WCAR Formula Atlantic Championship Round

Sears Point, 30 Sep 1984

All cars are 1.6-litre F/Atl unless noted.

Notes on the cars:

1. March 77B [76B-13] (John Herne): Doug Shierson Racing ran an maroon/red #8 March 76B in 1976 for Price Cobb. In early 1977, it was entered by Doug Shierson Racing in SCCA Nationals for Steve "Gas" Saleen (Whitter, CA), but when the Pro series started in May, his entrant was Clayton Racing Team. The car's log book states that it was chassis 76B-13. Run by Clayton Racing for Frank Beetson (San Diego, CA) in 1978, when it was entered as a 77B. Also seen once in mid-1979 with Beetson, and later adbertised by him in February 1980. Its history is then unknown until 1983, when it reappeared in the hands of John Herne (Santa Ana, CA). He retained it for WCAR in 1984, then sold it in early 1985 to John Blizzard (Prescott, AZ), who raced it in WCAR that season. Blizzard remembers selling it to someone in Phoenix, AZ. Subsequent history unknown.
2. March 74B ["742-18"] (Joe Henry): Joe Henry (Sacramento, CA) raced a March in SCCA Formula Atlantic in northern California in 1983 and 1984, and in a WCAR race at Sears Point in 1984. This is believed to be chassis 742-18, the Patrick Depailler F2 car, but it may alternatively be which ever car was built on tub number 742-18, so quite possibly a 74B. As a 74B is much more likely to have been in California in 1983 than a 742, this car is listed as with the 74Bs until more is known of its provenance,
3. March 722/76B (Steve Hartgraves): In January 1980, Jim Buick (Berthoud, CO) registered a Formula Atlantic March 722/76B with SCCA's Colorado Region. He first raced it at La Junta in May 1980, but sold it in August 1980 to Bill Murray, who then raced it at La Junta in October. Roy Jo Peltz, better known as a sprint car racer, bought the March in September 1982 and raced it at Pueblo and La Junta in 1982 and 1983. Then to Steve Hartgraves (Sunnyvale, CA) who raced it in Solo I and in west coast WCAR Formula Atlantic races in 1984. It was advertised by Steve's father Roger Hartgraves (Sunnyvale CA) in March 1985, but unfortunately Steve cannot remember where it came from or where it went. This car was acquired soon after by John Hammill (Albuquerque, NM), and has remained with him since then.
4. Argo JM9 [056-FA] (Jim Blackwell): New to Tyrrell Arnold to race in the 1981 Irish Atlantic series, then to Jim Blackwell (Seattle, WA) in 1982 and raced in WCAR events in 1984 and 1985, then Marty Knoll (North Vancouver, BC) who raced it in WCAR in 1986 and 1987. Then to Terry Edwards in 1987-88 and from him to Gary Milligan (Richmond, British Columbia) who used it as the basis of the Buick-engined Lotus Europa with which he won the National Autocross Championship in 1994.
5. March 722 [30] (Larry Dunn): New to racing car importer Pierre Phillips (Portland, OR). It is believed to have been intended for customer Bud Rude (Auburn, WA), but no record has yet been found of Rude driving the car. Used by Phillips to win the Formula B class at the Oregon Region's Rose Cup Races SCCA National on 11 June 1972. It is then said to have gone to Mike Fisher (Portland, OR), who raced a black-and-white March 722 in the Westwood Players series round in May 1973 and in SCCA Nationals in the Pacific northwest that season. Sold to Bob Tracy (Hillsboro, OR) who continued to race it in SCCA National and Regionals in Oregon in 1974, then in ICSCC events in 1975. Then via Steve Plumb and Jack Scher to Squire Tomasie (Bellevue, WA) in 1978, then to Mike Gilbert and Ty Fikse in 1981. Then via Jim Burnett and Allan Karlberg to Larry Dunn (Lake Stevens, WA) who raced the car in WCAR Formula Atlantic between 1984 and 1986, and advertised it in December 1986 with chassis number 722-30. Sold to Steve Marks in May 1987, then to Kevin Shipley in September 1997. In 2007, Tim Greenshields in Colorado sold the car to Scott Monroe in Texas. From him it went to John Slade (Texas) in 2012, then to a customer of Don Blenderman (Houston, TX) in 2016. In May 2021, the car was for sale by Blenderman.
6. Lola T242 [T240 HU15] (Nathan Burmeister): Invoiced to Hayes Racing in late June 1971, but it is now known how this car was used in 1971. To Ted Titmas (Van Nuys, CA) for Formula B in 1972. Retained for the first race of 1973. History then unclear until February 1978 when acquired by Rob Mullaney (Pleasant Hill, CA), but the car was still wearing Titmas's #4 Autohaus livery so may not have been used since 1973. Raced by Mullaney in SCCA Regionals in San Francisco Region in 1978. To Tom Tampi in January 1979, and raced in one SCCA Regional, then to Nathan Burmeister (Manton, CA) September 1980, and raced from 1981 to June 1984, when the car was retired and stored. Restored by Burmeister 2001 to 2003, and advertised by him on race-cars.com in February 2005. The car was acquired at that time or soon after by Bob Yarwood (Lymm, Cheshire) and returned to the UK. Later to Tim Harrison (Ripon, North Yorkshire).

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.

North American Formula Atlantic race results have been compiled by Chris Townsend based on material in On Track and Sports Car, plus results sheets where available.

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.

Individual sources for this event

Chris Townsend's sources for these races include Autosport and On Track magazine.