Sports Car Racing at Dunnellon Park

Located in North Central Florida’s Marion County, Dunnellon is not a name often associated with sports car racing. The small, sleepy town is on the Rainbow River, close to the Gulf of Mexico. Nearby Ocala is much better known in racing circles, since it hosts Don Garlits’ Museum of Drag Racing. Yet for three years in the late ’50s and early ’60s, Dunnellon was the scene of fierce competition, sanctioned by two Regions of the Sports Car Club of America.

It all started in 1958. Until then the Florida Region used race locations primarily on the Atlantic Coast, such as Master Field, New Smyrna Beach, Boca Raton and Cocoa-Titusville. Dunnellon offered a welcome opportunity on the Gulf Coast, especially after the local Chamber of Commerce was willing to act as the event sponsor. Regional Executive Dick Duncan was the driving force behind the inaugural Dunnellon Park Road Races, scheduled for April 26-27 that year.

A 3.4-mile course was laid out at Dunnellon Airport and Park, with 11 turns. Located five miles east of town, the section on the concrete runways accounted for 1.4 miles, the tree-lined asphalt road course through the park for two miles. One race was scheduled for Saturday, five for Sunday. To keep spectators even further entertained, each day offered a motorbike contest as well. Since the national media, as well as the SCCA magazine, chose to ignore the event, all race details had to come from three area newspapers, the Ocala Star-Banner, the St. Petersburg Tribune and the Orlando Sentinel.

The majority of the 70 entries consisted of production cars, although four Italian thoroughbreds made an appearance. E.D. Martin brought his 3.8-liter Ferrari 315S (chassis 0656), which he had taken to 3rd overall at Galveston the week before. A resident of Columbus, Georgia, the 38-year-old Martin owned more than 100 movie theaters around the Southeast. Among the three Ferraris in his stable, the 315S was clearly the most powerful. Miami drivers showed up with three 2-liter contenders: Air Force Lt. Colonel George Koehne’s Maserati 200SI (chassis 2424), Lucky Casner’s Ferrari 500TRC (chassis 0668) and Leonard “Chick” Butscher’s Ferrari 500TR (chassis 0642). Casner and Butscher were teammates, with Butscher, owner of a chain of upscale seafood restaurants in the Miami area, the financial force behind the team.

The results of Saturday’s seven-lap Novice Race were not mentioned by the newspapers, but their Sunday reporting was comprehensive. In Sunday’s 12-lap Race 1 for FP class and Under, Howard Fowler’s Porsche Carrera (FP1) beat Don Holton’s Porsche 1600S (FP2) to the checker, with David Lane’s Alfa Romeo 3rd overall and GP1. Next came Chuck Cassel’s Carrera (FP3) and Bob Dusinberre’s Alfa (GP2).

Twelve laps followed for EP class and Over. Duncan Forlong showed why he was considered the top AC Bristol racer in the Southeast, as he beat the Ferrari 250GT Tour de France of George Arents (CP1) to the finish and won EP. AC Bristols driven by Ed Rahal (EP2) and Jim Hunt (EP3) followed, with Joe White’s BP1 Corvette 5th.

All modified entries started the 12-lap Race 3, with Martin’s 315S, Casner’s 500TRC and Koehne’s 200SI on the front row, followed by David Phipps’ purple OSCA and Butscher’s 500TR on Row 2. The main battle was between Martin and Koehne, who did an admirable job considering the horsepower difference. When Martin set the fastest lap of the weekend, he pulled away to finish 1st and CM1, chased in vain by Koehne (EM1), Casner (EM2) and farther back, Butscher (EM3). Jim Harcum’s Bobtail Cooper-Climax was 5th (GM1), Phipps’ OSCA 6th (FM1).

With the preliminaries out of the way, the small production cars began the first 30-lap Feature. Holton’s 1600S turned the table on Fowler’s Carrera and beat him fair and square. Lane’s Alfa Romeo repeated its 3rd overall and GP1, almost a lap behind the two Porsches.

The 30-lap Feature for the Rainbow Springs trophy combined all modifieds with the EP and Over production cars. Once again Koehne’s 200SI provided the main opposition to Martin’s big Ferrari. The duel ended on lap 14, when the Maserati retired with brake trouble. Casner’s 500TRC had dropped out by then and Martin had the race to himself. He lapped 2nd-place Butscher twice, only to ease up on the final lap and let Butscher get one back. Martin recorded a time of one hour, 27.1 minutes; an average of 70.1 mph. Finishing behind the two Ferraris was a pack of four AC Bristols: Forlong (EP1), Rahal (EP2), Hunt (EP3) and Bill Dunn (EP4).

Both motorbike races that weekend went to Jack Simpson’s BSA. In spite of perfect weather conditions, the event attracted only 2,000 paying spectators. The Chamber of Commerce people were not discouraged though, promising to work toward another race later in the year.

2nd Dunnellon Park Road Races, November 15-16, 1958

The second event that year took place in mid-November. Although the weather was hot, both the entry list (90 cars) and crowd (2,500 spectators) were better compared to the inaugural races. Again the SCCA and national media skipped the event and all reports came from the three newspapers that covered the earlier event. In addition to a motorbike race each day, Saturday offered a Novice Race, as well as a Powder Puff Derby, with five races to be run on Sunday. The 3.4-mile track layout remained the same.

In addition to being larger, the entry list was also more diverse. Among the top contenders was E.D. Martin, whose Ferrari 315S was still in Modena for an overhaul. Instead, the Georgian brought his 250TR (chassis 0730), taken to victory at Dothan, Alabama, three weeks earlier. His main competition was likely to come from a second 250TR (chassis 0722) owned by Jim Hunt, a Fort Lauderdale developer. Although second-hand, Hunt’s Ferrari was factory fresh. He planned to race it in the Preliminary, handing the wheel to his employee and new racing partner Lucky Casner for the Feature.

Ed Rahal had moved up from his AC Bristol to a Jaguar D-Type (chassis 553), and David Lane had done the same, forgoing his earlier production cars for an ex-Lance Reventlow Maserati 200SI (chassis 2422). Dark horses were the 550RS Porsches entered by Roy Schechter and, especially, Joe Sheppard, nicknamed the Tampa Hotshoe. Even Duncan Forlong had joined the Porsche camp, running a Carrera in Modified class.

Saturday’s seven-lap Novice Race went to Bruce Dougherty’s Porsche Carrera over Bill Cooper’s Morgan and Charlie Traynor’s Jaguar XK-120. In the seven-lap Powder Puff Derby Jean Speidel of the Speidel Watchband empire outran Nedra Ware. Both drove Porsches. Nancy Pierce’s Austin-Healey 100 finished 3rd overall.

Sunday’s three opening races ran 12 laps each. Race 1 combined modifieds GM and Under with EP and Under production cars. Cuban American Johnny Cuevas’ Porsche Carrera (FP1) narrowly beat Lonnie Rix’s AC Bristol (EP1). Other class winners were Al Penn’s  Bandini (GM1), Ross Durant’s Alfa Romeo (GP1), Ray Heppenstall [DB/Panhard, HP1] and Gene Beach’s Crosley (HM1).

In Race 2, the larger modifieds (EM and Over) joined the remaining production cars (DP and Over). Martin’s 250TR scored an easy victory (DM1) after Hunt was forced to make two pit stops with his 250TR. Following on the winner’s lap were Sheppard’s 550RS (FM1), Rahal’s D-Type (CM1), Schechter’s 550RS (FM2) and Lane’s 200SI (EM1). BP1 was won by Bob Kingham’s Corvette, DP1 by Forrest “Bud” Dana’s Austin-Healey 100.

The second race for the ladies was claimed by Nancy Pierce’s Austin-Healey 100, over Nedra Ware’s Porsche and Joyce Thomas’ Saab.

The field for the 30-lap Race 4 was slightly different from that of Race 1. EP entries such as the AC Bristols were moved to the final race of the day. A Le Mans start was used and Fowler’s Carrera led the field away for one lap, but it was soon passed by Cuevas, who dominated the contest. Late in the race a strong challenge was made by Novice Race winner Dougherty and his Carrera, but they had to settle for 2nd overall (FP2), with Fowler 3rd (FP3). Other than GP1 (Durant, Alfa Romeo) and HP1 (George Peck, DB Panhard), no further results (such as the ones for the smaller modifieds) were mentioned in the reports.

Seventeen cars lined up at the Le Mans start for the 30-lap Feature. Casner made an excellent getaway in the Hunt 250TR and was never in danger of losing his lead. Martin bungled his start and his 250TR was one of the last cars to fire up. Casner went on to break the track record, chased by the Schechter and Sheppard Porsches, and Rahal’s D-type. After blowing a rear tire, Sheppard made a pit stop and fell back, while Martin carved through the field. Beating Casner’s lap record, he soon passed second place Schechter, only to spin. This put Martin back into third, behind Casner and Schechter. In another catch-up race, Martin managed to reclaimed second place, although Schechter stuck to the Ferrari’s tail, waiting for another mishap to happen. No such luck and at the finish it was Casner (DM1), Martin (DM2), Schechter (FM1), Rahal (CM1) and Lane’s 200SI (EM1). Behind the modifieds, Bob Kingham’s Corvette had a race-long battle with Lonnie Rix’s AC Bristol over 6th overall, ending in Kingham’s favor (BP1). Sheppard’s 550RS finished 8th (FM2) after no less than three blowouts, all on the same left rear wheel, while Forlong had to push his Carrera across the finish line with a cracked transmission housing late in the race. It was still good for FM3. DP class went to Ron Ambuehl’s Austin-Healey 100.

Again, the Chamber of Commerce was pleased with the progress made in putting the sports car races on the map and promised continued support.

3rd Dunnellon Park Road Races, July 18-19, 1959

Considering all the sports car activities in the upper half of Florida, it was only a matter of time before those members not living close to the Miami-based Florida Region formed their own organization. It became the Central Florida Region of the SCCA, and 1959 was its first season. It turned into a very active one, with races already held at Cocoa and Venice, followed in July by Dunnellon Park, where the old track layout was used. Dick Dungan, a Central Florida resident, acted as the Regional executive.

Unfortunately, the turnout seemed to have suffered with the third Dunnellon edition. Only 42 cars entered, which impacted the original race schedule. Main contenders were Chuck Cassel with a Porsche 550RS, David Lane with the same Ferrari 250TR (chassis 0722) taken to victory by Lucky Casner in November, and Lonnie Rix with a car that normally would not have much of a chance among the bigger modifieds. It was a 1.5-liter, Morelli-bodied, 1957 OSCA Tipo 5 (chassis 1183), recently acquired in Dallas from George Koehne. As for the previous winners, E.D. Martin did not attend, opting to race his Ferrari 315S that weekend at Hammond, Louisiana, instead. Lucky Casner was too involved in getting his new CAMORADI USA team project off the ground and did not have a suitable car to race anyway.

News coverage was lackluster, although Competition Press published a brief report by Fred Gamble, about to join Casner’s adventures as CAMORADI’s public relations man. Due to the small turnout, no races were held on Saturday, only individual qualifying sessions that would determine the grid positions for Sunday’s four races. Cassel and Lane, by then good friends in Fort Lauderdale, qualified with identical times to share the front row.

Sunday’s five-lap Novice Race was won by Jo Hoppen in a Devin-bodied Porsche Special. The 15-lap Race 1 for small modified and production cars turned into a battle between Bill Warren in the ex-Sebring Porsche Coupe and a Porsche Speedster raced by Chuck Ringling of the circus family. Warren led most of the race, but when he encountered some backmarkers, Ringling saw an opening and took advantage, winning by a car length.

The 15-lap Race 2 for the bigger entries was spoiled by torrential rainfall. By lap six, the race was called with only four cars still running, led by Pete Harrison’s AC Bristol.

The 30-lap Feature was open to all entries, and 39 took the start on a track that was still rain-soaked. Cassel’s 550RS led from the start and the race looked wrapped up when Lane’s 2nd-place 250TR spun. The Ferrari left the course, re-entered in a different location and was promptly disqualified. This moved Rix’s OSCA up to 2nd overall and when the leading 550RS blew its engine due to a sticking throttle, the final five laps belonged to Rix. Second overall went to Hoppen’s Porsche Special, 3rd overall to Harrison’s AC Bristol.

No spectator count was provided by the papers, but the event can’t have been a success for the Chamber of Commerce. It was the last time they offered sponsorship. By 1960 the Central Florida Region self-sponsored the Dunnellon meet.

4th Dunnellon Park Road Races, January 16-17, 1960

Hosting their season opener at Dunnellon, the Central Florida Region had a number of surprises in store. It was the only Region within the SCCA to adopt a new class system, copied from Cal Club. Cars would be classified by speed potential rather than engine size. It also reduced the number of classes from 15 to nine, five for the production cars (A to E) and four for the modifieds: F for the HM entries, G for GM, H for FM and EM, and I combining DM, CM and BM. As for the Dunnellon track itself, it was shortened to 2.25 miles, with nine turns. The new layout looked like an inverted arrow, although the pit location and spectator areas remained the same.

For the fourth time in as many events, the SCCA magazine overlooked Dunnellon, but excellent coverage was provided by the Region’s own publication Pit Patter. Two races were scheduled for Saturday, five for Sunday. With 62 entries, the turnout had improved over the previous year.

The main contenders were Art Huttinger in his Bocar XP-5-Chevy, Bob Kingham in the former Jack Rutherford Jaguar D-Type (chassis 516), Chuck Cassel in a Porsche RSK and Joe Sheppard, who had traded his old red Porsche 550RS for a new silver 550RS, straight from the factory.

In Saturday’s 10-lap Race 1, Sheppard stalled his 550RS at the start, but came back strong to beat Huttinger’s Bocar and Cassel’s RSK to the finish. Kingham’s D-Type dropped out because of a leaking differential seal. Race 2 for the smaller classes was claimed by Pete Harrison’s Elva Courier over Bob Bellows and Pat Corrigan in 1600S Porsches.

After two motorbike contests filled Sunday morning, sports car racing resumed with Race 3 at 1:30 p.m., another 10-lapper for the faster modified and production entries. Huttinger’s Bocar was described as “running like a scared rabbit” to lead part of the opening lap. The new layout favored Porsches, though, and at the finish it was Sheppard (1-H) over Cassel (2-H) and Huttinger (1-I). Kingham’s D-Type (2-I) was 4th, ahead of Duncan Forlong’s Gemini Formula Junior and Nedra Ware’s Porsche Carrera (1-A), the first production car. The latter was a remarkable performance since Ware started dead last in a field of 21, not having participated in Race 1.

The top spots after Race 4 (10 laps again) were the same as those of Race 2, with Harrison’s Elva Courier (1-C) outrunning Bellows’ 1600S (2-C). Since Corrigan’s 1600S did not take the start, 3rd overall went to Al Penn’s Bandini (1-F).

A short course and the better matching of cars allowed enough time for two more 10-lappers. Sheppard had made his point already and decided to sit out Race 5. Huttinger’s Bocar led again until it spun on Lap 3, handing overall victory to Cassel’s RSK (1-H). Finishing behind Huttinger (1-I) were Ed Costley’s Elva Mk 5 (1-G) and Jo Hoppen’s Porsche Special  (2-H). Nedra Ware’s Carrera (1-A) was again the first production car, in 7th overall. In Race 6, Bellows’ 1600S (1-C) took revenge by beating Harrison’s Courier (2-C).

All 37 surviving cars started the 20-lap Feature, with Sheppard leading from start to finish. Huttinger ran 2nd, until passed by Cassel and the Kingham D-Type. When the latter dropped back, smoking slightly, the Bocar regained 3rd overall. At the finish, it was Sheppard (1-H), Cassel (2-H), Huttinger (1-I), Costley (1-G), Inge Johnstone’s Elva (FJ), Forlong’s Gemini (FJ) and Hoppen (3-H). The first production car home was Corrigan’s Carrera in 8th overall (1-A), having finally beaten Nedra Ware’s Carrera (2-A).

The crowd was reportedly on the small side but, much to its relief, the Region broke even on expenses. Organizers and drivers considered the season opener at Dunnellon a success, yet it would be the final time the location was used. Later on, in 1960, preference went out to the permanent facilities of the Daytona Speedway, and to locations such as Cocoa-Titusville and Kissimmee, where local sponsorship could be obtained. In 1961 Fernandina Beach, Bartow and Osceola, all sponsorship-friendly sites, were added to the program by the Central Florida Region.

Today, the brief history of sports car racing at Dunnellon Park is virtually unknown. Lack of coverage by the SCCA magazine SportsCar and the national media was an important factor, but in the end the financial risks that came with self-sponsorship by amateur racers dealt the final blow.