The Speedfest Classic Motorsports Mitty 2014 was held April 25-27 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. Sanctioned by Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR), the 37th running of the Mitty saw more than 300 entries enjoy the challenging 12-turn, 2.54 mile road course. The honorary Grand Marshal was Brian Redman, who delighted all with stories from his long and successful racing career.
HSR grouped the vintage race cars into 10 classes, from vintage production through modern era global GT. Spectators were treated to everything from early 1950s sports cars through late model Porsches and Ferraris. Historic Moto GP bikes were also raced, adding to the diversity.
Among the more interesting cars this year were Chris MacAllister’s 1971 McLaren M8F and 1964 AC Cobra. Toby Bean and sons Theo and Patrick raced a 1990 Chevrolet Intrepid, a 1960 Aston Martin DB4 and a 2008 Courage Oreca. Christian Zugel brought his 2006 Porsche RS Spyder, resplendent in the DHL yellow colors and a Lotus 125 Exos that Gunnar Jeannette drove to set the fastest lap of the weekend. Dan Curry’s Porsche 962, Mike Smith’s Porsche 935/K3 and Max Heilman’s 1958 Jaguar XK150 were among some of the interesting cars raced over the weekend.
As always, HSR events provide plenty of action and good racing. Among the best races were Jody O’Donnell’s 1969 Chevrolet Corvette beating Mike Donohue in his 1963 Chevrolet Corvette in Group 5, in addition to Donohue’s Corvette nipping the 1961 Jaguar E-Type of Larry Ligas in the Bob Woodman Tires International American Challenge race. Young Theo Bean showed his growing skills in the Courage Oreca as he beat perennial Group 6 winner David Porter’s Pescarolo Judd.
The Mitty has evolved into more than a weekend of vintage racing. Spectators came with their interesting cars, many of them meeting up with like-minded enthusiasts. There were car club corrals for pretty much all sports cars. Others brought their exotics or their homemade creations which added to the atmosphere of this event. These spectators have their own stories about cars and racing (just ask them), but perhaps the most interesting story came from Santiago Uranga and Juan Manuel Rizzotti. They showed up in a 1964 Fiat 600, which they are driving from their native Argentina to Alaska. That they chose to drop by Road Atlanta and see the races and soak up the atmosphere was a great example of the celebration of cars that the Mitty has become.
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Similar to 2011, 2012 and 2013, photographer David Ferguson also documented the 2014 Mitty by HSR, offering the following picture gallery that highlight the diverse entrants. We split up David’s 225 pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs.
Speedfest Mitty 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery
Chris MacAllister, 71 McLaren M8FJohan Woerheide, 66 Lola T70 MkllChristian Zugel going fast in his 2013 Lotus T125 Exos.Dan Curry, 85 Porsche 962
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Speedfest Mitty 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two
Doug Campbell, 64 Ginetta G4 and Les Gonda, 73 MGB/GT V8Nathan Thompson’s 61 Lotus Elite does lean a lot.Jim Matthew, 60 Porsche 356 S90 RoadsterCurt Vogt kicks up dirt with his 70 Ford Boss 302.
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Mike Donohue, 63 Corvette RoadsterFrank Beck, 72 Porsche 914/6Chris MacAllister, 64 AC CobraByron DeFoor, 73 Porsche 911S
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Speedfest Mitty 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three
Charles Rayhall, 71 Porsche 914/6Mike Smith, 84 Porsche 944 GTRMike Levine, 65 Chevrolet Corvair V8.Vintage motorcycles heading to turn 2.
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Vic Skirmants, 61 Porsche 356Mike Smith, 79 Porsche 935/K3Honorary Grand Marshal with HSR’s General Manager. Also known as father and son, Brian and James Redman.Santiago Uranga and Juan Manuel Rizzotti in front of the 64 Fiat 600 that they are driving from Argentina to Alaska.
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Speedfest Mitty 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four
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Speedfest Mitty 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five
Howard Turner, 88 Jaguar XJR8Scott Spencer, 93 Kudzu DG3Chris MacAllister, 71 McLaren M8FPorsche RS Spyder, Christian Zugel
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Mike Smith, 84 Porsche 944 GTRBrian DeFoor, 73 Porsche 911SChris MacAllister, 64 AC CobraGary Moore, 65 Shelby GT350
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Speedfest Mitty 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six
The ‘Esses’Thomas Murphy, 80 March 80ARobert Blain, 76 March 762Dave Swigler in his lovely 75 March 75B.
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Raymond Boissoneau, 71 McRae GM1Dan Curry, 85 Porsche 962Patrick Bean, 59 Aston Martin DB4Bill Warner, 71 Triumph TR6
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Speedfest Mitty 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven
Paul Gelpi, 62 Bobsy SR2/3 leads Herb Wetanson, 60 Aston Martin Zagato.Debbie Graves, 99 Lotus EliseBlake DeFoor, 69 Porsche 911SJames Williams, 59 Austin-Healey Sprite
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Stacey Schepens in her very quick 64 Morgan 4/4.Paul Swanson, Porsche 356 passing Derek Chima, MG Midget as they exit turn 5.Herb Wetanson, 61 Lotus Super 7George F. Balbach, 60 Porsche 356
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Speedfest Mitty 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight
Richard Schnabel guides his 1959 MG A into turn five ahead of a gaggle of Porsche Speedsters.Ariel Dorra, 67 Alfa Romeo DuettoJames Jackson, 64 Porsche 356SCRick Norris, 65 Corvair Monza
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Gary Haycock, 69 BMW 2002Historic Moto GP entertained with some fast and well-driven motorcycles.John McCormick, 85 Autocraft CobraScott Hughes, 73 BMW CSL
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Speedfest Mitty 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine
Andrea Robertson, 06 Ford GT Mk 7Robert Blain, 04 Chevrolet Corvette C6RScott Hughes, 73 BMW CSLThe start of The Hawk Performance GT/GTM enduro.
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Dan Curry, 85 Porsche 962Travis Engen, 05 Audi R8 LMPDavid Porter, 07 Pescarolo Judd closely followed by Theo Bean’s Courage Oreca.Stacey Schepens, 64 Morgan 4/4
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Speedfest Mitty 2014 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
That\’s all folks!
Jaguar!
Scott Hughes, 73 BMW CSL
Charging into turn 1.
The start of The Hawk Performance GT/GTM enduro.
Dan Curry, 85 Porsche 962
Dalton Zehr, 90 Shelby Can-Am
Dan Curry, 85 Porsche 962
Travis Engen, 05 Audi R8 LMP
Theo Bean, 06 Courage Oreca
David Porter, 07 Pescarolo Judd closely followed by Theo Bean\’s Courage Oreca.
Stacey Schepens, 64 Morgan 4/4
Craig Chima, 62 Lotus Super 7
Honorary Grand marshal with HSR\’s General Manager. Also known as father and son.
Infield eye candy: Olds Toronado
Infield eye candy: Maserati Monteverdi
Santiago Uranga and Juan Manuel Rizzotti in front of the 64 Fiat 600 that they are driving from Argentina to Alaska.
Infield eye candy: Minis
Infield eye candy: Cobras
Hawley Chester, 83 Royale RP38
Tom Shelton, 65 Lola T70
Chris MacAllister, 71 McLaren M8F
Johan Woerheide, 66Lola T70 Mkll
Christian Zugel going fast in his 2013 Lotus T125 Exos.
John Burke, Swift 014a
Christian Zugel, 13 Lotus T125 Exos
Ron Green, 01 Dallara Indy
Gunnar Jeannette in Christian Zugel\’s 13 Lotus T125 Exos.
Dan Curry, 85 Porche 962
Toby Bean, 90 Chevy Intrepid
John Burke, 99Riley & Scott MklllB
Rich Grupp, 90 Kudzu DG2
Doc Bundy, 64 Lotus 23b
Debbie Graves, 99 Lotus Elise
Dennis Clark, 99 Toyota WSR
Jake Kimbrough, 94 Toyota WSR
Harry Gentry, 64 Ginetta G4
Robert Newman, 70 Porsche 911T
Robert Borden, 71 Porsche 911S
Paul Gelpi, 62 Bobsy SR2/3
Doug Campbell, 64 Ginetta G4
Doug Campbell, 64 Ginetta G4 and Les Gonda, 73 MGB/GT V8
Amos Smith, 24 year old Mazda Miata
Nathan Thompson\’s 61 Lotus Elite does lean a lot.
Stacey Schepens, 64 Morgan 4/4
Wayne Baker, 67 Porsche 911
Jim matthew, 60 Porsche S90 Roadster
David Clemens, 66 Chevrolet Corvair
Gordon Slingerland, 68 Pontiac Firebird 400
Randy Proudfit, 73 Porsche 911RSR
Melvin Andrews, 64 Porsche 904R
Fritz Seidel, 73 Porsche 911 IROC
Curt Vogt kicks up dirt with his 70 Ford Boss 302.
Mike Donohue, 63 Corvette Roadster
Mike Donohue, 63 Corvette Roadster
Robert Love, 89 Porsche 911 Carrera
Davis Jones 72 Porsche 911 S/T
Frank Beck, 72 Porsche 914/6
Chris MacCallister, 64 AC Cobra
Byron DeFoor, 73 Porsche 911S
Charles Rayhall, 71 Porsche 914/6
Mike Smith, 84 Porsche 944 GTR
Jody O\’Donnell, 69 Corvette
Mike Levine, 65 Chevrolet Corvair V8.
Meanwhile, up in the sky…
Fire extinguisher on standby.
Vintage motorcycles heading to turn 2.
Gregory Dietz, 76 Datsun 280Z
You can count on very close racing when the Porsche Speedsters are on track.
Vic Skirmants, 61 Porsche 356
Frank Cater, 76 MG Midget
Bob Pickerill, 70 Porsche 914/4
Tom Trabue, 65 Porsche 911
Richard Taylor, 64 Triumph TR4
Lilo Zicron, 67 McLaren M6b
Racing into turn 17.
Chris Macallister, 71 McLaren M8F
James Cullen, 68 Lola T70 Mk lllb
Peter Strasser, 13 Radical SR8
Farrell Preston, 66 McLaren M1B
Bob Lima, 78 Lola T298
Tom Shelton, 65 Lola T70
Dave Gussack, 01 Carbir CS2
James Cullen, 68 Lola T70 Mklllb
Steve Scullen, 85 Chevron B36
Bob Lima, 78 Lola T298
David Jacobs, 66 Lola T70 Mkll
Chris MacAllister, 71 McLaren M8F
Johan Woerheide, 66 Lola T70 Mkll
James Freeman, 67 Matich SR3
Mac McCombs, 68/09 SPF GT40
Ward Witkowski, 89 Lola T89/90
Bill Thumel, 67 Lola T70 Spyder
Conner Kearby, 01 Lola T97/20
John Burke, Swift 014a
Gaston Kearby, 01 Lola T97/20
Jacek Mucha, 06 Swift JMS016CP
Travis Engen, 01 Lola T97/20
Phil Lasco, 00 Ford Mustang T/A
Ron Valles, 06 Mazda RX8
Mike Smith, 79 Porsche 935/K3
John Starkey, 75 Porsche 911 RSR
Hartmut Von Seelen, 74 Porsche 911 RSR
Frank DePew, 93 Porsche 964 Turbo S
Andrea Robertson, 06 Ford GT Mk 7
Don Soenen, 95 Ford Mustang T/A
Ray Hill, 79 Mazda RX7
Andy de Cardenas, 75 Porsche 911 RSR. Larry Cope, 85 Buick Somerset
Richard Howe, 89 Ford Mustang T/A
Mike Smith, 79 Porsche 935/K3
Kyle Shields, 02 Chevy Monte Carlo
Brent Bernath, 06 Ford Fusion
Maurice Hull, 06 Dodge Charger
Jack Finch, 06 Dodge Charger
Gary Stach, 92 Chevy Lumina, leads a group of historic stock cars through turn 5.
Howard Turner, 88 Jaguar XJR8
Mark Brannon, 01 Riley & Scott Mk lllC
Scott Spencer, 93 Kudzu DG3
Samuel Le Comte, 70 Chevrolet Camaro
Scott Jachthurber, 72 Porsche 911 ST/R
Mike Smith, 84 Porsche 944 GTR
Mike Levine, V8 powered 65 Chevrolet Corvair
Clair Schwendeman, 68 Corvette
Jody O\’Donnell, 69 Corvette, surrounded by Porsches.
Brian DeFoor, 73 Porsche 911S
Chris McCallister, 64 AC Cobra
Gary Moore, 65 Shelby GT350
Craig Ross, 70 Ford Boss 302
George Calfo, 92 Porsche 964 Cup
Scott Jachthurber, 72 Porsche 911 ST/R
Chris McCalllister, 64 AC Cobra
Gary Moore, 65 Shelby GT350
The \’Esses\’
Randal Cassling, 05 Porsche 996 GT3 Cup
Matt Dicken, Porsche Cayman S
Marius Avemarg, 07 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
Dominique Le Queux, Porsche Cayman S
Lori Cassling, Porsche Cayman S
Action in turn 5.
Keith Faver, 09 Porsche Cayman S
Hamilton Harris, Lotus Evora
Wayne Presley, 05 Lotus Elise
Lori Cassling\’s 09 Porsche Cayman S sports the famous \’Pink Pig\’ paint scheme.
Rodrigo Sales, 10 Cayman S, leads a line of cars through the \”Esses\”.
John Pickle, 05 Lotus Elise
Don Ondrejcak, 04 Panoz GTS-Penske
Francesco Melandri, 96 Porsche 993 GT3 Cup
Dave Swigler, 75 March 75B
Daniel Helman, 72 Crossle 25F
Andrew Barron, 69 Lotus 69 F/F
Travis Engen, 70 Chevron B17b
Jim Kelleher, 80 March 80A
Travis Engen, 70 Chevron B17b
Thomas Murphy, 80 March 80A
Robert Blain, 76 March 762
Barry Blackmore, 75 Lola T332
Dave Swigler in his lovely 75 March 75B.
Will Thomas, 67 Brabham BT21
Raymond Boissoneau, 71 McRae GM1
Patrick Bean, 59 Aston Martin DB4
Road Atlanta\’s famous \”Esses\”.
Bill Warner, 71 Triumph TR6
Porsche 911, Spec Racer Ford, MBB/GT V8
Debbie Graves, 99 Lotus Elise
Austin Jabaley, 71 Datsun 240Z
Byron DeFoor, 68 Porsche 911
Blake DeFoor, 69 Porsche 911S
Craig Taylor, 68 Porsche 911
Curt Richards, 91 BMW 318is
Paul Gelpi, 62 Bobsy SR2/3 leads Herb Wetanson, 60 Aston Martin Zagato.
Greg Dietz, 76 Datsun 280Z, leads an interesting assortment of cars into turn 5.
Dick Rathbone, 66 Ford Mustang GT
Leigh Derby, 68 Triumph Spitfire
Paul Swanson, 58 Porsche 356
Herb Wetanson, 61 Lotus Super 7
Thomas Coryn, 65 MGB
James Williams, 59 AH Sprite
Max Heilman, 58 Jaguar XK150
Max Heiman, 58 Jaguar XK150
Stacey Schepens in her very quick 64 Morgan 4/4.
Richard Taylor, 64 Triumph TR4
Ernesto Bello in his well prepared and well driven 74 Opel Kadett.
Carl George, 59 MGA
Steve Schultz, 59 MGA
Paul Swanson, Porsche 356 passing Derek Chima, MG Midget as they exit turn 5.
George F. Balbach, 60 Porsche 356
Bonnie Foulds, 60 AH Sprite
Garron Haycock, 69 BMW 2002
Brian Farmer, 64 AH Sprite
Mark Irwin, 77 Fiat X1/9
Ariel Dorra, 67 Alfa Romeo Duetto
Carl George, 59 MGA followed by a Porsche and a Jaguar out of turn 5.
Brian Thomas, 70 BMW 2002
Lee Lydick, 63 Merlyn Mk6A
Michael Eberhardt, 68 Porsche 911
Wayne Baker, 67 Porsche 911
Richard Schnabel guides his 59 MGA into turn 5 ahead of a gaggle of Porsche Speedsters.
James Jackson, 64 Porsche 356SC
Rick Norris, 65 Corvair Monza
Max Heilman, 58 Jaguar XK150
Carl George leads an MG train in his 59 MGA.
Gary Haycock, 69 BMW 2002
Historic Moto GP entertained with some fast and well driven motorcycles.
Jeff McKee, 66/06 Bailey GT40
Melvin Andrews, 64 Porsche 904R
Herb Wetanson, 60 Aston Martin Zagato
John McCormick, 85 Autocraft Cobra
Jody O\’Donnell and his 69 Corvette had a very successful weekend.
Jeff McKee, 66/06 Bailey GT40
Scott Hughes, 73 BMW CSL 3500
Frank DePew, 93 Porsche 964 Turbo S
Andrea Robertson, 06 Ford GT Mk 7
Debbie Cloud, 06 Ford Fusion NASCAR
Phil Lasco, 00 Ford Mustang T/A
Jim Cullen, 07 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
Robert Blain, 04 Corvette C6R
Lori Cassling, 09 Porsche Cayman S
Frank DePew, 93 Porsche 964 Turbo
Juan Lopez-Santini showed his considerable talents in the 08 Porsche 977 GT3 Cup
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Dear David,
Always a pleasure to see you at the track. Your photos and articles are superb and greatly appreciated. Love the photo of my Cup car.
Keep your lens aimed at my car(s). I’m usually pretty fast 😉 . Hopefully you’ll see me on a Pro car soon.
Kind regards, Juan López-Santini
Thank you for your comments Juan. I appreciate them. I think that your 27 second margin of victory over similar cars in a seven lap race backs up your claim to being fast. Congratulations on an impressive driving display this last weekend.
Dave
Lovely work Dave! I greatly appreciate the effort to bring us the excellent images of this event. One small request though. If possible please find a moment to attribute the motorcycle images (and provide more of them!). I suspect that there were some “important” scoots there and I know the guys worked hard to get them out for our enjoyment.
TIA
-elh-
Ed, the motorcycles and their riders operate independently from HSR while at the track. They are a friendly and laid back group. They don’t time their laps, and don’t have an entry list. They are great fun to watch and shoot, and I wish I’d had the time to get to know them, but covering over 300 car entries in 24 races did not give me that opportunity.
Dave
Hi David,
A question? MASERATI Montevardi and that with an Chrysler engin?
Cheers,
J
No, not a Maserati, a Monteverdi 375 S I think, built in Switzerland with a Chrysler engine. Few were built, most famous of all the cars Peter Monteverdi built was the Hai, a mid-engined car ,also with Chrysler engine.
Thank you Peter. After taking this shot, a young man got in the car and started to drive off. I asked him what it was, and he said that it was a Maserati Monteverdi. He did not know what year. He said the car belonged to his father and admitted that his knowledge of it was limited. I apologize for the incorrect information, but stand by my statement that it is eye candy.
Dave