1975 Long Beach Grand Prix

1975 Long Beach Grand Prix

Race details
Race 7 of 9 in the 1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship season
Date	September 28, 1975
Official name	Long Beach Grand Prix
Location	Long Beach, California, United States
Course	Temporary street course 2.02 mi / 3.25 km
Distance	50 laps 101 mi / 162.5 km
Weather	Temperatures up to 73.9 °F (23.3 °C); wind speeds up to 9.9 miles per hour (15.9 km/h)[1]
Pole position
Driver	Tony Brise (Theodore Racing)
Fastest lap
Driver	Tony Brise (Theodore Racing)
Time	1:19.905 (on lap of 50)
Podium
First	Brian Redman (Haas Racing)
Second	Vern Schuppan (Jorgensen AAR)
Third	Eppie Wietzes (Formula Racing)

The 1975 Long Beach Grand Prix was the inaugural running of the Grand Prix of Long Beach. The race was held September 28, 1975, on a 2.02-mile (3.25 km) temporary street circuit. It was race 7 of the 1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship. An estimated 65,000 spectators saw Englishman Brian Redman win the race from Australian Vern Schuppan, with Canadian driver Eppie Wietzes finishing third.^[2]

Background

In 1974 the city of Long Beach began a billion-dollar redevelopment program of the downtown area.^[3] Chris Pook, a British travel agent working in Long Beach, proposed holding a street course race in the vein of the Monaco Grand Prix. In order to prepare for a Formula One race the following year, the organizers decided to hold a Formula 5000 race that was held at a track in Riverside with an exhibition in Long Beach.^[4][5]

Qualifying

Qualifying times were set in two sessions on Saturday. Seeded drivers had one 45-minute session and one 1 hour, 15 minute session, while non-seeded drivers had two 45-minute sessions.^[6] Starting positions were set by two heat races, with the finishers from Heat 1 starting in odd positions and Heat 2 in even positions.

Pos	Driver	Team	Car	Time
1	Mario Andretti	Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:21.297
2	Al Unser	Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:21.948
3	Tony Brise	Theodore Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:22.036
4	Jackie Oliver	Phoenix Racing	Shadow DN6-Dodge	1:22.799
5	Tom Pryce	Phoenix Racing	Shadow DN6-Dodge	1:23.346
6	Brian Redman	Carl A. Haas Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:23.602
7	Vern Schuppan	All American Racers	Eagle 755-Chevrolet	1:23.674
8	Graham McRae	Eddie Lewis	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:24.039
9	Elliott Forbes-Robinson	Francisco Mir Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:24.091
10	Jody Scheckter	Hogan Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:24.168
11	John Gunn	Racing Consultants	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:24.204
12	Eppie Wietzes	Formula Racing	Lola T400-Chevrolet	1:24.223
13	Gordon Johncock	Patrick Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:24.264
14	David Hobbs	Hogan Racing	Lola T330-Chevrolet	1:24.491
15	Jon Woodner	Interscope Racing	Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet	1:24.817
16	John Cannon	Anglo American Racing	March 73A-Chevrolet	1:24.909
17	John Morton	Krinitt Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:25.347
18	Brett Lunger	Chris Oates, Ltd.	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:25.529
19	Warwick Brown	McCormack/Burke Racing	Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet	1:25.734
20	Danny Ongais	Interscope Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:26.090
21	Bob Earl	T.P. Racing	Lola T330-Chevrolet	1:26.183
22	Evan Noyes	Evan Noyes	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:26.357
23	John Korn	Jomar Racing	Lola T330-Chevrolet	1:26.846
24	George Follmer	Lance Smith Racing	Lance LSR1-Chevrolet	1:26.947
25	Randy Lewis	Wrangler Wracing Team	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:26.966
26	Chris Amon	McCormack/Burke Racing	Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet	1:27.167
27	Tuck Thomas	Lancer Stores	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:27.574
28	Benny Scott	Black American Racers	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:27.645
29	Bob Nagel	Nagel Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:28.562
30	Roger Bighouse	Roger Bighouse	Chevron B24-Chevrolet	1:28.570
31	John David Briggs	Briggs & Fodge Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:28.650
32	John Benton	Formula Magazine	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:29.252
33	Bob Allen	Manteca Motors	Eagle 74A-Chevrolet	1:29.743
34	Arlon Koops	Solazure IV, Ltd.	Lola T330-Chevrolet	1:29.801
35	Michael Brockman	J. Levitt	Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet	1:30.086
36	Bill Baker	Barbara Baker	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:31.310
37	Bill Simpson	E. J. Simpson	Berta Argentina BA-3-Chevrolet	1:31.894
38	Skeeter McKitterick	AME Racing	Chevron B24-Chevrolet	1:31.952
39	Gary Wilson	Sting Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1:33.219
40	Ron Dykes	J. B. Quality Products	Lola T192-Chevrolet	1:33.496
41	Jim Gustafson	Jim Gustafson Racing	March 73A-Chevrolet	1:36.831
42	Michael Brayton	Ill-Eagle	Eagle Mk.5-Chevrolet	1:37.730
43	Garth Pollard	G. W. Pollard	Lola T330-Chevrolet	1:38.810
44	Steve Durst	J. Levitt	Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet	2:05.826
[7][8]

Heat races

Heat 1 Pos No Driver Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid 1 64 Tony Brise Theodore Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 16:32.444 2 2 5 Mario Andretti Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 1 3 00 Tom Pryce Phoenix Racing Shadow DN6-Dodge 12 Finished 3 4 48 Vern Schuppan All American Racers Eagle 755-Chevrolet 12 Finished 4 5 33 Elliott Forbes-Robinson Francisco Mir Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 5 6 4 Warwick Brown McCormack/Burke Racing Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet 12 Finished 10 7 91 Jon Woodner Interscope Racing Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet 12 Finished 8 8 28 Randy Lewis Wrangler Wracing Team Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 13 9 19 Bob Earl T.P. Racing Lola T330-Chevrolet 12 Finished 11 10 20 Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 7 11 50 John Korn Jomar Racing Lola T330-Chevrolet 12 Finished 12 12 75 Bob Nagel Nagel Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 15 13 71 John David Briggs Briggs & Fodge Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 16 14 69 Michael Brockman J. Levitt Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet 12 Finished 18 15 97 Bob Allen Manteca Motors Eagle 74A-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 17 16 46 John Morton Krinitt Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 9 17 8 Gary Wilson Sting Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 9 Retired 20 18 26 Michael Brayton Ill-Eagle Eagle Mk.5-Chevrolet 7 Retired 21 19 39 John Gunn Racing Consultants Lola T332-Chevrolet Retired 6 20 96 Steve Durst J. Levitt Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet Retired 22 DNS 88 Tuck Thomas Lancer Stores Lola T332-Chevrolet Did not start DNS 65 Bill Simpson E. J. Simpson Berta BA-3-Chevrolet Did not start [7][9]

Heat 2 Pos No Driver Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid 1 51 Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 16:30.391 1 2 1 Brian Redman Carl A. Haas Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 3 3 3 Jody Scheckter Hogan Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 5 4 10 David Hobbs Hogan Racing Lola T330-Chevrolet 12 Finished 7 5 94 Eppie Wietzes Formula Racing Lola T400-Chevrolet 12 Finished 6 6 2 Chris Amon McCormack/Burke Racing Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet 12 Finished 13 7 9 John Cannon Anglo American Racing March 73A-Chevrolet 12 Finished 8 8 13 Ron Dykes J. B. Quality Products Lola T192-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 20 9 45 George Follmer Lance Smith Racing Lance LSR1-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 12 10 30 Skeeter McKitterick AME Racing Chevron B24-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 19 11 12 Benny Scott Black American Racers Lola T332-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 14 12 55 Bill Baker Barbara Baker Lola T332-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 18 13 22 John Benton Formula Magazine Lola T332-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 16 14 6 Graham McRae Eddie Lewis Lola T332-Chevrolet Retired 4 15 0 Jackie Oliver Phoenix Racing Shadow DN6-Dodge 8 Accident 2 16 63 Danny Ongais Interscope Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet Retired 10 17 73 Garth Pollard G. W. Pollard Lola T330-Chevrolet Retired 22 18 82 Jim Gustafson Jim Gustafson Racing March 73A-Chevrolet Retired 21 19 85 Arlon Koops Solazure IV, Ltd. Lola T330-Chevrolet 2 Accident 17 DNS 24 Evan Noyes Evan Noyes Lola T332-Chevrolet Did not start DNS 25 Brett Lunger Chris Oates, Ltd. Lola T332-Chevrolet Did not start DNS 18 Roger Bighouse Roger Bighouse Chevron B24-Chevrolet Did not start [7][9]

Race

At the start, Al Unser led from 2nd on the grid. On lap 3, polesitter Tony Brise had taken the lead and Mario Andretti took over second place. Brise led until lap 15, when both Andretti and Unser got by. Brise re-passed Unser on the next lap, and battled with Andretti until he re-took the lead on lap 29. On lap 33, Andretti retired with transmission problems, and one lap later Brise retired with a broken driveshaft. Brian Redman took the lead and pulled away to a nearly 30-second victory over Vern Schuppan and Eppie Wietzes. Redman also clinched the season points championship.^[10][11]

Result

Pos	No	Driver	Team	Car	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid
1	1	Brian Redman	Carl A. Haas Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	50	1:10:12.042	4
2	48	Vern Schuppan	All American Racers	Eagle 755-Chevrolet	50	+29.938	7
3	94	Eppie Wietzes	Formula Racing	Lola T400-Chevrolet	50	Running	10
4	2	Chris Amon	McCormack/Burke Racing	Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet	49	+ 1 lap	12
5	10	David Hobbs	Hogan Racing	Lola T330-Chevrolet	49	+ 1 lap	8
6	4	Warwick Brown	McCormack/Burke Racing	Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet	49	+ 1 lap	11
7	24	Evan Noyes	Evan Noyes	Lola T332-Chevrolet	48	+ 2 laps	27
8	19	Bob Earl	T.P. Racing	Lola T330-Chevrolet	48	+ 2 laps	17
9	46	John Morton	Krinitt Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	48	+ 2 laps	28
10	30	Skeeter McKitterick	AME Racing	Chevron B24-Chevrolet	46	+ 4 laps	20
11	12	Benny Scott	Black American Racers	Lola T332-Chevrolet	40	+ 10 laps	22
12	64	Tony Brise	Theodore Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	34	Driveshaft	1
13	5	Mario Andretti	Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	33	Transmission	3
14	50	John Korn	Jomar Racing	Lola T330-Chevrolet	33	Battery	21
15	3	Jody Scheckter	Hogan Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	29	Halfshaft	6
16	91	Jon Woodner	Interscope Racing	Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet	27	Accident	13
17	33	Elliott Forbes-Robinson	Francisco Mir Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	27	Camshaft	9
18	13	Ron Dykes	J. B. Quality Products	Lola T192-Chevrolet	27	Suspension	16
19	28	Randy Lewis	Wrangler Wracing Team	Lola T332-Chevrolet	20	Rod	15
20	51	Al Unser	Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	17	Suspension	2
21	00	Tom Pryce	Phoenix Racing	Shadow DN6-Dodge	14	Gearbox	5
22	75	Bob Nagel	Nagel Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	14	Mechanical	23
23	55	Bill Baker	Barbara Baker	Lola T332-Chevrolet	14	Black flagged	24
24	20	Gordon Johncock	Patrick Racing	Lola T332-Chevrolet	11	Rod	19
25	39	John Gunn	Racing Consultants	Lola T332-Chevrolet	9	Overheating	25
26	9	John Cannon	Anglo American Racing	March 73A-Chevrolet	6	Halfshaft	14
27	6	Graham McRae	Eddie Lewis	Lola T332-Chevrolet	1	Accident	26
28	45	George Follmer	Lance Smith Racing	Lance LSR1-Chevrolet	0	Wheel	18
[7][12]

References

1. "1975 Long Beach Grand Prix weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
2. "Brian Redman Formula Winner". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. AP. 29 September 1975. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
3. "Circuits: Long Beach". Grand Prix Encyclopedia. Inside F1, Inc. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
4. Richardson, Darcy Leigh (13 April 2010). "Jim Michaelian: The Man Behind The Grand Prix". Gazettes.com. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
5. Huffman, John Pearley (August 2008). "Walking With Giants - Long Beach Grand Prix". Modified. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
6. "Schedule of Events". Media package. Long Beach Grand Prix Association. Archived from the original on 3 August 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
7. Klopfer, Wolfgang. Allen Brown, ed. "Long Beach Grand Prix". Old Racing Cars. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
8. "Untitled" (PDF). Independent Press-Telegram. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
9. "Long Beach F5000 Grid". Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
10. Aldrich, Adria Allen (ed.). "SCCA Race Results". Inaugural Formula 5000 Grand Prix Race. California Sports Car Club Region. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011. in ""F Sheff at…" Pages". Retrieved 13 August 2011.
11. "Redman Formula Victor". The Leader-Post. Regina, Saskatchewan. AP. 29 September 1975. p. 15. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
12. "Long Beach Grand Prix". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on 4 August 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.