When the SCCA Trans-Am series began it’s 1971 series, they found themselves in a bit of a quandry. The Over 2 liter class had been the star of the Trans-Am show to that point in series history, but various outside pressures and SCCA mismanagement had removed the Big 3 from the playing field, leaving only AMC to provide factory backing. Into this newly created vacuum stepped the cars and manufacturers of the 2.5 Challenge to create a new paradigm for American sedan racing.
Alfa Romeo was the returning champion in 1971, but it faced stiff competition from BMW, Triumph, and a new entry from Datsun. Alfa won the first 2 races of the season at Lime Rock and Bryar. Datsun, the next 2 races at Mid-Ohio and Edmonton. The two manufacturers would trade wins for the rest of the season, coming down to the season finale in Kent, Washington. Which was cancelled…and then things got interesting.
From the bsedan.com website:
“The story is that Peter Brock, owner of the BRE Datsun team, approached Laguna Seca managment with a Datsun backed guarantee to buy $6,000 (typical 2.5 purse) worth of tickets if they would add a 2.5 race to their scheduled Can-Am race. It seems as if the cancellation of the Kent race put the Datsun team out of the championship points race and they needed another race to have a chance to win.”
Once the race at Laguna Seca was underway, things got more interesting still..
“A tight points race would mean a high probability of a great race. And it was. This included one hard hit by Kwech on Morton that almost put Morton out at the corkscrew. As the race progressed the Datsun made its only pit stop for fuel but the Alfa did not stop and Morton was now far behind Kwech’s Alfa. The Alfa did not stop for fuel as the car had a problem with their track side fueling location and the SCCA would not allow them to refuel the car unless the filler was changed to a pit side location. The Alfa team didn’t change and therefore could not stop for fuel. Kwech ran out of fuel just after he took the checkered flag for what appeared to be a win.”….”When Kwech’s fuel tank was tested for its capacity it was found to slightly over 18 gallons. The rules provided that the maximum capacity was 15 gallons, clearly Kwechs fuel tank was illegal. He was disqualified and Morton was promoted to the winner which allowed Datsun to win the Manufacturers Championship.”
But, don’t take my word (and the word of bsedan.com) for it, see for yourself. Here’s a highlight film of the 1971 Trans Am 2.5 Challenge, produced by Datsun, full of 5 and dime goodness. Enjoy!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5XAP4pCRps[/youtube]
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![http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/3561/2441/33901220197_large.jpg"](http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/3561/2441/33901220197_large.jpg"){kind=link}
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