hansen in McLaren # 47 and Charlie Hayes in his McKee Mk 7 # 25





(Jerry Melton 1967 photos )

I note all the McLarens in these races were built by Trojan. The men I got to know there did a fine job.
(Ken H)

One of the competitors at this Mid-Ohio event was Mike Goth who would come to NZ for the 1970 Tasman series driving a Surtees F 5000 TS 5.
Here are some shots of Mike in a Lola T 70 Mk 3. # 14.








(Jerry Melton 1967 photos)


Ken H

Ken,
The Lola T70 spyder was such a nicely balanced design shape to the eye. I believe they were only 37.5 inches high. Lower than Fords GT40 (which was 40 inches, hence the name)
Mostly campaigned with SB Chevy engines but Dan Gurney was very successful in his Ford powered Lola. Racing in EU with the big block Chevy was unsuccessful due to control pump gas used in EU vs Av' gas, as the engines were designed to use.
If you find one just sitting around in your shed that needs restoring you know where I am.
Great reading!!! loving your posts!!.

Paul....if you are a Lola T70 fan {read Jim Boyds Team Cambridge Lola } like me, have you seen George Lucas first film in 1971- THX1138.
The cops drive Lola T70 Mk 3s.
Shot in unfinished Bay Area Rapid Transit, and San Francisco.

Another interesting looking car was the Caldwell designed by Ray Caldwell at Autodynamics.
(Not sure of this model's designation, perhaps a D-7. )
Autodynamics also built the beautiful 1970 Dodge Challenger for Sam Posey to drive in Trans Am racing and I will get to see that car compete this weekend at Sonoma driven by Richard Goldsmith.
Check this link also; http://www.loumash.com/GS/aboutautod.html

Brett Lunger driving the Caldwell # 4

Here is Brett leading Sam Posey in a McLaren # 2.




Brett Lunger would be one of the drivers in the Trojan F5000 T101 during the 1973 season in Europe. (Another Trojan link !)

(Jerry Melton 1967 photos )

Ken H

Another American driver who did well in sports car in the 60s was Chuck Parsons.
He is seen here driving his McLaren # 26.

leading Charlie Hayes.


leading Don Morin.


Chuck Parsons checking out his McLaren while casually smoking a cigarette !

Another competing at Mid-Ohio was Doug Shierson who would go on to be the owner of race cars for Al Unser jr. Ari Luyendyk (winner of 1990 Indy 500.) Bobby Rahal, Howdy Holmes + etc. Doug Shierson Racing was very big in the US during the 1980s. Plus my friend Graham Donaldson was a race mechanic at Shierson Racing for a time. Sadly Doug died too early at age 62 from leukemia.
Here is Doug Shierson driving an Elva Mk 6.


(Jerry Melton photos 1967 )

That's it for a few days as I am off to Sonoma for the Historic Motorsports Festival tomorrow so I may have some more "stuff" to share.
Until then take care.
Ken H

Just re-reading my comment back in this thread :
" I have that book, and another one called " Pro Sports Car Racing in America " by Motorbooks " Classic " and -
another one called " American Racer " a rather large book which has captions in English German and French - covers the 1950's to the late 1960's by Tom Burnside and text by Denise McCluggage, a name you will know."

There is also a further book " Road Racing Specials "published by Vintage Motorsport Magazine which I purchased back in the early 2000's. It was a compilation of a series of articles that appeared in " Vintage Motorsport "over many years

Here are the covers of all three books.




This book covers racing in Cuba and Nassau Bahamas, Puerto Rico as well as South America, - Venezuela and the course with a very non-American name Brynfan Tyddyn.

Mike Ryan another Auckland Boy, now living in the USA , heavily involved in Racing and Restoration work has found this and is trying to identify it and find out its History ;
he wrote : quote " Well, Iv'e been waiting very patiently for the OK on this, finally heard it's mine. No idea what it is, very clever and nice space frame, 4 wheel independent suspension. 327 chevy, muncie 4 spd. Story goes it was one of 3 built for a movie set in the 60s. But it's far too well designed and built for that purpose in my opinion. Going to be fun, and a challenge to find the history on this one. "



Ken, your thread seemed a good place to put this ; looks a bit Devin like but seems to be a full front end, no bonnet !!.
Any ideas Guys ??

You could try Forgotten Fiberglass

http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com/hot-topics/

They have discussion groups on Fiberglass cars, so someone there may have some clues.
From the shape I would throw a date guess mid to late 60s
Good luck with it!
Cheers

Paul B wrote:You could try Forgotten Fiberglass

http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com/hot-topics/

They have discussion groups on Fiberglass cars, so someone there may have some clues.
From the shape I would throw a date guess mid to late 60s
Good luck with it!
Cheers

PaulB, thanks for that, will pass on to Mike Ryan, cheers

Roger,
That is not an easy one to ID. Perhaps it is a movie special as it does not have a bonnet which would be needed with a 327 Chevy under it. That screen looks pretty solid and it is RHD so perhaps it was a British movie perhaps.
That vehicle next to it has a favorite Dan Gurney number 48 on it and it looks to be in All American colours so any input on that ?


Ken H

Maybe a tilt front Ken?
Car next #48 show CSR, is that class C Sports Race?

Sorry folks but it is time to move on from the Mid Ohio race in 1967 which was won by Mark Donohue in his Lola, to Watkins Glen in July 1968.



(KJH )

July 1968. Watkins Glen. Saturday 13th. 200 Mile Race. Sports Car Race.
Roger Penske now had Mark Donohue driving his impeccably prepared McLaren M6 # 6.
Here is Roger in the red shirt checking his car on pit road at Watkins Glen.



The always popular Mark Donohue.


Mark chatting with his friend, George Follmer.






Some photos of Mark Donohue at Watkins Glen.
The air intake scoops were to come later.,

(Jerry Melton's photos.)



(KJH)

The next day on Sunday July 14th 1968 was the big event at Watkins Glen.




One of the cars was the beautiful Alfa Romeo T-33 # 33 driven by Horst Kwech and John Martino in the long 6 hour endurance race.






These are for you Bruce Dyer.

(Jerry Melton photos.)

Ken H.

Watkins Glen in 1968 saw a very rare appearance of an American built sports car built for Le Mans. The Howmet TX Continental.
I hope you can read this review of the project.


The # 67 car was driven by Hugh Dibley and Bob Tullius.
The # 76 car was driven by Dick Thompson and owner Ray Heppenstall.
Here are some photos of the Howmet TX in action. The # 76 car came in a fine 3rd place in this 6 hour race.











(Jerry Melton photos.)

Ken H

Some more Howmet TX photos.












One last shot that shows Cortina tail lights were popular back then as on the Lola GT.

(Jerry Melton photos )


Ken H

Could have been made by McKechnie Vehicle Components, Roseville ,Michigan......

An interesting clip about the Howmet TX.

[video=youtube;GAgLSy371us]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAgLSy371us[/video]






KJH