Race cars and springtime marked the beginning of the racing season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA) held its first event of 2017. The Spring Club Races took place on March 18-19 at the Salinas, California race track, with the two-day event featuring a large group of Formula Fords racing on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course on the Monterey Peninsula.
The HMSA Spring Club Races are always an open invitation to those who want to start the year by bringing their cars and equipment out from the hibernation of winter. It’s a great way for drivers and teams to get their cars out on the track to get them up to speed for the racing events of the year. With clouds occasionally covering the skies throughout the weekend, the threat of rain was low making the choice for dry set ups easy on the cars. Although chilly at times, the track conditions were good for the drivers and teams.
If you are a frequent reader here or have the opportunity to attend this HMSA event, you know that some historic and significant race cars typically attend this annual March weekend. From Steve Schmidt’s 1976 Porsche 935 K3 IMSA GT to Brian Groza’s 1975 Sauber C4, there were Cobras, Porsches, Chevrons, Lolas, BMWs, Lotus, McLarens and Alfa Romeos to name just a few. A large contingent of Formula Fords rounded out the classes and made for some great action out on the track. This great selection of cars over the weekend provided some great sights and sounds on and off the track.
HMSA Spring Club Laguna Seca 2017 – Photo Gallery (Photos: Victor Varela)
Steve Park – 1962 Shelby 289 Cobra
15, 97 & 91 go up the hill
Tim Park – 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra
Edward Lauber – 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super
Lindsay Ross – 1963 Porsche 356 Super 90
Robert Manson – 1962 Lotus 7
Jonathan Ornstein – 1973 Datsun 710
Frank Altamura – 1966 Porsche 911S
Bill Ockerlund – 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV
Thor Johnson – 1974 BMW Schnitzer 3.5 Liter
Mike McNamee – 1985 Buick Somerset
Les Werling – 1982 Mercury Capri
Bob Baker – Ralt RT1
Brian Groza – 1975 Sauber C4
Bruce Maxwell Leeson – 1969 McLaren M10B
BRE Datzun 240Z
Nicolas Hunziker in his 1969 Lotus 51C
Jay Streets – 1971 Winklemann WDFF3-23
David Cooper – 1974 Titan Mk VI
Thor Thorson – 1962 Elva MK 6
Jeff Marx – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190SL
Steve Park – 1962 Shelby 289 Cobra
Walt Brown Jr – 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Tim Park – 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra
Lorne Leibel – 1965 Cobra 289
Jim Bouzaglou – 1964 Cobra 289
Jim Halsey – 1965 Shelby GT350
Daniel Goldsmith – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
Bill Ockerlund – 1968 Shelby Knotchback
Dan Cowdrey – 1970 Titan MK6
Frank Altamura – 1966 Porsche 911S
Don Hogue – 1967 Lotus Europa Mark 47
Jonathan Ornstein – 1973 Datsun 710
Tom Minnich – #45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
Steve Schmidt – 1976 Porsche 935K3
Bill Ockerlund – 1976 Dekon Monza
Ross Merrill – 1982 Porsche 911
Thor Johnson – 1974 BMW Schnitzer 3.5 Liter
Mike McNamee – 1985 Buick Somerset
Larry Savage – 1976 March 76B
Robert Hardison – 1990 Oldsmobile
Dennis Gray capturing the action on the inside of turn 11
Dave Dwoskin -1982 Penske Ralt RT-5
Bob Baker – Ralt RT1 leads Allen Nicholas – 1978 March 78B into turn 11
David Alvarado – 1976 March 76B
Mark Sange – 1959 BMC Huffaker FJ
Fred Della Noce – 1966 Ginetta G12
Tom Kruger – 1971 Titan Mk6
Bob Hancock – 1969 Merlyn 11A
Arthur Cook – 1958 Lotus 11
Bob Roth – 1963 Genie
1962 Shelby 289 Cobra
1971 Alfa Romeo GTV
Rocky Taylor and his 1966 Auto Dynamics Mk IV FV
1963 Lotus 27
Red – 1963 Lotus 27
1964 Lotus 23
(L-R) 1969 Chevron B15B, 1972 Lola T 204, 1974 Titan Mk VI
1967 Brabham BT21C
1962 #15 Elva MK 6 and the 1959 #99 Lotus 17
1966 Porsche 911S and the 1955 Pupulidy Porsche Special
James Roth – 1962 Lotus 23B
1967 Brabham BT21C
Prepping the 1971 Winklemann WDFF3-23
Steve Schmidt – 1976 Porsche 935K3
Bob Hancock – 1969 Merlyn 11A
1963 Porsche 356 Super 90
Steve Schmidt – 1976 Porsche 935K3
Jim Weissenborn – 1959 Byers MGA Special
Time to get ready – 1959 Byers MGA Special
Formula Ford racers heading down toward turn 9
Nicolas Hunziker in his 1969 Lotus 51C
Matt Ammer – 1972 Koing-Heath KHF-1
Mitch Roth – 1970 Winkleman WDF
Chuck Christensen – 1959 Porsche 356
Frank Altamura – 1955 Pupulidy Porsche Special
Max Jamiesson – 1960 Porsche 356 Super 90
Bob Clucas – 1960 Porsche 356
Tom Matychowiak – 1959 Elva Courier
Lauber Edward 1969 Titan Mk5
Tim Park – 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra
Focus, Jim Bouzaglou – 1964 Cobra 289
Jim Bouzaglou – 1964 Cobra 289
Visor Down, Lorne Leibel – 1965 Cobra 289
1955 Pupulidy Porsche Special
1955 Pupulidy Porsche Special
1967 Brabham BT21C
Erickson Shirley – 1959 Lister Costin
Thor Johnson – 1974 BMW Schnitzer 3.5 Liter
Bob Kullas – 1969 Chevron B16
Brian Groza – 1975 Sauber C4
Dave Dwoskin -1982 Penske Ralt RT-5
Snake Tail, Tim Park – 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra
Snake Pit
Brian Andrews – 1964 Lotus 23
Robert Satake – 1969 Chevron B15B
Paul Richins – 1967 Brabham BT21C
Fred Della Noche – 1964 Ginetta G12
1963 Porsche 356 Super 90 – waiting in the pits
Gloves off – 1967 Brabham BT21C
Jonathan Kitchen – 1969 Lotus 61
Nicolas Hunziker in his 1969 Lotus 51C
Bill Ockerlund – 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV
Steve Hoogs – 1972 Merlyn Mk 20
Glenn Oliveria – 1955 Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Diane Cox – 1960 MG MGA
Robert Engberg – 1957 Elva Mk II
Erickson Shirley – 1959 Lister Costin
(F-B) Max Jamiesson, 1960 Porsche 356 Super 90, Chuck Christensen, 1959 Porsche 356,
Bob Clucas, 1960 Porsche 356
Michael Callaham – 1964 Lotus 23B
Leland Osborn in his Genie Mk.5A
Paul Kitchen – 1969 Lotus 61
Thor Johnson – 1959 Lotus 17
Robert Engberg – 1957 Elva Mk II
Racing is a family affair
1982 Mercury Capri
1955 Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Ready to start the race day!
1966 Shelby GT 350
1974 BMW Schnitzer 3.5 Liter
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Nice images Vic. Good eye. Ciao Dennis Gray
Thank you for the kind words, Dennis! They are very much appreciated.
Beautiful photos of beautiful cars, every one with a beautiful caption! Thank you,Victor.
Thank you, Dave!
Great images Victor!
Thanks, Mike! Great seeing you at Laguna and at the TGPLB!
Excellent photos Victor. Thank you for moving around the track and the pits to change your vantage point. Long day of walking but what a fine event to share with others.
Thanks, Scott! I appreciate your comment and that you took notice that I do like to walk the track to share images from different parts of this beautiful race track.
Steve any chance of making a nice video of my 1966, Griffith 400 on the road so we can put it on U-tube. That is if you are ever in Sacramento, and, of course, after this cuvid 19 or coronavirus ends. I use to know a Steve Varela at Garfield High School a long time ago, 1955-58. or could that be your father?
I belong to the Historical owners of the TVR Club in England and they are always asking me for videos or photos of my superfast 1966, TVR Griffith 400, or Griffith 400 in the USA.