OldRacingCars.com

Southern Pacific SCCA Formula B 1976

Cliff Hansen used the early 1976 SCCA Nationals as a warm-up for the Pro series, and won at Riverside in February, at Greater Southwest Raceway two weeks later, and at Holtville in March. He came back to win a National in Arizona in September to secure the title. Jeff Alkana swapped his ex-Don Breidenbach March 74B for the ex-Breidenbach 75B and won outright at Phoenix in May, taking second in the title race. Dennis Firestone won at Sears Point in April and the high-profile Laguna Seca June Sprints in Wilbur Bunce's updated March 722/75B to enhance his reputation.

The others in the leading group of five were Dick Hayes who won at Riverside in May, and Ron Dykes who won at Sears Point in August. Breidenbach and Wink Bancroft focused on the Pro series, so were rarely seen. Relatively little new machinery arrived in Southern California in 1976, and rebodied March 722s and venerable Brabham BT29s were still popular.

Final standings

1. Cliff HansenMarch [76B]Cal Club36 pts 
2. Jeffrey AlkanaMarch [74B & 75B]Cal Club34 pts 
3. Dennis FirestoneMarch [722/75B]Cal Club32 pts 
4. Dick HayesChevron [B27]Cal Club31 pts 
5. Ron DykesBrabham [BT40]Cal Club24 pts 
6. Don BreidenbachMarch [75B]Cal Club6 pts 
7. Frank MoniseBrabham [BT29]Cal Club5 pts 
8. Jim van HornChevron [B27]Cal Club5 pts 
9. Les HillMarch [722/75B]San Diego4 pts 
10. Hugh "Wink" BancroftChevron [B27]Cal Club4 pts 
11. Mike FazziBrabham [BT29]Cal Club3 pts 
12. John AngusMarch [722]Cal Club3 pts 
13. Mark MunroeBrabham [BT40]Cal Club1 pt   

Southern Pacific Division SCCA Nationals in 1976

15 Feb 1976RiversideCal Club Region
21 Mar 1976Holtville AerodromeSan Diego Region
11 Apr 1976Willow SpringsCal Club Region
02 May 1976Phoenix International RacewayArizona Region
30 May 1976RiversideCal Club Region
04 Jul 1976RiversideCal Club Region
12 Sep 1976Phoenix International RacewayArizona Region

Southern Pacific Division sources

Although Los Angeles was one of the homes of American motor racing, we have few sources of information for southern Californian FB racing in this period. Competition Press & Autoweek had some regional coverage up to 1973 and Formula magazine then took over for a period in the mid-1970s. However, we are keen to acquire or borrow 1960s, 1970s and 1980s copies of SCCA regional publications from this Division. The key ones are:

  • California Sportscar [1960s] (California Sports Car Club)
  • Post Grid [1969-1970] (California Sports Car Club Region)
  • Finish Line [from 1971] (California Sports Car Club Region)
  • Gridlines (San Diego Region)

We are also keen to get scans of entry lists from SCCA Nationals for this division.