The pace lap at the 1970 SCCA American Road Race of Champions

The pace lap at the 1970 SCCA American Road Race of Champions

You can almost hear the roar of the engines as the race cars bunch up 2 x 2 for the opening pace lap at the 1970 SCCA American Road Race of Champions at Road Atlanta. As you can see, the race was a blend of Over and Under 2.0 liter race cars. The B-Sedan class was won by Vic Provenzano from Van Nuys in an Alfa GTA with Carl Fredericks finishing 2nd in the Hyde Park Motors BMW 2002. Based on the further research, it was Nels Miller who was up front in the Hyde Park #34. Along side Nels was Wilbur C. Pickett from Daytona Bch, Florida in the #36 Alfa GTA. Unfortunately, neither man would finish the race. Nels pulled off the track after the first lap and Wilbur retired with only one lap remaining. It must have been heartbreaking. The blue BMW 2002 at the bottom of the photo is Russ Norburn who later built the IMSA RS winners from Miller & Norburn. Look at all the fans lined up along the fence!

Fun fact: In addition to owning the Hyde Park #34, we fortunately bought Vic Provenzano’s 1974 Alfa GTV in 2017 from the 2nd owner and former Head of Bridgestone racing, Greg Higham. It is now in the hands Santo's Italian Car Service in Northridge, California for final restoration and assembly.

(Photo by Dave Nicholas)

(Photo by Dave Nicholas)