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 2018 - Formula Ford 1967 - 1980

The Saturday afternoon Formula Ford race.   1969 Merlyn MkII, leads a fast group of cars.  These first four were the first four in the Saturday morning race in this order.   The fourth car is a 1971 Lola T202.  The Third car is also a Lola.  The second car is a 1970 Titan Mk6.

I love historic Formula Ford racing.  It brings back great memories of the late sixties and early seventies.  Often, it is also close racing as it was back in the day.  The Formula Ford races for 1600cc cars from 1967 to 1980 at Laguna Seca didn't disappoint.  Hard to believe that Formula Ford is now over fifty years old.  It started back in 1967 at Brands Hatch when Ray Allen won in a Lotus 51.  Thus great to see some Lotus 51s at Laguna Seca, as well as some of my favourite Merlyns and a Lotus 61.   I watched both Formula Ford races on the Saturday and the action below is from both those races.

It is still relatively eraly morning and the sky is overcast as the Formula Ford cars head out on their warm up lap.  This is the section after the Corkscrew coming down into the Rainey Curve.  Love the trees.

The winner of the first race - Nicholas Colyvas in a 1969 Merlyn Mk11

First lap and this was the battle for third place with a 1970 Crossle 16/20F leading from a Titan and a Lola

Danny Baker in a 1969 Lotus 61

Crossle 45 leads a 1967 Lotus 51A down the Corkscrew

1971 Caldwell D9-B driven by Andrew Warburton.  An American built Formula Ford car.

Martin Lauber won the second race ij this Titan.

Laurent Parmentier in this 1970 Crossle leads a Lola through the Corkscrew.

1969 Merlyn leads Titan in race one.

1971 Lola T202. driven by Chris Porritt.

Battle for the lead in race one with Merlyn leading Crossle into Rainey Curve. 

Lola Formula Ford at the Corkscrew.

Danny Baker's Lotus 61 leads a Crossle at the Corkscrew.

Henry moore in a Lotus 51C.

Laurent Parmentier's 1970 Crossle leads Danny Baker's 1969 Lotus 61.

1971 Lola T202.

The battle for the lead in race two between Crossle, Merlyn and lola.

Laurent Parmentier in a 1970 Crossle 16?20F. 

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.

Dave Zurlinden on his way to third place in race 2 in a 1969 Merlyn Mk17.

Laguna Seca Spring Classic 2018 - 2 Liter Sports Cars

A 1955 Elva Mk1 driven by Kevin Adair.

The Sports Cars under 2 Liter provided great variety an d great entertainment at the 2018 Laguna Seca Spring Classic.   Lovely cars from the fifties and early sixties.  The battle for the lead was definitely Maserati versus Porsche but behind were also great battles featuring British, German and US cars.  The photos below are from the two Saturday races.

On Saturday morning, the 2 litre Sports Cars come on to the start finish straight for the green flag start....

....and away they go.

The battle for the lead.  Maserati vs Porsche.

The winner on Saturday morning was Rob Walton in this 1960 Maserati Tipo 60 Birdcage.

The winner on Saturday afternoon was Alex Hugo in this 1962 Porsche 356B

Third in the afternoon was this 1957 Maserati 200Si of Ned Spieker.

Third in the morning had been Edward Hugo in this 1963 Porsche 356B

A 1960 MG A leads a 1959 Triumph TR3A

A 1960 Porsche Devin driven by Leonard Tuenbeaugh.

The lead battle in the afternoon.

Mark Osbourne and his 1959 Rejo Mk IV

Steve Schmidt in a 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster leads a group through the corkscrew.

A 1959 Echidna Sports Racer leads a 1961 Triumph TR4

A 1956 Lotus XI leads a Porsche.

A 1952 MG TD Devin driven by Susan Patterson.

MG leads Lotus.

1955 Porsche Special Spyder Pupulidy.

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.

1961 Triumph TR4