Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there.

Race-car ?

Somewhere under that pile of stuff is a race car.  Lack of time and space has left it a table.  I needed to work on the Suburban and so some of the walls had to be removed so I could pull the car into the barn. I do hope in the near future to unearth it and change the oil and filter.

David Hobbs Can-Am Riverside 1971

I acquired this 16mm film last year.  Just got around to converting it to DVD.  A interesting thing happened after I uploaded onto youtube.  The present owner of the car called me and asked for a copy of the film.

This looks like fun

Vintage Hydroplane racing.  Maybe in a couple of years?

F5000 poster for 2016

2016 F5000 Drivers Association poster.  Created by Steve Bedford.

A bitter-sweet end for our truck

After a 11 years of service the truck has expired.  Coming back from Indiana last week the engine(diesel) lost a head gasket(or cracked head).  This happened just outside of Dayton, OH.  A lot of smoke out the exhaust and coolant in the oil. We limped off the exit into a hotel parking lot.  Talked to a few repair places and came to the conclusion the repair might be worth more than the truck.  So for now, the truck sits in a Uhaul storage lot in Ohio until I figure out the next step.

Dash cam

2016 update

Took a peek under the cover just to make sure all is ok.  In the past, mice have made home in our various vehicles.  The worst is when they chew on the plastic and rubber.
All looks good, no damage.
Still looking at 2017 to get the car back in race condition.

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.