147 replies to this topic

[Jerry Entin]

This is Gus Hutchison getting into his Lotus 20 Formula Junior car in 1962. In 1962 the car may have been called Formula C class, while racing in the states.
Dave Kane has suggested that the cars and stories of Gus Hutchison would be of interest to the forum members. We are going to attempt to tell the forum members about Gus's racing career. Gus has kindly loaned his personal pictures to Dave Kane for the Forum members to enjoy.
photo lent site Gus Hutchison collection- copyright 2007 Hutchison collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Here is Gus Hutchison in his Lotus 22. This car ran in the Formula B class.
This is what Michael Argetsinger has to say about the different Formula classes in the 60's:
"If that first photo is 1966 then his Lotus 20 would not have been a Formula Junior in SCCA racing -- it would be a Formula C car. FC was up to 1100cc and in 1964 replaced Formula Junior which was no longer a class after 1963. Formula B was up to 1600cc."
photo lent site Gus Hutchison collection-copyright 2007 Hutchison collection.

[Ray Bell]

I'll look forward to seeing more of this one, Jerry...

I recall he had an unexpected win later in the sixties. Was it in a Brabham?

[Bjorn Kjer]

Hi Jerry and others , did you see the Gus Hutchison and March 741 as well as Gus Hutchinson on Gus Hutchison threads ? Anyway , Jerry you of course spelled the name correct !

Here is my record on Gus :

FA 69 , BT26A -DFV final race : 2nd , 14th in championship with that 1 race!

FA 70 , BT26A -DFV : 8,4,R,R,1,1, wins were Sears and Dallas ,continued with Lola T190 Chevy for :R,4,3,R,6,4,R for second in championship

FA 72 , Lola T300 Chevy : -,11,23,-,5,R,-,4 for 11th in championship

FA 73 , March 73A Chevy : 9,4,R,15,R,R,R,R,R for 12th in championship

FA 74 , March 73A Chevy : did last 2 races at : 8,10 for 22nd in championship

FA 75 , Lola T332 Chevy for Chris Oates Racing last 2 races : R,16

[Jerry Entin]

Here is Gus Hutchison pushing his Brabham BT26 to the starting line.
Ray and Bjorn I am sure you are going to enjoy this thread.
photo lent site Gus Hutchison-copyright 2007 Hutchison collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Laurey Pennell with BT 26, this photo is from 1970. Laurey was crew chief on the car.
This was at Sears Point race track. Gus Hutchison won this race and also the next race held at Dallas, Texas in this car.
photo lent site Gus Hutchison- copyright 2007 Hutchison collection.
all research Wolfgang Klopfer

[Bjorn Kjer]

Great pictures as usual ,all of them . Is that his "transporter outfit "in the background ?

[Jerry Entin]

Gus in his Lola T-190 at Elkhart Lake in the F-5000 race

 

photo lent site Tom Schultz-

 

copyright 2007 Tom Schultz.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 23 February 2016 - 03:49.

[fines]

Good idea!

And, please, someone make Gus appear on this thread and spell his name once'n'forall! Ah, sweet memories... :chuckle:

[David M. Kane]

Fines:

I'm trying to reach Gus as we speak. His email address "contains" Hutchison. Currently he is experiencing some email problems, he has been for the last two weeks. As soon as I get his phone number I'm going to call him.

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by fines
Good idea!

And, please, someone make Gus appear on this thread and spell his name once'n'forall! Ah, sweet memories... :chuckle:

Michael!...here we go again

I knew I was correct ;)

Vitesse was the first to correctly point it out and considering the reluctance he met, I sort of sat back and watched before wading in.

[Bjorn Kjer]

Xcuse me , but I NEVER had it wrong !

[Cynic2]

Gus Hutchison's Lotus 41C (#5), part of a three-car team of 41Cs racing in the SCCA's Southwest Division in 1967. #52 is Joe Starkey's car. (Harold Krech was the third team member.)

[Bjorn Kjer]

3rd member was not the Hal Keck ? (Cobra driver)

[Cynic2]

Hi, Bjorn,

No, the third driver was definitely Harold Krech, from the Dallas area -- very different spelling, very different person. (I don't want to start anything like the previous thread on Gus Hutchison's name.) The cars raced in the SCCA's Formula B class.

Some time ago I posted a couple of photos of the transporter used by one of the teams in this area, a very nicely converted school bus, used to carry a Lotus 23 (driven by Paul Jett). Did you see those photos?

David Seibert

(New user name -- trying to change "Cynic" to
a new e-mail address somehow lost the name)

[Bjorn Kjer]

Thanks Cynic2 for this! I am sure I have seen your transporter pic , but all my US is in one big pile awaiting some sorting this month. But it will be nice to put some more with yours!

[Jerry Entin]

Gus Hutchison in his Formula 5000 March at MidOhio in 1973.
This car was called a March 73A Formula 5000 car.
photo lent site Gus Hutchison . copyright 2007 Hutchison collection

[Bjorn Kjer]

Many thanks to all providing pics here , and to Jerry for doing the search work , and I am sure I can speak on behalf of all TNF viewers, please pass on greetings to the guys allowing it to happen ! And I must say its very nice to0 see them "grown up" too !

[Jerry Entin]

Gus Hutchison next to his March 72-B Formula B car.
The girl in the picture is the wife of Gus's crew chief Tom Geatorex.
photo lent site Gus Hutchison-copyright 2007 Hutchison collection.

[Chris Townsend]

Jerry

Am I right in thinking this picture was taken at the Bogota, Colombia FB race?
Did Jerry own that car or was it a one-off drive and Greatorex owned the car?

Chris

[Jerry Entin]

Here is one of Gus Hutchison in his youth.
photo lent site Gus Hutchison - copyright 2007 Hutchison collection

[David M. Kane]

Jerry according to Allen Brown's Old Racing Cars.Com, 2 races were held on 5 March, 1972. I remember Chuck and Jim Sarich from Quicksilver Racing going because the promotor paid the shipping transportation. So Sandy Samilian loaded up both of their March 72Bs and spares. They had a great time. Gus's car was also a 72B.

[Jerry Entin]

Here is an engine designed by Gus Hutchison that he hoped would be revolutionary.
Gus looked at the best Traco and Bartz engines of the day. He thought with this placement of his fuel injection system he had come up with as they say a better mouse trap. He wrote an article on this engine that appeared in Competition Press. Gus had tried his hardest to come up with a superior engine design that would still be legal in F-5000.
This is how Gus Hutchison describes his engine idea:
" In 1972 I was developing a modified Chevrolet 302. This was a radical modification to the induction system. We drilled holes on the side of the heads between the valve spring platform and the exhaust port. We welded the old intake ports. The induction system was such
that if you opened the slide throttle you could see the intake valve. The result was a lower profile with 10-15% more power."
photo lent site Gus Hutchison-copyright 2007 Hutchison collection.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 08 January 2016 - 12:37.

[Jerry Entin]

Here is the engine, which Gus called the HRE Mk8. Installed in the March F-5000 car
photo lent site Gus Hutchison-copyright 2007 Hutchison collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Here is the article written by Gus Hutchison as it appeared in Competition Press.

[Jerry Entin]

Gus Hutchison at Elkhart Lake in 1973 in his March 73-A F-5000 car.
Note the new HRE Mk 8 engine is installed in car.
This is what Gus Hutchison has to say about why he chose the March chassis:
" In 1972, I went to the racing car show in London to find a
chassis that would accept this engine. The Lola T330 was all the rage
but it appeared that the Lola would not accommodate the "side draft" as we called it.
The March would, so I made a deal with Robin Herd. I don't doubt that the 73-A was close to the 741 but March sold me a 73-A.
While I owned the car there was never anything but a small block Chevy in the car. I sold it to Horst Kroll. We changed everything including wheel base, front radiator/ side radiators and many nose configurations. We had a yellow car from the get-go, never anything else.The engine was not available until Road America. We clearly had the fastest straight line speed. The improved torque (420 ft-lb) was too much for the "CV" joints and one failed early in practice. We installed the conventional motor for qualification and barely made it in time.That night we put in the side draft motor and new joints. Starting from the rear, I passed most of the field before turn 1, but after a lap or two a CV joint failed."
photo Tom Schultz-copyright 2007 Tom Schultz.

[Jerry Entin]

This was Alan Smith's latest Fuel Injection in 1973.

Alan Smith made engines for Jody Scheckter and Brian Redman and Peter Gethin in 1973. Alan Smith built engines won every race of the 1973 Formula 5000 series in the states. His thinking was very similar to what Gus Hutchison had come up with, other than Alan Smith attemped to use conventinal mounting of the injection unit. Bob Lazier was loaned one of Sid Taylor's engines at Watkins Glen and Jody drove the car to victory there. Max Stewart was also loaned Sid Taylor's spare engine and he used it to finish the U.S. series and used it for the Tasman series that year also.
Jody tried this fuel injection in England and didn't like the response. He also tried it at Elkhart Lake in 1973 in practice and didn't think it was improved at that time. Alan Smith took it off the car and put it in the suitcase he had brought it over in. It was left in the garage area. This unit was stolen and never seen again, until Forum member Ian Fitz-Simon purchased it last year.
above photo Tom Schultz-copyright 2007 Tom Schultz.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 31 December 2012 - 21:08.

[David M. Kane]

Jerry:

So the engine had 420 lb of torque, pardon my ignorance but what was typical of the other competitors engines? Did it produce additional bhp too? I don't know much about engines, but I know torque is good, if you apply it correctly.

[Bruce Fullerton]

I have a picture of Gus with his Lola T300 at Riverside in 1972 and another of the car as it is restored and racing this season. However if someone would be so kind as to explain how to display them, as copy/paste does not work! I am sure this has been explained a thousand times before so appologies in advance!

[David M. Kane]

Gus just called, he is working on a synopsis/oveview for us. We are to talk again soon.

He said the highlight of his career was winning the Continental Championship in 1967 in his Lotus 41. He won 4 out of 5 races. His teammates were Harold Krech and Joe Starkey. I think his big competition that year was Dr. Lou Sell, a Hollywood Cosmetic Dentist.

He started racing in a Elva Courier, that got a front-engine Elva Mk.4 Formula Jr. In 1961 he moved from Atlanta, Georgia to Dallas, Texas. From there he went to Lotus 20 FJ.

He is a graduate of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, thus making him a Georgia Bulldog.

[Jerry Entin]

Dr. Lou Sell the chief competition for Gus Hutchison.
Lou Sell is kneeling next to his Smothers Bros sponsored Eagle F-5000 car. Lou would be the 1968 Formula A as it was called in the States Champion.
photo lent site Glenn Miller

[Jerry Entin]

Gus Hutchison in his Lotus 41. This is Gus's 1967 Continental Championship winning car.
photo lent site Gus Hutchison-copyright 2007 Hutchison collection.

[Roland44]

Jerry, that picture of Laurey at Sears Point is, I'm pretty sure, actually taken at Kent. (Check all the trees!) The Point never looked that lush!

Great thread, btw.

Roland

[Jerry Entin]

Roland that is where Gus Hutchison said it was taken. I will have Dave Kane ask him to be sure. I agree I don't remember seeing that many trees at Sears Point. Gus may have meant the one of him pushing the Brabham is at Sears Point. I just looked at Gus's letter and he definetly says the one with Laurey is at Sears Point.

[Michael Oliver]

Hi Jerry

Great thread! Could I just make a small request: where possible could you try and identify when and where the photos shown were taken please?

I'm thinking photos 1,2 and 5 also the 72B and your last post of the 41 (no 38). Also, I don't seem to be able to view photos in posts 6 & 18 - anyone else having problems?

Keep 'em comin!

Michael

[David M. Kane]

Bare with us we had a bad phone number, Gus is going to help us straighten all of this out. Thank you for your patience.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Jerry Entin

Gus Hutchison in his Formula 5000 March at MidOhio in 1973.
This car was called a March 73A Formula 5000 car.
photo lent site Gus Hutchison . copyright 2007 Hutchison collection

I see the pic in Post #6, but not this one in post #18....

[Michael Oliver]

Originally posted by Ray Bell


I see the pic in Post #6, but not this one in post #18....

Ray now post nos 6 & 18 are working fine for me but 17 (which I could see earlier!) has gone...

Michael

[David M. Kane]

Jerry talked to Gus this morning. He is trying to get some more photos including a current shot of Gus. I for one would like to know more about the Questor GP at Ontario, I believe that's where they ran it.

[Jerry Entin]

Here is the car Gus Hutchison was asked to drive in the Questor Grand Prix.
It was called the ASD and was made by Rex Ramsey and Skinner and Jobe. Gus said it was completed at the last minute. They had mounted the radiators in the wing. And it had quite a few minor problems. Gus said it was overheating and he had to come in every 6 or so laps.
photo Glenn Miller

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by Jerry Entin

I remember the car pitting every few laps at the Questor. This photo is clearly Riverside, and since the F5000 race used to be in April, one can see everyone has jackets (like it was less chilly at the September '72 race!).

I snapped a good photo of Gus, crew making a last minute thrash in trying to get him out with minutes to go in the final session for the '74 Riverside race, ruining a pair of pants while kneeling in brake fluid and hopping out of Gus' way at the last second as he roared out of the garage...only to have the developers ruin it and my other photos. Oh well.

Jerry, as always, great thread and great photos. Thank you

I'm interested in any of Gus' memories about the Lake Tahoe GP course.

[Jerry Entin]

Jim: I only put that picture up to show the car. It is Rex Ramsey in the car and it isn't from the Questor Race. I am glad you are enjoying hearing about Gus. He is a great guy and I know this site is going to have some great pictures brought forward on it soon.

[NGSmith]

Originally posted by Jerry Entin

Gus Hutchison in his Formula 5000 March at MidOhio in 1973.
This car was called a March 73A Formula 5000 car.
photo lent site Gus Hutchison . copyright 2007 Hutchison collection

Nice picture Jerry, would you happen to have any from the March 73A of John Gunn from the same period?

Nick

[David M. Kane]

NGSmith:

The only photos we have are the ones lent by Gus. Check with Andy Gilberg at Marchives.com in Atlanta or Allen Brown at OldRaceCars.com.

[Jerry Entin]

Not exactly what Nick was looking for. This good looking guy is John Gunn in his youth.
Rob Neuzel has some great ones of John Gunn. They were taken by his father Larry Neuzel. Rob is looking for them now.
photo Larry Neuzel-copyright 2007 Rob Neuzel.
www.yesterdaysneuz.com

[NGSmith]

Thanks Jerry, I didn't mean to derail this thread! I appreciate your help.

Nick

[Jerry Entin]

Nick: Hope this is what you were looking for John Gunn's March 73A in it's Roman Brio livery.
photo Tom Schultz-copyright 2007 Tom Schultz.

[David M. Kane]

Nice livery!

[NGSmith]

I like the purple! I considered changing it back to that as I have that body work still with it but it is too nice the way it was delivered.

Nick

[Jerry Entin]

Here is Gus Hutchison in his March F-5000 car
photo lent site Gus Hutchison-copyright 2007 Hutchison collection.