The Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA) Spring Club Races 2016 was staged April 9-10 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California. The two-day event featured Triumph with a single-marque race on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course on the Monterey Peninsula.
California has been suffering a severe drought for the past five years so the rain that came on Sunday was a welcome sight, unless you were sitting in pre-grid on slicks when the sky opened up. Fortunately Saturday was dry for the entire day and Sunday was wet so the typical problem of choosing the correct dry or wet setup was pretty easy.
HMSA always attracts some pretty interesting cars and the Spring Club Races 2016 was no exception with examples ranging from Max Jamiesson’s 1935 Ford Sprint Car to Travis Engen’s Le Mans-winning Audi R8. Triumphs were celebrated with a race of their own, with TR3A, TR4, TR6 and even Spitfire models well represented. The East Coast racers were not put off by the wet weather and got in all the track time available both days.
The car of the HMSA Spring Club Races 2016 race weekend had to be the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ of Alex Curtis. Racing in the rain, Alex had the Gullwing’s tail hanging out on every turn. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a 300SL driven so quickly on a damp track. Exciting.
For many participants the event was an opportunity to check off a few more items on the old bucket list. For some of the Triumph drivers who came all the way from back east, just getting on the famed Laguna Seca track was a thrill. But for many it was the chance to relive the Can-Am series or drop down the Corkscrew for the first time. Thankfully, the rain didn’t come down in buckets and it certainly didn’t dampen the spirit of those experiencing HMSA’s 2016 Spring Club Races. Plus it leveled the playing field and produced memories that will last a lifetime.
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Similar to 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2016 HMSA Spring Club Races with Senior Photographer Dennis Gray offering the following pictures from Laguna Seca. We split up Dennis’ 105 pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view, while the second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs.
HMSA Spring Club Races 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery
Gray R. Gregory – 1970 Chevron B16
Fred Della Noce – 1964 Ginetta G12.
Fred Della Noce – 1964 Ginetta G12.
Henry Schmitt\’s BMW M1.
Philip Mendelovitz – 1969 Datsun 2000
Dix Mille Tours du Castellet 2016
McLaren M1A
A well-worn 550 Spyder at the 2014 Concours on the Avenue – Carmel, California
Mark Sange – 1959 Lancia Dagrada during the damp Sunday group 1 race.
Mark Sange – 1959 Lancia Dagrada during the damp Sunday group 1 race.
Arthur Cook – 1958 Lotus Eleven during Sunday\’s wet race.
1963 Lotus Super 7 of Paul Quackenbush
Lars Mapstead – 1957 Alfa Romeo Spyder Monoposto.
Lars Mapstead – 1957 Alfa Romeo Spyder Monoposto.
A Lead Sled at the 2014 Concours on the Avenue – Carmel, California
Jim Weissenborn – 1959 MG A.
Jim Weissenborn – 1959 MG A.
Alex Curtis – 1955 Mercedes 300SL after winning Sunday\’s race. It\’s been a long time sense I have seen a 300SL driven quickly on a damp track. Exciting.
1970 Pontiac Trans Am driven by Robert Kauffman.
Martin Lauber – 1970 TITAN Mk6 and Andrew Wait – 1972 Lola T204.
Robert Blain – 1967 Lola T70.
Larry Ayers in his 1930 Morgan 3 Wheeler.
Doug Mocket – 1961 Cooper T-56.
Charles McCabe in his 1936 ERA R6B.
Markus Auerbach – 1970 Titan Mk6 and Michael Wirrick – 1972 Lola T204.
Michael Wirrick – 1972 Lola T204 and David Grieger – 1971 Lotus 69.
Michael Wirrick – 1972 Lola T204 and David Grieger – 1971 Lotus 69.
Tomas LaCosta – 1970 Lola T204.
Maserati 300S
Bob Morrison – 1969 Titan Mk5 and Dave Todd – 1969 Titan Mk5.
Dave Todd – 1969 Titan Mk5.
Martin Lauber – 1970 TITAN Mk6.
Up the hill out of turn three, Rob Manson in the Baldwin Mercury Special. 4834cc Of Mike Ryan built flat head Mercury power.
Dave Todd – 1969 Titan Mk5.
Jeff Rogers – 1970 Lola T200.
David Grieger – 1971 Lotus 69.
Patrick Orosco\’s 1979 MARCH 79B in turn two Sunday.
Doug Mocket – 1961 Cooper T-56.
Ferrari 512 BBLM s/n 29509
1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Cabriolet during the 2014 Pebble Beach Tour d\’Elegance
Dave Hogye – 1959 Triumph TR3A.
Tony Drews – 1963 Triumph TR4.
Tony Drews – 1963 Triumph TR4.
Patty Norlin – 1963 Triumph Spitfire.
Patty Norlin – 1963 Triumph Spitfire.
Dave Hogye – 1959 Triumph TR3A.
Bob Stockwell – 1965 Ford Mustang.
Bob Stockwell – 1965 Ford Mustang.
Fred Della Noce – 1964 Ginetta G12.
1971 BMW 2002 of Steve Walker
Erickson Shirley\’s Lister Chevrolet in turn 11.
Erickson Shirley\’s Lister Chevrolet in turn 11.
Lars Mapstead – 1957 Alfa Romeo Spyder Monoposto during Saturday morning\’s practice.
Mark Cane – 1969 Alfa Romeo GTV in turn eleven.
Mark Cane – 1969 Alfa Romeo GTV in turn eleven.
Lindsay Ross – 1963 Porsche 356.
Ian Wood\’s 1965 Fournier Marcadier Barquette.
Kurt Del Bene – 1960 Lola Mk1.
Mark Sange – 1959 Lancia Dagrada.
Pre-war Bugatti race at the 2014 Goodwood Members Meeting
Doug Mocket – 1961 Cooper T-56.
Doug Mocket – 1961 Cooper T-56.
Pre-war Bugatti race at the 2014 Goodwood Members Meeting
1959 Costin Lister Jaguar
1968 Lola T140 driven by Bruce Seiver.
1968 Lola T140 driven by Bruce Seiver.
Walter Hollowell – 1970 Triumph TR6.
Cal Meeker – 1973 Lola T294.
Jeff Lewis in his 1967 Porsche 911 308299 in turn two Saturday.
John Morton in Gunner Jeanette\’s 1965 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta GT 6217.
Bob Stockwell – 1965 Ford Mustang in turn 8 The Corkscrew.
Bruce Miller\’s 1963 Chevrolet Corvette.
Steve Walker – 1968 BMW 2002.
DeDion rear suspension on Kauffman\’s Lister Costin.
Le Mans Classic 2014 – 1962 to 1965 Race
1964 Porsche 904 GTS
Jim Reed – 1969 Chevrolet Camaro.
Adrian Van Der Kraft\’s 1959 Morgan 4.
Saturday\’s early morning sunlight silhouettes Arnold Zucchi\’s 1960 Ford Angelia.
Thor Johnson – 1974 BMW CSL 3.5.
Thor Johnson – 1974 BMW CSL 3.5.
Greg Meyer – 1962 Dailu Mk2 leads out of turn eleven.
Greg Meyer – 1962 Dailu Mk2 leads out of turn eleven.
Thor Johnson – 1959 Lotus 17 in tight quarters during Saturdays race.
Stan Anderes – 1958 Lotus Eleven.
Stan Anderes – 1958 Lotus Eleven.
Paul Adams – 1962 Elva Mk6 one of the nicest Mk. 6 around.
Paul Adams – 1962 Elva Mk6 one of the nicest Mk. 6 around.
Chuck Christensen – 1959 Porsche 356.
Chuck Christensen – 1959 Porsche 356.
John Miller – 1956 Devin Triumph. This special deserves to be seen more often on track.
John Miller – 1956 Devin Triumph. This special deserves to be seen more often on track.
Lindsay Ross – 1963 Porsche 356.
Thor Johnson – 1959 Lotus 17.
Thor Johnson – 1959 Lotus 17.
Arthur Cook – 1958 Lotus Eleven. Intense stare down the track.
1964 McLaren-Chevrolet M1A
Le Mans Classic 2014 – 1966 to 1971 Race
Alex Curtis – 1955 Mercedes 300SL. Alex and his 300SL make a potent partnership.
1966 Porsche 906
Donald Orosco\’s 1958 Lotus 15.
Bob Roth – 1963 Genie .
Max Jamiessson – 1935 Ford Sprint Car.
Brabham Trophy Race at the Goodwood Members\’ Meeting 2014
Jim Brown – 1961 Lotus 20.
Jim Brown – 1961 Lotus 20.
Ted Stroscher – 1955 Mercedes 190SL.
Shelby Cobra 289
Brian Groza – 1975 Sauber C4 in turn two during Saturday\’s race.
1965 Ford GT40
Alan Terpins – 1973 Porsche RSR.
Alan Terpins – 1973 Porsche RSR.
Tom Minnich – 1978 Chevron B36.
Tom Minnich – 1978 Chevron B36.
Keita Tanaka – 1973 March 73S.
Karen Barry waves hello from her BMC Huffaker F Jr.
1961 Genie Mk IV driven by Michael Vogel.
Brian Groza – 1975 Sauber C4.
Steve Walker – 1970 Chevron B16.
1970 Chevron B16 FVC
Dalmo De Vasconcelos – 1976 Ralt RT1.
Gray R. Gregory – 1977 Chevron B39.
Le Mans Classic 2014 – 1966 to 1971 Race
1967 Porsche 907 and 1967 Porsche 910
Ford GT40 Mk II
Carl Moore – 1976 March 76B.
Le Mans Classic 2014 – 1966 to 1971 Race
Jonathan Burke – 1965 Brabham BT14.
Paul Richins – 1967 Brabham BT21C one of the three or four very tight races Saturday.
Paul Richins – 1967 Brabham BT21C one of the three or four very tight races Saturday.
Jonathan Burke – 1965 Brabham BT14. This is the way Saturday\’s group seven race ended after laps of wheel to wheel dicing. Good show.
BMW CSL
Sunday morning\’s deluge of Monterey Sunshine. Alex Curtis – 1955 Mercedes 300SL
1970 BMW 2.8 CS.
Lars Mapstead – 1957 Alfa Romeo Spyder Monoposto Sunday morning.
Chris Orosco\’s 1959 Lola Mk.I.
Alex Curtis – 1955 Mercedes 300SL during Sunday morning\’s rain.
Alex Curtis – 1955 Mercedes 300SL during Sunday morning\’s rain.
1972 BMW CSL 3.0 and 1975 BMW 2002 Heidegger
Alex Curtis – 1955 Mercedes 300SL during Sunday morning\’s rain.
Enrico Tenni\’s 1962 Lotus Seven.
Nick Colonna\’s 1963 Lt. Wt. Jaguar XKE. This car is similar to the Lindner Nocker Lt. Wt Jaguar.
Mark Sange – 1959 Lancia Dagrada.
Andrew Wait – 1972 Lola T204.
Andrew Wait – 1972 Lola T204.
Eddie Lawson\’s 1977 Wolf WR4 into turn four.
Markus Auerbach – 1970 Titan Mk6 Sunday morning.
Jeff Rogers – 1970 Lola T200.
Kuwait Concours d’Elegance 2015
He must be lost.
Markus Auerbach – 1970 Titan Mk6.
1953 Ferrari 625 TF Vignale Spider
Walter Hollowell – 1970 Triumph TR6.
Ranson Webster\’s 1976 Porsche 935 K3.
Julian Walton-Masters – 1967 Porsche 911 in turn five.
Gray R. Gregory – 1970 Chevron B16.
William \’Chip\’ Connor\’s 1980 Porsche 935J in turn two.
Wah just love CHEVRON B16s, so beautifully proportioned, and good to see them chase the bigger ultimately faster T70 etc. Thank you.
Another GREAT HMSA event ! Max in the sprint car was really having fun with the Alfa’s and 356’s all weekend……
Thanks for the great shots Dennis.
Best, Steve Schmidt
Intrepid – that’s clearly what you are, Dennis, for staying out there all weekend in that weather! Great images as always, loving the last few showing the tight racing at turn 11!
Brabham B21C: Would that be a F2 car, and would a, say, 21F be a Formula Ford?
Where the heck are the Datsun roadsters? Why are they seen only in the background and unmentioned?? They are a hell of lot rarer and better performers than either TR-4 or 6s. Wise up!
Scott.
I agree, where were the Datsun roadsters? Only one ran and is included on page five of the galleries.
“Paul Adams – 1962 Elva Mk6 one of the nicest Mk. 6 around.” is such a great shot Dennis! Love the expression on the drivers face.
Isnt it great to see Stan Andares enjoying his Lotus Eleven (one of three that ran LeMans in ’56) at the yong ate if 85.