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CASC North American Formula Atlantic Series Race

Mosport Park, 19 Aug 1979

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Kevin Cogan Ralt RT1/79 [132?] - Ford BDD
#33 Ralt American
40 53m 20.565s
95.185 mph
2 Jeff Wood March 79B [17] - Ford BDD
#2 Jeff Wood Racing
40
3 Bob Earl Ralt RT1/78 [142] - Ford BDD
#19 NTS Racing
40
4 Tom Gloy Ralt RT1/79 [147] - Ford BDD Jennings
#38 Lane Sports Racing
40
5 John Mortensen March 79B - Ford BDD
#9 Transcendental Meditation
40
6 Rick Koehler Excalibur EE3B [March 79B-9] - Ford BDD
#51 Ecurie Excalibur
40
7 John David Briggs March 79B [19] - Ford BDD Pacific
#79 Tropicana Hotel
39
8 Carl Liebich Lola T560 [T460 HU18] - Ford BDD
#54 Liebrau Racing (see note 1)
39
9 Skeeter McKitterick Ralt RT1/78 [136] - Ford BDD Jennings
#12 AME Racing/CAM 2 Motor Oil
39
10 Mike Follett Ralt RT1/78 [128] - Ford BDD
#21 Follett's Mountain Sports
39
11 Rick Bell Ralt RT1/78 [127] - Ford BDD
#78 Rick Bell Racing
39
12 Ken Duclos Ralt RT1/78 [119] - Ford BDD
#34 Kay Dee Automotive
39
13 John Paul Jr Ralt RT1/79 [96] - Ford BDD
#18 Hilton
39
14 Mark McCaig Chevron B45 [45-78-03] - Ford BDD
#11 Rick Shea Racing (see note 2)
39
15 Bruce Jensen Ralt RT1/78 [95] - Ford BDD
#41 Jensen Exotic Plants
39
16 Ralph Manaker March 79B [6] - Ford BDD
#23 RM Racing
39
17 Don Breidenbach March 79B [20] - Ford BDD Pacific
#50 Tropicana Hotel
38
18 Ken Briggs March 79B - Ford BDD Pacific
#30 Tropicana Hotel
38
19 Gary Yott March 78B - Ford BDD
#37 Yott Courier Service
36
20 Larry Bergman Ralt RT1/77 [88] - Ford BDD
#87 Larry Bergman (see note 3)
22 Pulled off
21 Doug Titus Chevron B45 [45-78-02] - Ford BDD
#4 Julius Schmidt Racing [Fred Opert Racing]
(see note 4)
11 Accident
22 Marco Tolama March 79B [21] - Ford BDD
#5 Fred Opert Racing-Terramar Travel Mexico
(see note 5)
11 Accident
23 Howdy Holmes March 79B - Ford BDD
#8 Jiffy Mixes (see note 6)
7 Accident
24 Jacques Villeneuve Sr March 78B [13] - Ford BDD
#7 Bill Brack Racing
4 Pulled off
25 Robert Silvestro March 78B [12] - Ford BDD
#99 BTG Investments [Stimola]
2
26 Alec Donachy March 78B - Ford BDD
#98 Alex Donachy Racing with Rolex
1 Plugs
DNS Terry Knight March 79B [78B-1] - Ford BDD
#88 Stimola Race Preparation
Did not start
(Accident)
DNS Terry Knight Ralt RT1/79 - Ford BDD
#88 Norman's Kay, Bahamas
Did not start
DNS John Connolly Ralt RT1/76 [10] - Ford BDD
#56 Connolly Enterprises (see note 7)
Did not start
T Howdy Holmes March 79A [4] - Ford BDD
(Only used in practice)
T Kevin Cogan Ralt RT1/79 [132?] - Ford BDD
Ralt American
(Only used in practice)
DNA Jean-Pierre Alamy Ralt RT1/79 [148] - Ford BDD
#13 Dino Rivera Auto Sales
Did not arrive
DNA Cliff Hansen March 79B - Ford BDD
#27 Furnas (see note 8)
Did not arrive
DNA Frank Bramante March 78B [4] - Ford BDD
#44 Team Kiwi
Did not arrive
DNA Bruce MacInnes Ralt RT1 - Ford BDD
#57 Connolly Enterprises
Did not arrive
DNA Bob McGregor March 77B [6?] - Ford BDD
#71 Bob McGregor (see note 9)
Did not arrive
DNA Chris Gleason Ralt RT1/78 - Ford BDD
#75 Whalley BMW
Did not arrive

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

Qualifying
1 Bob Earl (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/78 [142] - Ford BDD 1.18.149
2 Kevin Cogan (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/79 [132?] - Ford BDD 1.18.180
3 Jeff Wood (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 79B [17] - Ford BDD 1.18.218
4 Jacques Villeneuve Sr (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 78B [13] - Ford BDD 1.18.375
5 Don Breidenbach (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 79B [20] - Ford BDD Pacific 1.18.986
6 Howdy Holmes (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 79B - Ford BDD 1.19.818
7 John David Briggs (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 79B [19] - Ford BDD Pacific 1.20.685
8 Ken Briggs (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 79B - Ford BDD Pacific 1.20.832
9 John Mortensen (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 79B - Ford BDD 1.20.921
10 Carl Liebich (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lola T560 [T460 HU18] - Ford BDD 1.20.955
11 Ken Duclos (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/78 [119] - Ford BDD 1.21.122
12 Mike Follett (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/78 [128] - Ford BDD 1.21.187
13 Rick Koehler (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Excalibur EE3B [March 79B-9] - Ford BDD 1.21.462
14 Larry Bergman (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/77 [88] - Ford BDD 1.21.666
15 Tom Gloy (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/79 [147] - Ford BDD Jennings 1.21.749
17 Mark McCaig (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B45 [45-78-03] - Ford BDD 1.21.967
18 Rick Bell (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/78 [127] - Ford BDD 1.22.217
19 Skeeter McKitterick (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/78 [136] - Ford BDD Jennings 1.22.352
20 John Paul Jr (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/79 [96] - Ford BDD 1.22.378
21 Bruce Jensen (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/78 [95] - Ford BDD 1.22.405
22 Ralph Manaker (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 79B [6] - Ford BDD 1.22.405
23 Marco Tolama (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 79B [21] - Ford BDD 1.24.960
24 Doug Titus (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B45 [45-78-02] - Ford BDD 1.27.006
25 Gary Yott (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 78B - Ford BDD 1.28.021
26 John Connolly * (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/76 [10] - Ford BDD 1.31.044
27 Terry Knight * (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 79B [78B-1] - Ford BDD 1.33.438
28 Robert Silvestro (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 78B [12] - Ford BDD 1.36.289
29 Alec Donachy (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 78B - Ford BDD no time
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. Lola T560 [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.
  2. Chevron B45 [45-78-03] (Mark McCaig): New to Rick Shea Racing and in North American Formula Atlantic in 1978, with backing from Jethro Tull. Raced by Shea at the first round, and by Marcel Talbot, Skeeter McKitterick, Bob Earl and Tom Gloy at later races, Retained by Shea for 1979 and raced by Mark McCaig (Calgary, Alberta) in the Pro series. To Colin Tuckey (Calgary, Alberta) for 1980, and entered in the Pro series by FBM Racing. Retained by Tuckey for 1981. Later raced by David Farmer (Niagra Falls, Ontario) in 1983. The car ended up with another Chevron in a museum in Canada, until 1989, when they were spotted by Peter Hemming. The B45 was acquired by Ed Swart in February 1993, and prepared for historic racing. He raced the B45 from October 1993 with a BDA engine in the Formula Atlantic class, and after about five years ran it with a 2-litre BDG engine in F2 classes.
  3. Ralt RT1/77 [88] (Larry Bergman): New to Brian Robertson's Ralt America as a late-season car for the CASC Formula Atlantic series, probably intended for Eddie Cheever to drive at Trois Rivieres, but he did not appear. To Larry Bergman (Los Gatos, CA) for SCCA Formula B in California. Bergman retained the car for 1979, winning the Northern Pacific Division Formula Atlantic title but also competing in most rounds of the North American Formula Atlantic series. Then to Steve Millen in New Zealand, and raced in the Aurora AFX New Zealand Formula Pacific series in January 1980, then in the 1980/81 season. To Eric Morgan for the 1981/82, 1982/83 and 1983/84 seasons. CT
  4. Chevron B45 [45-78-02] (Doug Titus): New to Fred Opert Racing for Keke Rosberg to for race in North American Formula Atlantic in 1978, with backing from Excita. Raced by Bob Earl at Montréal in September when Rosberg drove an older B39. Retained by Opert for 1979, and driven by Marco Tolama. To Paul Fostini (SCCA New York Region) and used in NEDiv Formula Atlantic in 1981, scoring seven points that season. It was then sold to AJ "Buddy" Pugliese (New Rochelle, NY) in 1982, and used in Race Car Club of America (RCCA) races, the club formed by Pugliese in 1979 to promote the Club Ford format. In 1983, Pugliese started a new RCCA class called Formula American, for pre-ground-effect Formula Atlantic cars with their Cosworth engines limited to 9200 rpm but also allowing the use of the Chevrolet 60° V6 engine limited to 6500 rpm. The B45 was fitted with the V6 engine and Pugliese raced it through much of the 1980s. In the early 1990s, he loaned the car to Walter Nelson who crashed it and then took it to a fabricator at Dutchess County Airport for repairs, where it sat for some time after the fabricator's business closed. In February 2014, Pugliese sold the whole project to Ric Baribeault, who first had to locate the missing tub and then took it all to Bob Cavanaugh for restoration. The restoration progressed slowly and was stil incomplete in 2020 when Baribeault sold it to Cordell Secrest (Houston, TX). Secrest moved the project to the Danbury, CT, workshop of Mike Agnifilo (North Salem, NY), and it remained with him until he eventually acquired it partly in payment of storage fees. Agnifilo plans to rebuild the car to original specification.
  5. March 79B [21] (Marco Tolama): Long-time Chevron importer Fred Opert acquired a March 79B for 1979 and ran it alongside the Chevron B45 he had left from 1978. It was raced once by team driver Marco Tolama and also by European F2 stars Derek Daly (at Trois-Rivières) and Eje Elgh (at Montréal). It went to Carl Liebich for 1980, who recalls buying a car from Opert that had previously been driven by Daly. Retained for 1981 but Liebich does not recall who he sold it to. History then unknown until the early 1990s when it was part of "the Indy Car Experience" at Phoenix International Raceway. It was acquired by Todd Cook of TCE Performances Products (Tempe, AZ) around 1994, then to Jon Gibson, then Jim McDonald, and then to Don Sandy and Art Hebert (San Rafael, CA) in early 2011. It was advertised on motorsportsmarket.com in early 2015 and sold to Charles Arton in South Africa, who ran the car at Killarney in February 2015 in Martini livery and still with Hebert's name on the side. In May 2017, following the Simola Hill Climb, the 79B was destroyed when a transporter containing six cars bound for Cape Town caught fire.
  6. March 79B (Howdy Holmes): New to Howdy Holmes (Ann Arbor, MI) and raced in the CASC North American Formula Atlantic series in 1979, entered and prepared by Doug Shierson Racing and sponsored by Jiffy Mixes. Unknown after 1979.
  7. Ralt RT1/76 [10] (John Connolly): New to Team Gunston for Roy Klomfass at the end of 1975 and used through the 1976 South African Formula Atlantic season in South Africa, during which time it was extensively modified. In early 1977 it was sold "to a guy in Los Angeles". This must have been Kevin Cogan (Torrance, CA, in southwestern Los Angeles County), who raced his newer RT1/76-33 in 1977 but kept chassis 10 as a spare car for the first part of 1977. It was borrowed by Pierre Phillips at Mosport Park in May for Juan Cochesa to race after the Venezuelan crashed his intended car in practice. Then very probably the car acquired from Brian Robertson by John Connolly (Brooklyn, NY) and raced by him at Trois-Rivières in September. The car is thought to have remained with Connolly until advertised by him in early 1982, but he also had a newer RT1/78 and a Ralt RT4. CT
  8. March 79B (Cliff Hansen): New to Cliff Hansen (Laguna Beach, CA) and raced in the CASC North American Formula Atlantic series in 1979. Unknown after 1979.
  9. March 77B [6?] (Bob McGregor): The history of this car in 1977 and 1978 is currently unresolved, but in 1979 it was raced by Bob McGregor (Burnaby, British Columbia) in Formula Atlantic. It then went to Mark Akerstream (Vancouver, BC) who used it in CASC regional events in 1980. It then went to Russ Thomson (Vancouver, BC) who used it for ICSCC races in 1981. A logbook still with the car shows that he used it with ICSCC as late as 1989. It then went to Bill Stevens (Portland, Oregon) in 1989, fitted a Mazda engine and raced it with ICSCC up to April 1995. Then to Martin Handshy (Connecticut) and restored to Formula Atlantic specification, and he raced it in SVRA vintage racing from February 1998 to October 2002. It was sold to the current owner in 2005.

Sources

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' original 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.