Forty Years Later, F5000 Returns to Laguna

August 27, 2015
Story By
Tom Stahler

In the late 1960s the SCCA developed a new formula for Open Wheel racing that proved not only competitive but became a beacon for racing around the globe. Take an open wheel Formula Continental chassis and harness it with a 5.0L, 305-cubic-inch, small block V8. The result was a fast and relatively affordable way to go grand prix-styled racing. Run these cars at the greatest tracks including Road America, Riverside, Mid Ohio, Bridgehampton, Laguna Seca, Ontario and Sears Point—and you got a series!

At the Rolex Reunion, Formula 5000 got its due: a featured series that literally attracted cars from four continents with competitors from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The grid for the feature—some 43 cars—was by far the largest F5000 grid in the nearly 50 year history! It was at least 11 cars more than the largest entry even back in the day.

The moniker “Formula 5000” comes from the 5000cc power plants. From the beginning, F5000 or Formula A as it was known in it’s infancy, would become one of the world’s most popular forms of open wheel competition and attracted some of the biggest names of the time. Several chassis manufacturers saw the potential of the series. Lola, Surtees, Eagle, Chevron, Shadow and many more notable marques tried their hand at the series. The best car ever produced though was the Lola T-332.

Formula 5000 had never participated in the Rolex Reunion in Monterey. For many fans, it almost seemed a “snub” for the once popular series—but a resurgence in interest of F5000 in recent years prompted the organizers to extend a gracious invitation. The success of the group and the number of cars can easily be credited to Michigan businessman, Sebastien Coppola, who beginning in 2007, while racing his own Lola T-190, drew together a worldwide group of owners and racers. He did so by creating a “Revival” Series in the US that does between four and six historic racing events per year. The entries continued to grow. He also has a website, f5000registry.com, that attracted collectors of the cars to register and ultimately be involved.

The series itself ran in the United States from 1967 to 1976 and produced champions such as John Cannon, Tony Adamowicz, David Hobbs, Brian Redman, Gus Hutchison, Graham McRae and Jody Scheckter. Because the SCCA teamed with USAC in the formative years, it brought in a number of well known IndyCar drivers of the day including Mario Andretti, the Unsers, Bobby and Al Sr., Gordon Johncock and Swede Savage. It also had international appeal attracting the likes of James Hunt, Chris Amon, Patrick Tambay, Vern Schuppan, Howden Ganley and Alan Jones. In Australia and New Zealand, the Tasman Series ran from 1970 to 1981; the European F5000 Championship ran from 1969-1975; and in South Africa, the Gold Star Series ran from 1968 to 1973

In 1973, the Lola T-332 was a stroke of genius from the drawing board of Eric Broadley, owner and designer of the Hundington, England-based company. It became the dominant car from its introduction, until the SCCA added fenders to the cars—calling it the single-seat Can-Am, in trying to resurrect the famed Sports Car series. In competitive trim, the T-332 was easily faster than Formula One at the time—as the T-332 held the track record for two years at the Long Beach Grand Prix. The Long Beach Grand Prix began as a Formula 5000 race in 1975 before taking the slot as the United States Grand Prix West in the Formula One World Championship.

Broadley was fortunate to have a shrewd Chicago-based businessman, Carl A. Haas who took on the North American distribution off these cars. His own team’s success in everything from Can-Am to IndyCars gave the sizzle of “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday” to the tune of thousands of Lola race cars and parts over the years.

A panel, put on by Vintage Racecar magazine on Mazda Raceway’s Main Stage brought the fans together with a number of surviving F5000 heroes Brian Redman, Tony Adamowicz, Howden Ganley, John Morton and Shadow constructor, Don Nichols. Clearly there is interest as the crowd that gathered—on the Pebble Beach Concours day—was sizable. Stories flowed from Redman and Adamowicz on their championships and Morton spoke of his foray into the series with Peter Brock and BRE. Considering the crowd, you could have heard a pin drop as these guys told their tales.

A bittersweet and rare appearance by 1969 Champion Tony Adamowicz attracted many fans. At 74, last month, Adamowicz was diagnosed with stage four brain cancer. This precluded his ability to drive the iconic #7 Eagle—which also made an appearance—but allowed him to connect with many fans and well wishers who have been closely following his diagnosis and treatment through social media.

In the end, the featured race, that closed out what many called the best Rolex Reunion in many, many years; because of car quality, spectator attendance and weather; saw the same Vel’s Parnelli Jones Lola T-332 that Mario Andretti clinched the last F5000 race at Laguna Seca in 1975, take the checker yet again—40 years later. This once in a lifetime gathering added to what could easily be called the best Rolex Reunion in many years. It would be amazing to see a series like this again in the modern age of road racing.

(Photos: Kyle Burt)

Forty Years Later, F5000 Returns to Laguna

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