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Marnita Mk1A history

Built using a spaceframe chassis and components from a Ford GT40, the Formula 5000 Marnita Mk1A was raced by William Schweiger from 1970 to 1975. Although generally used in SCCA Nationals, it started two Pro F5000 races, one at Road America and one at Brainerd.

One of the obscurest of all the F5000 specials, the Marnita was built by Bill Schweiger and Gene Hamlin and completed in 1970. The car used a purpose-built spaceframe chassis but most components were salvaged from the remains of the McKelvey/Scuderia Bear Ford GT40 (chassis 1029) that was wrecked at Le Mans in 1966. The GT40 donated its front and rear suspension, steering rack, ZF gearbox, GT40 wheels and other miscellaneous bits and a 302 ci Ford V8 engine provided the power.

The car was initially finished in orange, later changed to blue and white, and named "Marnita" after Bill and Gene's wives Marge and Anita. It was driven by Bill and generally raced at Blackhawk Farms and Road America. The first recorded outing of the car was an FA class win in an SCCA Regional at Indianapolis Raceway Park on 7 June 1970. In 1971, it raced at the F5000 'Pro' race at Elkhart Lake in July, retiring with engine trouble. Bill then won an SCCA National at Michigan International Speedway in September 1971 and retired again from the 'Pro' race at Brainerd in July 1972.

The Marnita remained intact until around 1990, when it was purchased by Bob Ash for the original GT40 parts and dismantled.

If you can add to our understanding of this car, or have a photograph that we can use, please email Allen at allen@oldracingcars.com.

Chassis
History
Current owner
Marnita Mk1A

Raced by William Schweiger (Glenwood, IL) in at least one SCCA National in 1970. In 1971, it was raced by Schweiger in the Road America Grand Prix Pro F5000 race in August, and in three SCCA Nationals at Michigan International Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park and Blackhawk Farms in September and October. He scored 12 points that season in Central Division Formula A. He raced it again in 1972, including the Road America June Sprints and the Minnesota Grand Prix at Brainerd, and scored nine points that season. Schweiger made further appearances in Formula A in SCCA Nationals in 1973 (15 points), 1974 (no points scored) and 1975 (3 points). Sold to Bob Ash in 1990 and dismantled for its original GT40 components.

Driven by: William Schweiger. First race: Indianapolis Raceway Park, 7 Jun 1970. Total of 8 recorded races.

Dismantled

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Ted Dagiel, whose father Richard raced with Bill Schweiger, for providing the background information in this history. In some contemporary reports, the Marnita was said to have a Chevrolet engine but Ted is confident it had its 302 ci Ford V8 throughout.

If you can add to our understanding of this car, or have a photograph that we can use, please email Allen at allen@oldracingcars.com.

These histories were last updated on .