The start grid for the big modified race. Roger Penske in his RSK sits next to Floyd Aaskov’s Costin Lister Chev. Bob Holbert sits behind Penske and just the nose of Gus Andrey’s birdcage Maserati can be seen.
Walt Hansgen in the red Maserati was on the outside of the first row. Hansgen would finish second to the brawling black Lister Chev of George Constantine.
The magic of barcboys photoshop puts the two grid shots together for a complete look at the front row.
Constantine took advantage of Hansgen spinning his tires at the start and led wire to wire. Constantine raced Thompson as his home course and the Lister was perfectly suited with its powerful V8.
I love this shot showing the growling grille complete with teeth. It’s clear Mrs. Bowden (the cars owner) and crew had a great sense of humor. The car was always primer black making it more evil.
Hansgen made a poor start. Aaskov’s Lister was first out and Constantine did a great job avoiding the sideways Maserati. Hansgen got it together and finally went past Bob Holbert to take 2nd.
Bob Holbert, always fast and steady, ran 2nd for a lot of the race but the more powerful 3 liter Maserati’s of Hansgen and Andrey got past the Porsche near the end.
Roger was using a 1500cc Porsche engine and it showed on Thompson’s long uphill front straight. He drove smartly, won his class and was 5th overall.
Charley Haye’s black 250TR dropped out but looked great and sounded even better.
It could never happen today. Bob Holbert, avid cigar smoker, chewing on a stogie while on the starting grid. Wonder where it went when he put his visor down.
Roger Penske fastens his helmet and smiles for the camera as he sits on the false grid. Holbert’s Porsche and Constantine’s Lister wait behind him.
Young Brown U graduate Mark Donohue came from New Jersey to dominate the FP race.
Mark Donohue, a star on the ascendant, conquered FP everywhere he went.
Canadian Ross deSt Croix had forsaken his MGA twin cam for this Daimler 250. It proved to be a wise decision. Ross was 4th and his twin cam nemisis Sherm Decker was 6th.
BARC hero Sherm Decker could make an MGA go faster than anyone and took his black twincam to 5th behind two V8 Daimlers, 2 Porsches and Chuck Stoddards Alfa.
The Rebel Bob Poupard on the grid with friend Fred Hudson. Bob loved racing and although not near the front in his early years, he became faster and faster as his experience grew.
Bob Poupards cars were always neat and clean and well prepared. This year at Thompson Bob would finish well back but did beat the eventual saviour of VIR, Harvey Siegel’s Alfa.
Stutz Plaisted in the ex Lance Reventlow Cooper F II car. He raced this all over the north east and won the unrestricted race on Monday.
Charles Callanan’s Team Roosevelt Fiat Abarth. He took these great cars all over the east coast. This day Charles was 8th overall and 3rd in G Production.
Don Auray in his F III car usually ran well. He did for a while today, but the car stopped running and he was dnf. George Alderman, another Jake’s Stable driver won the class.
The great Alfred Momo holds his pipe and advises Phil Forno one of his mechanics on what to do. With what we don’t know, but Momo treated Phil like family.
Two giants of racing. Jim Haynes (L), who eventually owned Lime Rock chats with Walt Hansgen, one of America’s great road racers.
Bob Holbert loved that straw cowboy hat. I remember he wore it when it was nearly in pieces. He and Bucher loved their cigars.
BARC founder Dave Nicholas (straw hat0 standing next to Linda Oulton with future Nat’l Champ Ray Stone. Nicholas fell head over heels for Oulton. Nothing came from it but both Stone and Nicholas went on to solid racing careers. No idea what happe
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