1974 Lola T332 Formula 5000
Early in 1974, rumors were circulating in racing communities around the world about a Monaco-like car racing event that was to take place in a coastal city called “Long Beach,” in southern California USA. Would it, or wouldn’t it actually happen? Initially conceived as a USA west coast Formula 1 extravaganza to emulate the venerable Mediterranean-coastal Monaco Formula 1 event in Europe – the international F1 governing body was slow to embrace the idea – yet a little known Long Beach California travel agent and his business backers pulled it off! And the rest, of course, is history. The Long Beach Grand Prix original founder-promoter: one Christopher Pook. The race venue: not Formula 1. Instead, a new class of compelling open wheel ground-pounders thrilled the crowds: Formula 5000.
Initially a USA-bread counterpart to legendary European Formula 1 racing, Formula 5000 spawned cars that were similar in appearance to the state-of-the-art F1 designs of the Day – however they were powered by thunderous 5-litre “big iron” American V8 engines. Importantly, Formula 5000 was initially designed to attract brilliant, determined but budget-limited privateer racers who had the requisite courage, ingenuity and talent – yet often only a fraction of the funding resources necessary for Formula 1 factory-supported racecars.
In theory, these guidelines would generate robust fields of exciting cars and drivers, with wheel-to-wheel racing at America’s best racetracks. And they did! Quintessential among early Formula 5000 independent racers was John Gunn, who in late summer 1974 took delivery of a new Lola T332 (HU47) Formula 5000 racecar that he was to campaign vigorously for the next several years. He would wage this effort against a cavalcade 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 T332 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 T332 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.
In Gunn’s second race with the T332 at Laguna Seca, California in October 1974, he piloted the car to a respectable 7th place in a field that included race winner Brian Redman, 2nd place James Hunt, and 3rd place Mario Andretti. Gunn finished ahead of luminaries such as Johnny Rutherford (9th) Jerry Grant (11th) and formidable non-finishers that included top USA driver Al Unser and the UK’s celebrated David Hobbs.
The car’s third race was at the Riverside Grand Prix in late October,1974. John Gunn in the HU47 Lola T332 retired, yet finished 17th out of a field of 41 top-flight racers. Importantly, the car had finished 7th in heat #1, which was won by no less than Mario Andretti, with Brian Redman 2nd, after Gunn qualified 20th, 4.64-seconds behind Mario Andretti.
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. As the main attraction for the city that year, the F5000 racing event 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. And it 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 T332 much like John Gunn’s car. Unfortunately, Gunn himself retired from the race with overheating problems, after qualifying a respectable 11th on the grid. But he made his mark.
For a brief moment in the sun, The Formula 5000 Championship Series and it’s finest machine, the Lola T332, gave race fans a chance to see incredible road racing in fantastic cars with many of the most storied professional racers of the era. Just a few of the illustrious drivers who competed in the series 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, a kaleidoscope of others, and – of course – privateer racing stalwarts like John Gunn.
Except for a brief period in 1977, Gunn maintained ownership of the Lola T332 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 Formula 5000 T332 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. Koni shocks, springs, and a custom air box with integral air filter were also installed. The car was vintage-raced twice in 1992, before it was put into storage. In 1996 the engine was rebuilt by Traco, then inspected and race-prepared by veteran John Collins into a well sorted and restored T332 Lola with verifiable history.
Although the HU47 had never had a serious accident, new owner (as of 1998) and experienced vintage racer Tom Malloy was hit from the rear by a recklessly passing Indy Car that ran over his right-side front tire at a speed of 145+ mph by an aggressive driver during a practice session at the BRIC vintage racing event at Road America. Both drivers were seriously injured and the cars all but destroyed. But Malloy recovered, fortunately, rebuilt the HU47 to perfection and went on to race the T-332 for 17 more years. The car is now seen at vintage and historic racecar events in North America and is part of the MALLOY FOUNDATION, Inc. collection.
