At the beginning of the 1974 season, Porsche had become the dominant force in IMSA racing. Moreover, the Carreras now had a full 3,0L engine, which was even more powerful.
IMSA had begun to advertise more and more strongly and one could see more photographs at each race, posters, press receptions, a lot of banners, everything that was needed to make every IMSA race the racing show it was to become.
The beginning of the season took place as North American road racing had to suffer from numerous event cancellations. No race were to be held at Daytona or Sebring, as the oil-crisis had imposed severe restrictions on auto racing and thus, the season only began on 21st April, at Road Atlanta. There, Al Holbert teamed with Elliot Forbes Robinson to earn a first-ever IMSA professional win. Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood had led most of the race after a brief stint by John Greenwood, but valves and pistons did not agree to make the car work, so they had to retire. Porsche did 1-2-3, Milt Minter-Michael Keyser were second and George Stone-Mike Downs third ; the fourth place went Brett Lunger-Andy Peterey on a BMW 3.0CSL.
The second race of the season took place at Laguna Seca for a first swing to the west coast for the IMSA Camel GT Challenge. The chosen format for the race was a two heat one. Al Holbert led the first one but had to let Elliot Forbes Robinson take the chequered after he hit someone. Peter Gregg, who started last, made a great come back to take third after he passed Milt Minter and George Dyer. The second started with Peter Gregg quickly on the lead but he had to pit with a tyre problem. That left Horst Kwech on the lead, driving a Ford Capri ahead Milt Minter who managed to take the lead after a neat pass at the end.
The next race, at Ontario Motor Speedway saw a Peter Gregg domination who lost his first place only when refueling! He experienced problems with five minutes to go, but made it to the chequered. Al Holbert could have won, but he broke their engine just after. So, it was George Dyer and Bob Bondurant who finally took the second place, ahead Michael Keyser and Milt Minter. Walt Maas and Frank Leary earned the GTU victory on their Datsun 240Z.
At Mid Ohio, a 6 Hour event, it was again Al Holbert sharing his Porsche with Peter Gregg who won the race. Second place was Bill Webbe's green Porsche who had Hurley Haywood as co-driver. Third were Michael Keyser-Milt Minter on their usual Toad Hall Porsche. Bruce Jennings-Bob Beasley took the GTU honours in their Porsche 911S.
Copyright Mark Windecker
At Daytona for the next race, Gregg fielded his usual car but only managed to take a fourth overall in that race, the only one to be run at night. Hurley Haywood again took a solo victory in the Bill Webbe Porsche Carrera. Second place was for Bob Bergstrom, his best result and third was Gregg Loomis. No American car was able to fight for victory and many off-course prevented them to earn good results.
The next race, held at Talladega, saw the first race that was not to be won by a Porsche. Milt Minter had negociated a drive on John Greenwood's Corvette, and was not to be beaten on this horsepower track. Michael Keyser took the lead when Milt Minter pitted for fuel but the latter overtook him on the very last lap. George Dyer, Peter Gregg and Carl Shafer followed. At Charlotte, it was a one-two for Peter Gregg leading Hurley Haywood, the pair three laps ahead Steve Behr. Gene Felton shared his Camaro with stock-car racer Buddy Baker to finish fourth.
John Greenwood-Milt Minter had taken the lead early in the race, but were had to retire with a broken rear. Spencer Buzbee-Craig Ross won the GTU class on their Datsun 240Z. Lime Rock was a two heat format again and Peter Gregg dominated the first one from the start. Michael Keyser was the only one not to be lapped by the winner. Third was Steve Behr on a Porsche Carrera too. Adrian Gang won the GTU class on his Porsche 911S.
The second heat seemed to go the same way but a broken throttle cable prevented Peter Gregg to do the same. It was Michael Keyser who inherited the win but the second place went to a surprising Bob Sharp driving a Datsun 260Z who managed to finish ahead Milt Minter, George Dyer and Hurley Haywood. Tom Ciccone won GTU on his Ford Escort.
The race held at Mexico City was the longest of the season and Peter Gregg did not take his car to this race. At the end of the 1000 kilometer, it was Guillermo Rojas-Hector Rebaque-Fred van Beuren who were the overall winners, 50s before Gregg Loomis-Steve Behr-Billy Sprowls on a Porsche Carrera, Bob Hagestad-Skip Barber were three laps down to finish third. Adrian Gang-Dennis Aase took the GTU category in a Porsche 911S.
Just before the last race, Peter Gregg led the Championship points with 98 to Milt Minter 96. Michael Keyser was third with 84 points and things would have to be extremely kind to him to win the Championship. For that very race, John Greenwood had a surprise for his rivals : a brand new Corvette, even more radical than the former one. Clearly the class of the field, he was four seconds faster than the next car!
He did well in that race as he won one lap ahead his next pursuer, Al Holbert. Third place went to Dave Heinz-Jerry Thompson who did very well in that race. That cannot be said from Michael Keyser and Milt Minter, who had to retire from the race, with electrical problems for the first one, and a blown engine for the second. Peter Gregg experienced troubles with his gearbox and could not do better than eighth, but that was enough to earn him a new Championship. Juan Montalvo won the GTU category in a Ford Escort. The 1974 Championship ended up with a confirmation that Porsche was the dominant force in IMSA. But the future looked bright as BMW announced that they would field factory CSLs for the next season.
