17 replies to this topic

[Pedro 917]

I've found a small article in a 1970 Belgian motor racing magazine (2 April) stating that Pedro found the time to go to Anchorage Alaska to do some racing on ice.
He scored 2 victories. The first one was a class victory, driving a Porsche 911S finishing third overall behind a Corvette driven by Earl Bennett and a Mustang driven by Chuck Higgins.
The second victory was with a Corvette Sting Ray.
I'd never heard of these races before. Is there anybody out there who does?

[cjpani]

Never heard that before, Luc.
Couly you share the article please?
I'd love to hear if anyone has info on this matter.
Carlos

[JB Miltonian]

I did some looking in my stack of old Autoweeks, and found an article and picture in the issue of March 21, 1970.

Anchorage, Alaska, February 15

An Anchorage Community College automotive instructor, Earl Bennett, drove his wing-equipped Corvette Stringray to the third North American Ice Racing Championships title here today.

However, the guest of honor driver, who had never competed in an ice race before, was perhaps accorded more acclaim.

Pedro Rodriguez wheeled a Porsche 911S to class honors and third overall for the title behind Mustang driver Chuck Higgins of Alaska.

The three days of events, organized by the Alaska Sports Car Club and sponsored by the Anchorage Daily News, were held at Sand Lake on a twisty 1.2 mile course.

Friday and Saturday action consisted of two 20-lap heats with a final points race today, followed by a non-championship race.

Bennett's Stingray set a pace which no one could match and easily captured Division A honors as well as a victory in Class IV for 3001cc engines and over. Higgins' Mustang earned second in the class, but was no match for the Corvette for overall honors.

Rodriguez, competing in Class II for 1301-3001cc engines over the drive wheels, won his class hands down with five victories.

Although Higgins competed in Class VI, he was the chief competitor for Rodriguez. In yesterday's second heat race, the two literally battled fender to fender.

Higgins used "stock car racing" tactics which brought out a black flag. He ignored it and was subsequently disqualified.

After the race, Rodriguez commented Higgins might be more at home driving a bulldozer. "You bet I was mad," he said. "Every time he got close to me, he tried to bump me off the track. That is stupid."

Higgins laughed and said he was having more fun than last year. In 1969, he won the ice racing championship driving a Ford-powered Austin Healey.

In today's finale, Bennett's winged Stingray was easily the Division A winner. Rodriguez held off Higgins' challenge to take second overall and the Class II honors.

For the non-championship race, where a LeMans start was used, Bennett decided to switch cars with Rodriguez.

Rodriguez in the "very, very powerful" Corvette took a decisive win, lapping the entire field except second-place finisher Higgins. Bennett was fourth in the Porsche behind Larry Wolbert's Corvair.

In the picture, Rodriguez is in the #26 Porsche. (Photo credit to Ron Sandman).

[Pedro 917]

Thank you so much for this review JB Great stuff.
It's a pity I didn't know about these races until last week. As a flight steward, I've spent so much time in Anchorage that I could have easily contacted this Earl Bennett.

Pedro never drove on ice before and still got away with these great results. Yet another proof of his driving skills in slippery conditions with overpowered cars!

Love the sight of the high wing on the Sting Ray!

[Pedro Rodriquez]

Thanks a lot for the information!

Never heard of it either. Being very fast driving on slippery surfaces he was for sure, but a Mexican doing ice-races, that was some surprise.;)

Best regards!

[cjpani]

JB, thanks for the review & the image.
cj

[rolando]

Great history!

It must have been a wonderful sight to see Pedro driving on ice. At that time I think he was on top of his class. Speaking about stories that I didn't know, some friend of mine told me that Pedro Rodríguez raced in 1964 or 1965 near the "Base aerea" airport in Zapopan, Mexico. Pedro was beaten by Solana because he had a well prepared muscle car - I don't remember if it was a Dodge Daytona or something like that-.

Nowadays, I live very near this airport and the karting track known as "Kartodromo Zapopan". I haven't seen my friend for a while, he told me he had pictures about that race, I hope some day I can see them.

[Pedro Rodriquez]

This pic may be well known to you, but anyhow, here is PR looking at his "smoking" Lola T 160 during the Japanese "Can-Am-series" at Fuji in 1968.

Best regards!

[Bob Riebe]

With exceptions, motor sports have taken a big dive in the US, but this brings back good memories of when Competition Press & AutoWeek used to cover darn near anything that had wheels, and there was a lot to cover.

They used to have regular reports on the winter ice racing sceen and before FWD
cars hit the roads, cars such as the Corvette were the hot ticket.

Could one imagian any of the top Formula One, drop into a local or regional race because he could these days?

As one gets older, one truly realizes that talk by one's senior about how things were better in the past are not a bunch of BS.

Bob

[Carlos Jalife]

Interesting, data on the ice races, I knew the period but no that he was third in the championship, actually Alejandro (his brother) claims Pedro was the champ and won all the races, and he was right, except it was in his class not in the absolute.
And the Porsche he used was later sold in Mexico to some friends and ended being cannibalized for spares after a crash, and was later sold as junk. It was a prize from Porsche for signing with them.

Neat job as usual Luc

But I see that now we have a Pedro Rodrìguez, come on that's too much, use a pseudonym like Pedro 917 which conveys the meaning but not the outright name, that is not a nice thing to do. Its plagiarism, unless you are named Pedro Rodrìguez too, in which case, no objections. But I , as a Secretary General of the Scuderia Rodrìguez, do object to using his name as the pseudonym. Pay homage, but do not steal.
Don, Bira, Twin (whom I don't know), any comments?

And by the way, my personal mail is
scuderiargz@yahoo.com.mx
in case someone has got it wrong.

Carlos Jalife

[Pedro Rodriquez]

Sorry if anyone got annoyed with that username, I'll change it immediately.

[UAtkins]

Well, living in Anchorage, I should know all about these races (except I wasn't here in 1970). The ice races no longer happen on Sand Lake but during Fur Rondezvous we do have a Grand Prix downtown as part of the winter carnival festivities. I have to admit, I have never gone. Since the date on the article is February then the race would have been part of the Fur Rondezvous celebration in 1970.

I may have time to do some research, I will contact the Fur Rondevouz organization to see if they have records of the races and how long they were held at Sand Lake. I am in the process of selling my house so things are a bit busy at the moment.

Ursula

[Pedro Rodriquez]

Originally posted by Carlos Jalife
Interesting, data on the ice races, I knew the period but no that he was third in the championship, actually Alejandro (his brother) claims Pedro was the champ and won all the races, and he was right, except it was in his class not in the absolute.
And the Porsche he used was later sold in Mexico to some friends and ended being cannibalized for spares after a crash, and was later sold as junk. It was a prize from Porsche for signing with them.

Neat job as usual Luc

But I see that now we have a Pedro Rodrìguez, come on that's too much, use a pseudonym like Pedro 917 which conveys the meaning but not the outright name, that is not a nice thing to do. Its plagiarism, unless you are named Pedro Rodrìguez too, in which case, no objections. But I , as a Secretary General of the Scuderia Rodrìguez, do object to using his name as the pseudonym. Pay homage, but do not steal.
Don, Bira, Twin (whom I don't know), any comments?

And by the way, my personal mail is
scuderiargz@yahoo.com.mx
in case someone has got it wrong.

Carlos Jalife

Yes, I do see that you are annoyed by this username. Me on my behalf, have been a collector of racing cars for some years, and among these are 2 previously (one F1 and one Sportscar) raced, by the late and great Pedro Rodrigues. As I am able to enjoy my own race-track, and sometimes airing PR's previous cars, I honestly prefer doing this, rather than upsetting some person, that makes his living out of selling repliac stickers of well-known brands and persons on the internet.

Here is the link to that site:http://www.edirector...kers 15046.html

No further comments.

[Anders Torp]

Originally posted by Pedro Rodriquez
Sorry if anyone got annoyed with that username, I'll change it immediately.

Yes, please!

[Jeremy Jackson]

Originally posted by Pedro Rodriquez
Sorry if anyone got annoyed with that username, I'll change it immediately.

There a lot us here who were fans of Pedro, and any other drivers, but none of us see fit to use their names in that way.

I don't find it in good taste, so I would prefer you change it please.

[cjpani]

Originally posted by Pedro Rodriquez I honestly prefer doing this, rather than upsetting some person, that makes his living out of selling repliac stickers of well-known brands and persons on the internet.

Here is the link to that site:http://www.edirector...kers 15046.html

No further comments. [/B]

What is inthat site that you aere refering to?
I don't seem to understand your point?

cj

[Pedro 917]

Hi Carlos,

You can buy a sticker of the Scuderia Rodriguez on that site (just click on page 2 on top and scroll down). Selling price is 5 £, shipping an extra 8,47£.......

[cjpani]

I saw it Luc, I just don´t understand what Carlos Jalife has to do with it, if any?

BTW, a pricey sticker if you ask me

cj