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Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières

Trois-Rivières, 3 Sep 1978

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Elliot Forbes-Robinson Spyder NF-10 [CA-01] - Chevrolet V8
#3 Newman-Freeman Racing
42 1h 04m 20.182s
82.255 mph
2 Warwick Brown Lola T333CS [HU1] - Chevrolet V8
#2 Racing Team VDS
42 1h 04m 45.049s
3 Alan Jones Lola T333CS [HU7] - Chevrolet V8
#1 Carl A. Haas Racing Team, Ltd.
42
4 Michael Brayton Wolf-Brayton 001 - Chevrolet V8
#12 Michael Brayton (see note 1)
38
5 Alain de Cadenet (sports racing) 3-litre De Cadenet Lola LM [LM-4] - Cosworth DFV V8
#4 British Post Office
38
6 S Peter Smith (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B19/B21 [71-06] - Ford
#54 Red Roof Inns
38
7 Vern Schuppan Elfin MR8A-C [8772] - Chevrolet V8
#11 Vern Schuppan/Robert Boxx (see note 2)
37 Transmission
8 John Gunn Lola T332 [HU47] - Chevrolet V8
#39 Gunn's Goodies (see note 3)
37 Overheating
9 Howard Kelly Lola T332/Riley [HU33] - Chevrolet V8
#9 Nagel Racing Enterprises (see note 4)
37
10 Brian Burgess (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B21/B23 [72-27] - Hart 420R
#13 Dog Ring Services
36
11 Marcel Talbot Lola T300 [HU15] - Chevrolet V8
#56 Horst Kroll Racing
33
12 Warren Purdy (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU27] - Cosworth FVC
#51 Warren Purdy
28 Engine fire
13 Jean-Pierre Jarier Shadow DN10 - Dodge V8
#0 Shadow Cars
14 Ignition
14 Horst Kroll Lola T330/T332 [HU2] - Chevrolet V8
#37 Horst Kroll Racing (see note 5)
12 Engine
15 Michael L. Allen Lola T332 [HU46] - Chevrolet V8
#59 Don Weber (see note 6)
9 Coolant leak
16 E. B. Lunken (G7) 5-litre Lola T160 [SL160/9] - Chevrolet V8
#61
4 Engine
17 Dave Johnson (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU34] - Ford BDG
#60 P.S.B. Speakers
4 Transmission
18 Al Holbert Lola T333CS [HU9] - Chevrolet V8
#10 Hogan Racing, Ltd.
2 Oil leak
19 Tony Cicale (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Cicale-Ralt RT1/78 [RT1-94] - Ford
#47 Cicale Champion Racing
1 Accident
DNP Thomas C. Jones March 74A [1] - Chevrolet V8
#27 (see note 7)
Did not take part in official practice
DNA Randolph Townsend Shadow DN10 - Dodge V8
#00 Shadow Racing
Did not arrive
DNA Alain de Cadenet (sports racing) Mirage GR7 - Ford
#4 British Post Office
Did not arrive
DNA Tom Spalding Schkee DB1 [2] - Chevrolet V8
#7 Tom Spalding Racing
Did not arrive
DNA George Follmer Prophet - Chevrolet V8
#8 U.S. Racing [Herb Caplan]
Did not arrive
DNA Bill Tempero Chevron B78C - Chevrolet V8
#15 Cloverleaf Texaco
Did not arrive
DNA T. Patrick McGonegle Chevron B24 [24-73-02] - Chevrolet V8
#17 McGonegle Racing (see note 8)
Did not arrive
DNA Rick Villate (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T294 [T292 HU65] - Ford BDG
#26 RVR Inc (see note 9)
Did not arrive
DNA Howard Kelly Lola T330 [HU2] - Chevrolet V8
#30 Howard Kelly Racing (see note 10)
Did not arrive
DNA Dwight Zillig Lola T330/T332 [HU3] - Chevrolet V8
#35 Phantom Racing Team (see note 11)
Did not arrive
DNA Dean Dietrich March 76A [2] - Chevrolet V8
#43 Dietrich Racing Ltd. (see note 12)
Did not arrive
DNA John Morton Lola T333CS [HU8] - Chevrolet V8
#46 John Morton
Did not arrive
DNA Dan Hartill (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Osprey SR1 [Brabham BT38-1] - Cosworth FVC
#50 (see note 13)
Did not arrive
DNA Leonard Janke Lola T332/Riley - Chevrolet V8
#56 Janke Auto
Did not arrive
DNA Rocky Moran Lola T333CS [T332 HU29] - Chevrolet V8
#58 Rocky Moran (see note 14)
Did not arrive
DNA E. B. Lunken (Sports racing) 1.8-litre March 73S [14] - Cosworth FVC
#61 E. B. Lunken Racing (see note 15)
Did not arrive
DNA Mike Hall (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T294 [HU75] - Ford
#69 United Racing (see note 16)
Did not arrive
DNA Mike Roche Lola T332 [HU42] - Chevrolet V8
#80 (see note 17)
Did not arrive
DNA Gordon Hamilton Jr (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B36 [36-77-05] - Ford BDG
#89 (see note 18)
Did not arrive
DNA Jeff Miller (Can-Am 2l) 1.6-litre Lola T496 - Kohler
#90 (see note 19)
Did not arrive
DNA Mort Platt (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B36 [36-76-06] - Ford BDG
#96 (see note 20)
Did not arrive

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

Qualifying
1 Alan Jones (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU7] - Chevrolet V8 1m 25.823s
2 Elliot Forbes-Robinson (Can-Am) 5-litre Spyder NF-10 [CA-01] - Chevrolet V8 1m 27.054s
3 Warwick Brown (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU1] - Chevrolet V8 1m 27.282s
4 Vern Schuppan (Can-Am) 5-litre Elfin MR8A-C [8772] - Chevrolet V8 1m 27.889s
5 Al Holbert (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU9] - Chevrolet V8 1m 27.990s
6 Jean-Pierre Jarier (Can-Am) 5-litre Shadow DN10 - Dodge V8 1m 28.810s
7 John Gunn (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU47] - Chevrolet V8 1m 31.386s
8 Marcel Talbot (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T300 [HU15] - Chevrolet V8 1m 32.930s
9 Horst Kroll (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T330/T332 [HU2] - Chevrolet V8 1m 34.482s
10 Howard Kelly (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332/Riley [HU33] - Chevrolet V8 1m 34.573s
11 Michael L. Allen (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU46] - Chevrolet V8 1m 34.971s
12 Michael Brayton (Can-Am) 5-litre Wolf-Brayton 001 - Chevrolet V8 1m 35.595s
13 Tony Cicale (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Cicale-Ralt RT1/78 [RT1-94] - Ford 1m 35.903s
14 Dave Johnson (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU34] - Ford BDG 1m 36.879s
15 S Peter Smith (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B19/B21 [71-06] - Ford 1m 37.260s
16 Alain de Cadenet (sports racing) 3-litre De Cadenet Lola LM [LM-4] - Cosworth DFV V8 1m 39.541s
17 Warren Purdy (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU27] - Cosworth FVC 1m 40.047s
18 Brian Burgess (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B21/B23 [72-27] - Hart 420R 1m 44.411s
19 E. B. Lunken (G7) 5-litre Lola T160 [SL160/9] - Chevrolet V8 1m 44.461s

Notes on the cars:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Lola T332 [HU47] (John Gunn): See full history: Lola T332 HU47.
  4. Lola T332/Riley [HU33] (Howard Kelly): See full history: Lola T332 HU33.
  5. Lola T330/T332 [HU2] (Horst Kroll): See full history: Lola T330 HU2.
  6. Lola T332 [HU46] (Michael L. Allen): See full history: Lola T332 HU46.
  7. March 74A [1] (Thomas C. Jones): Dempster Developments UK 1974: for Mike Wilds at R1 (second), then retubbed for R2 (second). Tested by Taylor prior to R3 Silvestone 6 Apr. For Wilds at R3 (sixth) then replaced by newer 74A/2 and returned to Bicester. Probably for Wilds again after destruction of 74A/2: three or four races (R10, R11, R13?, R14). To Mick Hill UK 1975 - Bill Blackledge (then based in Jamaica) 1976 and then via John Gunn Feb 1977 to Tom Jones: raced in Can-Am 1977 (2 races), SCCA FA 1978, Can-Am 1979 (2 DNS), Can-Am 1980 (1 DNS); retained 2010.
  8. Chevron B24 [24-73-02] (T. Patrick McGonegle): New for 1973 season. Doug Shierson for Peter Gethin: raced in UK 1973 (won Race of Champions) and US 1973. To Roger Bighouse (Eastlake, OH): raced in US 1974 (7 races); US 1975 (4 races + 1 DNS) - Pat McGonegle (Cincinnati, OH): raced in US 1976 (1 race) and Can-Am 1977 (4 races + 1 DNS); probably the car entered by McGonegle as 'Mannix MX-2' in Can-Am 1978; advertised April 1979 - Danny Johnson (Kewanee, IL) 1979: raced in Can-Am 1979 (1 race), Can-Am 1981 (5 races), Can-Am 1982 (6 races) - Brian R Taylor (now Clive, Iowa) for Mike Engstrand (Des Moines, Iowa): raced in Can-Am 1985 (3 races) - Chuck Haines (St Louis, MO) - Anthony Taylor (Blackburn, UK) 2001: due to be rebuilt and raced in FORCE Historic F5000 series (UK) 2001. Then unknown until owned by Greg Thornton in 2011 and raced in UK and New Zealand 2011/12. Badly damaged in a fire at Thornton's garage in June 2012 but completely reconstructed.
  9. Lola T294 [T292 HU65] (Rick Villate): The last T292 built went to John Abrahams in South Africa for the 1973 Springbok series. It was co-driven in the series by Charlie Lucas. The car went back to England under the care of Derrick Worthington and was the car raced by Rikki von Opel in the Nürburgring Interserie in June (although that car was listed as a Chevron B26). It was later raced in the Hockenheim 2-litre race in August (Christian Melville), the Brands Hatch 1000 km in September (Worthington and Nigel Clarkson) and at Kyalami in November (Abrahams and Richard Scott). In 1975, it was driven at Le Mans by Worthington and Clarkson and also appeared at the Spa 1000 km and in a couple of UK races. In 1976 it was sold to SCCA driver Dean Dietrich and was used in the revived Can-Am series in 1977. It then went to Rick Villate for two more seasons of Can-Am. To David P. Gough (Atlanta, GA) 1982 and used as a road car. To Ed Swart (Torrance, California) 1997 and then via six other US owners until bought by Cal Meeker (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) in 2013. As its identity was unknown until researched in 2013 by OldRacingCars.com, the car continued to race in Primagaz colours.
  10. Lola T330 [HU2] (Howard Kelly): See full history: Lola T330 HU2.
  11. Lola T330/T332 [HU3] (Dwight Zillig): See full history: Lola T330 HU3.
  12. March 76A [2] (Dean Dietrich): For Doug Shierson using monocoque 'M76A:01' and gearbox DG300-445 and fitted with 5-litre Bartz-Chevrolet for US F5000 series. Run by Sid Taylor and driven by Alan Jones. First run at Silverstone 9 Jun 1976. Jones won on his debut at Watkins Glen on 11 Jul but drove a Lola T332C at the next race and the March was handed over to Bruce Allison, who failed to start. The car reappeared back in Shierson's possession at Riverside on 17 Oct, driven by Maurizio Flammini. The Italian qualified 13th but retired early from both his heat and the final with mechanical problems. To Dean Dietrich: raced in Can-Am 1978 (4 races); Can-Am 1979 (4 races). Dean recalls selling the car to someone in Texas but does not remember the name. Subsequent history unknown.
  13. Osprey SR1 [Brabham BT38-1] (Dan Hartill): Built by KayDon Racing on behalf of MRD and initially designed to be works Formula 2 entry for Graham Hill. Hill was also leading the Brabham F1 team for 1972, so was not planning a full season of F2. When Hill acquired sponsorship from Jägermeister, a German liqueur maker, a deal was done for the car to be run by KayDon Racing, a new operation set up by former MRD employees David Kaylor and John Donnelly in Cobham. After borrowing a BT36 for the team's first two races, the BT38 was ready for the Pau Grand Prix in early May. The chassis number of the new car was reported to be BT38-1, which was odd as all other BT38 chassis numbers were 11 or above. This may have been to simplify carnet arangements as the BT36 which had already been taken to Hockenheim was chassis number BT36-1. In Hill's second race in the BT38, at Crystal Palace, he crashed heavily at the start of Heat 2 and the car had to be rebuilt on a new monocoque prior to the next race. He competed in six more races, including a win at Monza in June. The BT38 remained unused at Graham Hill Racing during 1973, and was sold at the end of the year to Tom Ogilvy for Tony Charnell (Dumfries, Scotland) to drive in libre in 1974, still with a 2-litre BDA. It was sold to Dean Dietrich (Hinsdale, IL) for 1975, and was raced in Formula B. Dietrich advertised it during 1976, and raced it again in Formula A in 1977. Dan Hartill (Indianapolis, IN) and Jack Finucan then acquired it from Dietrich, together with a body from Dietrich's Lola T294 and two 2-litre Cosworth FVC engines. They fitted the body and engines to the BT38, and ran it in Can-Am as the Osprey SR1 and ran it in a few races. Its history after 1978 is not yet understood, but at some point, believed to be around 1986, it was acquired from the US by Alan Miles, and brought back to England. In 2017, Jon Waggitt of SSCC Motorsport (Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire) acquired the car and started a thorough restoration. Sold in 2020 to Oliver Schimpf, son of the Jägermeister Racing Principal Eckhard "Ecki" Schimpf.
  14. Lola T333CS [T332 HU29] (Rocky Moran): See full history: Lola T332 HU29.
  15. March 73S [14] (E. B. Lunken): Sold new to Henry Candler (Lakewood, CO) and used by him in a few British sport car races in May and June 1973, before he took it back to the US for SCCA racing in the BSR class. Candler soon decided the car was too quick for him, and he sold the car to his cousin, Edmund Backus Lunken (Cincinnati, Ohio), who entered his cars as E. B. Lunken, and was known to his friends as Ebby. Lunken first raced the car in 1977, then used it in the Can-Am series from 1978 to 1982. There has been some debate over the engine used in the 73S during this time, with some reports that it was a Ford, and others that it was a BMW. Irv Zwicker, who built engine for Ebby, says Lunken used BMW engine with Heidegger rods, Kugelfischer fuel injection and a proprietary intake cam. Lunken still had the car in 2006.
  16. Lola T294 [HU75] (Mike Hall): Mike Hall bought a new Lola T294 in 1974 for use in SCCA BSR racing. He was highly successful in the car at National level, winning the Run-Offs in 1975, and also competed in the Can-Am series from 1977 to 1980. The car was then sold to Chuck Storrie in Quebec and entered for 'Uncle' Jacques Villeneuve in Can-Am in 1982. It was bought from Storrie by Bob Roy for the 1983 season. Bob recalls selling it back to the US to somewhere in the Great Lakes area. The SCCA log book next records it being raced by Joe Graziano in vintage racing in Oct 1993. Sold by Graziano to Peter Read about 2008 and then to Steve Read in 2010. Prepared by Pete Racely (Sports Racing, Inc.) for the 2011 season. At the beginning fo the 2012 season, HU75 was being raced by Mike Thurlow (Kingsburg, CA).
  17. Lola T332 [HU42] (Mike Roche): See full history: Lola T332 HU42.
  18. Chevron B36 [36-77-05] (Gordon Hamilton Jr): New to Gordon Hamilton Jr (Fairway, KS) for SCCA BSR racing and also for selected Can-Am events in 1978 and 1979. The engine was identified in entry lists as a 1975cc Cosworth, indicating a Cosworth BDG. According to a later advert by Graber Sportgarage AG (Toffen, Switzerland) seen in February 2014, the car was sold by Hamilton to Dr Nile Lestrange (Ft Lauderdale, FL) in 1980. Lestrange continued to race the car in BSR, winning the SCCA Southeast Division in 1980 and again qualifying for the Run-Offs in 1981. Subsequent history unknown until for sale by Graber Sportgarage.
  19. Lola T496 (Jeff Miller): Four Lola T496s were built in 1976, intended for SCCA C Sports Racing with Cosworth BDH engines. Jeff Miller bought one of the cars but fitted a two stroke Kohler engine, originally developed for snowmobiles. Miller won the Run-Offs in this CSR car in 1978 and also competed in Can-Am between 1978 and 1980, running the car with a 6-cylinder 1600cc engine. Many years later, Miller bought the car back from the man he'd sold it to and continues to run it in vintage events in the Midwest.
  20. Chevron B36 [36-76-06] (Mort Platt): New to Mort Platt (Kansas City, MO) and used in SCCA BSR racing from 1976 to 1978, qualifying for the Run-Offs each year. Also used in Can-Am races at Road America in July 1977 and July 1978. Then to Chris Strong (Lawrence, KS) and used in Can-Am in 1979 and 1980. Then probably the car raced by Dick Leppla in Can-Am in 1981 and still being raced in BSR several years later. Then via Ed Henning (early 1990s), Rudy Junco and Steve Fusillo to Brian Stark (Mequon, WI) by around 2004. Still with Stark in 2013.

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.