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On the weekend of 17-19 August about 300 vintage and historic racing cars took to the track outside of Monterey. Featured were the Indy Roadsters and of interest to C.A.T. there were 4 Tigers entered! |
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C.A.T. President & Secretary, Buck & Claudia Trippel brought the Sports Car Forum #74 Tiger driven as usual by TransAm Champion John Morton. The SCF entry was fast all weekend but brows were furrowed over brake issues all weekend. No surprise really as the brakes are stock/LAT option based calipers and discs. John was able to turn very fast laps and qualified in third place. In the race Saturday for Group 6A the 74 maintained third place for a few laps but had to slow to avoid completely destroying the brakes before the end. That allowed two cars by so the finish was a very respectable 5th.
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The Hollywood Sports Car #55, running as #155, racer appeared at Monterey for the first time. Dave Stone is the owner/driver of this Tiger which was originally prepared to race by the legendary Doane Spencer. The restoration of this car is faithfull and as accurate as history and the surviving records allow. Doane's engineering, fabricating and eye for detail is summed up in this racing car. The car was successful in BP as driven by Jim Adams and is now presented beautifully. Teething problems bothered the car both in practice and the race. Dave started last on the grid with no time recorded and had to retire after a partial loss of power and $ noises. Through the grapevine I heard this was broken rocker arms. Unconfirmed. Note that the rules at Monterey require period correct or stock rockers. By statute if not fact.
Dave Lipsky of Sonoma, CA brought his very pretty red racer to run at the Historics and have a good time. I think he had a super time. He owned and raced the car several years before selling it to a new owner in Europe. The car was redone there to race/rally FIA production car rules? Dave bought it and brought it back and has immaculately restored the car. Dave started near the back of the grid and spent most of his race in the #40 holding off a challenge from a Corvette. He eventually finished 25th and ahead of that 'Vette.
The fourth Tiger accepted to participate this year was entered by Lorraine Gruys. Unfortunately she had a mishap which ended up against a tire barrier and also ended the Black Tiger's entry. Sorry I have no photos as I was not at the track for Thursday practice and the car was covered the remainder of the weekend.
More Doane Spencer: The restored original Hot Rod icon '32 Highboy built by a young Spencer in the '40's and the unfinished at his death in 1998.. but now completed Spencer2 were in the paddock and posed for photos with the Spencer Tiger. Something very special indeed!
Enjoy the photos
below. All photos by Rick Mueller except the Hot Rotor shot above by ? Harter?.
Click on the thumbnails below to see slide show!
