Autodynamics (race car manufacturer)

Autodynamics Inc. is a former American racecar manufacturer based in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The company mainly produced Formula Vee and Formula Ford chassis. The company was also active in the Trans-Am Series entering Dodge Challengers in the 1970 season. Autodynamics was, along with Formcar, the main chassis provider for the series. Roger Barr finished second at the inaugural SCCA National Championship Runoffs for Formula Vee.

Autodynamics
Inc.
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1963
FounderRay Caldwell
Defunct1975
Headquarters
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Autodynamics
Founded1964
Folded1971
BaseMarblehead, Massachusetts
Team principal(s)Ray Caldwell
Former seriesCan-Am
Trans-Am Series
Noted drivers Sam Posey
Brett Lunger
Tony Adamowicz
Ronnie Bucknum

History

Formula Vee beginnings

Formula Vee was announced in 1962 by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and Volkswagen of America. Caldwell designed the Caldwell D-1 with help from friends. The D-1 was received well by the public and Caldwell decided to produce the car.[1] In 1964 the SCCA included the Formula Vee class in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Along with Formcar and Zink Cars, Autodynamics were the pioneers of the series. Roger Barr finished second in the inaugural national championship race, behind the Formcar of Lewis Kerr. The D-1 was produced in 1964 and 1965 in different variants. In total 478 were produced. It took until 1972 that Autodynamics won a National Championship in Formula Vee. Dave Weitzenhof beat a field with many Zink and Lynx chassis.[2]

Formula Ford

The Caldwell D-9 was the first Formula Ford chassis. The car was designed for the 1969 season. Skip Barber was very successful in the class. Barber won the SCCA North East Division championship as well as the National Championship Runoffs. A Caldwell D-9 won the inaugural race sanctioned by the IMSA. At Pocono Raceway Formula Ford cars ran on the 5/8-mile oval track for 200 laps. Caldwell driver Jim Clarke was declared the winner.[3] Another successful Caldwell driver was David Loring. Loring won the Ontario and Canadian Formula Ford series, as well as the IMSA Pro Series.[4]

Caldwell D-7

In 1967 Autodynamics launched the Caldwell D7 built to Group 7 rules to enter the 1967 Can-Am season. Sam Posey again was the main driver for the team with Brett Lunger and Ray Caldwell driving selected rounds. The D7 made its debut at Road America where it retired with a broken half shaft. At Mosport Park Posey finished twelfth, the best result of the season.[5] Autodynamics also entered a McLaren Mk. II when the D7 was not ready. With Posey scoring a podium at Stardust International Raceway. The D7 returned in 1968 where it finished fourth at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the first round of the 1968 United States Road Racing Championship. The following round, at Riverside Raceway, Posey improved to third, scoring the cars only podium finish.[6]

Formula 5000

Caldwell had a short lived Formula 5000 project, the D8. Lunger and Posey were the drivers for the one off project. Two chassis were built. Lunger crashed the first chassis during a test, the races were done with a second chassis. In the pro-series Posey scored the best result, a seventh place at Lime Rock Park.[7]

Trans-Am Series

Chrysler entered the Trans-Am Series with their two pony car types the Plymouth Barracuda and the Dodge Challenger. The Barracuda's were entered by Dan Gurneys All American Racers. Caldwell was responsible for the chassis. To lighten the chassis the frames were acid dipped. Sam Posey was the full-time driver for the first Dodge Challenger. This chassis was left in the acid to long weakening the roof and structural integrity of the car. The car required multiple chassis repairs between races.[8] The 305ci Dodge V8 engines built by Keith Black proved unreliable causing multiple retirements.[9] Posey scored three podium finishes during the season accumulating all the team's points. During the last two races, at Seattle and Riverside, a second car was entered. Ronnie Bucknum and Tony Adamowicz. The second car retired in both races.

After the 1970 season the pony car market crashed and Chrysler, Ford and Chevrolet canceled their racing programms.[10]

Autodynamics eventually built 3 Challengers and Black provided 12 engines during the season. The cancellation led to a financial crisis for Autodynamics which was forced to reorganize under Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code.[11]

Production
YearCarUnits producedClass
1964Caldwell D-1186Formula Vee
1964Style Fitch Supersprint1
1965Caldwell D-1A194Formula Vee
1965Fiberfabs chassis12
1965Motercycle chassis5
1966Caldwell D-1B98Formula Vee
1966Caldwell D-2386Formula Vee trailer
1966Caldwell D-38Formula B
1966Caldwell D-72Group 7
1967Caldwell D-494Formula Vee
1967Caldwell D-6802Mk. I Deserter
1967Caldwell D-6A410Mk. II Deserter
1967Caldwell D-82Formula A
1968Caldwell D-4A148Formula Vee
1968Caldwell D-543Hustler
1968Caldwell D-11138Deserter Autocross
1969Caldwell D-4B65Formula Vee
1969Caldwell D-955Formula Ford
1970Caldwell D-9B48Formula Ford
1970Caldwell D-1017Formula Super Vee
1970Caldwell D-9B48Formula Ford
1970Dodge Challenger T/A3Trans-Am Series
1970Caldwell D-14B8Racecar trailer
1970Caldwell D-15C3Racecar trailer
1971Caldwell D-1248Formula Ford
1971Caldwell D-1374Formula Vee
1971Caldwell D-14A48Formula Vee trailer
1972OD-11 Boat hull48

Race results

SCCA Runoffs results

Can-Am Series

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Car No. Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pos. Pts
1966 Caldwell D7 22 Sam Posey
MTE
21		 - 0
McLaren M1B 33
BRI
8
MOS
20
LAG
38
RIV
18
LVE
21		 - 0
1967 Caldwell D7B 1 Sam Posey
ROA
32
BRI
24
MOS
12
LAG
29
RIV
13
LVE
DNS		 - 0
1968 Caldwell D7C 1 Sam Posey
ROA
10		 9th 5
Lola T160 2
BRI
8
EDM
4
LAG
9
RIV
21
LVE
5

SCCA Continental Championship Formula A results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Car No. Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pos. Pts
1968 Caldwell D8 11 Brett Lunger
COL
OKL
ROA
THO
MOS
26
BRA
18
LAG
28		 - 0
Sam Posey
LRP
7		 - 0

Trans-Am Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Car No. Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos. Pts
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 76 Sam Posey
LAG
6
LRP
3
NHS
23
MDO
5
BRI
20
BRA
20
ROA
20
TRE
3
WAT
4
SEA
3
RIV
29		 4th 18
77 Ronnie Bucknum
LAG
LRP
NHS
MDO
BRI
BRA
ROA
TRE
WAT
SEA
27
Tony Adamowicz
RIV
24

[12]

gollark: Via madness, there are actually 3G PB prizes in existence.
gollark: If you particularly care it's probably possible to get something more compact than JSON, but I guess that usually won't matter.
gollark: Well, obviously.
gollark: I know it in that I know the syntax and semantics of that syntax, and concepts up to about "monad", but not the fancy stuff like you'd see on /r/haskell.
gollark: ~~haskell~~

References
  1. Pace, Harold. Vintage American Road Racing Cars 1950-1969. ISBN 0760317836. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  2. "Runoffs Driver Archive". SCCA Club Racing Board. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  3. "IMSA 1969-1989: The first race at Pocono". Racer. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  4. "Autodynamics 1973 catalog" (PDF). Doug Fraser. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  5. "Caldwell D7". Racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  6. "United States Road Racing Championship 1968". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on 2 December 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  7. "Caldwell D8 history". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  8. "One of two Sam Posey-driven Trans-Am 1970 Dodge Challengers heads to auction". Hemmings Daily. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  9. "Riverside Trans-Am Oct. 4, 1970". A2Z Racer. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  10. "The 1970 season was the height of the incredible Trans Am Series. Sam Posey watched it from the best seat in the house". Hagerty. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  11. "History". Doug Fraser. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  12. "1970 Trans-Am Box Scores" (PDF). SCCA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
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