Who was Tom Klausler?
#1
Posted 10 July 2002 - 23:38
http://www.autosport...d=19786&s=5&l=2
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..."and I remember it came back to me one day in a conversation with Gilles Villeneuve. We were talking about other drivers, about who he thought really quick, really talented, and who he thought over-rated. We'd been through a long list, and then he said this: "There's a guy I raced against in Formula Atlantic, called Tom Klausler. A very quiet, shy, guy, not at all pushy, and he never had much money. But I tell you what: he had as much natural ability as anyone I've ever seen in a race car - and the world's never going to know it..."
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I vaguely remember seeing that name in various race reports back in the '70s.
Any more info about this driver?
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#2
Posted 11 July 2002 - 00:09
#3
Posted 11 July 2002 - 00:11
He won the inaugral 'F5000 with mudguards' Can Am race in 1977 in a wierd looking device called the Sckee? - or something like that.
And - he would get about the pits with a Burmese cat on a lead.
Not sure if he was a Californian but given the cat on a lead, who would be surprised.
#5
Posted 11 July 2002 - 06:35
Right, I don't have the Hungness books available here but out of the top of my head, 1979, driving s Schkee-Chevy. a turbo-V6 version. Perhaps the same brand that A.J. put his faith in in later years? (If it wasn't '79, then '80)
for a non- groundseffects car, neat looking machine as I remember. Just about as nice as the Can-Am car he ran in '78.
Henri Greuter
#6
Posted 11 July 2002 - 06:43
#7
Posted 11 July 2002 - 13:12
Schkee - Chev V8
Qual. Speed 186.732
Started Position 30
Finishing Position 29
Retired lap 60 - Gearbox
Source ; Indianapolis 500 Chronicle - Rick Popely
#9
Posted 11 July 2002 - 20:04
#10
Posted 11 July 2002 - 20:40
If I can I will get a picture of him on this thread.
#11
Posted 12 July 2002 - 01:30
#12
Posted 12 July 2002 - 04:50
http://www.atlasf1.c...ht=Tom Klausler
#13
Posted 12 July 2002 - 12:29
Klausler was always one of those I thought would make it into the upper levels. He was one of those emerged from the days when F/Atlantic was perhaps the spawning ground for some very serious talent (Rahal, Gilles, Cogan, Rosberg among others...). It would seem that the economy of the early 80's may have done him in, which is a real pity.
#14
Posted 24 June 2010 - 01:28
And yes, he did bring a cat or two to the races. I once had to help him round up one in a motel hallway after it had escaped from his room. Still makes me laugh.
He was also a pretty good engine builder. I think it was Gimli that year when he had to install his backup engine after qualifying. Only problem was that he hadn't had time to finish building it before he left for the race. It was in pieces in his tag-along trailer. No problem. He put it together overnight and finished second to Gilles the next day if memory serves.
He also had a number of races in Allan McCall's Tui BH2 in '77.
I don't know where he is today but I do know that he moved to Livonia, Mi. and worked with Wiley McCoy at McLaren Engines for some time.
As Gilles said, Tom was definitely not big buck guy. I caught a ride with him from St. Jovite/Mont Tremblant to Chicago in '76 and I laughed like crazy at some of his antics. He was one of my favorite people in the series.
His tow vehicle was a Chevy Suburban, didn't get very good gas mileage and he stretched it so far at one point that we ended up coasting into a gas station in Windsor, Ontario. He had gas in the trailer for his Lola T-460 but didn't want to use it. Another chuckle.
In those days the Canadian dollar was actually worth more than the US buck. At one of the toll booths on the Ohio Turnpike...toll road...he tried to get the toll taker person to take some Canadian cash instead of American. The person in the booth wasn't interested in Tom's story about the money. Even more chuckles.
If somebody reading this knows how to contact him, tell him I'd love to hear from him.
Here are the pics I have of Tom in my flickr stuff. There are a lot more to be added as time goes on.
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4289237319
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4334225590
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4327397966
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4367516582
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4372238582
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4405768302
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4442801982
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4442022957
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4600562872
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4607554983
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4607555545
Edited by Marc Sproule, 24 June 2010 - 03:28.
#16
Posted 24 June 2010 - 05:08
Tom Klausler is in the bottom row on this page:
Riverside, August 1983
He's in a stock block Chevy powered March 82C. Too bad he never got a good champ car to drive. I should have some of him in that car too.
Here's one of him chasing Brabham at Trois Rivieres in '81. If memory serves it's an ex-Rahal Frissbee.
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4352325707
#18
Posted 25 June 2010 - 03:59
#19
Posted 04 January 2011 - 21:23
Perhaps has anyone got his actual address? I am trying to send him a letter.
I am very grateful for your help. Regards from Vienna - Alfred
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#20
Posted 05 January 2011 - 15:20
Da Klausler für McLaren Engines in Michigan arbeitet bzw. zuletzt gearbeitet haben soll, die in Livonia ansässig sind, was gleich nebenan liegt, gehe ich (fast) jede Wette ein, dass er der Richtige ist.
#21
Posted 17 April 2011 - 23:18
The 1981 car was the Schkee DB-4 and used a turbo Chevrolet (apparently a 209 V-8).
The DB-4 was the only turbocharged Chevrolet at the 1981 Indy 500, and was limited to a 208 ci capacity.
#22
Posted 17 April 2011 - 23:47
Anyone know this? I think it was related to funding, or some such unfortunate event that kept him from the grid.
He really was one fabulous driver, another great hope for America who never quite got his due.
#23
Posted 18 April 2011 - 14:05
Any Schkee expert around here? What type of Schkee was the 1980 Indy car? Klausler raced the DB6 Indy car in 1983, and I know the DB1 was a single-seat CanAm. Anyone knowing more types pretty please?
The 1981 car was the Schkee DB-4 and used a turbo Chevrolet (apparently a 209 V-8).
Same car. The Schkee DB-4 was a March 82C massaged by Bob McKee and partially bankrolled by Doug Schulz. Hence the "Schkee".He's in a stock block Chevy powered March 82C.