Velocity Invitational. Laguna Seca. November 2021

[khyndart in CA]

I managed to get away to Laguna Seca for one day of practice for this event.
One of my cameras did not function at first but my backup one fortunately allowed me to take a few shots of an amazing array of race cars from the past to almost the present. I am not sure where to begin but I certainly enjoyed wandering around the uncrowded paddock area as climbing up to the Corkscrew Turn is bit harsh for me now.
The McLaren marque was well presented with the latest Supercars, Formula One cars and a Can Am car and also Dan Gurney's fabulous Eagles etc..
Sadly the TV streaming announcing was dreadful for such an event !

(Ken H )

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H,

must have a good look - Mike Ryan ex-pat kiwi - like you has posted a lot of photos.
Some amazing cars were there !!

Thanks for sharing, and look forward to a few of your photos. .

[khyndart in CA]

WHen I first entered the track / paddock there was a display of Dan Gurney's All American Racers including the
1967 Formula One car # 36 Chassis AAR104 that won the Belgian GP and not much else that year. It is beautifully restored and looks like new. I took several photos including the bare metal chassis that well known historic driver , Chris MacAllister is restoring back to original specs. I soon realized my photos were full of poor light issues and swapped to an older camera. I was pleased my friend John Adams came the next day and took some very good Eagle photos at the Corkscrew Turn.

# 36 F1 Eagle. The bare Eagle chassis on stands in the background.
(Ken H photo..)

# 36 Eagle coming down from the Corkscrew Turn
(John Adams photo )

1966 Indy Eagle # 1
(John Adams photo..)

# 1 Eagle after exiting the Corkscrew
(John Adams photo.)

Another 1966 Indy Eagle is # 88 driven first at the 1966 Indy 500 by Jerry Grant, this car stayed competing until 1973 with a variety of engines over that period from a DOHC Ford V-8,a turbo charged Offy and even a stock block Chevy. It must have had a lot of engine mounting holes ! Plus it played a vital role in the 1968 Paul Newman movie "Winning".
(John Adams photo )




(Ken H)

[khyndart in CA]

Jeff O'Neil the founder of the Velocity Invitational event driving a 1960 Maserati T 61 Birdcage.

The old time "Ragtime Racers" are always an enjoyable group to listen to and watch.

Ed Archer in his 1915 Ford Model T # 4

( Ken H photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

A beautiful example of a 1960 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa # 22

(Ken H photos..)

[ERC]

Great stuff Ken. If there was ever a reason to travel out of NZ, it is for events such as this, Goodwood Revival etc. Although we are lucky to have a very active classic/historic scene here, (usually), the range of cars overseas is just so huge.

[khyndart in CA]

I saw that this 1962 Cooper Monaco T 57 # 57 was built in February 1962, the same time my own Austin Mini Cooper was built.
It had been driven in October 1962 with a Coventry Climax engine at Riverside and Laguna Seca by Graham Hill.
In later years the popular lightweight Buick V8 engine was installed.

I read this interesting Bonhams article and found the car had sat for years very near to where I work in Goleta, California.

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19363/lot/21/

(Ken H photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

Some of the Formula One cars 1970s to 1980

1974 March 741 # 9

Another March.
This is a 1976 March 761 # 76 Driven very quickly by Steve Romak to win both F1 events over the weekend.

(Ken H photos..)

[Roger Dowding]

I see that Hill again and the " famous " ... " Corkscrew " sign, went passed there many times over the 3 days of the Ninth"Monterey Historics 21 - 22 August 1982..
Thanks for the memory Ken H ..

[khyndart in CA]

Roger, I have been held up a bit with computer, camera and family issues. You will be seeing more of that Hill again +..

1975 Shadow DN 5 # 59

A 1976 Shadow DN 5 # 71

(Ken H photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

Some US built racers.

1932 Miller-Schofield Champ Car # 32

1959 Old Yeller Mark 2 Buick Special # 70 driven by Ernie Nagamatsu

(note all the Minis getting set for the Mustang - Mini Challenge race that was held in the evening after I left )

The original Jim Hall Chaparral 1 # 166

(Ken H photos..)

[Oldfart]

Ernie with Old Yeller was so great when he went to Hampton Downs for the McLaren meet. If you get to talk with him, ask about the hard back book he does for each "adventure"

[khyndart in CA]

I checked on this McLaren Can Am car that was on display and saw that it was one of the last McLarens built by Trojan Racing just as I started to work there in October 1972. This was the M8FP/10-72 car. It's history can be found at this site.
https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Detai ... claren-m8f

As I was checking out the Trojan Racing sticker I met Paul Haigh who is the Historics manager for United Autosports which is owned by Zac Brown the CEO of McLaren Racing. Paul is now responsible for all United’s historic motorsport programmes and looks after all the race and road cars in their care.
United Autosports information at this site.
https://www.unitedautosports.com/about

Ken H and Paul Haigh telling stories that go way back !


(Ken H photos.)

[khyndart in CA]

Not everyone was old and overweight at the Laguna Seca Velocity event.

And that is a # 10 body because it shows that it is !


(Ken H photo..)

[ERC]

Ernie with Old Yeller was so great when he went to Hampton Downs for the McLaren meet.

He also did 'Leadfoot' in Old Yeller 2017.

[Milan Fistonic]

Ernie with Old Yeller was so great when he went to Hampton Downs for the McLaren meet.

Ernie being interviewed at Hampton Downs in 2010.

[khyndart in CA]

McLaren Team CEO, Zak Brown was a busy man at Laguna Seca, driving in several events and keeping in touch with the F1 team in Brazil etc. etc..

Driving a Formula One 1980 Williams FW07B # 7

A 1984 Lancia LC2 # 4
(Ken H photos.. )

Driving Lewis Hamilton's 2012 F1 McLaren MP4/27 # 4
(John Adams photo.)

But he was unable to sign my contract so I guess I am stuck here in Los Olivos after all.

(Ken H..)

[Roger Dowding]

" 1959 Old Yeller Mark 2 Buick Special # 70 driven by Ernie Nagamatsu ".

Thanks for those photos Ken H,and for rescuing one of mine of the car which I lost a while back.

Saw the car at Monterey the August Historics in 1982 - 21 - 22 August.
Great events..

Cheer
Roger,

PS have " borrowed " the " Old Yeller " or is it " Ol' Yella " ?? photos

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
Here are two more of Balchowsky's 1959 Old Yeller II

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cultur ... yeller-ii/

(Ken H..)

[khyndart in CA]

1998 Formula One World Champion, Mika Hakkinen, was at Laguna Seca to do some screaming demonstration laps in his winning car.
The 1998 McLaren MP4/13 # 8, still beautifully kept and prepared by the McLaren Heritage Team.

(Ken H photos..)