Dan Carmichael , who had been driving for Sports Car Forum in Divisional races, took over primary responsibility for the Series IV in 1965. Don Sesslar was now driving the Sports Car Forum prepared Tiger, and would achieve many more successes in B-Production.

The Tiger had become the primary focus of Sunbeam in the United States. It was a new model which featured the powerful Ford 260 V-8. For 1965, Sports Car Forum prepared a brand new sister car to the Alpine, a Tiger which looked almost identical, white with blue stripes. They looked so similar that in one book written about the Tiger, there is a photo of the Alpine that is miss-identified as the Tiger. Some people may recall that Carrol Shelby's race prepped Tiger, yellow #74, was raced by Don until it was written off in a crash in 1964. Dan Carmichael was also running a Tiger on occasion. In the first US Road Race Of Champions, there is a race report with a photo in Sports Car Graphic of Dan exchanging paint with a E-Type.

1965

 

In April, 1965, Dan won at VIR. In July, Dan took 2nd place in class, 3rd overall, at Meadowdale.

 

The Meadowdale Race report from Sports Car Graphic, Aug. 65/pg 56 reads:

"Alan Barker's A-H-100-6 lead all the way in the E+F Production race. When the checkered flag dropped, Richard Hull was only three seconds behind in his Volvo P-1800. Hull in turn was challenged by Dan Carmichael in a Sunbeam Alpine. The second spot changed back and forth several times, but Hull regained it on the final round and was challenging the winner."

 

 

Dan Carmichael*
April 11, 1965	Virginia Int. Raceway	1st
June 20, 1965	Road America	2nd
July 4, 1965	Meadowdale	2nd
July, 1965	Lynndale Farms	1st
July, 1965	Mid-Ohio	1st
Tied for Division Championship	F-Production	51 points

*Dan's records are only partially available

1966

At the end of 1965 the Series V, 1725cc, motor had been introduced into production. Contrary to what many books state, the Alpine continued to to be classified in F-Production. In Richard Langworth's book, Tiger, Alpine, and Rapier, it states that the Alpine was reclassified into E-Production which ended it's competitive career. Perhaps there were external factors which helped in the demise of the Alpines competition career , but it wasn't due to a reclassification.

Factors that may have played a role include the introduction of the Tiger ,which would have commanded the majority of Sunbeams' race support in the US. This would have translated into a lack of financial support at all levels of racing for the Alpine. Not just the National or Division racers.

It could have been that more competitive cars were being moved into F-Production. The Datsun's had quickly been moved up through the classification ranks. The same was true of the Alfa Romeos. All the Alfas, and there were many varieties of Giulias and Giuliettas, had been lumped into F-Production for 1967.

Looking ahead at 1967, Dan proved that the Alpine was still competitive with a 3rd Place in the Central Division Title. With a car which was almost 10 years old in design and an engine which never received the development effort that the more popular MG's benefited from.

 

1967

In 1967, Dan took over the car's expenses as well as the maintenance. Due to the sale of the Rootes Corporation to Chrysler, the new Rootes dealer in Columbus became George Byer. Dan continued to race through the 1967 season. My records show that he raced at Daytona and also competed in a Detroit Region SCCA meet on September 24th, 1967. Obviously, from the 3rd Place finish in the Division there were many more races than I currently have noted.

I believe that it was during the race at Road America that Bill Swegler, the last driver/owner of the Series IV, and Dan Carmichael met. There was some correspondence between the two of them that occurred in early April, 1968 regarding availability of parts. Dan had been looking to sell the car, which he apparently did in late April or early May of this year.

As a footnote to the story of the Sports Car Forum team, it should be noted that Dan just retired from racing last year. Almost 40 years of competitive racing in the SCCA. Amazingly, Dan took a National title in his Ralt a couple of years ago.

---

 

Images from the 1965-67 seasons - please click for enlargements
	1965 -Dan Carmichael after winning at VIR. Photo credit Roger Blanchard.
	1965 - Dan at VIR making a pass on another Alpine. Photo credit Roger Blanchard.
	Dan at Daytona in 1965.

Contemporary Track History

Page 1	Page 2	Page 3	Page 4

Dan's notes from Daytona in 1967

 

Fortunately these records were found with the car. These documents were in the bottom a parts box which was unprotected from

the weather since the car had been moved from its garage in February. It is fortunate that I found the car when I did since some

documents were already showing water damage.

1961-63	1964	1965-67	2000	2001
History of Sports Car Forum page