9 replies to this topic

[Msoli]

I would like to know if anybody has information and photographs of the IMSA Radial Sedan Series, particular in the 1976 thru 1979 seasons. Especially any photographs of their races held at Daytona Speedway in 1976-1979. Any information would be great. Future thank you.

[URY914]

Sadly there is very little info on the web or printed about the RS series. My history of IMSA book doesn't cover it at all.

[hansfohr]

Sadly there is very little info on the web or printed about the RS series. My history of IMSA book doesn't cover it at all.

I found significant information .....
http://en.wikipedia....ciation#IMSA_RS
http://alex62.typepa...-go-racing.html

..... and images:
http://www.pbase.com/mwphoto/73rs

[arttidesco]

Never heard of the Radial Sedan series before but I am glad I have heard of it now amazing links thanks for asking & sharing :-)

Keep noticing the name Gene Felton cropping up all over the place, he was over here at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with Dale Earnhardts (Buick engined) #8 Chevy Nova and a Buck Baker Rocket 88 how long has Felton been racing must be going on nearly 40 years ?

[URY914]

I found significant information .....
http://en.wikipedia....ciation#IMSA_RS
http://alex62.typepa...-go-racing.html

..... and images:
http://www.pbase.com/mwphoto/73rs

If you consider how long the series lasted and the number of races and drivers, the links you provided really don't provide much information. Actual start and finish info and drivers and car info is about zero.

[Graham Clayton]

Some potted results, but better than nothing!

http://www.hemmings...._feature11.html

[JacnGille]

Keep noticing the name Gene Felton cropping up all over the place, he was over here at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with Dale Earnhardts (Buick engined) #8 Chevy Nova and a Buck Baker Rocket 88 how long has Felton been racing must be going on nearly 40 years ?

As we say over here in The Colonies, Gene is older than dirt. But yes, Felton has raced for many decades. I have a pic of him at Turn 3 at Road Atlanta, cigarette in mouth.

[gfastr]

There is an extensive photo gallery of IMSA RS and 2.5 TransAm cars on Facebook; it is moderated by Brian Walsh, son of former Ford Pinto racer Jerry "Racer" Walsh.

[Frank S]

I can name the driver and car that qualified sixteenth seventeent at the April May 11, 1975, Riverside International Raceway edition of the BFG Radial Challenge: Frank Sheffield in a 1972 Vega GT coupe. DNS after a "discussion" of his oversize tires with organizers and competitors.

The field was approximately 28 racers, maybe eighteen of them actual IMSA-rules-prepared. The remainder were showroom stock SCCA cars invited to pad the slim entry, when plenty of the usual crowd failed to make the trip from IMSA's home turf. To entice West Coast Showroom Stock sedan racers, BFG offered a set of tires for the highest-finishing SS racer. Since the Vega was running on Pirellis one size larger than stock, and was a second or so faster than the next-fastest SS car, the Vega driver was offered the opportunity to withdraw his entry and receive a refund of the fee. Done.

The Entry List was published in CP&AW - whatever it was in those days - with no explanation of the DNS. Arlene Hiss whined about being passed by a too-fast Vega, in Road & Track a couple of months later. I don't have either of those documents, and would be eager to have a copy. 

 

I have written this before, possibly even here on TNF: my racing career highlight was on that day in (new) Turn Nine at RIR. The factory Team Gremlins in their qualifying-train mode passed me at the entrance, maybe 30 or 40 MPH faster, but I made up fifty yards or more and was on their back bumpers by the exit. If I'd had some horsepower I'd have nipped them at the line. Happy moment. 

Edited by Frank S, 12 November 2016 - 00:54.

[Graham Clayton]

A Sports Illustrated article giving background as to how the IMSA Radial Sedan Series was created:

http://sportsillustr...225/1/index.htm