OldRacingCars.com

Macau Grand Prix

Macau, 19 Nov 1978

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Riccardo Patrese Chevron B42 ['P'] - Ford BDA
#1 Marlboro Team Harper
40 1h 37m 42.21s
93.34 mph
2 Derek Daly Chevron B42 [42-78-23] - Ford BDA
#2 Marlboro Team Harper
40 1h 38m 42.28s
3 Kevin Cogan Ralt RT1 - Ford BDA
#76 Flying Tigers Racing
40 1h 39m 14.05s
4 Masahiro Hasemi Chevron B40 [40-77-09] - Nissan LZ14
#11 Team Honest Datsun (see note 1)
40 1h 39m 27.28s
5 Skeeter McKitterick Ralt RT1/78 [136] - Ford BDA
#72 Flying Tigers Racing (see note 2)
40 1h 39m 41.92s
6 Albert Poon Brabham BT40 - Ford twin cam
#23 Albert Poon (see note 3)
39
7 Graeme Lawrence March 76B [17] - Ford BDA
#9 Team Rothmans (see note 4)
39
8 Alan Jones March 782/79B [15] - Ford BDA
#111 Theodore Racing [Teddy Yip] [entered as #32]
(see note 5)
38 broken plug
9 Takao Wada Nova 53P - Nissan LZ14
#25 Team Honest Datsun ["Nissan/Tomei"]
38
10 Nobuhide Tachi Chevron B35 [35-76-12?] - Toyota 2T-G Tom's
#15 Crown Motors (see note 6)
36
R Kevin Bartlett Chevron B39/B40 - Ford BDA
#14 Equippe 66 [entered as #66]
(see note 7)
21 ignition problems
R Andrew Miedecke March 763 - Ford BDA Dewhurst
#4 Andrew Meidecke
14
R Keke Rosberg Chevron B42 [B45 78-04] - Ford BDA
#3 Marlboro Team Harper (see note 8)
13 engine
R Brett Lunger Ralt RT1/78 - Ford BDA
#74 Flying Tigers Racing
4 chassis cross member
UNK Kenji Tohira March 752 - Nissan LZ14
#20 Team Honest Datsun

UNK Kiyoshi Misaki Nova 512 - Toyota 2T-G Kuwahara
#21 Kiyoshi Misaki ["Savage/Toyota"]

UNK Shuroku Sasaki "Oscar" - Honda
#7 Team Reliance Honda

UNK José "Pocholo" Ramirez Chevron B34 [34-76-21] - Ford BDA
#82 Team JRC Ramrod Zenith (see note 9)

UNK Ken Shirvington March 732 [15 as '9'] - Ford twin cam
#16 Ken Shirvington (see note 10)

UNK Peter Marshall Ralt RT1/75 [5] - Ford BDA
#26 R. F. Hoger (see note 11)

UNK Rad Ocampo Lola T460 - Ford BDA
#81 Team JRC Ramrod Zenith

UNK Narcisco de la Merced Chevron B34 [34-76-25] - Ford BDA
#22 Delta Auto Centre (see note 12)

UNK Nick Van Nugteren March 73B/74B [13]
#41 Nick Van Nugteran (see note 13)

DNSC Steve Millen Chevron B42 [42-78-01] - Ford BDA Hart
#19 [not on entry list]
Did not start (crashed)
DNA Cherie Schloemmer Brabham BT30 [14] - Ford twin cam
[not on entry list] (see note 14)
Did not arrive
DNA Del Schloemmer Chevron B34 [34-76-20] - Ford BDA
[not on entry list] (see note 15)
Did not arrive
  Sonny Rajah March 73B - Ford BDA
#6 Sonny Rajah Racing [Sonny Rajah/Kevin Wink]
(see note 16)
On entry list
  Chong Kim Fah Chevron B34 [34-76-37] - Ford BDA
#8 Team Rothmans (see note 17)
On entry list
  Jason Ho Brabham BT30
#10 Joseph Fung
On entry list
  Richard Thomas Geck March - Honda
#12 Team Reliance Honda
On entry list
  Chong Boon Seng Chevron B29 [29-75-05] - Ford BDA
#17 Chong Boon Seng (see note 18)
On entry list
  Noritake Takahara March
#18 Japan Motor Racing Centre ["N. Takahora"]
On entry list
  Ian Grey Chevron B20 [72-9] - Ford BDA
#71 Ian Grey (see note 19)
On entry list

All cars are 1.6-litre F/Pac unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Alan Jones (F/Pac) 1.6-litre March 782/79B [15] - Ford BDA 2m 21.19s
2 Riccardo Patrese (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Chevron B42 ['P'] - Ford BDA 2m 23.37s
3 Derek Daly (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Chevron B42 [42-78-23] - Ford BDA 2m 24.37s
4 Keke Rosberg (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Chevron B42 [B45 78-04] - Ford BDA
5 Masahiro Hasemi (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Chevron B40 [40-77-09] - Nissan LZ14
6 Kevin Cogan (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1 - Ford BDA
7 Andrew Miedecke (F/Pac) 1.6-litre March 763 - Ford BDA Dewhurst
8 Brett Lunger (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/78 - Ford BDA
9 Skeeter McKitterick (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/78 [136] - Ford BDA
10 Kenji Tohira (F/Pac) 1.6-litre March 752 - Nissan LZ14
11 Kevin Bartlett (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Chevron B39/B40 - Ford BDA
12 Graeme Lawrence (F/Pac) 1.6-litre March 76B [17] - Ford BDA
13 Albert Poon (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Brabham BT40 - Ford twin cam
14 Kiyoshi Misaki (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Nova 512 - Toyota 2T-G Kuwahara
15 Takao Wada (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Nova 53P - Nissan LZ14
16 Nobuhide Tachi (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Chevron B35 [35-76-12?] - Toyota 2T-G Tom's
17 Shuroku Sasaki (F/Pac) 1.6-litre "Oscar" - Honda
18 José "Pocholo" Ramirez (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 [34-76-21] - Ford BDA
19 Ken Shirvington (F/Pac) 1.6-litre March 732 [15 as '9'] - Ford twin cam
20 Peter Marshall (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Ralt RT1/75 [5] - Ford BDA
21 Rad Ocampo (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Lola T460 - Ford BDA
22 Narcisco de la Merced (F/Pac) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 [34-76-25] - Ford BDA
23 Nick Van Nugteren (F/Pac) 1.6-litre March 73B/74B [13]

Notes on the cars:

  1. Chevron B40 [40-77-09] (Masahiro Hasemi): Shown in Chevron records as sold to Le Mans Co in Japan with a Nissan engine. This must be the car run by Kojima Engineering for Masahiro Hasemi in Formula Pacific specification with Nissan LZ14 engines in late 1977. Retained by Hasemi for the Formula Pacific series in 1978 and 1979. Used again for a couple of races at the beginning of 1980, when Hasemi was struggling to develop his new March 802, and then raced by Kazuyoshi Hoshino in one race at the end of the season. Subsequent history unknown.
  2. Ralt RT1/78 [136] (Skeeter McKitterick): A white and blue Ralt RT1/78 invoiced to Ralt importer Brian Robertson in August 1978. To AME Racing for Skeeter McKitterick (San Diego, CA/Woodland Hills, CA), debuting at Trois-Rivières in early September. Also raced by McKitterick at the Macau Grand Prix in November as part of the Flying Tigers team. Retained by McKitterick for 1979, when he had sponsorship from CAM 2 Motor Oil. Raced in the North American series and again in Macau, entered by Flying Tigers Dunhill Racing Team. Entered a few times in 1980, but rarely seen. Sold to Kyle Buxton (Trabuco, CA) who raced it in Formula Atlantic in 1981 and 1982, then fitted a sports car body for Can-Am racing later in 1982, using a Ford BDP engine. To Dennis Brisken, and used in ASR class racing in 1984, but later wrecked at Sears Point. Sold to Carl Olsson (San Diego, CA) and rebuilt as a FC, and later as a CSR. Then to Tom Nelson (San Francisco area, CA) who rebuilt it again as an improved CSR. CT
  3. Brabham BT40 (Albert Poon): New to Albert Poon (Hong Kong) and fitted with a Hart twin cam engine for the Southeast Asian 2-valve 1600cc formula. Raced by Poon in 1973 and 1974 and then, after Poon acquired a newer Chevron B29, the Brabham was raced by Graeme Lawrence in the Malaysian GP in March 1975 and by Kevin Bartlett in the Macau Grand Prix in November 1975. Then raced by Poon's wife, Diana Poon, from 1976 to 1979. At some point, the Brabham was badly damaged, and its tub has been rebuilt by new owner Neville McKay. Reported to be still owned by McKay but in pieces in 2004.
  4. March 76B [17] (Graeme Lawrence): New to Sonny Rajah with a fuel-injected Hart engine, and run for Graeme Lawrence in South East Asia.
  5. March 782/79B [15] (Alan Jones): Ricardo Zunino's works car at Thruxton 27 Mar 1978 and presumably all season. Converted to Formula Atlantic for Teo Fabi to race in New Zealand in January 1979 (where it was reported to be wearing plate "782-16", an observation that is now thought to have been incorrect). To Ken Smith (New Zealand) and raced in Formula Pacific in the 1979/80, 1980/81 and 1981/82 seasons. Then to Warren Heron, but not raced until Bay Park in March 1989. Raced twice in 1990, but then stored until two further races, in 1998 and 1999. Sold back to Ken Smith in 2009. To Robert Shaw (UK) in 2010, and restored back to Formula 2 specification. To Marc Devis (Belgium) late 2016.
  6. Chevron B35 [35-76-12?] (Nobuhide Tachi): Sold to Japanese agent Le Mans Co according to Chevron records, but unknown until used as a F2 car with Hart 420R engine by Teddy Yip's Theodore Racing for Patrick Tambay to race in the JAF Fuji Grand Prix in June 1977. Then very probably the Tom's car raced by Fumiyasu Sato in Formula Pacific specification at the JAF Suzuka Grand Prix in November 1977, and by the team in the new Formula Pacific championship in 1978, 1979 and 1980. Subsequent history unknown.
  7. Chevron B39/B40 (Kevin Bartlett): LC Kwan (Hong Kong), owner of the Equipe 66 garage, bought a Chevron B39 in late 1977 from Fred Opert for Albert Poon (Hong Kong) to drive in Formula Pacific in Southeast Asia. The car was in the UK, not the US, for reasons still to be determined, and before it was shipped to Asia, it was borrowed by Ardmore Racing for Divina Galica to race in the Donington Park F2 event in October 1977, using a Swindon BDX engine. It was described as a brand new B40, and had been fitted with a set of Ardmore's blue, white and red bodywork to which Olympus signwriting had been applied. It was then shipped to Hong Kong in time for the Macau Grand Prix a month later. Although Poon entered his car as a B40, an article in the Malaysia Grand Prix race programme in May 1978 described the car as a "new car which he has just bought in the US". Also raced by Kevin Bartlett at Macau in 1978 and by Andrew Miedecke at Macau in 1979. Then raced by Poon at Macau in 1980, 1981 and 1982. Retained by Kwan in Hong Kong until 1989 when it was sold to Gordon Norris and returned to the UK. Sold in 2022 to Bruce Balchin (Southampton).
  8. Chevron B42 [B45 78-04] (Keke Rosberg): New to Fred Opert Racing for North American Formula Atlantic as a second car. Used as a spare by Keke Rosberg and as his race car at Lime Rock. Also raced by Eje Elgh and by Arturo Merzario at Trois-Rivières. Raced by Rosberg at Macau in November 1978. Advertised by Opert from ATS Engineering, where he had moved to become team manager, in March 1979 as a lightweight B45 with 1979 rear suspension and F2 fuel tanks. Then sold to Mike Peers and entered in the revived British series for Jim Crawford in 1979, winning five races and finishing second in the championship. Fitted with a BDX engine for 1980 and run by Plygrange Racing for Crawford in the F2 class of the Aurora series. Stayed with Plygrange for 1981 when raced by Vin Malkie (Northwich, Cheshire) in libre racing. Reappeared in 1983 when raced by Duncan Gray in the British Formula Atlantic series. It was entered by Peers himself in libre in 1984. Then to Steve Raine for Sprints, co-driven by Robin Boucher, and then hired to Bob Fearnley's RK Racing for Tiff Needell to drive in a pair of races in India in early 1985. Then reportedly to Stuart Ridge for 1986. To John Lloyd then to Simon Hadfield (Shepshed, Leicestershire) but damaged in an accident at Mallory Park. Restored with original Excita condoms bodywork and sold in 1998 to Jeff Wright, a Scotsman then living in Canada. Still with Wright (Wilmington, NC) in 2014 and raced regularly in vintage racing. By 2019, the car had moved to Scotland and was owned by George Coghill (Halkirk, Highland) and was prepared by Steve Worrad (Whitchurch, Shropshire) for sprints.
  9. Chevron B34 [34-76-21] (José "Pocholo" Ramirez): New to Fred Opert Racing for Jim Crawley in the IMSA Formula Atlantic series, appearing at Road Atlanta in April and Laguna Seca in May. He then missed the Ontario Motor Speedway as the car was reported to have been "destroyed" in a testing crash at Willow Springs. It was evidently rebuilt in time to be rented by Ric Forest at Edmonton in May. Crawley raced it again at Westwood, when it was pale blue and entered by Opert as #52. This is presumably the car then entered for Lloyd Callaway (Chicago, IL) to drive at Mont-Tremblant, Halifax and Mosport Park in July and August 1976, as his car was also pale blue and entered by Opert as #52. Like RJ Nelkin's similarly semi-private car, it evidently returned to Fred Opert Racing after these three races. It may then have been one of the cars hired from Opert for the SCCA Runoffs by Bill Anspach and Bill Kneeland. It is then thought to be the car used by Eddie Marcello at the Philippines GP in December. In January 1977, Opert took a team out to the New Zealand Formula Pacific series, and chassis 76-21 was identified as the car raced there by Keke Rosberg, winning three of the five races and taking four pole positions. It was then sold to Pocolo Ramirez (Philippines) and raced by him in southeast Asian races from 1977 to 1982. It is believed to have been imported into New Zealand from Asia by Graham Simms. It was then sold to Ken Smith and then Andy Higgins in New Zealand, then acquired by David Gathercole in 2009. He fully rebuilt it to Formula Atlantic specification by June 2011 for Rod Stead, who raced it at HSCC Donington Park in May 2012. Bought from Stead in November 2012 by Andy Huxtable. Raced by Huxtable in HSCC Derek Bell Trophy races in 2013.
  10. March 732 [15 as '9'] (Ken Shirvington): A new car for Andy Sutcliffe at Karlskoga run by Brian Lewis Racing and replacing 732-9, crashed by Mike Beuttler earlier in the year. To save paperwork, the team put the "732/9" chassis plate onto the car and it still wears it today. Sold to Ken Smith in New Zealand after Sutcliffe's money did not appear and raced by him in the 1974 Tasman series. Then rebuilt as a ANF2 car with a Ford twin cam for the 1974 Australian Formula 2 series and sold to Ken Shirvington mid-season. The car remains in Australia in 2012.
  11. Ralt RT1/75 [5] (Peter Marshall): New to John Macdonald (Hong Kong) and raced in Southeast Asian 1600cc 2-valve category racing in 1975, when he won the Penang and Selangor Grands Prix, then as a Formula Atlantic to win the Macau GP in November. Retained for 1976 when he ran it in the 1600cc 4-valve category and won the Selangor and Indonesia Grands Prix. He ran it again in 1977, and it was also raced by Vern Schuppan at Macau that year. Macdonald then sold the Ralt to Peter Marshall, who raced it in Formula Pacific in 1978 and 1979. It was still in Marshall's ownership when raced by Sonny Rajah in 1980 and 1981. The car was then stored at Rajah's father's house in Kuala Lumpur until 1990, when Marshall retrieved the car and had it shipped to Sydney, Australia. The following year it was taken to Ralt importer Graham Watson to be rebuilt to original specification. It was sold in early 1999 to Peter Mohr (Sydney, Australia) who took it with him to the US when he moved there, and raced it in US historic racing in 2000 and 2001. It was then sold to Dennis D'Angelo and remained with him until 2006. It was then bought by Don Sandy and Art Hebert and raced on the west coast in 2006. In 2012, it was acquired by Harindra de Silva and raced by Timothy de Silva (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA) in west coast historic events. Sold in 2021 to Éric Verdin (Mill Valley, CA), who has continued to race it in historic events.
  12. Chevron B34 [34-76-25] (Narcisco de la Merced): Invoiced to Fred Opert Racing and believed to be the "brand new" pale blue #75 Chevron B34 raced by Opert's customer Gordon Smiley at Mosport Park in late August 1976. Then raced by Patrick Tambay at Trois-Rivières two weeks later, and by Elliot Forbes-Robinson in the IMSA race at Laguna Seca in early October. It was one of three B34s taken to New Zealand for the Formula Pacific series in January 1977, and was Mikko Kozarowitzky's regular car. After the series, it was sold to Narcisco de la Merced and raced by him in Southeast Asian races from 1977 to 1982. Then to Luis Camus for 1983. Subsequent history unknown.
  13. March 73B/74B [13] (Nick Van Nugteren): In the mid-1970s, Grant Swartz (Berkeley, CA) was an aircraft maintenance specialist working for the Flying Tiger Line air freight company in Hong Kong and Vietnam. In 1973, he acquired a March 73B, presumably the chassis 73B/13 that is shown in March records as going to Hong Kong, and he raced at the Macau Grand Prix in November that year. Unfortunately, he hit a wall and broke his ankle. Undeterred, he returned to the Macau race in the car in 1974 and 1975. It was then sold to Nick Van Nugteren (Singapore), who raced it at Macau in 1977 and 1978. By 1978 it had been updated to March 742 bodywork, and was sponsored by Black & Decker. It was later owned by Chris Farrell in Australia, and raced by him in HSRCA from 1999 to 2001. To Robert Foster by 2002, and raced by Foster in HSRCA events from 2004 to 2017.
  14. Brabham BT30 [14] (Cherie Schloemmer): Sold new to Ecurie Ecosse and run for Graham Birrell in F2 in 1970. Also raced once by Peter Gethin and by Richard Attwood later in the season. To Peter Westbury early 1971 and raced in several F2 races (also raced once by Dieter Quester) until the team's BT36 was delivered. Sold to Dunnett's Garage, converted to F/Atlantic specification and entered for Ronnie Mackay in libre and F/Atlantic in 1971 and 1972, run by MRE. To Chong Boon Seng for south east Asian racing in 1973 and used by him until 1976. Then to Del Schloemer and raced by him and by Cherie Schloemer in 1977 and 1978. To Wybe Valkema around 1980 and retained to 1982. Then to Australia and with Brian Wilson by 1988. Wilson sold it to Art Valdez (Torrance, CA) and from Valdez it returned to Australia when he sold it to Bob Ilich (Perth, WA) in 2010.
  15. Chevron B34 [34-76-20] (Del Schloemmer): New to Bill Brack Racing and raced by Kevin Cogan in the IMSA and Players (Canadian) Formula Atlantic series in 1976. Unknown in 1977 and 1978. By late 1978, it was in the hands of Del Schloemer (Philippines) and raced by him and by Cherie Schloemer in Southeast Asia in 1979. Then unknown in 1980, but raced by Amir Mokhtar at the Shah Alam Grand Prix in 1981. Subsequent history unknown.
  16. March 73B (Sonny Rajah): Sonny Rajah (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) raced a March in Southeast Asian 4-valve formula racing in 1976, then in Formula Pacific from 1977 to 1981, but it is not yet clear whether this was his updated March 712M or his March 73B.
  17. Chevron B34 [34-76-37] (Chong Kim Fah): New to Albert Poon (Hong Kong), who referred to it as a 1977-series B35. It started out with a Cosworth BDM engine for Southeast Asian racing, and was then fitted with a Cosworth BDA for the Macau GP, which was held to Formula Atlantic rules, and the New Zealand Formula Pacific series in January 1977, before returning to the fuel-injected BDM for racing in Malaysia later in 1977. To Chong Kim Fah and Team Rothmans for 1978, but it is unclear whether Chong actually raced it that season. It is then presumably the "B39" that Chong raced in Formula Pacific in 1979. According to later owners, it then moved to Western Australia and was owned by Peter Nicol in 1979, Peter Morris in 1980, Jim Runciman in 1983. Then to Richard Fearon (Victoria) in 1994, Noel Robson (Victoria) at the end of 1998, and Peter Mohr (Queensland) in 2005. Sold by Mohr to Tony Simmons in November 2008, and raced by him through 2009 and in 2010. Next seen with Martin Bullock (WA) and raced by him at Sydney Motor Sport Park in November 2014, and at Barbagallo in 2016. Then taken to the UK by Bullock and raced at Brands Hatch in May 2019.
  18. Chevron B29 [29-75-05] (Chong Boon Seng): New to Albert Poon (Hong Kong), and raced in Southeast Asian events in 1975. Raced in Southeast Asian 1600cc 4-valve formula events in 1976, and driven by Kevin Bartlett at the Macau Grand Prix in November 1976. Sold less engine to Chong Boon Seng (Singapore) in December 1976 and raced by him in 1977, 1978 and 1979, It was then retained by him until it was sold to Leif Norberg, a Swede then living in Malaysia, in 1985. Then to Tony Armstrong (Australia) in 1989. To Geoff Weiland (Australia) in 1998, then to Peter Addison (Sydney, NSW), then to John Gale (Sydney, NSW) in 2005. In March 2020, the car was bought from Gale by Peter Brennan (Melbourne, Victoria).
  19. Chevron B20 [72-9] (Ian Grey): New to John S Green in Formula B specification but there is no evidence of this car being delivered before the end of 1972. Green ran it in the Gap Hill Climb in January 1973, but only circuit raced it once, in the Singapore Grand Prix in April 1973. Green died in early 1974, and the Chevron was sold to David Schollum for Steve Millen in South-East Asian races that year. Then shipped to New Zealand and fitted with a 1980cc Cosworth FVC engine for the 1975 Tasman series. Used by Millen in 1600cc form at Batu Tiga and Macau later in 1975. Sold to Ian Grey in 1976 and raced with a Cosworth BDM at Macau in 1976 and 1977. Later sold to Dick Ward (Perth, Australia) and George Stacey about the end of 1979, and then to Harry Hickling (ACT, Australia). Sold to David Innes late 2014.

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.

The results of the Formula Pacific races in South East Asian at Macau, Penang, Selangor and Shah Alam were originally provided by Chris Townsend based on the short reports in Autosport and Motoring News plus the information supplied by a wide range of contributors. These have been developed further by Andrew Horrox using material in New Zealand Motoraction. For the Macau Grand Prix, further data comes from Philip Newsome's book 'Color and Noise: 40 Years of the Macau Grand Prix' (Studio Publications Ltd, 1993).

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.

Individual sources for this event

'Colour and Noise: 40 Years of the Macau Grand Prix' (Philip Newsome, Studio Publications Limited, 1993). Entry list and other programme details provided by Richard Coe.