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Great Weather Greets Vintage Racing As Audi R8 Sweeps Class, Enduro At Mazda Laguna Seca

An ex-works R8 swept to victory in three class races as the classic race season kicked off at the Mazda Laguna Seca.
A former factory works Audi R8 swept to several victories during the kickoff of classic racing at Mazda Laguna Seca

With near-perfect weather, mild temperatures, light winds and wall-to-wall sunshine, a group of vintage racers kicked off the inaugural Spring Classic vintage racecar weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.Laguna Seca Classic Racing Kicks Off

Seven Groups of warriors answered the starting flag. When the dust had settled, six drivers had posted double wins in their group races, while a lone driver swept to victory in three Group F races and a one-hour Enduro.

The big winner of the weekend was Travis Engen of Connecticut. Driving a former works 2005 Audi R8 (quite similar to Lamborghinis underneath; as Audi and Lambo have the same corporate parent, VW, it stands to reason), Engen drove to victories in three Group F races. The races were World Sports Cars, Le Mans Prototypes, and Can-Am cars, as well as ending the day’s racing with a victory in the lone one-hour Enduro.

Meantime, six drivers posted double wins in their group races. The double winners included:

  • John Delane, Formula B Brabham BT18 (Group A)
  • Martin Lauber, ex-Keke Rosberg Formula Atlantic Chevron BT39 (Group D)
  • Dan Marvin, Kathy Reilly’s Brabham BT44-Ford (Group H)
  • Patrick Byrne, Alfa Romeo GTA Corso (Group E)
  • Troy Ermish, Datsun 5 (Group E races for 2,5-liter Trans-Am cars)

Here is a listing of the Race Groups, Race Day, Driver and vehicles:

Group A – 1967-72 Formula B

  • Saturday 1 – John Delane – 1966 Brabham BT18
  • Saturday 2 – Andrew Wait – 1967 Merlyn Mk10
  • Sunday 1 – John Delane – 1966 Brabham BT18
  • Sunday 2 – Steve Davus – 1965 Brabham BT16/21

Group B – 1973-84 SCCA Production GT Cars

  • Saturday – Jeffrey Abramson – 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
  • Sunday 1 – Mike Thurlow – 1976 Chevrolet Corvette
  • Sunday 2 – Ken Epsman – 1984 Pontiac Firebird

Group C – 1966-72 Trans-Am

  • Saturday 1 – Bill Ockerlund – 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
  • Saturday 2 – Forrest Straight – 1970 Ford Mustang
  • Sunday 1 – Richard Goldsmith – 1970 Dodge Challenger
  • Sunday 2 – Jim Halsey – 1970 Ford Mustang

Group D – Formula Atlantic 1973-79

  • Saturday 1 – Dalmo de Vasconcelos – 1976 Ralt RT1
  • Saturday 2 – Danny Baker – 1977 Ralt RT1
  • Saturday 1 – Martin Lauber – 1977 Chevron B39
  • Sunday 2 – Martin Lauber – 1977 Chevron B39

Group E – 1966-72 Trans-Am 2.5-liter

  • Saturday 1 – Patrick Byrne – 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA Corsa
  • Saturday 2 – Patrick Byrne – 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA Corsa
  • Sunday 1 – Troy Ermish – 1972 Datsun 510
  • Sunday 2 – Troy Ermish – 1972 Datsun 510

Group F – 1983-2007 WSC/LMP / 1966-72 Can-Am

  • Saturday – Travis Engen – 2005 Audi R8 Le Mans
  • Sunday 1 – Travis Engen – 2005 Audi R8 Le Mans
  • Sunday 2 – Travis Engen – 2005 Audi R8 Le Mans

Group H – 1967-1984 Masters USA Formula One

  • Saturday – Dan Marvin – Brabham BT44-Ford
  • Sunday – Dan Marvin – Brabham BT44-Ford

Saturday Enduro (1 Hour)

  • Travis Engen – 2005 Audi R8 Le Mans

Source: Vintage Racecar

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