OldRacingCars.com

Can-Am Challenge Race

Riverside, 16 Oct 1977

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Patrick Tambay Lola T333CS [HU6] - Chevrolet V8
#1 Carl A. Haas Racing Teams, Ltd.
60 1h 18m 27.29s
116.872 mph
2 George Follmer Lola T332C [HU56] - Chevrolet V8
#8 U.S. Racing [Herb Caplan]
60 1h 18m 56.371s
3 John Morton Lola T332/T333 ['K2'] - Chevrolet V8
#46 Morton Racing
60
4 Peter Gethin Lola T333CS [HU2] - Chevrolet V8
#4 Racing Team VDS
59
5 Don Pike (sports racing) Mirage GR7 - Ford
#48 Tony Fox Racing
59
6 Graham McRae McRae GM3 [01] - Chevrolet V8
#36 Jongbloed Racing Wheels
58
7 Johnny Parsons Jr Lola T333CS [HU5] - Chevrolet V8
#41 Bill Freeman Racing
58
8 Elliot Forbes-Robinson Lola T333CS [HU4] - Chevrolet V8
#40 Bill Freeman Racing
58
9 Tom Klausler Schkee DB1 [2] - Chevrolet V8
#6 Schkee Cars
58
10 Merle Brennan (G7) 5-litre McLaren M8D [M8D/3] - Chevrolet V8
#19 Reno Automotive Center (see note 1)
57
11 Evan Noyes Lola T332 [HU51] - Chevrolet V8
#24 Evan Noyes, Jr. (see note 2)
56
12 Andrew Bazeley Bazeley Mk.1 - Chevrolet V8
#23 Bazeley Special (see note 3)
56
13 Jim Trueman (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T296 [HU88] - Ford BDX Swindon
#25 Red Roof Inns-Capricorn (see note 4)
56
14 Bobby Brown (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre March 77S [77ST-1] - Ford
#79 Bob Brown Racing (see note 5)
55
15 Michael L. Allen Lola T332 [HU46] - Chevrolet V8
#59 (see note 6)
54
16 Tex Arnold (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T294 [HU78] - Hart 420R
#99 Car Shop Enterprises
54
17 Warren Purdy (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU27] - Cosworth FVC
#51 Warren Purdy
54
18 Gary Gove (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B26 [74-08] - Cosworth FVD
#52 (see note 7)
53
19 Leonard Janke (G6) 5-litre McLaren M6B/M8 [M6B 50-09(B)] - Chevrolet V8
#56 Janke Auto Co. (see note 8)
53
20 Harald Kirberg (Sports racing) 2-litre Kirberg KK2 Special [Porsche 906-136] - Porsche
#94 Kirberg Special
52
21 Michael Brockman (unknown) Porsche
50
22 Vern Schuppan Elfin MR8A-C [8772] - Chevrolet V8
#11 (see note 9)
45 Body damage
23 Bob Nagel Lola T332/Riley [HU33] - Chevrolet V8
#9 Nagel Racing (see note 10)
39 Engine
24 Don Breidenbach Lola T333CS ["33-790"] - Chevrolet V8
#77 Briggs Racing
38 Engine
25 Hunter Harris Talon MHS-II [MR1A "007"] - Chevrolet V8
#98
31 Mechanical
26 S Peter Smith (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B19 [71-6] - Ford
#54 Red Roof Inns
25 Electrical
27 Milt Minter Lola T332/Riley - Chevrolet V8
#5 Oftedahl Racing
20 Engine
28 Garth Pollard (Sports racing) 1.8-litre Lola T290 [HU28?] - Cosworth FVC
#85 Pegasus Racing (see note 11)
19 Unknown
29 John David Briggs Lola T333CS ["33-673"] - Chevrolet V8
#71 Briggs Racing
18 Head gasket
30 Mike Roche Lola T332 [HU42] - Chevrolet V8
#80 Roche Racing (see note 12)
14 Accident
31 Orlie Pacheco (G7) 5-litre McLaren M6B [50-09(C)] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 13)
13 Off course
32 Chris Bender McBender "McLaren" [Matich A50-003] - Ford Boss 302 V8
#47 Chris Bender
12 Engine
33 Alan Jones Shadow DN6C [3A] - Dodge V8
#0 Phoenix Racing
11 Tramsnission
34 Dick Workman (G7) 5-litre McLaren M8E [80-04] - Chevrolet V8
#66 (see note 14)
10 Mechanical
DNA Michael Brayton Wolf-Brayton 001 - Chevrolet V8
#29 (see note 15)
Did not arrive
DNA Bill Freeman (unknown) Porsche SC6
#42
Did not arrive
DNA Dale Mahar Surtees TS8 ["010"] - Chevrolet V8
#49 (see note 16)
Did not arrive
DNA Arlon J. Koops Blitzen S100 - Chevrolet V8
#67
Did not arrive

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

Qualifying
1 Patrick Tambay (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU6] - Chevrolet V8 1m 13.481s
2 Alan Jones (Can-Am) 5-litre Shadow DN6C [3A] - Dodge V8 1m 14.814s
3 John Morton (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332/T333 ['K2'] - Chevrolet V8 1m 14.874s
4 Peter Gethin (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU2] - Chevrolet V8 1m 15.433s
5 Elliot Forbes-Robinson (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU4] - Chevrolet V8 1m 15.593s
6 George Follmer (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332C [HU56] - Chevrolet V8 1m 16.155s
7 Don Breidenbach (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS ["33-790"] - Chevrolet V8 1m 16.686s
8 Bob Nagel (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332/Riley [HU33] - Chevrolet V8 1m 17.135s
9 Vern Schuppan (Can-Am) 5-litre Elfin MR8A-C [8772] - Chevrolet V8 1m 17.215s
10 Don Pike (sports racing) Mirage GR7 - Ford 1m 17.604s
11 Graham McRae (Can-Am) 5-litre McRae GM3 [01] - Chevrolet V8 1m 17.742s
12 Evan Noyes (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU51] - Chevrolet V8 1m 17.792s
13 Tom Klausler (Can-Am) 5-litre Schkee DB1 [2] - Chevrolet V8 1m 17.827s
14 John David Briggs (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS ["33-673"] - Chevrolet V8 1m 17.849s
15 Johnny Parsons Jr (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU5] - Chevrolet V8 1m 17.85s
16 Mike Roche (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU42] - Chevrolet V8 1m 17.994s
17 Merle Brennan (G7) 5-litre McLaren M8D [M8D/3] - Chevrolet V8 1m 18.086s
18 Milt Minter (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332/Riley - Chevrolet V8 1m 19.416s
19 Hunter Harris (Can-Am) 5-litre Talon MHS-II [MR1A "007"] - Chevrolet V8 1m 19.627s
20 Andrew Bazeley (Can-Am) 5-litre Bazeley Mk.1 - Chevrolet V8 1m 21.564s
21 Jim Trueman (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T296 [HU88] - Ford BDX Swindon 1m 22.991s
22 Chris Bender (Can-Am) 5-litre McBender "McLaren" [Matich A50-003] - Ford Boss 302 V8 1m 23.49s
23 Michael L. Allen (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU46] - Chevrolet V8 1m 23.646s
24 Bobby Brown (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre March 77S [77ST-1] - Ford 1m 23.941s
25 Leonard Janke (G6) 5-litre McLaren M6B/M8 [M6B 50-09(B)] - Chevrolet V8 1m 24.117s
26 Dick Workman (G7) 5-litre McLaren M8E [80-04] - Chevrolet V8 1m 24.146s
27 Warren Purdy (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU27] - Cosworth FVC 1m 24.852s
28 Michael Brockman (unknown) Porsche - Porsche 1m 24.957s
29 Tex Arnold (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T294 [HU78] - Hart 420R 1m 25.342s
30 Harald Kirberg (Sports racing) 2-litre Kirberg KK2 Special [Porsche 906-136] - Porsche 1m 25.472s
31 Gary Gove (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B26 [74-08] - Cosworth FVD 1m 25.665s
32 S Peter Smith (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B19 [71-6] - Ford 1m 25.682s
33 Orlie Pacheco (G7) 5-litre McLaren M6B [50-09(C)] - Chevrolet V8 1m 26.56s
34 Garth Pollard (Sports racing) 1.8-litre Lola T290 [HU28?] - Cosworth FVC 1m 29.293s

Notes on the cars:

  1. McLaren M8D [M8D/3] (Merle Brennan): One of the three 1970 Team McLaren M8Ds, this car was driven by Gurney and Gethin. It was converted to M8F specification for 1971 as a works spare and was later sold to Herb Kaplan for the 1973 season when it was driven by Scooter Patrick. It was raced by John Cordts in the final season of the original Can-Am. In 1977, it was driven by Merle Brennan in the revived Can-Am series. (History derived from research done by Martin Krejci.)
  2. Lola T332 [HU51] (Evan Noyes): See full history: Lola T332 HU51.
  3. Bazeley Mk.1 (Andrew Bazeley): Andrew Bazeley (San Diego, CA) raced the Bazeley Special in Can-Am in 1977. He qualified ninth out of 19 at his first race, at Laguna Seca in June, but was the first retirement. At Sears Point in September he qualified 15th out of 25, and finished an impressive seventh of the 14 finishers. Finally at Riverside in October, he qualified 20th of 34 qualifiers, and finished 12th of 21 finishers. The car was reportedly cannibalised to make the Bazeley Mk 2.
  4. Lola T296 [HU88] (Jim Trueman): Sold new by Carl Haas to James Trueman of red Roof Inns (Columbus, OH), and supplied with a Swindon BDX engine. Raced by Trueman in Can-Am but also by Bobby Rahal in two Canadian Can-Am events. Raced again by Trueman in Cam-Am in early 1978. Sold at some point to Rahal's father Michael G. Rahal who sold it to John Timken (Lyme, CT) in July 1978. Timken raced it for the rest of that season and into 1979. Marcus Pye recalls that Timken crashed it at some point but kept the damaged car for many years. In the late 1990s, Timken sold it to Fred Kaimer (Concord, CA) who raced it in vintage events. Still being raced by Kaimer in 2013. Sold to Bobby Rahal in 2021.
  5. March 77S [77ST-1] (Bobby Brown): 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.
  6. Lola T332 [HU46] (Michael L. Allen): See full history: Lola T332 HU46.
  7. Chevron B26 [74-08] (Gary Gove): After the closure of Red Rose Racing, Roger Hire struck a deal to run works-assisted Chevron B26s in 1974 under the name Forge Mill Racing. John Lepp ran the main car and Rafael Barrios joined the team to run a second B26, now positively identified as chassis 74-08. This car only raced once in 1975 but was then bought by Robin Smith to be used in endurance and Interserie in 1976. Gary Gove (Tacoma, WA) acquired it for Can-Am in early 1977 and raced it for three seasons, winning the Pacific Coast title in 1978 and the last BSR title at the Run-Offs. It went to John Graham in Canada for the 1981 season and then to Luc Behar-Bannelier for 1982. The B26 was sold to Gil Baird for Thundersports in England in 1983 then to Richard Piper for another three seasons during which time it was converted to DFV power before moving to Ireland in the late 1980s where it stayed for nearly 15 years. It was sold back to the US again around 2003 and has raced in US vintage racing.
  8. McLaren M6B/M8 [M6B 50-09(B)] (Leonard Janke): One of two cars to have stemmed from a McLaren M6B chassis 50-09. This car was originally raced by Jerry Titus in 1968 but wrecked prior to the Fuji race and rebuilt on a new M6B tub. This second iteration was then crashed by Jay Hills and rebuilt on a M12 tub. The tub from Hills' crash was later sold Keith Germane and built up as a M12 and then rebuilt as a M8 before being sold to Leonard Janke for the 1974 Can-Am. Janke drove this car again in the 1977 Can-Am. It is described as 50-09(B) here as was the second iteration of this divided car.
  9. Elfin MR8A-C [8772] (Vern Schuppan): New to Vern Schuppan (Adelaide, Australia) and raced as part of Ansett Team Elfin in 1977 Australian Internationals. Converted to Can-Am form, and raced by Schuppan in the Can-Am series in late 1977, and again in 1978 and 1979. Next seen when advertised by Stuart Bradbury (Phoenix, AZ) in July 1984. Advertised by Chuck Haines in 1990. To John Wales and Ron Gouttman (NSW, Australia) in 1990, and raced by Gouttman in Australia in Can-Am form in 1992/93. To Laurie Donaher (NSW) 1998, then to Aaron Lewis (Cessnock, NSW, Australia) in 2001. Restored to F5000 form, and raced in the F5000 Tasman Revival series in 2003/04. To Bill Hemming (Victoria, Australia) 2005, who raced it in the Tasman Revival series from late 2006 onwards.
  10. Lola T332/Riley [HU33] (Bob Nagel): See full history: Lola T332 HU33.
  11. Lola T290 [HU28?] (Garth Pollard): This car, believed to be the ex-Pete Harrison car, was bought by doctors Eugene Bowen (San Jose, CA) and Edwin Abate (Monte Sereno, CA) and shared in Californian SCCA BSR racing in 1973 and 1974 until Bowen crashed it badly at Riverside in May 1974. Abate bought a new Lola but Bowen repaired the T290 using a new tub and continued to race it, winning the local BSR title in 1976. During this time, the car was rented by Garth Pollard (Cobble Hill, BC) for a Can-Am race at Riverside in October 1977. Bowen continued to race the car locally, its final race being the Sears Point 4-hour Enduro. It was then sold to Charles Boyle who sold it to an English owner.
  12. Lola T332 [HU42] (Mike Roche): See full history: Lola T332 HU42.
  13. McLaren M6B [50-09(C)] (Orlie Pacheco): One of two cars to have stemmed from a McLaren M6B chassis 50-09. This car was originally raced by Jerry Titus in 1968 but wrecked prior to the Fuji race and rebuilt on a new M6B tub. This second iteration was then crashed by Jay Hills and rebuilt on a M12 tub. The rebuilt car was later sold to Orlie Pacheco who raced it in the 1977 Can-Am series. It is described as 50-09(C) here as was the third iteration of this divided car.
  14. McLaren M8E [80-04] (Dick Workman): Originally raced in Can-Am in 1971 by Vic Elford, this McLaren M8E, chassis 80-04, was later raced by Bill Cuddy, Merle Brennen and others. It was then acquired by Dick Workman who raced it in the 1977 Can-Am series. In 1979 it was bought by Chuck Haines and restored. Chuck still owned it in 2005 and this history is derived from his advert.
  15. Wolf-Brayton 001 (Michael Brayton): Michael Brayton (Newport Beach, CA) acquired a Talon Formula 5000 car for 1977, but previous history of the car is unknown. During 1977, he rebodied the car for SCCA A Sports Racing, and then raced the car, as the "Wolf-Brayton 001" in Can-Am from 1978 to 1981. The car was later acquired by Mike McComas, who was then under the impression it was the Wolf-Dallara WD1. He sold it to Tony Roberts and Duncan Fox in New Zealand in 2003, where it was restored to F5000 specification. Raced by Roberts in the F5000 Tasman Revival from 2003 to 2005, when it was sold to Aaron Burson, then raced by him from 2005 onwards.
  16. Surtees TS8 ["010"] (Dale Mahar): Dale Mahar entered a Surtees TS8 in the Can-Am race at Sears Point 25 Sep 1977 but is shown as "no time recorded" so may not have been present. Southern Californian Mahar had previously raced a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda for Har-Ma Engineering (Ventura, CA) in Trans-Am from 1966 to 1969. According to Kurt Engelmann's excellent myf5000.com, in January 1981, Dale Mahar (Thousand Oaks, CA) advertised a "1969 Titan TS-9 F5000 305 Chevy" which could well be the same car. The TS8 was acquired from Mahar by James Hale (Lebanon, New Hampshire) in 1980 or 1981, and used it in hillclimbs in New England in the 1980s. The TS8 has chassis plate TS8-010 and came with a spare TS9 monocoque, numbered TS9-08.

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.