The 1960 Inuaga Grand Prix

With all the interest recently on formula Libre races, I offer this report of the little known Inuaga Grand Prix of 1960.

The decision to wind up the Bahamas - speed week with a pukka road race on the island of Little Inuaga was a tremendous success, and a crowd of well over 100,000 People saw Jack Brabharn (Cooper) and Stirling Moss (Lotus) fight it out for 250 miles of the specially built road circuit, to finish absolutely level. Photo-finish cameras were used by the organizers and it is hoped to publish an official Photograph in a forth-coming issue.

A great surprise was the speed of Chuck Daigh in the 3-litre Scarab, who chased the leaders all the way, and was just over 2 secs. behind when the chequered flag fell. During his monumental pursuit, the Californian recorded fastest lap with 2 mins. 17.5 secs. (135.8 m.p.h.), to win the special prize of 100 bottles of Jamaica rum, which were immediately distributed amongst the mechanics. This was perhaps unwise, for when the ferry boats left for Miami, Florida, not a single mechanic could be found and the party went off without them.

The Inuagans achieved a remarkable feat in constructing the circuit within a week. Every man, woman and child on the island volunteered to help, and without any bulldozers, track-layers or tarmelting machines, actually built a superb road in the otherwise swampy area in the north-west of the island, measuring precisely 5.2 miles. Splendid, temporary grandstands appeared overnight and moored barges on the straight running alongside the sea front were used as pits. Special dispensation from the F.I.A. permitted the entry of foreign drivers, and the race itself was run under the auspices of the R.A.C.

On race-day, the tiny harbour was crowded well beyond its capacity With all sorts of vessels, from tiny- Bermuda type sloops to stately steam yachts and cruise liners. Ferry services were also organized from neighbouring Nassau, to transport the vast crowds which came by air from New York and Miami. Catering was a problem, but most of the spectators made their own arrangements. Even so, it was impossible to obtain a bottle of cold beer anywhere in the island after breakfast time, and cold drinks were at a premium with a temperature of over 105 degrees in the shade. It was so hot that cellulose simply ran off cars and entrants had recourse to distemper.

There was opportunity only for one practice session-, with Stirling Moss in the Offy-powered Lotus and Jack Brabham in a very special Cooper-Corvette sharing fastest lab at 133 m.p.h. Both were shaken to find that on the long, 2.4 miles straight, they were doing 210 m.p.h. with the highest. axle ratios they could find. The Scarabs, fitted specially with Indianapolis engines, arrived late, and both Reventlow and Daigh returned very slow laps. Bonnier, in the flat-six Porsche, was just 2 secs. slower than Moss and Brabham, which augurs well for the coming, 1,500 c.c. Formula. Rodger Ward's Midget, fitted with centrifugal supercharger, had to be converted to take 15 ins. wheels, as his tyres flew off on the straight. He finished one lap running on the Hallibrand discs. To the annoyance of the natives who saw their lovely road surface being ruined with deep indentations.

Dan Gurnev's Corvette Inter-continental was slow with the 3-litre engine but G.M.'s Zorra Duntov fitted the 5.6-litre unit from the experimental single-seater seen at Riverside during the G.P. of the U.S.A. This was a vast improvement, and his lap at 132 mph gave him a front row position. The Corvette must be the only autmatic transmission single-seater to be seen in International racing.

Other good times were recorded by Phil Hill (Cooper-Allison), Jim Hall (Lotus-Dodge), Bob Drake (Maserati) and Cannonball O'Rafferty (Dragster Special). The last-named was disqualified for lack of a proper body, and a somewhat unsafe seating arrangement behind the rear axle. Local newspapers christened the car O'Rafferty's Hansom Cab, and it was used only to take actress June Wilkinson round the circuit before the race.

Based on practice laps, the grid was as follows:-
Gurney(Corvette i-c.) ( Brabham (Cooper-Corvette) (Moss Lotus-Offenhauser)
P. Hill(Cooper-Allison) Bonnier (Porsche)
Daigh(Scarab) Drake(Maserati) Hall(Lotus Dodge)
Nutty (Chrysler Spl.) Reventlow(Scarab)
Rjinisky (Kaiser Spl.)
The heat was unbearable the Governor toured round in his black and gold Mini-Minor, preceded by police on motor scooters, sounding the loudest sirens ever heard. A one-lap "Go-Kart" event was won by a gentleman rejoicing in the name of J. F. Fangio, Jr., who finished holding the two-stroke engine, literally with his braces. This must have been exciting somewhere on the circuit, for out of 33 starters only three took the finish flag. The start of the big race was delayed whilst about a dozen recovery vehicles went out to retrieve the missing 32!

Underneath vast sun hats and countless gaily coloured umbrellas, the crowd grew silent as the 11 starters were pushed on to the grid. There was a certain amount of amusement when it was discovered that the Stars and Stripes were flying upside down. Presumably the Hammer and Sickle was in honour of Rijinisky, who was as black as night, and spoke with a decidedly Brooklyn accent.
Trumpeters of the Royal Inuaga Fusiliers sounded a fanfare, His Excellency Sir Cum Ference dropped the Union Jack and the race was on. Brabham streaked into the lead, chased by Gurney. At Kit-Cat Corner the American was bonnet-to-bonnet with the World Champion, and Chuck Daigh had rocketed up from the third row to head Moss, whose big four-cylinder engine seemed to lack initial acceleration.

The cars disappeared round Hamburger Hairpin, with Rijinisky already well back. Nutty had justified his name,. by attempting to take the hairpin nearly flat out, and the big Chrysler Special mowed down a dozen haybales and scattered a herd of island cows before regaining the circuit behind the dusky Russian.

The stands were chattering excitedly and all eyes looked up the seafront straight. Four cars came thundering down, chopping and changing places as they swept past the pits at over 180 m.p.h. This was motor racing; a jumble of numbers, and it was Brabham, Gurney, Daigh, Moss, but who was actually leading was anyone's guess. Close behind the battling quartet came Phil Hill in the long-chassis V-12 Cooper, slipstreamed by the bearded Bonnier, whose tachometer was reading over 10,000 r.p.m. At least he momentarily stuck up all 10 fingers, which caused Von Hanstein to take a couple of tranquillizers. Then came Bob Drake in the ex-Fangio supercharged Maserati, with Jim Hall in the long-tailed Lotus trying hard to get past. To the pair's obvious astonishment Lance Reventlow went past them as if they were in the pits.
Before Rjinisky and Nutty had reached the pits area they were both."doubled" by the four leaders-a remarkable happening altogether, and possibly unique in a race with a lap distance of just over five miles. Already the speeds were going up Brabham's standing lap was accomplished at 128 m.p.h., and Daigh's must have been even quicker. The white and blue car was now in second place, challenged by Gurney's odd-looking Corvette Inter'-Continental, and Moss's rip-snorting Lotus with its special Meyer-Drake (Offy) engine. In contrast to the others, the wily Stirling was saving his engine by using only top gear.

For lap after lap, the four in front fought grimly for the lead: Phil Hill became tired of towing Bonnier's Porsche and hurtled away on his own. The "1500", now doing over 11,000 r.p.m. (and Von Hanstein doing his nut), was lapping at over 125 m.p.h.
With 10 laps on the board, the position was..-

1. Brabham, 21 m. 25.6 s. (132.12 mph.).
2. Daigh, 23 m. 25.8 s.
3. Gurney, 23 m. 26 s.
4. Moss, 23 m. 26.1 s.
5. P. Hill, 23 m. 23.8 s.
6. Bonnier, 23 m, 34.9 s.
7. Reventlow, 23 m. 35.3 s.
8. Hall, 23 in. 44.4 s.
9. Drake, 23 M. 56.3 s.
10. Nutty, 5 laps.
11. Rjinisky, 4 laps.
Fastest laps: Brabham, Daigh, Moss 2 m 21.3 s.
On the promenade the Hollywood contingent cheer-leaders worked overtime in the sizzling heat, the supporters spelling out S-C-A-R-A-B in huge blue The Gurney fans were disconcerted to find that they had forgotten to bring their lettered-sweaters, but compromised by using loud-hailers.

Then, to the astonishment of crowd, Rodger Ward appeared in his Midget with big.wheels fitted. To start a race 11 laps in arrears was a brave effort, and Ward thoroughly deserved the reception he got. However, to his chagrin he stopped out on the circuit having forgotten to take on fuel. In front, Moss moved up into second place, whilst Gurney and Daigh swopped positions every few yards. Into the pits came Phil Hill to retire with a leaking Glyco tank. Nutty gave up with seized wheel bearings owing to the terrific heat. Rjinisky was reported as attempting to push start the immense Kaiser Special after running out of road.

Drake was running sans compressor, the four barrel carburettors having been fitted with a quick-chango manifold. Hal came in for fuel with the thirsty Dodge powered Lotus, and Bonnier, after . attaining 12,000 r.p.m., heard funny noises which persuaded him to stop. He found von Hanstein in a daze, suffering from nervous shock. Mechanics discovered that the funny noises were caused by the engine; it had fallen off and was being dragged along by the throttle controls.

Reventlow had been lapping steadily at 124-125 rn.p.h., and now moved up closer to Gurney and Daigh, who had dropped back behind Moss and Brabham. Stirling took the lead. Stirling took the lead , lost it took it again, only to be repassed by the Australian in front of the pits. Gurney’s automatic transmission was playing up and changing down instead of up and vice versa.

Chuck Daigh made a quick pit stop to remove the featherless carcass of a bird of paradise which had hit his air intake. He also refuelled, changed rear wheels and took on oil in 17 seconds. This proved that the Scarab crew had learned something from their 1960 European visit!

So speedy was Daigh's stop that he rejoined the race in third place- Gurney's car selected reverse at the hairpin which did not improve matters. Bonnier, after seeing von Hanstein comfortable, had his engine refitted and rejoined the fray. Drake stopped on the seafront to curse his mechanics: they had neglected to join up throttle and carbs! So at half-distance (25 laps) the order was: -
1. Brabham. 57 m. 23.2 a.
2. Moss, 57 m. 23.5 s.
3. Daigh, 59 m. 03.3 8.
4. Reventlow, 59 m. 8.
5. Drake, 23 laps.
6. Hall. 23 laps.
7. Bonnier, 18 laps.

Gurney walked back to his pits to collapse with the heat, and Rodger Ward set off to take over the big Corvette, but decided to give the race a miss and watch the others. G.M. executives danced with rage, till the R.A.C. representative pointed out that they were signatories to the "Detroit Agreement", and were not actually permitted to race anyway.

As the race went on, the tremendous Brabham-Moss struggle had the crowd shrieking with excitement. Ambulances were busy carrying off heat prostration victims and also those who had too liberally supplied themselves with rum. The closing stages will never be forgotten. Wheel-to-wheel travelled Brabham and Moss, with Daigh steadily gaining. With close on 500 b.h.p. under the sleek-blue, bonnet of the Scarab, his speed on the straight was incredible. Commentator Art Peck gasped as the timed trap speed was announced: "Daigh (Scarab) has covered the measured quarter-mile at 228 m.p.h. He has just put up a record lap at 135.8 m.p.h." In the press stands journalists crossed out all they had written in advance concerning the Scarabs, and promoters moved towards Reventlow's pits, cheque-books at the ready.

The last lap scenes beggar description. Phil Hill noted that prize money was down to 12th place. Pouring bottles of Coca-Cola into the leaky tank, he toured round to the finish, just as Dan Curney sprinted out to his abandoned car. Ward leisurely added a couple of gallons of fuel, and moved away too, followed by the remaining "abandonments".

The crowds scarcely noticed this Marx-business in the pits; eyes were on the stern battle in front. Moss and Brabham appeared, absolutely dead level, with the Scarab roaring down the straight just behind. The chequered flag fell as the marshal somersaulted, and he was nearly run down by Daigh. Then came Reventlow, Drake, Hall and Bonnier in that order. Just as the crowd started to invade the circuit, Hill came into view, his engine boiling like a kettle. Ward overtook him, just as Gurney's car came slowly down, travelling backwards. Nutty had again left the course at the hairpin, and Rjinisky had just vanished into thin air.

This sort of thing should not, of course, be permitted, and tended to spoil one of the finest races of 1960. Next year the organizers hope to run a fullscale Grand Prix, in addition to compact and Formula Junior events. Lady (Watta) Boddie, wife of the President of the A.C. of Inuaga, presented the awards, the huge Trophy having to be divided between Brabharn and Moss. This was done by Alf Francis with a hacksaw, he having noticed that the left side_(Moss's) was gold, and the other gold plated.
Results
1. Jack Brabbam (Cooper-Corvette).
Stirling Moss (Lotus-Offy), 1 h. 57 m. 24.8 s.,
131.8 m.p.h. 1
3. Chuck Daigh (Scarab), 1 h. 57 m. 26.8 s.
4. Lance Reventlow (Scarab), 2 h. 01 m. 02 S.
5 Bob Drake (Maserati S and U/s), 47 laps.
6 Jim Hall (Lotus-Dodge)46 laps
7 Joe Bonnier (Porsche –six) 46 laps.
Retirements: Officially none, but all others disqualified.

Notes
To enable the race to take place, the island’s laws had to be changed; only cars of up to 1,000cc are normally permitted on Inuaga, which explains the Governor’s Mini-Minor

The Scarabs were altered to rear engines just before the start.
Moss’ Lotus was not the normal Walker car, but a modified “Junior”
Brabham’s Cooper-Corvette was a very hush-hush experimental Indianapolis car.

Jim Hall’s Dodge engine came from a used car lot in Florida.

Phil Hill’s Cooper-Allison was an ex-Yeoman-Credit car, forgotten in the rush from Riverside, but engine-less until a V-12 Allison was found in a Los Angeles dump.

Bob Drake’s Maserati did not actually belong to Fangio, but to the Montagu Museum.

Rodger Ward entered his Midget to see the race from the driver’s seat.

Notabilities at the race included Canon Delmonte (RAC), Count Luridani (ACI) Drew Dennit (BP) and press men from all over the globe.


I feel it is appropriate that we should remeber this race today.

Excellent stuff, Roger!

BTW, no such race is listed in 'All But My Life'... I wonder why?- it seems quite memorable event.

I bet our noble host Don Capps was also there, and Barry Lake probably reported for RCN. Did karlcars mention the race in his Gurney bio? And most interestingly: who will be the first to post a picture of Lady (Watta) Boddie?

Isn't the variation in time zones an interesting phenomena?

What was the exact date of the race ?

My first reaction was to look at the last pages of "All but my life" but as Wolf said no mention of this race. It is just indicated 27 November, A.C. Bahamas,
Nassau Tourist Trophy, Ferrari 3-litre, 1st, 1h 20'16" (83.559 m.p.h.)
International Trophy Nassau, Lotus, retired
Governor's Trophy, Lotus 19, retired
Go-Kart race, Go-cart, 13th.

The victory shared by two cars, that's called a dead heat and it makes me think about the 1967 Syracuse GP, won by the two Ferraris 312 and their drivers, Scarfiotti and Parkes, dedicated in memory of Lorenzo Bandini.

Originally posted by Barry Boor
Isn't the variation in time zones an interesting phenomena?

Depends on whether or not the member sleeps... Wolf and I obviously get the least bed time....

A great fun story.... nice to see Sir Cum Ference get the proper acclaim.

The result of this race was actually listed in one book of motor racing results I have,or had- can't remember which one.
For anyone who has not yet got the joke it ,the report that is, was originally published in Autosport Xmas 1960 issue,not April 1st !

1st April...

In French we say "Poisson d'avril"... Just before the funny Brazilian GP our TV commentators, including ex F2, F3000 and Tourism driver Thierry Tassin gave away a secret secret: Michael - who still will wait to beat the Ascari's record - is bald. He wears a wig.