OldRacingCars.com

Central Division SCCA Formula B 1976

John Kowalski won the Divisional title in Bill O'Connor's old Lola T360, from veteran Chuck Dietrich, who was in his third season with another ex-O'Connor car, his ex-F2 Brabham BT38. Jerry Hansen had a brand new Lola T460 but he raced his Formula A Lola T330 instead at several Nationals. Tom Outcault and Dale Lang both had brand new March 76Bs but were focused mainly on the Pro series, as was Chip Mead in his new Ralt RT1. Also very competitive were Keith Feldott in his ex-Chip Mead Chevron B27, Vince Muzzin in the March 75B he'd driven in the Pro series in 1975, and Dean Lundgreen who had acquired an ex-F2 Rondel M1.

Older equipment was fielded by Thomas Christ in a 1974 Chevron B27, Steve Fossett with a 1972 Brabham BT38B, and Gary Robinson the ex-Bruce Cambern 1971 March 712M. Back for more in their usual cars were Tom Mangan in his Crosslé 28F, Bruce Kramer and James Opperman in their Eldens, Tom Cooney in his mystery March 722, and Peter Robinson in his Brabham BT40.

The main outstanding puzzle is the FB car of Paul Henry. He raced a Chevron B25 in FC for most of the season, but he scored a couple of FB points for eighth place at the September IRP race in an unidentified Chevron.

Final standings

1. John KowalskiLola T360NEOhio48 pts 
2. Chuck DietrichBrabham BT38NEOhio37 pts 
3. Keith FeldottChevron B27Chicago37 pts 
4. Jerry HansenLola [T460]Land O'Lakes28 pts 
5. Tom OutcaultMarch 76BCent. Illinois13 pts 
6. Peter RobinsonBrabham [BT40]Milwaukee12 pts 
7. Vince MuzzinMarch 75BDetroit9 pts 
8. Tom ManganCrossle [28F]Golden Triangle8 pts 
9. Dean LundgreenRondel Mk 1Milwaukee8 pts 
10. Tom ChristChevron B27Milwaukee7 pts 
11. Bruce KramerElden PH75-BBlackhawk Valley7 pts 
12. James OppermannElden Mk 12BChicago6 pts 
13. Dale LangMarch 76BLand O'Lakes5 pts 
14. Chip MeadRalt RT1Western Ohio4 pts 
15. Glenn GuerraMarch 75BChicago3 pts 
16. Ted JohnsonMarch 75BChicago3 pts 
17. Steve FossettBrabham [BT38B]Chicago3 pts 
18. Paul HenryChevronNEOhio2 pts 
19. Gary RobinsonMarch 712NE Michigan1 pt   
20. Tom CooneyMarch [722]Indianapolis1 pt   

Central Division SCCA Nationals in 1976

16 May 1976Grattan RacewayNortheast Michigan & Detroit Regions
23 May 1976Nelson LedgesNEOhio Region
30 May 1976Blackhawk FarmsMilwaukee Region
06 Jun 1976Road AmericaChicago Region
27 Jun 1976Indianapolis Raceway ParkIndiana NW Region
11 Jul 1976BrainerdLand O'Lakes Region
01 Aug 1976Grattan RacewayWestern Michigan Region
08 Aug 1976Blackhawk FarmsMilwaukee Region
22 Aug 1976Blackhawk FarmsBlackhawk Valley Region
05 Sep 1976BrainerdLand O'Lakes Region
19 Sep 1976Indianapolis Raceway ParkIndianapolis Region

Central Division sources

Most of our knowledge of CenDiv racing comes from the SCCA's Sports Car magazine and from Competition Press & Autoweek. We are very keen to acquire, borrow or receive copies of 1960s, 1970s and 1980s SCCA regional publications from this Division. There were many such newsletters in this Division, including:

  • Auto-Graph (Indiana Northwest Region)
  • Backfire (Western Michigan Region)
  • Blower (Northeast Ohio Region)
  • Class Q and later CinChronizer (Cincinnati Region)
  • Clutch Chatter (Indianapolis Region)
  • Clutch Chatter (Northwestern Ohio Region)
  • Crashbox (Golden Triangle Region)
  • Down Shift (Central Illinois Region)
  • Downshift (Kentucky Region)
  • The Drift (Milwaukee Region)
  • Drifting (Des Moines Valley Region)
  • The Fifth Wheel (Northeastern Michigan Region)
  • The Four Wheel Drift (Fort Wayne Region)
  • Iowa Regional News (Iowa Region)
  • Newsletter (Central Kentucky Region)
  • Ohio Valley Regional News and Observers Stand (Ohio Valley Region)
  • Open Exhaust (Detroit Region)
  • Piston Patter (Chicago Region)
  • Pit Board (South Bend Region)
  • The Pit Stop (Southern Indiana Region)
  • The Racket (Tennessee Valley Region)
  • Recaps (Eastern Tennessee Region)
  • Rev Record (Western Ohio Region)
  • S.I.R. SCCA Newsletter (Southern Indiana Region)
  • Smoke Signals (Blackhawk Valley Region)
  • The Tonneau (Land O'Lakes Region)

Also relevant are some non-SCCA publications, notably that of the Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs (MCSCC), based in the Chicago area:

  • Klaxon (Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs)

We are also keen to get scans of entry lists from SCCA Nationals in this Division.