Doug Watkins
Doug Watkins
a2z Adamowicz makes F5000 racing history
As reported in the Orange Car Enthusiast website, several weeks ago, Racing history was made when Tony a2z Adamowicz won class champion of the Formula 5000 in the very same car, the Eagle, that he won the very same race in, forty years ago.
Just a few months ago Tony was being re-united with the 1969 championship winning Gurney Eagle Formula 5000 race car. Tony took the car on a test run at Willow Springs Raceway just last year; The very same track that Tony a2z Adamowicz tested his very first Formula 5000 car.
Hold onto your hats, race fans, because the story gets even more unbelievable as Tony's experience with the first Eagle, with no down force wings, and Willow had gusty winds coming up onto turn 6 that sent the machine airborne!, Mr. Adamowicz suffered bruised ribs and a nick over his eye (But, thats another story; look it up on Tony's website). The guys at Riverside International Automotive Museum brought good 'ol number 7 back to life after just about forty years. Doug Magnon, Bill and the crew (with guidance from Tony a2z) rebuilt the machine to its original specifications.
We understand that even the late, great Peter Bryant had his hand in the set-up of the car on occasion - with expected results: a faster car. The machine is fantastic. It is NOT a tribute car, or 'kind of like' what Mr. Adamowicz drove in 1969, it is definitely Tony's old race car... the real McCoy. Here is where this story becomes ever the more interesting: A conversation with Tony just a couple days ago confirmed that the weekend at Watkins Glen for himself and the race car. Tony said the car ran like a champ and with the recently earned points at the Glen, Klaus Kindor announced at www.occarenthusiast.com that its been confirmed that Tony a2z Adamowicz is again Formula 5000 class champion, driving the very same machine that he won his championship in 40, yes, FORTY years ago!!!
We have been asking motor sports professionals if this EVER happened in Motor Sports... the answer appears to be a resounding Never. Tony Adamowicz has always been an American racing icon - now, to his still growing list of accomplishments, a2z can add a new remarkable benchmark; one that no other racer has ever achieved - anywhere, anyplace, anytime, or in the history of motor sports. At no time in the history of automobile racing has a single driver and a single vehicle been reunited to win the same championship racing series forty years after it happened the first time! Until this event.
Listen carefully, Mr. a2z and you'll hear the applause. Fantastic! There have been a number of great race car champions in the last 100 or so years. What Tony a2z Adamowicz and the crew at RIAM have accomplished is truly monumental and an absolute milestone, one that might never be repeated; by anyone.
About the Author
Riddles gets much of his racing history information from www.a2zracer.com
He drives a 93 Mazda RX7 for sport. He has learned many driving/racing techniques through his racer friend, Tony 'a2z' Adamowicz.
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Donald Byrd, Doug Watkins, Ray Santisi and Jim Jitano
