1971 Daytona 24 Hours

             Jan. 31, 1971

Tony and Ronnie Bucknum finished second overall in their 512S at the 71 Daytona 24 Hours,finishing on the same lap as winner Pedro Rodreguez' Gulf Wyer 917K

    I felt we had a very good platform to race 24 hours with.  The 5 liter power figures varied from 600 hp to 650 hp depending on who you talked to.  All I know is the engine had ample power to exchange positions with Pedro Rodriquez' 917K on the banking during the race.  We had some rear body work problems during the race, but we managed to finish ahead of our NART teammates in their later 512M.  We were second overall on the same lap as the John Wyer /Rodriquez, Oliver 917K.  It was the closest finish in the Daytona 24 Hours up to that time.

     Ronnie had a drinking problem then, and told me years later that "we would have won the race", except he was using 1000 RPM's more than I, and ultimately broke some valve springs.  We just kept out there with the misfiring engine, belching flames out the exhaust and finished second overall.   

Pit talk during practice

Bucknum in the 512S.   Fences and the NART stripes are missing from the spare nose.

    It wasn't until the 24 hrs of Daytona 1971 that I had an opportunity to share a 512 Spyder with Ronnie Bucknum.  Fortunately we had the assistance of Carrol Smith, who was my team manager when I won the Formula A/5000 Championship in 69.  I also had his talents and expertise available when I drove the 312P here in 70.

    I was thrilled with the combination of driver and crew, until we saw the beautifully prepared 512M that Mark Donahue and David Hobbs were to drive.  Our 512S was a short tailed, open roof version with older aerodynamic bodywork.  Conversely, the 512M  was a much cleaner design in every aspect.

Bucknum in close quarters early in the race

    I'm the first red Ferrari on the outside, here on the pace lap.  Donohue out qualified us all in his blue and yellow 512M.

    The 512 series was quite strong by latest specifications, the tube frame being made of 4130 steel, almost invincible and state of the art structurally.  NART cars were basic factory delivered cars with no real modifications, sometimes were last year hand me downs.  Our 1969 chassis 1006 was an early one, the third of 25 completed by Ferrari to contest the World Manufacturers Championship.

Into the banking on the pace lap,

Tony is third on the outside.

Ronnie Bucknum about to leave infield and climb Daytona's high bank

The NART garage at Daytona

Tony Adamowicz, Gary Wheeler, Tony a2z, Tony Adamowics, a2zRacer, Gary Wheeler, Tony Adamowicz

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Donohue's 512M  and Rodriguez's 917 battle it out in front of Tony's #23 512 Spyder

NART Ferraris #23 512s and #22 512M on the Parade Lap