15 Minutes of Fame...Many Times Over

I'm not a big time racer...I'm not even a small time amateur. Not in “real” racing, not in vintage racing. Heck, in 35 years I did a rough computation and concluded I had less than 6000 miles in high speed competition events, including Ferrari Club track days on road courses, vintage racing in wheel-to-wheel action on the same, a few “repeat performances” in a single closed course hillclimb event, and a few high speed tours for display or demonstration purposes. 

By comparison, in an equally rough calculation, I figured a Formula 1 driver does that much or more in a single season.

Still, I have had more than my share of “Walter Mitty-like” dream experiences. I believe that, including configuration changes made to some tracks over the years, I have driven at racing speeds on at least 19 different paths. This includes two Sears Point configurations, at least three different Laguna Seca variations, two courses at Coronado Naval Air Station, and two at both Thunderhill and Watkins Glen (though one of the latter was a “demonstration” on the original street course), as well as multiple times at most, including the hillclimb.

Two of these race weekends were at tracks which no longer exist: Fernley, Nevada and, more importantly, Riverside Raceway. Three were on temporary airport courses which were reminiscent of “the way things were” for a lot of races run in the 1950s in the US. Two were on a temporary course set up in a hotel parking lot.

I have driven four cars in these events...the Ferrari, the Siata of course, the Quantum, and the MGB I share with my son. I've been on two of these tracks many, many times and in all three cars. Sears Point was the most “local” for the many years I lived in San Carlos, yet I have always called Laguna my “home track.” I've probably spoken about that in other posts, so I'll not delve into the reasons again here. But Laguna is beautiful and iconic, and as famous a place as any race track in the world, so I count my time there as something very special.

And I love Thunderhill...it is truly a track made for the enjoyment of drivers rather than as a money maker a business or a venue trying to please spectators.

Running at Riverside was another high point...another famous track which is now just a memory.

While most of the events were and remain club affairs not open to the general public, Coronado, the various “Wine Country” events at Sears, the Reno Hilton parking lot races, the Watkins Glen street course “demonstration” and display, the run to and display in Sonoma, and especially the popular and also iconic Monterey Historic races at Laguna, were all run in front of the public...the latter with as many as 60,000 plus spectators as the event gained in prestige and popularity.

And, of course, Pebble Beach, though not a race, was an honor...simply having the car on display at one of the very top car shows in the world. I add that as, in reality, I think this blog entry is really about what I have begun to call my “15 Minutes of Fame, Many Times Over.”

I don't kid myself about either my capabilities, or the Siata's. It is a tiny car, with a tiny motor, going at rates today that are 20% faster than it ever did when it was competing “for real.” And though in the early days of vintage racing I was quite successful dicing with many other cars in my grid, finishing as high as 10^th of 25 or so cars at Monterey and 7^th at the Wine Country, as the sport grew and bigger and quicker cars became the norm I marched steadily backwards in the pack, though I was going no slower. These days I generally run around alone, still turning 2:21 on the 2.23 miles and 12 turns at Laguna, watching my mirrors constantly for cars with engines of two to five liter displacement or more as they come screaming up...and by. 

Yet I have been recognized for my performance, but more for the beauty, preparation, and history of the car, on at least four occasions. In the early years trophies and awards were more for the cars than the drivers...no one got one for “winning” a vintage race, even at Monterey. The recognition was for restoration, preservation, and demonstration of cars whose history spoke for themselves, and could not be further enhanced by our amateur and “johnnie come lately” driving skills.

Though that has changed (unfortunately in my opinion) and there is much more “Walter Mitty-like 'heroism'” these days, there still seems to be a place for those of us who continue to participate while maintaining those earlier attitudes. This continuity is encouraging.

The first and second of my “special” and personal awards were judgments made by someone whose contribution to the sport is at the highest level. I first met Steve Earle just about the time he was starting the Monterey Historic Automobile Races...before he even had a logo for the event. The context was the Ferrari Owners Club, where we were both members, as are many of the people I still race with today. In fact, if not for ticket sales to the California chapters of the FOC, who made the race a club event in terms of spectating, arguably the race would never haver survived.

My own “career” at Monterey started the year after I “finished” the first build of the Siata, in 1986. By then the race weekend was in its 12^th year, though it was still a single day affair, on Saturday only. Sunday was still a “track day” for the FOC, along with the Pebble Beach show. There was not much else going on, though my Ferrari was shown at the first “Concours Italiano,” which I think was the year before, only since the FOC had organized the affair and, since they did not have enough cars to fill out the field, begged me to help them out by showing my 2+2, which was generously a “driver” and not a show car. Times have changed indeed.

Over the next decades I was accepted to Monterey over 20 times. In fact I only ended my participation, at my initiative, when Steve was pushed out of running this highly successful and prestigious vintage race weekend, expanded to two full days and one of the climaxes of what had become the “Monterey Week” of high end car affairs on the peninsula.

Over several years I watched my friends win a painting of Ken Miles' two MG specials running through the Del Monte forrest in the early Pebble Beach races. These were given by Steve to the owner of a sub 1500cc displacement car which represented, to him, the best presentation and performance in that class, which in his era had its own race grid. I never won, though my friend and former engine builder Don Baldocchi did...twice. I believe my current builder, Lee Osborn, also won. I had no expectations, but I did have dreams.

Of course such an award was not pre-determined. It could only be judged during the weekend and thus was not “personalized.” No names engraved on the plaque. There were many such awards, some granted by car magazines, or representatives of manufacturers like Ford. In addition, Steve judged and awarded a “group award” to one car and owner in each race...a grant which was a recognition of the group itself as well. While in later times this became an expensive watch...Chopard at first and Rolex later when they took over major sponsorship of the races, but earlier it was a more modest affair.

Monterey Historic Group Award 2001
Third Race on Saturday

And in 2001 Steve called me to the stand on the grass at the old amphitheater where we all met and celebrated at the end of the weekend. Fortunately my friend and fellow Siata racer Gary Winiger managed to snap a couple of photos of me accepting this honor.

I never won any “big” award at Monterey, though there was lots of really nice gifts given to all participants...somewhat of a compensation for risking these valuable cars as well as our own tender bodies in order to make the event a success for the crowd as well as the management. Special entrants shirts and hats, books, small trophies, etc. 

The Wine Country Classic that Steve ran at Sears Point, (originally the Sonoma Classic) never achieved the public success of Monterey. Why is somewhat of a mystery and beyond the scope of this blog. But that does not mean there was not a modest “after party” with its own small awards. One of these was given to a single participant in each race for “Best in Presentation and Performance.” And in 2006 Steve recognized me for Group 1 and Lee for Group 2. his comment was “Must be the day for 750cc” as Lee was racing his one-off and beautifully prepared special, Crosley powered like the Siata.

 The award was a silver cup, and of course since it also was judged in the event itself, is not personally engraved.

The other two awards required evaluation in advance of presentation, as they are personalized. The first is a photograph of the Siata, awarded by Martin Swig's surviving sons, called the “Swig Spirit Award,” given to me at an HMSA event in 2013. This simply knocked me out, as Martin was the perfect gentleman racer. Among other accomplishments he created the concept of the “auto mall” with his dealerships in the “San Francisco auto Center,” was a consultant to the Mille Miglia Storica recreation car rally,

From a display in the MM Museum
Bresica, Italy
Mario Andretti
Willie Brown
Martin Swig

and also created and ran his own version of that event, called the California Mille, as well as other car events such as the “I Hate Football” January 1

The photo was taken by my good friend, pro photographer and graphics designer, Porsche guru, and all-round great guy Llew Kinst...part of what I always called the “Cupertino Mafia” of Ernie Mendicki, Charlie Forge, the “two Garys” (Hubback and Winiger), and both Bill Kinst and son Llew. They were my mentors and friends in many things automotive, either through the Ferrari club, racing, or collecting. I am sure Llew was influential with both Cris Vandagrif of HMSA and Howard and David Swig in selecting me for the honor.

Fantastic Photo
Fanttastic Photographer
And Wonderful Friend (Llew)
and
A Great Honor

The latest award was, in itself, a stunner as well. The last few years have not been kind to my body. From kidney cancer in 2013 through multiple back issues and other surgeries my strength, endurance, and the pain I suffer almost constantly have put a crimp in many things I love to do, not the least of which is work with cars. In fact, just getting ready for my most recent outing, a low key club “season opener” with HMSA at Laguna, was so exhausting, even though spaced over several days, I was at least internally toying with the idea of making the event my “swan song,” at least in terms of trying to do an event other than on a “leave the camper home and arrive and drive” basis. 

I had, of course, mentioned this to no one. I did not want to “get boxed in” by my own words...and I was not at all sure, absent that pain and exhaustion, I was ready to quit. 

And then Cris surprised me. Three years ago, at this same event, he had begun to hand out a beautiful and large crystal trophy at the Driver's meeting on Saturday morning. For the first two years it was given to a single person...a single driver who, in Cris's view, represented the “spirit” of what vintage racing was and should be. 

The first one was given to the son of someone who I have “raced with” for many years. I put that in quotes because Bob Baker was normally in a Porsche 550, a car far beyond the modest capability of the Siata, and Bob is very likely beyond my skill as a driver as well. Bob, like many in the sport, is quite wealthy. At some point, with John Lewis and John Boyle, I got to visit Bob's facility in Reno, and while we were looking for and at a single car being worked on in his extensive workshop by his crew, I did see a board with magnetic labels for each car, and when asked the mechanic said there were 220 cars on the board and in the facility. 

Bob's son Danny is someone I do not know...but presume he, like Adin, has “caught the spirit” and the fever. At least Cris certainly thinks so.

Last year the award went to Stan Anderes. Again, someone who I do not know well but have been “on track” with a number of times. Stan pilots a pristine Lotus 11 and has always driven it well. He also looks like he is truly “older than dirt...” bent and shriveled, and yet a master behind the wheel.

This year, perhaps because they as well as Cris are no longer kids, Cris gave out three of the trophies to various members of his working crew...the only one I honed in on was his now-emeritus Chief Steward. After that he said he wanted to recognize someone who was virtually “invisible,” and in a good way...never causing a fuss or trouble and always driving well. I was pleased when he called up Don Baldocchi, as Don is not only a close friend and former engine builder who taught me a lot, he is also past 80 and completely deserves this recognition.

And then...

Cris said there was someone else in exactly the same category...and he called my name. I was more than mildly surprised. When I took it from his hands and thanked him, it was as if he had read my thoughts about calling it quits.

“Now that I've done this,” he whispered to me, “you have to stay in it for a few more years.” 

“Maybe a new venue?” I said. “Maybe Mont Tremblant next year.” 

“Much better than France” he said, knowing I had been planning a trip to Provence for May (now knocked out by the coronavirus pandemic).

I'm not exactly Peter Giddings. I don't have many magnificent cars, nor have I driven magnificently all over the world. And I am in no way jealous of or saying Peter did not deserve every picture and accolade he ever received. He was truly a magnificent man and I was so lucky to count him as a friend. But I have also been equally lucky to be able to do the things I have with cars, and to have these measures of respect from people who are, themselves, very special in this wonderful world of things automotive.