CASC North American Formula Atlantic Series Race

Long Beach, 14 Mar 1981

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

Notes on the cars:

1. Ralt RT1/79 [147] (Norm Hunter): A white Ralt RT1 invoiced to Ralt importer Brian Robertson in mid-January 1979. The name of the customer in Ralt records appers to say Gloy. To Lane Sport In for Tom Gloy (Lafayette, CA/Pacheco, CA) to race in the CASC North American Formula Atlantic series. His car was yellow and entered as #38. He won at Long Beach in April 1979 and scored five more second places (two in his spare car) to win the championship. Retained by Lane Sports for 1980, whehn it was raced by Rogelio Rodriguez as the team's No 2 entry. The car was retained again by Lane Sports in 1981, when it was driven by Norm Hunter in the opening round at Long Beach. It was entered for Daniel Muñiz at the next race but did not appear. Thereafter the team used Ralt RT4s for all three team drivers, and the old RT1 was not seen again.
2. March 79B [78B] (Bob Schader): Jeff Wood (Studio City, CA) had a pair of March 78Bs in 1978, entered by Great Plains Racing in Formula Atlantic in 1978 and he then raced one of them in New Zealand in December 1978 and January 1979. He started the 1979 season with one of the 78Bs at Long Beach, and then had a new 79B at either the second or third race. One of the 78Bs was sold to Greg Sun who ran it (as a 78-79B) in SCCA events in 1979. It was then acquired by Bob Schader (Boulder, CO) and raced by him in 1980 in 79B specification. Retained by Schader in for Long Beach in early 1981. Schader then moved into FSV and the 78B was sold to Dorsey Schroeder (Manchester, MO) and used extensively in SCCA in 1981, when he won Midwest Division Formula Atlantic, and in 1982. Later to John Strickler (St Louis, MO). Subsequent history unknown.
3. Ralt RT1/79 (Steve "Gas" Saleen): Steve "Gas" Saleen (Los Angeles, CA) raced a black Ralt RT1 in the CASC North American Formula Atlantic series in 1980. The car was said to be new, but no new RT1s were built for 1980, so this is likely to have been a late-1979 car. Saleen won the Brainerd round in June, and finished third overall in the series. He appeared once more with the car at the start of 1981, but then changed his attention to Trans-Am.
4. Ralt RT1/78 [132] (Kent Combs): A white Ralt RT1/78 invoiced to Ralt importer Brian Robertson for his Ralt American Racing team in mid-May 1978. It is likely to have been used by Kevin Cogan in 1978, but photographs found of Cogan's cars so far show an older car with bolted rollhoop supports. This was probably Cogan's car in 1979, but he had a spare car that season, so we cannot be sure when he used each car. In 1979 he took pole position at Long Beach, and won from pole at Westwood and Québec City. He won again at Mosport Park, but in his spare car after damaging his principal car in practice. Cogan retained chassis 132 as a spare for Long Beach in 1980, then sold it to Kent Combs (Laguna Beach, CA) who raced it in 1981 and 1982. It was then sold to Tom Ballentyne (Westlake Village, CA) and converted to C Sport Racing specification using a Cicale body. Ballentyne raced it in the SCCA CSR Runoffs in 1983 and 1984. It was later raced by Frank Monise until it was retired in 1993. It was restored to original specification by Frank's son, Howard Monise, between 2002 and 2006, and sold to David S. Morrison (Long Beach, CA) in 2007.
5. March 77B (Erik Phelan): Eric Phelan (Redondo Beach, CA) raced a March 77B in SCCA Nationals in California in 1979. At the car's first appearance, at Willow Springs in April 1979, it was described as a 76B/77B, but was called a 77B at all later appearances. Phelan also drove the car in the first four rounds of the 1981 North American Formula Atlantic championship. Chris Townsend reports that Phelan ran this car until 1984. Nothing more known.
6. Ralt RT1/79 [164?] (Willy T. Ribbs): Archie Snider (Los Gatos, CA) acquired a Ralt RT1 which was raced by Jon Milledge in the CASC North American Formula Atlantic series in late 1980. It was entered as #97 by M&S Racing. Milledge had previously raced Snider's Formula B and Formula Atlantic cars since 1972 or earlier. Snider entered the car for Willy T. Ribbs at Long Beach at the start of 1981, and then raced it himself in the championship round at Westwood in August. Milledge drove the car in a SCCA Regional in March 1982.
7. Ralt RT1/78 [129] (Bob Earl): A blue and white Ralt RT1/78 invoiced to Ralt importer Brian Robertson for Pierre Phillips' Pierre's Motor Racing in mid-May 1978. It is believed to have been used as a spare car for Phillips' drivers Bobby Rahal and Chip Mead, but exactly how it was used in 1978 remains uncertain. At some point during 1979 it was sold to BTG Racing, but BTG had three cars (one being the very similar RT1/78-111 and the third being an older bolted-hoop car), and exactly how they were used in late 1979 and in 1980 remains uncertain. Chassis 129 is believed to have been the car raced by Robert Silvestro once in late-1979 and twice in early 1980. All three of BTG's car went to Tim Fortner during 1980, but chassis 111 quickly moved on, leaving Fortner Lucini Motorsports with 129 and the older bolted-hoop car in 1981. Chassis 129 is believed to have been raced by Bob Earl at Long Beach and by Riley Hopkins later in the season. Then sold to Nancy James for Northern Pacific SCCA racing in 1982. [CT]
8. Ralt RT1/78 (Dan Marvin): Kevin Cogan (Redondo Beach, CA) raced a large number of Ralt RT1s between 1976 and 1980, and distinguishing them is dificult. In 1979, he had two, a RT1/78, believed to be chassis RT1-132, and a RT1/79 that is not yet identified. At Long Beach at the start of 1980, he was entered by Ralt American/Theodore Racing and had two RT1s available. The car he raced was red and had been his intended spare car. His 1978 RT1-132 went to Kent Combs later in 1980, and Cogan's Long Beach race car was sold to Jon Norman Racing, so Norman presumably got his RT1/79. It was raced later in 1980 by Dan Marvin (El Sobrante, CA), who had driven Norman's March 80A earlier in the season. Retained for Marvin to drive at Long Beach in March 1981 and Mexico City in April 1981. Then sold to John Treder, and used in SCCA Nationals in Northern Pacific Division in 1982 and 1983. Driven in Pro races in 1984, when it was entered by Whale Racing. Raced again by Treder in Pro events in 1985.
9. Ralt RT1/76 [11] (Carlos Bobeda): 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]
10. Ralt RT1/77 [88] (Steve Millen): 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]
11. Chevron B45/B39 [45-78-03] (Colin Tuckey): 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.
12. Ralt RT1/78 [119] (Dick Ferguson): New to Ken Duclos (Boxboro, MA) and used in SCCA Nationals and three Pro races in 1978. Duclos finished second in Northeast Division, breaking a run of six successive titles. He finished second at the SCCA Runoffs. Retained by Duclos for 1979, when he raced in the Pro series. It was bought from Duclos by Dennis Vinciguerra (Laguna Beach, CA). This car was next seen at Long Beach in April 1981 when it was driven for Vinciguerra by Dick Ferguson. It was advertised by Vinciguerra from California in August 1981. Vinciguerra cannot recall who he sold it to. Subsequent history unknown. [CT]
13. Ralt RT1/78 [136] (Kyle Buxton): A white and blue Ralt RT1/78 invoiced to Ralt importer Brian Robertson in August 1978. To AME Racing for Skeeter McKitterick (San Diego, CA/Woodland Hills, CA), debuting at Trois-Rivières in early September. Also raced by McKitterick at the Macau Grand Prix in November as part of the Flying Tigers team. Retained by McKitterick for 1979, when he had sponsorship from CAM 2 Motor Oil. Raced in the North American series and again in Macau, entered by Flying Tigers Dunhill Racing Team. Entered a few times in 1980, but rarely seen. Sold to Kyle Buxton (Trabuco, CA) who raced it in Formula Atlantic in 1981 and 1982, then fitted a sports car body for Can-Am racing later in 1982, using a Ford BDP engine. To Dennis Brisken, and used in ASR class racing in 1984, but later wrecked at Sears Point. Sold to Carl Olsson (San Diego, CA) and rebuilt as a FC, and later as a CSR. Then to Tom Nelson (San Francisco area, CA) who rebuilt it again as an improved CSR. [CT]
14. Ralt RT1/78 [111?] (Cliff Hansen): Paul Grundrich (Brewster, NY) drove a Ralt RT1 for BTG Investments (Los Angeles) at a few Pro races at the start of 1980. BTG is believed to have stood for "Beat The Government" and advertised "high leverage tax shelters" which included "Pro Auto Racing Teams". BTG had acquired two Ralt RT1s from Pierre Phillips Racing: RT1-129 which was raced for BTG by Robert Silvestro, and a second - logically RT1-111 - which was raced by Grundrich. However, a photograph of Grundrich at Sears Point in May 1980 shows his car had bolted rollhoop supports, so has to be older than RT1-111. It is assumed for now that this was the same RT1 Grundrich had driven in Northeast Division SCCA Regionals in 1979. When BTG was dissolved, both Ralts were acquired by Fortner Lucini Motorsports. The ex-Grundrich car was driven at Long Beach in April 1982 by Cliff Hansen (Laguna Beach, CA), but he crashed in practice and did not start.

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.

Individual sources for this event

Chris Townsend's sources for these races include Autosport and On Track magazines and race programmes.