RETRO: IMSA Racecars from A past Horse track

Although these Prototype “Horses” ran far faster than Seabiscuit…

 

Having tuned into nearly 15 hours of this year’s Rolex 24. I’m reminded of how far IMSA has come from it’s initial GTP era. Which I suppose you could say that Dan Gurney’s All conquering Eagle MKIII “Four-banger” prototype killed…

 

Following reading Laura Hillenbrand’s most excellent book Seabiscuit: An American Legacy last December, which I chronicled in the following No Fender tome.

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2025/01/when-horse-outweighed-horsepower.html

 

This shot me down another Wabbit’ Hole regarding my one and only visit to Del Mar’s 1.6-mile temporary “Stadium” race course. Which I only have two vague memories of now. That being those Jaguar XJR-10’s turbo chirpiness! And taking a picture of that beautiful looking gold and white Miller Highlife Busby Racing BFGoodrich Porsche 962.

 

Comparing ‘n contrasting the 1989 Del Mar race held in the Fairgrounds parking lot vs. the upcoming 12 Hours of Sebring’s IMSA GTP field sees virtually the same number of GTP entries; 14 vs. 13 Also being a split of normally aspirated and turbocharged motors. With eight Camel Lights vs. a dozen or less LMP2 entrants.

 

Yet I suppose you could say the stakes are higher today, with virtually no privateer entries. Just the lone $2.9m Proton Competition customer Porsche 963 vs. six customer entries Wayback’ when…

 

Camel Grand Prix of Southern California

IMSA GT Championship

Date: October 22, 1989

Duration: 2 Hours

Round 20 of 20

 

Entrants

Porsche 962C; (4) Spice SE89P; (4) Jaguar XJR-10; (2) Nissan GTP ZX-T; (2) 1 All American Racers Eagle HF89 (1)  and one unheard of ALBA AR9 Buick = 14 total GTP entries, with a further eight Lights Prototypes in the “mix” = 22 total entries

 

Race Highlights

The race was broadcast on ESPN with Bruce Flanders and John Morton in the Booth. Whilst it was funny hearing Chris Economaki trying to make something out of nothing over the young Wayne Taylor’s “Shock” pole position during the pre-race preamble. As Economaki couldn’t get Geoff Brabham to bite, with the Aussie’ saying He wasn’t surprised at all by the Spice’s being on the front row…

 

(Chris Economaki and Ralph Sheheen were the Pit reporters)

 

Taylor, then 33yrs old, claimed pole with His Spice SE89P Pontiac Firebird 5.4-litre V-8. While Bob Earl aboard a Spice SE89P with a 6.0-litre Chevrolet V-8 lined up alongside Taylor, seeing Spice lock-out the front row.

 

Spice Engineering ran two of it’s Factory SE89P Pontiac Firebird racecars for the aforementioned Wayne Taylor, in the No. 34. Who was apparently paired with Scott Atchison, albeit no idea if the latter actually raced? As Taylor led from the “Get go” for the first 22-laps? Before Earl passed Him for the lead. Before Taylor’s Pontiac Done Blown Up! As ‘Ol Hobbo’, nee HobsCapp’, aka David Hobbs would say…

 

The Seester’ #33 Spice Engineering entry was driven by Costas Los, Say Who? Retiring on lap-69 due to an accident.

 

Jeff Kline drove a “Ex Works” Koll Motorsports privateer Spice Pontiac entry, finishing an unheralded P16.

 

Whilst the best of the Spice entries was Bob Earl, who started second, led for awhile before ultimately finishing third overall, driving for Jim Miller Racing.

 

Electramotive Engineering’s All conquering Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo’s had already ended Porsche’s reign by winning the 1989 IMSA GT Manufacturers Championship with ten wins; six for its No. 83 and four for its NO. 84. With the driver title up for grabs between Geoff Brabham and Nissan teammate Chip Robinson.

 

As Brabham and Robinson had scored six W’s together, with Brabham netting a further three solo vs. robinson’s one win. With Robinson leading the points battel 219 to 215 entering Del Mar.

 

Brabham started third and led late into the race before erring on the side of caution over a braking issue, finishing runner-up and claiming the Drivers title. While Robinson’s race had gone up in “smoke!” Chasing Brabham all race long after starting sixth. Robinson snapped a driveshaft on lap-59, ending His championship hopes.

 

Four privateer Porsche 962C’s contested the race, with a brace of Joest Racing cars entered for Jean-Lous Ricci and Henri Pescarolo in the #0, and Frank Jelinski in the “Double buckshot”. (#00)

 

Whilst my Home town Bayside Racing’s No. 86 Panzerwagen with Jochen Mass at its keyboard was the highest finisher in fifth, one place ahead of the #0 Joest.

 

The No. 67 Busby Racing Porsche 962C that won that year’s 24 Hours of Daytona, saw Bob Wollek and John Andretti finishing a quiet P13. Whilst the “Double Zero” Joest Panzerwagen finished a lowly 20th due to an accident.

 

Willy t. Ribbs drove the lone All American Racers (AAR) Eagle HF89, the team’s and Toyota’s first GTP chassis to a fourth place finish after starting P4.

 

Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) ran two Castrol liveried Jaguar XJR-10’s for Jan Lammers (#60) and Price cobb. (#61)

 

Lammers who started seventh, quietly worked His way forwards, before pouncing upon Brabham at Turn-1, the course’s 10/11 turns best passing opportunity on a late race restart, and with Brabham locking up, Lammers motored to the chequered flag!

 

Meanwhile, Cobb, who’d started ahead of Lammers quietly soldiered home in seventh. While the “Mach 5: (#5) totally unknown of DeBlasi Racing’s ALBA AR9 Buick turbo machine finished eighth. Which I’ll try chronicling in another of my countless No Fenders stories… 

Chasing after A different Prancing Horse

As this one had a much Faster top speed vs. Seabiscuit!

 

So mucho for rest ‘n relaxation over Ye Gory Christmas Holidazes’ break! As I went down a mighty Wabbit’ Hole chasing this story…

 

Since thee Older I get, the more I’m amused over how skewed my memories are. With my mind playing tricks upon Mwah! Although Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary ellen exclaimed really Tomaso! You’re wondering why you cannot remember something from thirty-plus years ago, Seriously?

 

Yet having learned via that fantastic Laura Hillenbrand book Seabiscuit, which I scribbled labouriously about earlier this year, which Y’all can read in two part harmony below…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2025/01/when-horse-outweighed-horsepower.html

 

Learning that thee heralded crooner Bing Crosby was instrumental in the creation of the Del Mar Racetrack for four legged Horses, along with the adjoining Fairgrounds. This triggered my foggy memory of attending a lone IMSA GTP race Thar’, Wayback I thought in the early 1990’s, Stee-rike!

 

As the main things I recall now some thirty-five years later is my mode of transportation. As I rode Shotgun’ from Arizona to Del Mar and back in a “loaner” Jaguar XJS 12-cylinder road car, Sweet! And how a Fool in a Lincoln Mercury thought He could keep up with us on the Highway at an extended rate of high speed; Hey Batter-Batter…

 

Whilst I recalled that the Jaguar racecars turbochargers “Chirpped” quite audibly, making me have to search for what model they were, with the No. 60 Castrol Jaguar XJR-10 with Jan Lammers winning. With Price Cobb as the #61’s chauffeur.

 

Along with walking thru the paddock and taking a picture of the great looking Miller Beer Porsche 962C. Which John Andretti, Bob Wollek and Derek Bell drove to victory at that year’s Rolex 24.

 

Not to mention the blood red, rosso No. 60 Ferrari F40 LM Being solid red, devoid of any sponsor decals, other than perhaps Pirelli tyres adorning the front windshield? Having mistakenly thought it was Jean Alesi behind the wheel of said F40 that October weekend All these years…

 

Initially, I had one Helluva time finding any pertinent information upon the IMSA GT season finale on Del Mar Fairgrounds 1.6-mile 10 turn temporary circuit in its parking lot. Where apparently the Prototypes and Saloons’, or Sedans category as Tom Gloy called ‘em ran in separate “Sprint” races. Since I eventually found a complete classification for the 22 entry IMSA GTP and Lights race. And then finally found the complete 30-car results for the separate Sedans race. Which was split evenly between both categories.

 

Also bumped into a sliced ‘n diced 45mins race airing on Youtube of the One hour ESPN Sprint race with Bruce Flanders calling the action with Tom Gloy alongside as Colour commendatore. Uhm, Oops! I meant Commentator, as I’m getting ahead of thyself! While Chris Economaki, who’d just celebrated His 69th birthday one week earlier and Ralph Sheheen were the Pit reporters.

 

The thirty car field of IMSA GTO and GTU competizione saw Hans-Joachim Stuck on Pole in the Audi 90 Quattro All-wheel Drive Terror! Which had won the previous four races in-a-row. While Wally Dallenbach Jr. was alongside in the “Blown” Mercury XR-7 Cougar. Row-2 featured Steve Millen in the first Nissan 300ZX with Roushe Racing’s Pete Halsmer, the GTO points leader alongside. And the third row of All turbocharged entreis saw Hurley Haywood in the second Audi flanked by John Morton in the Seester’ Nissan 300ZX. As Flanders said we’ll talk about that Ferrari F40 shortly…

 

Before mentioning Jeremy Dale’s name, aboard the #07 Dodge as the Pole sitter for the GTU Class. With Bob Leitzinger becoming that year’s GTU Champion.

 

Loved the interview by Ralph “Keyboard warriors R-US” Sheheen with Ferrari France’s Jean Sage regarding the Ferrari F40 LM. With the Frenchman saying that basically everything’s bigger on the racecar vs. production street car. Noting the front spoiler’s bigger. The rear wing’s bigger, etcetera-etcetera-etcetera. Also noting that the engine’s intercoolers are bigger, along with the turbochargers you guessed it – being bigger!

 

Whilst Sheheen noted that all 300 of the production F40’s which retailed for $250,00 were sold; Uhm try like $400k Ralph! And now ranged in the neighbourhood of one million dollars price-wise, Aye Darumba!

 

Micelotto, a Ferrari Specialist  built two Ferrari F40 LM’s initially from three road cars for the 1989 racing debut, with Jean Alesi debuting the Prancing Horse at that year’s Laguna Seca race in the IMSA GTO category. With the third converted “Road Car” F40 LM being a spare chassis that was never utilized.

 

Alesi later told Racer’s Marshall Pruett in 2016, that the F40 had a tendancy for spinning its Pirelli tyres profusely! And that the engine’s turbo boost had to be turned down to try accommodating for this. As Alesi noted being a young racing driver, He was loathe to heed to not planting His right foot on the “Loud” pedal…

 

Alesi presumably stunned the IMSA grid with an excellent second place qualifying effort besides Hans Stuck’s Audi 90 Quattro, before ultimately finishing third.

 

For Del Mar one week later, the Ferrari France F40 LM was driven by “Jelly-Belly”, aka Jean-Pierre Jabouille. But retired after 18-laps with mechanical “maladies”. Although Sheheen noted during a race interview that the car was once again spinning its Pirelli tyres badly and had just been passed by one of the lower tier GTU entries, Zouza!

 

Meanwhile, Dallenbach Jr. led a Mercury Cougar 1-2 sweep with Halsmer winning the GTO Drivers title. While both of the Audi’s Done Blown Up!

 

The Ferrari returned to IMSA GTO competition the following year, with Jabouille, Jacques Laffite and Hurley Haywood as its drivers. Scoring a “treble” of second place finishes.

 

Reportedly a total of 19 Ferrari F40 LM and latter (GTE) Competition examples were built between 1989-96, with the car having moderate success. Including a lone victory at Vallenlunga in 1994. Followed by back-to-back wins at Anderstorp between 1995-96, before the car was ultimately retired.

 

A lone Ferrari F40 GTE “Competizione” racecar run by Obermaier Racing in conjunction withTeam Ennea competed in the ’94 24 Huers du Mans, albeit retiring. With Anders Olofsson, Sandro Angelastri and Max “the Ax” Angelelli at its controls.

 

For 1995, three F40 GTE racecars showed up at Circuit de la Sarthe. With a pair of Ennea Ferrari Club entries, including the Pole winning No. 41, which finished P18 overall. Whilst its Seester’ car (No. 40) Did Not Finish. (DNF) With the No. 34 Pilot Aldix Racing F40 finishing 12th overall.

 

For ’96, the Ferrari F40 made its Swan song at Le Mans with a quartet of GTE Competizione entrants. Yet all four Prancing Horses had retired by Dawn. With three Team Ennea entries and a single Pilot Racing entry competing.

 

Yet nearly ten years old now, the F40 was no longer a match for the superior McLaren F1 GTR, and simply faded from the racing landscape…

 

(Rosso Ferrari F40 image source: wallpaperflare.com) 

The Horse that Stole America’s Heart

Due to His precocious nature, Undersized stature and pure determination…

 

Following Red Pollard’s horrible accident aboard Fair Knightess in February, 1938, Seabiscuit’s owner Charles Howard and trainer tom smith decided that Seabiscuit needed to race. And with Doctors proclaiming Pollard’s injuries would take a year to mend, a new Jockey was needed!

 

Pollard lobbied for His friend George Woolf getting the ride, but instead Raymond “sonny” Workman rode Seabiscuit in the San Antonio Handicap, in preparation for that year’s Santa Anita Handicap Stakes race.

 

Think the Biscuit’ finished fourth in the Lone Star state? With Smith being furious at Workman for not riding the Horse per His instructions, and that Workman had to go!

 

In fairness to Workman, who also became a Hall of Fame Jockey with more race wins and better winning percentage than the “Iceman”. Smith didn’t like Eastern riders and Pollard had given Him different instructions regarding riding Seabiscuit! Making me wonder if Pollard deliberately sabotaged Him?

 

With Pollard’s continued encouragement, close friend and Mega winning Jockey George Woolf was given the nod to ride Seabiscuit in the following Santa Anita $100,000 Stakes race, where Woolf came up just inches short in a photo finish, losing to Stagehand! Being two years younger and carrying a far lower Jockey input weight vs. Seabiscuit.

 

I also learned that Bing Crosby had been a founding member of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club  that developed the Del Mar racetrack in 1937. For which I visited the Fairgrounds once to attend an IMSA GTP race during the early 1990’s.

 

Crosby was close friends with Lindsay Howard, son of Charles; whose father also reputedly had a stake in the Del Mar racetrack. As Crosby and Lindsay established Binlin Stables to breed and race Thoroughbred Horses. Along with also Binglin Stock Farm in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

 

As many of their Horses would be shipped to the United States. Including Kayak, whose original name was Kajak. Which Charles Howard was allowed to purchase, and would go onto become another famous Horse from the Howard Stables.

 

Seeking promotion for Crosby’s Del Mar resort, Lindsay came up with the crazy notion of challenging His father to a Match race with Seabiscuit racing against Crosby and His Horse Lingaroti in a $25,000 winner take all event.

 

As substitute Jockey George Woolf, known as the “Iceman” won the race in August, 1938. Despite Ligaroti’s Jockey Noel “Spec” Richardson’s dirty, illegal racing efforts!

 

While  Pollard was recuperating from a second riding accident, after volunteering to help a fellow Jockey with a troublesome Horse, which should have ended His career!

 

In 1938 Seabiscuit garnered the most column inches of newspaper press. Ahead of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hitler and Mussolini. Along with Pope Pius XI, Howard Hughes and Clark Gable! Culminated by His epic Match race victory over War Admiral, the 1937 Triple Crown winner!

 

Legendous’ Jockey George Woolf rode another masterful, victorious race at Pimlico Downs on November 1st, in what was called the Match of the Century! As I love the descriptions of Woolf’s mind games with War Admiral’s Charlie Kurtsinger, that Woolf and Seabiscuit won by four lengths; Pollard’s pre-race prediction. Where the phrase “See Yah Charlie!” was coined.

 

As Woolf was simply the most amazing Jockey of His period! Winning nearly 20% of His races, including nearly one hundred major races. With a total of 721 wins. With the Iceman later exclaiming He’d never had more fun riding a Horse then that November day against War Admiral!

 

Yet Woolf suffered from Type 1 diabetes, during a time prior to today’s mainstream usage of insulin. As the book describes the horrible measures Jockey’s went to reducing their weight.

 

Making it even sadder reading that Woolf died in a Horse race in January, 1946, most likely falling off due to fainting from His Diabetes, on a day when He hadn’t wanted to ride. With the whole crowd at Santa Anita hearing the bone smashing crack of His head hitting the racetrack! Dying at the age of 35.

 

Woolf rightly has been elected to multiple Hall of Fames, and bronze statues of Him and Seabiscuit adorn both Santa Anita Park and His Hometown of Cardston, Alberta.

 

As both Woolf and Pollard were fast friends, both racing in Tijuana, Mexico at Agua Caliente in the late 1920’s. Where Woolf was adorned with the nickname Iceman, and Pollard became known as Cougar. With both riders cutting their teeth in what was known as the Bush leagues…

 

But what fascinated me most about Pollard, besides His tenacity to persevere from repeated horrific injury! Was that He was blind in one eye, which He kept as a secret from everybody, except His future wife Agnes, who was His nurse when recovering from that second crash aboard Modern Youth in June. An out-of-control runaway Colt!

 

As Pollard’s leg was almost completely ripped off His body, with Doctors saving it from amputation! Although proclaiming He’d never walk or ride Horses again…

 

Pollard’s lost eyesight, due to being hit with a rock during a training ride immediately made me think of two-times Indianapolis 500 winner Tommy Milton, who also was blind in one eye.

 

As Pollard kept His condition a secret like Milton thru His racing career, since He’d only ever wanted to be a Jockey. It was All He knew how to do. And discovery of His Handicap would have meant immediate dismissal and banning of racing Horses…

 

I only had one complaint against the Howard’s, who treated Pollard like He was their son, and paid for all of His medical costs amongst other things. Was Charles Howard’s unfair cruelness against Woolf when the Jockey raced Seabiscuit in a “tune-up” race, ironically at Santa Anita Park. Screaming at Woolf why did you do it George repeatedly!

 

Towards the end of the race, Seabiscuit injured His leg. As Woolf heard a crack, but thought Seabiscuit had merely stumbled over a rough patch on the track, and couldn’t detect anything wrong with the Stallion. Until Woolf gave the Biscuit’ a second crack of the whip at race’s end, immediately feeling the change in Seabiscuit’s gait!

 

Thus, with Seabiscuit out of the 1939 Santa Anita Handicap, Howard and Smith focused upon another of their Horse’s. With Kayak; also known as Kayak II for registration purposes winning the Santa Anita Handicap. Although this was of little solace to the Howard’s who’d wanted to win the “Hundred Grander” race all along with Seabiscuit.

 

As Woolf’s incident with Seabiscuit, having ruptured His front left leg’s suspensory ligament was thought to have ended the magnificent Seabiscuit’s career…

 

While its clear to me that both of the Biscuit’s main riders, i.e.; Pollard and Woolf, who were excellent Jockeys would never intentionally harm their mounts! As I like both of these men, but was more impressed by Woolf’s panache, honesty and going the extra mile towards other Jockeys. Which I suppose is why I cried when reading about His death in the book!

 

Yeah I know, Real men Don’t eat Quiche…

 

Meanwhile, sometime in the early 1940’s, trainer “Silent Tom” (Smith) finally parted ways with the Howard’s. And subsequently went to work for none other than Cosmetics tycoon Elizabeth Arden. Where Smith humoured Her request for Her Horses using Her products. With the Horses getting cold cream treatments and perfume “spritzes”.

 

As Smith would win the 1947 Kentucky Derby for Arden. Retiring in 1955 with 29 major Stakes race wins before dying in 1957, some seven years after Charles Howard.