HSR’s Group 4 open-wheel classes are an important part of the organization’s past, present and future, and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is one premier track on the tour that has been a longtime fixture for the popular group. At both April’s HSR The Mitty Presented by Hagerty and each year’s HSR Fall Historics every autumn, the single-seat, open-wheel machines in Group 4 provide some of the best action.
One standout entry at this year’s 47th HSR The Mitty presented by Hagerty last April was Robert Blain’s beautiful 1976 March that was originally built for Formula 2 competition. The March has had many updates over the years, including twin radiators moved from the sides of the chassis to a single unit in the nose, 77B bodywork, a front hoop over the dash and footbox, and a higher main roll hoop to accommodate the tall Blain.
“It’s been a great little car,” Blain said. “It was originally built for a fellow named Dean Tank by Ken Barley. Dean then sold the car to Steve Reese out of Kansas City. Steve ran the car for a number of years. Then, one day I get a call from Steve offering to sell it to me. I bought the car, but it sat for two years. Finally, I decided I was going to drive it. So, I had it fitted out with a new, taller roll hoop and front bar, which it did not have previously. Then I messed around with the pedals and all the usual stuff so that I could fit in it properly.”
An HSR regular, Blain runs several other fantastic cars that are familiar to fans and competitors alike, including a Pratt & Miller 2004 Corvette C6.R and an ex-ESM Tequila Patron 2012 Acura ARX-03b, to name just a few.
“I started racing in 1993,” Blain said. “I bought a Porsche 356B coupe that had been in a wreck, stripped the parts off it and gave it to a friend of mine who built it into a race car for us. From there, I bought a Ralt RT-1 Formula Atlantic car.”
The Jagermeister-adorned March has been as popular as any of Blain’s rides, and once even caught the eye of previous owner Reese.
“I started racing the thing and doing really well,” Blain said. “Steve called me one day saying, ‘I’d like to buy it back.’ I said, ‘Steve who?’ and then hung up!’ I was just having fun with him!
Blain had sold the Ralt by then.
“I had, like, 11 race cars, but selling the Ralt left me without any other open-wheel cars other than the March, so I decided to keep it.”
Next up on the full-season calendar of HSR sprint, endurance and feature race championships is the HSR VIR Historics Weekend, September 4 – 7, at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) where plans call for HSR Group 4 to be featured to help grow the category for future HSR events.
