Who is he

[René]

Jan 10, 2018 13:43:10 GMT @lucio said:

Another "top gun" of the Italian F3, the next year to Gabbiani and Elio, was Sigi Stohr. He was probably the quickest Toleman F2 driver, as a privateer with Alan Docking, in 1980. I have just read his new autobiography.

Here is Sigfried in the Arrows at Zolder 1981 during the warm up. Still unknown about the unfortunate events that were to happen at the start.

[charleselan]

Rad Dougall at Thruxton 1979 in the Toleman modified March 782 Hart.

[charleselan]

Brian Henton in the Toleman Ralt RT2 Hart 1979.

[Deleted]

He was getting on a bit Henton, when he won in F2, 34 already.

[Carl]

Jan 10, 2018 18:30:48 GMT charleselan said:

Rad Dougall at Thruxton 1979 in the Toleman modified March 782 Hart.

Results can create a good impression, but this is a beautiful car regardless of its successes.

[charleselan]

Jan 10, 2018 20:31:54 GMT @lucio said:

He was getting on a bit Henton, when he won in F2, 34 already.

Brian Henton did not race a car until he was 23 years old. 

He was from a Council House background which makes Hamilton's upbringing look pretty "posh"  .

[charleselan]

Jan 10, 2018 20:44:40 GMT Carl said:

Jan 10, 2018 18:30:48 GMT charleselan said:

Rad Dougall at Thruxton 1979 in the Toleman modified March 782 Hart.

Results can create a good impression, but this is a beautiful car regardless of its successes.

The March 782 was a good looking car indeed, no matter the modification, which is more than can be said for the 792 which was rather an ugly beast and rather brutal to drive.

[Carl]

Who, where and when? 

Attachment Deleted

[Jamie]

I think I know this...

Roger Penske, Zerex special (modified Cooper), Brands Hatch early 60's

[René]

I am quite sure you are right there Jamie. That is Roger.

[Carl]

Jan 13, 2018 9:21:30 GMT Jamie said:

I think I know this...

Roger Penske, Zerex special (modified Cooper), Brands Hatch early 60's

Exactly right and well done!  How did you know Brands Hatch?  You must be as familiar with its every bend as I am with Riverside.

It's interesting that he adorned his helmet with colored tape in a style similar to John Surtees.  I wonder if this was a simple expedient for recognition or whether he may have been emulating someone he admired.

[Jamie]

Hi Carl,

Yes I’d call Brands my home track, it’s certainly my favourite so I know it pretty well. I’ve been lucky enough to do some track days there and even raced there a couple of times.

Do you get to Riverside much? It’s one of several tracks I’d love to visit in the US. We are talking about a west coast US holiday in the next few years, possibly in an RV and I’ll be planning my route to take in some tracks for sure 👍

There are a few photos around of Roger driving that car at Brands and the elevation change made me fairly confident. Roger was a decent driver of course and, from memory, I think he won the race or at least the class. It was around 62,63 possibly 64 I think.

[Carl]

Hello Jamie,

Sadly, the world class road course just east of Riverside is no more. As land values in the high desert increased, so did overall expenses for the owners. They sold and can't really be faulted because profits were never there throughout its 30 year lifespan. It was demolished after 1988 and the land is now an "industrial park" with warehouses and "world class" fast-food restaurants. For years I avoided driving past the location I had known better than my own neighborhood. Finally, on my way home a few years ago, I drove past on Interstate 215 and there's absolutely no trace remaining.

The year was 1963. That car was made so famous by Bruce McLaren that you probably didn't even need the "Zerex Special" badge to recognize it.

Well done!

[Jamie]

Jan 13, 2018 20:16:22 GMT Carl said:

Hello Jamie,

Sadly, the world class road course just east of Riverside is no more. As land values in the high desert increased, so did overall expenses for the owners. They sold and can't really be faulted because profits were never there throughout its 30 year lifespan. It was demolished after 1988 and the land is now an "industrial park" with warehouses and "world class" fast-food restaurants. For years I avoided driving past the location I had known better than my own neighborhood. Finally, on my way home a few years ago, I drove past on Interstate 215 and there's absolutely no trace remaining.

The year was 1963. That car was made so famous by Bruce McLaren that you probably didn't even need the "Zerex Special" badge to recognize it.

Well done!

Ah that is a shame about Riverside, in my mind I had this mixed up with Willow Springs, the desert location probably.
What are your recommendations for tracks worth a visit on the west coast (California). I’d like to see a dirt track sprint race someday as well.

[Carl]

Willow Springs is a great track, but doesn't have many major events because it's isolated in the high desert north of Los Angeles, close to Edwards Air Force Base where the speed of sound was first broken in level flight by "Right Stuff" test pilot Chuck Yeager. So if you have national security clearances, you could visit two great places in one day!

There are more small (quarter mile) dirt tracks in California than I can count. The legendary half-mile Ascot Park in Gardena, where all the great Sprint Car drivers raced, is no more, but Perris Speedway in the far south of Riverside County is a pretty cool half-mile dirt track and has several Sprint Car events. The USAC Midget events are just as exciting. Beware the bland concession stand hot dogs.

For road racing, Laguna Seca (Mazda Raceway) and Sonoma are both excellent. The Indycar season usually ends at Sonoma.

www.willowspringsraceway.com/calendar.php?month=01&year=2018

www.perrisautospeedway.com/schedule.html

www.mazdaraceway.com/calendar

www.sonomaraceway.com/

If I were you, I would look for a USAC Midget event close to Sonoma, north of San Francisco in wine country.  You may be able to take in a great dirt track race and the IndyCar finale within a short time frame.

Cheers, Carl