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RIP Lola

Started by jimjimjeroo , Oct 09 2012 15:23

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50 replies to this topic

#1 jimjimjeroo

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Posted 09 October 2012 - 15:23

http://www.autosport...t.php/id/103257

How can what once such an iconic racing pedigree fall so far??

I fear Cosworth will one day suffer the same fate!

#2 Mekola

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Posted 09 October 2012 - 16:04

Damn Dallara... The regulations of lower formulae should be bi-chassis in order to choose, at least, and not mono-Dallara ones...

#3 Tony Matthews

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Posted 09 October 2012 - 16:11

That is very sad. Motor racing is cut-throat, and that extends to constructors, I think. In the CART hey-day, seeing the must-have chassis swinging from March to Lola, fom Lola to Reynard and back again, I never knew which company was not going to make it to the next season. I'm surprised some held on so long.

#4 Allen Brown

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Posted 09 October 2012 - 16:45

I'm impressed they made it so far. Their competitors from the 1960s and 1970s are long gone: Lotus, March, Brabham, Ralt, Cooper, Chevron, Trojan, at al.

#5 E1pix

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Posted 09 October 2012 - 17:56

That's terrible news. I was really hoping they could hang on. :cry:

#6 arttidesco

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Posted 09 October 2012 - 18:50

Very sad news :cry:

#7 BRG

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Posted 09 October 2012 - 21:25

Damn Dallara... The regulations of lower formulae should be bi-chassis in order to choose, at least, and not mono-Dallara ones...

You didn't mind when they were mono-Lola? Lola had plenty of monopoly times, but Dallara have simply done better than them, so I am afraid that Lola go the same way as March, Reynard, and many others. Now Radical is the UK's biggest racing car manufacturer, so what goes around comes around.

#8 Marc Sproule

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 02:00

Sad to see. Not a good comment about modern racing.

For those interested, there are a lot of Lola snaps in my sets. Mostly in Formula Atlantic, Indy Car and F5000 but also a couple in IMSA.

Eventually there will be a lot more.....

http://www.flickr.co...81980@N03/sets/

And here's a group on flickr that's devoted solely to Lola.....

http://www.flickr.co...ith/7926807494/

#9 petestenning

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 05:31

Where does this leave Lola Heritage? is that separate from Lola itself.
Queue Gerald Swan ?.

Pete

#10 Sharman

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 08:06

If you are queueing is that a prelude to Swan Upping, don't you mean "Cue" Pete?

#11 Allen Brown

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 11:39

Where does this leave Lola Heritage? is that separate from Lola itself.
Queue Gerald Swan ?.

Pete

That's always been a separate thing but it may have received some funding from Lola. Hopefully Gerald will be able to continue the website with support from the broader Lola heritage community.

#12 RTH

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 13:18

Actually reading the interview with Martin Birrane in Racecar Engineering- just arrived, it may not be quite as bleak as at first glance ownership is broken up in to a number of companies only two are involved, so after the dust has settled a comeback is possible.

#13 David Beard

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 13:31

Actually reading the interview with Martin Birrane in Racecar Engineering- just arrived, it may not be quite as bleak as at first glance ownership is broken up in to a number of companies only two are involved, so after the dust has settled a comeback is possible.

Yes, it would seem the composites division might survive.

#14 charles r

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 13:41

Incredibly sad news.

#15 Gerald Swan

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 14:53

Well since my name has been mentioned :wave:

.

Yes, Heritage will be continuing. As you can see from the Autosport report, the Lola name, designs, Intellectual Property and Heritage (including the Archives) is owned by Lola Group Holdings which did not go into Administration. I've been told to carry on with business as normal and hopefully, once the dust has settled, Heritage will continue to grow and develop. Bob Marston should continue to be on-hand to deal with technical queries and I'll continue to look after the website, Archives and Chassis Register.

Just to clarify Allen's comment, although Lola Heritage as it is now was set up by myself and Glyn Jones, with Lola's tacit approval, about two years ago Lola took over Heritage and employed me to be webmaster etc.

Edited by Gerald Swan, 10 October 2012 - 14:58.

#16 simonlewisbooks

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 15:28

As you can see from the Autosport report, the Lola name, designs, Intellectual Property and Heritage (including the Archives) is owned by Lola Group Holdings which did not go into Administration.

This fact probably highlights one reason why the car-making side failed to find a buyer as a going-concern. I know it was probably sensible practice to split everything up in this way at some point but if you wanted to "buy Lola",as it were, it seems akin to buying a house but not the kitchen, the stairs, the front door... etc etc.

#17 RonPohl

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 16:39

Will a reborn Lola really be "Lola" anymore than the "Lotus" currently inhabiting the formula one grid is really Lotus?

#18 Jimisgod

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 18:21

Will a reborn Lola really be "Lola" anymore than the "Lotus" currently inhabiting the formula one grid is really Lotus?

Which one

I assume someone will buy the broken up portions of the company. It's awful these iconic companies go, but as was said above, Reynard, March etc. are all long gone sadly.

Then again, how many F1 constructors (one series as a start) can lay claim to continuous heritage under one name from the start? Ferrari, Williams and possibly McLaren (who even then were bought out decades ago) correct me if I'm wrong?

Edited by Jimisgod, 10 October 2012 - 18:23.

#19 petestenning

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 18:23

I shall have to watch my P' s and Cue's :drunk:

Good to hear that Lola Heritage and Gerald's good work will continue, to me Lola is the brand i grew up with and they produced my favourite car/model the T70 .

Pete

#20 Nigel Beresford

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 20:11

Which one

I assume someone will buy the broken up portions of the company. It's awful these iconic companies go, but as was said above, Reynard, March etc. are all long gone sadly.

Then again, how many F1 constructors (one series as a start) can lay claim to continuous heritage under one name from the start? Ferrari, Williams and possibly McLaren (who even then were bought out decades ago) correct me if I'm wrong?

Regarding McLaren, I don't know about the definition of "bought out", but it was more like an orchestrated merger of Project 4 and McLaren Racing to create McLaren International, and it's easy to demonstrate continuous heritage:

1979: Mayer: David Road, Colnbrook
1980: Mayer + Dennis: David Road, Colnbrook
1982ish Mayer + Dennis : Boundary Road, Woking
1983 et seq Dennis: Boundary Road etc. Woking.

Edited by Nigel Beresford, 10 October 2012 - 20:22.

#21 RA Historian

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 21:06

Then again, how many F1 constructors (one series as a start) can lay claim to continuous heritage under one name from the start? Ferrari, Williams and possibly McLaren (who even then were bought out decades ago) correct me if I'm wrong?

I wonder if the claim can be made about Williams. Frank started in the late 1960s with a customer Brabham, IIRC, then into the "Politoys" and "Iso-Marlboro" before 'coming clean' in 1975 and calling his cars 'Williams'. But in 1976 he sold out to Walter Wolf and we had the Wolf-Williams combo for a year before Frank left and went out on his own once more. So, I suppose that there have been two Williams over the years; the first being the very early cars which morphed into Wolf, then Fittipaldi, and the second being the company Frank formed in 1977 and which is still going.
Tom

#22 MattFoster

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Posted 10 October 2012 - 21:43

Sad, sad news. Always terrible to see the iconic names disappear like this.

#23 E1pix

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Posted 11 October 2012 - 05:36

... to me Lola is the brand i grew up with and they produced my favourite car/model the T70.

Me, too, but T332C for me. :love:

Glad to hear Lola Heritage will survive, like OldRacingCars.com a treasure for lifer road race motorheads such as I.

#24 Obster

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Posted 12 October 2012 - 20:39

My fav was also the T70. I saw one of the Penske cars in person at a Sunoco gas station opening in the 1960's. It looked like a flying saucer...like it was about to take off straight up into the air. Just the most futuristic and beautiful machine ever...
Sorry to hear about Lola, but from the comments on this forum it seems like they have minimized the damage.

#25 Nanni Dietrich

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Posted 22 October 2012 - 10:00

My fav was also the T70.

...

Agree. I remember seeing the white-painted Lola T70 Mk3B-Chevrolet of Sid taylor, driven by Andrea de Adamich and Nino Vaccarella, along the treacherous roads of the Circuito del Mugello road race in 1969. The pair managed to drive the crude giant to 3rd place, not far from the agile 2-litre Abarth prototypes of Arturo Merzario and Ortner-Van Lennep!
http://www.ilpaesede...se.it/1969.html

#26 simonlewisbooks

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Posted 22 October 2012 - 10:46

Agree. I remember seeing the white-painted Lola T70 Mk3B-Chevrolet of Sid taylor, driven by Andrea de Adamich and Nino Vaccarella, along the treacherous roads of the Circuito del Mugello road race in 1969. The pair managed to drive the crude giant to 3rd place, not far from the agile 2-litre Abarth prototypes of Arturo Merzario and Ortner-Van Lennep!
http://www.ilpaesede...se.it/1969.html

I have some cine film of this - must dig it out (thinks:Christ where did I put it?)

#27 helioseism

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Posted 17 December 2012 - 22:52

Lola rises again courtesy of Carl Haas: Link

#28 arttidesco

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Posted 17 December 2012 - 23:32

Lola rises again courtesy of Carl Haas: Link

Great news lets hope they can find some markets to sustain them.

My favorite Lola has always been the T330 and though I never saw it race T330/HU4 in '73 Regazzoni at Brands spec would be the single Lola I'd most like to own, followed closely by another car I never saw race the T332/HU60 Interscope Ongias car.

Maybe in another life time :smoking:

#29 E1pix

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Posted 18 December 2012 - 01:14

Artti:

Your latter link doesn't work, so here you go

#30 arttidesco

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Posted 18 December 2012 - 01:27

Artti:

Your latter link doesn't work, so here you go :

Danny Boy ! Thanks E1Pix :up:

#31 JacnGille

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Posted 18 December 2012 - 01:57

Danny Boy ! Thanks E1Pix

#32 E1pix

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Posted 18 December 2012 - 03:09

You're welcome Guys, and Thanks.

Danny was some sort of original driver. A lifetime friend would come back from the US Nationals in Indy each year (drag racing's 500, or Monaco... the Big One) and tell me about this wild Hawaiian guy.

Never a dull moment anywhere near Danny. He took this effect from straight line tracks to road racing, which by any account is one staggering leap! Dang, he was really good almost right away and went on to almost winning Indy one year before a massive crash and substantial injuries. Fearless as Anyone, unbeatable on his day.

The Flyin' Hawaiian will live forever in this racing lifer's mind.

#33 simonlewisbooks

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Posted 18 December 2012 - 10:16

Wonderful !

Modern single seaters just do not hold a candle to this. :smoking:

#34 Marc Sproule

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Posted 18 December 2012 - 13:33

Lotsa stateside Lolas in here---

http://www.flickr.co...681980@N03/sets

#35 charles r

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Posted 18 December 2012 - 16:31

Wonderful !

Modern single seaters just do not hold a candle to this.

Seconded! Thank you Eric.

#36 alansart

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Posted 18 December 2012 - 16:36

Artti:

Your latter link doesn't work, so here you go :

Looked what appeared at Mallory Park last year. Not the original but it certainly looked good

I believe it was restored by Simon Hadfield to his normal impeccable standard

#37 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 18 December 2012 - 21:09

Seconded! Thank you Eric.

Thirded!!That looks like a racing car, not a mad boffins nightmare like modern cars.

#38 E1pix

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Posted 19 December 2012 - 21:13

Thanks Everyone!

Great shots Alan!

Same here, the T332 is one of my top 3 favorite cars ever. Even Charlize Theron pales by comparison. :love:

(well, most of the time

)

#39 richie

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Posted 21 December 2012 - 20:20

Well since my name has been mentioned .

Yes, Heritage will be continuing. As you can see from the Autosport report, the Lola name, designs, Intellectual Property and Heritage (including the Archives) is owned by Lola Group Holdings which did not go into Administration. I've been told to carry on with business as normal and hopefully, once the dust has settled, Heritage will continue to grow and develop. Bob Marston should continue to be on-hand to deal with technical queries and I'll continue to look after the website, Archives and Chassis Register.

Just to clarify Allen's comment, although Lola Heritage as it is now was set up by myself and Glyn Jones, with Lola's tacit approval, about two years ago Lola took over Heritage and employed me to be webmaster etc.

Come across 6 page Lola history in Autosport December 68- When asked why the name "Lola" was chosen, The reason seems to have faded in the mists of time and we don't know really". Eric Broadley denies the theory that his girl friend, who played 2nd string to the Special, dubbed the 1172 after the song- "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets..."!

#40 ChrisJson

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Posted 21 December 2012 - 23:01

Agree. I remember seeing the white-painted Lola T70 Mk3B-Chevrolet of Sid taylor, driven by Andrea de Adamich and Nino Vaccarella, along the treacherous roads of the Circuito del Mugello road race in 1969. The pair managed to drive the crude giant to 3rd place, not far from the agile 2-litre Abarth prototypes of Arturo Merzario and Ortner-Van Lennep!
http://www.ilpaesede...se.it/1969.html

At the first race I watched live (Nordic Challenge Cup, Anderstorp 1969) the beautiful
Lola T70 Mk3B´s were the mainstay of the competition. Driven by Bonnier, Redman,
Attwood, Oliver and Piper among others they took seven of the first nine placings only
beaten by the Porsche´s of Kinnunen (first) and Gregory (eight).

The Nordic Challenge later developed into the better known Interserie from 1970.

Christer

#41 Giraffe

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Posted 22 December 2012 - 07:28

Agree. I remember seeing the white-painted Lola T70 Mk3B-Chevrolet of Sid taylor, driven by Andrea de Adamich and Nino Vaccarella, along the treacherous roads of the Circuito del Mugello road race in 1969. The pair managed to drive the crude giant to 3rd place, not far from the agile 2-litre Abarth prototypes of Arturo Merzario and Ortner-Van Lennep!
http://www.ilpaesede...se.it/1969.html

Two autographed photos from the event, the second of which shows Vaccarella about to climb aboard SL76/138 and De Adamich shirtless in the background. At the rear of the car, Sid Taylor discusses strategy with TNFer "Jagracer" Phil Bradford (Ron Bennett was on his annual holiday!)
The "crude giant" is still the weapon of choice for winning the historic classics, for a fraction of the cost of a 917...........

Posted Image

Photos courtesy of Sidney Taylor & Phil Bradford.

#42 mariner

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Posted 22 December 2012 - 10:25

I never saw Danny Ongias race but I always loved his US nickname

Danny " on the gas " Ongias - when an annoucer calls you that you have to go flat out!

Any more US racing nicknames that come to peoples minds?

My "worst ever" was Shirley Muldowney - the " Drag-on Lady" ouch!

I know that when a young Mario Andretti came out onto the sprint car tracks the cry was " move back the fences"

#43 JacnGille

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Posted 22 December 2012 - 13:47

Any more US racing nicknames that come to peoples minds?

"Lone Star JR" Johnny Rutherford

"The King" Richard Petty

#44 Doug Nye

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Posted 24 December 2014 - 10:18

Re lamented Lola, does anyone know how I could contact Glyn Jones of Lola heritage fame these days? A PM would probably be best if anyone does?

DCN

#45 Rupertlt1

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Posted 24 December 2014 - 11:23

My "worst ever" was Shirley Muldowney - the " Drag-on Lady" ouch!

Shirley Muldowney was not the “Drag-On-Lady” - that was Super Stock driver Shirley Shahan.

See: http://www.hemmings...._feature32.html

The nickname was Shirley "Cha-Cha" Muldowney - which she is said to have hated.

RGDS RLT

#46 Allen Brown

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Posted 24 December 2014 - 12:04

Doug, Glyn worked for Rob Fowler's son's operation last time I saw him. He left Lola Heritage two or three years ago.

#47 MCS

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Posted 24 December 2014 - 20:08

I took some rather sad pictures of the abandoned "To Let" factory a month or so ago as I passed by on the A1.

That said, I have no idea how to post them on here these days. Could I send them to somebody else to post perhaps?

#48 alansart

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Posted 24 December 2014 - 21:40

I took some rather sad pictures of the abandoned "To Let" factory a month or so ago as I passed by on the A1.

That said, I have no idea how to post them on here these days. Could I send them to somebody else to post perhaps?

Send them to me. I'm happy to post them for you.

#49 Gerald Swan

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Posted 27 December 2014 - 23:07

Re lamented Lola, does anyone know how I could contact Glyn Jones of Lola heritage fame these days? A PM would probably be best if anyone does?

DCN

Doug,

If you would like to email me at gerald@lolaheritage.co.uk I can give you Glyn's email, I tried a PM but it looks as if your message box may be full.

Gerald.

#50 alansart

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Posted 28 December 2014 - 14:47

I took some rather sad pictures of the abandoned "To Let" factory a month or so ago as I passed by on the A1.

That said, I have no idea how to post them on here these days. Could I send them to somebody else to post perhaps?

MCS's photos of the Lola Factory