1973 Elden PH10B

1973 Elden PH10B '140/1 - AM73-49'

June 10, 1973

August 18, 2021

Michael Argetsinger impacted everyone he met- usually in a graceful, subtle manner that may have gone unnoticed at first. Yet the dignified, positive way Mike went about his life had a magnetic effect on those around him, drawing unlike people together in ways we have never seen. Mike’s passion for the history of the motorsport led him to cross paths with us in 2005.

We were fortunate to have him drive one of our SCCA Spec Miatas from time-to-time over the next few years and showcase some of our cars at the International Motor Racing Research Center, an archival and research facility he championed and helped manage in his hometown of Watkins Glen, New York.

We were slated to have Mike drive our 1977 All American Racers Eagle DGF from Road America into downtown Elkhart Lake for the Road & Track Concours d’Elegance in July 2015, but we lost Mike to cancer a few weeks prior at his home in Chicago, Illinois. After his passing, we made it a goal to find one of his Formula Fords that he had over the years. It would be an effort that like Mike- would bring people together. A search for a car that was raced by one of the most full-hearted people we have ever known. It took us four years to find a car he raced. Most vintage Formula Fords do not have log books intact, nor do they have many identifiers attached to them that make them jump out and say who may have shoe’d them at some point.

However, in July 2019, fellow Formula Ford legend Frank Del Vecchio posted a classified ad on Facebook for two Elden Formula Fords for sale. One was a rather rare but easy to identify Falconer-bodied Elden PH10A, but also, in the corner of the ad was a bare Elden chassis of unknown origin. It had a few chassis modifications through the years, but was an Elden. Outboard rear brakes, PH10B bodywork and curiously, a logbook number (071-119) stamped into the roll hoop from the Watkins Glen SCCA Region, Mike’s home region.

Upon further review, we made some calls to Mike’s family and friends as well as some key individuals here in the United States and in England who knew about Elden Formula Fords and Watkins Glen Region logbook numbers. We shot away some emails and went over photos of Mike racing in Europe in 1973 where he ran and helped organize the American Express Formula Ford Cup. In that series, he raced an Elden with PH10B bodywork and outboard rear brakes. It just-so-happened that he exported the Elden to the US in early 1974 and sold near his Watkins Glen home base. If you know how stories are told, you’ll understand where this one headed: we purchased Mike’s old Elden PH10B. Mike helped paved the way for us in many routes we cannot begin to explain. Thus, in tribute to one of the finest people we have ever had the pleasure of knowing, we brought back to life a sliver of Mike’s time on this earth via a car most of his friends and family never saw compete, as it was across the Atlantic. The restoration was our pleasure- and we’d do it again. Mike was that kind of guy.

As for the car itself, the Elden brand came to be in 1967. The cars were designed by Peter Hampsheir and put to form by his brother, Brian Hampsheir. The duo’s series of Formula Fords, Formula 4, Formula 3, Formula 2, Sports 2000 and other designs totaled over 34 unique models. The PH10 series was the design most implemented, with 121 chassis built from 1972-1974 at their home base at the Brands Hatch circuit in England. The volume of sales were largely based on Johnny Gerber’s dominant win in the 1972 Formula Ford Festival at Snetterton with a Falconer-bodied Elden PH8. The engine in the PH10B is a 1598cc Ford Kent, coupled to a Hewland Mk8 transaxle making 115 hp and a top speed of 135 mph.

So it was, Michael championed this Elden in 1973 on some of the most legendary circuits in Europe- as well as some airport circuits on USAF bases. The series he managed, marketed and raced in, the American Express Formula Ford Cup, was predominantly filled with Americans stationed in Europe for their various military roles, though a few graded drivers mixed in that were friends of the Americans. Future Formula 1 driver Hans Binder and two-time Indy 500 champion Arie Luyendyk were among those competing in the series in 1973.

In the winter of 1973 Michael exported and sold the Elden to fellow New York native Randall Dounce, who raced the car with ‘Falconer’ full-bodied fiberglass throughout the 1974 SCCA Regional season, only to trade the car for a Lotus Europa. From there, we know the car was raced by Bill Mack into the late 1980s before it was purchased by Jason and Christian Morski for SCCA Solo and Regional Club Racing in New York up until 2005, then onto Elden collector David Colpak.

Del Veccio purchased Mike’s Elden and the PH10A Elden in early summer, 2019 before we came by his advert. During the 23-month restoration, many pieces of the PH10A model (s/n AM73-49) were used to rebuild Mike’s chassis, known as ‘140/1’, and thus, the finished restored car carries the serial numbers of both cars to carry on the respective lineages.

We have a laundry list of thank-yous for our restoration of Mike's Elden, in no particular order but with all our humble thanks to Josh Ashby, Bill Green, the late Peter Argetsinger, Michael Mueller, Paul Pfanner, David Kettler, Frank Del Vecchio, Shippert Racing Services, Scott Young Enterprises, Larry Haynes, James Buckton, Danny Stanzl, Tim Woelk, Brian Brown, the IMRRC, Allen Brown, Two Dogg Inc., Andy Antipas, Advanced Engine Concepts, Lee Green, Joe Marcinski, Joby Graham, Maureen Harris, Werth Racing Enterprises, the Hampsheir family and finally Foerster Signs.

Finally, a C-5 Galaxy-sized thank you goes out to Paul Jay, who as always, is a magician. If you saw what this car started as, you would have most likely questioned why we would go through such an effort- but the reason was simple- Michael Argetsinger. Paul did what Paul does, and he did it to the same effectiveness of the Eagles that we campaign. 10/10ths all the way.

Cheers Mike.

Our own Jacques Dresang with Frank Del Veccio in September, 2019.

The 1973 American Express Formula Ford Cup

Round 1 of the 1973 American Express Formula Ford Cup took place May 5-6, 1973 at the Sembach Airfield for the 'Int. AvD/ISCC Flugplatz Rennen.' Michael finished 10th out of 17 starters, while another Elden, driven by future Indianapolis 500 champion Arie Luyendyk, took home the win.

Results
1. Arie Luyendyk - Elden
2. Tibor Meray - Elden
3. Steven D. Farnsworth - Elden
4. Jim Vermeulen - Crossle
5. Don Bidwell - Lotus
6. Bill Dawson - Lotus
7. John Rust - Lola
8. Jannick Johnsson - Royale
9. Lewis van Bibber - Lotus
10. Michael Argetsinger - Elden
11. Manfred Krawietz - Lotus
12. William F. Petruzel - Lotus
13. Ann Wurzbach - Lotus
DNF:
Walter Wurzbach - Royale
Dennis Pauze - Lotus
Dan Greer - Hawke
Paul M. Jeter - Lotus

Round 2 of the American Express Formula Ford Cup took place May 19-20, 1973 at the Salzburgring in Plainfeld, Austria for the 'Int. ADAC Bavaria Rennen auf dem Salzburgring.' Mike's #1 American Express Racing Team Elden PH10 failed to finish and was classified 17th of the 26 starters. Gerhard Irsa of Austria took home the win with his Lotus.

Results
1. Gerhard Irsa - Lotus
2. Martin Gramann - Elden
3. Hans Binder - Merlyn
4. Michael Bulla - Lotus
5. Erich Dulberg - Merlyn
6. Tibor Meray - Elden
7. Walter Wurzbach - Royale
8. Steven D. Farnsworth - Elden
9. Hans Royer- Elden
10. John Rust - Lola
11. Bill Dawson - Lotus
12. Lewis M. van Bibber - Lotus
13. Randall Olin - Lotus
14. Dennis Pauze - Lotus
15. William Petruzel - Lotus
16. Ann Wurzbach - Lotus
DNF:
Michael Argetsinger - Elden
John L. Fahlgren - Lotus
Fredrick Neidhardt - Lotus
Vars Smith - Hawke
Karl Dieter Anton - Lotus
Stephan Steiner - Lotus
Hans Meier - Elden
Hubert Stoffel - Lotus
Erich Lessiak - Merlyn
Kurt Budzinski - McNamara

The third round of the American Express Formula Ford Cup ventured to the new Nivelles-Baulers circuit. The event had 15 Formula Fords on-hand, with Tibor Meray taking the win with his Elden. Michael took his #208 Elden home 8th in the final tally.

Results
1. Tibor Meray - Elden
2. Walter Wurzbach - Royale
3. Steven D. Farnsworth - Elden
4. John Rust - Lola
5. Don Bidwell - Lotus
6. Vars Smith - Hawke
7. Hubert Stoffel - Lotus
8. Michael Argetsinger - Elden
9. Jerry Blaine - Lotus
10. Randall Olin - Lotus
11. Bill Petruzel - Lotus
12. Ann Wurzbach - Lotus
13. Lewis van Bibber - Lotus
DNF:
Falk Eigler - Eigenbau
Bill Dawson - Lotus

Round four of the American Express Formula Ford Cup took place June 9-10, 1973 at the newly-revamped Zolder Circuit, which had just had issues a few weeks prior when the fresh asphalt started to crumble for the Belgain Grand Prix. Concrete dust was still being used to limit adhesion less than a month later for the FF race, where Harve Regout took the win with his Holbay-powered Merlyn. Mike's #21 machine came home a fine fifth of 23 cars that started the race, which says a lot considering he was as far back as 17th at the start of the event.

Results
1. Harvé Regout - Merlyn/Holbay
2. Walter Wurzbach - Royale
3. Steven D. Farnsworth - Elden
4. Tibor Meray - Elden
5. Michael Argetsinger - Elden
6. Bill Dawson - Lotus
7. Jannick Johnsson - Royale
8. Dany Baele - Merlyn
9. John Rust - Lola T200
10. Franz Dubois - Alexis
11. Hubert Stoffel - Lotus
12. Don Bidwell - Lotus
13. Alex Ziegler - Lotus
14. Philippe Sougné - Vaney
15. Manfred Krawietz - Lotus
16. Michel Lambert - Vaney
17. Jerry Blaine - Lotus
18. Ann Wurzbach - Lotus
19. Vars Smith - Hawke
20. Hans Binder - Merlyn
21 J.F. Vaney - Vaney
22. Randall Olin - Lotus
DNF:
Marcel Wettstein - McNamara

Round five of the American Express Formula Ford Cup took place at the Mainz Finthen Airport for the Internationales AvD/HMSC Flugplatz Rennen on June 30 and July 1, 1973. Nineteen cars took the green flag, with Tibor Meray taking home the win with his Elden. Michael retired early and was classified 18th.

Results
1. Tibor Meray - Elden
2. Steve Farnsworth - Lotus
3. Don Bidwesll - Lotus
4. Bill Dawson - Lotus
5. Jerry Blaine - Lotus
6. Dan Greer - Hawke
7. Manfred Grawitz - Lotus
8. Frederik Neidhardt - Lotus
9. Vars Smith - Hawke
10. John Fahlgren - Lotus
11. Craig Higgins - Merlyn
12. Ann Wurzbach - Lotus
13. Bill Petruzell - Lotus
DNF:
Hubert Stoffel - Lotus
John Callery - Elden
John Rust - Lola
Walter Wurzbach - Royale
Michael Argetsinger - Elden
Dieter Görich - Lotus

Round six of the American Express Formula Ford Cup took the Formula Ford class to Niederstetten Airport for the Internationales Hohenloher ADAC Flugplatz Rennen, held July 7-8, 1973. Michael placed 8th with his #18 Elden in the 16-car field, with Arie Luyendyk taking home the win.

Results
1. Arie Luyendyk - Elden
2. Tiber Meray - Elden PH 10
3. Steven D. Farnsworth - Elden PH 10
4. Fridolin Wettstein - McNamara
5. Don Bidwell - Lotus
6. Bill Dawson - Lotus 61
7. Walter Wurzbach - Royale RP 16
8. Michael Argetsinger - Elden PH 10
9. Manfred Krawietz - Lotus 61 M
10. John Fahlgreen - Lotus
11. Dan Greer - Hawke DL9 / Roland
12. Hubert Stoffel - Lotus 61
13. Jerry Blaine - Lotus / BRD
14. Bill Petruzel - Lotus 61M
15. Vars Smith - Hawke DL2B
16. Randall Olin - Lotus 61M

Round seven of the American Express Formula Ford Cup took place at Hockenheim, which attracted 19 Formula Fords to the grid. Future Formula 1 driver Hans Binder (shown following Michael) took the win with his Merlyn, while Michael placed 10th in his #73 Elden.

Results
1. Hans Binder - Merlyn
2. Tibor Meray - Elden
3. Steven D. Farnsworth - Elden
4. Walter Wurzbach - Royale
5. Don Bidwell - Lotus
6. John Rust - Lola 200
7. Manfred Krawietz - Lotus
8. Dan Greer - Hawke/Rowland
9. Vars Smith - Hawke
10. Michael Argetsinger - Elden
11. Bill Dawson - Lotus 61
12. Randall Olin - Lotus 61M
13. Jerry Blaine - Lotus / BRD
14. Bill Petruzel - Lotus 61M
15. Marcel Wettstein - McNamara
16. John Fahlgren - Lotus
DNF:
Jannick Johnsson - Royale
Richard Ritchie - Lotus
Falk Eigler - HFE 739

Round eight of the AmEx Cup took place at Mainz-Finthen, with a total of 26 Formula Fords taking to the temporary airfield circuit. Michael and his #115 entry came home a fine seventh, while Tibor Meray again took home a win in his #97 Elden.

Results
1. Tibor Meray - Elden
2. John Rust - Lola
3. Ewald Boisitz - Lotus / Hammerschmid
4. Dan Greer - Hawke
5. Jerry Blaine - Lotus
6. Don Bidwell - Lotus
7. Michael Argetsinger - Elden
8. Fredrick Neidhardt - Lotus
9. Peter Kroeber - Merlyn
10. Hubert Stoffel - Lotus
11. Dieter Görich - Lotus
12. John Fahlgren - Lotus
13. George Schmitz - Lotus
14. Joseph Schlosser - Brabham
15. Marcel Wettstein - McNamara
DNF:
Vars Smith - Hawke
John Callery - Elden
Walter Wurzbach - Royale
Ann Wurzbach - Lotus
Steven Farnsworth - Elden
Manfred Krawietz- Lotus
Jannick Johnsson - Royale
Falk Eigler - HFE
Jerry Barfield - Hawke
Boby Burton - Lotus
Bill Dawson - Lotus

Michael braved the wet conditions of the Ulm/Laupheim ADAC event, which took place September 15-16, 1973 and was the ninth round of the championship. Michael drove his #118 Elden to a fine 6th-place finish of the 21 cars that took to the grid.

Results
1. Tibor Meray - Elden
2. Steven D. Farnsworth - Elden
3. Arie Luyendyk - Elden
4. Fridolin Wettstein - McNamara
5. John Rust - Lola
6. Michael Argetsinger - Elden
7. Manfred Krawietz - Lotus
8. Randolf Olin - Lotus
9. Don Bidwell - Lotus
10. George Schmitz - Lotus
11. Charles Alge - Merlyn
12. Carl Fisher - Lotus
13. Daniel Bartel - Elden
14. Vars Smith - Hawke
15. Joseph Schlosser - Brabham
DNF:
Jerry Barfield - Hawke
Jerry Blaine - Lotus
Fredrich Fuchs - McNamara
Craig Higgins - Merlyn
William Dawson - Lotus
Dan Greer - Hawke

Images of the September 22 AvD/MAC-Rundstreckenrennen were tough to find, but like the other events, round 10's results came to us via Allen Brown from oldracingcars.com. Seventeen Formula Fords took the grid for the event, with Michael finishing 12th- his worst finish of the season. *There is some debate on whether or not Mike raced the Elden in the event. Some results show he was in a Lotus, prompting us to think he had already set up the shipment of the Elden back to the US.

Results
1. Hans Binder - Merlyn
2. Tibor Meray - Elden
3. Steve Farnsworth - Elden
4. Fridolin Wettstein - McNamara
5. Ch. Peter Kröber - Merlyn
6. Jerry Blaine - Lotus
7. Larry Alge - Merlyn
8. Don Bidwell - Lotus
9. Michael Argetsinger - *Elden
10. Falk Eigler - HFE
11. Rolf Edel - Lotus
12. Peter Argetsinger - Lotus
13. Jannick Johnsson - Royale
14. Bill Dawson - Lotus
15. Carl Fisher - Lotus
16. Friedrich Fuchs - McNamara
17. Richard Ritchie - Lotus 61

The 11th and final round of the American Express Cup took place on October 11-12, 1973 during the weekend of the Int. II. ADAC/SFG- Saisonabschluß-Rennen at Zolder, a return to where Michael had his best result of the year back in June. However, even though he was shown as the #117 Elden PH10 / Piper entry in the program, he wasn't on the grid- again making us think he had exported the Elden. However, he wasn't the only one not to turn up, as 30 entered, only 18 made it to race day for the final event of the 1973 AmEx Cup campaign.

And on raceday, Jean Wansart took his Vaney to the win over future F&S Properties F1 driver Boy Hayje's Lotus 61 and Tibor Meray in his Elden PH10.

Results:
1. Jean Wansart - Vaney
2. Boy Hayje - Lotus 61
3. Tibor Meray - Elden
4. Heen Verhoven - Lotus
5. Jerry Blaine - Lotus
6. Don Bidwell - Lotus
7. Bill Dawson - Lotus
8. John Jannzck - Royale RP 16
9. John Rust - Lola
10. Dan Greer - Hawke / Rowland
11. Bobby Burton - Lotus
12. Dieter Görich - Lotus
13. Manfred Krawietz - Lotus
14. Michael Lambert - Vaney
Not Classified:
Marcel Wettstein - McNamara
DNF:
Marcel Ernst - Lotus 61
Craig Higgins - Merlyn
Marcel Regent - Lotus

So it was that Tibor Meray took home the 1973 AmEx Cup title with his Panasonic-backed Elden with teammate Steve Farnsworth second and Don Bidwell third with his Lotus.

From our records, 73 drivers entered AmEx Cup events in 1973, including two future F1 drivers, a two-time Indy 500 winner, and countless F2 and F3 drivers who used the AmEx Cup to help nurture their skills.

Michael finished in 14th position in the final standings, missing one event, and all-the-while running the activities of organizing the event, keeping the series sponsors happy and running his own car.

In typical fashion, Michael made it all work.