Tag Archives: Labonte

Go Turbo Or Not – Lola T711 Chevrolet #HU2

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For the 1985 season General Motors ordered two new Lola chassis to compete in the IMSA GTP series against Porsche, Nissan, Mazda and the Jaguar endorsed Group44 XJR5 GTP entries.

The first chassis T710 HU1, better known as the Corvette GTP, was powered by a turbocharged 3.4 litre / 207 cui V6 and was run by Hendricks Motorsports in 1985 and 1986 winning the 1986 Road Atlanta 500 Kilometres with Sarel van der Merve and Doc Bundy at the wheel.

The second car the T711 #HU2 was powered by a normally aspirated 366cui / 6 litre V8 said to produce 800hp, which was considered insufficient to compete against the Porsches Nissans and Jaguars.

Lola T711, Paul Stubber, Silverstone Classic,

After GM decided to go the turbocharged route Lew Price’s Lee Racing acquired the car direct from Lola in time to enter it for the 1985 Daytona 24 Race.

Lew was joined by Carson Baird, Billy Hagan, Terry Labonte in the cockpit, but despite qualifying 13th #HU2 retired with a broken gearbox.

During the remainder of 1985 the cars best result was a 7th place finish for Carson and Chip Mead from 20th on the grid in the Miami 3 Hour race.

Lola T711, Paul Stubber, Silverstone Classic,

Lew took #HU2 back to Daytona in 1986 and with Jim Mullen and Matt Whetstine on the driving strength qualified 19th only to retire from the 24 hour race with suspension failure.

The car made two more appearances in 1986 retiring after an accident with Lew at the wheel from the Miami Grand Prix and retiring from the Sebring 12 Hours, where Lew, Jim and Carson qualified 10th, when the car caught fire.

Australian Paul Stubber seen at the wheel of the car, restored by Damax Engineering, in these photographs taken at Silverstone Classic is the cars fourth owner.

Thanks for joining me on this “Go Turbo Or Not” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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American Highlights – Goodwood Festival Of Speed

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Today I am looking at some of the American highlights at this years Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Chevrolet SS, Bobby Labonte, Goodwood Festival Of Speed,

2000 NASCAR Cup champion Bobby Labonte was demonstrating Austin Dillons 2015 # Dow Chevrolet SS that is run by Austin’s Grandfather’s Richard Childress Racing team.

Chevrolet Custom, BJ Baldwin, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

Twice Baja 1000 Winner and seven time US National Off Road Champ “Balistic” BJ Baldwin appeared to be having a lot of fun demonstrating the capabilities of his 850hp 2012 Chevrolet Custom.

Shadow Matra DN7, Grant Beath, Goodwood Festival Of Speed,

The Matra V12 powered 1975 Shadow DN7 was only raced twice by Jean Pierre Jarrier before Matra decided to supply Ligier for the 1976 season and it retired on both occasions in Austria and Italy qualifying a best 13th at Monza, this great sounding one off is seen above being demonstrated by Grant Beath.

Plymouth Superbird, Kenny Brack, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Unfirtunately I missed Richard Petty’s morning demonstration of the 1970 #43 Plymouth Superbird, but I did catch Kenny Brack driving the iconic car in the afternoon.

Lola Ford T153, Richard Hamlin, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

The unique two wheel drive turbocharged Ford powered Sunoco Special Lola T153 was driven to a second place finish in the 1970 Indy 500 by Mark Donohue, it is seen above with Richard Hamlin at the wheel.

Swamp Rat 1, Don Garlits, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Finally drag legend Don Garlits demonstrated his 1957 Swamp Rat 1 with which he reached a world record 180mph over the 1/4 mile in 1958 and which badly burned the driver the following year when the supercharger exploded.

Thanks for joining me on this “Americana Highlights” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at some of the Ferrari’s taking part in the Goodwood Concours d’Elegance. Don’t forget to come back now !

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