Mid 1950s Racing in The USA
In America, meanwhile, in the SCCA championship, James Riley, Jim Pauley (famous for his comeback from 24th to 3rd place at Bridgehampton in 1951), Sheldon Morril and Henry Rudkin (four first and three second places in seven races, putting him second in H Modified in 1954) continued routinely to take podium places in F Modified and H Modified (FM and HM) classes in many national and international competitions on circuits and road races. Among others, these included the 50 Miles of MacDill (Florida), 100 Miles of Offutt, Thompson, Watkins Glen, Bridgehampton, Milwaukee, Wilmont, Cumberland, Elkhart Lake, Fairchild Park and Sebring.
In 1955, Dave Michaels competing with his 1,625 cc (99.2 cu in) Bandini-Offenhauser won the 2000 cc E Modified (EM) class at Watkins, contesting on equal terms with Monzas, Maseratis, Cunninghams, and Mondials of greater engine capacity, establishing a Thompson track record by two tenths of a second that would remain unbeaten for a year and a half. Dolph Vilardi won the 750 cc H Modified (HM) class in the US Championship with 6,000 points, beating Crosleys, Renaults, Giaurs, Panhards, Siatas, and Nardis, among other specials.
The next year saw Bandini wins by Rudkin at Berverly, Yares at Watkins, Michaels at Thompson (FM and time trial) and Bob Major at Bryanfan. Tom O'Brien also registered a Bandini win at Bryanfan when he topped the 2000 cc class with an Alfa Romeo-powered car; he later became an official driver for Alfa.
Also in 1956, a 750 sport siluro fitted with a David Uihlein-tuned 1250 cc MG engine, achieved two wins, two second places, a fourth, and only one retirement during the entire season.
In 1957, Bandinis dominated the 750 cc H Modified (HM) category: Melvin Sachs earned an SCCA title winning 3,600 points in the class; Rudkin (who had switched to Saab power for the season) ended the year second, with 3,200; Gordon Wright was sixth with 1,800: seventh was George Tipsword on 1,400; and Jack Connoly finished tenth in the points chase with 1,000. The fame of the Bandinis was reflected by writer and screenwriter William F. Nolan's choice of the Bandini Torpedo for star billing in his 1957 short story "Across the old man and into Bandini".
Read more about this topic: Ilario Bandini
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