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Fantasy Junction collects class win at Shell Historic Challenge with Maserati A6GCS s/n 2053

May 6th, 2009

Fantasy Junction collects class win at Shell Historic Challenge with Maserati A6GCS s/n 2053

Photo courtesy of Dennis Gray: www.GrayInColor.com

After a weekend of unusual weather at Infineon raceway, Spencer Trenery driving Fantasy Junction’s 1954 Maserati A6GCS emerged with a well deserved class win.

The drum brake field was well attended with some of Sports Car racing’s most beautiful and historically significant racing cars ever constructed. In addition to our A6GCS, several 200SI, and 300S, and 250F Maseratis were present, along with Peter Greenfield’s stunning Alfa Romeo 8C/35 Grand Prix car. Jeff Abramson’s 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial was the only Ferrari entered in the drum brake field, ironically.

The weekend started with an early Friday morning practice. Heavy rains came in frequent bouts- highly unexpected weather for late spring in Northern California. Several drivers found the conditions challenging with surprise spins occurring in turn 2, 3, 4, 8a, and 11. Initially Trenery moved quickly up through traffic turning quicker times than his competitors under wet conditions, but was ultimately forced to pit several times in an effort to diagnose a misfire which remained elusive for several more on-track sessions including Saturday’s race. Completing only six of ten laps, Spencer and the Fantasy Junction team were classified as 10th while Jeff Abramson and his very well driven Ferrari 500 Mondial won the class.

Keeping in mind that our Maserati A6GCS had not actually raced since 1958, our team remained optimistic for Sunday. Italian automotive historian and talented technician John De Boer had identified the misfire as a faulty Magneti Marelli coil, and once replaced the little Maserati came to life. Having skipped the morning warm up on account of treacherous wet conditions, Trenery started last on the grid for Sunday’s dry race. Moving up quickly past the pair of Maserati 200SIs driven by Nick Colona and Chuck Wegner, Spencer was in position to challenge Jeff Abramson for the class lead. After a spirited drive by both, Trenery was able to out brake the slightly heavier Mondial into turn 11 where he assumed the lead. By the end of the race Spencer was able to put just over five seconds between himself and Abramson’s 500 Mondial, a testament to the capabilities of the agile A6GCS.

“The car performed well and was a pleasure to drive. The feeling of piloting such a beautiful car with important history is a wonderful opportunity! Running hard in close quarters against Jeff and his Ferrari 500 Mondial was a throw back to the pinnacle Sports Car racing during the era for these cars, and was a treat to experience”, Trenery remarked after the race. “I have a huge respect for the successes the drivers of these cars were able to achieve in period, and for the efficient and balanced design of A6GCS platform.”

Period achievements for A6GCSs included a 1st and 2nd in class (and 3rd overall) at the 1953 Mille Miglia, and victories at the Targa Florio, Pescara, as well as elsewhere in Italy, South America, and in the UK, in addition to several wins in the US. Spencer and Fantasy Junction have entered the Maserati A6GCS at the Monterey Historics Automobile Races in August, and hope for similar success there. Please feel free to call us with comments or questions relating to the Maserati or our racing efforts, as we are always happy to share the experiences.

 

Maserati A6GCS

 

 

Image courtesy of Dennis Gray

Image courtesy of Dennis Gray