The WeatherTech International Challenge with Brian Redman presented by HAWK Performance at Road America once again brought top-class vintage racing to Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine country last weekend, July 21-23, reinforcing its reputation as one of the nation’s largest vintage racecar events.
“This weekend is the perfect combination of a famous circuit, a gorgeous backdrop with the village of Elkhart Lake…and beautiful mid-summer Wisconsin weather,” noted competition director Dorsey Schroeder. “Plus we had a huge amount of cars…and a special feature race in tribute to the Chevy Camaro that made it even better.”
The three races that drew perhaps the most attention were the Group 1 contest for Historic Can-Am, the Group 7a battle for Historic Formula 5000 and the Group 7b race for Masters Formula One.
In the Can-Am feature, Milford, Michigan’s Craig Bennett prevailed in his ex-Jackie Oliver Shadow DN4-Chevrolet, ahead of Canadian Claude Malette in a 1971 Lola T222-Chevrolet and Tony Garney from Buckley, Washington, in a 1970 McLaren M8C-Chevrolet.
The Formula 5000 race was won overall, and in Class B (1972-1976), by Jeff Green, from Peoria, Illinois, driving an ex-Jerry Hansen 1972 Lola T300-Chevrolet (above, photo courtesy of Road America). Phillip Lewis’ 1972 Matich A50-Repco Holden took 2nd overall and in Class B, while the 1969 McLaren M10B-Chevrolet of Bruce Leeson, won Class A (pre-1972) in 3rd overall. Jim Stengel (1973 McRae GM1-Chevrolet) completed the Class B podium, while Leeson was joined by Road America president George Bruggenthies (ex-Sam Posey 1970 Surtees TS8-Chevrolet) and F5000 series administrator Seb Coppola (1970 Lola T192-Chevrolet) on the Class A rostrum.
The Masters F1 contest produced a runaway win for the UK’s Gregory Thornton in his 1982 Lotus 91, followed by Australia’s Chris Farrell in a 1982 March 821 and Ireland’s James Hagen driving a 1983 Tyrrell 011.
The overall winners of the 15 Sunday Feature Races were:
Pre War – August Grasis – 1953 Allard JX2
Group 1 – Historic Can-Am – Craig Bennett – 1974 Shadow DN4-Chevrolet
Group 2 – Vintage Production – Alan Tosler – 1962 Lotus S7
Group 3 – Vintage Sports Racers/Modifieds/USRRC – Tom Shelton – 1965 Lola T70-Chevrolet
Group 4 – Monoposto Classic Formula Cars – Tonis Kasemets – 1969 Brabham BT29
Group 5a – Monoposto F70 – Kyle Buxton – 1977 March 77B
Group 5b – Formula Super Vee, Formula Continental – Jeff Miller – 1977 Lola T496-Kohler
Group 6 – Historic Big-Bore Production Sports Cars/Sedans/Trans-Am – Jody O’Donnell – 1969 Camaro
Group 7a – Formula 5000 – Jeffrey Green – 1972 Lola T300-Chevrolet
Group 7b – Masters GP Formula One – Gregory Thorton – 1982 Lotus 91-Ford
Group 8 – Historic Production – Frank Beck – 1972 Porsche 914/6
Group 9 – Modern Formula One/Indy/Indy Lights – Brian French – 1997 Benetton B197
Group 10 – Modern GT / Trans Am / IMSA GT / NASCAR – Colin Comer – 1995 Ford Mustang
Group 11 – Sports 2000 Feature Group – Fritz Seidel – 2004 Carbir CS2
Group 12 – Chevrolet Camaro 50th Anniversary Feature Race – John Clements – 1992 Camaro
