The inaugural Spring Classic historic races were held on May 19-21, 2017 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California. At the Spring Classic, run groups of vintage race cars from series popular in 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s revved back to life on the Monterey Peninsula circuit to the delight of motorsports enthusiasts.
From screaming Formula 1 machines from the 1970s to the grunt of American V8 engines in the 1966-1972 Trans-Am group, a variety of sounds from fast and fun racing eras past echoed through the hillsides. Fans took advantage of the relaxed atmosphere in the paddock to get up close and personal with the vintage race cars and historic motorcycles that weren’t thundering up and down the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course.
The Masters USA Historic Formula 1 group that quickly became a fan favorite concluded on Sunday with Dan Marvin driving his 1974 Brabham BT44 from behind to a win, edging the Wolf WR4 of four-time Motorcycle Grand Prix champion Eddie Lawson, who has aptly acquitted himself on four wheels.
Among the stars of the Historic F1 group were Chris Locke’s ex-Mario Andretti Lotus 77, the car that Mario raced in 1976. In addition to the on-track accolades, the car was also featured in action in major motion pictures Rush and Iron Man 2. The event was robbed of this wonderful Lotus when a fuel line ruptured on Saturday, resulting in a fire just past turn eleven.
The Masters Historic Formula One grid also included the Shadow DN9 of Charles Warner, his ex-Elio de Angelis/Jan Lammers car from the 1979 season, along with the earlier Shadow DN5 driven by Brazilian Dalmo De Vasconcelos, the Shadow DN3 wheeled by Harindra de Silva and the Shadow DN1 driven by Canadian Keith Frieser. Additionally, John Delane took his Tyrrell 002 that Francois Cevert won the 1971 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, Cal Meeker’s Williams FW08 came from the 1983 season and Doug Mockett drove the same Penske PC4 that John Watson drove to Penske’s only F1 win at the Austrian Grand Prix.
One of the more intriguing run groups was Group F, which combined 1983-2007 World SportsCar Championship and Le Mans Prototype entries along with 1966-72 Can-Am. It is rare to see a 2006 Riley Scott being pursued by a 1970 McLaren and a 2005 Audi R8 Le Mans Prototype, but it happened at the 2017 Spring Classic Laguna Seca. The 2005 Audi R8 LMP driven by Travis Engen won every time he started on the grid, scoring Group F victories on Saturday and twice on Sunday and winning Saturday’s one-hour vintage enduro that was open to all close-wheeled race cars.
The Historic Stock Car group had spectators doing double-takes as it brought a mix of familiar cars to an unfamiliar venue. Mac Mcgarry won both events on Saturday in Historic Stock Car with a dominant performance from his Kodiak #25 1989 Chevrolet Lumina. Tom Klauer did likewise on Sunday in a 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo once driven by Jimmie Johnson.
Patrick Byrne wheeled his 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA Corsa to back-to-back wins in 1966-1972 Trans-Am 2.5 Liter on Saturday. Among others, Byrne slid his little Alfa through turns two and five, bringing back memories of the GTAs running Laguna Seca in the original Trans-Am series. Troy English followed up with a Trans-Am 2.5 Liter double on Sunday with his 1972 Datsun 510.
Other winners included: John Delane, 1966 Brabham BT18 (1967-1972 Formula B, Race 1); Andrew Wait, 1967 Merlyn Mk10 (1967-1972 Formula B, Race 2); Jeffrey Abramson, 1970 Chevrolet Camaro (1973-1984 SCCA Production GT Cars); Bill Ockerlund, 1968 Shelby Mustang (1966-1972 Trans-Am, Race 1); Forrest Straight, 1970 Ford Mustang (1966-1972 Trans-Am, Race 2); Dalmo de Vasconcelos, 1976 Ralt RT-1 (1973-1979 Formula Atlantic, Race 1) and Danny Baker, 1979 Ralt RT-1 (1973-1979 Formula Atlantic, Race 2).
Sports Car Digest documented the debut Spring Classic Laguna Seca 2017, with Senior Photographer Dennis Gray offering the following pictures from the classic California road course.
Spring Classic Laguna Seca 2017 – Photo Gallery (photos: Dennis Gray)
Patrick Byrne – 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA
Jim Catchot-Chevron B10
Bruce Leeson – 1969 Lotus 69
Jim Catchot-Chevron B10
Andrew Wait – 1967 Merlyn Mk10
Alex McDowell – 1971 Nissan Skyline
David Witkowski – 1973 Porsche 911
Jonathan Ornstein – 1979 Datsun 280ZX
Chris Springer – 1968 Chevrolet Corvette
Alan Terpins – 1975 Porsche Carrera
Howard Matloff – 1993 Riggins Oldsmoblie
Jim Bouzaglou – 1973 Porsche RSR
Jim Halsey – 1970 Ford Mustang
Bill Godwin – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
Bill Ockerlund-Shelby Mustang.
Craig Conley – 1970 Ford Mustang
Brian Ferrin – 1971 Chevrolet Camaro
Daniel Goldsmith – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
Gordon Gimbel – 1969 Ford Mustang
Mike Eddy – 1964 Ford Falcon
Tom McIntyre – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Lance Smith – 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Martin Lauber – 1977 Chevron B39
Maurice McCaig-MARCH FAtl
Brad Oldenbrook – 1975 Lola T360
Bill Fickling – 1975 March 75B
Jim Catchot – 1977 Ralt RT-1
Maurice McCaig-MARCH FAtl
Spencer Trenery – 2006 Riley Scott MkXI
Travis Engen – 2005 Audi R8 LMP
Jim Gallucci – 1970 Lola 163
Ernie Spada – 2007 Riley Scott MkXI
Travis Engen – 2005 Audi R8 LMP
Travis Engen – 2005 Audi R8 LMP
Wade Carter – 1984 Porsche 962
Nick Colonna-McLaren M8C.
Bob Corliss-Porsche GT3 Cup Car.
Jim Gallucci – 1970 Lola 163, Timothy de Silva Lola T163.
Steve Cook – 1972 March 721G
Chris Locke – 1976 Lotus 77
Charles Warner – 1979 Shadow DN9
Dalmo De Vasconcelos – 1976 Shadow DN5
Keith Frieser – 1973 Shadow DN1
Steve Cook – 1972 March 721G
John Delane – 1971 Tyrrell 002
Chris Farrell – 1982 March 821
Harindra de Silva – 1974 Shadow DN3
Chris Locke – 1976 Lotus 77
Chris Farrell – 1982 March 821
Dalmo De Vasconcelos – 1976 Shadow DN5
Harindra de Silva – 1974 Shadow DN3
Will Thomas – 1967 Brabham BT21
John Delane-Brabham BT18.
Andrew Wait – 1967 Merlyn Mk10
Will Thomas – 1967 Brabham BT21
Steve Davis – 1965 Brabham BT16/21
Bruce Leeson – 1969 Lotus 69
Danny Baker-Ralt RT1
Timothy de Silva – 1975 Ralt RT-1
Danny Baker-Ralt RT1
Maurice McCaig-MARCH FAtl
Timothy de Silva – 1975 Ralt RT-1
Carl Moore – 1976 March 76B
Carl Moore – 1976 March 76B
Bill Fickling – 1975 March 75B
Maurice McCaig-MARCH FAtl
Larry Savage – 1976 March 76B
Jack Woodruff – 1976 March 76B
Dalmo De Vasconcelos – 1976 Ralt RT1
Jim Catchot – 1977 Ralt RT-1
Brad Oldenbrook – 1975 Lola T360
Martin Lauber – 1977 Chevron B39
Carl Moore – 1976 March 76B
Danny Baker-Ralt RT1
Martin Lauber – 1977 Chevron B39
Greg Mitchell – 1969 Lola T163
Wade Carter – 1984 Porsche 962
Jim Gallucci – 1970 Lola 163
Wade Carter – 1984 Porsche 962
Dan Marvin – 1974 Brabham BT44
Harindra de Silva – 1974 Shadow DN3
John Delane – 1971 Tyrrell 002
Chris Farrell – 1982 March 821
Chris Locke – 1976 Lotus 77
Keith Frieser – 1973 Shadow DN1
Dalmo De Vasconcelos – 1976 Shadow DN5
Jeffrey Abramson – 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Chris Springer – 1968 Chevrolet Corvette
Jon Norman – 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV
Timothy de Silva-Austin Mini Cooper.
Tom O’Callaghan – 1972 Porsche 911ST
Edward Hugo – 1969 BMW 2002
Steve Walker – 1968 BMW 2002
Phil Eglin – 1972 Datsun 510
James McDavid – 1970 Datsun 510
Terry Forland – 1968 BMW 2002
John Linfesty – 1968 Porsche 911
Harindra de Silva – 1974 Shadow DN3
Eddie Lawson – 1977 Wolf WR4
Bud Moeller-Ensign MN179
Keith Frieser – 1973 Shadow DN1
Charles Warner – 1979 Shadow DN9
Harindra de Silva – 1974 Shadow DN3
Robin Hunter – 1969 Brabham BT29
Will Thomas – 1967 Brabham BT21
Andrew Wait – 1967 Merlyn Mk10
Tom Schnurbusch – 1967 Brabham BT21
Ken Adams – 1969 Ford Mustang
Chad Raynal – 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
Nick DeVitis – 1968 Ford Mustang
Alexander Motola – 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
Bill Ockerlund-Shelby Mustang.
Forrest Straight – 1970 Ford Mustang
Richard Goldsmith – 1970 Dodge Challenger
Lance Smith – 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Alan Terpins – 1968 Porsche 911 T/R
Steve Link – 1968 Datsun Trans Am
Bruce McKean – 1969 Alfa Romeo GTV
Kelvin Tse – 1969 Datsun 510
Craig Carter – 1972 Datsun 510
Nelson Calle – 1969 Porsche 911S
Edward Hugo – 1969 BMW 2002
Patrick Byrne – 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA
Chris Farrell – 1982 March 821
Bud Moeller-Ensign MN179
John Delane – 1971 Tyrrell 002
Michael Eckstein-Williams FX3B
Chris Springer – 1968 Chevrolet Corvette
Jim Bouzaglou – 1973 Porsche RSR
Mike Thurlow – 1976 Chevrolet Corvette
Mike Thurlow – 1976 Chevrolet Corvette
Jeffrey Abramson – 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
John Wilkins – 1971 Datsun 240Z
Glenn Chiou – 1971 Datsun 240Z
Jeffrey Abramson – 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Jeffrey Abramson – 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Doug Mocket – Wolf WR6
Chris Farrell – 1982 March 821
Harindra de Silva – 1974 Shadow DN3
John Delane – 1971 Tyrrell 002
Eddie Lawson – 1977 Wolf WR4
Dan Marvin – 1974 Brabham BT44
Dan Marvin – 1974 Brabham BT44
Dalmo De Vasconcelos – 1976 Shadow DN5
Steve Cook – 1972 March 721G
Dalmo De Vasconcelos – 1976 Shadow DN5
Dan Marvin – 1974 Brabham BT44
Dalmo De Vasconcelos – 1976 Shadow DN5
Eddie Lawson – 1977 Wolf WR4
Chris Farrell – 1982 March 821
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