Through The Mists of Time

Through the Mists of Time

Words and photos by Norman Nelson

Entering the gates at Sonoma Raceway, I could hear a familiar sound from the past; it was instantly recognizable to me, it was a Group 7 sports car lapping the 2.52-mile circuit at Sonoma Raceway or was it Sears Point? The deep roar of a 1973 McLaren M8F as it accelerated out of the hairpin turn number eleven and up the main straight towards the start finish before climbing the hill toward turn two brought back such great memories from the USRRC and Can Am days. But this was 2015 and I was not imagining things. The CSRG (Classic Sports Racing Group) Vintage Racing series has been running for forty-seven years with the aim of keeping vintage racing alive in California. The Charity Challenge series was established in 2003 after the CSRG Board of Directors decided it was time to give something back to the community. The money raised at the event benefits the Speedway Children’s Charities of Sonoma County. The major source of funding comes from “Track Rides for Charity” which allows anyone to take a three-lap ride at speed in one of these immaculate vintage

racecars for a tax-deductible donation. Imagine that, you pay to get the pants scared off you in a vintage racecar around Sonoma Raceway and get a tax deduction too! A win, win situation for sure! With all the voluntary donations by the participants and all the gate receipts the Charity Challenge has raised over $700,000 since its creation. It was Friday noon when I arrived at the 12th Annual CSRG Charity Challenge Races at Sears Point ready to watch a day of practice, testing, adjustments, and tech

inspections. Friday is a bit low key with a smaller crowd of spectators showing up, but all the cars, teams, and drivers are there focusing on the upcoming challenge. It is the best time to stroll the paddock and get some great uninterrupted views of the cars and a chance to chat with the owners and hear their stories of years gone by. One thing for sure is that even though the atmosphere is laid back, these folks are serious. The cars are race prepared and “spit polished” and when you see them strap on their helmets and head out on course, they mean business. I was amazed at how hard these

vintage cars were being pushed. “Full throttle” was the word of the day. As they lapped the circuit, they would dice back and forth through the turns and pass back again under hard braking, no quarter was being given. Many of these cars are valued into the millions of dollars and are indeed collector cars in the true sense, so I would shudder as I watched some of the historic Formula 1 cars travelling a full speed, just inches from each other. CSRG runs the cars in groups based on age and performance.

On Friday many of the groups were combined for their practice sessions. Group 1 was Production and Racing Cars as raced prior to 1963, which included Morgans, Lotus, Maseratis, Alfa Romeos, a Ford Anglia, MGAs, Triumphs, Porsche, and even a 1955 MG TF 1500 driven by Joe Huffaker Jr. Group 2 would see small bore Production Cars as raced between 1963 and 1967 which included Fiats, Turners, Alfa Romeos, MGBs, Triumphs, Ginettas, Elva Couriers, Porsches, and of course my favorites the Austin Mini Coopers. With Group 3 the focus was on the large bore Production Cars with Chevrolet Corvettes, Ford Cobras, Mercury Cougars, Lotus Super 7s, Ginetta G4, Jaguar XKE, Porsche 911s, and a Turner Mk II. Group 4 included small bore Sports Racing cars through 1967 with Ginettas, Beach, Forsgrinis, and a Cooper T-39. Elva Mk8, Lotus 23B, Genie MkV, Merlyn MK6, Crossle C9S and others. Group 5 is for single-seater lovers with Formula Juniors, open wheel cars dating back to the era between 1959 through 1963. These included Elvas, Lolas, Coopers, Lotus, Brabham, Huffaker, Kieft, and a Bourgeault. Group 6 included Formula Fords and Formula B cars including Brabham BT21, Lola T204, Titan Mk 5, Chevron B10, Merlyn Mk11A, Palliser-Winkleman WDB2, Caldwell D9B, and others. Group 7 was Formula Atlantic and compatible open & closed wheel Race Cars to 1977 including Ferrari 312, March 79B, Lola T140, Ralt RT5, Chevron B36, McLaren M8F Royale RP-14 and others. Group 8 were the SCCA A, B, and C sedans from 1968 through 1972, including Alfas, BMW 2002, MGB, Nissan Skyline, Porsche 914, Datsun 240Z, Chevy Corvette BMW 3.5L. Group 9 showcased the Masters/ Historic Formula 1 cars including twenty entries ranging in years from 1974 to 1980. And the final Group #10 was the Historic Trans Am, Alfa Romeo GTA cars ranging in age from1965 to 1968. As I walked through the paddock I kept running into old friends from the past. I was thrilled to see so many of the drivers from my time still giving it they’re all. I raced from 1975 until 1985 in SCCA. So my last competitive races were at Laguna Seca back in 1985 some thirty years ago. Seeing friends from that far back was great, it brought back so many fond memories. Then I worked my way to “Mini Cooper Boot Camp” as I named it. There were eight classic Mini Coopers running in Group 2. That is a substantial number of classic Minis for a race like this. My major assignment was to report on the Minis. It was just great to see them all had parked together in the same area of the paddock. That made my life easy, as I did not have to search all over to find them. The entry list included many of my friends, the

#12 1966 Austin Cooper S owned by Mike & Mary Kearney of Seven Enterprises was to be driven by Paul Quakenbush. The #41 1965 Austin Mini S is owned and driven by Mishal Holger. Next up is the #51 1965 Austin Mini owned and driven by Robert Hoemke. The #61 1960 Austin Mini is owned and driven by our friend from Mini Mania, Don Racine. The rest of Team Mini Mania included the #177 1966 Mini Cooper S owned and driven by Dennis Racine, with Julie Racine driving the #969 1960 Austin Mini. John Burmann

would drive his own #65 1967 Austin Mini. Nick Martin rounded out the entry list with his #120 1967 Mini Cooper S. Mini Boot Camp was a very comfortable, welcoming area. It was like being on a picnic as there were plenty of tables, chairs, food, tenting, RV’s and it was like sitting down with family. Plenty of Mini enthusiasts came wandering by all weekend long to say hello and wish everyone good luck. The relaxed atmosphere really gave me a chance to sit and talk with all of the Mini owners and drivers in a casual setting, something I don’t really get much time for at MINI

Thunder. I know when coming to vintage races there is always a lot of history and stories that each car has. This was no exception. The history of these Minis racecars goes way back and is well inter-twined with their current owners. This CSRG Charity Challenge Race marked the first return to battle between the #12 Team Spreen Mini vs. the #51 Purple People Eater formerly driven by Mexican Formula 1 driver and 24 Hour of Le Mans winner Pedro Rodriguez. The Team Spreen Mini was formerly driven by Ed Spreen, Ed and his brother Bob owned the BMC Dealership back in Hackensack NJ. Bob Spreen regularly drove an MGB. They were the BMC competition department back then and the source for BMC competition parts through much of the eastern US. Recently Mike Kearney of Fortech Mini fame purchased the #12 Spreen Mini and will race it in vintage races, the CSRG weekend would see

Paul Quakenbush behind the wheel. The Purple People Eater is now owned and driven by Robert Hoemke and has been completely restored by Seven Enterprises. The last time these two Minis squared off on the West Coast was at the SCCA National Runoffs, then known as the ARRC (American Road Racing Championships) at Riverside Raceway back in 1968. They have a long history in competitive events all across the US with many battles at Virginia International Raceway and Lime Rock Park back in the 1960’s Robert owns some very historic cars including an interesting MINI that was once owned by Jim Hall of Chaparral Chevy/ Can Am fame. Hall purchased the Mini to use as transportation in London and the UK while he was doing business in England designing and building parts and fabrications for the Chaparral. In 1963 he brought the Mini back to the USA and it was stored in a barn for many years until a series of circumstances allowed Robert to purchase it. Dennis Racine is currently building an engine for this Mini and I look forward to seeing it back on the road. Don Racine’s #61 Bumble Bee is guaranteed to be in the mix and had been raced since the early 1960’s battling many times across the Midwest with John Unsbee at the wheel. John had quite a colorful racing career making all

this history so much fun to follow. Meanwhile back at Mini Boot Camp, some of the Minis had run into “technical” and “parts” issues and as fierce competitors as they are but they are friends as well and try to help one another. Not only with parts, but also with advice and a helping hand. One develops a radiator leak and low and behold here comes a spare out of another competitor’s trailer. Everyone is willing to help, loan, give, whatever it takes to keep the Minis on track. After each session they scurry over to race central to get the official lap times from the previous session, smiling when they beat their buddy by 0.005 seconds. Tell me they aren’t competitive As the afternoon goes on the #12 has some problems and has to spend time in the pits. Hoping they have things fixed the Seven Enterprises Mini heads out again only to pull off after only one lap. Then we hear the bad news as they find a broken crankshaft. Mike & Mary jump

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into their support pickup truck and head back to their shop in Auburn to grab a spare engine and transmission off the bench. As they pull out of the gates, Dennis Racine, Nick Martin and the others started to disassemble the front end of #12 and pull the engine. These are Mike’s competitors and yet they spend the whole evening wrenching and pulling the engine, so it will be ready when Mike returns. This was amazing and never

stopped as I watched parts being pulled and exchanged throughout the weekend. No one wanted to have any of the Minis stuck in the paddock. As much as they wanted to beat them, they would do anything to make sure they were in the race. The Minis were part of some of the best racing of the weekend. They battled back and forth and even challenged for the lead in a very large group with many cars from other classes they should not even been running with.

When it was time to leave my time warp, there were hugs, handshakes, and smiles all round with promises to see each other soon. That is what is great about vintage racing, you get to see great cars and racing and best of all, you get to hang out with your Mini family. Till next time Sears Point!