2007 – The resurrection of Eagle 510
The AAR Eagle Mk 5 Formula 5000 Chassis #510 was purchased by Milestone Racing and driven by Tony Adamowicz during the 1969 SCCA Continental Championship, with Adamowicz taking the season championship. Eagle Mk 5s won an impressive six of 13 races during the season.
Following its championship season, chassis #510 was sold to George Boscoff in 1970, but a pending deal with driver John Morton was never finalized. The car sat in storage for the next 25 years, and then purchased by noted restorer Joe Cavaglieri in as-raced condition. The car was acquired by Doug Magnon and the Riverside International Automotive Museum in April of 2007, and it was restored by Bill Losee and Morris Jephcott.
April 2007
Adamowicz collection
Chassis #510 as found in 2007.
From 1969 Sebring race
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Doug Magnon helps load #510 for its trip to a new home.
Tony and Joey Caviglieri
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
The Restoration:
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Testing at Willow Springs – 2008
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Adamowicz collection
Steve Johnson photo
May of 2008 before the first race – Tony stands next to Eagle chassis #510 at the Riverside International Automotive Museum
Almost 40 years later, little did I know that there would be a 40th reunion of F 5000 cars. My Championship Eagle was purchased by Doug Magnon of the Riverside International Automotive museum in Riverside, Ca. With the help of chief mechanic Bill Losee and UK transplant fabricator Morris Jephcott, our # 7 Eagle was thoroughly prepared to compete again, but was the driver? Our first intro back to vintage racing was at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Ca where we were rewarded a 3rd place podium finish for our 68 to 71 class of racers. Ironically we had finished 3rd our very first race at Riverside, and now we accomplished the same feat in 2008. Was it meant to be? , well some say it was more than just serendipity that all of this happened again.
We have just came back from Road America where we were running a strong 2nd place suddenly we experienced a rare rear brake caliper failure at 170 mph entering a tight 30 mph right hand “Canada Corner”, fortunately we made it unscathed and both car & Driver will live to perform in our last race of the season at Watkins Glen, N.Y.
The # 7 Eagle and the a2z Racer will be better prepared to compete in this final race and I am truly honored to be reunited with our Eagle and once again be a part of history. Our combination is unique, as we are the only championship car and river taking part in the 40th F 5000 reunion vintage series. What’s it like out there, well let’s just say it is not a Sunday drive for this ole a2z Racer.