1969 McLaren M10 Formula 5000
For 1965, the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) created three new single-seater formulae: Formula A, for 3-litre racing engines, Formula B (later better known as Formula Atlantic) for 1.6-litre production-based (‘stock block’) engines and Formula C for 1.1-litre engines. The capacities chosen matched the forthcoming 1966 Formula 1 (3-litres), the planned 1967 Formula 2 (1.6-litres) and the long-established Formula Junior (1.1-litres). For 1968, the SCCA opened up Formula A to stock block engines of up to five litres, thus allowing in the 302ci Chevrolet engine that had been introduced for the SCCA’s Trans-Am series. Major racing car constructors now built cars for the 5-litre rules, notably Eagle, winners in 1968 and 1969; McLaren, winners with the M10B in 1970 and 1971; Chevron whose B24 model won the British and Tasman series in 1973/74 and Lola, dominant from 1974 to 1976 with the classic T332.
Previous Owners of Chassis #300-12: Bob Esseks(1970), Will Painter (1971-1973), Glen Brown (1973-1975), Jan Label (1975-1985), Chuck Haines (1985-1986), Lou Pavesi (1986-1988), Wes McNay (1988-2004), Kirt Bennett (2004-2006), Dan Lipetz (2006-2008), George Frey (2008 to present).
McLaren M10-A chassis #300-12 in 1969
Racing History of Chassis #300-12:
Imported to the USA by Lothar Motschenbacher from Trojan and was sold to Bob Essex in July 1969. This was one of two M10As brought into the United States that year. This car was piloted by Sam Posey at Road America that year while waiting for his own M10A. Bob Essex drove the car to the Northeastern Divisional Championship in 1970. The car continued in the hands of east coast racer Bob Esseks from September 1970 onwards as replacement for Esseks’ other McLaren M10A chassis 300-9 which Esseks damaged at Mid Ohio in September 1970. Esseks finished second in this car at the 1970 SCCA runoffs. The car was sold by Esseks to Will Painter who ran the car in several F5000 races during the 1971 season. Merle Brennan raced the car in numerous events, including F5000 races before selling to Glen Brown in late 1973. Glen Brown raced the car mainly in the Pacific Northwest for two years before selling to Jan Label in November 1975. Jan Label raced the car for several years, winning divisional championships in 1976 and 1977. He then stored the car until selling it to Chuck Haines in September 1985. Lou Pavesi and his son ran the car in multiple vintage events before selling to Wes McNay in December 1988. Wes McNay documented the car’s history and commissioned a rebuild of the tub by Bahner. The original bulkheads and roll bar were used in the rebuild. McNay sold the car to Kirt Bennett, who subsequently completed the restoration of the car for Dan Lipetz in late 2006. George Frey of RaceKraft & Design bought car in 2008, installed a regulation engine as well as modified the suspension and engine oiling system. This car is now powered by a 580-horsepower 302CI Chevrolet ‘small block’ V-8, and with its monocoque body weighing only 1,500 pounds, it is capable of reaching over 200 MPH on a straight. The car now races in vintage events in Colorado and other U.S. venues.
