Fiction : 24 Hours of Daytona 1974
The 1973 oil crisis began in 1973 when the members of OAPEC announced they would no longer ship petroleum to the nations supporting Israel. As a result, the members of OPEC agreed to use their leverage over the the world price setting mechanisméin order to quadruple world oil prices. Highly dependent on the OPEC oil, these price increases were dramatically inflationary to the economics of these countries. To worsen things, the OAPEC placed an embargo on shipments to the west, and especially the USA. This resulted in a soaring increase of the oil prices. Many occendital countries changed their policy concerning energy and it was clear that oil had not to be spoilt : energy conservation was the main goal. The retail price of a gallon of gasoline had risen from 38,5 cents in may 1973 to 55,1 cents in june 1974.
The daily consumption dropped and the USA suffered their first fuel shortage since World War II. This situation resulted in a great auto racing events reduction. Many long distance races were purely cancelled and events were not exceding 6 hours duration. The IMSA Championship was forced to drop his best race : the 12 Hours of Sebring. A remarkable fact was that, nonetheless, more than two thousand fans showed up anyway on the third week-end of March 1974. The legend simply did not want to die!
This post is singularly different from the other ones in many aspects. It is probably the most subjective. However, it is based on facts, let us say IMSA results and archives from 1973 and 1974. This is a compilation of what might have been the entry list. I will comment it and explain why I chose these cars. First, I think that a sixty five plus car field looks quite appreciable. An odd mix of cars, as per usual, with top cars and drivers, along with amateur racers, fast ones or backmarkers, this is some kind of experimentation, so let us have a look at this entry list. A bunch of Porsche Carrera RSRs, you should find the winner amongst them. Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood brought theid immaculate Brumos car.
Al Holbert and Elliot Forbes Robinson shared this beautiful Porsche Carrera RSR
Copyright Mark Windecker
Always impeccably prepared, the car was impressive, and they had won the 1973 race, beating the prototypes. Holbert Racing entered a similar car for Al Holbert and Elliot Forbes Robinson. Very impressive in each race, he could do well in such a race. The car had a beautiful paint scheme and was very attractive. Toad Hall Racing had a Porsche Carrera RSR for Michael Keyser and Milt Minter. The two drivers were regular entrants and had won many IMSA races. So you could expect those two guys to be close behind. Silverstone Racing entered his grey Porsche Carrera for George Stone and Mike Downs. Probably less competitive, you could expect to find them in the top five rankings. Gregg Loomis and Pete Harrison had their white 2,8L car along with a real feeling for this particular race. Bob Bergstrom was a usual entrant for that race that he found attractive. He shared his car with a living legend in the name of Bob Bondurant. From Canada came Ludwig Heimrath who shared his car with Jim Cook, as well as Klaus and Harry Bytzek, who had Rudy Bartling as co-driver, while Jacques Bienvenue and Marc Dancose had made the costly trip to Daytona.
This Porsche Carrera RSR was to be driven by Harry and Klaus Bytzek, along with Rudy Bartling
Copyright Mark Windecker
George Dyer, who was improving at every race, had his familiar Neufeld Porsche Carrera RSR, which he shared with Brad Frisselle. Charlie Kemp was a familiar face on the IMSA circuit and entered his Porsche Carrera RSR, which was an updated 2,8L model, which he shared with John Tunstall. John Graves, Dave Helmick and John O'steen were to drive the Ecurie Escargot car, which displayed the usual number forty three. Guillermo Rojas, Hector Rebaque and Freddy van Beuren came from Mexico with some strong hopes, giving the race a very international air. This strong field of Porsche were the crowds' favorites, but which one? The Bavarian marque BMW was not officially represented, yet two BMW 3.0CSLs could be seen, to everyone's delight. Very fast, if not reliable, they were very well driven. John Buffum and Andy Peterey drove the first one while George Follmer and Brett Lunger drove the second one.
John Buffum and Andy Peterey shared this BMW 3.0CSL.
Copyright Mark Windecker
Unfortunately, the expected works cars were not ready, and the current ones were not IMSA legal. A very interesting car, in the form of the Ford Capri RS3100, entered by Ausca Inc, could play more than second fiddle. Horst Kwech and Harry Theodoracopoulos had had very good races, yet the car was perhaps not so reliable, but who knows? A bunch of Chevrolet Corvettes was here, and it was indoubtedly John Greenwood who attracted the most spectators. His fantastic black car was as impressive as it was beautiful. Probably the crowds favorite, as to the action to be brought. John Greenwood was co-driven by Sam Posey, and the car was to be seen at its favorite spot : first place. The Garcia brothers, George, Javier and Manuel had a Greenwood Corvette too, and they were often placed in the top ten standings, so you should have a look at this one. Phil Currin had his red old 63 roadster that he shared with Bob Picariello. Craig and Darrell Carter shared their own Carter Bros Corvette. They hoped they could make it to the finish with an old car. Tony de Lorenzo and Wilbur Pickett had better hopes with the Leldon Blackwell car, and you could have an eye on this car in the opening laps of the race.
Tony de Lorenzo and Wilbur Pickett drove this Corvette entered by Leldon Blackwell
Copyright Mark Windecker
James Alspaugh and Gene Persinger were part of the usual amateur entry and had no ambition but to finish and have fun. Babe Headley and Sammy Feinstein were IMSA and Trans Am regulars, and usually did well at the wheel of the Babe's Garage of Paoli Corvette. Ford Smith and Luis Sereix were usual contenders in the East coast events and they could do well in that race. Roger Pierce and Doug Mills entered their usual black Corvette, but finally had to switch to their Ford Mustang after a collision in practice. Bill Arnold had a roadster for himself and Carl Thompson. Rick Hay and Mike Brockman shared a beautiful Corvette with good hopes. Frank Brown and Ed Lowther, Wiley Doran and Mason O'keef, Rick Mancuso, John Cargill and Larry Bock were the last Corvette entries. Many Camaros were to be seen too, with Gene Felton, who brought his big block 7,0L car. He was partnered by NASCAR star Buddy Baker for big time racing. The sams could be said from Maurice Carter who had Eppie Wietzes as co-driver. An all-Canadian car that could do very well on this horsepower track. Vince Gimondo and Billy Dingman were no stranger to this race and they usually did well, so keep an eye on this car. Herb Jones, Steve Faul and Radjah Rodgers had a beautiful Camaro too. Gene Harrington and Allan Barker were good contenders and should appear in the top ten at the start. Mike Williamson and Al Cosentino had an old car, as well as Roberto Boza and Eduardo Garido while Tom Nehl and Milton Moise were having good hopes for the race. Paul and Kenper Miller shared a Camaro too. The most impressive was to come : Carl Shafer had entered his to-the-limit Camaro he shared with Tom Bagley. Plenty of excitement was to be seen. A last car was entered by Ralph Noseda, co-driven by Richard Small. A second Ford Mustang, driven by Richard and Dave Mroz, alongside Roger Pierce's car. Some lonely cars were entered too : an Alfa Romeo Montreal, entered by Bobcor Racing, for Bert Everett and Paul Nichter. The car suffered from reliability problems in 1973, and had been developed furthermore. Two De Tomasos were to be seen, a Pantera and a Mangusta. Hugh Kleinpeter was partnered by Jeff Stevens in an effective car. Max Sebba and Bob McGraw had an impressive, if not efficient, Mangusta. A Jaguar XKE, driven by Glenn Bunch and Al Taylor, added some variety to the field. A Shelby Mustang was also here, driven by French Hickman and Jim Speck. The GTU class was widely spread, and many Porsche 911s would show up. George Drolsom and Harold Williamson had some good reasons to hope for the win, as well as Bruce Jennings-Bob Beasley, Bob Kirby-Mike Sherwin, Paul Spruell-Bill Bean, Mike Tillson-Dieter Oest and Don Parish-Dave Causey. All these teams had their chances for the class win.
The Porsche 911S driven by George Drolsom and Harold Williamson was among the GTU favorites
Copyright Mark Windecker
Two Porsche 914/6 were to be seen : Dave White and David McClain were driving the first one while John Hulen and Ron Coupland drove the yellow one. A noisy Mazda RX3 could be seen, driven by Ray Walle and Tom Reddy.
A handful of Datsun 240Zs added diversity to the class. John Tremblay and Bob Lapp drove one, Spencer Buzbee and Craig Ross another one, and Bruce Mabrito and Jack Steel but the most interesting car was undoubtedly the Bob Sharp Racing car, driven by Bob Sharp and Jim Fitzgerald. It was the fastest GTU car but what its reliability? A single BMW 2002, for Frederick Miller and Russ Norburn, a Volvo 142 for Arthur Mollin and Arthur Riley. An interesting Chevrolet Vega, which was driven by Steve Coleman and Amos Johnson, but too new a car to last? A Ford Escort entered by Juan Montalvo and Jim Grob, which was beautifully prepared. This car closed this honest entry list. In a future post, I will try to tell you the story of what might have been the race.
