By Peter M. DeLorenzo
Detroit. The sport of motor racing is filled with memorable races marked by both triumph and tragedy. It's the nature of the sport that these two extremes have left such an indelible impression that they live on for decades, leaving a legacy that is part and parcel of our collective memories. The many heroic individuals - and individual efforts - that have carved out their place in motorsport history are too often luridly offset by gut-wrenching tragedies that have torn us apart along the way. It is an unfortunate consequence of a sport that consumes everything and everyone in its path, a fevered, relentless pursuit marked by unbridled elation and devastating, soul-crushing disappointment. In this series I will try to avoid dwelling on the tragic stories, because as enthusiasts of this sport we are all too familiar with them. If, in the course of talking about a particular race mentioning a tragic event is unavoidable that will have to be, but this series will mainly focus on those memorable moments from those glory days that rivet us to this day. This week, I am taking you back to the Nassau Speed Weeks, which for a time was the place to be at the end of the racing season.
The man behind the idea of having races in the Bahamas at the end of the racing season was Sherman "Red" Crise, an entrepreneur from Florida who saw the abandoned Windsor airfield as an opportunity to pitch staging races to Nassau officials as a way of bringing more tourism dollars in. Keen to see more money flow in, the officials agreed and the Bahamas Speed Week kicked off in 1954 as a casual racing event that mixed gentlemen racers and partying with equal measure. Let me correct that, because the partying became an even bigger attraction! It didn't take long for the racing to get more serious, however, as the manufacturers were lured by the season-ending vacation venue into participating with factory-supported efforts, so the actual racing was moved to the Oakes Course - an airfield closer to Nassau - but the partying remained a key component, and in fact it intensified! In short order, the Nassau Speed Week (Bahamas Speed Week was the official name, but no one called it that) became the biggest thing at the end of the racing season, and international road racing stars flocked there in droves. Drivers like Mark Donohue, Ken Miles, Bob Bondurant, A.J. Foyt, Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren and Sir Stirling Moss participated at one time or another. And, of course, Roger Penske, Carroll Shelby and John Mecom entered cars as well. Needless to say, even though the Oakes Course was a mess - even rougher than Sebring, if you can imagine - the racing was fast and furious. And the partying? Well, it was too.
(GM)A very interesting picture. This is one of the famous Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sports photographed at GM's Milford Proving Ground on November 22, 1963. Tired of seeing his Corvettes getting their asses kicked by Carroll Shelby's compact and lightweight Ford-powered Cobras, Chevrolet's Zora Arkus-Duntov devised a plan to counteract Shelby with some secret sauce of his own. Operating totally under cover because of GM's official anti-racing policy at the time, Duntov and his best and brightest engineers totally revamped three special Corvettes (a total of five - or possibly six - would eventually be built) with bigger brakes, wider wheels and tires, big horsepower all-aluminum 377-cu.in. V8s and most important, weighing-in almost 1,000 lbs. lighter than the typical racing Sting Ray at the time. The top-secret Corvettes would officially be called "Grand Sport" and the plan was to ship them to Nassau unannounced, so they could be entered in the races by "friend of the factory" John Mecom, Jr., from Houston, Texas. Mecom had deep ties to Zora and Chevrolet, and he assembled an all-star roster of drivers for Zora's secret mission. That a cadre of Chevrolet engineers just so happened to be on "vacation" together at Nassau that week was merely a coincidence, at least that was the story given.
(GM photos)
Two of the three Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sports freshly unloaded on to the dock in Nassau, December 1963. Remember, these cars technically didn't exist until that morning. Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles immediately went over to look at them, and the ashen look on their faces said it all. These new and very trick Corvettes were a complete shock. It would get worse for them.
Another famous photo. John Mecom Jr. and Roger Penske lean up against one of the brand-new Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sports on the dock in the Bahamas. Mecom would enter three of the lightweight Corvettes as part of his Mecom Racing Team in various races during the 1963 Nassau Speed Week. The fact that they were unloaded in Mecom's preferred metallic blue livery was just another coincidence, apparently. No, actually not. This was a full-blown factory effort from Chevrolet supported on-site by "vacationing" Chevrolet engineers, and Mecom was happily a willing conduit for Zora's attack on Shelby American. John and Roger could barely contain their glee in the picture, because they knew they were about to open a can of Whup-Ass on Shelby and his Cobras.
Two of the three Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sports freshly unloaded on to the dock in Nassau, December 1963. Remember, these cars technically didn't exist until that morning. Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles immediately went over to look at them, and the ashen look on their faces said it all. These new and very trick Corvettes were a complete shock. It would get worse for them.
Another famous photo. John Mecom Jr. and Roger Penske lean up against one of the brand-new Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sports on the dock in the Bahamas. Mecom would enter three of the lightweight Corvettes as part of his Mecom Racing Team in various races during the 1963 Nassau Speed Week. The fact that they were unloaded in Mecom's preferred metallic blue livery was just another coincidence, apparently. No, actually not. This was a full-blown factory effort from Chevrolet supported on-site by "vacationing" Chevrolet engineers, and Mecom was happily a willing conduit for Zora's attack on Shelby American. John and Roger could barely contain their glee in the picture, because they knew they were about to open a can of Whup-Ass on Shelby and his Cobras.
(Getty Images)
John Mecom Jr. assembled a stellar group of drivers for his three Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sports under his Mecom Racing Team banner for the 1963 Nassau Speed Week. From left to right: John Mecom (partially obscured, far left), Augie Pabst, Roger Penske, Dr. Dick "The Flying Dentist" Thompson and Jim Hall.
John Mecom Jr. assembled a stellar group of drivers for his three Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sports under his Mecom Racing Team banner for the 1963 Nassau Speed Week. From left to right: John Mecom (partially obscured, far left), Augie Pabst, Roger Penske, Dr. Dick "The Flying Dentist" Thompson and Jim Hall.
(Dave Friedman photo)
Waiting for practice to start for the Nassau TT race on December 1, 1963. Augie Pabst is walking around the No. 50 Mecom Racing Team Corvette Grand Sport driven by Roger Penske to get to his No. 00 Mecom Racing Team Lola Mk.6 GT Chevrolet (which is mostly obscured on the far right). Dick Thompson is in the No. 80 Mecom Racing Team Corvette Grand Sport in the foreground.
Waiting for practice to start for the Nassau TT race on December 1, 1963. Augie Pabst is walking around the No. 50 Mecom Racing Team Corvette Grand Sport driven by Roger Penske to get to his No. 00 Mecom Racing Team Lola Mk.6 GT Chevrolet (which is mostly obscured on the far right). Dick Thompson is in the No. 80 Mecom Racing Team Corvette Grand Sport in the foreground.
(Dave Friedman photo)
Starting grid for the Nassau TT, December 1, 1963. Roger Penske and John Mecom (white sweater) are talking to Dick Thompson (No. 80 Mecom Racing Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport). Jim Hall is in the No. 65 Mecom Racing Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport behind them. Penske didn't start the race because he had engine problems in his No. 50 Mecom Racing Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport. Augie Pabst (No. 00 Mecom Racing Lola Mk.6 GT Chevrolet) would win the race easily. Both Grand Sports DNF because of overheating differentials. The cars would sprout differential oil coolers mounted on the top of the back slope of their rear decks for the rest of the week. But when they were running, the Grand Sports' speed was devastating; they lapped the pot-holed airfield circuit a full ten seconds per lap faster than the Shelby American Cobras. The Nassau Trophy, which was run on December 8, was the biggest race of the week, and it was won by A.J. Foyt, in yet another Mecom Racing entry - the No. 77 Scarab Mk IV Chevrolet. Pedro Rodriguez (No. 10 North American Racing Team Ferrari 250 P) was second, followed by Tim Mayer (No. 74 Lotus 23B Ford). Dick Thompson (No. 50 Mecom Racing Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport) finished fourth. Jim Hall had entered Chaparral 2A Chevrolets for himself and Hap Sharp, but the brutal track surface was not kind to them. Things would be different for 1964, on several fronts.
(Getty Images)
Having learned some tough lessons in 1963, Jim Hall returned to Nassau for the 1964 Speed Week with two, better-prepared Chaparral 2A Chevrolets - the No. 6 for Roger Penske (above) and No. 66 for Hap Sharp. (Hall wasn't driving that week due to a broken left arm he had suffered in a bad crash at Mosport). Hall also picked up Gold Star Beer as a sponsor for the week. Hap Sharp would win the Nassau Trophy in the No. 6 Chaparral 2A Chevrolet with relief help from Roger Penske. Bruce McLaren (No. 5 McLaren Mark I Oldsmobile) was second and Pedro Rodriguez (No. 10 North American Racing Team Ferrari 330 P) finished third.
(Getty Images)
The Chaparral Team was well prepared for the 1964 Nassau Speed Week. Hap Sharp sits in the No. 66 Chaparral 2A Chevrolet. Roger Penske was assigned the No. 6 team car.
(Getty Images)
John Mecom also entered A.J. Foyt in the No. 1 Hussein 1 Dodge, but A.J. DNF the Nassau Trophy due to a blown engine.
(Getty Images)The Chaparral Team was well prepared for the 1964 Nassau Speed Week. Hap Sharp sits in the No. 66 Chaparral 2A Chevrolet. Roger Penske was assigned the No. 6 team car.
(Getty Images)John Mecom also entered A.J. Foyt in the No. 1 Hussein 1 Dodge, but A.J. DNF the Nassau Trophy due to a blown engine.
(Getty Images)
Carroll Shelby did not take kindly to the whipping his Cobras received from the Corvette Grand Sports the year before, so for the 1964 Nassau Speed Week he showed up with a new and very trick Cobra personally developed by Ken Miles (shown in the rain during practice): The 427 Cobra prototype. This heavily-modified No. 98 427 Cobra prototype was quicker than the Corvette Grand Sports, and Miles was determined to make a point. In the preliminary Nassau TT race for GT+2.0 machines, Roger Penske won driving the No. 82 Mecom Racing Corvette Grand Sport, but Miles finished close behind him. Phil Hill finished third in the No. 91 Ford GT40. The stage was set for the Nassau TT feature.
(Dave Friedman photo)
Roger Penske (No. 82 Mecom Racing Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport) and Ken Miles (No. 98 Shelby American 427 Cobra prototype) squared off in the Nassau TT feature race. Miles pressed Penske and took the lead at one point, but the engine blew in his 427 Cobra and he DNF. Penske would go on to win decisively, followed by Walt Hansgen (No. 3 Ferrari 250 LM), Bob Grossman (No. 90 Ferrari 250 LM) and Bob Johnson (No. 92 Shelby American Cobra 289).
(Dave Friedman photo)
This is the view that the competition had of Roger Penske in the No. 82 Mecom Racing Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport on his way to winning the Nassau TT feature race. A year after its debut, Penske's Corvette Grand Sport was further developed and even faster. And Penske was at his peak as a driver. It was a winning combination at Nassau.
Carroll Shelby did not take kindly to the whipping his Cobras received from the Corvette Grand Sports the year before, so for the 1964 Nassau Speed Week he showed up with a new and very trick Cobra personally developed by Ken Miles (shown in the rain during practice): The 427 Cobra prototype. This heavily-modified No. 98 427 Cobra prototype was quicker than the Corvette Grand Sports, and Miles was determined to make a point. In the preliminary Nassau TT race for GT+2.0 machines, Roger Penske won driving the No. 82 Mecom Racing Corvette Grand Sport, but Miles finished close behind him. Phil Hill finished third in the No. 91 Ford GT40. The stage was set for the Nassau TT feature.
(Dave Friedman photo)Roger Penske (No. 82 Mecom Racing Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport) and Ken Miles (No. 98 Shelby American 427 Cobra prototype) squared off in the Nassau TT feature race. Miles pressed Penske and took the lead at one point, but the engine blew in his 427 Cobra and he DNF. Penske would go on to win decisively, followed by Walt Hansgen (No. 3 Ferrari 250 LM), Bob Grossman (No. 90 Ferrari 250 LM) and Bob Johnson (No. 92 Shelby American Cobra 289).
(Dave Friedman photo)This is the view that the competition had of Roger Penske in the No. 82 Mecom Racing Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport on his way to winning the Nassau TT feature race. A year after its debut, Penske's Corvette Grand Sport was further developed and even faster. And Penske was at his peak as a driver. It was a winning combination at Nassau.
(Dave Friedman photo)
For the 1965 Nassau Speed Week, the main racing action revolved around the sports racing cars, as factory support for the GT machines in the Tourist Trophy went away. But the action on track for the sports racing machines was fast and furious. Here, Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2C Chevrolet), Hap Sharp (No. 65 Chaparral 2A Chevrolet with 2C mods) and Bruce McLaren (No. 47 McLaren Elva Mark II Oldsmobile) head the field for the Nassau Trophy feature race. Hap Sharp would go on to win, John Cannon (No. 62 Genie Mk.10B Oldsmobile) was second and Peter Revson (No. 52 Brabham BT8 Climax) finished third. Bob Bondurant (No. 111 Lola T70Chevrolet) can be seen directly behind Hall in this photo; he finished eighth.
(Dave Friedman photo)Here's a better view of Bondurant's menacing-looking No. 111 Lola T70 Chevrolet. He would DNF with shift linkage and radiator issues. Note the Lotus behind Bondo; that's none other than A.J. Foyt in the No. 2 Holman & Moody-entered Lotus 30 Ford. A.J. DNF due to handling issues.
(Getty Images)
1966 would mark the last hurrah for the Nassau Speed Weeks. The event had run its course, and racing was pivoting to more professional and prestigious racing series. A sign that the Nassau Speed Week was on its way out was the fact that the TT and Nassau Trophy races were combined into one. Hap Sharp takes the green from the pole in the No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet, and he would go on to win. Brett Lunger (No. 18 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) was second and Dick Brown (No. 28 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford) finished third that day. An interesting footnote? Peter Gregg (No. 14 Porsche 906) came in fourth.
(Getty Images)
A.J. Foyt practiced for the Governor's Trophy in the No. 83 Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford, but the car was withdrawn before the race. Foyt would go on to win a four-lap qualifier for the Nassau Trophy, a race that was won by Mark Donohue in the No. 6 Penske Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet. Skip Scott (No. 91 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford) was second, Peter Revson (No. 92 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford) third and Hap Sharp (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) finished fourth.
1966 would mark the last hurrah for the Nassau Speed Weeks. The event had run its course, and racing was pivoting to more professional and prestigious racing series. A sign that the Nassau Speed Week was on its way out was the fact that the TT and Nassau Trophy races were combined into one. Hap Sharp takes the green from the pole in the No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet, and he would go on to win. Brett Lunger (No. 18 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) was second and Dick Brown (No. 28 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford) finished third that day. An interesting footnote? Peter Gregg (No. 14 Porsche 906) came in fourth.
(Getty Images)A.J. Foyt practiced for the Governor's Trophy in the No. 83 Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford, but the car was withdrawn before the race. Foyt would go on to win a four-lap qualifier for the Nassau Trophy, a race that was won by Mark Donohue in the No. 6 Penske Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet. Skip Scott (No. 91 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford) was second, Peter Revson (No. 92 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford) third and Hap Sharp (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) finished fourth.
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