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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Report and Photos

Craig Bennett and Dave Handy, 74 UOP Shadow DN4 Picasa
Craig Bennett and Dave Handy, 74 UOP Shadow DN4

The HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 was held on April 22-24 at the 12-turn, 2.54-mile Road Atlanta racetrack in Braselton, Georgia. Sanctioned by Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) and featuring the Ford marque, this year’s Mitty also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Can-Am series.

Over 280 entries were received for the 2016 Mitty. They raced in one of 10 classes, three enduros, two International/American challenges and a race for Ford powered cars. The fastest lap of the weekend was done by Theo Bean in a 1991 Chevy Intrepid, with a lap of 1:15.1, which averages out to 120 miles per hour.

More and more, vintage racing events in the United States have classes for cars that are not very vintage. This has created some controversy among fans and participants, but it’s gaining more and more acceptance among the fans. They enjoy the sound of the F-1 Benettons, the swoosh of Travis Engen’s Audi R8 LMP, or Juan Lopez-Santini toss his Porsche 997 Cup car over the curbs, landing sideways, bouncing up again and power oversteering on to the straight. It’s hard to imagine someone doing that in a wire-wheeled Jaguar XK120.

Vintage cars are what these events are about, however, and among the more notable ones there were two Cheetahs, five Lola T-70s, two Morgans, two McLaren M8Fs and three M1Bs, a Lotus 79 and many more. One of the most anticipated cars for this year’s Mitty was the 1974 Shadow DN4 driven by Craig Bennett along with the DN4 he drove last year, now in the capable hands of Dave Handy.

This was the 39th running of the Mitty. It has become a tradition for many spectators to welcome spring by driving their wonderful old sports cars to the event, and camping with like-minded friends in their old sports cars. There are corrals set up for German, Italian, Japanese and American cars. These fill up with cars brightly polished by their proud owners, hoods opened wide to show off the engines. The event is really about people gathering to share their passion.

Gene Felton was a successful IMSA racer from the 1970s and ’80s. He raced his championship winning IMSA American Challenge Chevrolet Nova in vintage events. His last race was the 2013 Mitty where he won his class, although health reasons have kept him away from the driver’s seat. Frank Marcum bought Felton’s Nova, and decided to honor Felton’s last win by bringing Chris Cook to drive the Nova and put the car back on the podium. Marcum invited Felton, who was able to come. They saw an exciting race, with Cook and Richard Howe in his 1989 Ford Mustang Trans-Am battling for the lead all race long. On the last lap, Cook was able to out brake Howe going into turn 10 and win by half a second. It was an emotional victory circle.

The harsh side of racing also showed its face at the 2016 HSR Mitty Speedfest. The beautiful 1965 Cheetah driven by Jay Stephenson crashed. Stephenson got caught out on the track when it started raining, and crashed coming out of turn five. According to Stephenson’s son Spike, Jay suffered a broken ankle and will be fine. The Shadow DN4 that Craig Bennett was driving crashed hard into turn 12, and Bennett sustained serious injuries. The family is using the UOP Shadow Facebook page to keep friends and fans informed of his progress. Sports Car Digest’s thoughts are with Craig and his family, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Similar to 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2016 Mitty Speedfest, with photographer David Ferguson offering the following pictures from Road Atlanta. We split up pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery and race results can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs.

HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery

 

Robert Blain, 75 March 751
Robert Blain, 75 March 751
Jim Stengel, 73 McRae GM-1
Jim Stengel, 73 McRae GM-1
Few cars chose to go out in the rain.
Few cars chose to go out in the rain.

 

1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial
1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial
Johan Woerheide, 66 Lola T-70 MkI
Johan Woerheide, 66 Lola T-70 MkI
Jim Pace, 72 McLaren M8F
Jim Pace, 72 McLaren M8F

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

 

Jim Stengel, 72 McLaren M8F
Jim Stengel, 72 McLaren M8F
Howard Katz, 75 Toj 205C
Howard Katz, 75 Toj 205C
Andrew Beaumont, 66 McLaren M1B
Andrew Beaumont, 66 McLaren M1B
Roberto Garcia, 99 Riley & Scott Mk lll
Roberto Garcia, 99 Riley and Scott Mk III
Rick Carlino, 96 Riley and Scott Mark 3
Rick Carlino, 96 Riley and Scott Mk III
Dave Handy, 74 UOP Shadow DN4
Dave Handy, 74 UOP Shadow DN4

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

 

Phil Wicks, 67 Austin Cooper-S
Phil Wicks, 67 Austin Cooper-S
George F. Balbach, 60 Porsche 356B
George F. Balbach, 60 Porsche 356B
Two Lotus F-1 cars.
Two Lotus Formula 1 cars.
Ron Maydon, 78 Arrows FA1, has instructions for the corner workers painted on his helmet.
Ron Maydon, 78 Arrows FA1, has instructions for the corner workers painted on his helmet.
James Hagan, 83 Tyrrell 011
James Hagan, 83 Tyrrell 011
Raymond Boissoneau, 72 McRae GM1
Raymond Boissoneau, 72 McRae GM1

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

 

Howard Turner, 88 Jaguar XJR 7/8
Howard Turner, 88 Jaguar XJR 7/8
Theo Bean, 91 Chevy Intrepid
Theo Bean, 91 Chevy Intrepid
The flying colors of Porsche.
The flying colors of Porsche.
Curt Vogt, 70 Ford Boss 302
Curt Vogt, 70 Ford Boss 302
Bob Summerour, 73 BMW CSL 3500
Bob Summerour, 73 BMW CSL 3500
Alexandra Sabados, 74 Porsche 911 RSR
Alexandra Sabados, 74 Porsche 911 RSR

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

 

Craig Lyons, 67 Porsche 911S
Craig Lyons, 67 Porsche 911S
Doc Bundy, 64 Lotus 23B passing a spun out car.
Doc Bundy, 64 Lotus 23B passing a spun out car.
Chuck Reynolds, 74 BMW 2002 Tii
Chuck Reynolds, 74 BMW 2002 Tii
Houghton Smith, 78 Datsun 280Z
Houghton Smith, 78 Datsun 280Z
Hervey Parke, 65 Ginetta G4
Hervey Parke, 65 Ginetta G4
Quinn Derby, 68 Triumph Spitfire
Quinn Derby, 68 Triumph Spitfire

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

 

Phil Stratford, 98 Benetton B198
Phil Stratford, 98 Benetton B198
Marc Giroux, 97 Lola T97/20
Marc Giroux, 97 Lola T97/20
Raymond Boissoneau, 72 McRae GM1
Raymond Boissoneau, 72 McRae GM1
Doc Bundy, 79 Lotus 79
Doc Bundy, 79 Lotus 79
Phil Stafford, 98 Benetton B198
Phil Stafford, 98 Benetton B198
Dave Handy, 74 Shadow DN4
Dave Handy, 74 Shadow DN4

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

 

Harry Dinwiddie, 72 Corvette
Harry Dinwiddie, 72 Corvette
Dennis Spencer, 93 Kudzu DG3- Mazda
Dennis Spencer, 93 Kudzu DG3- Mazda
Theo Bean, 91 Chevy Intrepid, making time on a drying track.
Theo Bean, 91 Chevy Intrepid, making time on a drying track.
Gary Moore, 66 Shelby GT350
Gary Moore, 66 Shelby GT350
Jay Stephenson, 65 Cheetah
Jay Stephenson, 65 Cheetah
Mike Levine, 65 Corvair Spl.
Mike Levine, 65 Corvair Special

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

Shadows in the Esses.
Shadows in the Esses.
Jim Pace, 72 McLaren M8F
Jim Pace, 72 McLaren M8F
Jim Cullen, 68/10 Lola T70 Mklll
Jim Cullen, 68/10 Lola T70 Mk 3B
Toby Bean, 69 Lola T70 Mklllb
Toby Bean, 69 Lola T70 Mklllb
Theo Bean, 91 Chevy Intrepid
Theo Bean, 91 Chevy Intrepid
Travis Engen, 05 Audi R8 LMP
Travis Engen, 05 Audi R8 LMP

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine

 

The Shadow
The Shadow
Many Porsches, many colors.
Many Porsches, many colors.
Velocity stacks
Velocity stacks
66 McLaren M1B
66 McLaren M1B
Eye candy
Eye candy
Chris Cook, 77 Chevy Nova
Chris Cook, 77 Chevy Nova

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten

 

Richard Stuart Milne / Pablo Peon 73 Porsche 911 RSR
Richard Stuart Milne / Pablo Peon 73 Porsche 911 RSR
Jim Faulkner, 73 Porsche 911 RSR
Jim Faulkner, 73 Porsche 911 RSR
Carlos Miguens, 74 Porsche IROC RSR
Carlos Miguens, 74 Porsche IROC RSR
Scott Jachthuber, 72 Porsche 911 ST
Scott Jachthuber, 72 Porsche 911 ST
Dick York, 73 BMW CSL 3500
Dick York, 73 BMW CSL 3500
Robert Blain, 75 March 75S
Robert Blain, 75 March 75S

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eleven

 

Guy Laporte, 08 Elan DP02
Guy Laporte, 08 Elan DP02
Raymond Boissoneau, 66 McLaren M1B
Raymond Boissoneau, 66 McLaren M1B
James Freeman, 67 Matich SR3
James Freeman, 67 Matich SR3
Michael Moss, 69 Lola T163
Michael Moss, 69 Lola T163
Mogens Christiansen, 65/66 Wolverine Can Am
Mogens Christiansen, 65/66 Wolverine Can Am
Howard Turner, 88 Jaguar XJR 7/8
Howard Turner, 88 Jaguar XJR 7/8

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Twelve

 

Chris Cook, 77 Chevy Nova
Chris Cook, 77 Chevy Nova
Hartmut VonSeelen, 74 Porsche 911 RSR
Hartmut VonSeelen, 74 Porsche 911 RSR
Jack Finch, 02 Dodge Charger
Jack Finch, 02 Dodge Charger
Johan Woerheide, 69 Lola T70 Mk lllb
Johan Woerheide, 69 Lola T70 Mk lllb
Benjamin Hill, 84 Tiga SCB4
Benjamin Hill, 84 Tiga SCB4
Ron Maydon, 78 Arrows FA1
Ron Maydon, 78 Arrows FA1

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Thirteen

 

Frank Marcum, 66/11 SPF GT40 Mk ll
Frank Marcum, 66/11 SPF GT40 Mk ll
Jim Stengel, 72 McLaren M8F/P
Jim Stengel, 72 McLaren M8F/P
Andrew Beaumont in his McLaren M1B.
Andrew Beaumont in his McLaren M1B.
The herd thundering to turn one.
The herd thundering to turn one.
George F. Balbach, 66 Porsche 911
George F. Balbach, 66 Porsche 911
Larry Ligas, 61 Daimler SP250
Larry Ligas, 61 Daimler SP250

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Fourteen

 

Michael Moss, 69 Lola T163
Michael Moss, 69 Lola T163
Phil Stratford, 98 Benetton B198, leads Roberto Garcia in similar car.
Phil Stratford, 98 Benetton B198, leads Roberto Garcia in similar car.
Looks like George F. Balbach, 60 Porsche 356B, has a back seat driver.
Looks like George F. Balbach, 60 Porsche 356B, has a back seat driver.
Theo Ruijgh, 93 Porsche 964 RSR
Theo Ruijgh, 93 Porsche 964 RSR
Phil Daigrepont, 78 Toj SC 206
Phil Daigrepont, 78 Toj SC 206
Craig Bennett and Dave Handy, 74 UOP Shadow DN4
Craig Bennett and Dave Handy, 74 UOP Shadow DN4

 

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2016 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

[nggallery id=903 images=15]

 

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[Source: David Ferguson]