The Electramotive Years 1979-1983
Electramotive Engineering was formed in 1975 by Don Devendorf and John Knepp. Electramotive was located in El Segundo, California and started racing Datsuns in the ranks of the IMSA GTU series, working up to the GTO series.
The development of the championship winning Electramotive 280 ZX GTU, into a Championship Winning GTO car was truly an enjoyable experience. I was able to make various suggestions utilizing my racing experiences to make a difference in the development of the car.
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Datsun PR photos
April 22, 1979
Los Angeles Times Grand Prix – 6 Hours of Riverside
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside, California
Result: 1st in GTU
I began with Electramotive in 79, setting new qualifying records at Riverside and Road America while co-driving with Don Devendorf in the debut of the Electramotive Datsun 280 ZX. I helped Don win the 1979 IMSA GTU Championship.
Electramotive skipped the first two IMSA GTU races (Daytona and Sebring), and Don drove an older Z car at Road Atlanta and won the race. The new Ron Butler 280ZX was ready for the Riverside race where Don and Tony drove it to a first place GTU class victory.
Vinyl tape stripes were used for graphics on the debut of this 280ZX.
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John Morton (center with cigarette), Don, Tony, and Vicki at Riverside in 1979. John Morton was originally offered the ride in the Devendorf’s Datsun but had already committed to drive Vasek Polak’s Porsche 935. Morton recommended that Don recruit Tony for the team.
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Don and Tony share the podium with Bill and Dick Whittington (GTX) and Dave Cowart and Kenper Miller (GTO) at Riverside.
September 2, 1979
500 Miles at Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Result: 10th in GTU
Don Devendorf clinched the 1979 GTU Championship at this race.
Adamowicz collection – Mark Windecker photo
Clip from Los Angeles Times
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I
We always used the Number 83 on all the cars I drove with Don. It was his lucky number coming from his early racing of Datsun cars.
April 27, 1980
Los Angeles Times Grand Prix of Endurance
5 Hours Riverside
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside, California
Result: 12th in GTU (engine)
In 1980, I co-drove with Don at the Road America Pabst 500. Set another new lap record there, enroute to the 1980 IMSA GTU Championship.
It was to prove a long and successful teaming. Don did troubleshooting for NASA when he worked for Hughes. A true genius in electronics, he was sought after by Porsche, Bosch, and Ford, for his engine management system.
Adamowicz collection – Leonids Freimanis photo
At Riverside in 1980. The modest bodywork used in 1979-80 is about to give way to a meaner-looking and much more purposeful body shown in subsequent photos.
Adamowicz collection – Kurt Oblinger photo
Adamowicz collection – San_Bernardino County Sun
Adamowicz collection – Los Angeles Times
August 31, 1980
500 Miles at Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Result: 1st in GTU
In 1980, I co-drove with Don at the Road America Pabst 500. Set another new lap record there (2:28.48 @ 96.98 mph), enroute to the 1980 IMSA GTU Championship.
First overall and GTX winners John Paul Sr., John Paul Jr. with GTU winners Don and Tony on podium.
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Don’s “Black Box” was developed at Electramotive on his 280ZX GTU cars to the GTO, and finally the GTP cars. It was a major advantage for power and fuel economy. It was flawless!
Initially we had to fit twin turbos into the engine bay, and the dilemma was solved by my suggestion to lay the engine on its side. After all, if it worked for Mercedes, it would work for the 280ZX. IMSA soon banned our twin turbo idea, and we were relegated to one. The inline six engine responded fantastically to the single turbo, tremendous power and torque and reliability.
August 23, 1981
500 Miles at Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Result: 11th in GTO (exhaust)
In 1981, Electramotive competed in the IMSA GTO category with the addition of fuel injection and turbochargers. The car was powerful, but not particularly reliable. Tony only ran at Road America with the Electramotive team in 1981.
1981 at Road America, Elkhart Lake. I set a new lap record.
Adamowicz collection – Mark Windecker photo
Adamowicz collection – Bob Fischer photo
Sheboygan Press article clip
According to a Road & Track road test, the 580 horsepower turbocharged straight six Datsun engine pushed the 2600 lbs. car from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds. It turned 131 mph the SS¼-mile in 11.5 seconds. Eventually, the engine made almost 700 horsepower which surprised many a Porsche 935.
April 25, 1982
Los Angeles Times Grand Prix of Endurance
5 Hours Riverside
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside, California
Result: 6th in GTO
The 1982 Camel GT Championship season was the first year of the GTP class, which combined the previous GTX class of Group 5 cars and prototypes.
1982 Riverside debut of all new 280ZX Turbo. I set a new lap record and co-drove with Don Devendorf.
Adamowicz collection – Luke Lundquist photo
August 22, 1982
500 Miles at Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Result: 11th in GTO
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Adamowicz collection – David Hutson photo
September 5, 1982
6 Hours Mid-Ohio
Mid-Ohio
Result: 1st in GTO
Adamowicz collection – Mark Windecker photo
Adamowicz collection – Mark Windecker photo
Tony and Don on the podium
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Tony’s medal from race.
September 12, 1982
500 km Road Atlanta
Georgia
Result: DNF, 16th in GTO
Adamowicz collection – Dave Kutz photo
I believe this was me in the car at Road Atlanta on the end of back straightaway prior to the dip. No additional lip was being used on the rear spoiler. The lack of rear downforce when I approached the dip caused the car to lose rear adhesion. I had a horrific spin in the rain, causing major damage to the rear of the car. We didn’t make the race. It was this accident that showed we needed to greatly improve the rear downforce.
Don and Tony discuss race strategy
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October 3, 1982
6 Hours Fuji
Japan
Result: DNF
It was a pretty big deal to come over to Fuji with this car that had done so well in the US IMSA series.
It was great to be back to Fuji with the car.
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My return to Fuji Speedway – team photo before the big rear spoiler. From left to right:
Dick Roberts, Nissan’s US Competition Director
Tony “a2z”, Driver
Wes Moss, Crew Chief
E.C. Muellar, PR Director for team
Jess Chin, Crewmember
John Knepp, CEO of Electramotive Engineering
Frank Honsowitz, future Nissan Competition Director
Nelson Mark, crewmember
The Girls, greeting hosts from track/Nissan
Robert Yakushi, Nissan U.S./Japan engineering liaison
Don Devendorf, Team Owner & Driver
The air dam was removed for ground clearance to load in the trailer and exposes the aluminum cowling that held the huge intercooler and oil coolers. It was easily removed with pins as evident by the support tube in front of the tire. The entire module could be replaced quite easily if damaged.
Another photo of the crew ->
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The crew was totally surprised to see my autographed poster in the cafeteria dating back to the early Can Am Grand Championship series I raced back in the 70’s.
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November 28, 1982
3 Hours Daytona
Florida
Result: 2nd in GTO class
Don was practicing in the car at the last IMSA race of the year, when the engine exploded. This was the ‘ole reliable six inline engine and one of the very few failures in its career at Electramotive Engineering.
By the time the car coasted to the pit entrance it was almost completely engulfed in flames. Of course the fire crew got there late also. The damage was extensive. We worked under the cloak of secrecy all night to make the race, and surprised everyone. I started from dead last, but we finished second overall, winning the ’82 Championship in GTO class.
Adamowicz collection – Butch Leitzinger photo
Adamowicz collection – Don Hunter photo
Adamowicz collection – Don Hunter photo
Adamowicz collection – Don Hunter photo
Adamowicz collection – Don Hunter photo
In 1983, I co-drove the 280-ZX turbo with Don Devendorf to four consecutive wins at Brainerd, Sears Point, Portland, and Road America. I also set a new lap record at Pocono Raceway.
April 24, 1983
6 Hours of Riverside
Riverside, California
Result: DNF
Records show Don only drove in the race for 25 laps.
Adamowicz collection – Chris Kennedy photo
Adamowicz collection – Frank Sheffield photo
Adamowicz collection – Luke Lundquist photo
Biography in program
May 30, 1983
3 Hours of Lime Rock
Lime Rock, Connecticut
Result: 5th in GTO
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Tony with his father Walter and brother-in-law at the track.
Teammates from left to right: Dave Frellsen, Logan Blackburn, Tony and Don Devendorf
Adamowicz collection – photo courtesy of Dave Frellsen
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Tony invited his family to this east coast race.
June 19, 1983
6 Hours Mid Ohio
Lexington, Ohio
Result: DNF
Adamowicz collection – Robert Manley photo
Adamowicz collection – Mark Windecker photo
July 10, 1983
500 km Brainerd
Minnesota
Result: 1st in GTO class
Tony’s medal from race.
July 24, 1983
3 Hours Sears Point
California
Result: 1st in GTO class
Adamowicz collection – Dan Wildhirt photo
Tony and Don on the podium
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Tony’s medal from race.
July 31, 1983
G.I. Joe’s Grand Prix – 3 Hour Camel GT
Portland, Oregon
Result: 1st in GTO class
1983 Portland: First in GTO class, third overall. By now the car had nearly 700 horsepower and could spin the tires in fifth gear. Good for 140 in the standing quarter mile.
Adamowicz collection – Brent Martin photo
Adamowicz collection – John Blakemore photo
280 ZX Turbo pit crew action at Portland International Raceway
Tony’s medal from race.
August 21, 1983
500 Miles Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Result: 2nd overall, 1st in GTO class
Tony’s medal from race.
The biggest development of the car was trying to get the power down to the real wheels. The early 280ZX GTU homologated rear spoiler was not adequate. We started adding Lexan extended rear lips to it, until it finally became a full blown extended spoiler in the later development of the car. This truly trapped the air as the early Can Am cars were able to do. It became an infamous competitor, challenging the twin turbo Porsche cars in the later races. Oh what fun it was to do that!
The car became a major contender in overall positions of IMSA races, embarrassing many GTP prototype cars.
September 11, 1983
500 Miles Pocono
Pennsylvania
Result: 3rd in GTO class
National Speed Sport News 9-15-1983
We won GTO IMSA convincingly, and raced against the overall class, often beating twin turbo Porsche 935s. It was awesome racing this car, what a fun time with the competition.