SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

[khyndart in CA]

Tomorrow I am off to join my son on the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Stennis as we join up in what is called a "Tiger Cruise" where family members can sail on board for 4 days from Florida up the East coast to Norfolk,Virginia. We will have no land contact unless there is an emergency which at the moment it seems anything could happen !
Apart from that I found Jerry Melton had photographed this unique looking race car but there was no description but with some research I managed to find some information. It reminded me of the time I saw Graham McRae in action in a Begg FM 2 at Baypark in 1969.(Unknown photographer.)


Check the rear view mirror set up which was popular in US club racing about 1971.




It started in the Formula Libre class but later raced in Formula B. (This photo gave the first clue to what is was.)
(Jerry Melton photos )
1968 Miller-Lotus
F-B
Cutting Edge 1968 Formula B Racecar (2006)




"Designed and built by George Miller, senior Pontiac Transmission Designer at the time. Rather than steel tubing or sheet aluminum monocoque chassis it utilizes a stiff, lightweight aluminum honeycomb monocoque sheathed in composites, and joined by aluminum gussets. Miller had access to the Pontiac wind tunnel and with extensive testing; they developed a unique high down force body, well ahead of its time. The chassis rolls on Lola T-70 wheels, which are suspended by upper and lower A-arms in the front, and a DeDion suspension system in the back. The car comes with a box of original blue prints for all the special parts made at Pontiac. The dry-sumpted Lotus twin-cam is mated to a 4-speed, all aluminum gearbox from the Corvair tech center, with power being fed to the rear wheels by a Halibrand quick-change rear-end. The car has disk brakes all around. Miller claims the car weighs 800lbs. The car was finished in 1968 and run in SCCA regional races in the same year. This car won or broke in every race it ran, lapping the field in two laps in its only rain race. In aerodynamic tests in 1968 the car as clocked at 173mph powered by a 180hp HART. The car was sold to Michigan in 1971, then to Tennessee where it sat until the late 1980s. Charles Hoopaugh, an employee at Fantasy Junction for almost 20 years, bought the car and restored it in 1990. During the restoration he had the motor rebuilt at Tommy Crowther (160 hp), dyno time only. All new aeroquip lines, Teflon brake and clutch lines, new tires, and new fire system. The fuel cells were re-replaced again in 2004. The starts, but has not been raced since the completion of the restoration. The car is vintage eligible for HMSA, HSR, CSRG, VARA, and SCCA Vintage race groups."
https://www.fantasyjunction.com/sold...s-f-b/overview

Ken H.
(All aboard..Eh Eh Captain..)