Merry Christmas

Last item for the winter

The one last thing I needed to perform before winter, was to remove the battery.  With that accomplished I can cover the car.

Still have to deal with the axle shaft issue.  But with time on my side, I  can look for the best solution at the right price.

Formula 5000 Drivers Association Announces Race Schedule for 2016

Rochester, MI – (12/8/2015)
The Formula 5000 Drivers Association is pleased to announce its racing schedule for 2016. Continuing on the success of prior years, the Association has announced a four race series for 2016. The Association also announced that on the heels of the successful participation in the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the U.S. Formula A/5000 Race Series, the F5000 group will return as a featured race group for the 2018 Reunion. The 2016 U.S. Formula 5000 Revival Races will take place at the following venues:

 • June 15-19: Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with SVRA

 • July 14-17: Road America – The WeatherTech International Challenge with Brian Redman present by Hawk

 • September 8-11: U.S. Vintage Grand Prix with SVRA at Watkins Glen

 • September 30 - October 2: Charity Challenge at Sonoma Raceway with CSRG (Tentative)

 According to Seb Coppola, president of the Formula 5000 Drivers Association: “I am thrilled to be able to announce another season of superb racing events at great U.S. race tracks during 2016.” Coppola added: “The participation of more than 40 Formula 5000 race cars coming from Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand and various regions of the U.S. at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion was very well received by race organizers, race fans and race drivers. As a result the race organizing committee has invited the Formula 5000 Drivers Association to return as a featured group for the 2018 Reunion. We are delighted to accept the committee’s invitation and look forward to another spectacular presentation of F5000 cars at this premier gathering of historic race cars.” The U.S. Formula 5000 Drivers Association is a membership car club established to promote the restoration, presentation, registration and racing of historic Formula 5000 race cars. The Association organizes vintage racing events and other activities for its members. In addition, the Association manages a registry of Formula 5000 cars (www.F5000Registry.com). Media Contact: Seb Coppola - 248-601-2800 SebCoppola@F5000Registry.com

Happy Thanksgiving 2015

Formula 5000 Drivers Association news release

Rochester, MI – (11/13/15) – The Formula 5000 Drivers Association is pleased to announce the results of its race at the SVRA National Championship race event at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas on November 7, 2015. Finishing first in F5000 Class A (pre-1972 cars) was Bruce Leeson driving a 1969 McLaren M10B. Bruce returned to F5000 racing in 2015 for a full season after almost a two-year absence. Leeson set fastest lap of the race in the F5000 group at 2 minutes, 18.595 seconds despite a damp track. Second in Class A was Mark Harmer in a 1969 Surtees TS5 (exDavid Hobbs car). Seb Coppola took third place in his 1970 Lola T192 after retiring early in the race due to slippery track conditions. Finishing first in F5000 Class B (1972-1976 cars) and first overall in the group was Rick Parsons in his 1976 Lola T332c (ex-Brian Redman 1976 championship car). Parsons had a decisive race and was gaining speed with each lap as the track began to dry. Second place in Class B went to Jim Stengel in his 1973 McRae GM1. Eric Haga took third place in Class B in his ex-Eppie Wietzes 1972 Lola T300 after also retiring early due to slippery track conditions. The COTA event also was the final round of the 2015 F5000 Revival Race Championship Series. Bruce Leeson, who came to COTA leading in the points standing among all F5000 drivers, was crowned Class A 2015 Formula 5000 Champion. His point lead was insurmountable. In Class B, the 2015 championship was won by Rick Parsons. Coming to COTA in second place in the class point standings, Parsons needed to finish at least in third place in the qualifying and feature races to clinch the championship. His first place finishes made the task much easier. The U.S. Formula 5000 Drivers Association is a membership organization established to promote the restoration, presentation, registration and racing of historic Formula 5000 race cars. (www.F5000Registry.com). Media: Seb Coppola 248-601-2800 SebCoppola@F5000Registry.com

F5000 DVD Trailer

Geoff Zimmerman is producing this DVD taken from this past F5000 event at Laguna Seca.

Axle shaft options

A splined-coupling midway between Spicer universal joints takes up "plunge" as the suspension works.  This might be a less expensive route than trying to repairing and replacing the Metalastic rubber donuts and other bent parts.

My rubber donuts.

A much simpler design.  Photo of a Lola T192 rear half-shaft with no donuts.

Ready for winter

Not much to report.  The only thing I've done to the car is add some antifreeze for the up coming winter.
Still weighing my options on what direction to go on the rear half shaft repair.  I could eliminate the rubber donuts and replace them with a sliding shaft.  Seb's Lola T192 has them. Anyway no hurry, made the decision in the beginning of the year to not race in 2016.  Need a little break.

No Hollywood for #13

Yep, they cut the scene with my car in it.  That stinks!  But what can you do.  I did noticed they used one of my you-tube F5000 videos.
Anyway, got some nice TV coverage of the F5000 cars.

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion on Fox Sports 1 this Saturday.

Fox Sports1 will broadcast the recent Rolex event at 11:30 am EST. this Saturday(Sept. 26).  I'll have to catch a re-run. We have a antique show starting this Thursday and running through Saturday.

2015 F5000 Monterey Reunion Races Wrap-up from Seb Coppola

F5000 Racers & Friends: I want to give a quick wrap-up on a very successful and enjoyable list of activities, racing and social events from the Formula 5000 group participation at this year’s Monterey Pre-Reunion and Reunion events. I think by far we had the best show of cars on track and in the paddock. From comments received from many of you, the race fans and the event organizers, it appears the same feeling was quite common. In fact, the organizers have already asked us to bring the F5000 cars back and we are trying to work out if 2017 or 2018, which is the 50th anniversary of FA/5000, would be the best year to return to the Monterey Reunion. Zak Brown and Richard Dean, who shared driving duties, dominated both the Pre-Reunion and Reunion racing in the ex-Mario Andretti 1974 Lola T332. The car had last raced at Laguna Seca in October 1975 and had won that race. But, Paul Zazryn from Australia in his Lola T332, Alan Dunkley in his Lola T140 and Craig Bennett in the ex-Jackie Oliver Shadow DN6 were not that far behind doing laps in the 1 minute 27 seconds in either the Pre-Reunion and Reunion races. In the pre-Reunion Sunday Bonhams Race, Zak Brown took first place overall and in Class B followed by Craig Bennett and New Zealander Steve Ross in his 1973 McRae GM1. Bruce Leeson in his 1969 McLaren M10B was 5th overall and first in Class A. Mark Harmer in the ex-David Hobbs 1969 Surtees took 2nd place and New Zealander Tony Roberts was 3rd in Class A in his 1969 McLaren M10A. In the final Reunion Sunday Rolex Race, Richard Dean took over for Zak Brown and drove from pole to an uncontested win overall and 1st place in Class B. According to Dean: “The ex-Mario Andretti Lola T332 was very well balanced, quick and a dream to drive. This is the most fun, historic car I have driven in quite a while. I look forward to doing this again soon if Zak lets me.” Second overall and showcasing his magnificent racing skills was New Zealander Alan Dunkley in his 1968 Lola T140 with the high wing. To achieve such a finish with one of the oldest cars in the group is quite phenomenal. His best lap of 1.27.598 was barely above the best lap of the race set by Paul Zazryn at 1.27.352. Zazryn finished third overall and second in Class B followed by Steve Ross. In Class A Dunkley took first place with Bruce Leeson in 2nd and Mark Harmer in 3rd place. The finishing positions do not tell the whole story about the spirited and close racing within the group during the final race on Sunday. A great show to be sure. Congratulations and thanks to all of you. Job well done! F5000 drivers were also recipient of a number of awards handed out by the Monterey Reunion organizers and sponsors. Zak Brown was the recipient of The President’s Cup for historic significance to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for returning his pristine restored Lola T332 to the track after the Mario Andretti win at the track in 1975. John Bryant from Australia was the recipient of the Bonhams 1793 Cup for exemplifying the spirit of the event. After experiencing engine problems in the Pre-Reunion, John purchased a motor from a local shop an installed it in time for the Sunday Reunion - Bonhams Race. Alan Dunkley received the Rolex Award for Excellence for his overall performance on track. At the end of the 3rd round of races, the 2015 Formula 5000 Championship points ranking show Bruce Leeson in the overall lead and in Class A with 174 points. Right behind is Paul Zazryn with 150 points and leading in Class B. The team of Zak Brown and Richard Dean is in third place overall and second in Class B with 120 points. With the final round being contested at COTA in November 4-8, 2015 there are multiple possibilities for winning the 2015 Formula 5000 Championship. Although Bruce Leeson seems to have the Class A championship locked up, a first place finish by Mark Harmer in both the qualifying and feature race could make it interesting. In Class B, it appears that Paul Zazryn will not be able to add any more points given that his race car is returning to Australia. Zak Brown or Richard Dean could leap past with a win in the feature race and finish first overall with a win in the qualifying race by taking 60 points and accumulating 180 points in total for the season. Rick Parsons also has a fair shot at the Championship by winning both races during the COTA weekend. It should be fun to see the outcome. If you have not yet signed up for the race at COTA, please do it now. The entry window will likely close within the next couple of weeks. Seb Coppola

Broken half-shaft parts

Found a photo of the car loosing it's front wing.  However I didn't know the car bottom out enough for the left exhaust to hit(sparks under car).  This might have contributed to the half-shaft failure in the race on Sunday.

Half-on and half-off the track.  Not the way to take the corkscrew.

A RECORD 65,422 VISITORS CELEBRATE MOTORSPORTS HISTORY

A RECORD 65,422 VISITORS CELEBRATE MOTORSPORTS HISTORY AT ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION.

Still unloading

This truck holds a lot of stuff.  Just about done unloading it.  When we loaded the race car onto the truck after the event the winch died pulling the car up the ramp, made it halfway up.  Had to put the car into gear and use the starter motor to make it up the rest of the way.  Now I know why the winch stopped.

The cable jammed on the right side, should be even across.

We have a antique show coming up in 3 weeks.  The conversion back, for the last time.

Monday...Long Valley, NJ

Good to be home.  Left Illinois 10:00 am yesterday and got in around 3:30 this morning.  Time to unpack the truck and tend to all the other stuff that needs to be done.  More on the trip later.

Saturday...3 weeks on the road

We departed NJ 3 weeks ago and now looking forward to getting home.  Today we stopped at a couple of antique stores and found a few items we can sell at our next show in September.  Now  staying at Effington, IL.

First time I had to turn on the windshield wipers in the last 3 weeks.  Tulsa, OK 

Friday...Cadillac Ranch

Yesterday it was a visit to "Cadillac Ranch" Amarillo. Texas.  I think the most famous part or Rt 66.  Everybody tags the cars with spray paint.
Today we stayed in Tulsa, OK.

Driving along Rt 66.  Most places went out of business after Rt 40 was built.

Sometimes Rt 66 is a 4 lane highway and sometimes it's a dirt road.

Cadillac Ranch

Thursday...Petrified Forest

Yesterday it was a visit to the Petrified Forest in Holbrook, AZ.  It's a 27 mile drive with multiple stops along the way.

Stayed in Tucumcari, NM.  Today a few stops a long Rt 66 and who knows what else.

Wednesday...Grand Canyon

Wednesday we spent the day at the Grand Canyon.  Road the train from Williams to the Grand Canyon.  What can I say, photos just don't show the size of this canyon.  Truly amazing to stand at the edge and look down 1 mile to the bottom.  Tomorrow, the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert.

Front of our train.  Takes about 2 1/2 hours.

On to Holbrook, AZ

Tuesday...Cruising Rt 66

Today we spent some of the day cruising Rt 66, around 130 miles.  We are in Williams, AZ for the night.  Tomorrow a train ride to the Grand Canyon.

This is the largest dry cavern in the country and the third largest in the world.

The cavern was certified a fallout shelter in 1962 and still retains that status today.  Holds 2000 people with surplus for 2 weeks. 

Yucca, AZ

Tuesday AM...Needles, CA

Time to get out of Needles, CA.  Today's high temperature will be 115.  Heading to Williams, AZ. Close to the Grand Canyon for a train ride tomorrow to the Canyon.

The windows looked blocked out.  Some type of special covering for cooling.

Monday evening...Needles, CA

It's 10:42pm and tonight the lodging is at Needles CA.  Temperature right now, 105 with a low of 86.  It's been a hot ride all day long.  I don't think it's been below 100 all day.  But, it's a dry heat.  Like a oven.

Aircraft bone yard.