OldRacingCars.com

Can-Am Challenge Race

Riverside, 28 Oct 1979

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Jacky Ickx Lola T333CS [HU12] - Chevrolet V8
#1 Carl A. Haas Racing Team, Ltd.
50 1h 03m 47.293s
119.784 mph
2 Bobby Rahal Prophet - Chevrolet V8
#8 U.S. Racing [Herb Caplan]
50 1h 03m 48.672s
3 Elliot Forbes-Robinson Spyder NF-11 [CA-01] - Chevrolet V8
#4 Newman-Freeman Racing
50 1h 03m 55s
4 Geoff Brabham Hogan HR-001 - Chevrolet V8
#10 Hogan Racing, Ltd.
50
5 John Gunn Lola T332 [HU47] - Chevrolet V8
#39 Gunn's Goodies (see note 1)
48
6 Rocky Moran Lola T333CS ["33-673"] - Chevrolet V8
#58 American Spirit Racing
48
7 Randolph Townsend Spyder NF-11 [CA-04] - Chevrolet V8
#13 Newman-Freeman Racing
48
8 Tim Evans (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU27] - Ford BDG
#51 Diversified Engineering Services
47
9 Gary Gove (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B26 [74-08] - Cosworth FVD
#52 Pete Lovely (see note 2)
47
10 Michael Brayton Wolf-Brayton 001 - Chevrolet V8
#12 Michael Brayton (see note 3)
46
11 Bobby Brown Lola T333CS [HU11] - Chevrolet V8
#79 Bobby Brown Racing
45
12 Vern Schuppan Elfin MR8A-C [8772] - Chevrolet V8
#11 Vern Schuppan (see note 4)
45 Mechanical
13 Gerre Payvis Lola T330/T333 [HU19] - Chevrolet V8
#31 Race Power (see note 5)
45
14 Keke Rosberg Spyder NF-11 [CA-02] - Chevrolet V8
#5 Newman-Freeman Racing
44 Accident
15 Hurley Haywood (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B21 [72-15] - BMW M12/7
#42 Vasek Polak Racing (see note 6)
44
16 Charlie Kemp Lola T332 [HU53] - Chevrolet V8
#32 Sprite Bottlers (see note 7)
44
17 Leonard Janke Lola T332/Riley - Chevrolet V8
#56 Janke Auto
40
18 Michael L. Allen Lola T332 ["33-790"] - Chevrolet V8
#7 Don Weber
23
19 John Morton Lola T333CS [HU8] - Chevrolet V8
#46 Toys for Big Boys/Style Auto Special [John Morton Racing]
19 Exhaust leak
20 Rick Knoop Lola T332CS [HU46?] - Chevrolet V8
#77 Don Weber (see note 8)
18 Oil leak
21 Brad Frisselle Frissbee [T332 'K1'] - Chevrolet V8
#15 The Frisbee Lola 333 Chevy
16 Rocker arm
22 Alan Jones Lola T333CS [HU7] - Chevrolet V8
#0 Carl A. Haas Racing Team, Ltd.
12 Accident
23 Geoff Lees Lola T333CS/Riley [HU1] - Chevrolet V8
#2 Racing Team VDS
11 Suspension and body damage
24 Chris Strong (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B36 [36-76-06] - Ford BDG
#96 Quaker State, Spirit of Lawrence
(see note 9)
6 Ignition
25 Garth Pollard (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T294/T296 [HU77] - Ford
#88 Wilcuma Resort [N.S.F. Racing]
(see note 10)
0 Mechanical
26 Bill Tempero Lola T332/T332C [T332 HU30] - Chevrolet V8
#9 Bill Tempero Racing (see note 11)
0 Mechanical
DNS John Sorbello Sorbello GM5 [005] - Chevrolet V8
#19 Sorbello (see note 12)
Did not start
DNS Bill Henry (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T296 - Ford
#21 Stone Creek Vineyards
Did not start
DNS Don Kehr Chevron B28 - Chevrolet V8
#23 E-K Racing
Did not start
DNS Richard Guider (Sports racing) 1.8-litre Chevron B21/B23 - Cosworth FVC
#68 E. E. Chevron B-25 (see note 13)
Did not start
DNS Mike Roche Lola T332 [HU42] - Chevrolet V8
#80 Roche Racing (see note 14)
Did not start
DNS Jay Jacobs (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B21/B23 - Hart 420S
#91 Genoa Racing
Did not start
  Hal Whipple Spartan MK3-B [Talon MR1A "007"] - Chevrolet V8
#41 Spartan Mk-3
On entry list

All cars are 5-litre Can-Am unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Keke Rosberg (Can-Am) 5-litre Spyder NF-11 [CA-02] - Chevrolet V8 1m 12.773s
2 Bobby Rahal (Can-Am) 5-litre Prophet - Chevrolet V8 1m 13.212s
3 Jacky Ickx (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU12] - Chevrolet V8 1m 13.299s
4 Geoff Lees (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS/Riley [HU1] - Chevrolet V8 1m 13.306s
5 Alan Jones (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU7] - Chevrolet V8 1m 13.583s
6 Elliot Forbes-Robinson (Can-Am) 5-litre Spyder NF-11 [CA-01] - Chevrolet V8 1m 13.607s
7 John Morton (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU8] - Chevrolet V8 1m 13.869s
8 Geoff Brabham (Can-Am) 5-litre Hogan HR-001 - Chevrolet V8 1m 14.326s
9 Vern Schuppan (Can-Am) 5-litre Elfin MR8A-C [8772] - Chevrolet V8 1m 14.686s
10 Brad Frisselle (Can-Am) 5-litre Frissbee [T332 'K1'] - Chevrolet V8 1m 15.759s
11 Rocky Moran (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS ["33-673"] - Chevrolet V8 1m 16.077s
12 Randolph Townsend (Can-Am) 5-litre Spyder NF-11 [CA-04] - Chevrolet V8 1m 16.384s
13 John Gunn (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU47] - Chevrolet V8 1m 16.727s
14 Bobby Brown (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU11] - Chevrolet V8 1m 17.23s
15 Charlie Kemp (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU53] - Chevrolet V8 1m 18.43s
16 Rick Knoop (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332CS [HU46?] - Chevrolet V8 1m 18.501s
17 Michael L. Allen (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332 ["33-790"] - Chevrolet V8 1m 18.998s
18 Bill Tempero (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332/T332C [T332 HU30] - Chevrolet V8 1m 19.127s
19 Mike Roche * (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU42] - Chevrolet V8 1m 19.333s
20 Leonard Janke (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332/Riley - Chevrolet V8 1m 20.127s
21 Michael Brayton (Can-Am) 5-litre Wolf-Brayton 001 - Chevrolet V8 1m 20.317s
22 Gary Gove (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B26 [74-08] - Cosworth FVD 1m 20.445s
23 Hurley Haywood (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B21 [72-15] - BMW M12/7 1m 20.919s
24 Tim Evans (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU27] - Ford BDG 1m 21.191s
25 Gerre Payvis (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T330/T333 [HU19] - Chevrolet V8 1m 23.695s
26 Don Kehr * (Can-Am) 5-litre Chevron B28 - Chevrolet V8 1m 24.751s
27 Garth Pollard (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T294/T296 [HU77] - Ford 1m 25.383s
28 Richard Guider * (Sports racing) 1.8-litre Chevron B21/B23 - Cosworth FVC 1m 30.248s
29 Bill Henry * (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T296 - Ford 1m 34.588s
30 John Sorbello * (Can-Am) 5-litre Sorbello GM5 [005] - Chevrolet V8 1m 44.274s
31 Jay Jacobs * (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B21/B23 - Hart 420S
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. Lola T332 [HU47] (John Gunn): See full history: Lola T332 HU47.
  2. Chevron B26 [74-08] (Gary Gove): After the closure of Red Rose Racing, Roger Hire struck a deal to run works-assisted Chevron B26s in 1974 under the name Forge Mill Racing. John Lepp ran the main car and Rafael Barrios joined the team to run a second B26, now positively identified as chassis 74-08. This car only raced once in 1975 but was then bought by Robin Smith to be used in endurance and Interserie in 1976. Gary Gove (Tacoma, WA) acquired it for Can-Am in early 1977 and raced it for three seasons, winning the Pacific Coast title in 1978 and the last BSR title at the Run-Offs. It went to John Graham in Canada for the 1981 season and then to Luc Behar-Bannelier for 1982. The B26 was sold to Gil Baird for Thundersports in England in 1983 then to Richard Piper for another three seasons during which time it was converted to DFV power before moving to Ireland in the late 1980s where it stayed for nearly 15 years. It was sold back to the US again around 2003 and has raced in US vintage racing.
  3. Wolf-Brayton 001 (Michael Brayton): Michael Brayton (Newport Beach, CA) acquired a Talon Formula 5000 car for 1977, but previous history of the car is unknown. During 1977, he rebodied the car for SCCA A Sports Racing, and then raced the car, as the "Wolf-Brayton 001" in Can-Am from 1978 to 1981. The car was later acquired by Mike McComas, who was then under the impression it was the Wolf-Dallara WD1. He sold it to Tony Roberts and Duncan Fox in New Zealand in 2003, where it was restored to F5000 specification. Raced by Roberts in the F5000 Tasman Revival from 2003 to 2005, when it was sold to Aaron Burson, then raced by him from 2005 onwards.
  4. Elfin MR8A-C [8772] (Vern Schuppan): New to Vern Schuppan (Adelaide, Australia) and raced as part of Ansett Team Elfin in 1977 Australian Internationals. Converted to Can-Am form, and raced by Schuppan in the Can-Am series in late 1977, and again in 1978 and 1979. Next seen when advertised by Stuart Bradbury (Phoenix, AZ) in July 1984. Advertised by Chuck Haines in 1990. To John Wales and Ron Gouttman (NSW, Australia) in 1990, and raced by Gouttman in Australia in Can-Am form in 1992/93. To Laurie Donaher (NSW) 1998, then to Aaron Lewis (Cessnock, NSW, Australia) in 2001. Restored to F5000 form, and raced in the F5000 Tasman Revival series in 2003/04. To Bill Hemming (Victoria, Australia) 2005, who raced it in the Tasman Revival series from late 2006 onwards.
  5. Lola T330/T333 [HU19] (Gerre Payvis): See full history: Lola T330 HU19.
  6. Chevron B21 [72-15] (Hurley Haywood): A reputedly lightweight car built for BMW to test a new 2-litre version of their Formula 2 engine. Entered by Bosch Racing Team Vienna for Dieter Quester who took pole on three of his four appearances in the car and won at Salzburgring on 21 May 1972. Crashed at Enna 15 Aug 1972 and heavily damaged. Later sold by BMW to Vasek Polak in the US and repaired by Hans Adam, Mark Flores and Bruce Ponder. It was raced in SCCA BSR racing in 1974 and 1975 by Ponder and later used in Can-Am in 1979 by Hurley Haywood. The car was retained in the Polak collection until it was sold back to BMW and restored to original specification for their museum. The car was raced by Hubert Hahne at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2001.
  7. Lola T332 [HU53] (Charlie Kemp): See full history: Lola T332 HU53.
  8. Lola T332CS [HU46?] (Rick Knoop): See full history: Lola T332 HU46.
  9. Chevron B36 [36-76-06] (Chris Strong): New to Mort Platt (Kansas City, MO) and used in SCCA BSR racing from 1976 to 1978, qualifying for the Run-Offs each year. Also used in Can-Am races at Road America in July 1977 and July 1978. Then to Chris Strong (Lawrence, KS) and used in Can-Am in 1979 and 1980. Then probably the car raced by Dick Leppla in Can-Am in 1981 and still being raced in BSR several years later. Then via Ed Henning (early 1990s), Rudy Junco and Steve Fusillo to Brian Stark (Mequon, WI) by around 2004. Still with Stark in 2013.
  10. Lola T294/T296 [HU77] (Garth Pollard): Sold new to Ed Abate (Monte Sereno, CA) late 1974 and raced in SCCA BSR racing from 1975 to 1977 and in Can-Am in 1977 and 1978. Abate was second in the Run-Offs in 1976 and won in 1977. After one further Can-Am appearance in 1978, the Lola was sold to Garth Pollard, a Canadian then resident in Costa Mesa, California. He raced it in Can-Am in 1979 before selling it to Mike Hill (Quesnel, BC) who used it in local events before advertising it in April 1982 and selling it to Geoff Davie in Toronto. Davie sold it to Don Wood (Bournemouth, England) in Sep 1988 who had the car prepared by Ian Jones and raced it in the BRDC British C2 Sportscar Championship event at Donington in 1990, co-driven by Autosport legend Marcus Pye. Wood sold the car back to an American owner in 1992 and as of 2011 it is owned by a Californian owner.
  11. Lola T332/T332C [T332 HU30] (Bill Tempero): See full history: Lola T332 HU30.
  12. Sorbello GM5 [005] (John Sorbello): See full history: McRae GM1/005.
  13. Chevron B21/B23 (Richard Guider): Richard Guider (Ben Lomond, CA) had a Chevron at the two Can-Am races at Laguna Seca and Riverside in October 1979 which was identified by Doug Waters as a B21/23 with 1.8-litre Cosworth FVC engine. He failed to start either race. Nothing more known.
  14. Lola T332 [HU42] (Mike Roche): See full history: Lola T332 HU42.

Sources

Note that the identification of individual cars in these results is based on the material presented elsewhere in this site and may in some cases contradict the organisers' published results.

All comments, clarifications, corrections and additions are most welcome. Please email Allen (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you can help in any way with our research.