California Roadster members invade hallow ground, when Dr. Mark Van Buskirk got a coveted invitation to race in this year’s Monterey Historics.  His little ’32 channeled Ford (Khougaz) roadster rubbed elbows (tires) with some of the sports greatest vintage road (1947-55) racing cars ever built.  Starting with the 2005 honored marque, Chapparal with the legendary Jim Hall at the wheel, plus such magnificent machines such as C&D-type Jags, 300SL Mercedes, Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Troutman-Barnes and several Ol’Yellars, guided by such luminaries as Sir Stirling Moss, Phil Hill, Chuck Daigh, and Bobby Rahal to name a few.

            Dr. Mark enlisted the help of fellow CR member Don Prieto to set up a race team, and since fellow CR member Max Jamiesson has a vintage road racing license and has raced at Laguna Seca many times, he was drafted to be the driver. Since the roadster has been in Don’s Torrance shop since the LA Roadsters Father’s Day event, Don asked Max to come down from his home in Carmel Valley to have a fitting. They replaced the bench seat with two P-40 vintage aircraft aluminum bucket seats, added seat belts, headers and a roll bar. The required fire extinguisher and electrical switch were also added per the rules. Once Max was fit to the car he took it for a drive and it was clear that the steering was much too hard for sufficient handling. The car was originally built to go in a straight line at the dry lakes and had 12 degrees of caster---way too much for good handling. It was adjusted as best they could, pumped up the tires to 40 pounds and hoped for the best.

            On Wednesday before the event, Dr Mark and his crewman/lawyer Alex Woloshansky flew into LAX and Don picked up the CR crew and headed for Laguna Seca. The air was filled with anticipatory electricity. The same kind that was present when Dr Mark entered his vintage roadster in the Hot Rod class at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance two years ago.

           After passing tech, Max and Dr. Mark donned firesuits and put ten laps of practice under their belts. They pulled into the pits and each breathed a sigh of relief . . . Max because he was pooped from fighting the steering, and Dr. Mark from sheer excitement of a first time experience. They dismounted, covered in sweat from their soaked fire suit undergarments, and each related their experience as Alex and Don took it all in.  

            The team attempted to put the roadster in the trailer, several photographers and a handful of spectators arrived out of nowhere and started taking pictures and asking questions. A better part of an hour was spent accommodating those interested parties. The little hot rod was getting more than it’s fair share of attention.

            Come race day, Max chose to start at the rear of the pack so as to not get in anyone’s way due to the concern of the difficult steering. As he gained confidence and got some heat in the tires he promptly showed off the horsepower that the 286 cu. in. flatmotor was kicking out, passing six cars during the ten lap event and stayed on the lead lap---quite an accomplishment for a straight line racin’ roadster. 

            Later that same day, Don got the opportunity to ride with Dr. Mark in the police-escorted parade to Quail Lodge where Class 3A was honored by being placed on the lawn among some of the greatest race cars in history. As they drove in the people lined the road and cheered like the Italians at the Mille Miglia. Don said it made the hair stand up on the back of your neck.  

            All in all, it was quite a milestone event for Dr Mark and the Khougaz Roadster. Never before has a hot rod been invited to participate in this prestigious event.  Not only did it look like it belongs among the other vintage racecars, but it performed and sounded right at home as well. Kudos to Dr. Mark and his team.