1971 Daytona - a2z Racer

24 Hours of Daytona

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida

Adamowicz collection – Bob Purgason photo

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

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

Adamowicz collection – Eric della Faile photo

It wasn’t until the 24 hours of Daytona 1971 that I had an opportunity to share a 512 Spyder with Ronnie Bucknum. Fortunately, we had the assistance of Carroll 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.

Adamowicz collection

Pit talk during practice.

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Adamowicz collection – Pete Lyons photo (petelyons.com)

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

Chassis #1006 was one of 25 Berlinettas completed in 1969. 512 #1006 was converted to a Spider by the factory and sold to Luigi Chinetti’s NART team. It was driven at several races, but its best finish was the 1971 24 Hours of Daytona.

Porsche event poster

Bucknum early in the race.

Adamowicz collection – Phillipe Moriniere photo

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 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.

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

Adamowicz collection – Bob Purgason photo

Adamowicz collection – Gil Mann photo

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

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

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The NART garage at Daytona

Two hours into the race, Tony leaves the infield and climbs up onto the banking.

Adamowicz collection – Bob Purgason photo

Here’s Pedro Rodriguez’s 917 at the same place. He won the race, but we finished on the same lap after 24 hours. Pedro and I changed places so often we were of greater appreciation of each other’s talents after this race.

Believe it or not, this is the same 917 destroyed during the filming of Steve McQueen’s movie Le Mans.