Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA) held its Spring Club Event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on March 23-24, 2013. The March club event featured nearly 150 historic race cars circling the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course in Monterey, California.
This year’s event celebrated the life of Martin Swig, who passed away on July 3, 2012. The quintessential West Coast “car guy,” Swig was remembered over the race weekend for his numerous contributions to the collector car community, including the famed California Mille.A selection of his cars was displayed and raced at the event by Swig’s sons, David and Howard.
HMSA events feature historic production cars built through 1966 and purpose-built Formula, Sports Racing and IMSA cars built through 1984. According to HMSA, club event weekends are, “semi-competitive with nothing to be won except great experiences, plenty of track time and the camaraderie of fellow members.” Further, “Run groups are arranged by speed potential and age of the cars entered for a particular event. Although wheel-to-wheel racing is common, drivers are encouraged to respect the historic value of the machines.”
Notable entrants at the 2013 HMSA Spring Club Historic Races included Erickson Shirley’s Costin-bodied Lister Jaguar; Chip Conner’s Shelby FIA 289 Cobra, IROC Porsche 911 RSR, and Porsche 935; Peter Giddings’ Alfa Romeo Tipo C 8C-35; David Swig’s Monsterati; Sharon Wardman’s Rene Bonnet D-Jet; Jonathan Feiber’s 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage; Dennis Singleton’s Porsche 911 RSR 3.0; Marty Stein’s Siata 300BC; Alex Curtis’s Mercedes-Benz 300SL; a trio of Shelby Cobras owned by Lynn, Steve and Tim Park, and a great selection of Alfa, Datsun, and BMW coupes.
We have split up the nearly 160 pictures that we captured at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca into two galleries. The first gallery features our top 64 images, all displayed in the full-width view of our website. The second gallery, meanwhile, is found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs.
HMSA Spring Club Historic Races 2013 – Photo Gallery
Chip Conner’s 1974 Porsche 911 RSR IROC.Edie Arrowsmith’s Porsche 914/6 leads in two.Ex-Bobby Allison 1970 BRE Datsun 510 of Adam CarollaJim Reed’s 1969 Chevrolet Camaro in two.
The trio of Shelby Cobras from the Park family – Steve, Lynn and Tim.Phil Scheinberg’s 1966 Chevrolet Corvette in two.Ed Matsuishi’s Porsche 911R in two.Keeping the Flame Alive – David and Howard Swig.
HMSA Spring Club Historic Races 2013 – Photo Gallery Page Two
Dalmo De Vasconcelos in his 1965 Lotus Elan.Dan Marvin’s Lotus 69 in eleven.Tom Minnich’s Lola T297.An exciting combination to watch in any of Laguna’s turns – Alex Curtis in his 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL.
Rob Gritten’s 1972 Lola T292 in eleven.I hope this car is as much fun to drive as it is to watch and hear – Greg Meyer’s 1958 Devin SS Chevrolet.1955 Mercedes-Benz 190SL of Jeff Marx in turn eleven.Paul Adams in his Elva Mk.2. This is one of the original factory cars. The bare aluminum body exposes the many patches and modifications made in the car’s early life.
HMSA Spring Club Historic Races 2013 – Photo Gallery Page Three
Alfa Romeo Tipo C 8C-35 of Peter GiddingsJonathan Feiber’s 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage in eleven. The Birdcage was entered in the 1960 Cuban Grand Prix by Camoradi USA and its owner “Lucky” Casner. Driven to victory by Stirling Moss, the win was the only professional victory under the Castro regime. Moss later teamed with Dan Gurney in the Tipo 61 to win the 1000 KM of Nurburgring. It later won Best of Show at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours.Stan Anderes, Lotus Eleven.1953 Kurtis 500S of John Linfesty
Paul Perry in his Phoenix Saab.Davig Swig goes inside Alex Curtis in turn eleven. 1957 Monsterati versus 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing.Captain Marco Sange’s 1956 BMW engined Avia Streamliner in eleven.Marty Stein’s 1952 Siata 300BC. This car won the first HMSA Martin Swig award.
HMSA Spring Club Historic Races 2013 – Photo Gallery Page Four
Nick Colonna’s 1959 Lister Costin Chevrolet in turn eleven.Erickson Shirley’s 1959 Lister Costin Chevrolet. This car features a modified Rochester Fuel Injection. Neat.David Buchanan’s 1956 Alfa Romeo Sebring.Tom Matychowiak’s Elva Courier Mk.1.
If you are an MG fan it does not get better than the 1959 MGA of Jim Weissenborn.Don Racine’s Austin Mini Cooper in eleven.Chip Conner’s FIA Shelby Cobra in eleven.Sharon Wardman in her 1963 Rene Bonnet D-Jet.
HMSA Spring Club Historic Races 2013 – Photo Gallery Page Five
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint driven by Glen Oliveria.Danny Baker’s Lotus 27. A very quick combination.Early morning light sets this LeGrand nose alight. Charles McCabe’s 1965 LeGrand M3B.Charles McCabe in his LeGrand M3B.
Mark Osborne – 1965 Merlyn MK6.A study in concentration – Peter Giddings in his 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo C 8C-35 in turn eleven.A study in concentration, part two – Peter Giddings in his 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo C 8C-35 further into eleven.A study in concentration, part three – Peter Giddings in his 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo C 8C-35 drifts through eleven. Just in case any readers missed how difficult these pre-war Grand Prix cars are to drive quickly.
HMSA Spring Club Historic Races 2013 – Photo Gallery Page Six
There were few cars more exciting to watch in eleven than the 1958 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Noel Park.Another virtuoso of the three wheel technique. Dennis Singleton in his 1974 Porsche 911 RSR.Nick Colonna’s Lola T70 Spyder in the Corkscrew.David Martin’s 1976 Datsun 240Z in the Corkscrew.
Strange bedfellows, but as so often happens with strange bedfellows, great fun to watch. Tom Klauer’s Pontiac Grand Prix and Nick Colonna’s Lola T70 Spyder.Chip Conner’s wonderful Porsche 935. What a sound as this car accelerates out of five up towards six.Joseph Rossi’s 1964 Porsche 356C.Chip Conner’s 1974 Porsche 911 RSR IROC, ex-Dennis Hulme.
HMSA Spring Club Historic Races 2013 – Photo Gallery Page Seven
Steve Park’s 1962 Shelby Cobra 289 FIA, CSX 2559Tim Park’s 1964 Shelby CobraMartin Baker’s 1970 Porsche 914/6 has been built as a French entrant Le Mans Sunauto Porsche, even using French rear tail lights. The more one looked at this 914/6 the better it got.Michael Sweeney’s 1963 Ginetta G4R is inside Peter Reed’s 1966 Shelby GT350.
Down the Corkscrew. Outside is Dan Wardman’s 1967 Lotus Europa inside Dalmo De Vasconcelos’ 1965 Lotus Elan.Lap after lap these two went at each other, good show. Lynn Park in #97 and Steve Park in #16.Steve Park in the Shelby CobraTim Park in the Shelby Cobra
HMSA Spring Club Historic Races 2013 – Photo Gallery Page Eight
Rick Clemente’s 1967 Alfa Romeo GTV.Tom Brecht’s 1969 BMW 2002 TA in the Corkscrew.Adam Carolla’s 1970 Datsun 510.Tim Brecht’s 1969 BMW 2002 TA.
Anthony Rimicci’s 1968 Alfa Romeo GT Jr. in the Corkscrew.Holding on or relaxed – Chuck Stephens in his 1969 Datsun 510Martin Lauber’s Alfa Romeo GTV in the Corkscrew.No Photoshop slight of hand in this image, the Corkscrew is that steep. Mark Rancon’s 1970 BMW 2002.
HMSA Spring Club Historic Races 2013 – General Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
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Thank you Dennis, great to see some “Historic Racers” are still able to have fun in the sun somewhere in the world. Whereas here in Sweden, Scandinavia, we still have snow lying deep on the ground. And the rest of Europe is not fairing much better. Thanks for showing photographs of some of the cars we will probably never see over our side of the pond. These always make your reports even more interesting than normal… Cheers from a frozen Sweden.
Really enjoying the new photo gallery format. The cars seem to be jumping off the site into my lap. (Doesn’t hurt that they are great images from Dennis Gray, either…)
I think the new layout is really great ,love the idea of favourite pix then a whole index at the end . Yep thumbs up .
The choice of # 16 Cobra for your lead photo is a great one.