22 replies to this topic

[Richard Jenkins]

Hi all,
Can anyone tell me a bit more about this fellow - Le Mans & IMSA stalwart...

Reason I ask is someone researching him has said Ancestry says he died in 2007... but that can't be right, can't it? Surely his passing would be noticed somewhere?

As I'm not that up with sportscar driver history (unless they cross over one of the fields I cover already), can anyone clear up a bit more about Jim & I can let this person researching him know more....

[Hse289]

Im a Shelby enthusiast and noticed Jim Adams raced a Cobra Daytona at Sebring 1965. He co drove the car with one of the best... Phil Hill.
I too would like to know more.
Paul

[ReWind]

Someone researching him has said Ancestry says he died in 2007... but that can't be right, can't it? Surely his passing would be noticed somewhere?

As you surely will know according to the SSDI a certain James L. Adams, b. 28 January 1937, died on 15 April 2007. Last residence is given as Los Angeles, California. SSN was issued in Alabama.

AFAIK 28 January 1937 is the birth date of Jim Adams of motor racing fame (although in my files I also noticed "maybe 1939"). According to my notes Jim Adams was born in Los Angeles. But that piece of info may not be reliable. In America the mentioning of a "home town" doesn't necessarily mean the person was born there. "Birth place" and "home town" easily get mixed up. If he was in fact born in LA it would be unusual that his SSN should have been issued in Alabama.

Furthermore probably there are lots of people in LA called Jim Adams.

To be sure whether the deceased one was the racing driver or not, racing programmes should be useful. I think there is a good chance that Jim Adams is listed with his initials. If his middle name begins with any letter except "L" there should be hope he's still alive.

Edited by ReWind, 27 May 2009 - 18:03.

[fines]

If he was in fact born in LA it would be unusual that his SSN should have been issued in Alabama.

Honest question: Would the SSN be issued when the person in question is born, or when he/she starts earning money?

[Arjan de Roos]

Jim Adams drove CanAm Ferrari's in the early 1970's. He was entered by Earle Cord racing who later (mid 1970) inherited the Ferrari 612 CanAM (0866), however with a 512S engine mounted.

1970: 20th at Watkins Glen (512S), 7th at Edmonton and 8th at Mid-Ohio (all with a genuine 512S) and a 4th at Donnybrook (612).
1971: 8th at Mosport, 10th at Road Atlanta and 8th at Laguna Seca.

[ReWind]

"Complete Archive" (5 pages) & overview

Edited by ReWind, 27 May 2009 - 20:57.

[Richard Jenkins]

Thanks Reinhard - my guess is that it is co-incidence. After all I fell foul of two Jesse Rose's being born on exactly the same day. But I'd like to know for certain, I must admit.

[Jerry Entin]

Richie: Jim Adams was very tall for a race driver and he also was a stock broker.

He was born January 28, 1937 in Los Angeles and is still very much alive.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 31 October 2010 - 00:55.

[Tom Glowacki]

Honest question: Would the SSN be issued when the person in question is born, or when he/she starts earning money?

Either. Back in the day, more likely when the individual started working. Today, the tendency is toward shortly after birth as the tax return will require a SSN for children claimed as dependents and exemptions. No more claiming your dog or cat as dependent.

[raceannouncer2003]

Maybe try contacting John Hotchkis throught this contact webpage:

http://www.hotchkis.net/contact.html

Adams apparently drove on the Hotchkis team from 1986 to 1993.

Vince H.

[RA Historian]

Jim Adams drove a large variety of cars over the years. Early on he drove production cars for Hollywood Sports Cars dealership, notably an MG B. Drove a McLaren in the Can Am. Later the Ferrari 612/512 as noted. With the blossoming of the IMSA Camel GT he was in constant demand as a capable co driver. Drove Porsche 962 and later Spice-Chevrolet for Hotchkis Racing for a number of years. Also drove Porsche 962 for Bayside Racing, as well as numerous other drives. Always seemed able to bring it home while doing reasonably fast laps. Hope that the report is erroneous and that he is still with us.
Tom

[Haine Kane]

Hello dear friends,

In 1998, one of my friend, give me a press book file from JAGUAR write just before the LE MANS 1985.

And this is the scan from the Jim ADAMS profile.



You can see that Jim was born in LOS ANGELES and reside in the same town.

[Jerry Entin]

Jim Adams as he looks now.

Still the same smile.
Richie he is very much alive.

photo: Chris and Jodie Coffel
Chad Raynal collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 31 October 2010 - 00:43.

[oldtransamdriver]

I remember watching Jim Adams win the production car race at the 1965 Mosport Players 200 wknd. with the famous Hollywood Sports Cars Sunbeam Tiger, built by Doane Spencer.

Robert Barg

[RA Historian]

Thanks, Jerry, I am glad to hear this news.
Tom

[Richard Jenkins]

Thanks Jerry - great picture too.

[jj2728]

I knew I had some pics of his Can Am Ferrari.
Mid-Ohio 1970

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Note to Bob Barg:

Hiya, BB!

Yes, I, too, was there to watch Adams in the Tiger at Mosport in '65. I was spectating from high on the hill at 2A. Man, but didn't JA get that black beast sideways thru there! A real treat to watch and admire.

[oldtransamdriver]

Note to Bob Barg:

Hiya, BB!

Yes, I, too, was there to watch Adams in the Tiger at Mosport in '65. I was spectating from high on the hill at 2A. Man, but didn't JA get that black beast sideways thru there! A real treat to watch and admire.

Manfred, I'm trying to remember who else was in that race. Seems to me he beat a local Cobra and some other good cars. I'm guessing that Rootes Canada paid handsomely to bring Jim and the Tiger to race at Mosport for some good publicity.

Robert Barg

[OCTARD]

Jim Adams performed remarkably, in a variety of different cars, for roughly 20 years.

The picture Jerry Entin posted is from a Tigers United event in July, 2010, and Jim is sitting in the Hollywood Sport Cars Sunbeam Tiger. The event had an evening discussion dedicated to Jim's racing efforts. The picture should be credited to Chris and Jodie Coffel.

-Chad

[B Squared]

I knew I had some pics of his Can Am Ferrari.
Mid-Ohio 1970

Thanks for posting this photo jj. This is the Ferrari that became the Kirk F. White/Penske/Sunoco Ferrari 512 M. From Mark Donohue: Technical Excellence At Speed by Michael Argetsinger pages 194-195. A brief sampling of Michael's detailed account of the transformation.

"The 512 S we isolated was chassis 1040, which was owned by Steve Earle and Chris Cord and being raced in the Can-Am by Jim Adams, with legendary hot-rodder Doanne Spencer as mechanic," recalls White. "It was the available car that had been the least abused. They were coming to Mid-Ohio to run the Can-Am on August 23 and agreed to sell us the car after the race for $28,000 if we thought it looked good."

At Mid-Ohio on August 23 Bob Bondurant, whose Lola had dropped out early in the race, finished the race in the Ferrari in seventh place when Adams was overwhelmed by the sweltering heat. After Mid-Ohio, Doanne Spencer delivered the Ferrari 512 S spyder to Kirk White Motor Cars. "The car was on our premises for two or three hours before the Penske transporter arrived and took it away," recalls White. "It was the last time we saw it for quite awhile." When the Ferrari arrived at Newton Square, John Woodard recalls that "it was really beat." Mark told Woody, "We're going to rebuild this thing and turn it into a coupe and race it at Daytona."

[jj2728]

Thanks for the info. Quite an interesting story.

[OCTARD]

A few more Jim Adams facts....

• Ken Miles made the recommendation to hire Jim Adams for his first race with Shelby American. That first Shelby American drive had Jim paired up with Lew Spencer, who was then relieved by Phil Hill in a Daytona Coupe at Sebring, 1965 (chassis# CSX2602).
• There were four Daytona Coupes being run by Shelby American at the 1965 Sebring 12 Hours. Jim Adams was one of eight drivers. Though this was Jim’s first race in a Daytona Coupe, he out-qualified all of his Shelby teammates, and was the fastest car in the GT class.
• In 1965, Jim Adams won most of the west coast B-Production events entered with the Hollywood Sport Cars Sunbeam Tiger. During this string of victories, Jim also bested A-Production 427 Cobras with his 260 cu. inch small block Ford powered Tiger (built by his primary mechanic, crew chief and fabricator, Doane Spencer).

For a bit more on Jim Adams (and Doane Spencer), please see this article entitled "Flawless & Fast," in the July-August, 2012, issue of Vintage Motorsport.

http://www.impeccabl...om/media....pdf

Many thanks to Vintage Motorsport for allowing me to share this effort.

-Chad

Edited by OCTARD, 05 December 2012 - 06:43.