Story and photos by Dennis Gray
Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA) kicked off the season on March 13-14, 2010 at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California. The 3.0 mile, 15-turn Thunderhill track is owned by the San Francisco Region of the SCCA.
HMSA had around 90 cars for the event and the weather was clear, but breezy and cold. Cars present for the event included a smattering of vintage race cars from a Lola T70 and Porsche 910 to an Elva Mk. 2 and Lotus 27. Additionally, the Historic Stock Car Racing Series (HSCRS) furnished 16 cars, all disc brake ranging in age from the 70s until the early ’90s.
Highlighted cars include Nick Colonna’s 1965 ISO Grifo A3/C, an early Giotto Bizzarini 7000 rivet alloy bodied competition car – beautifully detailed and fast in Nick’s hands. Another Nick Colonna car was the Ford-powered 1967 Lola T70 Spyder, this was the George Bignotti-built Lola driven in period by Mario Andretti.
Another favorite was Mark Sange’s 1957 Elva MK2, the original MK2 driven by Archie Scot Brown to a number of victories. The body shows the many factory changes with patches welded into the original aluminum. Not as pristine smooth as many but still a beautiful car with real patina. The engine is a stage one Coventry Climax mated to a (can you believe this?) MG TC gear box.
Dennis Singleton brought his 1968 European Rally Championship-winning 1968 911TR, BB2277, while a rare 1959 Lotus 17 was brought by Edward Nigro. The 17 was the last front engine racing car Lotus built.
Among the NASCAR racers in attendance was the the ex-Alan Kulwicki 1992 Hooters Ford Thunderbird driven by Michael Cesario. Kulwicki drove this car for his first Polish victory lap where he would drive counterclockwise around the track, allowing him to wave to the crowd. Ken Epsman drove a 1988 Coors Ford Thunderbird originally piloted by Bill Elliott.
For more information, visit www.hmsausa.com.
HMSA Vintage Racing at Thunderhill Raceway Park – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
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[Source: Dennis Gray]
Photographed with the eye of a true master! check out his website, some of the great cars ever!
Great photos as always from Dennis. I’m from the south so especially liked the NASCAR. Looks like the 83 is painted as Lake Speed.
Nice images Dennis, thanks for sharing them.
hello, i think the year of the Leda F5000 is slightly wrong.
have you any idea how i could contact the owner. i used to own the ex Trevor Taylor Leda LT25 chassis #1, that was a 1971 car. after that came the LT26 (1971/2) which ended up as the first McRae. LT of course stands for the great Len Terry, who i am very honoured to say is a personal very good friend of mine. I personally own 4 Len Terry designed Terriers. am i the person who owns the most Terriers?
regards
lawrence
You are right. I must have copied the information from the entry list incorrectly. It is a 1970 Leda. Dennis Gray
Great coveragbe Dennis. A really good sampling of a full range of cars. Keep up the good work!
I am not sure which one to order for my husband…. Any suggestions?
The most esoteric in my opinion are either the ISO Grifo or the Lola T-70. If he likes Tin Tops the yellow Kodak cars sure look good. The Yellow Lola T121 against the green grass makes a nice composition. Hope this helps. Dennis
Thanks- I think you are right, plus, to have the photographer’s choice will impress him!
Dennis’ photography is great. Beautiful composition; captures the excitement of the event. More please!
Really evocative pictures, they actually capture the atmosphere of the event. Bob Debell, Yorkshire, England
Great pics Dennis. You are a master with the camera!
Nice pictures Dennis.
Great pictures as always,Dennis. Thanks for sharing the experience with all of us.
Brilliant photographs. Great panning. Some are a little too tightly cropped for my tastes, but all in all they’re great,
Great shots Dennis. I especially like the Iso A3L going thru the esses.
Rick
Great photos by Dennis, as usual. I’d like to see more by him.
Great images Dennis!
Great photos and descriptions, those Lotus 23s brought back memories and fired up the imagination. The images Dennis publishes are not only excellent photographs but also take the viewer into the race with a sense of acceleration and g-force of turns.
Wonderful pix,as usual. Anything less & I would be disappointed. Actually, I like the tight cropping. It gives the viewer the sense of standing right alongside the edge of the track:something they otherwise would never be able to do.
Such great photos – the colors are so vibrant and sharp. Very nicely done.
Hi Dennis, these are great! I posted a link to a MINI site (www.motoringalliance.com) where there are lots of driving enthusiasts so they can see these too!
Matt
Beautiful cars and beautiful shots, Dennis. Makes me wish I had been there.
What a great photo man he understands what it is to race a car,for the driver and the car!
Dennis keep those great shots coming. I wish we had been at the event.
Looks like a beautiful weekend for racing. Very nice collection of cars and terrific photos. Does anyone know if the red Lotus 23,#96 Arciero Bros. car was the same one that Bobby Unser drove to a record first in Sports Car class finish at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb? If so, it looks like it’s in good hands and I’m thrilled to see it on track again. The car’s previous care taker, Ellis Cahn, would haved wanted it to be raced.
could somebody please give me the contact details for Dean Beaupre (Leda LT20 at Thunderhill), i am the ex owner of Leda LT25 chassis #1 and i am trying to collect where all the Len Terry cars are (i own 4 Terriers)
many thanks for your help
Lawrence:
Check with HMSA..http://www.hmsausa.com This F5000 car may also be at the CSRG Sears Point event Oct 1-3. Dennis