The Johnston JM Racing Cars at the BCHMR

17 Aug The Johnston JM Racing Cars at the BCHMR

Tom Johnston (foreground) with (L to R) the JM2 sports racer, and the JM3 and JM6e Formula Atlantic cars. In the background are former and current drivers (L to R) Tony Carruthers, Ian Thomas, Ross Bentley and Marty Knoll. – Gerry Frechette photo

Posted: August 17, 2024

Tom Johnston is a Vancouver area mechanical engineer and long-time racer, constructor and motorsports supporter. He is a member of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame and the Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society, an author, and was for many years the chairman of the BC Historic Motor Races. For this year’s BCHMR, we asked Tom to organize a demonstration of three of the cars he had designed and built during his spare(!) time from running his successful engineering company, during the 1970’s and 1980’s.

The three cars are the JM2 sports racer now owned by Ian Thomas, the JM3 Formula Atlantic car now owned by Marty Knoll, and the JM6e Formula Atlantic car now owned by Jim Keller. Both Ian and Marty had entered the JM2 and the JM3 to race in the Open Wheel / Sports Racer class and the plan had been for all three to do some parade laps at the lunch break on Sunday. However the racing gods intervened. It was impossible to get some rare engine parts for the JM6e in time and a rear suspension part on the JM2 broke during Friday’s practice session. So it was left to Marty to fly the flag alone during the races and the parade.

You can read Tom’s full story about his cars (and drivers) in the Program, which you can download as a PDF from the link on the right (or click here.)