Laguna Seca Spring Classic - Formula B and C

A 1970 Chevron B17B leads a 1967 Brabham BT 21 through Rainey Curve.

Whilst at the Laguna Seca Spring Classic, I saw both Saturday races for the 1965 to 1978 Formula B cars and 1965 to 1977 Formula C cars.   Although not familiar with the formulae, I was certainly familiar with many of the cars.  Formula B was for 1,600cc stock block cars and eventually became Formula Atlantic.  Formula C was for 1100cc cars and emerged out of Formula Junior and eventually merged with Formula Super Vee to become Formula Continental.  I didn't notice any FC cars in the race.  Lovely cars and all the chassis seemed to be of UK origin.   Nice racing and so great to see cars without wings or advertising!

The field comes around on the morning warm up lap.

Winner of the Saturday morning race was Jim Catchot in a 1968 16000cc Chevron B10 Formula B car.

Steve Davis took second place in the Saturday afternoon race in his 1965 Brabham BT16/21 Formula B car.

The start finish straight.

Second in the morning was Martin Lauber in this 1969 Brabham BT29 Formula B car.

Lauber one the afternoon race in his 1,600cc Brabham BT29.

The rear of Lauber's Brabham as he negotiates the last corner.

Robin Hunter in a 1976 1600cc Brabham BT29

Marc Giroux in a 1969 Brabham BT29

Andrew Wait came third in the Saturday afternoon race in this lovely 1967 Merlyn Mk10 Formula B car.

The start finish straight.

Tom Shnurbusch in a 1967 Brabham BT21B

An unusual participant in this single seater race was this 1962 1,600cc Lotus 23.

Another out of place car was this 1979 Ralt RT1.  Following is a 1969 Winkelmann WDB2.  A Palliser to us Brits.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.

Laguna Seca Spring Classic - Formula Atlantic and 2 Liter Sports Cars

Formula Atlantic cars being chased by an early Sauber sports car.

One of the classes at the Laguna Seca Spring Classic was for Formula Atlantic cars from 1967 to 1979 and 2 liter Sports Cars from 1970 to 1984.  I was particularly pleased to see an early Sauber C4 sports car.  I also enjoyed seeing Formula Atlantic cars.   I remember Formula Atlantic in the UK in the seventies with drivers such as Alan Jones, Vern Schuppan, John Nicolson, Tom Pryce, David Purley, Jim Crawford, Dave Morgan and Tony Brise competing at Brands Hatch and other circuits.  My best memory is of Tony Trimmer winning from the back of the grid at the club circuit at Brands Hatch in April 1976.  Formula Atlantic was also big in Canada and the USA. Thus very nice to see Formula Atlantic cars at Laguna Seca. One rather well driver was in the field, Ed Swart a Dutch driver who raced for Abarth and others in the late sixties and early seventies.   These pictures are from the Saturday morning race.

Danny Baker celebrates his victory in this 1974 Chevron B24.

Runner up was a 1980 March 80A driven by Steve Romak. 

Fifth was Jim Bouzaglou in this 1973 Lola sports racer.

A 1970 Lotus 69 driven by Chris Cord.

The 1975 Sauber C4 of Brian Groza.

Jonathan Burke in a 1973 Brabham BT40.  I think this was the last year that Brabham made anything other than F1 cars.

A 1977 Chevron B39 driven by Bill Cord.

Jim Catchot in a 1977 Ralt RT1.

Great to see Ed Swart still driving!  This Dutch driver, now living in California, was driving his 1978 Chevron B46.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.

Another 1980 March 80A.  This one driven by Jim Maetzold.

Euro F2 - Dix Mille Tours du Castellet - 2017

The battle for the lead in the first Formula Two race with Martin Stretton's March 742 leading Matthew Watts in a March 772 towards the end of the race at the last corner.

A rather small field of just eight  historic Formula Two cars turned out at Paul Ricard for the  Dix Mille Tours meeting in October 2017.  However, they was a close battle at the front of the field.  Here are a few photos from Sunday's first race.  Martin Stretton won from pole position and took fastest lap.

Martin Stretton in the March 742 acknowledges the crowds applause after his win. 

Philippe Scemama  in a March 752 came fourth.

Bernard Thuner in a March 742 came fifth.

The eighth placed 1970 Brabham BT30 of Lincoln Small.

Charles Veillard in this 1977 Ralt RT1 came seventh.

Third placed David Tomlin in his Rondel Motul M1.

Jean-Marc Bussolini in a 1971 Lotus 69 came sixth.

For the Classic Endurance I cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Classic Endurance 2 cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Group C cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Heritage Touring Cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Euro F2 cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Trofeo Nastro Rosso cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.

With the Mistral blowing and with just six starters and four finishers, Matthew Watts won the second race in his March 772.