Spyder NF-10

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]

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]