David Hobbs Recalls Thompson Formula 5000 Win
The penultimate race of the 1969 Formula 5000 season was at Thompson (CT) Raceway. Lou Sell won the inaugural Thompson Grand Prix in the No. 15 Eagle Mk 5 on August 18, 1968.
David Hobbs set fast time in the No. 75 Surtees TS5 at 58.7 seconds and won the 65-lap race over Sam Posey in the No. 1 McLaren M10A. Tony Adamowicz finished third one lap down in the No. 7 Eagle Mk 5, but edged Hobbs for the championship at Sebring by one point. Andrea de Adamich finished fourth with Bud Morley in fifth.
Mark Harmer of Troy, MI owns the No. 74 Surtees TS5 that de Adamich drove. Hobbs drove the car earlier in the year in Europe, before de Adamich drove it for the American events.l
“It’s a very long time ago now and my memories are a little vague to say the least,” Hobbs said. “I guess my most vivid memory was the shock when I first saw the place. We drove in, among the trees, and it turned out we were driving in on what would be the main straight! Then there was the little business of jumping into, and out of the banked oval, another unique feature.
I have very little memory of the race itself, but it can’t have been too bad as I won, and from your letter at a pretty high average speed too. I must have been very young and brave, or stupid!”
The track now known as Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park restored road course racing last year on a 1.7 mile circuit that incorporates the oval. The F1600 Formula F Championship Series held two races August 30-31 with Evan Mehan and Sam Chastain winning. Hobbs’ grandson Andrew raced finished eighth and ninth.
“Unfortunately he did not win, which would have been great, both winning on our debut at this unique facility. Good luck with the celebrations this year.”
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com
Special thanks to:
http://www.oldracingcars.com/ for 1968 results and 1969 results
1970 layout
Images below from MyFormula5000.com include a brochure from the 1968 race.
