Race Hamilton

Last updated
Labatt's Hamilton Championship
Atlantic Championship
Location Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
43°15′21″N79°52′23″W / 43.25583°N 79.87306°W / 43.25583; -79.87306
Corporate sponsor Labatt Brewing Company
First race1978
First Atlantic Championship race1978
Last race1978
Laps39
Duration47m 24.585s
Most wins (driver) Flag of Finland.svg Keke Rosberg (1)
Most wins (team)Excita/Fred Opert Racing (1)
Most wins (manufacturer) Chevron B45 - Ford (1)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.3 mi (2.1 km)
Turns10
Lap record1m05.964s (Price Cobb, March 78B - Ford, 1978, Formula Atlantic)

Race Hamilton, also known as the Labatt's Hamilton Championship, was a 1978 auto race held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada featuring a round of the Formula Atlantic Labatt Championship Series. The event featured future driving stars Bobby Rahal, Keke Rosberg and Danny Sullivan competing for $10,000 in first-place prize money. [1]

The race took place on August 7 on a 2.092 km (1.30 miles), 10 turn temporary street circuit in downtown Hamilton with the start/finish line located between the Hamilton City Hall and the Art Gallery of Hamilton. [2] [3]

The race attracted an estimated 60,000 fans, half of those watched for free from the roofs of surrounding buildings and by breaking down barriers. [4] [5] After a five-hour delay due to insurance issues with the safety barriers around the course, only 39 of the scheduled 73 laps took place due to darkness. Only 16 of the 29 cars entered, completed the race. [6]

Race results

PosNo.DriverTeamChassis/EngineLapsTimeSpeed
14 Flag of Finland.svg Keke Rosberg Excita/Fred Opert Racing Chevron B45 - Ford 3947m 24.585s68.113 mph
222 Flag of the United States.svg Price Cobb Ecurie Canada March 78B - Ford 3947m 25.208s68.098 mph
32 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Rahal Pierre's Motor Racing Ralt RT1 - Ford 3967.704 mph
434 Flag of the United States.svg Danny Sullivan Bluebonnet Foods/Quaker State March 78B - Ford 3967.394 mph
56 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Divina Galica Fred Opert Racing/Olympus Chevron B39 - Ford 3966.255 mph
631 Flag of the United States.svg Chip Mead Hanna Car Wash/Pierre's Motor Racing Ralt RT1 - Ford 38
79 Flag of the United States.svg John MortensenDoug Shierson Racing March 78B - Ford 38
851 Flag of the United States.svg Rick KoehlerBrooks StevensExcalibur EE2B - Ford 38
919 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Earl James Brolin Chevron B-34 - Ford 38
1078 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Bell Ralt RT1 - Ford 38
1113 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jean-Pierre Alamy March 78B - Ford 38
1215 Flag of the United States.svg Mike RockeBDN March 77B - Ford 37
1372 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Gilles Leger Ralt RT1 - Ford 37
1450 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jeff SmithStarr Racing Chevron B34 - Ford 37
1558 Flag of the United States.svg Jon NormanNorman Racing March 78B - Ford 37
1671 Flag of the United States.svg John Connolly Ralt RT1 - Ford 36
1720 Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Wood Great Plains Racing March 78B - Ford 35Accident
1866 Flag of the United States.svg Peter Robinson Chevron B39 - Ford 34Accident
1933 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Cogan Brian Robertson/Ralt American Ralt RT1 - Ford 29Cross member
2038 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Gloy Tom Gloy/Lane Sports March 77B - Ford 26Transmission
217 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bill Brack STP Special/Ecurie Canada March 78B - Ford 22Accident
228 Flag of the United States.svg Howdy Holmes Jiffy Mixes/Doug Shierson Racing March 78B - Ford 10Mechanical
2367 Flag of the United States.svg R.J. NelkinHunter Mountain March 78B - Ford 10Mechanical
2421 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Follett Ralt RT1 - Ford 10Spun
2563 Flag of the United States.svg Ralph ManakerR.M. Racing March 76B - Ford 3Mechanical
2662 Flag of the United States.svg Cliff HansenCharles Gladding March 78B - Ford 2Suspension
2554 Flag of the United States.svg Carl LiebichLiebrau Racing Lola T-560 - Ford 0Accident
2875 Flag of the United States.svg Chris GleasonWhalley BMW Sales March 77B - Ford 0Accident
2979 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby BrownAutomatic Radios March 78B - Ford 0Accident
3024 Flag of the United States.svg Bertil Roos Racetune/Acme March 77B - Ford 0Pulled off

[7] [8] [9]

References

  1. Zimmermann, John (1998). A Quarter Century on the Road to Stardom (The Atlantic Championship Series). USDC Publishing. pp. 28–32. ISBN   9782930120232.
  2. "Hamilton Street Circuit (1978)". theracingline.net. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  3. "Hamilton Street Circuit (Formula Atlantic race, 1978)". racingcircuits.info. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  4. Miller, Tim (Jan 2, 2011). "Hamilton loved 1978 Formula race, but financially it failed". The Hamilton Spectator. Hamilton: Metroland Media Group. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  5. Webster, George. "Formula Fiasco". PRN Ignition. Performance Publications Media Group. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  6. "Formula Atlantic – in Hamilton". Henleys Hamilton 1. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  7. "Formula Atlantic Labatts Championship Series Race - Hamilton, 7 Aug 1978". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  8. "1978 CASC/SCCA Labatt Challenge Series". champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2013-11-24.
  9. "1978 CASC Formula Atlantic Labatt Championship Series". autocourse.ca. Retrieved 25 November 2013.