McRae GM-1 Formula 5000, part II

I thought that today I would place a few (alright 5 more photos, because that is all that Google allows me to post at one time) of the McRae Formula 5000. Let me tell you, there is nothing quite like good 'ol 'American V8 horsepower in a light weight single seat race car. That is a racecar. Minimum aero aids, just lots of horses in a neat small package.

McRae GM-1 Formula 5000

McRae GM-1, Formula 5000
The most visible car at the “Thriller at Miller” had to be without question the 1973 McRae GM-1 driven by Ken Petrie. It is loud, fast and just about glows with its day glow orange paint. While not a pretty car it is very brutal in its appearance. In racing performance is more important than the beauty of its body. In this case a car that wins races is very beautiful to its owner and driver. The car was very well driven and was always in the lead by a long way.If this car comes to a track near you stop and take a good long look and find a corner as close to the track as you can and just enjoy the sight, sound and sensations as this cars blasts past.

Lola T 640 Formula Ford

This car is a Lola T 640 Formula Ford. Due to its age it usually competes in Club Ford or Vintage races.

I did it.

Well I finally did it. I made enough money during the Sundance Film Festival on my extra day over and above my usual working schedule to buy my new telephoto lens.

Yesterday Carl and I went out and visited a shop that he recomended as having a good selection of tripods. I had at that time pretty much decided upon a used Tamron 200/500 mm telephoto zoom lens. While looking around the store I noticed that they had in stock the Tamron lens, so I tried it out on my Cano Rebel XTi, that I just happened to have with me. They also had a Sigma 170/ 500 lens that fit my Canon and both Carl and the sales person thought that the Sigma had better glass than the Tamron. I tried out the Sigma on my camera and I couldn't tell the difference between the two. Thew clincher was that the Sigma cost less than the Tamron by nearly $100.00.

I also picked out a filter for the lens and a new flash. I had them hold the items till today as I needed just a couple more $'s to get everything. Terri and I went their this afternoon and I got the lens and stuff.

I also picked up a 2 gig memory card for the camera. The only thing(s) that I now want/need is still a tripod and a hard carrying case to protect the camera and the lenses when traveling.

I haven't had much time to test out the new stuff but from what I have seen sofar I think the lens and the flash will work just fine.

My Kind of Racer:

My kind of racer.

I don’t have a lot of information on this driver/owner. His last name is Rosenwinge.

His car is an Ensign Formula B. Car #57, Blue in color. At this vintage sports car race their were rigs and race cars worth more money than I care to even dream about. Mr. Rosenwinge has a car that may be worth $40,000.00 and his motorhome and trailer may have a current value of $10,000.00. What I like about him is that his car costs more than his tow rig and trailer. He knows where to put his money. In Saturdays race he lead the race for a while and eventually finished second. I estimate that his car is worth in the area of $40,000.00.
His car was turned out in first class condition and obviously very fast and he drove very well.

Duntov Lightweight Corvette

Duntov Lightweight:

Some of what I am writing about is direct quotes from the booklet that was given to me by Sonny Adams at the races. The photos of the car are all mine and remain my property.

While at the Miller Motorsports Race track for the Hero’s of Speed vintage car races I came across what I thought at first was a Corvette Grand Sport. Only five Grand Sports were built before GM cancelled the project. GM ordered that the cars be destroyed and put aside two of the Grand Sports and then he sent cars 003, 004 and 005 to John Mecom in Texas. Those cars were sold to various racers.

Grand Sport chassis #003 recently changed hands for more than $6 million. The Duntov Motor Company was formed for the 40th anniversary of Sebring 1965. The Duntov Motor Company was organized to produce an exact replica of this famous car.

The Duntov Lightweight automobile is not a kit car. Every part is hand made to replicate the corresponding part in the original #003 car as it was presented at Sebring in 1965.

Duntov Motor Company was authorized to use the Duntov name by Elfi Duntov, in part to recreate the spirit of the original car, and to demonstrate that spirit to a new generation.

Specifications and performance:

Like the original Grand Sports that were built as racecars and is not intended to be driven on the street the Duntov Lightweights as also race cars and not intended to be driven on the street.

The cars come with three engine options starting with a Chevrolet ZZ383 small block that makes 425 HP at 5400 RPM on 93 octane gas, resulting in a weight to power ratio of 5.3 lbs. per horsepower.

The Duntov racing small block produces 675 HP at 7700 RPM on race gas. Weight to power ratio for this combination is 3.33 lbs. per HP.

As a point of reference, a new Corvette Z06 is 6.2 lbs. per H; a new Ford GT is 6.8.

Prices for production Duntov Lightweights start at less than half of a Ford GT, and less than 2 % of the market value of an original Grand Sport.

I want to thank Sonny Adams who took the time to talk to me and give me a copy of the brochure for this car. Oh and Sonny I love the bib overall’s.

The web site for this company is http://www.duntovmotors.com/ and their telephone number is 888-581-3838

This car took first place in its races at Miller Motor sports track and was first overall at Road America in July. The driver is Alan Sevadjian.
If you are looking for a fast and great looking racecar and like Corvettes this may be just the car for you.

One More Week:

ONe more week then I have three days off. The Sundance Film Festival ends Monday, until then and through next wednsday I am putting in usuall 12 + hours a night. Film people are different let me tell you. Most of them are nice, just different. I gave a ride to some members of "Velvet Revolver" the other night. I had no idea at the time who they were, I thought they were just some little garage band.

I should have made enough money by Monday night to get the new telephoto lens that I want and some of the other items that I want and need for the summer picture taking. I am really looking forward to the summer racing season.

As soon as I can, like next weekend I'll try and catch up on posting photos, etc.

Thanks, see ya soon.

Renalut Grand Prix car

Last August at Miller I came across this 1906 Renault Grand Prix car. My research says this is a 90 hp model and had a 13 litre engine. Renault went back to a convential chassis as oppossed to the previous underslung chassis. Renault also introduced detachable rims on this car to speed tire changing. This car was capable of nearly 100 mph. Considering the condition of the roads on the early 1900's those drivers had balls that would put an elephant to shame. Either that they were just plain crazy. I think I'll go with the huge balls.

Any way it is a really pretty car and has a place in automotive history. This car raced extensively in the U.S.

Happy Flipping Birthday to Me:

Today is my birthday, big flipping whoop de doo! The Queen of Chaos and Little Crow are on their way down for cake and ice cream before I have to go to work.

I may not be able to post very much for the next couple of weeks as I am working 6 days a week and 12 hour days. The Sundance Film Festival starts tomorrow and I said I would work a couple of extra days. The only good thing is that I hope to use the extra income to buy a new really long telephoto lens for the up coming racing season at Miller. I do have Saturdays off and will try and at least make a post on the weekend.

Miller has their schedule out and it is a full one. I figure that once the season starts I will be at the track just about three weekends out of four. At that time I am cutting back my schedule to three days a week so that I will have more time for the track. I have already given Terri my request for weekends that I will be out at the track.

The Dan Gurney F-1 Eagle

The Eagle had a short life span of only three racing seasons. With the help of the GoodYear tire company Dan hired Len Terry to design and help build an American Formula 1 car. Dan also contracted with Westlake to design and build a new V12 engine. The Westlake engine was a little slow in coming and for the first few races Dan used a four-cylinder Coventry Climax engine. The Climax engine was nowhere near having enough power but helped to sort out the car in the 1966 season.
The Eagle came home with a superb victory at Spa Belgium in 1967. This race win is the only Formula 1 victory for an American car owned and driven by an American. Very few Formula 1 racecars have the style and beauty of the Eagle. While this car had a short career in Formula 1 and only scored one major victory it is still a landmark car in American racing history. I was sort of disappointed that they only had the car out for a few hours at Miller, I am just thankful that I was there and was able to get these photos.

Dan Gurney F-1 Eagle

I have been sick for the past week. It seems I got a case of Strept Throat. I will be going back to work for the first time in a week today. I have not felt good enough to do anything on the computer while I was sick.

Today I am posting a few pictures of Dan Gurnery's F-1 Eagle. I came across this car while at Miller this year. They only had the car out of the trailer for a few hours and I was fortunate enough to get these photos while it was out. The car came in Tom Malloy's trailer with his GT 40 MkIV and Toyota GTP Eagle, they also has a Kurtis 500 sports car and a Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gull Wing in their also. I really wanted to see the Kurtis but they never got it out of the trailer.

Jaguar XK-E

I am posting 5 more picture of this neat Jag.

Jaguar XK-E racer

One of my absolute favorite race cars at Miller in the past two summers is this Jaguar XK-E. I can not remember seeing a nicer Jaguar or for that matter a nicer race car of any kind. This car is not only fast but looks just great.