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Spyder NF-10

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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.

Spyder NF-10
Spyder NF-11
1979 Spyder NF-11 at Eastern Creek Raceway
ConstructorSpyder
PredecessorLola T333CS
SuccessorLola T530
Technical specifications
EngineChevrolet 5,000 cc (305.1 cu in) V8 naturally-aspirated mid-engined
Competition history
Notable entrantsNewman-Freeman Racing
Golden Gate Racing
Notable driversElliot Forbes-Robinson
Patrick Depailler
Keke Rosberg
Randolph Townsend
Howdy Holmes
Dan Craddock
Stephen South
Debut1978 Can-Am Road Atlanta
RacesWinsPoles
10 (NF-10)
11 (13 entries) (NF-11)		2 (NF-10)
3 (NF-11)		0 (NF-10)
7 (NF-11)
Teams' Championships1: 1979 Can-Am

Racing history

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NF-10

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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

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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

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  1. ^ "Photos of Spyder NF-10". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Can-Am Road Atlanta 1978 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Can-Am Charlotte 1978 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Can-Am Mid-Ohio 1978 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Can-Am Mont-Tremblant 1978 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Can-Am Watkins Glen 1978 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Can-Am Road America 1978 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  8. ^ "Can-Am Mosport 1978 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  9. ^ "Can-Am Trois-Rivières 1978 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Can-Am Laguna Seca 1978 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  11. ^ "Can-Am Riverside 1978 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  12. ^ "All Results of Spyder NF-10". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  13. ^ "Can-Am 1978". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  14. ^ "Spyder NF-11". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  15. ^ "Can-Am Road Atlanta 1979 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  16. ^ "Can-Am Charlotte 1979 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  17. ^ "Can-Am Mosport 1979 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  18. ^ "Can-Am Mosport 1979 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  19. ^ "Can-Am Watkins Glen 1979 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  20. ^ "Can-Am Road America 1979 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  21. ^ "Can-Am Brainerd 1979 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  22. ^ "Can-Am Trois-Rivières 1979 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  23. ^ "Can-Am Laguna Seca 1979 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  24. ^ "Can-Am Riverside 1979 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  25. ^ "Can-Am 1979". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  26. ^ "Can-Am – final positions and tables – Teams – 1979 – SCCA Citicorp Can-Am Challenge". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  27. ^ "SCCA Citicorp Can-Am Challenge 1980". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  28. ^ "Can-Am Mosport 1980 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  29. ^ "Can-Am Watkins Glen 1980 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  30. ^ "Can-Am Brainerd 1980 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  31. ^ "Can-Am Trois-Rivières 1980 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  32. ^ Diepraam, Mattijs (September 1998). "Who? Steven South". 8W. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  33. ^ "All Results of Spyder NF-11". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
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