OldRacingCars.com

SCCA/USAC F5000 Championship Round

Road America, 25 Jul 1976

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Jackie Oliver Shadow DN6B [3A] - Dodge V8
#0 Phoenix Racing, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
25 58m 29.272s
102.59 mph
2 Al Unser Lola T332 ['K1'] - Chevrolet V8
#51 Vel's Parnelli Jones, Torrance, California
25 58m 34.072s
3 Vern Schuppan Lola T332 [HU46] - Chevrolet V8
#48 E. M. Jorgensen Company, Santa Ana, California
(see note 1)
25
4 Warwick Brown Lola T332C [HU55] - Chevrolet V8
#2 Racing Team VDS, Brussels, Belgium
25
5 Alan Jones Lola T332C - Chevrolet V8
#64 Theodore Racing Hong Kong, Dublin, Ireland
25
6 Teddy Pilette Lola T430 [HU1] - Chevrolet V8
#4 Racing Team V.D.S., Brussels, Belgium
(see note 2)
25
7 Bob Lazier Lola T330/T332 [HU15] - Chevrolet V8
#34 Sescher Racing, Minneapolis, Minnesota
(see note 3)
25
8 "Tuck" Thomas Lola T332 [HU38 (B)] - Chevrolet V8
#88? [not on entry list]
25
9 Peter Gethin Lola T430 [HU2] - Chevrolet V8
#3 Racing Team V.D.S., Brussels, Belgium
(see note 4)
24 Retired
10 Brett Lunger Lola T332C - Chevrolet V8
#10 Hogan Racing Ltd, St Louis, Missouri
24
11 Arlon J. Koops Lola T330 [HU20] - Chevrolet V8
#85 Solazore IV Ltd, Denver, Colorado
(see note 5)
24
12 Horst Kroll Lola T330 [HU2] - Chevrolet V8
#37 Horst Kroll Racing, West Hill, Ontario, Canada
(see note 6)
23
13 Doug Schulz Lola T332 [HU44] - Chevrolet V8
#20 Dana Racing, Barrington, Illinois
(see note 7)
23
14 Brian Redman Lola T332C [HU56] - Chevrolet V8
#1 Carl A. Haas Racing Teams Ltd, Highland Park, Illinois
22 valve
15 Bert Kuehne Lola T300 [HU10] - Chevrolet V8
#16 Alex Veronac, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
19 ignition
16 Danny Ongais Lola T332C [HU60] - Chevrolet V8
#63 Interscope Racing Inc., Newport Beach, California
13 electrical
17 Bob Nagel Lola T332 [HU33] - Chevrolet V8
#75 Nagel Racing, Bethel Park, PA
(see note 8)
10 overheating
18 Don Breidenbach March 73A/751 ["75AM"] - Chevrolet V8
#9 John Cannon Racing, Hollywood, California
9 gearbox
19 Jim Sechser Leda LT27 [002] - Chevrolet V8
#58 Sescher Racing, Minneapolis, Minnesota
(see note 9)
8 flat tire
20 Randy Lewis Lola T332 [HU39] - Chevrolet V8
#28 Wrangler/Tram Wracing (see note 10)
8 engine
21 Skeeter McKitterick Lola T332 [HU29] - Chevrolet V8
#30 AME Racing, Sun Valley, California
(see note 11)
3 accident
22 Evan Noyes Lola T332 [HU51] - Chevrolet V8
#24 Evan Noyes, Jr, Indianapolis, Indiana
(see note 12)
3 accident
DNSF John David Briggs Lola T332 [HU50] - Chevrolet V8
#71 Briggs & Fodge Racing Enterprises, San Carlos, Calif.
(see note 13)
Did not start final
DNS Bruce Allison March 76A [2] - Chevrolet V8
[not on entry list] (see note 14)
Did not start
DNS Richard Shirey Lola T332C - Chevrolet V8
#74 Team A. D. (Bob Smith's Lola), Corona, California
Did not start
T Brian Redman Lola T430 [HU3] - Chevrolet V8
#1? Carl A. Haas Racing Teams Ltd, Highland Park, Illinois
(see note 15)
(Only used in practice)
T Peter Gethin Chevron B37 [37-76-01] - Chevrolet V8
#3T? Racing Team V.D.S., Brussels, Belgium
(see note 16)
(Only used in practice)
T Danny Ongais Lola T332 [HU54] - Chevrolet V8
#63? Interscope Racing Inc., Newport Beach, California
(see note 17)
(Only used in practice)
  Ed Polley Lola T332 ["76-13"] - Chevrolet V8
#13 Peter Clarke, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
On entry list
  Vic Todia McLaren M22 [M22-3-72] - Chevrolet V8
#21 Strongsville Interstate Sunoco, Strongsville, Ohio
(see note 18)
On entry list
  John Benton Lola T330 [HU26] - Chevrolet V8
#22 Formula Magazine, Santa Ana, California
(see note 19)
On entry list
  Chuck Bartlebaugh Eagle 69 [704] - Chevrolet V8
#26 Bart Bartlebaugh, Chicago, Illinois
(see note 20)
On entry list
  Dick Ferguson Surtees TS8 [006] - Chevrolet V8
#32 Jeffrey Alkana, Monrovna, California
On entry list
  Dick Kantrud Lola T330/T332 [HU15] - Chevrolet V8
#34 Sescher Racing, Minneapolis, Minnesota
(see note 21)
On entry list
  T. Patrick McGonegle Chevron B24 [24-73-02] - Chevrolet V8
#38 Specialised Vehicles Co, Cincinatti, Ohio
(see note 22)
On entry list
  Roger Bighouse Rassey 74 - Chevrolet V8
#61 Edward C Rassey, Detroit, Michigan
(see note 23)
On entry list
  Geoff Davie March "741" [73A/3(B)] - Chevrolet V8
#93 George Jeffrey Davie, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(see note 24)
On entry list

All cars are 5-litre F5000 unless noted.

Heat 1 Laps Time Speed
1Al Unser1225:08.0114.59 mph
2Brian Redman12
3Warwick Brown12
4Teddy Pilette12
5Don Breidenbach12
6Peter Gethin12
7Skeeter McKitterick12
8"Tuck" Thomas12
9John David Briggs11Retired
10Horst Kroll6Retired
11Jim Sechser5Retired
12Bert Kuehne4Retired
Heat 2 Laps Time Speed
1Danny Ongais1225:13.7114.14 mph
2Vern Schuppan12
3Alan Jones12
4Brett Lunger12
5Randy Lewis12
6Bob Lazier12
7Jackie Oliver12
8Evan Noyes12
9Doug Schulz11
10Bob Nagel9Retired
11Arlon J. Koops0Retired
Bruce AllisonDid not start
Qualifying
1 Al Unser (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 ['K1'] - Chevrolet V8 2:04.163 2:02.454 2:01.644
2 Brian Redman (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332C [HU56] - Chevrolet V8 2:02.229
3 Jackie Oliver (F5000) 5-litre Shadow DN6B [3A] - Dodge V8 2:04.290 2:03.688 2:02.988
4 Brian Redman(T) (F5000) 5-litre Lola T430 [HU3] - Chevrolet V8 2:03.569 2:03.221 2:03.069
5 Danny Ongais (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332C [HU60] - Chevrolet V8 2:04.215 2:03.557
6 Warwick Brown (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332C [HU55] - Chevrolet V8 2:06.692 2:03.221 2:04.095
7 Alan Jones (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332C - Chevrolet V8 4:19.931 2:04.193
8 Peter Gethin (F5000) 5-litre Lola T430 [HU2] - Chevrolet V8 2:05.455 2:04.639 2:04.797
9 Danny Ongais(T) (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU54] - Chevrolet V8 2:04.703 2:05.529
10 Vern Schuppan (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU46] - Chevrolet V8 2:09.268 2:05.048 2:06.252
11 Teddy Pilette (F5000) 5-litre Lola T430 [HU1] - Chevrolet V8 2:07.508 2:05.918 2:06.128
12 Brett Lunger (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332C - Chevrolet V8 2:07.018 2:06.349
13 Don Breidenbach (F5000) 5-litre March 73A/751 ["75AM"] - Chevrolet V8 2:10.133 2:06.364
14 Randy Lewis (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU39] - Chevrolet V8 2:08.631 2:06.821 2:06.568
15 "Tuck" Thomas (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU38 (B)] - Chevrolet V8 2:33.293 2:07.280
16 Evan Noyes (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU51] - Chevrolet V8 2:11.209 ? 2:07.503
17 Skeeter McKitterick (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU29] - Chevrolet V8 2:09.367 2:09.670 2:07.876
18 Bob Lazier (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330/T332 [HU15] - Chevrolet V8 2:12.425 2:08.927 2:09.829
19 John David Briggs (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU50] - Chevrolet V8 2:11.650 2:11.009 2:12.192
20 Bob Nagel (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU33] - Chevrolet V8 2:13.699 2:12.341 2:11.505
21 Horst Kroll (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU2] - Chevrolet V8 2:19.434 2:14.945 2:12.913
22 Richard Shirey * (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332C - Chevrolet V8 2:14.818
23 Arlon J. Koops (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU20] - Chevrolet V8 2:20.706 2:17.494 2:15.005
24 Jim Sechser (F5000) 5-litre Leda LT27 [002] - Chevrolet V8 2:19.980 2:17.245
25 Peter Gethin(T) (F5000) 5-litre Chevron B37 [37-76-01] - Chevrolet V8 2:22.155
26 Doug Schulz (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU44] - Chevrolet V8 2:25.238
27 Bert Kuehne (F5000) 5-litre Lola T300 [HU10] - Chevrolet V8 No time
28 Bruce Allison * (F5000) 5-litre March 76A [2] - Chevrolet V8 No time
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. Lola T332 [HU46] (Vern Schuppan): See full history: Lola T332 HU46.
  2. Lola T430 [HU1] (Teddy Pilette): VDS for Teddy Pilette US 1976 (6 races; best result 3rd at R3 Mosport Park 20 Jun); used as spare car to Brown's HU2 in Australian Internationals 1977 - Alan Hamilton (Australia): used as spare car; maybe Jon Davison's car Australian Gold Star 1977 (R1 Surfers Paradise 28 Aug 1977 only). Built up after Hamilton's crash at the 1978 Australian GP and raced by Alfredo Costanzo: Australian Gold Star 1978; Australian Internationals 1979 (won at Sandown Park and Adelaide); Australian Gold Star 1979 (won at Sandown 9 Sep); Australian Gold Star 1980 (won at Sandown 14 Sep and Winton 26 Oct); Australian GP 1980 (4th) - Bob Minogue: Australian Gold Star 1981, Arco Graphic 1981/82. Minogue still holds several lap records in Australia, including the Sandown International circuit record for F5000, set on 2 Mar 1986 and the Historic F5000 record at Winton on 30 May 1993. Subsequently sold to Gavin Bain, then to Graham Cameron, who raced it at Historic Sandown in 2000. To David Abbott (Christchurch, NZ) by 2002, and raced in the F5000 Tasman Revival regularly from 2003 to 2008, when Abbott moved over to his newly rebuilt HU2. Then raced by Ken Smith in the series from 2008 to 2010.
  3. Lola T330/T332 [HU15] (Bob Lazier): See full history: Lola T330 HU15.
  4. Lola T430 [HU2] (Peter Gethin): VDS spare car US 1976 (raced by Peter Gethin: 3 races; Warwick Brown: 2 races); VDS for Warwick Brown Australian Internationals 1977 (won at Oran Park and Surfers Paradise, crashed in practice at Sandown Park, second at Adelaide) - Alan Hamilton (Australia): Australian Gold Star 1977 (debut R1 Surfers Paradise 28 Aug 1977); Australian Internationals 1978 (driven by Derek Bell at Oran Park); crashed at Australian GP 1978 and broken in half. All the surviving running gear from the wreck stayed with HU1 through various owners until reaching David Abbott in New Zealand in 2005. Over the next two years David, with Alan Hamilton's agreement, recreated this car and it first ran, with Hamilton driving, at Christchurch in October 2007. Raced by Abbott in the Formula 5000 Tasman Cup Revival at the Australian GP meeting 28 Mar 2009.
  5. Lola T330 [HU20] (Arlon J. Koops): See full history: Lola T330 HU20.
  6. Lola T330 [HU2] (Horst Kroll): See full history: Lola T330 HU2.
  7. Lola T332 [HU44] (Doug Schulz): See full history: Lola T332 HU44.
  8. Lola T332 [HU33] (Bob Nagel): See full history: Lola T332 HU33.
  9. Leda LT27 [002] (Jim Sechser): Built as Leda LT27-002 for the 1972 season. To Evan Noyes (Cedarville, MI) and raced in UK and US series in 1972, then Tasman 1973, then US series 1973. Via Roy Campbell, "Race Car Drivers Institute" and a bankrupcy auction to Jim Sechser (St Louis Park, MN) by 1975, and used in SCCA racing and a single Pro race in 1976 and 1977. Crashed heavily in 1977, but rebuilt and raced again in 1979. To Fred Schilpin (St Cloud, MN) 1979 or later, and used in minor racing; then retained until 1996. To Roger Williams (Auckland, New Zealand) 1996. Raced by Williams in Australian historic racing from 2001 onwards, and in the F5000 Tasman Revival series from 2003 to 2006. To Alastair Russell (Auckland, New Zealand) and raced in Tasman Revival series from 2006 onwards. More information about Leda LT27-002/McRae GM1-002
  10. Lola T332 [HU39] (Randy Lewis): See full history: Lola T332 HU39.
  11. Lola T332 [HU29] (Skeeter McKitterick): See full history: Lola T332 HU29.
  12. Lola T332 [HU51] (Evan Noyes): See full history: Lola T332 HU51.
  13. Lola T332 [HU50] (John David Briggs): See full history: Lola T332 HU50.
  14. March 76A [2] (Bruce Allison): 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.
  15. Lola T430 [HU3] (Brian Redman): Haas Racing spare car for Brian Redman US 1976 (qualified 4th at Road America but not raced during the season). Duane Smith (Milwaukee, WI) and used in SCCA Formula A in 1978. Converted to Can-Am specification and raced in a handful of Can-Am races in 1979 and 1980 by James Woodruff (Ravenna, OH), better known as guitar maker "Woody James", who died in 2015. The car evidently returned to Duane Smith, as it was sold by him to Chuck Haines (St Louis, MO) in 1988. To Todd Stewart (Christchurch, NZ) late 2002 and won on its historic racng debut in the 2003/04 F5000 Tasman Cup Revival series race at Sandown Park Nov 2003.
  16. Chevron B37 [37-76-01] (Peter Gethin): To VDS Racing and entered for Peter Gethin in the 1976 US F5000 series (also raced once by Teddy Pilette) and in the Rothmans series in Australia in early 1977. To Bruce Allison (Brisbane, Australia) and raced by him in the 1977 UK Group 8 Championship and in the Rothmans series again in Australia in early 1978. Then to Ivan Tighe (Brisbane) and raced in national Australian F5000 and in the International series in 1979. Raced by Tighe up to the end of F5000 in Australia in 1982 and retained by him until 2001. Then sold via Race Car Warehouse (Brighton, England) in early 2002 to Simon Hadfield (Shepshed, Leicestershire) and completely restored. Raced with great success by Hadfield in historic racing both in the UK and in Australia from 2004 to 2008. It has since been raced by guest drivers, including Tony Trimmer at Oulton Park in 2009, Marcus Pye at Oulton Park in 2010 and Ben Anderson at the 2012 Silverstone Classic. Sold in October 2014 to Neil Glover (Ansty, West Sussex).
  17. Lola T332 [HU54] (Danny Ongais): Thought to be the F5000 Lola T332 chassis bought by Interscope Racing for Danny Ongais to replace the car damaged by Ongais at Riverside 1975. Then the T332-spec spare car used by Ongais alongside his new T332C in the US series in 1976. The spare car was "comprehensively written off" in practice at Elkhart Lake but may well have been repaired. This is believed to be the car deposited in the Justice Brothers Museum some time between 1977 and 1980 by Ed O'Brien. It remained in the museum until 2010 when acquired by Ken Smith (Auckland, New Zealand), his chief crew Barry Miller and Phil Richardson. Raced in the 2011/12 F5000 Tasman Revival series but Smith crashed heavily at its second race. Rebuilt with a new monocoque, and raced in the series every season from 2012/13 to 2017/18.
  18. McLaren M22 [M22-3-72] (Vic Todia): Bought by Tom Jones in the autumn of 1972 from Fred Opert as a kit, and built up by Jones and his father. Raced in the US series in 1973 and 1974. Sold to the father of Vic Todia (Parma Heights, OH) who raced in SCCA and 'Pro' events in 1976 and then SCCA events in 1977 and 1978. Acquired by Len Arnold (Greeley, Colorado) 1989, who restored the car and sold it to McLaren collector Harry Mathews in November 1990. Sold to Kiwi Tony Roberts (Auckland, New Zealand) to race in the 2007/08 F5000 Tasman Revival series. Sold to Tim Rush (Feilding, NZ), and raced in the 2009/10 Revival series. Later damaged at Hampton Downs in January 2015. More information about McLaren M22 M22-3-72
  19. Lola T330 [HU26] (John Benton): See full history: Lola T330 HU26.
  20. Eagle 69 [704] (Chuck Bartlebaugh): New for Denny Hulme to drive at the 1969 Indy 500 as the #42 Olsonite factory entry. Hulme ran second behind Mario Andretti for a while, before his clutch let go. Hulme was only entered for Indy but this is probably the car raced four times later in the season by Swede Savage, its original 159ci Ford quad cam turbo V8 having been replaced by one of the team's 318 ci Gurney Weslake Ford stock block V8s. Identified by a Laycock card as the Eagle-Ford of Bud Morley (Denver, CO) at the Speedway in 1970, crewed by chief mechanic Carroll Horton of ABC Engines assisted by Dick Corrow, and then said to be a car just purchased from Dan Gurney. Morley did not start after failing to complete his Rookie Test, but then fitted the car with a Chevrolet V8 and raced it at Continental Divide later in the season. He was unable to qualify the Eagle-Chevy at Phoenix in November 1970 and again in March 1971, after which he returned to F5000. The Eagle is then unknown until 1976, when Chuck Bartlebaugh (Rochester, MI) acquired an ex-Indy car directly from AAR, which he recalled was still set up for ovals. He entered it as as the #26 Bartlebaugh Eagle, a "1970 Eagle", at the Riverside F5000 race in October 1976 but failed to start. He set the 38th fast time in practice, but the throttle stuck open during practice and although Chuck was able to bring the car to a halt without injury, the engine was damaged and he could not start the race. Bartlebaugh, who later ran the Center for Wildlife at Missoula, Montana, said that his brother sold the car in the Chicago area, where it was to be raced on short ovals. According to the Indy Star, the car was sold by the Bartlebaughs to Dean Vetrock (Racine, WI) in April 1980. He fitted it with a 355 ci Chevrolet V8 and ran it in several Indy events, but the only time he qualified was in the poorly-supported USAC race at Pocono in June 1981. Sold by Vetrock to Chuck Haines (St Louis, MO) in the fall of 1981 and later restored for him by Walter Goodwin. At the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June 2006 completely restored to Hulme's dark blue #44 livery. Bought late 2007/early 2008 by Doug Magnon and put on display in the Riverside International Automotive Museum (RIAM), also having occasional outings at historic events. After Magnon's death in February 2015 the car remained in RIAM until sold by RM Sotheby's at Monterey in August 2016 to Mike Moss (Ottsville, PA).
  21. Lola T330/T332 [HU15] (Dick Kantrud): See full history: Lola T330 HU15.
  22. 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.
  23. Rassey 74 (Roger Bighouse): First known appearance was at the Pro F5000 race at Road America in July 1975, where Mark Alderson drove. He was not slowest in practice, and improved each session to record a time 15% slower than pole position, but only marginally slower than some of the other Midwest Division amateurs in a range of one-year-old and two-year-old Lolas. Alderson retired early in Heat 1. Mike Brockman took over the drive at Mid-Ohio a month later, but did not record a practice time and was the first retirement from Heat 1. A year later, Roger Bighouse drove the Rassey at Mid-Ohio and put in a much improved performance, qualifying 15th out of 21 in practice, but still 14% off pole, and finished both heats to be classified 15th overall. The car was not seen again but in 2003, Bruce Reimer got in touch to say he owned the car and was running it in vintage events in southern California.
  24. March "741" [73A/3(B)] (Geoff Davie): See full history: March 73A/3.

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.

1968 US information has been taken from SCCA results sheets with additional information from Autoweek race reports and from some entry lists. Thanks to David McKinney and Wolfgang Klopfer for providing these. Identifying the classes and model of some entries has proved very difficult so all new information would be welcomed.

1969-1971 US information has been collated by Chris Townsend using Autoweek reports. All comments, clarifications, corrections and additions are most welcome.

1972-1976 US information was originally collated by Wolfgang Klopfer, converted to database format by Dawn Harrison and checked by Jim Thurman and Don Capps. Wolfgang's main sources are Autoweek and individual SCCA results bulletins but Autosport, Autocourse and Road Racing Annual have also been consulted.

US SCCA Runoffs, Nationals and Regionals results were collated by Wolfgang Klopfer from Autoweek reports. These reports were usually very brief so the information on the majority of races is limited just to the identity of the FA class winner.

Some race programs have also been used for entry lists and other information. My thanks to Richard Coe for the generous contributions from his collection.

All comments, clarifications, corrections and additions are most welcome. Please email Allen if you can add anything.