Autodynamics (race car manufacturer)

Formula Vee was announced in 1962 by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and Volkswagen of America. Caldwell designed the Caldwell D-1 with help from friends. The D-1 was received well by the public and Caldwell decided to produce the car.[1] In 1964 the SCCA included the Formula Vee class in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Along with Formcar and Zink Cars, Autodynamics were the pioneers of the series. Roger Barr finished second in the inaugural national championship race, behind the Formcar of Lewis Kerr. The D-1 was produced in 1964 and 1965 in different variants. In total 478 were produced. It took until 1972 that Autodynamics won a National Championship in Formula Vee. Dave Weitzenhof beat a field with many Zink and Lynx chassis.[2]

The Caldwell D-9 was the first Formula Ford chassis. The car was designed for the 1969 season. Skip Barber was very successful in the class. Barber won the SCCA North East Division championship as well as the National Championship Runoffs. A Caldwell D-9 won the inaugural race sanctioned by the IMSA. At Pocono Raceway Formula Ford cars ran on the 5/8-mile oval track for 200 laps. Caldwell driver Jim Clarke was declared the winner.[3] Another successful Caldwell driver was David Loring. Loring won the Ontario and Canadian Formula Ford series, as well as the IMSA Pro Series.[4]

In 1967 Autodynamics launched the Caldwell D7 built to Group 7 rules to enter the 1967 Can-Am season. Sam Posey again was the main driver for the team with Brett Lunger and Ray Caldwell driving selected rounds. The D7 made its debut at Road America where it retired with a broken half shaft. At Mosport Park Posey finished twelfth, the best result of the season.[5] Autodynamics also entered a McLaren Mk. II when the D7 was not ready. With Posey scoring a podium at Stardust International Raceway. The D7 returned in 1968 where it finished fourth at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the first round of the 1968 United States Road Racing Championship. The following round, at Riverside Raceway, Posey improved to third, scoring the cars only podium finish.[6]

Caldwell had a short lived Formula 5000 project, the D8. Lunger and Posey were the drivers for the one off project. Two chassis were built. Lunger crashed the first chassis during a test, the races were done with a second chassis. In the pro-series Posey scored the best result, a seventh place at Lime Rock Park.[7]

Chrysler entered the Trans-Am Series with their two pony car types the Plymouth Barracuda and the Dodge Challenger. The Barracuda's were entered by Dan Gurneys All American Racers. Caldwell was responsible for the chassis. To lighten the chassis the frames were acid dipped. Sam Posey was the full-time driver for the first Dodge Challenger. This chassis was left in the acid to long weakening the roof and structural integrity of the car. The car required multiple chassis repairs between races.[8] The 305ci Dodge V8 engines built by Keith Black proved unreliable causing multiple retirements.[9] Posey scored three podium finishes during the season accumulating all the team's points. During the last two races, at Seattle and Riverside, a second car was entered. Ronnie Bucknum and Tony Adamowicz. The second car retired in both races.

After the 1970 season the pony car market crashed and Chrysler, Ford and Chevrolet canceled their racing programms.[10]

Autodynamics eventually built 3 Challengers and Black provided 12 engines during the season. The cancellation led to a financial crisis for Autodynamics which was forced to reorganize under Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code.[11]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Car	No.	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	Pos.	Pts
1966	Caldwell D7	22	Sam Posey	MTE 21						-	0
	McLaren M1B	33			BRI 8	MOS 20	LAG 38	RIV 18	LVE 21	-	0
1967	Caldwell D7B	1	Sam Posey	ROA 32	BRI 24	MOS 12	LAG 29	RIV 13	LVE DNS	-	0
1968	Caldwell D7C	1	Sam Posey	ROA 10						9th	5
	Lola T160	2			BRI 8	EDM 4	LAG 9	RIV 21	LVE 5

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Car	No.	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Pos.	Pts
1968	Caldwell D8	11	Brett Lunger	COL	OKL	ROA	THO	MOS 26		BRA 18	LAG 28	-	0
			Sam Posey						LRP 7			-	0

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Car	No.	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Pos.	Pts
1970	Dodge Challenger T/A	76	Sam Posey	LAG 6	LRP 3	NHS 23	MDO 5	BRI 20	BRA 20	ROA 20	TRE 3	WAT 4	SEA 3	RIV 29	4th	18
		77	Ronnie Bucknum	LAG	LRP	NHS	MDO	BRI	BRA	ROA	TRE	WAT	SEA 27
			Tony Adamowicz											RIV 24

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