Dan Marvin uses his local knowledge to take the first win of the USA season!

In Californian sunshine, the green flag dropped and the racing began in earnest at the Spring Classic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca! Chris Farrell (March 821) took the chance on the first lap to pass Eddie Lawson (Wolf WR4), while lower down the field Canadian Keith Frieser (Shadow DN1) snuck past his compatriot Cal Meeker who was finding his feet in his first race in the Tyrrell 009. On lap two Bud Moeller (Ensign MN179) was overtaken by a charging Dan Marvin (Brabham BT44) and then had to contend with Ron Maydon, driving the LEC CRP, popping up in his mirrors. But, Bud was having none of it and by lap 5 he was comfortably ahead and secure with the 4th spot.  

Dan Marvin showed his extensive knowledge of the track, soon passing Lawson who was running second and had an eye on the tail of the antipodean leader Farrell. Despite his best effort Farrell had to concede the lead to the Marvin’s knowledge, as he pulled away recording the fastest lap time in the process and topping the pit straight speedometer at 145mph!

Not to be left out of the action Cal Meeker, retook 6th place from Frieser who was then busy keeping Steve Cook at bay in his newly restored March 721G. First-time Master’s racer Dalmo de Vasconcelos (Shadow DN5) enjoyed his rookie race as he chased veteran racers Doug Mockett (Wolf WR6) and Harin de Silva (Shadow DN3). Charles Warner (Shadow DN9) kept ahead of Michael Eckstein in the William FX3 as John Delane slipped back and retired to the pit lane.

Fittipaldi Class
1st Dan Marvin BrabhamBT44
2nd Eddie Lawson Wolf WR4
3rd Ron Maydon LEC CRP1
Head class
1st Chris Farrell March 821
2nd Bud Moeller Ensign MN179
3rd Cal Meeker Tyrrell 009
 

Stewart class
1st Steve Cook March 721G
2nd Michael Eckstein Williams FX3
3rd John Delane Tyrrell 002

Marvin makes it two in a row!

After the Sunday lunchbreak, Masters USA provided another thrilling race for the local crowd as all 14 cars retook to the track. Starting form 4th on the grid, Race 1 winner Dan Marvin in the Brabham BT44, set off at a pace overtaking Bud Moeller, Ensign MN179, and setting his sights on another win. But Eddie Lawson (Wolf WR4) and Chris Farrell (March 821) had other ideas. Farrell kept the Brabham at bay until lap 5 but Marvin was determined and continued chasing for the lead. Lawson held on until lap 8 and Marvin slipped past on the pit straight to the delight of the grandstand spectators.  
With the first four places taken care of, Ron Maydon in the LEC CRP1 battled with a determined Cal Meeker in the Tyrrell 009 for the 5th spot. Then came a plethora of Shadow’s as Keith Frieser’s DN1, Dalmo de Vasconceles’ DN5 and Charles Warner’s DN9 kept ahead of the youngster Michael Eckstein in a Williams FX3. Doug Mockett, Wolf WR6, retired three laps from the end as did Steve Cook and Harin de Silva, both with mechanical troubles.

Fittipaldi Class
1st Dan Marvin BrabhamBT44
2nd Eddie Lawson Wolf WR4
3rd Ron Maydon LEC CRP1
Head class
1st Chris Farrell March 821
2nd Bud Moeller Ensign MN179
3rd Cal Meeker Tyrrell 009

Stewart class
1st Michael Eckstein Williams FX3