by Jake Grubb
Revisiting their epic first visit to Laguna Seca in 1969, Formula 5000 cars will return to compete at this hallowed track for the 2023 Weathertech Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Featured cars will include AAR Gurney Eagles and Lola F5000 examples from the 1969-1975 time period, in addition to Shadow, Chevron and other extraordinary marques. A dedicated contingent of Formula 5000 cars and drivers from New Zealand are scheduled, the largest since their visit to Laguna Seca in 2018.
Formula 5000 racing at Weathertech Laguna Seca will revisit its inception as a formula that initially ran in the USA and Tasman Series from 1968 to 1982. It was originally intended as a moderate-cost series consisting of high-performance open-wheel formula cars that could rival the impact of very expensive Formula 1 racing. The “5000’” denomination came from the maximum 5.0 litre engine capacity allowed in the cars, although many cars initially ran with smaller engines. Manufacturers of Formula 5000 cars in the early years included McLaren, Eagle, March, Lola, Lotus, Elfin, Matich and Chevron.
“Formula 5000” car racing was formally introduced in 1968 as a group within American SCCA Formula A class racing, soon to become a series where single-seat racecars from wide ranging origins were allowed to compete. These rapidly came to be dominated by the cars equipped with production-based American V8 engines. The engines used were most commonly 5-litre [302 cubic-inch], fuel injected (sometimes carbureted) Chevrolet engines with roughly 500 horsepower at 8000 rpm — although other makes were also used. The concept was inspired by the success of the Can-Am Series, which featured unlimited formula sports-racing cars fitted with very powerful engines derived from American V8s. The idea was to replicate the Can Am concept, but with open-wheel racecars. F5000 reached popularity in the early 1970s and featured drivers such as Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, James Hunt, Jody Scheckter, Brian Redman, David Hobbs, Tony Adamowicz, Sam Posey, Ian Ashley, John Cannon Eppie Wietzes and a cavalcade of other notables.
1974 Lola T-332: The Pinnacle of Formula 5000
Initially a USA-bread counterpart to legendary European Formula 1 racing, Formula 5000 cars were similar in appearance to state-of-the-art F1 designs of the Day, but they were powered by thunderous 302 cubic inch American V8 engines that looked and sounded far different from high-RPM F1 car engines. Formula 5000 was initially designed to attract brilliant, determined but budget-limited privateer racers who had the requisite courage, ingenuity and talent – yet often possessed only a fraction of the funding resources provided by Formula 1 factory-supported racecars.
Quintessential among early Formula 5000 independent racers was John Gunn, who in late summer 1974 took delivery of a new “Lola T-332” [HU47] Formula 5000 racecar that he was to campaign vigorously for the next several years. He would wage this effort against a rare breed of racers who, unbeknownst to Gunn at the time, would ultimately become the stuff of legend, and who would shape the history of modern-era auto racing as we now know it. It was racers like John Gunn in his Lola T-332 Formula 5000 car that put these epic racers to the test, and pushed drivers like Andretti, Redman, Hobbs, Rutherford, Ruby, Follmer and many others to the heights of auto sport. Gunn’s brand of grit made the greats earn their greatness.
The first record of John Gunn racing the HU47 Lola T-332 was at the California Grand Prix at Ontario Motor Speedway in early September 1974. Gunn finished 5th out of a huge and star-studded field of 49 entries, a race that recorded the likes of Brian Redman in 1st place, Mario Andretti in 2nd, and a decorated brigade of world class drivers. For the 1974 Formula 5000 official season, John Gunn finished 6th in the Championship, against many of the best racers and most respected race teams of the period; a worthy and impressive accomplishment.
Truly a pinnacle moment for the Formula 5000 series was the inaugural running of The Long Beach Grand Prix, in the fall of 1975, which surprised most critics by drawing over 60,000 fans and in the process showing the USA, the world and international Formula 1 officials that the “Roar at the Shore” street race in the United States was the Real McCoy. The event was immediately important enough to gather into one race many of the best drivers from competition venues around the world – Formula 1, Can Am, Le Mans sports cars and Indy cars. The 1975 Long Beach Formula 5000 spectacular was ultimately won by renowned British driver Brian Redman, in a Lola T-332 much like John Gunn’s car. Gunn himself retired from the race with overheating problems, after qualifying a respectable 11th on the grid. But he made his mark in the HU47.
For a brief moment in the sun, The Formula 5000 Championship Series and its most successful machine, the Lola T-332, gave race fans a chance to see incredible road racing in fantastic cars with many of the most storied professional racers of the era. These included Mario Andretti, Brian Redman, David Hobbs, Sam Posey, Johnny Rutherford, Lloyd Ruby, Jerry Grant, James Hunt, Mike Mosley, Rocky Moran, Jackie Oliver, George Follmer, Jody Schecter, an array of other notables and – of course – privateer racing stalwarts like John Gunn.
Except for a short period in 1977, Gunn maintained ownership of the Lola T-332 HU47 until 1987 when the car was passed on to Tom Frederick, and then in 1989 to Bob Lee. In 1991 the car was restored to original Formula 5000 T-332 race trim and was run in three races for historic cars. It was then fitted with a new Traco small block 304-cubic inch engine, which produced an impressive 547HP at 7500RPM with 525 ft/lb of torque.
Well-known California racer/car collector Tom Malloy purchased and began racing the Lola T-332 HU47 in 1998 in USA vintage competitions. Although the HU47 had never been in a serious accident, experienced racer Malloy was hit in the front right tire at high speed by an aggressive driver during a practice session at the BRIC vintage racing event at Road America, Wisconsin. Both drivers were seriously injured, and the cars nearly destroyed. However, Malloy recovered, rebuilt the Lola T-332 HU47 to perfection and resumed racing the car. It now resides in The Malloy Foundation collection of notable historic cars.
