Watkins Glen - USA

For the final leg of the US Golden Jubilee tour, the FJ’s moved five hours North West to Watkins Glen, scene of many US Formula One Grand Prix, including Jim Clark's one and only victory for the H16 BRM engine, in the Lotus 43. Chris and Angela Drake found time to visit Niagara, BJ went off to work again, but the rest of the UK and Australian contingent made more direct tracks for the Glen... This time, sadly, there was no FJ for Duncan, as the Volpini engine was irrepairable, and JR Mitchell had been due to drive Mike Taradash's 18, but the crown wheel and pinion had gone straight through the casing at Lime Rock, however, Travis Engen's 18 joined Bob Goeldner's BT 2 in the JR camp, along with guest driver, James Denty, who was driving the Lotus 70, now belonging to FJ 18 owner, Nick Grewal, in the F 5000 celebration race. Down from Canada came the familiar pale green 18 of Phil Lamont, and the darker car of septuagenarian David Keenleyside, but no sign of the other 18 entered, of Robert Paltrow. Gary Harrison and Roger Seiling their 22 and 20/22 respectively were joined by Canadian, David Clubine in his blue 22. The Stanguellini’s of Larry McKenna and Bill Gelles came North as well, but not the two Gemini’s. Late entry was Oliver Collins in the ex-Ugo Picgalli Stanguellini 00144. Finally, Doug Mockett was there again in his T56...It seemed that he and Bob Goeldner were going to be the men to beat.

The early birds were there on Wednesday for signing on and "tec" , and both the  Brits and the JR camp then adjourned to the Montage Restaurant at the Glenn Motor Inn, with a wonderful lakeside view, where the F1 stars of the 60s and 70s had hung out, and with much evocative memorabilia covering the walls. Next morning it was up with the larks for those who had signed up for the familiarization sessions with Peter Krause. Gordon Wright had decided to save his smoking Stanguellini, but BJ, Chris Drake and John Tweedale took the full course of three track sessions and two blackboard lessons. Duncan and Mair, and Gordon made visits to the International Motor Racing Research Centre, which has a superb motor racing library, looking out FJ history from books and programmes. The day's proceedings finished with a 25m dedicated, but untimed, Formula Junior practice session : Doug Mockett and Chris Drake both looked fast. Gordon had another visit to the "tec" with his "smoking gun", but was released out again, but the session was all but over. Tony Garmey, son of New Zealand FJ coordinator, Ian Garmey, was racing a unique Triumph TR 250 K as part of the Triumph celebrations that were also, with Lola, one of the Feature events, so Mair and Duncan joined up with them for a barbecue ; two babes, 6mo and 3 yrs, dog , and "Mum" drives one of the two huge trucks as well !

Two qualifying sessions on Friday, both of these with the other Group 2 cars, about 6 Brabham [including one pedalled by Philip Harris, who has made a few FJ guest appearances in the past] F2 and Atlantics, Travis Engen, alternating with his Chevron B 17, a few FF’s, and Jim van Nordstrand's early Zink C4 F Vee, but there is plenty of room on the long, 3+ mile track. Gary Harrison sadly broke a push rod, and although the Australians came to the rescue, it was to no avail, as there were doubts about the compression too. David Clubine's 22 was now fastest FJ, with a 2m 16.4 in the morning, knocking another two seconds off in the afternoon, with Chris Drake's drum braked Elva 300 fractionally ahead of Doug Mockett and Bob Goeldner in the morning , but Bob and Doug had taken back the edge in the afternoon. Extraordinarily quick is the Canada Class Dreossi of Doug Elcomb, with Mini wheels and BMC motor, in a chassis made from the fuel tank of a WW II bomber!!! Doug also has a Merlyn Mk III for restoration. We were pleased to meet up with Cooper T52 and T56 owner, and Canada FJ historian, John  Lindsay, in the flesh, after many years correspondence

Friday's activity was, however, centered around the reenactment of the original Watkins Glen road course, where the Sports Car Grand Prix were held from 1948-1962. The whole town shuts down for the day long festivities, and thousands - and I mean thousands - of people fill the "Village" and line the [5.2 mile] course. About 100 selected participants drove down from the Racing Track to the town under Sherriff’s escort, and then , after an hour and a half's static display, lined both sides of the [closed] main street, they completed 2 tours of the old track under police pace car , but at respectable 60mph +. Quite awesome when you consider the speeds that must have been achieved on the downhill section into the town, and the railway level crossing.......!! [They DID stop the trains for the original Grands Prix!!]. Larry Mckenna ran his Stanguellini, and both Bill Hemming and Roger Ealand joined in for Australia with Elfin and 18 respectively. Oliver Collins was due to run his Stanguellini for son, Shaun but alas it refused to start at the vital point of departure, found too late to be a lead off the starter motor. Duncan  hitched a ride with kindly London [Ontario] MG Twin-cam [YD3/964] owner, Jim Holody ; quite an experience, whilst prominent amongst the Heritage cars was ex-Cooper V-twin and Dastle 500 owner, Roger Sweet , accompanied by fellow 1964 Lotus F3 racer, Mike Herbertson, in Roger's FN based VSCC Special with Curtiss engine. They are over on the East Coast competing in 7 races in 8 weeks on their tour; shades of what Oskar Christen and Lawrence Sufryn used to do with their FJ’s some years ago. The day's proceedings concluded with drinks and a hot buffet party at the Research Centre [in town], with live and silent auctions to raise funds for its acquisitions, and expansion. Brian Redman, seemingly unchanged by the years, spoke, and assisted with the evenings activities, while Peter Anstiss arrived, 500 mile drive from DC, to join the Brits at play, for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday morning was wet, and only two cars appeared in the F 500 session, one being James Denty, and the Lotus 70 broke, concluding his weekend .Group 2 brought the FJ’s out again, with the Brits and Australian's out in force . The track was drying by then, but most times were down, only Canadians, David Keenleyside , and oliver Collins, neither of whom had run on Thursday, improved. We waited for the delayed group 2 race late in the afternoon, but the fog was coming down, and albeit not of Estoril or Nurburgring proportions, the marshalls could not see from post to post, and the last three races of the day ere cancelled, but all classes would get a run on the Sunday. John monson came down from Rochester, upstate NY, where he has now transferred, but his Juniors have yet to follow. Keith Prewett, who has the famous Stanguellini 00141, as a 10 years ago barn find, visited from deepest Oklahoma, and spent much time with Gordon Wright and Larry Mckenna. in the evening, Mark Harmer [today running a Surtees TS5 F 5000] and Travis Engen put on a splendid Monoposto Racing party, and the event 2 Lola 50th  party followed : Glyn jones of Lola heritage was in attendance , and F 5000 legends Brian Redman[ I had forgotten that he also drove a Shadow F1, after his F1 Cooper season] Warwick Brown and Tony Adamovitz [ driving the SAME Eagle 510 that he drove in 1969] were prominent. Other F 500s of particular interest were the Crossle 15F [like the car Fred Saunders drove in UK in period-of Timothy Osborne (he actually has two of the three), and the incredibly original Chinook Mk12 of Mike Knittle, with 1968 Cooper F1 wheels [It may be remembered that the Fejar Brothers of Chinook bought all the Cooper parts at the closing auction]

Sunday was warm again, and the FJ Feature race was at prime time at 2pm. There had been talk of a standing start, but in the end the standard rolling start procedure was adopted, with Duncan and Peter Anstiss riding in the Course car ahead of the field. David Clubine opted for inside right, with Goeldner, Drake and Mockett in his wake. Travis Engen slotted in mid field in his 18 with his Thursday time, and the Zink Vee joined the FJ group just ahead of the rear marker Stanguellini’s of Gordon Wright and Oliver Collins. First time round, it was Clubine already with a good lead, followed by Goeldner, Mockett and Drake. Lap 3 and Drake got by Doug, and chased Bob Goeldner, while two laps later the gap to Clubine had visibly narrowed, and remained so next time round. With lappery, it got quite exciting, but David held out to the finish, with the BT2 next, and a delighted Chris Drake third, ahead of Doug, and Don Thallon leading the Australians, from John Tweedale and Phil Lamont taking drum brake places.. BJ Colaric was well satisfied with his class win over Larry McKenna’s dark red Stanguellini, Bill Gelles a lap down after a spin, BJ finishing just behind Doug Elcomb's Dreossi still remarkeably quick, despite a spin. Bill Hemming and Roger Ealand had a race long dice, the Elfin just holding to the flag, behind Roger Sieling's 20/22, while, at the back, there was a good three way dice, a delighted (to finish) Gordon Wright sandwiching the Zinc C4 with Oliver Collins' bright red Stanguellini.

All class places received medals, and it was then packing for home, none of the FJs running in the final Group 2 sprint race, won by Philip Harris in his BT23 C. On the way back to Horseheads, we all called at the legendary Seneca Lodge, the race HQ for the 48 race, for a final drink and farewells.

Thank you Carl Jensen and Jack Woehrle for a great weekend

DCPR