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LA Times GP for Sportscars


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#1 wibblywobbly

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Posted 17 April 2004 - 17:31

Hey guys, me again. :rolleyes:

Can anyone tell me the dates of this event, for both 1965 and 1966? Also, was it actually a championship race for USRRC or Can-Am?

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#2 Rob Ryder

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Posted 17 April 2004 - 17:51

1965 - don't know (yet)
1966 - 30/10/66 LA Times GP, Riverside - Rd.5 of the Can-Am Challenge

#3 wibblywobbly

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Posted 17 April 2004 - 19:22

Thanks Rob.

Another question, did the 100 Mile Monterrey GP for sports cars takes place after the USRRC and Can-Am seasons, in '65 & '66 respectively? I'm really having a hard time understanding these "Non-Championship" races and where they fit into the regular schedule. :confused: Were these "just for fun" events or what?

#4 Don Capps

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Posted 17 April 2004 - 21:35

The date for the 1965 Times GP at Riverside was 31 October, Hap Sharp winning in a Caparral 2A.

The United States Road Racing CHampionship was the Sports Car Club of America's professional racing series which started in 1963, coming into being by the unstinting efforts of John Bishop and the demise of the United States Auto Club's professional road racing series, the Road Racing Championship, which ran from 1958 to 1962.

The Canadian-American Challenge Cup came into being in 1966 to scoop up those events, such as the Times GP and the Fall Laguna race, which either had contracts with USAC or really didn't want to commit to the SCCA for varous reasons.

The Fall events at Laguna Seca in 1963, 1964, and 1965 were standalone events and not included in the USRRC. As difficult as it may seem to believe these days, not very professional event was a part of championship at the time, especially with the USAC RRC dying at the end of 1962.

#5 WINO

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Posted 17 April 2004 - 22:22

Apart from the Fall races at Riverside and Laguna Seca, separate USRRC races were organized on those two tracks as well. But the attraction of the Times GP and Pacific GP was the substantial purse to be paid out, plus the fact that both races were held within a week of each other, thus minimizing travel expenses for the participants.

With the virtual demise of sportscar racing in Europe, these two events were really the keepers of the flame, in spite of the fact that the USAC Road racing Championship ended in 1962. Never have there been more diverse fields in sportscar racing than in the Fall Series of the early sixties.

WINO

#6 Ray Bell

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Posted 17 April 2004 - 22:31

Originally posted by Don Capps
.....The Fall events at Laguna Seca in 1963, 1964, and 1965 were standalone events and not included in the USRRC. As difficult as it may seem to believe these days, not every professional event was a part of championship at the time, especially with the USAC RRC dying at the end of 1962.


If only this were true today...

This very feature of racing in the decades prior to 1980 made for constant variety and change. It probably also made it easier for newcomers to enter the sport, and for outsiders to shine through on occasion.

#7 wibblywobbly

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Posted 18 April 2004 - 11:53

Originally posted by WINO
Apart from the Fall races at Riverside and Laguna Seca, separate USRRC races were organized on those two tracks as well. .

WINO


So, does that mean the events were organized and sanctioned by the USRRC? Does anyone know of any good websites about this era of racing, with a good results page?

Thanks for the info, up to this point. I'm learning a lot! :wave:

#8 Don Capps

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Posted 18 April 2004 - 12:00

The USRRC and these Fall Pro Events were separate and distinct from one another. The USRRC was a SCCA show, while it took a few years for all the former USAC events to move away from USAC sanction to SCCA sanction -- ACCUS playing a role in all this.

The problem is that a track like Laguna Seca would host a SCCA National (Pacific Coast Championship) Event, a USRRC event, and the USAC Fall Pro race with the same folks organizing the event -- SCAMP, and the same SCCA club supporting it, the SF Region.

It is truly funny to realize just how confusing this must be to folks today since we scarcely batted an eye at it at the time.....

#9 wibblywobbly

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Posted 18 April 2004 - 13:02

Originally posted by Don Capps
The USRRC and these Fall Pro Events were separate and distinct from one another. The USRRC was a SCCA show, while it took a few years for all the former USAC events to move away from USAC sanction to SCCA sanction -- ACCUS playing a role in all this.

The problem is that a track like Laguna Seca would host a SCCA National (Pacific Coast Championship) Event, a USRRC event, and the USAC Fall Pro race with the same folks organizing the event -- SCAMP, and the same SCCA club supporting it, the SF Region.

It is truly funny to realize just how confusing this must be to folks today since we scarcely batted an eye at it at the time.....


My thoughts, exactly! :lol: Thanks for your help, Don et al. :wave:

#10 Michael Oliver

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Posted 20 October 2006 - 09:58

Just reviving this thread because I am having trouble finding any entry list or results for the 1964 LA Times GP at Riverside, which took place on Oct 10th 1964. Apparently, there was a report in the following week's Autosport, but I don't have easy access to that. All I know at present is:

1st Parnelli Jones, Cooper-Chevy
2nd Roger Penske, Chaparral
3rd Jim Clark, Lotus

More info would be most welcome, particularly the make and model driven by each competitor!

I believe Dan Gurney drove in a Lotus 19-Ford and Clark was in a Lotus 30-Ford.

#11 RA Historian

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Posted 20 October 2006 - 12:11

Originally posted by Michael Oliver

More info would be most welcome, particularly the make and model driven by each competitor!

.


Look in www.classicscars.com. Full results are there.

#12 RA Historian

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Posted 20 October 2006 - 12:15

I think I spoke too soon. That web site has full results for the USRRC. I'll see what I have in my notes.

#13 RA Historian

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Posted 20 October 2006 - 12:43

Enough of this fooling around. Here is the top 15 for 1965. 1964 to follow,

1. Hap Sharp, Chaparral 2
2. Jim Clark, Lotus 40
3. Bruce McLaren, McLaren Elva Mk. II (M1B)
4. Charlie Hayes, McLaren Elva Mk. I
5. Chris Amon, Ford GTX-1
6. Dick Macon, McLaren Elva Mk. I
7. Hugh Dibley, Lola T-70
8. John Cannon, Genie Mk. 10
9. Roger McCluskey, Lotus 19-Chev
10. Augie Pabst, Scarab Mk. IV
11. Skip Scott, Ford GT-40
12. Tony Settember, Lotus 30
13. George Follmer, Lotus 23-Porsche
14. Jerry Hansen, McKee Mk. II
15. Dick Thompson, Cobra 427

31 Oct 1965
204 miles
102.95 mph
Fast Lap, McLaren
Leaders: Walt Hansgen, Lola T-70, 8 laps; Jerry Grant, Lotus 19-Chev, 2 laps; Bob Bondurant, Lola T-70, 18 laps; Hap Sharp, Chaparral 2, balance.

#14 RA Historian

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Posted 20 October 2006 - 12:47

For 1964:

1. Parnelli Jones, Cooper-Ford
2. Roger Penske, Chaparral 2
3. Jim Clark, Lotus 30
4. Ed Leslie, Cooper-Ford
5. Bob Bondurant, Cooper-Ford
6. Bobby Unser, Lotus 19-Chev
7. Richie Ginther, Cooper-Ford
8. Hugh Dibley, Brabham BT-8
9. Don Wester, Genie Mk. 10
10. Rick Muther, Lotus 23
11. George Follmer, Lotus 23-Porsche
12. Charlie Cox, Cooper-Ford

11 Oct 1964
200 mi
Fast qualifier: Dan Gurney, Lotus 19-B, 1:29.03
Leaders: Bruce McLaren, McLaren M1A, 3 laps; Parnelli Jones, 74 laps.

Hope this all helps!

#15 Gerr

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Posted 20 October 2006 - 12:55

Here:
http://wsrp.wz.cz/natus1964.html#132

#16 rlnorton

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Posted 20 October 2006 - 15:38

Originally posted by Michael Oliver
Just reviving this thread because I am having trouble finding any entry list or results for the 1964 LA Times GP at Riverside, which took place on Oct 10th 1964. Apparently, there was a report in the following week's Autosport, but I don't have easy access to that. All I know at present is:

1st Parnelli Jones, Cooper-Chevy
2nd Roger Penske, Chaparral
3rd Jim Clark, Lotus

More info would be most welcome, particularly the make and model driven by each competitor!

I believe Dan Gurney drove in a Lotus 19-Ford and Clark was in a Lotus 30-Ford.


You can find the complete results described in Competition Press, located at
http://www.box.net/public/39tplplrdj

The 1964 Riverside & Laguna Seca races are in Volume 13, Number 8.

The 1965 Laguna Seca race is in Volume 15, Number 44.

The 1965 Riverside race is in Volume 15, Number 46.

Bob Norton

#17 Manfred Cubenoggin

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Posted 20 October 2006 - 16:40

WOW! I can hardly believe my eyes! My beloved old CP & Autoweek!

Thanks so much for posting those links, rinorton. One issue you highlighted was the very first issue I ever saw...and bought, naturally. Volume 15, No 44. I so clearly remember it in my mind's eye...Chuck Parsons spinning his Genie off the grid at Laguna.

I threw all my many issues out many years ago. At one time, I had a three-year subscription with a five-year extension...eight full years! Too bad it evolved much the same way as R&T...too comercial for my tastes.

And now here they are again! Going to busy downloading for awhile, I fear...

:) :) :)

#18 cstlhn

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Posted 20 October 2006 - 18:41

Here is a photo of the starting grid for the 1965 race.

Posted Image

#19 cstlhn

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Posted 20 October 2006 - 18:46

The eventual winner!

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#20 RA Historian

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Posted 21 October 2006 - 02:05

Originally posted by Manfred Cubenoggin
WOW! I can hardly believe my eyes! My beloved old CP & Autoweek!

:) :) :)


Competition Press..................I grew up on that thing and could not wait for it to come twice a month. It brought info and race reports nothing else did. It was absolutely invaluable. Unlike Manfred, I still have all mine from January, 1960, into the early 1980s when the late Bob Irvin greatly de-emphasized racing. I stopped subscribing then, but resumed several years later when Autoweek went slick paper magazine. The current Autoweek certainly is not Competition Press, but it does .what it sees its mission to be fairly well.

#21 dretceterini

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Posted 21 October 2006 - 03:46

Sure doesn't seem like it was 40 years ago to me :(

#22 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 21 October 2006 - 07:11

Entry lists for 1964 here...thanks to Frank!

http://home.san.rr.c...f/covtmgp64.htm

Vince Howlett, Victoria, B.C., Canada

#23 T54

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Posted 21 October 2006 - 13:21

Here is a photo of the starting grid for the 1965 race.


Uh, make that 1964 and Hall was not the winner that year, Jones was. Your pic is of a 1964 Chaparral 2 driven by Penske, this car won the following weekend at Lagina Seca after a torrid battle with Gurney in the Pacesetter Lotus 19, a race that for which Dan has absolutely no recollection. :)

#24 Michael Oliver

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Posted 22 October 2006 - 13:52

Thanks to everyone for their rapid responses. I thought it must be on the wspr site but couldn't see it for looking!

#25 cstlhn

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Posted 06 November 2006 - 22:23

Originally posted by T54

Uh, make that 1964 and Hall was not the winner that year, Jones was. Your pic is of a 1964 Chaparral 2 driven by Penske, this car won the following weekend at Lagina Seca after a torrid battle with Gurney in the Pacesetter Lotus 19, a race that for which Dan has absolutely no recollection. :)


You are absolutley correct. One of my negative files was mislabeled. Thanks to Starlet I have been able to correctly identify the photos. The 1965 race seems to have attracted most of the World's great racing drivers. The entry list reads like a who's who of Motor Racing.

Posted Image

Eventual race winner Parnelli Jones.

David

#26 RA Historian

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Posted 07 November 2006 - 02:43

Originally posted by cstlhn



Eventual race winner Parnelli Jones.

David


Ummmm, the photo is from 1965, I believe. Jones won in 1964 in a Cooper-Ford.

#27 T54

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Posted 07 November 2006 - 05:02

1965 Indeed! Jones, Hansgen and Grant in the Lotus 19 with the barn-door spoiler. Hap will show them the way around in the main event. :)

#28 RA Historian

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Posted 07 November 2006 - 13:17

Quick now! Which was the better looking car, the Lola T-70 or the much abused Lotus 19-Chev?

#29 Rosemayer

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Posted 07 November 2006 - 13:40

You can order a VHS copy of the 1965 race here


http://www.motorspor....com/Video.html

Cheery Rosey

#30 Michael Oliver

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Posted 07 November 2006 - 19:05

Originally posted by RA Historian
Quick now! Which was the better looking car, the Lola T-70 or the much abused Lotus 19-Chev?


Oh, the T-70 for sure, it has always been a beautiful looking car in both spyder and coupe form. The 19 was OK in its original guise but by the time Jerry and his guys had finished...ahem...updating it it looked an abomination, albeit a rather fast one. But I guess this was necessary due to the fact that things had moved on somewhat in the five years since the design first appeared!