OldRacingCars.com

Can-Am Challenge Race

Mid-Ohio, 27 Jun 1982

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Al Holbert VDS 001 - Chevrolet V8
#1 Racing Team VDS (see note 1)
63 1h 28m 44.705s
102.225 mph
2 Al Unser Jr Frissbee GR2 - Chevrolet V8
#15 Galles Racing
63 1h 29m 49.493s
3 John Morton Frissbee - Chevrolet V8
#46 CGI Racing
61
4 Randy Lewis Holbert CAC-1 - Chevrolet V8
#2 Cribari Wine
61
5 John Kalagian Frissbee-Lola T333CS - Chevrolet V8
#9 Kalagian-Ardisana Racing
60
6 Frank Joyce Holbert CAC-2 - Chevrolet V8
#43 TRW Corporation Phantom
59
7 Horst Kroll Lola T330 [HU2] - Chevrolet V8
#37 Kroll Racing (see note 2)
59
8 Mike Freberg Lola T530 [HU9] - Chevrolet V8
#11 Can-Am Racing (see note 3)
59
9 E. B. Lunken (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Invader 002 (March 802) [18] - BMW M12/7 Heidegger
#61 Lou Infante Invaders
58
10 Richard Guider (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Ralt RT2/80 [172] - Hart 420R
#68 Elite Racing
58
11 Horst Kwech (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Ralt RT2/79 [153] - Hart 420R
#16 Ausca International
58
12 Jim Trueman (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre March 822 [812-7] - Hart 420R
#25 Red Roof Inns (see note 4)
57
13 Paul Macey (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T294 [HU78] - Ford
#74 GPS Racing
57
14 T. Patrick McGonegle Lola T333CS - Chevrolet V8
#82 Team Management Racing
56
15 Don Baker (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Lola T460 - Ford
#99 Vic & Walt's Inc.
51
16 Bertil Roos (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Marguey CA82 [March 782] - Hart 420R
#69 Elite Racing
49
17 Tom Foster (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Cicale-Ralt RT1½ - Hart 420R
#72 Tracer Racing
48
18 Bob Roy (Can-Am 2l) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/79 [148] - Ford BDD Cosworth
#44 Duval Competition
39 DNF
19 John Graham (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Cicale-Ralt RT1 - Ford BDA Hart
#77 Midland CB (see note 5)
36 DNF
20 Michael Brayton Lola T530 [HU8] - Chevrolet V8
#12 Lutzoff Automotive (see note 6)
35 DNF
21 Rex Ramsey Lola T530 [HU4] - Chevrolet V8
#22 Ramsey Solution (see note 7)
25 DNF
22 Danny Sullivan March 827 - Chevrolet V8
#5 Newman/Budweiser
23 Suspension
23 Dan Johnson Chevron B24/B28 [24-73-02] - Chevrolet V8
#38 Johnson Competitive Enterprise
(see note 8)
17 DNF
24 Roman Pechmann (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU34] - Ford
#58 Pechmann Racing
17 DNF
25 Rick Parsons Conquest - Chevrolet V8
#76 DY-CON Inc.
0 Accident
DNS Charles Monk (Can-Am 2l) March 77S/802 [77ST-1]
#30 Monk Racing (see note 9)
Did not start
DNS Jacques Villeneuve Sr (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T294 [HU75] - Hart 420R
#33 Storrie Racing (see note 10)
Did not start
DNS Jerry Kehoe (Can-Am) 3.5-litre Brabham BT29 [11] - Oldsmobile V8
#34 Kehoe Racing (see note 11)
Did not start
DNS Duff Hubbard Lola T300 [HU15] - Chevrolet V8
#36 Horst Kroll Racing
Did not start
DNS Randy Zimmer (Can-Am 2l) 1.6-litre Rondel M1 [201] - VW Rabbitt
#42 Output Developments (see note 12)
Did not start
DNS Michael Canan Lola T300 [HU5] - Chevrolet V8
#51 C&Z Racing
Did not start
DNS David Giorgi (Sports racing) 1.8-litre Chevron B19 [71-33] - Cosworth FVC
#86
Did not start
DNS David Locke (Can-Am 2l) 1.9-litre Cicale-March 77B - Ford BDA Hart
#88 Locke Racing (see note 13)
Did not start

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

Qualifying
1 Al Holbert (Can-Am) 5-litre VDS 001 - Chevrolet V8 1m 20.606s
2 Danny Sullivan (Can-Am) 5-litre March 827 - Chevrolet V8 1m 22.306s
3 John Morton (Can-Am) 5-litre Frissbee - Chevrolet V8 1m 22.773s
4 Al Unser Jr (Can-Am) 5-litre Frissbee GR2 - Chevrolet V8 1m 23.681s
5 Jim Trueman (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre March 822 [812-7] - Hart 420R 1m 24.915s
6 Bertil Roos (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Marguey CA82 [March 782] - Hart 420R 1m 25.197s
7 Horst Kwech (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Ralt RT2/79 [153] - Hart 420R 1m 25.537s
8 John Kalagian (Can-Am) 5-litre Frissbee-Lola T333CS - Chevrolet V8 1m 25.54s
9 Randy Lewis (Can-Am) 5-litre Holbert CAC-1 - Chevrolet V8 1m 25.656s
10 Richard Guider (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Ralt RT2/80 [172] - Hart 420R 1m 26.138s
11 Rex Ramsey (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T530 [HU4] - Chevrolet V8 1m 26.195s
12 Frank Joyce (Can-Am) 5-litre Holbert CAC-2 - Chevrolet V8 1m 26.66s
13 Tom Foster (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Cicale-Ralt RT1½ - Hart 420R 1m 27.398s
14 Rick Parsons (Can-Am) 5-litre Conquest - Chevrolet V8
15 Dan Johnson (Can-Am) 5-litre Chevron B24/B28 [24-73-02] - Chevrolet V8 1m 28.22s
16 Horst Kroll (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU2] - Chevrolet V8 1m 29.061s
17 Paul Macey (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T294 [HU78] - Ford 1m 29.437s
18 E. B. Lunken (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Invader 002 (March 802) [18] - BMW M12/7 Heidegger 1m 30.752s
19 Michael Brayton (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T530 [HU8] - Chevrolet V8 1m 31.77s
20 T. Patrick McGonegle (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS - Chevrolet V8 1m 33.877s
21 Mike Freberg (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T530 [HU9] - Chevrolet V8 1m 32.001s
22 John Graham (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Cicale-Ralt RT1 - Ford BDA Hart 1m 32.21s
23 Bob Roy (Can-Am 2l) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/79 [148] - Ford BDD Cosworth 1m 32.828s
24 Duff Hubbard * (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T300 [HU15] - Chevrolet V8
25 Don Baker (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Lola T460 - Ford 1m 34.443s
26 Roman Pechmann (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU34] - Ford 1m 34.807s
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. VDS 001 (Al Holbert): New for the VDS team in 1981 and raced by Geoff Brabham, winning from pole first time out at Edmonton in August 1981. Raced with great success by Geoff Brabham in 1981 and then by Al Holbert in 1982 alongside a new car VDS-002. Sold to Jerry Hansen for 1983 and 1984, winning the ASR class at the Runoffs both years. Bought by John Foulston for 1985 but presented by him at the time as a rebuild of the standard T530 that he had raced in 1984. As part of this, it was fitted with the chassis plate of Foulston's previous Lola T530 HU10. VDS-001 then raced by Foulston and his co-drivers in UK Thundersports from 1985 until his death in 1987. Sold at auction by the Foulston estate in 1997 when the car still wore the HU10 chassis plate and no mention was made of its life as VDS-001. Bought by dealer and racer Nick Whale (Evesham, Worcestershire) 1997 and run by him at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 1998. Sold to Don Braaten (Janesville, WI) 2000.
  2. Lola T330 [HU2] (Horst Kroll): See full history: Lola T330 HU2.
  3. Lola T530 [HU9] (Mike Freberg): Built July 1980. New to Garvin Brown Racing for driver Danny Sullivan, replacing the Intrepid GB1. Raced for the rest of 1980 but Garvin Brown then acquired the ex-Rosberg car from Newman Racing and Sullivan raced that car instead at the start of 1981. Assumed for now that HU9 remained as Sullivan's backup car through the 1981 season. Sold to Mike Freberg (Toronto, Ontario) and raced by him through the 1982 Can-Am season but heavily damaged at Laguna Seca in October 1982. Mike Brayton is reported to have bought this car, repaired it and sold it to Burke Ratcliffe but the exact details are not known. Subsequent history unknown.
  4. March 822 [812-7] (Jim Trueman): Jim Trueman's 1982 Can-Am car is described in a variety of ways in that season's entry lists, ranging from a 822-Hart at Mid-Ohio to a Special at Caesars Palace. However, March records show that chassis 812-7 was invoiced to Trueman's Red Roof Inns on 28 May 1982 (invoice 5027). A list of March cars built in 1982 shows no sign of a 822 going to Trueman so his car must have been this 812.
  5. Cicale-Ralt RT1 (John Graham): Hugh Kleinpeter (Key Biscayne, FL/Hiawassee, GA) had a Cicale-bodied Ralt RT1 for Can-Am in 1979, but only appeared once, at Road America in July where he failed to start. He retained the car for 1980, again appearing only once in Can-Am, at Road Atlanta in September, but also appeared at least once in SCCA Nationals, scoring six points in Southeast Division A Sports Racing. For 1981, the car was sold to John Graham (Willowdale, Ontario) and entered by Midland Racing Enterprises for him in three Can-Am races that season. He returned for 1982, but after competing in two early-season races, the car was not seen until driven by Scott Goodyear at Mosport Park in September. The Cicale-Ralt then went to Chuck Storrie, who installed a Chevrolet V6 engine for the 1983 Can-Am season. Mike Freberg drove the car for Storrie Racing but it did not prove competitive with the 5-litre cars in its class. Freberg drove it again in early 1984 as a Mike Freberg Racing entry. Subsequent history unknown, but this may be the ex-Cicale Ralt RT1 that later turned up in Northern Ireland.
  6. Lola T530 [HU8] (Michael Brayton): Built May 1980. New to RJ Nelkin (Roslyn, NY/Woodbury, NY) for Can-Am in 1980 and rebuilt on fresh tub after an accident. Sold by Nelkin to Newman Racing August 1980 but they changed their mind and the car quickly passed to Garvin Brown Racing for Danny Sullivan in the last half of 1980. Retained for 1981. Sold to Mike Brayton and raced in Can-Am in 1982. Later sold to Burke Ratcliffe to be used in Thundersports in England in 1986 but wrecked in a testing accident at Brands Hatch in June 1986. Retubbed and rebuilt by Jack Smith of VDS. Believed to be the car raced by Andy Ratcliffe (Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire), Mike Wilds and David Leslie in 1986, winning the last two races of the season. Also then likely to be the car shared by Wilds and Ian Flux through the 1987 season, winning two races, and then by Flux and other in 1988, when it dominated the series. Then to Mike McComas (Pampa, TX) 1989 and then to Bud Bennett of RM Motorsport (Wixom, Michigan) 1996. Completely restored by Bennett to Garvin Brown livery. It then went via either Scot Kennedy or Ron Coburn to Norm Goldrich (Cincinnati,OH) 1998 and was still with him in September 2001. Sold to Gregg Jackson (El Paso, TX) 2002 then to Kim Baker 2009 or 2010 and then to Larry Galbo (Buffalo, NY) 2011.
  7. Lola T530 [HU4] (Rex Ramsey): Built April 1980. New to VDS Racing for 1980 and used as Geoff Brabham's T-car for the first part of the season, becoming his race car after HU3 was destroyed in a practice accident at Road America in July. Retained for 1981 and raced by Brabham until the team's new T530-based VDS-001 was ready. Sold to Rex Ramsey 1982 but very heavily damaged in an accident at Laguna Seca in October. The damaged and disassembled car sold to Mike McComas (Pampa, TX) 1988 and sold by him to Paul Sauer (Woodside, CA). In 2002, the car was still completely apart with the new tub still under construction.
  8. Chevron B24/B28 [24-73-02] (Dan Johnson): New for 1973 season. Doug Shierson for Peter Gethin: raced in UK 1973 (won Race of Champions) and US 1973. To Roger Bighouse (Eastlake, OH): raced in US 1974 (7 races); US 1975 (4 races + 1 DNS) - Pat McGonegle (Cincinnati, OH): raced in US 1976 (1 race) and Can-Am 1977 (4 races + 1 DNS); probably the car entered by McGonegle as 'Mannix MX-2' in Can-Am 1978; advertised April 1979 - Danny Johnson (Kewanee, IL) 1979: raced in Can-Am 1979 (1 race), Can-Am 1981 (5 races), Can-Am 1982 (6 races) - Brian R Taylor (now Clive, Iowa) for Mike Engstrand (Des Moines, Iowa): raced in Can-Am 1985 (3 races) - Chuck Haines (St Louis, MO) - Anthony Taylor (Blackburn, UK) 2001: due to be rebuilt and raced in FORCE Historic F5000 series (UK) 2001. Then unknown until owned by Greg Thornton in 2011 and raced in UK and New Zealand 2011/12. Badly damaged in a fire at Thornton's garage in June 2012 but completely reconstructed.
  9. March 77S/802 [77ST-1] (Charles Monk): Built new for 1974, fitted with a BMW engine and entered by March Engineering for Jean Ragnotti in the European 2-litre Sports Car championship, with Antar sponsorship. Fitted with a Richardson FVC after the first few races, and later with a Cosworth BDG. Retained by March for 1975, fitted with a Hart 420R engine, updated to 75S specification and plated as '75S-U2' for John Lepp to race. The car was retained again for 1976, now to 76S specification and reportedly using the identity '76S-1', now raced by Lepp as part of the Ultramar team. Sold to Bobby Brown (Hicksville, NY) for the 1977 Can-Am season, now using the identity '77ST-1'. Sold to Greg Sorrentino (Troy, Michigan) and raced in 1979. In 1980, it was converted to centre-seat specification with a new body fabricated by Dave Craddock and campaigned in this form by Sorrentino in 1981, described as a March 802. To Charlie Monk (Sarnia, Ontario) for 1982, and then via John Adams Racing & John Kalagian to J. Byron Walker (Detroit, Michigan). Raced by Walker in 1983 and 1984 before being stored. Walker later acquired the 1977 bodywork from EB Lunken, who had used it on his March 73S, and found Lepp's Ultramar livery under the layers of paint. In 2013, Walker was in the process of restoring the car to its 1975 specification.
  10. Lola T294 [HU75] (Jacques Villeneuve Sr): Mike Hall bought a new Lola T294 in 1974 for use in SCCA BSR racing. He was highly successful in the car at National level, winning the Run-Offs in 1975, and also competed in the Can-Am series from 1977 to 1980. The car was then sold to Chuck Storrie in Quebec and entered for 'Uncle' Jacques Villeneuve in Can-Am in 1982. It was bought from Storrie by Bob Roy for the 1983 season. Bob recalls selling it back to the US to somewhere in the Great Lakes area. The SCCA log book next records it being raced by Joe Graziano in vintage racing in Oct 1993. Sold by Graziano to Peter Read about 2008 and then to Steve Read in 2010. Prepared by Pete Racely (Sports Racing, Inc.) for the 2011 season. At the beginning fo the 2012 season, HU75 was being raced by Mike Thurlow (Kingsburg, CA).
  11. Brabham BT29 [11] (Jerry Kehoe): Bill Boyer (Tucson, AZ) raced an orange #88 Brabham BT29 in two early rounds of the 1970 SCCA Formula B championship, both in California, retiring both times. He was not seen again in the car but advertised it in August 1972, over two years later, complete with Vegantune FLC engine and said to be "ready for pro races". In 1973 or 1974, it was bought from dealer Pierre Phillips (Portland, OR) by Jerry Kehoe (Santa Rosa, CA), who recalls having seen it at Max Mizejewski's MRE operation in Santa Ana maybe a year earlier. Mizejewski had raced a MRE-entered BT29 at Sears Point 16 Sep 1973 and this is assumed to be the same car. Presumably the Formula B car Kehoe drove in SCCA races at Sears Point in 1975 and 1976. By 1977, Kehoe had fitted it with a Cosworth FVC engine and was using in in Formula A in SCCA Nationals. Kehoe later rebuilt the car as a sports car and used it in Can-Am in 1980 as a 2-litre car, then with a 3.5-litre Oldsmobille from 1981 to 1983 and finally with Frissbee bodywork in 1984. It later went to James Connell (Pollack Pines,CA) and Fred Schrameck (Orangeville, CA) . It changed hands again in 2007.
  12. Rondel M1 [201] (Randy Zimmer): The prototype Rondel was used for testing in late 1972, before the first production cars were built. It was taken to Hockenheim 8 April 1973 as team spare, and to Pau as a spare for Tim Schenken, but not raced. Its history is then unknown until 1974, and it appears it has been acquired by Fred Opert to use as a set of spares. After Mike Rand crashed his car, wrecking the monocoque, 201 was supplied to Ron Ignatowski (Milford, CT), who rebuilt Rand's car on 201's tub with a BRM 1-litre engine and used it in SCCA Formula C. In 1980 it was sold to Randy Zimmer (Buffalo, NY) as the basis for his Can-Am car. He raced it with a Volkswagen engine in 1982 and then with a Mazda rotary engine from 1983 to 1986. Zimmer then entered it for Jim Del Russo in the 1987 CAT championship, and raced it a few more times himself in 1989, 1990 and 1994. Then retained for many years until Zimmer sold it to Seann Burgess (Markdale, Ontario) in 2019.
  13. Cicale-March 77B (David Locke): Rick Koehler (Milwaukee, WI) raced an Excalibur EE2B in Formula Atlantic in 1978, with sponsorship from Brooks Stevens. The car was essentially a March 77B and was described as ex-Shierson and ex-Brack in adverts in late 1978 and 1979. It was leased to Joe Castellano for the Long Beach race in April 1979, and then sat unused until August 1980 when it was sold to David Locke (Cambridge City, IN). Locke fitted the car with 79B bodywork and Bobsy fenders so that it could be used in Can-Am racing, using an 1850cc Hart BDA engine and Hewland FT200 gearbox. In October 1981, Locke ordered a Kevlar Cicale body for the car, and used it in this form in 1982 and 1983, but without success. He acquired a Hart 420R engine from Jim Trueman for 1984 and raced the car in Can-Am and then CAT until 1987. Chris Townsend advises that it was sold to Lee Johnson in Colorado in April 1988, and was still with Johnson in 2012.

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.