1975 Long Beach Grand Prix

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]

1975 Long Beach Grand Prix
Race details
Race 7 of 9 in the 1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship season
DateSeptember 28, 1975
Official nameLong Beach Grand Prix
LocationLong Beach, California, United States
CourseTemporary street course
2.02 mi / 3.25 km
Distance50 laps
101 mi / 162.5 km
WeatherTemperatures up to 73.9 °F (23.3 °C); wind speeds up to 9.9 miles per hour (15.9 km/h)[1]
Pole position
DriverTony Brise (Theodore Racing)
Fastest lap
DriverTony Brise (Theodore Racing)
Time1:19.905 (on lap of 50)
Podium
FirstBrian Redman (Haas Racing)
SecondVern Schuppan (Jorgensen AAR)
ThirdEppie Wietzes (Formula Racing)

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.

PosDriverTeamCarTime
1 Mario AndrettiVel's Parnelli Jones RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:21.297
2 Al UnserVel's Parnelli Jones RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:21.948
3 Tony BriseTheodore RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:22.036
4 Jackie OliverPhoenix RacingShadow DN6-Dodge1:22.799
5 Tom PrycePhoenix RacingShadow DN6-Dodge1:23.346
6 Brian RedmanCarl A. Haas RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:23.602
7 Vern SchuppanAll American RacersEagle 755-Chevrolet1:23.674
8 Graham McRaeEddie LewisLola T332-Chevrolet1:24.039
9 Elliott Forbes-RobinsonFrancisco Mir RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:24.091
10 Jody ScheckterHogan RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:24.168
11 John GunnRacing ConsultantsLola T332-Chevrolet1:24.204
12 Eppie WietzesFormula RacingLola T400-Chevrolet1:24.223
13 Gordon JohncockPatrick RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:24.264
14 David HobbsHogan RacingLola T330-Chevrolet1:24.491
15 Jon WoodnerInterscope RacingTalon MR-1A-Chevrolet1:24.817
16 John CannonAnglo American RacingMarch 73A-Chevrolet1:24.909
17 John MortonKrinitt RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:25.347
18 Brett LungerChris Oates, Ltd.Lola T332-Chevrolet1:25.529
19 Warwick BrownMcCormack/Burke RacingTalon MR-1A-Chevrolet1:25.734
20 Danny OngaisInterscope RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:26.090
21 Bob EarlT. P. RacingLola T330-Chevrolet1:26.183
22 Evan NoyesEvan NoyesLola T332-Chevrolet1:26.357
23 John KornJomar RacingLola T330-Chevrolet1:26.846
24 George FollmerLance Smith RacingLance LSR1-Chevrolet1:26.947
25 Randy LewisWrangler Wracing TeamLola T332-Chevrolet1:26.966
26 Chris AmonMcCormack/Burke RacingTalon MR-1A-Chevrolet1:27.167
27 Tuck ThomasLancer StoresLola T332-Chevrolet1:27.574
28 Benny ScottBlack American RacersLola T332-Chevrolet1:27.645
29 Bob NagelNagel RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:28.562
30 Roger BighouseRoger BighouseChevron B24-Chevrolet1:28.570
31 John David BriggsBriggs & Fodge RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:28.650
32 John BentonFormula MagazineLola T332-Chevrolet1:29.252
33 Bob AllenManteca MotorsEagle 74A-Chevrolet1:29.743
34 Arlon KoopsSolazure IV, Ltd.Lola T330-Chevrolet1:29.801
35 Michael BrockmanJ. LevittTalon MR-1A-Chevrolet1:30.086
36 Bill BakerBarbara BakerLola T332-Chevrolet1:31.310
37 Bill SimpsonE. J. SimpsonBerta Argentina BA-3-Chevrolet1:31.894
38 Skeeter McKitterickAME RacingChevron B24-Chevrolet1:31.952
39 Gary WilsonSting RacingLola T332-Chevrolet1:33.219
40 Ron DykesJ. B. Quality ProductsLola T192-Chevrolet1:33.496
41 Jim GustafsonJim Gustafson RacingMarch 73A-Chevrolet1:36.831
42 Michael BraytonIll-EagleEagle Mk.5-Chevrolet1:37.730
43 Garth PollardG. W. PollardLola T330-Chevrolet1:38.810
44 Steve DurstJ. LevittTalon MR-1A-Chevrolet2:05.826
[7][8]

Heat races

Heat 1

PosNoDriverTeamCarLapsTime/RetiredGrid
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

PosNoDriverTeamCarLapsTime/RetiredGrid
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
PosNoDriverTeamCarLapsTime/RetiredGrid
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]
gollark: Oh, and actually some of the rest of how variables work.
gollark: * perfect and without flaw, apart from the AWFUL const syntax
gollark: Just use Lua. Lua can be sandboxed fairly easily.
gollark: Simply don't have sandbox escapes.
gollark: Thusly, sandboxing.

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 2011-08-16. 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". Archived from the original on 2012-09-16. 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.
Preceded by
1975 Atlanta Grand Prix		 1975 SCCA/USAC F5000 Championship Succeeded by
1975 Monterey Grand Prix
Preceded by
None		 Grand Prix of Long Beach Succeeded by
1976 United States Grand Prix West
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