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Can-Am Challenge Race

Road America, 22 Jul 1979

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Jacky Ickx Lola T333CS [HU12] - Chevrolet V8
#1 Carl A. Haas Racing Team, Ltd.
40 1h 24m 59.02s
112.950 mph
2 Geoff Lees Lola T333CS/Riley [HU1] - Chevrolet V8
#2 Racing Team VDS
40 1h 25m 28.2s
3 Al Holbert Hogan HR-001 - Chevrolet V8
#10 Hogan Racing, Ltd.
40
4 John Morton Lola T333CS [HU8] - Chevrolet V8
#46 John Morton Racing
39
5 Vern Schuppan Elfin MR8A-C [8772] - Chevrolet V8
#11 Vern Schuppan (see note 1)
38
6 John Gunn Lola T332 [HU47] - Chevrolet V8
#39 Gunn's Goodies (see note 2)
38
7 Tom Spalding Schkee DB1 [2] - Chevrolet V8
#98 Sony Corp.
38
8 Robert J. Nelkin Lola T333CS [HU6?] - Chevrolet V8
#67 R. J. Nelkin
38
9 Tim Evans (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU27] - Ford BDG
#51 Diversified Engineering Services
38
10 Mike Hall (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T294 [HU75] - Ford
#69 United Racing (see note 3)
38
11 Bob Nagel Lola T332/Riley [HU33] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 4)
38
12 Michael L. Allen Lola T332 ["33-790"] - Chevrolet V8
#7 Don Weber
37
13 Bobby Brown Lola T333CS [HU11] - Chevrolet V8
#79 Bobby Brown Racing
35 Unknown
14 Jeff Miller (Can-Am 2l) 1.6-litre Lola T496 - Kohler
#70 Wynnfurst Ltd (see note 5)
35
15 Horst Kroll (unknown) Lola [T330 HU2]
#37 Horst Kroll Racing (see note 6)
33
16 Dean Dietrich March 76A [2] - Chevrolet V8
#43 Del Hayes Ams/Oil Dealers (see note 7)
31
17 Leonard Janke Lola T332/Riley - Chevrolet V8
#56 Janke Auto
29 Unknown
18 S Peter Smith (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Bobsy - Ford
#54 Red Roof Inns
27 Broken frame
19 Randolph Townsend Spyder NF-11 [CA-04] - Chevrolet V8
#13 Newman-Freeman Racing ?
20 Engine
20 Gary Gove (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B26 [74-08] - Cosworth FVD
#52 Pete Lovely (see note 8)
24 Tyres
21 Rocky Moran Lola T333CS ["33-673"] - Chevrolet V8
#58 American Spirit Racing
23 Engine
22 Keke Rosberg Spyder NF-11 [CA-02] - Chevrolet V8
#5 Newman-Freeman Racing
19 Valve
23 Elliot Forbes-Robinson Spyder NF-11 [CA-01] - Chevrolet V8
#4 Newman-Freeman Racing
15 Suspension
24 Bobby Rahal Prophet - Chevrolet V8
#8 U.S. Racing [Herb Caplan]
15 Clutch
25 Gordon Hamilton Jr (Sports racing) 2-litre Chevron B36 [36-77-05] - Ford BDG
#89 Ticker Tape Racing (see note 9)
15 Accident
26 Bill Tempero Lola T332/T332C [T332 HU30] - Chevrolet V8
#9 Bill Tempero Racing (see note 10)
11 Tyre
27 James Gutfreund (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T292 [HU60] - Ford
#71 Great Plains Motor Racing (see note 11)
10 Spun out
28 Gerre Payvis Lola T332/Riley [HU49] - Chevrolet V8
#31 Christine B. Snyder (see note 12)
4 Accident
29 Jim Gustafson March 73A [4-2] - Chevrolet V8
#27 Jim Gustafson (see note 13)
4 Radiator
DNS Hugh Kleinpeter (Can-Am 2l) 2-litre Cicale-Ralt - Cosworth 4
#86 (see note 14)
Did not start

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

Qualifying
1 Keke Rosberg (Can-Am) 5-litre Spyder NF-11 [CA-02] - Chevrolet V8 2m 01.76s
2 Elliot Forbes-Robinson (Can-Am) 5-litre Spyder NF-11 [CA-01] - Chevrolet V8 2m 04.077s
3 Jacky Ickx (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU12] - Chevrolet V8 2m 04.088s
4 Geoff Lees (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS/Riley [HU1] - Chevrolet V8 2m 04.128s
5 Al Holbert (Can-Am) 5-litre Hogan HR-001 - Chevrolet V8 2m 04.18s
6 Bobby Rahal (Can-Am) 5-litre Prophet - Chevrolet V8 2m 04.183s
7 John Morton (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU8] - Chevrolet V8 2m 05.204s
8 Rocky Moran (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS ["33-673"] - Chevrolet V8 2m 07.397s
9 Vern Schuppan (Can-Am) 5-litre Elfin MR8A-C [8772] - Chevrolet V8 2m 07.774s
10 Bobby Brown (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU11] - Chevrolet V8 2m 09.066s
11 Tom Spalding (Can-Am) 5-litre Schkee DB1 [2] - Chevrolet V8 2m 09.359s
12 John Gunn (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU47] - Chevrolet V8 2m 10.367s
13 Bob Nagel (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332/Riley [HU33] - Chevrolet V8 2m 12.301s
14 Robert J. Nelkin (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T333CS [HU6?] - Chevrolet V8 2m 12.372s
15 Bill Tempero (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332/T332C [T332 HU30] - Chevrolet V8 2m 13.05s
16 Tim Evans (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T290 [HU27] - Ford BDG 2m 13.075s
17 Randolph Townsend (Can-Am) 5-litre Spyder NF-11 [CA-04] - Chevrolet V8 2m 13.615s
18 Mike Hall (Sports racing) 2-litre Lola T294 [HU75] - Ford 2m 14.196s
24 Michael L. Allen (Can-Am) 5-litre Lola T332 ["33-790"] - Chevrolet V8

Notes on the cars:

  1. 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.
  2. Lola T332 [HU47] (John Gunn): See full history: Lola T332 HU47.
  3. 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).
  4. Lola T332/Riley [HU33] (Bob Nagel): See full history: Lola T332 HU33.
  5. 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.
  6. Lola [T330 HU2] (Horst Kroll): See full history: Lola T330 HU2.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. Lola T332/T332C [T332 HU30] (Bill Tempero): See full history: Lola T332 HU30.
  11. Lola T292 [HU60] (James Gutfreund): Only one T292 was invoiced to US agent Carl Haas and the car was 'viking orange' identifying it as the car Jerry Hansen used with great success in SCCA racing in 1973 and 1974. In late 1974, Hansen sold the car to James Gutfreund who raced it 30 times in SCCA events over the next five seasons, winning 23 of them. He also entered the car for Gordon Smiley at the Mid-Ohio Can-Am race in August 1977 who won his class easily. Gutfreund retained the car until 1994 when he sold it to an owner in New York state. Research is ongoing into this car.
  12. Lola T332/Riley [HU49] (Gerre Payvis): See full history: Lola T332 HU49.
  13. March 73A [4-2] (Jim Gustafson): See full history: March 73A/4.
  14. Cicale-Ralt (Hugh Kleinpeter): Hugh Kleinpeter (Key Biscayne, FL/Hiawassee, GA) had a Cicale-bodied Ralt RT1 for Can-Am in 1979, but only appeared once, at Road America in July where he failed to start. He retained the car for 1980, again appearing only once in Can-Am, at Road Atlanta in September, but also appeared at least once in SCCA Nationals, scoring six points in Southeast Division A Sports Racing. For 1981, the car was sold to John Graham (Willowdale, Ontario) and entered by Midland Racing Enterprises for him in three Can-Am races that season. He returned for 1982, but after competing in two early-season races, the car was not seen until driven by Scott Goodyear at Mosport Park in September. The Cicale-Ralt then went to Chuck Storrie, who installed a Chevrolet V6 engine for the 1983 Can-Am season. Mike Freberg drove the car for Storrie Racing but it did not prove competitive with the 5-litre cars in its class. Freberg drove it again in early 1984 as a Mike Freberg Racing entry. Subsequent history unknown, but this may be the ex-Cicale Ralt RT1 that later turned up in Northern Ireland.

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.