By the early 1960’s Joe Huffaker and his Huffaker Automotive Engineering outfit had built a reputation for building specials and three evolutions of Formula Junior open wheel cars for Kjell Qvale which were known as BMC’s, in deference to Qvales British Motor Cars distribution business and not the British Motor Corporation some of who’s products Qvale was distributing.
Joe next turned his attention to building sports cars for the modified classes of the popular SCCA series which included variants powered by British Motor Corporation, Coventry Climax, Chevrolet Corvair and Alfa Romeo motors. These cars were known initially as BMC Genie’s although entry lists frequently referred to them simply as Genies sometimes with the name of the motor manufacturer such as Alfa Genie.
In 1963 Joe developed a sportscar that could handle a variety of V8 motors known as the BMC Genie Mk 8, these were sold as kits customers could buy and assemble or as finished race cars for competition in SCCA and USRRC events. Again these cars appeared primarily as Genie’s on entry lists.
In 1964 and 1965 Joe built a more muscular version of the Mk8 known as the Mk 10 and later Mk 10B, these cars could also be assembled by the customer or bought complete ready to race. Even when Huffaker Automotive Engineering entered one of these cars in the 1966 LA Times Grand Prix for Bob Bondurant the car was listed as a Genie, but significantly not a Huffaker Genie as the cars are sometimes incorrectly referred to today.
Today’s featured car is a Mk8 built in 1964 for Don Skogmo to replace his Maserati Tipo 61. Don raced his Genie from 1964 through to August 1966 scoring a debut win at Rosemont in July ’64 and a second win at Gran Forks in October 1965.
Simon Hadfield is seen driving the Mk8 with faux Vinegaroon Mk 10 paint job at the 2012 Goodwood Revival.
Vinegaroon was the nick name given to a Genie Mk10 Joe built for Bonanza TV star Dan “Hoss” Blocker that was driven by Canadian John Cannon and later Hollywood stunt man Bob Harris.
My thanks to Vince Raceanouncer 2003 H at The Nostalgia Forum for pointing me in the direction of details about today’s featured chassis which completely coincidentally happens to be for sale.
Thanks for joining me on this “It’s not a Huffaker” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you’ll join me for a celebration of Ferrari’s first half century on Ferrari Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !
