75 replies to this topic

[brickyard]

Does anybody knows how many Wildcats were built, and the correct references (mk 1, MK.I, MK.1) ??

[Buford]

What I do know is they were financed using a US government welfare for the rich program supposedly designed for encouraging the exploration of small quantities of oil reservers - wildcat drilling. They were written off as unsuccessful wildcat drilling ventures. They didn't find any oil with those drilling rigs.

[brickyard]

What I do know is they were financed using a US government welfare for the rich program supposedly designed for encouraging the exploration of small quantities of oil reservers - wildcat drilling. They were written off as unsuccessful wildcat drilling ventures. They didn't find any oil with those drilling rigs.

I mean the Pat Patrick's racing cars (Wildcats)

(Nice sense of humour you have)

[Buford]

They were called Wildcats because his business was Patrick Petroleum, a wildcat drilling company. I am not joking. They were billed to the US Governnment under the loosely based rules of the program at the time during the "energy crisis". The US Government was desperate to find oil and passed a poorly thought out quicky law that basically gave a blank check to anybody who could prove they were seriously looking for oil, whether they found any or not. It was a program to encourage high risk oil drilling ventures. The racing car construction was a total writeoff billed as part of the expense of drilling for oil. Just one of many, many "creative ways" people find to finance racing cars.

[billthekat]

Originally posted by brickyard




I mean the Pat Patrick's racing cars (Wildcats)

(Nice sense of humour you have)

Luis,

He is not only serious, but he is also correct. The cars were a direct result of the subsidy that Patrick got for oil exploration. They were a part of the bundle of cash that the US Government dropped on Patrick's front steps one day and about which they never asked too many questions since he did have at least a semblence of an operation that was "exploring for oil," which was more than most could say who also got the bundles dropped off on their front steps. While the others used their cash to fund other things, Patrick used his to build and race Indy cars. A great American.

[billthekat]

I am sure that somewhere in my files I have something on the "Wildcat" cars and some notes on the marks and even some chassis listings. They went up to -- take your choice -- the "PR8," the "Mk VIII" or the "Mk 8." There were at least 4 of the PR8/Mk VIII/Mk 8 (several being in the B spec) chassis if I recall. How it got to "8/VIII" is someting I am not willing to entirely entrust to my memory at the moment.

Given that I am slowly trying to work my way through the 1971 NCT season at present (and it is truly slow going right now), not sure when I will be able to hunt around for that particular information. My hand-written files are a bigger shambles than I had realized and so very slow going right now.

[gbl]

Click on the link in my signature, and search for chassis = Wildcat I still haven't found out about 1977-1979, since the 76' car was a MK II and the 79' car was a MK III and in between I can separate at least 3 different (modified?) chassis.

I've already started a thread about the 1978 british races, just use the search menu. I would be very interested in your articles since I'm searching for any kind of champcar reference material.

[brickyard]

I should have read the post with more attention. I thought you were talking about the drilling rigs, not the cars. Sorry about that Buford.

[Buford]

He he. Well they both were financed the same way and the race cars actually were drilling rigs, on the expense accounts anyway! They were part of the costs of drilling for Wildcat oil and I realize it sounded like a joke, and I have been known to joke around. But it was a racing team paid for by the US taxpayers and instead of calling them Wildcats, they could have called them "Uncle Sams." Sorry I do not have any info on what you actually asked. I just thrrew that tidbit in for what I thought might be an interesting insight into how the Wildcats came to exist.

[brickyard]

I just thrrew that tidbit in for what I thought might be an interesting insight into how the Wildcats came to exist.

Glad you did it.

[Allen Brown]

The early ones are a mess. The 1975 Mk 1s were fine but the 1976 lightly modified Mk 2s didn't appear a big step forward and I think the team were looking forward to the chisel nosed Mk 3 and continued to use Mk1s on the short tracks.

But the Mk 3 was a dog's breakfast and only two were built. They only raced a couple of times in 1977 and then Janet Guthrie was palmed off with one and the other was a test bed for the Drake V8. The team soldiered on with the Mk 2s (with were pretty well developed by this time) and sold their Mk 1s. The Mk 4 seems to have been some sort of rethink on the Mk 3 - I really can't figure it out. The car wrecked at Mosport may have been a Mk 4.

Then they put a Cosworth DFV in the remaining Mk 3 and had some fun with that before getting their Penske PC6s. Beyond that, I haven't a clue.

Allen

[gbl]

OK, I already knew about the Guthrie car an was wondering why Patrick would continue with the older chassis:

Now that's what I have so far:

-The Mk.I went to Longhorn and Larry Cannon
-Patrick ran the Mk.II from 1976-78 on the Speedway (at least)
-Other Mk.II were used by AMI and Wysard, the Ross Davis car also had a big frontwing and looks like the 1978 Mccluskey car
-The Gehlhausen 1979 Indy entry is also labeled as a Mk.III, Roger Rager used the car later with the school bus engine
-I don't know about the Mosport car, if the Mk.II always had the big front wing, then this would also be a Mk.III. The Tom Frantz 1979 entry looks nearly identical, so maybe the same car.

The Mk.IV was the 1980 car for Tom Bagley.

I can't identify the 1981 Rager car, almost looks like a 1981 car:

http://www.artemisim...nd&spec=&sdate=



And then there is this picture.... the Mk.V?

[brickyard]

Ok, for start, here are the car types so far:

Mk.I 1975 ? cars built
Mk.II 1976 ? cars built
Mk.III 1977 2 cars built
Mk.IV 1980 ? cars built
Mk.VIII 1981 ? cars built
Mk.VIIIB 1982 ? cars built
MK.IX 1983 ? cars built
MK.IXB 1983 ? cars built
Mk.X 1984 ? cars built

There is also a Mistery car which, acording to Gordon Kirby, was unamed and was destroyed at Indy 1980 by Gordon Johncock a few days before the qualifying. It was designed by Gordon Kimball, and I have heard three names to that car: a) "Wildcat" although with no type; b) "Kimball"; and c) "Patrick". Any ideas about this car?

MK.V, Mk.VI and Mk.VII I think were minor formulae cars constructed by Patrick's staff, but not 100% sure of that (maybe FV or atlantic cars)

The next phase will be who raced those cars.
In the next hours I will be posting here all the drivers and teams I have in my files, that raced Wildcats.

[brickyard]

And then there is this picture.... the Mk.V?

No, I think it's a MK.VIII.

[Gerr]

The Mk VIII and MK VIIIB were designed by Gordon Kimball and Peter Gibbons and based on Gibbon's 1980 Phoenix. Sneva totalled O'Connell's Phoenix at Indy 5/14/80. Johncock totalled the new Wildcat 5/8/80.

Patrick started the Indy Lights (1986ish) series the cars were called Wildcats but built by March.

Bob Riley designed the '76 Wildcat. Bignotti built two of them.

We had a thread here with some info on Wildcats, F1 cars in CART, I think.

[brickyard]

As promissed here are all the Wildcat Races.
Those are only CART races (not includes Indy 1981 and 1982 and Pocono 1981).
This evening I will post the USAC races 1975-1979 including the ones mentioned above.
The goal here is to complete all the "?" and correct some mistakes. Basicly those informations where taken from Phil Harms, GPI, Autosport, and others.

Here are the 1979 and 1980 races:

1979

Spike Gehlhausen, Sta-On Car Glaze, #19 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, ?
Races: Indianapolis

Tom Frantz, Frantz-Hoffman, #28 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Phoenix 1

Tom Frantz, Frantz-Hoffman, #18 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Atlanta 1 (DNS)

Tom Frantz, Kent Oil, #18 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Michigan 1, Michigan 2, Watkins Glen, Michigan 3

Tom Frantz, Freight Train, #16 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Indianapolis (DNQ)

Tom Frantz, Kent Oil Sheraton, #18 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Trenton 3, Ontario

Vern Schuppan, Wysard Motors, #34 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, Wysard Racing
Races: Phoenix 1, Atlanta 1, Atlanta 2, Phoenix 2

Vern Schuppan, Wysard Motors, #34 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Wysard Racing
Races: Indianapolis, Watkins Glen, Trenton 3 (DNS), Ontario, Michigan 3 (DNS)

Vern Schuppan, Wysard Motors, #14? Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Wysard Racing
Races: Michigan 1

Wally Dalenbach, Patrick Racing, #40 Wildcat Mk.III – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Phoenix 1

Wally Dalenbach, Foreman Industries, #40 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, Patrick Racing
Races: Phoenix 2

Howdy Holmes, Armstrong Molding, #46 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, Armstrong Mould Inc.
Races: Indianapolis

Roger Mears, Patrick Racing, #60 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, Patrick Racing
Races: Ontario

Bill Engelhart, Beaudoin Racing, #83 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Indianapolis (DNQ)

Larry Cannon, Cannon Racing, #95 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Michigan 1 (DNS)

Larry Cannon, That’s My Racer, #95 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Indianapolis (DNQ)

Larry Cannon, Cannon Racing, #95 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Trenton 3, Ontario, Michigan 3 (DNS), Atlanta 3, Phoenix 2


1980

Gordon Johncock, North American Van Lines, #20 Wildcat Mk.IV – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Ontario 1, Michigan 1
Ross Davis, The Enterprise, #22 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Ontario 1

Pete Halsmer, Wysard Motors, #34 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, Wysard Racing
Races: Ontario 1

Pete Halsmer, Wysard Motors, #34 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Wysard Racing
Races: Indianapolis (DNQ)

Vern Schuppan, Wysard Motors, #34 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Wysard Racing
Races: Pocono, Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen

John Martin, J & J Enterprises, #37 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Indianapolis (DNQ), Michigan, Milwaukee, Ontario

John Martin, J & J Enterprises, #36 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Mid-Ohio

John Martin, J & J Enterprises, #37 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, ?
Races: Pocono

Tom Bagley, Kent Oil, #40 Wildcat Mk.IV – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Indianapolis, Pocono, Michigan 1, Ontario, Michigan 2

Gary Bettenhausen, Armstrong Mould, #46 Wildcat Mk.II – D.G.S., Armstrong Mould Inc.
Races: Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Pocono, Mid-Ohio, Michigan 1, Watkins Glen, Milwaukee 2 (DNS), Michigan 2

Gary Bettenhausen, Armstrong Mould, #46 Wildcat Mk.II – Offy, Armstrong Mould Inc.
Races: Ontario

Roger Rager, Advance Clean Sweep, #66 Wildcat Mk.? – Chevy, ?
Races: Indianapolis, Pocono, Mid-Ohio, Michigan 1, Milwaukee 2, Ontario, Mexico City, Phoenix

Larry Cannon, Kraco Car Stereo, #95 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Milwaukee 1 (DNQ), Pocono, Mid-Ohio (DNQ), Milwaukee 2 (DNQ)

Larry Cannon, Kraco Car Stereo, #95 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Indianapolis, Michigan 1, Ontario, Michigan 2, Mexico City, Phoenix

[brickyard]

Now the 1981 and 1982 races:

1981

Dennis Firestone, Rhoades Racing, #12 Wildcat Mk.VIII – Ford Cosworth DFX, Rhoades Racing
Races: Atlanta 1

Gary Bettenhausen, Rhoades Racing, #12 Wildcat Mk.VIII – Ford Cosworth DFX, Rhoades Racing
Races: Michigan 1, Milwaukee 2

Gordon Smiley, Intermedics, #12 Wildcat Mk.VIII – Ford Cosworth DFX, Rhoades Racing
Races: Riverside, Watkins Glen, Phoenix 2

Gordon Johncock, STP Oil Treatment, #20 Wildcat Mk.VIII – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: all the championship

Herm Johnson, Kraco Car Stereo, #95 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Atlanta 2

Dick Ferguson, Kraco Car Stereo, #96 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Michigan 1

Tom Frantz, Kraco Car Stereo, #96 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Phoenix 1

Larry Cannon, Kraco Car Stereo, #95 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Phoenix 1

Mario Andretti, Patrick Petroleum, #40 Wildcat Mk.VIII – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Phoenix 1, Atlanta 1, Atlanta 2

Mario Andretti, STP Oil Treatment, #40 Wildcat Mk.VIII – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Milwaukee 1, Michigan 2, Watkins Glen, Phoenix 2

Steve Krisiloff, STP Oil Treatment, #40 Wildcat Mk.VIII – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Michigan 1, Milwaukee 2

Ross Davis, Davis Racing, #77 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Atlanta 1 (DNQ), Atlanta 2, Michigan 2, Watkins Glen, Phoenix 2 (DNQ)

Ross Davis, Davis Racing, #77 Wildcat Mk.? – Chevy, ?
Races: Riverside (DNQ)

Roger Rager, McCrae Plastering, #66 Wildcat Mk.? – Chevy, ?
Races: Riverside, Milwaukee 2, Michigan 2, Watkins Glen (DNQ)

Roger Rager, Seymor Enterprises, #66 Wildcat Mk.? – Chevy, ?
Races: Michigan 1

Roger Rager, McCrae Plastering, #44 Wildcat Mk.? – Chevy, ?
Races: Phoenix 2 (DNQ)

Orio Trice, McCrae Plastering, #66 Wildcat Mk.? – Chevy, ?
Races: Mexico City (DNQ)


1982

Chip Ganassi, First Commercial Corp., #12 Wildcat Mk.VIIIB – Ford Cosworth DFX, Rhoades Racing
Races: Phoenix 1, Cleveland, Michigan 1, Pocono, Michigan 2

Gordon Johncock, STP Oil Treatment, #20 Wildcat Mk.VIIIB – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: all the champioship races

Scott Brayton, Escort Radar Detector, #37 Wildcat Mk.VIII – Ford Cosworth DFX, Brayton Racing
Races: Phoenix 1
Scott Brayton, Escort Radar Detector, #36 Wildcat Mk.VIII – Ford Cosworth DFX, Brayton Racing
Races: Milwaukee 1, Pocono, Michigan 2

Chet Fillip, Circle Bar Truck Corral, #39 Wildcat Mk.? - Ford Cosworth DFX, Circle Bar Auto Racing
Races: Phoenix 2

Mario Andretti, STP Oil Treatment, #40 Wildcat Mk.VIIIB – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: all the championship

[brickyard]

And finnaly 1983 and 1984 (the last year we saw a Wildcat running):

1983

Gordon Johncock, STP Oil Treatment, #20 Wildcat Mk.IX – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Atlanta, Indianapolis

Chet Fillip, Circle Bar Truck Corral, #38 Wildcat Mk.VIII - Ford Cosworth DFX, Circle Bar Auto Racing
Races: Atlanta, Michigan 2

Johnny Rutherford, Sea Rae Boats, #40 Wildcat Mk.IX - Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Atlanta

Johnny Rutherford, Sea Rae Boats, #40 Wildcat Mk.IXB - Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Pocono, Michigan 2, Las Vegas, Phoenix

Doug Heveron, Rhoades Racing, #41 Wildcat Mk.VIIIB – Ford Cosworth DFX, Rhoades Racing
Races: Atlanta

Danny Ongais, Sea Rae Boats, #60 Wildcat Mk.IX – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Milwaukee

Jerry Karl, Renaissance Rhoades, #61 Wildcat Mk.VIII – Ford Cosworth DFX, Rhoades Racing
Races: Milwaukee

Jerry Karl, Renaissance Rhoades, #61 Wildcat Mk.VIX – Ford Cosworth DFX, Rhoades Racing
Races: Michigan 1

Jerry Karl, Rhoades Racing, #46 Wildcat Mk.VIX – Ford Cosworth DFX, Rhoades Racing
Races: Pocono

Chip Ganassi, Old Milwaukee, #60 Wildcat Mk.IX – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Cleveland, Michigan 1, Pocono

Chip Ganassi, Sea Rae Boats, #60 Wildcat Mk.IX – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Indianapolis, Mid-Ohio

Chip Ganassi, STP Oil Treatment, #20 Wildcat Mk.IX – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Elkhart Lake

Chip Ganassi, STP Oil Treatment, #60 Wildcat Mk.IXB – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Michigan 2, Las Vegas, Laguna Seca, Phoenix


1984

Chip Ganassi, Old Milwaukee, #40 Wildcat Mk.X – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Long Beach, Phoenix, Milwaukee

Harry Ruble, Mr. Chicken, #62 Wildcat Mk.VIII – Ford Cosworth DFX, ?
Races: Cleveland (DNQ)

[brickyard]

And now the USAC races 1975, 1976 and 1977:

1975

Gordon Johncock, Sinmast, #20 Wildcat Mk.I – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: Ontario 1, Ontario 3, Indianapolis, Milwaukee 1, Pocono, Michigan 1, Milwaukee 2, Michigan 2, Trenton, Phoenix

Wally Dalenbach, Sinmast, #40 Wildcat Mk.I – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: Indianapolis, Milwaukee 1, Pocono, Michigan 1, Michigan 2, Trenton, Phoenix

1976

Gordon Johncock, Sinmast, #20 Wildcat Mk.II – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: Phoenix 1, Trenton 1, Indianapolis, Milwaukee 1, Pocono, Michigan 1

Gordon Johncock, Goodyear-Patrick, #20 Wildcat Mk.II – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: College Station, Trenton 2, Milwaukee 2, Ontario, Michigan 2, College Station 2, Phoenix 2

Wally Dalenbach, Sinmast, #40 Wildcat Mk.II – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: Phoenix 1, Trenton 1, Indianapolis, Milwaukee 1, Pocono, Michigan 1

Wally Dalenbach, Goodyear-Patrick, #40 Wildcat Mk.II – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: College Station, Trenton 2, Milwaukee 2, Ontario, Michigan 2, College Station 2, Phoenix 2

1977

Gordon Johncock, Goodyear-Patrick, #20 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: Ontario, Phoenix, College Station

Gordon Johncock, STP Double Oil Filter, #20 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: rest of the championship

Wally Dalenbach, Goodyear-Patrick, #40 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: Ontario, Phoenix, College Station

Wally Dalenbach, STP Oil Treatment, #40 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: rest of the championship

Vern Schuppan, Wildcat Racing, #85 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Ontario, Phoenix, College Station, Trenton, Indianapolis (DNQ)

Larry McCoy, Wildcat Racing, #85 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Pocono (DNQ)

Larry McCoy, Cannon Brothers, #85 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Ontario, Michigan

Larry McCoy, That’s My Car, #85 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Phoenix

Johnny Parsons, STP-Goodyear, #60 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: Indianapolis

George Snider, Mel Simon, #18 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Indianapolis

George Snider, Longhorn Racing, #18 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Pocono, Michigan (DNQ), Phoenix

[brickyard]

And finally 1978, 1979 and the 1981 and 1982 USAC races:



1978

Gordon Johncock, North American Van Lines, #20 Wildcat Mk.? (78) – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: Indianapolis

Gordon Johncock, North American Van Lines, #20 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: rest of the championship

Steve Krisiloff, Goodyear-Patrick, #40 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: Phoenix, Ontario, College Station, Trenton

Steve Krisiloff, Foreman Industries, #40 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy V8, Patrick Racing
Races: Michigan 2, Silverstone, Brands Hatch (DNQ)

Steve Krisiloff, Foreman Industries, #40 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Patrick Racing
Races: rest of the championship

Tom Bigelow, Armstrong Molding, #43 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Armstrong Mould Inc.
Races: Phoenix, College Station, Trenton, Pocono, Milwaukee, Michigan 2, Phoenix 2

Tom Bigelow, Armstrong Molding, #43 Wildcat Mk.? (76) – D.G.S., Armstrong Mould Inc.
Races: Indianapolis

Tom Bigelow, Armstrong Molding, #43 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, Armstrong Mould Inc.
Races: Ontario, Michigan 1,

Roger McCluskey, North American Van Lines, #60 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy V8, Patrick Racing
Races: Trenton, Ontario 2

Janet Guthrie, Texaco Star, #51 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Indianapolis

Larry Cannon, Dayton-Walther, #85 Wildcat Mk.? - ?, ?
Races: Indianapolis (DNQ)

Larry Cannon, That’s My Car, #35 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Milwaukee

Larry Cannon, Natural Lite Beer, #85 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Pocono, Michigan (DNQ), Milwaukee, Ontario 2, Michigan 2, Trenton 2 (DNQ), Phoenix

Larry Cannon, Cannon Racing, #85 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: College Station

Cliff Hucul, Longhorn Racing, #18 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Ontario 2

George Snider, Longhorn Racing, #18 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Phoenix

Bubby Jones, Simon Shopping Centers, #18 Wildcat Mk.2 – Offy, ?
Races: Indianapolis (DNQ)

Bubby Jones, Simon Shopping Centers, #18 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Pocono


1979

Gary Bettenhausen, Armstrong Molding, #46 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, Armstrong Mould Inc.
Races: Ontario, College Station

Gary Bettenhausen, Armstrong Molding, #46 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Armstrong Mould Inc.
Races: Milwaukee

Gary Bettenhausen, Vita Fresh Orange Juice, #46 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S.,
Races: College Station 2

Spike Gehlhausen, Sta-On Car Glaze, #19 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, ?
Races: Indianapolis

Tom Frantz, Freight Train, #16 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Indianapolis (DNQ)

Vern Schuppan, Wysard Motors, #34 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Wysard Racing
Races: Indianapolis

Howdy Holmes, Armstrong Molding, #46 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, Armstrong Mould Inc.
Races: Indianapolis

Howdy Holmes, Armstrong Molding, #46 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Armstrong Mould Inc.
Races: Pocono

Bill Engelhart, Beaudoin Racing, #83 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., ?
Races: Indianapolis (DNQ)

Larry Cannon, That’s My Racer, #95 Wildcat Mk.? – Offy, ?
Races: Indianapolis (DNQ)


1981

Dennis Firestone, Rhoades Aircraft Sales, #4 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, Rhoades Racing
Races: Indianapolis

Mario Andretti, STP Oil Treatment, #40 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Indianapolis

Wally Dalenbach, STP Oil Treatment, #40 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Indianapolis (DNS, qualify car for Andretti)

Gordon Smiley, Intermedics, #60 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, ?
Races: Indianapolis

Gordon Johncock, STP Oil Treatment, #20 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Indianapolis

Rich Vogler, Armstrong Molding, #46 Wildcat Mk.? – D.G.S., Armstrong Mould Inc.
Races: Indianapolis (DNQ)

Roger Rager, Seymour Enterprises, #66 Wildcat Mk.? – Chevy, ?
Races: Pocono



1982

Gordon Johncock, STP Oil Treatment, #20 Wildcat Mk.VIIIB – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Indianapolis

Chip Ganassi, First Commercial Corp., #12 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, Rhoades Racing
Races: Indianapolis

Mario Andretti, STP-Intermedics, #40 Wildcat Mk.VIIIB – Ford Cosworth DFX, Patrick Racing
Races: Indianapolis

Patrick Bedard, Escort Radar Detector, #36 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, Brayton Racing
Races: Indianapolis

Chet Fillip, Circle Bar Truck Corral, #39 Wildcat Mk.? - Ford Cosworth DFX, Circle Bar Auto Racing
Races: Indianapolis

Roger Rager, Indiana Coal, #72 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, ?
Races: Indianapolis

Steve Krisiloff, Indiana Coal, #72 Wildcat Mk.? – Ford Cosworth DFX, ?
Races: Indianapolis

[gbl]

Originally posted by brickyard



No, I think it's a MK.VIII.

But then it should look like the Andretti/Johncock 1981 Speedway car and it doesn't.

[brickyard]

But then it should look like the Andretti/Johncock 1981 Speedway car and it doesn't.

Well spoted.

Mk.IXB or Mk.X? (1983 or 1984)

[Allen Brown]

I'm going to have to stat with the MK 1s (OK, Mk Is) and the Mk 2s (I know, should be Mk II) and see how I get on.

I can only find two Mk 1s:

Dallenbach's car: Used by Dallenbach in 1975, in practice at the 1976 Indy 500 and in some of the short track races in 1976 (see Formula Dec 1976 p36). Then to Bobby Hillin's Longhorn Racing as the #18 car at Indy 1977. Also presumed to be the Wildcat used in 1977 and in 1978 by Longhorn Racing. (But note #18 at Indy 1978 was said to be a Mk 2 despite the picture (Hungness p86) appearing to show a Mk 1.) Tom Frantz ran a #18 Wildcat in 1979 and, although it doesn’t look much like the Longhorn car from 1978, Michael Ferner has identified this as a Wildcat Mk 1.

Johncock's car: Used by Johncock in 1975 and 1976 as above. If only two Mk 1s existed, then this must be Larry Cannon's 1978 #85 Wildcat (identified as a Mk 1 by Autosport's Pocono report - Autosport 6 Jul 1978 p29). This is presumed to the the same #85 Wildcat as in 1977 where it is identified as owned by Frank Curtis under the "Wildcat Racing" banner. In 1978, the #85 Wildcat driven by Larry Cannon appears to be a Mk 1 so is presumably the same car. In 1979, Cannon's Wildcat is entered at #95 but the 'Missed the show' picture in Hungness again shows a Wildcat Mk 1.

I think I've got four Mk 2s: two early in 1976, one very late 1976 or early 1977 and a fourth (called a Mk IV by Hungness but clearly a Mk 2) in 1978. More on that after I've looked at some more pictures.

Allen

[gbl]

The MkI had wide sidepods, and the Tom Frantz car doesn't, so I don't think it's a Mk.I.

The Cannon/Kraco car at Indy 1980 was also a Mk.I, my guess is that the Wildcat DGS was the Mk.I and the Wildcat-Offy was a Mk.II - but I only have a very bad picture from 1981 and from 1977. Allen, could you please scan those pictures, would be a big help?

[Allen Brown]

Now for the Mk 2s:

Dallenbach's car: Wally Dallenbach's Mk 2 at the 1976 Indy 500 was his ride again at the 1977 Indy 500 as his intended Mk 3 had not proved a success. For 1978, this car was sold to Armstrong Mould and was Tom Bigelow's #43 car at the 1978 "500" and Howdy Holmes' #46 car in 1979. Presumably the Bettenhausen car at the 1980 Indy 500.

Johncock's 1976 car: Johncock's 1976 Mk 2 was raced by Johnny Parsons Jr for Patrick Racing at the 1977 Indy 500 as Johncock had a third Mk 2 (see below). This car doesn't appear in the Indy 500 starting line-up again but I would speculate that it remained one of Johncock's cars - possibly the Drake V8 test car in 1978. Autosport, in the 1978 Indy preview, refer to this car as a Mk 2B. If so, it was probably the third Patrick/Bignotti starter at the undersubscribed 1978 California 500; this #60 Mk 2B with a Drake V8 engine was presumably the team's spare car until being pressed into service to fill the grid. There's no sign of this car in 1979 for later.

Johncock's 1977 car: Johncock had a new car for the 1977 Indy 500 but it's not clear whether it was built in late 1976 to give Johncock a pair of Mk 2s or whether it was put together after the team had problems with the Mk 3s. It was raced by Steve Krisiloff for Patrick Racing at the 1978 Indy 500. With Dallenbach's 1976/77 Mk 2 gone to Armstrong, this was presumably Krisiloff's car through the rest of 1978 until wrecking it at Ontario (Autosport 28 Sep 1978) after which he had to race a Mk 3. There's no sign of this car in 1979 for later.

Johncock's 1978 car: Hungness shows Johncock in a Mk 2 in the 1978 Indy 500 starting line-up but captions it as a "1978 Patrick Wildcat IV/DGS". With the exception of a pattern of rivets around the Valvoline logo on the side, I can't see any difference between this car and Krislioff's. This went to Herb Wysard in 1979 for Vern Schuppan to drive as the #34 entry at the 1979 Indy 500. Presumably the Halsmer car at the 1980 Indy 500.

There may have been a fifth car as I'm unsure what the Drake V8 car was at Indy and at Mosport when Johncock wrecked it in practice. Does anyone have a picture of that car?

Any thoughts on these? Mk 3s next if you're still interested.

Allen

[gbl]

There's a picture at www.zoompics.com of Mosport. I can also add that Johncock had the Mk.III with the Guthrie/78 style front wing for the British races. I'm not sure about the Krisiloff car since I only have a picture of the wrecked Brands Hatch car, but it should be a Mk.III as well. Like I said before, the Ontario #60 car might have gone to Ross Davis since his car also had that high engine cover.

..." continued to use Mk1s on the short tracks"... Do you have an overview over those races?

[malvi]

Hi!
Some 1981 additions according to G.Kirby`s Indycar Annual 1983 and my own(maybe wrong) references.
Patrick cars #20-Johncock,#40-Andretti,Dallenbach,Krisiloff#60-Smiley-Mk8(or VIII)-Cosworth-no doubt i think.
Rhoades car #12-Firestone,Bettenhausen,Smiley-Mk8-Cosworth- I think the same new car Rhoades bought from the Patrick stable for Firestone on the last day of Indy qualifying(#4 at Indy).
Rager`s car #66(#44 at Phoenix 2)-Rager-Mk3(orIII)-Chevy-seems to me the same car (???) Roger has in1980(according Hungness yearbook pic`s)
Davis car #77-Davis-Mk2-Offy(Artemis have a good image-definitely Mk2)
Kraco cars #95-Cannon(PHO),Johnson(ATL2)-Mk2-Offy-maybe the same car Ferguson tried at Indy with DGS???
#96-Frantz(PHO),Ferguson(MICH1)-Mk1-Offy-could it be the Cannon/Harkey Indy(with DGS again)DNQ and Cannon`s 1980 last place car???

[brickyard]

Any thoughts on these? Mk 3s next if you're still interested.

Until now it all makes sense. We can go to Mk3s.

After that, I will post a table here with what we've learned so far.
BTW artemis has a photo of the #85 at 78' Indy 500 (DNQ) that appears to be a Mk#??

1978 indy 500 #85

Some 1981 additions according to G.Kirby`s Indycar Annual 1983 and my own(maybe wrong) references.Some 1981 additions according to G.Kirby`s Indycar Annual 1983 and my own(maybe wrong) references.

Thanks Malvi.
Very good addiction.

[Allen Brown]

Originally posted by brickyard
BTW artemis has a photo of the #85 at 78' Indy 500 (DNQ) that appears to be a Mk#??

1978 indy 500 #85

A Mk 1, isn't it?

Allen

[brickyard]

Off course... Gordon Johncock's 1975 car most certainly, as you posted earlier.

(Sould I sleep a little more at night?... or drink some more coffees insted, to stay awake and avoid silly questions?

Sorry about that Allen.

[Allen Brown]

Asking stupid questions should always be allowed on TNF. But that gets me into another debate that I've been trying to stay clear from recently

Allen

[malvi]

1980 additions,based G.Kirbys 1981 Indy car annual.
Patrick`s car or cars #20 Johncock,#40 Bagley MkIV-Cosw.-unhappy&unloved design of Gordon Kimball.

There is also a Mistery car which, acording to Gordon Kirby, was unamed and was destroyed at Indy 1980 by Gordon Johncock a few days before the qualifying. It was designed by Gordon Kimball, and I have heard three names to that car: a) "Wildcat" although with no type; b) "Kimball"; and c) "Patrick". Any ideas about this car?

Kirby describe that car : "brand new Chaparral-like Wildcat"and "...Kimball and fabricator Hal Sperb were hard at work on a mk2 version of the car he had designed for Patrick some twelwe month earlier.The prototype of this car was the machine in which Johncock broke an ankle during practice at Indianapolis"

Ragers car -#66 MkIII-(schoolbus)Chevy stock-block. Kirby says:"...the car was four(???) years old and the crew,mostly friends,didn`t have George Bignotti`s knowledge by any means."

Armstrongs car #46 MkII-DGS-G.Bettenhausen-very impressive 3rd place at indy.(built in 1975 according to Kirby`s annual - 1976 in Hungness yearbook)

Wysard`s car-white large double front-winged #34 MkII-DGS or Offy&DGS??? Halsmer&Schuppan.

Davis car #22&36&37 MkI-Offy or/and DGS? Davis&Martin (Hungness says:"Ross Davis was persuaded to hire another driver(John Martin) for his car)-hmm... Only picture i saw is Hungness-80-missed the show image. It looks like Ragers MkIII, not Cannons MkI for me.???

Cannon`s Kraco sponsored car #95 MkI-DGS or Offy - two images in Kirby`s annual.One is defenitely the same car Cannon qualified to Indy,but the other is a car we used to take for MkII(as Armstrong`s or Wysard`s car).

[TheStranger]

The 1980 car that was wrecked out, I've seen the "accident report" from that year's Month of May somewhere (I think in the yearbook for that 500) and I'm pretty sure it was listed as a Wildcat.

[gbl]

if you go to www.corbis.com and search for "indy andretti wildcat", you'll find another picture of the unindentified car I've posted, seems to be the original Mk.8; original text:
"Original caption: It's confirmed, Mario Andretti and Essex Motorsport will return to Indianapolis in 1981 for another attack on the famous "500." The 1979 "World Champion has teamed up with his old friend and mentor, Jim McGee--the man behind Mario's 1969 Indy victory, once again in 1981. The car which Andretti will be driving is the Essex Wildcat 8. Despite the ban on skirts which comes into force at Indy for the first time this year, the Wildcat is a true ground force car and boasts inboard suspension both to the front and rear, coupled with down-force inducing pods.

© Bettmann/CORBIS

Date Photographed: February 24, 1981"

[Allen Brown]

I haven't forgotten that I said I'd do the Mk IIIs next - it's just that they get harder and harder the more you look at them.

However, I am now convinced that the 1978 Johncock "Mk IV" was a typo in Hungness and should be a new Mk II. The real Mk IV was that disaster of a 1980 car. I'm still not sure why the Wildcats jump from Mk IV to Mk VIII between 1980 and 1981.

The mystery 1980 Patrick Racing car that Johncock crashed in practice at Indy has been covered elsewhere I believe. It was commissioned by Patrick against Bignotti's wishes and was called a Patrick PR1. It has a place in the Wildcat story, as does the 1980 Phoenix.

Allen

[malvi]

Originally posted by Allen Brown
Now for the Mk 2s:

Dallenbach's car: Wally Dallenbach's Mk 2 at the 1976 Indy 500 was his ride again at the 1977 Indy 500 as his intended Mk 3 had not proved a success. For 1978, this car was sold to Armstrong Mould and was Tom Bigelow's #43 car at the 1978 "500" and Howdy Holmes' #46 car in
1979. Presumably the Bettenhausen car at the 1980 Indy 500.

No -according Hungness 80 - Bettenhausen car was ex Johncock 76 car.


Allen

However, I am now convinced that the 1978 Johncock "Mk IV" was a typo in Hungness and should be a new Mk II. The real Mk IV was that disaster of a 1980 car. I'm still not sure why the Wildcats jump from Mk IV to Mk VIII between 1980 and 1981.

agree - Mk IV is Gordon Kimball`s designed 1980 ground-effect car - definitely typo.

[malvi]

Dallenbach's car: Wally Dallenbach's Mk 2 at the 1976 Indy 500 was his ride again at the 1977 Indy 500 as his intended Mk 3 had not proved a success. For 1978, this car was sold to Armstrong Mould and was Tom Bigelow's #43 car at the 1978 "500" and Howdy Holmes' #46 car in
1979. Presumably the Bettenhausen car at the 1980 Indy 500.

No -according Hungness 80 - Bettenhausen car was ex Johncock 76 car

Ouch - i messed this up - of course it was Dallenbach`s car.
Indy 500 stats
76-Dallenbach 4th
77-Dallenbech 4th
78-Bigelow 21th
79-Holmes 7th
80-G.Bettenhausen 3rd

Actually I meant Cannon`s Mk I
75-Johncock 31th
76-not entered
77-Schuppan DNQ-2nd alternate
78-Cannon DNQ-hit wall
79-Cannon DNQ-bumped
80-Cannon 33rd

To Allen - MkIII story will be interesting...

[Allen Brown]

Anyone still interested in having a go at the Mk 3s? It's only been five years!

I am wondering if Wildcat type numbering was like this:

Mk 1 - 1975
Mk 2 - 1976
Mk 3 - 1977 (needle-nosed side-radiator one-off used by Dallenbach in practice at Indy 1977 later to Guthrie (#51) for 1978 then Engelhart (#83) for 1979)
Mk 4 - 1978 (a return to the Mk 2 design with few changes)
Mk 5 - one or two Drake V8 cars in 1978 (or a Mk 3 again)
Mk 6 - one-off DFX car early 1979 ("Mk 3" again but looks different to the 1977 car) raced by Gehlhausen Indy 1979 then to Rager
Mk 7 - the 1980 Gordon Kimball car
Mk 8 - the 1981 "PR8"

[malvi]

Anyone still interested in having a go at the Mk 3s? It's only been five years!

I am wondering if Wildcat type numbering was like this:

Mk 1 - 1975
Mk 2 - 1976
Mk 3 - 1977 (needle-nosed side-radiator one-off used by Dallenbach in practice at Indy 1977 later to Guthrie (#51) for 1978 then Engelhart (#83) for 1979)
Mk 4 - 1978 (a return to the Mk 2 design with few changes)
Mk 5 - one or two Drake V8 cars in 1978 (or a Mk 3 again)
Mk 6 - one-off DFX car early 1979 ("Mk 3" again but looks different to the 1977 car) raced by Gehlhausen Indy 1979 then to Rager
Mk 7 - the 1980 Gordon Kimball car
Mk 8 - the 1981 "PR8"

I believe that MkVI or 6th different Wildcat(last Riley design) was that 1980 car(2 was built) driven mostly by Bagley and at once by Johncock and MkV or 5th Riley design was Dallenbach 79 season beginning /Gehlhausen at Indy - Cossie-engined car (1 was built). In my opinion Mk4 was that failure which was meant to wear the Drake. Makes sense for me.

Edited by malvi, 01 May 2010 - 19:57.

[Marc Sproule]

Some Wildcat snaps.....I reckon I have more in my archives. Something else to add to the list of pics to find.......

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4331337899

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4320763805

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4513529596

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4513529836

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4512920741

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4512920981

They're in this set....

http://www.flickr.co...57623324227456/

[arttidesco]

Nice to find out the amazing story of Pat Patrick' Wildcats, seems somewhat unbelievable that the US Govt should have footed the bill I guess that is why our cousins across yonder pond are so anti government taxes :-)

Pics taken at Jubilee Gardens in central London late September 1978, can't help on any of the chassis info your looking for but were wondering which model is in the photographs ?

 

#20 Gordon Johncock, Wildcat, Jubilee Gardens, London, 26 09 78.

Thanking you in anticipation of your responses :-)
 

Edited by arttidesco, 09 March 2021 - 14:17.

[malvi]

The car on arttidesco`s pics is 3rd Riley design or 1977 Wildcat or Mk3 with DGS engine. 2 cars were built. Janet Guthrie drove this (or sister) car at Indy 1978.

Thanks to Marc again for the pics - keep them coming.
Ongais actually shown in March83C not in Wildcat.

[arttidesco]

Thanks Malvi :-)

Good luck finding more pics Marc :-)

[Allen Brown]

The car on arttidesco`s pics is 3rd Riley design or 1977 Wildcat or Mk3 with DGS engine. 2 cars were built. Janet Guthrie drove this (or sister) car at Indy 1978.

Thanks to Marc again for the pics - keep them coming.
Ongais actually shown in March83C not in Wildcat.

Thanks for the pictures Marc. The first two pictures (Dallenbach at Phoenix 1977) show that needle-nosed side-radiator 1977 "Mk 3" that later went to Guthrie.

The Jubilee Gardens pictures show the car that I have listed as the "Mk 5" although I'm yet to spot a difference between that car and the Mk 3. I am yet to understand why Patrick would introduce the Mk 3 in 1977, fail to use it much, sell it to Guthrie early in 1978 and then start using an exact replica of it. Unless Guthrie's sponsor arrived with an especially large cheque...

Or ... just reading the 1976 Hungness, there is a long article about the design of that year's cars. The Wildcat Mk 2 was a very different car to the Mk 1 - it had a wide 'sports car' nose front radiators and lower sidepods and was designed to maximise straightline speed. The Mk 1 had rear radiators and a standard narrow nose so was less useful on the superspeedways but appears to have remained the better option for the shorter tracks. The 1977 Mk 3 had an even more narrow 'chisel' nose (housing an oil radiator?) and larger side radiators similar to the 1976 Lighting (and to many F1 cars of the day). Maybe Patrick had two distinct lines of cars being developed alongside each other - the Mk 2 evolving into the Mk 4 for superspeedways and the Mk 3 continuing into 1978 developed primarily for road racing and maybe also for short tracks.

Can we contact anyone who was on the Patrick team at the time?

[malvi]

I agree with you Allen, that it does not make much sense but Guthrie`s car and Wildcat below are identical.


Web found image of Guthrie`s car rear-end at IMS museum i believe.

Lets put aside that Mk X thing. For 1978 4th genaration of Wildcats were designed and built by Riley & Bignotti. At least 2 cars(maybe all) were meant to wear new Drake V8 engine(which had to be the answer to Cosworth DFX but proved to be a total flop) According to Patrick/Bignotti media issues 4 cars were built. We/I have seen the pics of Drake car at Silverstone(Rick Harman set) and Mosport (zoompics.com). These cars looks identical as well but how did look like the other 1978 built cars? Did Bignotti returned to proved design? What i`m trying to say that is 78 built cars are the "key". Everything pre- and post- 78 is quite obvious. Mark IV at 78 yearbook is typical Hungness mistake. He just following the entry list -the #20 is Drake engined 4th generation Wildcat but actually Johncock was forced to drive his older car.

Edited by malvi, 02 May 2010 - 20:52.

[Allen Brown]

Just noticed the #40 Wildcat in the background. What model is that?

[arttidesco]

I was going to add the #40 in the back ground is also a Wildcat on the entry list it's shown as Steve Krisiloffs Offy V8 version.

Unfortunately I do not seem to have any other photo's of it at this time, although I am sure I took some of all the vehicles at Jubilee Gardens.

If anything turns up I'll post them :-)

Edited by arttidesco, 09 March 2021 - 14:20.

[malvi]

How i didn`t spot that before? These are identical type of cars on pics below- my doubts found some proof now. Patrick team used Mk2 like front wing on 1978 Drake V8 car as well.


Picture credit goes to Rick Harman (Silverstone pic) and forum user Don Hodgdon (Ontario pic)

Edited by malvi, 03 May 2010 - 07:43.

[Michael Ferner]

I was going to add the #40 in the back ground is also a Wildcat on the entry list it's shown as Steve Krisiloffs Offy V8 version.

Unfortunately RJC does not seem to have any other photo's of it at this time, although he is sure he took some of all the vehicles at Jubilee Gardens.

If anything turns up I'll post them :-)

Offy V8??? Don't believe everything you read...

[Allen Brown]

Offy V8??? Don't believe everything you read...

I.e. the Drake DT-160 V8 engine - I'm sure arttidesco's using "Offy V8" just as a shorthand.

Edited by Allen Brown, 03 May 2010 - 14:10.