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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2015 – Report and Photos

Delane, 71 Tyrrell 002 Peter Falkner
Delane, 71 Tyrrell 002

The Mitty Speedfest 2015 was held April 24-26 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. Sanctioned by Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) and featuring the BMW marque, the 38th running of the Mitty saw nearly 400 entrants enjoy the demanding 12-turn, 2.54 mile road course.

The rolling hills of the fantastic Road Atlanta road course were the perfect setting for the diverse field of historic cars including Formula 1, GTP and Group C, NASCAR, CART / IndyCar, Le Mans Prototypes and many more. Race cars for every taste from 1959 to 2014 running engines from under 1000 cc’s to over 7000 cc’s plied the very challenging circuit. Road Atlanta is one of the best spectator circuits in existence, with beautifully manicured grounds and excellent vantage points all around the circuit. Several areas allow the spectators to be mere yards from the action – ear protection is a must!

Atop the hill overlooking the paddocks and the main straight was the vendor village, a pedestrian-only area where fans could eat, drink and peruse the wares of any and all racing related merchandisers.

BMW was the featured marque in 2015 and the German manufacturer brought out some very tasty metal for the fans. Also on hand were some big name drivers from BMW’s past — Brian Redman and Boris Said. Redman of course is well known to racing fans and BMW aficionados for his 1975 12 Hours of Sebring and 1976 24 Hours of Daytona wins at the wheel of the BMW CSL. Mitty fans were able to get up close to the actual car and see Redman drive it for several parade laps.

In addition to his NASCAR and Craftsman Truck Series successes, Bruno Said had numerous class wins for BMW at Sebring and Daytona in the late nineties. In 2005, at the wheel of a BMW M3 GTR, he became the first American to win the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring. Examples of some of Said’s cars and BMW’s latest Z4 Tudor Series race car were also in action and available for fans to explore.

Thursday was test/practice day and several competitors were making their first run at Road Atlanta so this was time well spent. Official qualifying began Friday with all 10 groups getting out for the first of several qualifying chances. Friday’s busy qualifying schedule ended with an HSR staple, the Bob Woodman Tires International / American Challenge race. This first race of the Mitty got things started with a bang as 65 race cars crammed onto the circuit to duke it out. Age and beauty prevailed as Larry Ligas took the flag in his gorgeous 1961 Jaguar E-Type Roadster followed by Curt Vogt’s 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 and the Jachthuber / Spence 1972 Porsche 911 ST.

Saturday morning began with biblical rain flooding the track with rivers of red Georgia soil. A few brave souls tried their luck with varying degrees of success. Evidently Porsche 935 K3s and hard rain don’t play well together! Contrary to the forecast the rain stopped and the track began to dry mid-morning. This allowed the BMW M Performance Parts feature race to go off without a hitch just after lunch. Most groups had their sprint races out of the way in time for the 6:00 pm start of the one hour B.R.M. H/P Enduro Challenge. A diverse field including Audi and Oreca LMPs, Porsches, Lolas, Radicals, Swifts, Chevrons and more gave the fans the type of excitement the Mitty is known for. Travis Engen kept the field at bay in his 2005 Audi R8, still a stunning race car 10 years on. Jim Booth took 2nd in his 2013 Radical SR8 and 3rd was the Lopez / Santini 2008 Porsche 997 Cup.

HSR added two night sprint races this year and it really gave the spectators a new and unique spectacle. Blazing headlights, glowing brake discs and fire-belching exhausts entertained even the most jaded race fan.

The final day dawned in spectacular sunshine for the 8:20 am start of the one-hour B.R.M. Vintage Enduro Challenge. Another very large 49-car field provided cracking racing in absolute perfect conditions. The win went to the Ziegleman 1973 Porsche 914/6 ahead of Sean Brown’s 1975 Ford Escort RS and the 1966 Porsche 911 driven by Lee Giannone. After a two-hour Sunday “quiet time” the action resumed, with the Masters Historic F1 cars out first and the wail of Cosworth DFVs was unforgettable.

Just before 1:00 pm the grid assembled for the last big enduro of the 2015 Mitty. The sixty-minute B.R.M. GT/GTM Enduro Challenge brought 39 cars into action. In a fitting nod to the featured marque, Dave Thorman crossed the line first in his 2004 BMW M3. An impressive second was Fritz Seidel driving his 1973 Porsche 911 IROC beating out another Porsche fully four decades newer. That was Bill Riddell aboard a 2012 Porsche Cayman S.

The HSR Mitty Speedfest 2015 filled the balance of Sunday with hard fought class sprint races that entertained to the very end.

Photographer Peter Falkner documented the HSR Speedfest Mitty Historic Races 2015 with the following great selection of images from Road Atlanta. We split up Peter’s 341 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.

The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery

 

Grid set up for Sundays BRM GT Enduro Challenge race
Grid set up for Sundays BRM GT Enduro Challenge race
Hagan, 83 Tyrrell 011
Hagan, 83 Tyrrell 011
Dreelan, 76 March 761/4
Dreelan, 76 March 761/4
Beaumont, 74 Lotus 76/1
Beaumont, 74 Lotus 76/1

 


Pit action during the BRM Vintage enduro challenge, Ernsting, 69 Porsche 912/911
Pit action during the BRM Vintage enduro challenge, Ernsting, 69 Porsche 912/911
Staying cool, DePew, 93 Porsche 964 Turbo S
Staying cool, DePew, 93 Porsche 964 Turbo S
Sicotte, 10 Chevrolet Camaro GT.R generating some heat going into turn 6 during the Saturday night race
Sicotte, 10 Chevrolet Camaro GT.R generating some heat going into turn 6 during the Saturday night race
Engen, 05 Audi R8 LMP, Saturday night sprint race winner
Engen, 05 Audi R8 LMP, Saturday night sprint race winner

 

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The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

 

Howe, 89 Ford Mustang
Howe, 89 Ford Mustang
DePew, 93 Porsche 964 Turbo S
DePew, 93 Porsche 964 Turbo S
Hagan, 83 Tyrrell 011
Hagan, 83 Tyrrell 011
Delane, 71 Tyrrell 002
Delane, 71 Tyrrell 002

 


Simpson, 12 Porsche 991 RSR
Simpson, 12 Porsche 991 RSR
Huang, 09 Oreca FLM09
Huang, 09 Oreca FLM09
Daigrepont, 76 TOJ-SC204
Daigrepont, 76 TOJ-SC204
Delane, 71 Lola T212
Delane, 71 Lola T212

 

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The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

 

Ligas, 61 Jaguar XKE
Ligas, 61 Jaguar XKE
Sproles, 66 Ford Mustang
Sproles, 66 Ford Mustang
Cobras into 7, smoke can be seen as the rear end of the McKenna, 65/05 Kirkham Cobra begins to lock up, resulting in retirement seconds later.
Cobras into 7, smoke can be seen as the rear end of the McKenna, 65/05 Kirkham Cobra begins to lock up, resulting in retirement seconds later.
Mustang GT closing the door on the XKE
Mustang GT closing the door on the XKE

 


Summerour, 73 BMW CSL through 7
Summerour, 73 BMW CSL through 7
Adelman, 62 Lotus 23b
Adelman, 62 Lotus 23b
Stengel/72 McLaren M8F
Stengel/72 McLaren M8F
Huang, 70 Lola T210
Huang, 70 Lola T210

 

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The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

 

Lewis, 67 Porsche 911
Lewis, 67 Porsche 911
Hazelton, 72 Chevrolet Corvette
Hazelton, 72 Chevrolet Corvette
Stengel, 73 McRae GM-1
Stengel, 73 McRae GM-1
Holley, 63 Jaguar XKE
Holley, 63 Jaguar XKE

 

Peters/Refenning, 74 Porsche 914/6 GT
Peters/Refenning, 74 Porsche 914/6 GT
Lindemann, 70 Porsche 911 RS
Lindemann, 70 Porsche 911 RS
Turn 7 drive-through, You said "one coke?" DeSantis, 66 BMW 2000CS
Turn 7 drive-through, You said “one coke?” DeSantis, 66 BMW 2000CS
Big cooling capacity on the 88 Jaguar XJR 7/8
Big cooling capacity on the 88 Jaguar XJR 7/8

 

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The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

 

Eberhardt/Ellsworth, 72 Porsche 911 and a beautiful Georgia sunset
Eberhardt/Ellsworth, 72 Porsche 911 and a beautiful Georgia sunset
Albino, 67 Porsche 911
Albino, 67 Porsche 911
Balbach, 60 Porsche 356b
Balbach, 60 Porsche 356b
Engen, 05 Audi R8 LMP
Engen, 05 Audi R8 LMP

 


Frieser, 73 Shadow DN1
Frieser, 73 Shadow DN1
Beaumont, 74 Lotus 76/1
Beaumont, 74 Lotus 76/1
Meeker, 83 Williams FW08
Meeker, 83 Williams FW08
Fans enjoy the gridwalk with famous BMWs and their drivers
Fans enjoy the grid walk with famous BMWs and their drivers

 

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The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

 

Bean, 91 Chevy Intrepid
Bean, 91 Chevy Intrepid
Turner, 88 Jaguar XJR 7/8
Turner, 88 Jaguar XJR 7/8
Action corner, turn 7
Action corner, turn 7
Jones, 72 Porsche 911 S/T
Jones, 72 Porsche 911 S/T

 


Scemama, 73 Porsche 911
Scemama, 73 Porsche 911
McKenna, 65/05 Kirkham Cobra
McKenna, 65/05 Kirkham Cobra
DeHaan/Haycock, 73 BMW CSL
DeHaan/Haycock, 73 BMW CSL
Stephenson, 65 Cheetah
Stephenson, 65 Cheetah

 

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The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

 

McCormick, 64/84 Autocraft Cobra
McCormick, 64/84 Autocraft Cobra
Leveque, 66 Yenko Stinger
Leveque, 66 Yenko Stinger
Bryant, 65 Ford Mustang GT splashing through 6
Bryant, 65 Ford Mustang GT splashing through 6
Brian Redman straps in to his iconic BMW CSL for a few parade laps of Road Atlanta
Brian Redman straps in to his iconic BMW CSL for a few parade laps of Road Atlanta

 


Stengel, 91 Pratt & Miller RM1, one of the first to brave the wet track Saturday morning
Stengel, 91 Pratt & Miller RM1, one of the first to brave the wet track Saturday morning
Can you guess? Leave it in the comments
Can you guess? Leave it in the comments
Fresh DFV ready to rip
Fresh DFV ready to rip
Shifter and sway bar adjuster detail, 91 Chevrolet Intrepid
Shifter and sway bar adjuster detail, 91 Chevrolet Intrepid

 

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The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

 

Historic BMW Motorsports parade
Historic BMW Motorsports parade
Sabeff, 72 Ensign F/B
Sabeff, 72 Ensign F/B
Durst, 03 Ball Bros. Special
Durst, 03 Ball Bros. Special
Whittington, 80 Porsche 935 K3 braving a very wet Saturday morning track
Whittington, 80 Porsche 935 K3 braving a very wet Saturday morning track

 


Start, Bob Woodman Int’l/American Challenge
Start, Bob Woodman Int’l/American Challenge
McKenna, 65/05 Kirkham Cobra
McKenna, 65/05 Kirkham Cobra
Low grip line into 12, Chodosh, 59 Chevrolet Corvette
Low grip line into 12, Chodosh, 59 Chevrolet Corvette
Swigler, 75 March 75b
Swigler, 75 March 75b

 

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The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine

 

Meeker, 73 Lola T294
Meeker, 73 Lola T294
GEE, 63 Jaguar XKE
GEE, 63 Jaguar XKE
VRC Porsche and Oreca FLM crest the hill at turn 5
VRC Porsche and Oreca FLM crest the hill at turn 5
Big cat Jaguar XJR 7/8 charging out of 5
Big cat Jaguar XJR 7/8 charging out of 5

 


Shelton, 65 Lola T70 Spyder
Shelton, 65 Lola T70 Spyder
Schepens, 64 Morgan 4/4
Schepens, 64 Morgan 4/4
Morgan, 64 Merlyn MK6
Morgan, 64 Merlyn MK6
Goneos, 65 Porsche 911
Goneos, 65 Porsche 911

 

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The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten

 

Delane, 71 Lola T212
Delane, 71 Lola T212
Frieser, 72 Lola T290
Frieser, 72 Lola T290
DeHaan/Haycock, BMW CSL
DeHaan/Haycock, BMW CSL
Blain/ 75 March 751
Blain / 75 March 751

 


Ositiansky/Rodriguez, 66 VRC Porsche 906
Ositiansky/Rodriguez, 66 VRC Porsche 906
BRM GT Enduro Challenge start
BRM GT Enduro Challenge start
Thornton/ 76 March 761 leads the field for Sunday’s F1 race
Thornton/ 76 March 761 leads the field for Sunday’s F1 race
Delane, 71 Tyrrell 002
Delane, 71 Tyrrell 002

 

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The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eleven

 

Sunday dawns perfectly for the last day of the Mitty
Sunday dawns perfectly for the last day of the Mitty
Historic BMWs head skyward out of turn 1
Historic BMWs head skyward out of turn 1
Lola, Porsche and Oreca through the dips down to 6
Lola, Porsche and Oreca through the dips down to 6
Hoyt, 75 Hill GH1
Hoyt, 75 Hill GH1

 


Dreelan, 76 March 761/4, last driven by Arturo Mezario
Dreelan, 76 March 761/4, last driven by Arturo Mezario
Beaumont, 74 Lotus 76/1 through 5
Beaumont, 74 Lotus 76/1 through 5
Masters F1 through the Esses
Masters F1 through the Esses
Brian Redman through turn 5 in his beautiful CSL
Brian Redman through turn 5 in his beautiful CSL

 

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The Mitty at Road Atlanta 2015 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

[nggallery id=786 images=15]

 


 

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[Source: HSR; Peter Falkner]