Spyder NF-10

Spyder NF-10
Spyder NF-11

Constructor	Spyder
Predecessor	Lola T333CS
Successor	Lola T530
Technical specifications
Engine	Chevrolet 5,000 cc (305.1 cu in) V8 naturally-aspirated mid-engined
Competition history
Notable entrants	Newman-Freeman Racing Golden Gate Racing
Notable drivers	Elliot Forbes-Robinson Patrick Depailler Keke Rosberg Randolph Townsend Howdy Holmes Dan Craddock Stephen South
Debut	1978 Can-Am Road Atlanta
Races Wins Poles 10 (NF-10) 11 (13 entries) (NF-11) 2 (NF-10) 3 (NF-11) 0 (NF-10) 7 (NF-11)
Teams' Championships	1: 1979 Can-Am

The Spyder NF-10 was an American sports prototype racing car built for the Can-Am series in 1978. It was based on a Lola T333CS, and was developed into the Spyder NF-11 in 1979. Two NF-10s were built in 1978, whilst four NF-11s were built in 1979, two of which were originally NF-10s. Both the NF-10 and NF-11 featured a 5-litre Chevrolet V8 engine.

Racing history

NF-10

In 1978, Spyder converted two Lola T333CS sports prototypes into the NF-10. The NF-10 featured a naturally-aspirated 5-litre Chevrolet V8 engine, and was built for the Can-Am series.^[1] The car made its debut at the opening round of the 1978 Can-Am season, held at Road Atlanta; Newman-Freeman Racing entered Elliot Forbes-Robinson in the car, and although he was classified eleventh, he did not finish the race due to a mechanical failure.^[2] The next round, held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, saw Forbes-Robinson win the race, finishing just over 35 seconds ahead of Alan Jones in second place, who was driving a regular Lola T333CS.^[3] He finished third at Mid-Ohio,^[4] 14th at Mont-Tremblant,^[5] and sixth at Watkins Glen.^[6] Having finished seventh at Road America and fourth at Mosport,^[7][8] Forbes-Robinson won his second race of the season at Trois-Rivières.^[9] He followed this with a 17th at Laguna Seca Raceway,^[10] and a third in the season finale at Riverside; in this latter event, Patrick Depailler drove the second NF-10, but could only finish 17th.^[11] This was the NF-10's last ever race.^[12] Forbes-Robinson finished fourth in the Driver's Championship, with 1537 points.^[13]

NF-11

In 1979, Spyder updated the NF-10 and produced the NF-11. Initially, both NF-10s were updated to the new specification; however, as the season continued, two new cars were built.^[14] Like the NF-10, it featured a 5-litre Chevrolet V8 engine, and the car was still based on the Lola T333CS. Like 1978, the Can-Am season started at Road Atlanta; this time, however, Keke Rosberg won the race in one of the Newman-Freeman Racing NF-11s, whilst Forbes-Robinson finished third.^[15] The team was almost as successful in the next race, held at Charlotte Motor Speedway; Forbes-Robinson finished second, and Rosberg came third.^[16] For Mosport, three cars were entered; Rosberg, Forbes-Robinson, and Randolph Townsend; Forbes-Robinson took another second place, whilst Rosberg and Townsend both crashed out (on lap 28 and 25 respectively) of the race.^[17] Townsend didn't race at Mid-Ohio, but Rosberg took second, and Forbes-Robinson took third.^[18] Townsend returned at Watkins-Glen, and Rosberg took his second win of the season; however, Townsend was classified 13th, with a broken oil line forcing him out after 30 laps, and Forbes-Robinson also hit trouble after 18 laps, and was classified 20th.^[19] Road America was an unsuccessful event for the team as all three drivers retired; Townsend with a blown engine after 20 laps, Rosberg with valve issues after 19 laps, and Forbes-Robinson with suspension failure after 15 laps.^[20] The next race, held at Brainerd International Raceway, saw Forbes-Robinson finish second, although Townsend was limited to ninth place due to a fuel pickup issue, and Rosberg didn't complete the first lap due to a broken rod.^[21] Forbes-Robinson repeated his 1978 victory at Trois-Rivières; Rosberg finished seventh, having blown his engine, and Townsend finished 15th.^[22] Forbes-Robinson then finished second at Laguna Seca, with Howdy Holmes (replacing Townsend) finishing fourth, and Rosberg sixth, despite the latter crashing in practice.^[23] The final round of the season, held at Riverside, saw Forbes-Robinson take third, Townsend finish seventh, and Rosberg finish 14th, having crashed out after 44 laps.^[24] Forbes-Robinson finished second in the Driver's championship, with 45 points, whilst Rosberg finished fourth, with 29.^[25] Newman-Freeman Racing also won the Team's championship, with 61 points; they beat Carl A. Haas Racing Teams, Ltd. by a single point.^[26]

In 1980, Newman-Freeman Racing (now known as Newman Racing) replaced the Spyder NF-11 with the Lola T530.^[27] As a result, the car did not run in the first two rounds of the series, until Golden Gate Racing entered Dan Craddock in one of the NF-11s at Mosport; he retired after 25 laps with engine failure, and was classified twelfth.^[28] He was entered in the car again at Watkins Glen, but did not attend the race.^[29] No NF-11s were entered for the fifth round of the season, but Newman Racing entered Stephen South in one of the cars at Brainerd; he crashed in practice, and was unable to race.^[30] He was entered at Trois-Rivières, but crashed out in practice again;^[31] the accident was severe enough to require the amputation of his leg.^[32] This proved to be the last time an NF-11 was entered for a race.^[33]

References

This page was last edited on 15 April 2022, at 02:56