The Spring Classic Showcasing Nitro Revival was held May 18-20, 2018 at the newly renamed WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California. The Spring Classic Laguna Seca 2018, in only its second year, was sanctioned by the Historic Motor Sports Association and ran groups of 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s vintage race cars on the historic 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course.
From thunderous Can-Am and NASCAR machines to the high-pitched whine of open-wheel racers, a variety of sights and sounds from racing’s past and recent eras, resonated through the Monterey hillsides. Fans took advantage of the open and relaxed atmosphere in the paddock to get up close and personal with the vintage race cars, historic motorcycles and the Nitro Revival that featured restored Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars.
The Nitro Revival brought members of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame and their dragsters – including “Big Daddy” Don Garlits to the Monterey Peninsula. The ear-splitting crackle and pop of these classic dragster proved to be very popular with the fans in attendance. From the push-start demonstrations on Saturday afternoon with pickup trucks using their large front bumpers to push the quarter-mile race cars to life, the cars being fired up in the paddock to the delight of those who gathered around them, to the “Line of Fire” demo as several dozen dragsters fired up their nitro-fueled engines all at once to shake up the fans and neighbors along the hillsides surrounding the track.
On track, nine groups competed throughout the weekend and consisted of Group A: SCCA GT & IMSA RS, Group B: 1967-1980 Formula Ford, Group C: 1978 Formula B & 1965-1977 Formula C, Group D: Sports Cars under 2.0 Litre, Group E: 1974-2007 Stock Cars, Group F: 1966-1974 Can-Am, Group G: 1966-1972 Trans-Am 2.5 Litre, Group H: 1967-1979 Formula Atlantic; 1970-1984 Sports Cars 2-Litre and Group I: 1973-1987 FIA; 1990-2007 Daytona Prototype/ IMSA GTO; GTP/LMP/WSC. Exhibition laps were also done by the collection of historic motorcycle that were assembled for the weekend’s events.
Two races were held on both Saturday and Sunday. Notable winners included Rob Walton in his 1960 Maserati Tipo 60 in the Sports Cars Under 2.0 Liter group, Ilja Burkoff in his 1970 TRC Ti 22 MkII in the Can-Am group, Troy Ermish won all 4 races in his 1971 Datsun 510 in the 1966-1972 Trans-Am 2.5-Liter group, Alec Hugo in his 1962 Porsche 356B in the 1966-1972 Trans-Am 2.5-liter group, Danny Baker swept the races in the 1967-1979 Formula Atlantic group; and Wade Carter in his 1997 Riley Scott Mk3 in the 1973-1987 FIA; 1990-2007 Daytona Prototype/IMSA GTO; GTP/LMP/WSC group.
Among the 150+ cars that participated throughout the weekend, included a strong contingent of Porsche 911s and 356s, Chevrolet Corvettes, Alfa Romeos, Datsun 510s, open wheel formula cars, sports cars and NASCAR racers, both contemporary and vintage. The exhibition runs by the vintage motorcycles included an assortment of Ducatis, Moto Guzzis and several specialized GP and café racers.
Similar to 2017, Sports Car Digest also documented the Spring Classic Laguna Seca 2018 with Victor Varela offering the following pictures from the classic California road course.
Spring Classic Laguna Seca 2018 – Photo Gallery (photos: Victor Varela)
Quentin Minnich – 1980 Van Diemen FF
Trevor Frank – 1971 Porsche 914
Mike Thurlow – 1976 Chevrolet Corvette
Robin Hunter – 1969 Brabham BT29
Nicholas Colyvas – 1969 Merlyn 11A
Martin Lauber – 1971 Titan FF
Laurent Parmentier – 1970 Crossle 16/20F
A.C. D\’Augustine – 1965 Chevrolet Corvette L-88
Tony Garmey – 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88
Howard Matloff – 1993 Riggins Oldsmobile IMSA GTO
Eve Mincheff – 1969 Chevrolet Corvette
Jim Bouzaglou – 1973 Porsche 911 RSR
Tony Garmey – 1969 Ford CanAm
Ian Wood – 1970 McLaren M 12
Jack Perkins – 1967 Alfa Romeo GTA
Terry Forland – 1968 BMW 2002
George Valerio – 1966 Porsche 911
Mark Rincon – 1967 BMW 2002
Clay Harper – 1993 Ford Thunderbird
Racing towards the Corkscrew
Chuck Christensen follows the pack into the Corkscrew in his 1959 Porsche 356 Super Convertible D
Steve Schmidt – 1958 Porsche Speedster
Jeff Thraen – 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super
George Valerio – 1966 Porsche 911
Jon Norman – 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV
Kevin Adair – 1955 Elva Mk 1
Mark Osborne – 1959 Rejo MkIV
Max Jamiesson – 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster
Don Bell – 1957 Porsche Speedster
Jon Gannaway – 1964 Triumph TR4
David Witkowski – 1962 Porsche 356 Notchback
Frank Altamura – 1955 Porsche Pupulidy Spyder
Marc Giroux – 1969 Brabham BT29
Will Thomas – 1967 Brabham BT21
Tom Schnurbusch – 1967 Brabham BT-21 B
Adom Moutafian – 1969 Meryln Mk 11A
Laurent Parmentier – 1970 Crossle 16/20F
Jay Streets – 1972 Winkelmann WFD3
Alan Terpins – 1975 Porsche Carrera RSR 3.0
Nick De Vitis – 1988 Chevrolet Beretta
Wade Carter – 1997 Riley Scott MK3
Mike Gagen – 1988 Chevrolet Camaro
Clay Koevary – 2000 Porsche GT3R
Taz Harvey – 1988 Buick Spice SE87L
Ernie Spada – 2008 Riley Porsche Daytona
Drag race
Bill Cord – 1977 Chevron B39
Jim Maetzold – 1980 March 80A
Jonathan Burke – 1973 Brabham BT40
Jim Catchot – 1977 Ralt RT-1
Jim Maetzold – 1980 March 80A
Jim Bouzaglou – 1973 Lola Sports Racer
Dalmo de Vasconcelos – 1976 Ralt RT1
Tom Minnich – 1978 Chevron B36
1957 Maserati 200SI
Fabrizio Rimicci – 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super
Christian Sniady – 1967 Alfa Romeo Sprint GT Veloce
Smog Rat
Rob Fuller – 1972 Datsun 510
Jim Froula – 1971 Datsun 510
1973 Dodge Challenger Dragster
Green Monster
Don Garlits Swamp Rat
Fabrizio Rimicci – 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super
Kevin Shaha – 1971 Datsun 510
Craig Carter – 1972 Datsun 510
Don Garlits Swamp Rat
Classic Dragster
Classic Dragster
Crocetti Special
1974 Sting CanAm
Ned Spieker – 1957 Maserati 200SI
Steve Schmidt in his 1958 Porsche Speedster, talks with photographer, Dennis Gray
Alec Hugo – 1962 Porsche 356B
Rob Walton – 1960 Maserati Tipo 60
Marc Giroux – 1969 Brabham BT29
Moto Guzzi
Ducati
1967 Merlyn Mk10
Martin Lauber – 1969 Brabham BT29
Jon LeCarner – 1967 Lotus 51A
Laurent Parmentier – 1970 Crossle 16/20F
Laurent Parmentier – 1970 Crossle 16/20F
Frank Altamura – 1955 Porsche Pupulidy Spyder
Ned Spieker – 1957 Maserati 200SI
Rob Walton – 1960 Maserati Tipo 60
Don Bell – 1957 Porsche Speedster
Andrew Wait – 1972 Lola T 204
Laurent Parmentier – 1970 Crossle 16/20F
Henry Moore – 1969 Lotus FF 51C
Leonard Turnbeaugh – 1960 Devin Porsche
1972 Datsun 510
1969 Lotus FF 51C
1969 Brabham BT29
Jon LeCarner – 1967 Lotus 51A
Greg Edenholm – 1972 Elden PH10a
Laurent Parmentier – 1970 Crossle 16/20F
Dave Zurlinden – 1969 Merlyn Mk 17 FF
Danny Baker – 1969 Lotus 69
Kyle Kelley – 1966 Chevrolet Corvette
1970 Chevron B17B
Alfas
1969 Lotus FF 51C
Carl Moore – 1967 Lola T 70 Mk III
Ilja Burkoff – 1970 TRC Ti 22 MkII
Kevin Shaha – 1971 Datsun 510
Alan Terpins – 1967 Porsche 911 T/R
Chuck Gee – 1970 Triumph Vitesse
Steve Link – 1968 Datsun Trans Am 510
Rob Fuller – 1972 Datsun 510
Steve Schmidt – 1958 Porsche Speedster
The 1970 McLaren M 12, leads the 1968 McLaren M6B toward turn 6.
Ian Wood – 1970 McLaren M 12
Robert Ryan – 1968 McLaren M6B
Travis Engen – 1970 Chevron B17B
Don Bell – 1957 Porsche Speedster
Rob Walton – 1960 Maserati Tipo 60
Robert Davis – 1978 Mazda RX-3
Les Werling – 1982 Mercury Capri
Jim Bouzaglou – 1973 Porsche 911 RSR
Jeffrey Abramson – 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Alan Terpins – 1975 Porsche Carrera RSR 3.0
Wade Carter – 1997 Riley Scott MK3
David Lockwood – 2009 Oreca FLM 09
Christian Sniady – 1967 Alfa Romeo Sprint GT Veloce
Christian Sniady – 1967 Alfa Romeo Sprint GT Veloce
Scott Parsons – 1967 BMW 2002
Taz Harvey – 1969 Datsun 510
Tom Minnich – 1978 Chevron B36
Larry Savage – 1976 March 76B
Jim Bouzaglou – 1973 Lola Sports Racer
Jeff Thraen – 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super
[R-L] Susan Patterson – 1952 Devin MG Speedster TD, Ed Hugo – 1963 Porsche 356B
David Gunn – 1971 McLaren M8E
A.C. D\’Augustine – 1965 Genie MK 10B
Ilja Burkoff – 1970 TRC Ti 22 MkII
Tony Garmey – 1969 Ford CanAm
Robert Ryan – 1968 McLaren M6B
Greg Mitchell – 1969 Lola T163
Dan Verstuyft – 2001 Ford Taurus
Robert Lavinia – 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix
Michael Silverman – 1959 Echidna Sports Racer
Stan Anderes – 1956 Lotus Eleven
Ned Spieker – 1957 Maserati 200SI
Rob Walton – 1960 Maserati Tipo 60
Alan Dezzani – 1977 Royale RP-24
Greg Edenholm – 1972 Elden PH10a
Ed Hugo – 1963 Porsche 356B
Tom Minnich – 1972 Titan Mark 6
Jon LeCarner – 1967 Lotus 51A
Leonard Turnbeaugh – 1960 Devin Porsche
Gregor Magnusson – 1954 Porsche 356
Alec Hugo – 1962 Porsche 356B
Don Bell – 1957 Porsche Speedster
Max Jamiesson – 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster
Travis Engen – 1970 Chevron B17B
Duke Zander – Lotus 23
Steve Davis – 1965 Brabham BT16/21
Andrew Wait – 1967 Merlyn Mk10
Tom Schnurbusch – 1967 Brabham BT-21 B
Martin Lauber – 1969 Brabham BT29
Quentin Minnich – 1980 Van Diemen FF
Adom Moutafian – 1969 Meryln Mk 11A
Dave Zurlinden – 1969 Merlyn Mk 17 FF
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![[R-L] Susan Patterson - 1952 Devin MG Speedster TD, Ed Hugo - 1963 Porsche 356B Victor Varela](https://sportscardigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2018-Original-Spring-Laguna-Seca-33-1.jpg)
A very nice collection of images.
Dennis
Thanks, Dennis!
Drag Race my pic, thanks pat2
Wow wow wow, fantastic collection and thank you for also taking the time to track down and include all of the descriptions with the photos.
Gerry Ellis Dublin Ireland I saw many types of cars race in Ireland and
Danny Baker – 1969 Lotus 69 This Looks as if its a LOTUS 61 to me
Bill Cord – 1977 Chevron B39 This car has a front wing Chevrons had a full with nose the side profile of the Tub is not Chevron like what is it a Lotus 69 FB ?
It is not a Lotus 69 F2/71
Good selection of cars…..I do not like the cars with the wings “flying high” The motor sport regulating Organizations should never allowed the “wings attachments and all the (gimmicks they now put on the front of a F1 car). …… especially these days with the wide ‘slick’ tires. If a driver requires these, then he should not be driving a race car…..it reduces the skill of driving a race car. Look at the early 1960’s F1 cars withe fairly ‘slim’ tires….and to see Graham Hill going around Woodcut corner (Silverstone) in opposite lock chasing Jim Clark and winning !
The “wings” driver might get him 2 seconds better on a lap…..who cares about that.