Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières, 5 Sep 1976
Results | Laps | Time/Speed | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gilles Villeneuve | March 76B [10 or 15?] - Ford BDA Morris #69 Ecurie Canada (see note 1) |
60 | 1h 05m 46.934s |
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2 | Alan Jones | Chevron B34 [34-76-34] - Ford BDA Hart #5 Fred Opert Racing (see note 2) |
60 | 1h 05m 56.142s |
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3 | James Hunt | March 76B - Ford BDA Morris #96 Ramada Inns/Ecurie Canada (see note 3) |
60 | 1h 06m 01.936s |
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4 | Vittorio Brambilla | March 76B [14] - Ford BDA Race Shop #91 Doug Shierson Racing (see note 4) |
60 | ||||||
5 | Bobby Rahal | March 76B [4?] - Ford BDA McCoy #9 Doug Shierson Racing (see note 5) |
60 | ||||||
6 | Patrick Tambay | Chevron B34 [34-76-25] - Ford BDA Hart #7 Fred Opert Racing (see note 6) |
60 | ||||||
7 | Tom Gloy | Tui BH2 [3] - Ford BDA Nicholson #70 Alan McCall Racing |
60 | ||||||
8 | Price Cobb | March 76B [13] - Ford BDA Race Shop #8 Doug Shierson Racing (see note 7) |
59 | ||||||
9 | Héctor Rebaque | Lola T460 [HU1] - Ford BDA Traylor #26 Carl Haas (see note 8) |
59 | ||||||
10 | Tom Klausler | Lola T460 [HU6] - Ford BDA Nicholson #63 Traylor (see note 9) |
59 | ||||||
11 | Chip Mead | Ralt RT1/76 [11] - Ford BDA Cosworth #19 Cavanaugh Racing (see note 10) |
59 | ||||||
12 | Bertil Roos | Ralt RT1/76 [30] - Ford BDA Hart #2 Ralt American (see note 11) |
58 | ||||||
13 | Hugh "Wink" Bancroft | March 76B - Ford BDA Hart #12 Performance Marketing [Shierson] (see note 12) |
58 | ||||||
14 | Kevin Cogan | Ralt RT1/76 [36] - Ford BDA Swindon #3 (see note 13) |
57 | ||||||
15 | Gilles Léger | Chevron B34 [34-76-15] - Ford BDA Hart #72 Gilles Leger Racing (see note 14) |
56 | ||||||
16 | Richard Spenard | Ralt RT1/76 [34] - Ford BDA Hart #22 Planter's Peanuts (see note 15) |
56 | ||||||
17 | Damien Magee | March 722/75B - Ford BDA Nicholson #11 Rick Shea (see note 16) |
56 | Loose nose cone | |||||
18 | Robert J. Nelkin | Chevron B34 [34-76-19] - Ford BDA Hart #67 Bob Nelkin Racing (see note 17) |
55 | ||||||
19 | Victor Larose | Lola T360 - Ford BDA Cosworth #90 (see note 18) |
54 | ||||||
20 | Marcel Talbot | Chevron B34 [34-76-32] - Ford BDA Hart #10 Tamaco Industries (see note 19) |
48 | Suspension | |||||
21 | Bruce Jensen | Chevron B29 [29-75-14] - Ford BDA Hart #41 (see note 20) |
48 | ||||||
22 | José Dolhem | Chevron B34 [34-76-35] - Ford BDA Hart #71 Fred Opert Racing (see note 21) |
44 | Puncture | |||||
23 | Cliff Dawson | Brabham BT38B [13] - Ford BDA Cosworth #88 (see note 22) |
36 | ||||||
24 | Carl Liebich | Lola T460 [HU18] - Ford BDA Hart #54 Liebrau Racing (see note 23) |
29 | Accident | |||||
25 | John Barringer | Chevron B34 [34-76-10] - Ford BDA BSR #44 Bill Scott Racing (see note 24) |
23 | ||||||
26 | Bill Brack | Chevron B34 [34-76-14] - Ford BDA Hart #1 (see note 25) |
17 | Misfire | |||||
27 | James King | March 76B - Ford BDA Race Shop #47 Doug Shierson Racing (see note 26) |
8 | Accident trying to pass Tambay | |||||
28 | Juan Cochésa | Chevron B34 [34-76-23?] - Ford BDA Hart #87 Fred Opert Racing (see note 27) |
8 | Accident | |||||
29 | Seb Barone | March 76B [11] - Ford BDA Race Shop #28 Isola Racing (see note 28) |
1 | Accident | |||||
DNS | Craig Hill | Lola T460 - Ford BDA Hart #25 (see note 29) |
Did not start (Collision with Talbot in warm up) |
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DNS | Vince Muzzin | March 75B - Ford BDA Race Shop #99 (see note 30) |
Did not start (Engine) |
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DNS | Dave Webber | Lola T460 [HU11] - Ford BDA Hart #50 (see note 31) |
Did not start (Brake failure) |
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DNQ | Mauro Lanaro | LM Special 76 [March 71BM-2] - Ford BDD Lanaro 'laydown' #35 UFO Jeans (see note 32) |
Did not qualify | ||||||
DNQ | Joe Colantonio | Lola T360 - Ford BDA #18 (see note 33) |
Did not qualify | ||||||
DNQ | Howdy Holmes | Chevron B34 [34-76-26] - Ford BDA BSR #24 Bill Scott Racing (see note 34) |
Did not qualify | ||||||
DNQ | Syd Demovsky | Chevron B29 [29-75-23] - Ford BDA Smith #80 B&B Racing (see note 35) |
Did not qualify | ||||||
T/C | Hugh "Wink" Bancroft | Chevron B34 [34-76-16] - Ford BDA Hart #12 Performance Marketing (see note 36) |
(Crashed in practice) |
All cars are 1.6-litre F/Atl unless noted.
Qualifying | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gilles Villeneuve | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 76B [10 or 15?] - Ford BDA Morris | 1.04.436 | ||
2 | Tom Klausler | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lola T460 [HU6] - Ford BDA Nicholson | 1.04.796 | ||
3 | Bobby Rahal | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 76B [4?] - Ford BDA McCoy | 1.04.807 | ||
4 | Vittorio Brambilla | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 76B [14] - Ford BDA Race Shop | 1.04.987 | ||
5 | Patrick Tambay | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 [34-76-25] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.05.214 | ||
6 | James Hunt | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 76B - Ford BDA Morris | 1.05.246 | ||
7 | Alan Jones | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 [34-76-34] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.05.377 | ||
8 | James King | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 76B - Ford BDA Race Shop | 1.05.518 | ||
9 | Bill Brack | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 [34-76-14] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.05.556 | ||
10 | Tom Gloy | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Tui BH2 [3] - Ford BDA Nicholson | 1.05.892 | ||
11 | Price Cobb | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 76B [13] - Ford BDA Race Shop | 1.06.121 | ||
12 | José Dolhem | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 [34-76-35] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.06.171 | ||
13 | Héctor Rebaque | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lola T460 [HU1] - Ford BDA Traylor | 1.06.302 | ||
14 | Craig Hill * | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lola T460 - Ford BDA Hart | 1.06.483 | ||
15 | Bertil Roos | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/76 [30] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.06.588 | ||
16 | Marcel Talbot | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 [34-76-32] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.07.037 | ||
17 | Seb Barone | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 76B [11] - Ford BDA Race Shop | 1.07.183 | ||
18 | Bruce Jensen | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B29 [29-75-14] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.07.193 | ||
19 | Juan Cochésa | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 [34-76-23?] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.07.201 | ||
20 | Chip Mead | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/76 [11] - Ford BDA Cosworth | 1.07.320 | ||
21 | Richard Spenard | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/76 [34] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.07.352 | ||
22 | Hugh "Wink" Bancroft | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 76B - Ford BDA Hart | 1.07.508 | ||
23 | Kevin Cogan | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/76 [36] - Ford BDA Swindon | 1.07.954 | ||
24 | Gilles Léger | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 [34-76-15] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.08.006 | ||
25 | Carl Liebich | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lola T460 [HU18] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.08.275 | ||
26 | Vince Muzzin * | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 75B - Ford BDA Race Shop | 1.08.740 | ||
27 | Dave Webber * | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lola T460 [HU11] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.08.839 | ||
28 | John Barringer | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 [34-76-10] - Ford BDA BSR | 1.09.392 | ||
29 | Damien Magee | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 722/75B - Ford BDA Nicholson | 1.09.406 | ||
30 | Robert J. Nelkin | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 [34-76-19] - Ford BDA Hart | 1.10.287 | ||
31 | Victor Larose | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lola T360 - Ford BDA Cosworth | 1.10.799 | ||
32 | Cliff Dawson | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Brabham BT38B [13] - Ford BDA Cosworth | 1.11.832 | ||
33 | Mauro Lanaro * | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre LM Special 76 [March 71BM-2] - Ford BDD Lanaro 'laydown' | 1.12.594 | ||
34 | Joe Colantonio * | (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lola T360 - Ford BDA | 1.16.051 | ||
* Did not start |
Notes on the cars:
- March 76B [10 or 15?] (Gilles Villeneuve): Ecurie Canada ran a pair of green #69 March 76Bs in 1976 for Gilles Villeneuve (Lasalle, Quebec) with support from Skiroulle. Skiroule's signature green colour suggests they were the two cars listed in March records as being "leaf green", 76B-10 and 76B-15. According to Ecurie Canada mechanic Graham Scott, Villeneuve used his main car for all his wins, only racing his spare car at Westwood. At the end of the season, Villeneuve's main car was returned to Shierson, who rented it to Tom Pumpelly for the SCCA Run-Offs at Road Atlanta, where Pumpelly crashed it. John Norman (Oakland, CA) bought the remains of the Road Atlanta wreck and rebuilt it, then racing it as part of a two-car team with Dan Marvin in 1977 and 1978. Norman sold the car around 1984 to Graham Scott, but he lacked the finance to restore it. He sold it back to Norman, in partnership with Paul Pfanner, and it was restored to Villeneuve's livery by Norman, Dan Marvin, and others.
- Chevron B34 [34-76-34] (Alan Jones): New to Fred Opert Racing and believed to be the car raced by Alan Jones at Trois-Rivières in early September. To Butch Owsley (Aptos, CA/San Jose, CA) and raced in the IMSA race at Laguna Seca in early October. Retained by Owsley for SCCA Nationals and Regionals in 1977. Then raced by Bob Earl (Novato, CA) at a couple of late-season SCCA Regionals. The car was bought by actor James Brolin and run for Earl to drive by Ron Tourte's Tourté Racing in 1978, then Earl raced it in Pro events and SCCA Nationals. Earl did not get the results he expected, and also raced Doug Dreager's March 76B in one race, and ended the season in one of Fred Opert's newer Chevron B39s. The B34 went to Mike Buckenham (Stockton, CA) for 1979 and he raced it in SCCA Nationals until 1982 at least. The car was then taken by Joe Ordoqui (Boeing, CA) in partial payment for his March 80A. Ordoqui recalls that the Chevron sat in his garage for a couple of years but he is not sure where it went. Subsequent history unknown.
- March 76B (James Hunt): Ecurie Canada ran a pair of green #69 March 76Bs in 1976 for Gilles Villeneuve (Lasalle, Quebec) with support from Skiroulle. Skiroule's signature green colour suggests they were the two cars listed in March records as being "leaf green", 76B-10 and 76B-15. The main car was owned by Ecurie Canada, but the spare car was on loan from March importer Doug Shierson. According to Graham Scott, who worked for Ecurie Canada in 1976 and then for James Morgan in 1977, Villeneuve's spare car was only raced once, at Westwood at the end of May. Villeneuve then crashed it in testing at St Jovite (Mont-Tremblant) in July, and it had to be rebuilt on a new monocoque. It was repainted in red Ramada livery and used by F1 star James Hunt at Trois-Rivières in September, and then by Howdy Holmes at Road Atlanta, where he wrecked it. Scott recalls that it was rebuilt on another new monocoque and sold to James Morgan, who ran a two-car team in 1977, his other car being the ex Seb Barone 76B. Morgan raced them in early 1977 SCCA races alongside Bobby Rahal (Glen Ellyn, IL) and then entered them for Rahal in the 1977 Pro series with sponsorship from Red Roof Inns. Rahal is also reported to have had a 77B which was crashed at the opening race. The ex-Barone 76B then went to Ron Levanduski (Elmira, NY) in 1980, but it is not known where the ex-Villeneuve car went.
- March 76B [14] (Vittorio Brambilla): An orange March 76B invoiced to Shierson in March 1976. Believed to be the orange #4 March 76B entered by Doug Shierson Racing for Marty Loft (Olympia, WA) until Mosport Park in August when Loft crashed, but this is still uncertain. Then the black #91 car for guest driver Vittorio Brambilla at Trois-Rivières two weeks later. Sold to Richard Melville and used by him in New Zealand racing in 1977 and 1978, where David McKinney noted that it was "ex-Brambilla" and that it carried chassis plate 76B-14. Sold to Unipart for Tiff Needell to use in the 1979 Macau GP, then sold to Sonny Rajah in time for the 1980 Malaysian GP.
- March 76B [4?] (Bobby Rahal): Doug Shierson Racing ran an orange #9 March 76B in 1976 for Bobby Rahal (Glen Ellyn, IL). There were four orange March 76Bs according to March records but only one was built as part of the first batch of cars, 76B-4, strongly suggesting this was Rahal's car. The subsequent history of this car is not known until it was advertised in 1985 as "ex-Villeneuve".
- Chevron B34 [34-76-25] (Patrick Tambay): Invoiced to Fred Opert Racing and believed to be the "brand new" pale blue #75 Chevron B34 raced by Opert's customer Gordon Smiley at Mosport Park in late August 1976. Then raced by Patrick Tambay at Trois-Rivières two weeks later, and by Elliot Forbes-Robinson in the IMSA race at Laguna Seca in early October. It was one of three B34s taken to New Zealand for the Formula Pacific series in January 1977, and was Mikko Kozarowitzky's regular car. After the series, it was sold to Narcisco de la Merced and raced by him in Southeast Asian races from 1977 to 1982. Then to Luis Camus for 1983. Subsequent history unknown.
- March 76B [13] (Price Cobb): 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.
- Lola T460 [HU1] (Héctor Rebaque): New to Carl Haas Racing for Héctor Rebaque to race in Canadian and IMSA Formula Atlantic races. Norman Allen (Hanover Park, IL) then raced a Lola in Central Division Formula B in 1977 and 1978, identified as a T460 at one Regional in 1978, and he advertised an "ex-Rebaque" Lola T460 in November 1978. Eleven years later, in September 1989, Michael Duncan (Los Altos, CA) advertised T460 "chassis #1" which he described as an "Ex-Carl Haas/works car driven by Tom Klausler/Hector Rebaque". Subsequent history unknown.
- Lola T460 [HU6] (Tom Klausler): New to Tom Klausler (Palatine, IL) and raced in IMSA and Canadian Formula Atlantic in 1976, entered by Traylor Engineering. Then to Jerry Hansen (Long Lake, MN) in 1977, who borrowed it when his new Lola T560 was later being delivered. Chris Townsend's research shows that this car was briefly owned by Ed Midgley (Geneva, IL) in 1978, then sold to Niki Karabetsos (Chicago, IL) for 1979, and then to Sebastian Puleo (Chicago, IL) for SCCA drivers school and Regionals from 1982 to 1984. In 2005, it was acquired in Detroit by Derek Harling (Windsor Ontario), and retained by him as a source of spares for his T460 HU11. Harling sold both his T460s around 2017 to Joe Bunton (Fort Collins, CO).
- Ralt RT1/76 [11] (Chip Mead): New to Chip Mead (Dayton, OH) and raced by him in the 1976 Players Canadian Formula Atlantic series, run for him by Cavanaugh Racing in dark blue livery. Retained by Mead for 1977, when it was run for him by Pierre's Motors. It was then sold to Rick Shea Racing but unused as Shea ran a newer Chevron B45 for hire drivers. Retained by Rick Shea Racing for 1979 when it was used by Mark McCaig at Long Beach, although his regular car that season was Shea's Chevron B45. To Carlos Bobeda (Northridge, CA) late 1979 and raced by him in 1980 and 1981. It was rebuilt on Marc Bahner tub during this time. Sold to Stu Hayner (Yorba Linda, CA) for 1982. It then went to Dennis d'Angelo (Duck Key, FL) in 1988, Randy Goodman in 1989, Chris Cunningham (Cold Spring, NY) in 1991, Peter McLaughlin (Hannover, NH) in 2004, Fred Kaimer (Concord, CA) in 2006 and Danny Baker in 2021. It was sold to Dave Vegher of Veloce Motors West (Petaluma, CA) in 2022 and then to Dave Zurlinden (Monterey, CA) in 2023. [CT]
- Ralt RT1/76 [30] (Bertil Roos): New to Brian Robertson's Quick-Trans/Gabriel International Warranty team in the middle of the 1976 season, replacing the team's Lola T460s, and run for Bertil Roos in the 1976 Players Canadian Formula Atlantic series in white Gabriel International Warranty livery. Unknown after 1976.
- March 76B (Hugh "Wink" Bancroft): Hugh "Wink" Bancroft (Costa Mesa, CA) had a Fred Opert Racing Chevron B34 for 1976 but wrecked the car in practice at Trois-Rivières in September and borrowed a Shierson March 76B for that race and for the two remaining IMSA races. The identity of the 76B is unknown as several of Shierson's usual drivers were absent from Trois-Rivières so their cars would have been available.
- Ralt RT1/76 [36] (Kevin Cogan): To Cavanaugh Racing and run for Kevin Cogan in two late-season 1976 Canadian Formula Atlantic races. Sold to David McMillan and raced in the 1976/77 New Zealand Gold Star season, and in the January 1977 New Zealand International Formula Pacific series. Taken back to Canada for McMillan to race in two Canadian series races in 1977, then back to New Zealand for the 1977/78 Gold Star series and the January 1978 International series. Retained by McMillan for the 1978/79 and 1979/80 seasons, while also used in a handful of North American races in 1979 and 1980. Rebuilt as a Formula Super Vee for McMillan in 1980. McMillan moved to Ray Lipper’s Centreline Wheels team in 1981 and the old RT1 was raced by Lipper that season. [CT]
- Chevron B34 [34-76-15] (Gilles Léger): New to Gilles Léger (Lachute, Quebec) and raced in Canadian Formula Atlantic races in 1976. Unknown in 1977. Reappeared in 1978, raced by Jeff Smith (Vancouver, British Columbia) in the Labatts Formula Atlantic championship. To Gordon Munroe (Victoria, BC) for 1979, and raced in ICSCC events. Retained by Munroe for 1980 and 1981. Rex Thompson recalled in correspondence with Vince Howlett in 2008 that the Chevron went to "to a very nice guy in Nanaimo [BC]" who fitted a Mazda rotary engine. When he retired, he sold it to someone in Langley who crashed it heavily at Westwood. Thompson believed the tub was beyond repair. Subsequent history unknown.
- Ralt RT1/76 [34] (Richard Spenard): New to Brian Robertson's Quick-Trans/Gabriel International Warranty team in the middle of the 1976 season, replacing the team's Lola T460s, and run for Richard Spenard in the 1976 Players Canadian Formula Atlantic series in yellow Planter's Peanuts livery. Both the Robertson team cars were offered for sale by Fred Opert in early 1977. Bought from Opert by Dave Webber (Mississauga, Ontario) who raced his "ex-Spenard Ralt" in the Labatts Formula Atlantic Championship in 1977. Weber badly damaged the car in a practice accident at St-Félicien in August. It was then rebuilt by Roy Hayman of Hayman Engineering in Ontario as a sports car, and Hayman raced it in Ontario regional events in 1979. Hayman retained the car for many years, before selling it to Chuck Haines' Can-Am Cars Ltd in October 2008. Haines sold it to Bruce Domeck (Louisville, KY) in 2010.
- March 722/75B (Damien Magee): Vern Schuppan raced in the Players Canadian Formula Atlantic series in 1975 in a March 722 prepared by Rick Shea's Shea Racing. The car was yellow-and-white, in 73B (or 74B) bodywork, and ran as #11 with support from Rapid Movements. Later in the season, the car was raced by Shea himself at Brainerd in September. At the start of the 1976 season, Shea ran the car for Dave Walker. It was now described as a March "72-75" and was black, but still entered as #11. After Walker drove it in the first four races, it was later raced by Bob Beyea, Shea himself, and by Damien Magee at Trois-Rivières in September. The car was then sold to Frank Monise (Pasadena, CA), so is presumably the blue-and-white #25 March "75B" that he raced in southern Californian SCCA Nationals in 1977 and 1978. Advertised by Monise in September 1978 as a March "72 updated to 76" with "fresh CRW BDD". It was traded by Monise to Pierre Phillips in part-exchange on one of Rahal's Ralts in 1979.
- Chevron B34 [34-76-19] (Robert J. Nelkin): Tom Bagley (Centre Hall, PA) raced a yellow-and-blue Chevron B34 run by Fred Opert Racing in three IMSA Formula Atlantic races in early 1976, with Kent Oil sponsorship. This car was then raced by Juan Cochésa (Venezuela) in the Players Formula Atlantic series, starting at Edmonton on 16 May. Chris Waddell's report from Edmonton for Autosport described Cochésa's car as "an Opert B34 driven earlier in the year by Tom Bagley". Cochésa then moved to a new car, and the ex-Bagley car was sold to RJ Nelkin (Roslyn, NY/Woodbury, NY), who first raced it in an SCCA National at Summit Point in late June. He then raced it in Pro and SCCA races for the rest of 1976. Nelkin recalls that the car was then returned to Opert to be used as a spare car for Keke Rosberg and Mikko Kozarowitzky to use in the New Zealand Formula Pacific series in January 1977. After the 1977 New Zealand series, the car was sold to Norman Lankshear (Feilding, New Zealand) and raced in the Gold Star series in 1977/78 and 1978/79, and the International series in early 1978 and early 1979. It was then sold to Bryan Hartley (Palmerston) and raced by him in the 1981/82 season. The car was then sold to John Wigston (Auckland), fitted with a Ford crossflow engine and used in hillclimbs in New Zealand in the late 1980s. Wigston was reported to still have the car in October 2016.
- Lola T360 (Victor Larose): David Westgate (Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, Canada) raced a Lola T360 at Trois-Rivières in August 1975. In 1976, Westgate entered a T360 for Victor Larose (Mount Royal, Quebec) at Mont-Tremblant, Mosport Park and Trois-Rivières. Nothing more known.
- Chevron B34 [34-76-32] (Marcel Talbot): New to Marcel Talbot (Granby, Quebec) and raced in Canadian Formula Atlantic races in 1976, entered by Tamaco Industries, replacing the Chevron B29 that he had used for the first part of the season. The B34 was prepared by Colin Hine and helped Talbot secure the series rookie of the year award. Talbot bought a new March 77B for 1977 and Colin Hine recalls that the B34 "was sold to someone in Florida". Subsequent history unknown but in 2005 and 2006, this car was raced by Amanda Whitaker in the Formula Atlantic class of the HSCC Derek Bell Trophy and Euro F2 series. At some point around 2008 it was acquired from Oskar Christen (Bättwil, Switzerland) by Hans Peter (Nebikon, Switzerland).
- Chevron B29 [29-75-14] (Bruce Jensen): New to Bruce Jensen (Kitchener, Ontario) and used in the Canadian Players Formula Atlantic series in 1975, sponsored by Jensen Exotic Plants. Retained by Jensen for 1976, and retained again for 1977. Leighton Irwin, who crewed for Jensen at this time, recalls that it was sold in early 1978, he thinks to Michigan. Subsequent history unknown, but believed to be the car later converted to A Sports Racing by Lou Infante Motoracing and raced by Jerry Molnar (Lathrup Village, MI) in Can-Am in 1982. To Frank Jellinek (N. Hampton, NH), and used by him at two Can-Am races in 1983. Later sold to a "Dave", and Roger Sieling reports that it was stolen from him some time in the mid-1980s near Cleveland Ohio along with his tow truck, trailer, and an Austin-Healey Sprite. The car was never recovered.
- Chevron B34 [34-76-35] (José Dolhem): New to Fred Opert Racing and believed to be the car raced by José Dolhem at Trois-Rivières in early September. Then to Paul Henry (Clyde, OH), and believed to be the car he drove in Formula Atlantic specification at Indianapolis Raceway Park two weeks later. Converted to Formula C specification with a Cosworth BDJ engine and raced by Henry at the SCCA Runoffs in October. Retained by Henry for 1977 and used in SCCA Nationals in Formula Atlantic spec. In 1978, Henry ran 76-35 in SCCA Formula A specification, still with the same engine but adding 100 lbs of weight, and won a Regional F5000 series based at Nelson Ledges. Henry retained the car until 2006, when he advertised his three Chevrons. All three cars were acquired by David Gathercole in 2008 and returned to England. Sold to Ken Thorogood, and raced by John Finch in HSCC events in 2013 and 2014. Crashed by Finch at Donington Park in 2015, and rebuilt by Thorogood over the next four years, reappearing when raced by Clive Wood at the Oulton Park Gold Cup in September 2019.
- Brabham BT38B [13] (Cliff Dawson): New to Eligio Siconolfi (Montréal, Quebec, Canada), who raced in the Canadian FB series in 1972, sponsored by Downtown Datsun Ltd. To Peter Overing (Montreal, Quebec) for 1973, but only seen at Sanair in June. Entered by Overing for Reg Scullion (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Montréal, Quebec) in the Players Canadian Formula Atlantic series in 1974, but still with a Ford twin cam engine. Overing then acquired a March 74B for Scullion, and the Brabham was sold to Cliff Dawson (Mount Royal, Quebec), who fitted a BDA engine and raced it in Formula Atlantic in 1975, 1976 and 1977. After racing it in Regionals in the late 1970, Dawson converted the car to Can-Am specification with a body built in Montreal by Francis Cordolle and ran it in this form in Can-Am from 1980 to 1983, still with the 1600cc Cosworth BDA engine. According to Doug Waters, it was "sold in July 1984 to Martin Handforth in Ottawa, who soon sold it to Pennsylvania". (Note that Handforth had owned and raced a different BT38 in Quebec events in 1981.) Subsequent history unknown.
- Lola T460 [HU18] (Carl Liebich): New to Carl Liebich (Plymouth, WI/Two Rivers, WI) for Canadian and IMSA Formula Atlantic races late in the 1976 season. Liebich was said to have a new T560 for 1977, but it appears it was his nearly-new T460 updated. Retained for 1978, 1979, and the start of 1980. Chris Townsend's research shows this car was sold to Chuck Dietrich in 1980 and used by him in SCCA Central Division Formula Atlantic until 1982. It was then retained unraced by Dietrich until sold to Lowell Blossom (Zionsville, IN) in 1995. Raced by Blossom at Lime Rock in May 1996 and at Grattan Raceway in August 1997. It was sold by Blossom to Dave Jordano (Indianapolis, IN) in 2005. Subsequent history unknown, but believed to be the T460/T560 raced by Tom Thornton in HSCC Derek Bell Trophy races in 2010 and 2011.
- Chevron B34 [34-76-10] (John Barringer): New to Bill Scott Racing and raced by Johnny Gerber in the IMSA and Players (Canadian) Formula Atlantic series. Gerber's car was white with red/green trim, representing Mexico, and was sponsored by Batab. After six races, he crashed his car at Gimli in June and was then said to be out of budget. Bill Scott himself drove it at Mont-Tremblant in July, and it was raced by John Barringer and Elliot Forbes-Robinson later in the season. Subsequent history unknown.
- Chevron B34 [34-76-14] (Bill Brack): New to Bill Brack (Clarkson/Toronto, Ontario) and used in North American Formula Atlantic, entered by Bill Brack Racing and sponsored by STP. Brack crashed heavily in the second practice session at Laguna Seca and "wrote off" the car, but was back up and running at Ontario Motor Speedway just a week later. He drove the B34 for the rest of the 1976 season. Brack moved to Doug Shierson Racing for 1977 to drive a March 77B, and the subsequent history of the Chevron B34 is unknown.
- March 76B (James King): James King (East St Louis, IL) had a #47 March 76B in 1976, entered by his own Raggedy Ann Motorsport but run by Doug Shierson Racing. The car was dark green, so is likely to have been chassis 76B/5. King crashed the car at Trois-Rivières in September while trying to pass Tambay and it was not seen again. King went to England for 1977, to race a works March in Formula 3. The wrecked 76B is likely to have ended up with Shierson, so is likely to have been repaired and sold. Subsequent history unknown but the Charles Nearburg car in 1978 is said to have been the King car rebuilt on a new chassis.
- Chevron B34 [34-76-23?] (Juan Cochésa): Invoiced to Fred Opert Racing and believed to be the pale blue #5 Chevron B34 raced by Opert's customer Gordon Smiley in the first three races of the Canadian series, at Edmonton, Westwood and Gimli. It is then likely to be the pale blue car raced by Opert's F2 customer Juan Cochésa in the Canadian series races at Mont-Tremblant, Halifax and Mosport Park, and then at Trois-Rivières and Road Atlanta. As 76-19, 76-21 and 76-25 were all taken out by Opert to New Zealand and sold, this is the most likely candidate to be the spare B34 used by Opert's team in 1977.
- March 76B [11] (Seb Barone): New to Isola Racing for Seb Barone (Portland, CT or Dilliner, PA) to drive as the team's #28 entry in 1976, but run by Doug Shierson Racing. Barone crashed the car at Trois-Rivières in September and was not seen in it again. According to former Ecurie Canada/James Morgan mechanic Graham Scott, this car was rebuilt, updated to Ecurie Canada specification and sold to James Morgan for the 1977 season, together with the ex-Gilles Villeneuve spare car. Exactly how these two cars were used is unknown, but it is assumed here that Morgan himself raced the ex-Villeneuve car in early 1977 SCCA Nationals, entered as #56, and the ex-Barone car was fielded as the #65 for Bill Prout to use at first, then taken over by Bobby Rahal. Rahal then took over the #56 car for the Pro series, leaving the ex-Barone car as a spare car, presumably the one raced by Terry Visger at Halifax in August (#55) and by Morgan at Lime Rock in September (#65). This car is unknown in 1978 and 1979, but was acquired in 1980 by Ron Levanduski (Elmira, NY), who drove a March "773" in SCCA Regional and National Formula Atlantic races at his local Watkins Glen in 1980. He retained the car for 1981, when he also used the "76B/77B" in the CASC Formula Atlantic series race at Montréal in September. He appeared in it again a few times in 1982. An advert described the car as being both ex-Villeneuve and ex-Rahal, indicating it was one of the James Morgan team cars in 1977, but it was also described in a press report as the car used by James Hunt at Trois-Rivières. In June 1988, Levanduski mentioned in his 'Trackside' column in the Elmire Star-Gazette that the ex-Villeneuve 76B, which he still owned, had been restored to its 1976 Direct Film livery and was due to go on display at the Gilles Villeneuve Museum which was opening on 24 June. In May 2012, Levanduski mentioned the car again in his column, saying he had owned it since 1980, that it was chassis 11, and that Villeneuve had driven it just once in a race, at Westwood in 1976. In 2014, a feature on Levanduski mentioned that he had once a race at Watkins Glen in a 76B that was "later driven by James Hunt of the move 'Rush' fame to a third place finish at Trois-Rivières"! The chassis plate on the car in the museum confirms that it is chassis 76B-11, so the ex-Barone car.
- Lola T460 (Craig Hill): Entered by Brian Robertson's Quick-Trans Racing for Craig Hill (London/Missassagua, Ontario) in the Canadian Formula Atlantic series in 1976, sponsored by Gabriel International Warranty. Collided with Marcel Talbot in practice at Trois-Rivières in September 1976 and not seen again.
- March 75B (Vince Muzzin): Vince Muzzin (Northville, Michigan) drove a red #99 March 75B for Doug Shierson Racing in Formula Atlantic in 1975. Muzzin's main focus in 1975 was Formula Ford, but he retained the 75B for another season of Atlantic in 1976, but without any success. He advertised the car in November 1976, noting that it had a McCoy engine, and again in April 1977. Subsequent history unknown.
- Lola T460 [HU11] (Dave Webber): New to Dave Webber (Mississauga, Ontario) for Canadian Formula Atlantic in 1976, but only seen at a couple of races that season. Entered by Webber Racing for Don McKnight in 1977. Webber then retained the car for many years, selling it to Derek Harling (Windsor, Ontario) in 1994. Harling restored the car for historic racing and retained it until about 2017 when he sold both his T460s to Joe Bunton (Fort Collins, CO).
- LM Special 76 [March 71BM-2] (Mauro Lanaro): New for Bill Gubelmann (Oyster Bay, NY) and used in British Formula Atlantic at the start of the season, winning at Oulton Park 21 March, and then in the SCCA Pro Formula B series. The car was often described as a 712M but it seems more likely that he used the same 712BM all season. Also raced with a BDA in the Formula A race at Lime Rock in Sep and in one round of the Canadian series. Sold via Joe Grimaldi's The Race Shop to Frank Del Vecchio (Trumbull, CT) and used in NEDiv FB and in a couple of rounds of the Pro series. Sold back via Joe Grimaldi at the end of 1972; Frank thinks it went to a Canadian, and it is very likely to have been the car driven by Ken Huband, Norm Joy and David Westgate in 1973 and 1974. Sold to Mauro Lanaro (Montréal, Quebec) to replace the 71BM he lost in a transporter fire in 1974. Significantly modified in 1976 as the Lanaro Special with triangular sidepods, a different nose, and with its Cosworth BDA engine laid on its side. This car went through many evolutions, and was still being raced by Lanaro right up to 1995 when it was used in a vintage event. Lanaro eventually rebuilt to original 71BM specification about 1999. In late 2018, it was part of a package of cars bought from Lanaro by David Clubine (Brantford, ON), and was sold to a collector in Ontario.
- Lola T360 (Joe Colantonio): Joe Colantonio (Glenolden, PA) raced a Lola T360 in the Players Canadian Formula Atlantic series and the IMSA Formula Atlantic Championship in 1976. His car was white with a black stripe, and carried support Dynacord and Barcus Berry. In May 1977, he advertised the car, noting that it had a new monocoque in April 1977 and had been "completely gone over". Subsequent history unknown.
- Chevron B34 [34-76-26] (Howdy Holmes): New to Bill Scott Racing for Howdy Holmes, replacing 76-09 burnt out at Laguna Seca. Sponsored by Jiffy Mixes. Raced by Holmes for most of the season, but by Tom Pumpelly in the final IMSA round at Road Atlanta. Crashed here and said to have been "destroyed" but likely to have been rebuilt. This is presumably the "ex-Howdy Holmes" Chevron B34 raced by Jim Lyles (Columbia, MD/Palm Beach, FL) in SCCA Regionals and Nationals from 1977 onwards. In late 1983 it was damaged in a racing accident and sold unrepaired to Dennis Austin in late 1983/early 1984. He rebuilt it and used it in the ECAR series in 1985 and 1986. Sold to Ron Parks (Florida) in 1987.
- Chevron B29 [29-75-23] (Syd Demovsky): New to Bobby Brown (Hicksville, NY) and run by his B&B Racing for customer Syd Demovsky (Chicago, IL) in the CASC Players Formula Atlantic series in 1975. Retained by B&B Racing and Demovsky for 1976. Sold to Bob Williams, and raced in SCCA Central Division Nationals and Regionals in 1977. Retained by Williams for 1978. To Richard Shepard (San Francisco, CA) by 1980 and run by him in Formula Atlantic in Colorado until 1985. Then unknown until owned by Peter Gates in 1990. Sold by Gates to Robert Clarke in 1992, and still with him as a bare tub in 2006.
- Chevron B34 [34-76-16] (Hugh "Wink" Bancroft): New to Hugh "Wink" Bancroft (Newport Beach, CA/Costa Mesa, CA) and run for him by Fred Opert Racing in North American Formula Atlantic in 1976. His car was entered by Performance Marketing, the tyres, parts and repair services company Bancroft had founded five years earlier. It appears that he moved from Opert to Shierson Racing in time for the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières in early September. Bancroft crashed the B34 in practice at Trois-Rivières, and it was reported to have been written off. The Chevron was replaced with a March 76B, but it is quite possible that the car returned to Opert and was repaired.
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 Formula and On Track, information drawn from Canadian newspapers and 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.