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An Elva specialist needed!


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#101 David Birchall

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Posted 27 January 2009 - 18:46

Perhaps a year ago I contacted Don Capps about the Elvis car and he said that enquiries were being made--I just received a pm from him:


David,

I remember trying to find something on this earlier. I think that Bill Green at the IMRRC at Watkins Glen may have had something on it, or at least information regarding the Blocker cars. Not sure if there was anything on the Mk 6 Elva.

I am back in Kuwait, over 6000-plus miles from my research materials.

Don


Is anyone here in touch with Bill Green or can put me in touch with him? :wave:

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#102 Tim Murray

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Posted 27 January 2009 - 19:05

Mark Steigerwald, who I believe is a colleague of Bill's at the IMRRC, has posted here in the past as MarkinWG. You should be able to get hold of him via PM or email.

Edit: the IMRRC site address (where you can find an email address for Bill) is listed in Mark's profile:

http://www.racingarchives.org

#103 David Birchall

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Posted 27 January 2009 - 19:18

Thanks Tim, I have sent him an email.

#104 ovfi

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Posted 28 January 2009 - 00:39

I've made some captions of the movie, we can see the differences on the two elvas :

this is the Elva-Maserati , it appeared in the beginning of the movie only over it's trailing vehicle, in the garage scene and the trip on the Joe Brown Drive:
Posted Image


this is the Elva-Climax or Ford (impossible to know which engine is) that appears at the end of the movie, in garage (installing engine) and race scenes:
Posted Image

It is easy to see that they have installed the engine and the spare tire covers of the first Elva on the second Elva, and made fake front air intakes of flat black card paper glued (and secured by scotch tape) to make the second Elva to resemble to the first.

It's also visible the many differences between the two cars: different roll bars and roll bar location, different position of the engine firewall, different colour of the windshield, and many others...

I've made some research about the Elva-Maserati in the past, but I haven't made copies of the emails I received, and when I changed my Internet providers I lost the names of the people that sent me the information, but anyway here is what they informed me about the car history:

-In 1962 Harry Finer bought an Elva Mk6 and installed a Maserati tipo 61 (2.89 litre) engine on it: Bill Krause tried it in the 1962 LA Times GP and hated the car.
-In the first half of 1963 Dan Blocker bought it and hired Max Kelley to prepare the car. Max made modifications, most on the engine, but the engine failed in the first test so, while the engine was being rebuilt, Blocker rent the car to MGM studios, this was between july and september 1963. After that, the car made satisfatory tests in Riverside, but in october failed totally in the Times GP race.
-In 1964 the car was sold to Stan Schooley, who raced it at Kent USRRC (May 10, 1964), but the car only lasted 2 laps.
-In 1965 the car was entered in the 23rd Santa Barbara road races (1965,may 29 & 30) , driven by Robert W. Tharp, but I don't know what happened in the race.

Well guys, this is all I know about the car history.

#105 David Birchall

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Posted 28 January 2009 - 00:45

Many thanks for that ovfi.

When I studied the movie, about a year ago, I did notice that part of a Climax FWA type engine was clearly visible when Elvis was just about to drive out of the garage to the start of the race--I am quite familiar with the Climax engine so I don't think I am mistaken.

#106 ssperka

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Posted 20 February 2009 - 20:51

Here is a photo I took during the 1961 Road America 500. The #53 car is identified as an Elva Mk. III and driven by the team of Bradley/Davis, running in FM. I can't offer any more about it, but I'm sure I will learn all about it from the rest of you. The Costin Lister-Chev is driven by Pete Harrison. Who is taking who in Canada Corner is left to your own imagination.
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#107 David McKinney

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Posted 20 February 2009 - 21:10

Did the Lister try to pass on the outside the lap before?

#108 ssperka

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Posted 20 February 2009 - 21:18

No, not really. Mr. Bradley is just a conscientious driver watching his mirrors and making room . But you Elva fans can dream. :) The Lister won his class that day. Here's another shot . . same corner, this time with the BM winner, too. http://www.tamsoldra...terChevRed.html

#109 sifon

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Posted 22 February 2009 - 20:03

Hello,
I'm a new owner of an 1956 Elva MK1b chassis # 0010 with Coventry Climax engine and fiberglass body, red color.
I bought it in USA, here is the link on the Elva site http://www.elva.com/...lva-1956-1b.php
The few information I have are from a vehicle log book of Car Club of America Vintage Sport that covers from 1992 to 2007, in this period the car run in USA with Patrica Eastman as driver.
I also know that in 1994 the Coventry Climax engine was rebuilded by Hutton Motor Engineering in Clanksville, Tennesse.
Now i'm going to find some information about the car, because i need to discover its story.
Any further information will be very appreciated about this car!

All the best
Tonino

#110 ElvaMK2

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Posted 02 March 2009 - 00:41

The red Elva passing the Lister (!) at RA in 1961 is a MK V. No record here of who it is. Bob

#111 ssperka

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Posted 02 March 2009 - 03:27

The entry list for the 1961 Road America 500 reads as follows (I have a copy of it in my hands) :

Car No. 53
Entrant: Wm. E. Bradley
Driver - Co-Driver: Bill Bradley - EL Davis
Car: Elva Mk. III (1470)
Class: FM

#112 xkssFrankOpalka

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Posted 03 March 2009 - 06:29

I bought the Elva Mk 2 from George Ranney (now deceased) of Grand Rapids, Mich in 1961, raced it thru the yr and was in a heavy accident at IRP track, when Ron Hissom stalled his Cooper Monaco on the frt row of the grid for the Mod race many didnt see him and several of us hit him, plus another car hit me in rear. Wiped out both ends of my car and was the end of the season for me. Rebuilt the car over the winter and changed color from white to green. Won the Divisional Championship in 1961 and 62 with the car. Sold it to Donald Nissen and bought a Mk 4 Elva,with Alloy body from Jules Furth.Sebring car, nasty car to drive, spent all yr trying to sort it out, complained to Nichols about the car at Wilmot when he was there with the new Mk 7. and Hap Sharp. The Mk 4 had bad rear end steer and they fabricated a better hub carrier for the Mk 5. Sold the car and bought a Cooper Monaco with 200SI Maser engine, in Italy from Carroll Smith, wonderful car, eventually was owned by Bob Akin.who installed a 2.5 Climax FPF and Hewland transaxle.

#113 RA Historian

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Posted 03 March 2009 - 15:39

Originally posted by xkssFrankOpalka
complained to Nichols about the car at Wilmot when he was there with the new Mk 7. and Hap Sharp. The Mk 4 had bad rear end steer and they fabricated a better hub carrier for the Mk 5. Sold the car and bought a Cooper Monaco with 200SI Maser engine, in Italy from Carroll Smith, wonderful car, eventually was owned by Bob Akin.who installed a 2.5 Climax FPF and Hewland transaxle.

The visit by Frank Nichols to Wilmot Hills would have been August, 1963, when the brand new Elva Porsche had its shakedown run prior to the Road America 500 the next week. Sharp was there as the driver and won the feature on this unique 0.9 mile track.

Bob Akin drove the Cooper in many historic races (or 'vanity races' as our Col Capps likes to call them!) in the late eighties and early nineties. It was painted red then. If my memory serves, the car was white when Frank Opalka raced it. Is my memory right, Frank, or am I mistaken?

Interestingly enough, Sharp also had a Cooper-Maserati which he ran extensively in the very early 1960s. It was a T-49 with an engine that I recall as having been an amalgamation of 2.0 and 2.5 parts, producing a displacement of 2.3 liters. I believe that he won a lot of races in the Southwest in period.

Tom

#114 xkssFrankOpalka

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Posted 03 March 2009 - 20:49

RA , nice info, the Cooper was maroon when I raced it, it had been rebodied in Italy and I bought it out of an ad in the back of R&T. Did not look like your regular Cooper Monaco but Akin retained the original body. Seeing what Roger Penske was doing with his I thought it was an good gamble, Carroll Smith was racing the Cooper for a Italian team, Serinissima perhaps, the car came into Chicago as deck cargo and watched it as they unloaded it at Navy Pier. Smith was the guy who wrote the good books, "Tune to Win" etc.He is deceased now. I sold the Cooper to someone in CA who bitched about the car. OC Rich delivered it to CA. We had 3 Maser engines for the car and had 2 left when it was sold. Bought one in Shrevesport, LA. and sold the others later.

#115 ElvaMK2

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Posted 07 March 2009 - 00:19

Re, Car No. 53
Entrant: Wm. E. Bradley
Driver - Co-Driver: Bill Bradley - EL Davis
Car: Elva Mk. III (1470)
Class: FM

Bradley did run a MK III in 1957-58 and later (1959) with an Alfa motor. The photo of the red #53 is definitely a MK 5 body so perhaps the program is wrong about it being a MK III.

What are the other Elvas listed for the 1951 RA race?

#116 RA Historian

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Posted 07 March 2009 - 01:11

Originally posted by ElvaMK2
What are the other Elvas listed for the 1951 RA race?

Presuming that you meant 1961 they are:

14 Dick Buedingen, Carl Haas; Elva Mk V
37 Art Tweedale, Frank Baptista; Elva Mk IV
38 Ed Costley, Warren Shamlian; Elva Mk V
53 Bill Bradley, EL Davis; Elva Mk III
56 Ralph Treischman, Jack Stone; Elva Mk II
75 David Shack, Joel Jacobs; Elva Mk II

Tom

#117 ElvaMK2

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Posted 07 March 2009 - 16:13

I'm wondering to whom Frank Campbell sold his MK II. Berdie Martin told me he sold the car to Frank in 1958 after painting it red (it had been green) with a black and white stripe. Campbell seems to have painted over these stripes with a curving white racing stripe. The photos in the RA Yearbook show Frank and the car. 1959 is the last record I've found of Campbell racing it. Anyone have an idea where it went? The David Strack/Joel Jacobs MK II seems a candidate to be the ex-Martin/ex-Campbell car and photos of it would be good to see. Bob

#118 ElvaMK2

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Posted 08 March 2009 - 23:20

Tom, JOEL JACOBS submitted a photo of an OSCA taken in 1961 to Tam's (www.tamsoldtacecarsite.com) but Tam can't recall Joel's email. He said that Joel runs a "military website". I'd like to contact him to see what he remembers of Frank Campbell and his MK II as I am pretty sure I own that Elva. If you can help with a contact address please let me know. Bob

#119 xkssFrankOpalka

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Posted 11 March 2009 - 20:16

I believe Joel Jacobs now lives in Florida, he trades om Ebay occasionally.

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#120 ElvaMK2

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Posted 13 March 2009 - 03:06

Frank, Thanks for the lead but the only Joel Jacobs I could trace worked for a Yacht company and his email no longer works. Any idea how to contact him? Friends or relatives still living in the Chicago area? Bob Engberg

#121 xkssFrankOpalka

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Posted 25 March 2009 - 22:39

Bob: I dont have any further info, sorry, he was active on Ebay a few yrs ago

#122 ElvaMK2

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Posted 25 March 2009 - 22:53

Frank (and others too!) You wrote that you got George Ranney's Elva MK II. Photos show it was a bobtail. Do you know where he got it?

Also, David Shach (SP?) ran a MK II at Meadowdale. Know him or his car?

Bob Engberg

#123 ElvaMK2

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 01:49

Here is another name for you all:

Frank Rosenbaum

He raced an Elva MK II in hillclimbs. Lived in Kingston, PA and advertised his Elva for sale in 1970 saying it was "prepared by a CanAm mechanic."

Any leads to Frank appreciated.

BobEngberg@aim.com

#124 xkssFrankOpalka

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Posted 22 April 2009 - 03:32

My Elva Mk2 that I bought from George Rainey was not a bob tail or Kamm tail but had a full body with 2 screens in the rear. I knew Dave Shack well and we competed evry race, good driver, we both crashed at IRP avoiding a Cooper Monaco that had stalled on the grid.

#125 ElvaMK2

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Posted 23 April 2009 - 23:09

Frank,

I'm using the term "bobtail" to refer to the shorter MK II rears, to distinquish them from the longer tails found on MK IIB's and the MK III. The photo of you and the green MK II is what I mean by a bobtail. Maybe I need a better term.

Posted Image

Is Dave Shack's car the one pictured on the right, off the course? The paint scheme looks like either the Coon/Treichmann MK II or the Martin/Campbell MK II (my present car). Sort of hard to tell? Do you know where Shack got his car? He raced it at the RA 500 in 1961 with a Joel Jacobs,

Posted Image

Here's a closer look at Dave's car (?):

Posted Image

#126 RA Historian

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Posted 24 April 2009 - 16:14

Originally posted by ElvaMK2
Frank,Is Dave Shack's car the one pictured on the right, off the course? The paint scheme looks like either the Coon/Treichmann MK II or the Martin/Campbell MK II (my present car). Sort of hard to tell? Do you know where Shack got his car? He raced it at the RA 500 in 1961 with a Joel Jacobs,

Posted Image

It is hard to tell, but my files show that when Owen Coon ran an Elva in 1960 that it was red with a broad white stripe, very similar to that shown in your photo.

Tom

#127 joeljacobs

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Posted 08 May 2009 - 12:38

Tom, JOEL JACOBS submitted a photo of an OSCA taken in 1961 to Tam's (www.tamsoldtacecarsite.com) but Tam can't recall Joel's email. He said that Joel runs a "military website". I'd like to contact him to see what he remembers of Frank Campbell and his MK II as I am pretty sure I own that Elva. If you can help with a contact address please let me know. Bob



Hello Bob, Frank, and all,

I am a bit late in logging in.

Frank is right, we are in Florida in the nautical antiques business. Our website is http://landandseacollection.com

You will find an email address on just about every page, if you want to contact me directly.

Please give me some more information about my connection with Frank Campbell and I will try and help?

All the best,

Joel Jacobs


#128 ElvaMK2

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Posted 08 May 2009 - 22:38

Joel, I own a 1957 Elva MK II that I am pretty sure was owned by Frank Campbell, of Hinsdale, IL. Burdie Martin, who was an Elva Distributor in Chicago in the 1950's, told me last fall that he had the MK II in 1957 and sold it to Campbell, who raced it at Road America in 1958 and 1959. It was red when Burdie owned it but Campbell painted it blue.

It looks like 1959 was the last time Campbell owned it and I am trying to find out to whom it was sold. Perhaps you had it, or a friend? It had a fuel filler hole on the left of the cowling, presumably for a second gas tank that would have been in the passenger area (left side) of the cockpit. It is possible a similar fuel tank was fitted to a MK II owned by Owen Coon and Ralph Treischmann. (That car was later owned by Chuck Rahn).

So, can you fill me in on what you recall of these gentlemen and their Elvas and of your MK II?

#129 joeljacobs

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Posted 08 May 2009 - 23:32

Joel, I own a 1957 Elva MK II that I am pretty sure was owned by Frank Campbell, of Hinsdale, IL. Burdie Martin, who was an Elva Distributor in Chicago in the 1950's, told me last fall that he had the MK II in 1957 and sold it to Campbell, who raced it at Road America in 1958 and 1959. It was red when Burdie owned it but Campbell painted it blue.

It looks like 1959 was the last time Campbell owned it and I am trying to find out to whom it was sold. Perhaps you had it, or a friend? It had a fuel filler hole on the left of the cowling, presumably for a second gas tank that would have been in the passenger area (left side) of the cockpit. It is possible a similar fuel tank was fitted to a MK II owned by Owen Coon and Ralph Treischmann. (That car was later owned by Chuck Rahn).

So, can you fill me in on what you recall of these gentlemen and their Elvas and of your MK II?


Hi Bob, and all interested,

All my racing records are in storage so this is strictly from memory which is far from infallible. Here is what I remember. I was not a G Mod guy, but I knew all the Chicago Region players, some quite well. This would include Carl Hass, Berdie Martin, Ralph Treichman, Owen Coon, Bob Major, certainly Frank Opalka and Frank Baptista during the period in question.

In fact, I last saw Berdie at Joe Marchetti's Chicago Historic Races at RA in 1991 when we spent the summer away from Florida making all the CENDIV races with my fake Ferrari 250 GTO. I was reliving my youth. The car, which I still have, was homologated as an ASR in SCCA, but was sometimes welcome in Vintage. Joe Marchetti had personally handled my entry so I was surprised when I got there, that I would only be allowed to run in Exhibition. The point of this digression was Berdie was there to pick up his new Porsche 550 or RSK replicar. His comment to me was that it cost more than the real one he owned years earlier. At the time, Berdie was president of the ACCUS and the US representative to FIA so if he could do it, I felt it legitimized my idea of the acceptability of recreations. We both had a big laugh.

But, I digress so back to business: Per the record reported on this site, if I drove the car in question in the 1961 500, it was because I didn't want to tax my own car in that long a race. My own drive was the OSCA in 1961, but could have been the Veloce.

Of the G-M regulars, I recall David Stack (and Frank Campbell) only slightly. The 1961 ride came about like this. I was approached in the pits by whom I recall was Stack's crew chief, in company with Curt Gonstead. They both asked me to co-drive the car which I willingly agreed to. Subject to me or the record being plain wrong, I think the race was underway, and the owner was the driver on the track, with me to go second and Curt last. I say this because I had no practice in the car, and Curt was the last to drive it.

What has me confused is that you say that Frank Campbell had this car two years before the 1961 race records which say I was in it with Stack. Also, the records posted on this thread make no mention of Curt. This is possible because he and I may have been substitute drivers, but why my name in the records and not his? The other thing which is unclear to me is what was the Campbell car's body, aluminum or GRP?

To add further confusion, I don't have a decent memory of the color. It could have been a dirty blue or a dirty red - it was a dull, dirty something. My guess is red. I'm almost sure, the car I drove, was skinned in aluminum, right hand drive, with a large fuel fill behind the driver. I don't remember a second fill, but keep in mind I only was in this car once. What I do remember was that it was a wild ride. Everything was loose, lots of chassis noise, wind leaks, wiggling, and it shook like crazy. The four mile track made each lap seem like an eternity. After I turned it over to Curt, I recall that his times were better than mine, but I don't think he was able to get the car in contention. I don't recall if, or where we finished.

Unfortunately, that's all I remember of this event without the benefit of my records. Any errors that surface are not intentional, just old age. You stirred up a lot of memories, but unfortunately, I don't think I was of any help.

Other names I will throw in the hat, is Ken Hutchinson who was an active race car collector at that time and Gerry (Porsche and Ferrari restorer)?????? If they are around, they both know lots of history.

All the best,

Joel Jacobs


#130 ElvaMK2

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Posted 08 May 2009 - 23:56

Joel,
You wrote:

What has me confused is that you say that Frank Campbell had this car two years before the 1961 race records which say I was in it with Stack. Also, the records posted on this thread make no mention of Curt. This is possible because he and I may have been substitute drivers, but why my name in the records and not his? The other thing which is unclear to me is what was the Campbell car's body, aluminum or GRP?
without the benefit of my records. Any errors that surface are not intentional, just old age. You stirred up a lot of memories, but unfortunately, I don't think I was of any help.

Well, I think that only owners usually get into the records so perhaps that's why only Stack is mentioned. At any rate, I am not sure that his car was the ex-Martin/ec-Campbell car. I am trying to figure out to whom Campbell sold the car. He passed way in the 1990's, I believe. Do you know what became of Stack?

BTW, you knew Burdette Martin and I see you call him "Berdie" but some think he spelled his name "Burdie." (Small point, I know, just curious as to which is correct.)

The Campbell car had a short-tail alloy body and I think it sits in my garage. It was definitely green, red and then blue.

Any photos from those old days and the old Elvas?

Bob
Joel Jacobs
[/quote]


#131 joeljacobs

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Posted 09 May 2009 - 00:52

Joel,
You wrote:

What has me confused is that you say that Frank Campbell had this car two years before the 1961 race records which say I was in it with Stack. Also, the records posted on this thread make no mention of Curt. This is possible because he and I may have been substitute drivers, but why my name in the records and not his? The other thing which is unclear to me is what was the Campbell car's body, aluminum or GRP?
without the benefit of my records. Any errors that surface are not intentional, just old age. You stirred up a lot of memories, but unfortunately, I don't think I was of any help.

Well, I think that only owners usually get into the records so perhaps that's why only Stack is mentioned. At any rate, I am not sure that his car was the ex-Martin/ec-Campbell car. I am trying to figure out to whom Campbell sold the car. He passed way in the 1990's, I believe. Do you know what became of Stack?

BTW, you knew Burdette Martin and I see you call him "Berdie" but some think he spelled his name "Burdie." (Small point, I know, just curious as to which is correct.)

The Campbell car had a short-tail alloy body and I think it sits in my garage. It was definitely green, red and then blue.

Any photos from those old days and the old Elvas?

Bob
Joel Jacobs


Bob,

Let me do the easy stuff first. The Ferrari and Porsche restorer is Jerry Sutterfield. As far as I know he is still active.

"Burdie" is likely correct for back then. I did a search for him and landed on, what I took to be an official Elva site, and adopted their spelling in my response. See http://www.elva.com/...ringhistory.php

The list of G-Mod players that I introduced at the begining of my recollections were those I knew well. I have very little recollection of Stack or Campbell. Frank Oplaka should have known them.

I do not agree that only the owners get or got in the records. That is not the way it was done. Records of that era clearly showed the entrant and the drivers. In this case, I was not an Elva owner, and I am listed with Stack who was the entrant (owner) as well as a driver. My question is, what happened to Gonstead in the same car. He and I had a long career racing against each other in GP and FP? Frank Opalka may also know if my Alfa Veloce was not classed in G-Mod when it first came out which would explain why I knew so many Elva and Lola drivers.

I have quite a few digitized pictures of Ollie Schmidt and me in our respective H-Mod cars, but no Elva's. There was one famous Elva picture of Carl Haas on two wheels going around Turn Two at Wilmot. That is one you should try and get.

I've got a busy day tomorrow and have to sign off.

Joel


#132 ElvaMK2

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Posted 09 May 2009 - 02:22

Joel,

I agree that most if not all Programs listed owner and drivers. Don't know why Gonstead was left out of the loop.

The Elva website printed a history written by Stan Mason and he is also unsure of the spelling of "Berdie" or "Burdie." I talked with Burdie last fall on the phone and hope to continue the conversation soon. He was at our Elva 50 Anniversary at Sebring in March 2008 but I did not speak with him; at the time I did not suspect that my MK II had once been owned by him.

I've seen a photo of a white MK IV Elva on two wheels. I thought it was taken at Sebring.

Bob

Bob,

Let me do the easy stuff first. The Ferrari and Porsche restorer is Jerry Sutterfield. As far as I know he is still active.

"Burdie" is likely correct for back then. I did a search for him and landed on, what I took to be an official Elva site, and adopted their spelling in my response. See http://www.elva.com/...ringhistory.php

The list of G-Mod players that I introduced at the begining of my recollections were those I knew well. I have very little recollection of Stack or Campbell. Frank Oplaka should have known them.

I do not agree that only the owners get or got in the records. That is not the way it was done. Records of that era clearly showed the entrant and the drivers. In this case, I was not an Elva owner, and I am listed with Stack who was the entrant (owner) as well as a driver. My question is, what happened to Gonstead in the same car. He and I had a long career racing against each other in GP and FP? Frank Opalka may also know if my Alfa Veloce was not classed in G-Mod when it first came out which would explain why I knew so many Elva and Lola drivers.

I have quite a few digitized pictures of Ollie Schmidt and me in our respective H-Mod cars, but no Elva's. There was one famous Elva picture of Carl Haas on two wheels going around Turn Two at Wilmot. That is one you should try and get.

I've got a busy day tomorrow and have to sign off.

Joel



#133 RA Historian

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Posted 09 May 2009 - 16:44

Don't know if it has been mentioned before, and if it has, I apologize. Janos Wimpffen is finishing a new book, this one on the history of Elva. Based upon what else Janos has done, this will be VERY complete indeed.

Tom

#134 joeljacobs

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Posted 10 May 2009 - 13:55

Hi,

I received this offline and am posting it for continuity:

----- Original Message -----
From: bobengberg@xxx.xxx
To: joelhjacobs@xxx.xxx
Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 8:24 PM
Subject: Re: 1961 ROAD AMERICA 500 DRIVE


Hi Joel,

I read your post and replied. If you'll scroll the other pages of the Elva nostaligia you will see some photos I have posted of the Ralph Treischmann car (which I thought I had for awhile) and some of the Frank Campbell car (which I think I have.) I also posted some other photos of Elvas and you may recognize some of them.

My car was sold in 1980 by a Carl Schwab in New Jersey. It was owned by John Lindsey and Dick Miller before Bob Grunau got it in 1990 and restored the car. He had a new alloy body made but kept the old one. I bought it from Bob three years ago. I have that old body and it has provided some clues that led me to think it is the ex-Berdie Martin and ex-Campbell MK II.

Here is a photo of my MK II taken at last year's Monterey Historics. Posted Image


Bob Engberg

Edited by joeljacobs, 10 May 2009 - 13:57.


#135 joeljacobs

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Posted 10 May 2009 - 14:50

Hi,

I received this offline and am posting it for continuity:

----- Original Message -----
From: bobengberg@xxx.xxx
To: joelhjacobs@xxx.xxx
Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 8:24 PM
Subject: Re: 1961 ROAD AMERICA 500 DRIVE


Hi Joel,

I read your post and replied. If you'll scroll the other pages of the Elva nostaligia you will see some photos I have posted of the Ralph Treischmann car (which I thought I had for awhile) and some of the Frank Campbell car (which I think I have.) I also posted some other photos of Elvas and you may recognize some of them.

My car was sold in 1980 by a Carl Schwab in New Jersey. It was owned by John Lindsey and Dick Miller before Bob Grunau got it in 1990 and restored the car. He had a new alloy body made but kept the old one. I bought it from Bob three years ago. I have that old body and it has provided some clues that led me to think it is the ex-Berdie Martin and ex-Campbell MK II.

Here is a photo of my MK II taken at last year's Monterey Historics.Posted Image


Bob Engberg


Hi Bob,

I am certain that Burdie is correct which is how I recall seeing it in Piston Patter, the region's pub. I guarantee it. It is an obvious contraction of Burdett which I believe was his mother's maiden name. The more interesting thing is if you google "Berdie Martin", you will get returns with that spelling from many sites that should have known better.

Your car is magnificent, and is exactly how the one I drove at Road America 500 in 1961 looked, but in paint. It was no where near as sharp. This is my OSCA at the Nassau Trophy Races in, I think, 1962.

Posted Image




The next is Elkhart Lake, also June, 1961. Ollie Schmidt is 76 in his Lola OSCA, and I'm 64. All I did was change the number on the OSCA which I bought from him in 1961. Number 9 which I believe is a Cooper Monaco, might be Frank Oplaka. I have a few more like these from various magazines which do show some Elva's which follow.

Posted Image





This one is Meadowdale, July 22, 1961. It has some Elvas up front. Most of these photos were thoughtfully sent to me by an OSCA owner in Holland maybe three years ago. I have lots more in storage.

Posted Image



I also now recall that the year I got the Veloce which was 1958, that SCCA classed it in G-Mod instead of GP which means I competed against the G-Mod Gang which we are discussing. The following year they moved the Veloce to FP which made a lot more sense. The Alfa Normal stayed in GP. I think everyone was happy. Of course my H Mod OSCA almost always ran with G Mod.

I was reintroduced to OSCA, Serial Number 951, in the late 1980's when it was up for sale at the first Krause Auction on a New Year's Eve in Miami Beach, FL. It was a black tie event, and the seller didn't have the car's history right, so I provided him with what I had in my album. The car was painted red, and without an engine. It was said to sell for $300,000.00. Later I found out it ended up in Italy and was fully restored.

Here's a picture of my Ferrari ASR 250 GTO replicar at Road Atlanta sometime in the early 1990's. Note the checked flag hanging out the window in the picture to left. I drove this car to Spring Lake, MI, in tandem with my wife Julie in our family car, to all the races in the SCCA Central Division Championship and won the class championship in 1991.

Posted Image


The car has a long racing history in South Atlantic Regional Racing Conference with numerous wins and finished second in SARRC behind a "427" Corvette at least 3 years in succession. She is Street Legal, has never been on a trailer, was driven to and from all races, and has been on the blocks in a garage since 1994. She has a full race, roller everything, blue printed, NASCAR, small block Chevy engine, racing aluminum wheels, and spare Dayton wire knock-off wheels. I doubt that the SCCA Homologation is still good, but at this point the car should qualify in many vintage racing associations rules since she is registered as a 1972 build, and has a documented history. In the 1990's in addition to SCCA, she regularly ran in Historic Sports Car Racing (HSR) and was allowed in some Vintage Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) events.

The two wheeler picture was of the Carl Haas' Elva at the top of the hill at Wilmot. It may be hard to see that is a hill and not on the flat like Sebring.

All the best,

Joel

Edited by joeljacobs, 10 May 2009 - 18:45.


#136 ElvaMK2

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Posted 10 May 2009 - 15:18

Nice photos. I have seen the Meadowdale photo before (it was in Sports Car) and think I recognize the three Elvas. #56 on the left is Ralph Treischmann, #4 on the right is the MK II of Bill Peters. (I met Bill at last year;s 50th Elva Anniversary at Sebring); there is another Elva in the background. It might be Bill Steffen of Buffalo (and if so it might be chassis #27) or perhaps David Schack. I'd like to see some more photos of these cars.



Edited by ElvaMK2, 13 May 2009 - 17:07.


#137 RA Historian

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Posted 11 May 2009 - 16:27

[quote name='joeljacobs' date='May 10 2009, 10:50' post='3635372']The next is Elkhart Lake, also June, 1961. Ollie Schmidt is 76 in his Lola OSCA, and I'm 64. All I did was change the number on the OSCA which I bought from him in 1961. Number 9 which I believe is a Cooper Monaco, might be Frank Oplaka. I have a few more like these from various magazines which do show some Elvas which follow.]

Posted Image

According to the entry list, the rundown is #76, Ollie Schmidt, Lola-Osca; #98, Martin Tanner, Martin T Special; #9, Ed Walsh, Cooper T-39-Saab; #59, James Adams, Osca; #64, Mr. Jacobs, of course; then it is hard to make out if it is #16 or #18 next. If 16 it is Bruce Townsend, TXP Spl; if 18 it is Clarke Walser, Jabro.

Tom

Edited by RA Historian, 11 May 2009 - 16:32.


#138 D-Type

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Posted 12 May 2009 - 10:28

If #9 is a Cooper, as it has a central seat it must be a Bobtail rather than a Monaco. Not that it matters a toss as this thread is about Elvas.

#139 Red Socks

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Posted 12 May 2009 - 11:30

.
[/quote]
I am certain that Burdie is correct which is how I recall seeing it in Piston Patter, the region's pub. I guarantee it. It is an obvious contraction of Burdett which I believe was his mother's maiden name. The more interesting thing is if you google "Berdie Martin", you will get returns with that spelling from many sites that should have known better.


Burdie is actually short for Burdette, but I dont think it was his mothers maiden name as he is acually Burdette Martin II-and in fact now has a grandson whoi is Burdette Martin IV


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#140 RA Historian

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Posted 12 May 2009 - 14:55

If #9 is a Cooper, as it has a central seat it must be a Bobtail rather than a Monaco. Not that it matters a toss as this thread is about Elvas.

See my post directly above. It is a T-39 with a Saab engine, driven by Ed Walsh.
Tom

#141 D-Type

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Posted 12 May 2009 - 16:40

See my post directly above. It is a T-39 with a Saab engine, driven by Ed Walsh.
Tom

My apologies - I should have read your post more carefully :o


#142 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 13 May 2009 - 02:22

An Elva Mk 3 for auction at this link:

http://www.coys.co.u...c...89&id=56529

Vince H.

#143 grandprix61

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Posted 13 May 2009 - 03:31

Looking for race results for the 1957 Road America 500.

The "blood red" car that finished 6th (GM? or Overall?) is in the ad of William Tannhaeuser (sp?), This red Elva MK II might have been bought by Ralph Treishmann in 1959 or so. Since I believe I have the Treischmann car this info is leading me to the original owner. I thought it might have been Frank Campbell but not so sure now.

Here is the advert that is sending me on this search:
Posted Image

This photo was sent to me by Ron Nelson. (He has a gallery of old photos: www.prairiestreetart.com/)


Posted Image

Thanks for mentioning the picture you posted. I just signed up on the advice of Michael Aargetsinger. I will post some photographs from time to time. I have to figure out how to add them to a post.
<a href="http://img22.imagesh...lmotprac60.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img22.imagesh...tprac60.th.jpg" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" border="0"/></a>

#144 ElvaMK2

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Posted 13 May 2009 - 16:55

The Coy's car is the one that was here in San Diego and sold on eBay two months ago. It is the ex-Tom Greatorex MK III. Needs complete restoration.

Edited by ElvaMK2, 13 May 2009 - 16:58.


#145 ElvaMK2

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Posted 13 May 2009 - 17:05

Hi Ron, I look forward to the photos. As you may know, I do not have the Tresichmann Elva MK II. Still looking for photos of Frank Campbell's MK II (ex-Burdie Martin). Found three in the RA Yearbook for 1959. The ad by Tannhauser was for a MK I he owned for several years.

Edited by ElvaMK2, 13 May 2009 - 17:17.


#146 ElvaMK2

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Posted 29 May 2009 - 02:25

Art Evans sent me photos of the MK I that he raced ca. 1970. It is the ex-Bill Tannhauser MK I that was the Brands Hatch Concours winner. Let me know if you want to see the photos. bobengberg@aim.com/



#147 quik550

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Posted 27 June 2009 - 19:57

The Elvis Elva Courier you are talking about was owned by Chuck Maranto of Zionsville, IN and raced at Road America with VSCDA up until 2005. Car had complete documentation. Hope this helps.

#148 ElvaMK2

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Posted 28 June 2009 - 19:41

Posted Image

Frank Campbell entered his MK II with Chuck Dietrich at the RA 500 in 1958. Found this snapshot in Cliff Reuter's site. The rear view shows the car to be a MK II "B" like Rip Ripley's. This makes sense since Burdie Martin imported it in the fall of '57 so it would be a late MK II. Sold to Campbell in '58.

Edited by ElvaMK2, 28 June 2009 - 19:42.


#149 ElvaMK2

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Posted 01 July 2009 - 20:07

Tom (and others),

Do you recall Tom Peacock? I think he was an official at RA in the '60's. He was a mechanic for Frank Campbell in '58 and worked on his (and now my) Elva then. Contact info?

BobEngberg@aim.com


#150 joeljacobs

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Posted 01 July 2009 - 21:15

Tom (and others),

Do you recall Tom Peacock? I think he was an official at RA in the '60's. He was a mechanic for Frank Campbell in '58 and worked on his (and now my) Elva then. Contact info?

BobEngberg@aim.com


Hello Bob,

I knew Tom Peacock very well. He crewed for me a number of times, one of which was at the Nassau Trophy Races in 1962. As I recall, he was the SCCA Chicago Region Grid Marshall for many years. He also crewed for Ollie Schmidt, and was a good friend of Jim Scott who maintained Ollie's and my cars. He also was at RA when I last raced there in 1991.

I last talked to Tom some years ago shortly after he retired from his "day job". Unfortunately, his contact info was on an old computer, and I've lost it. He may have lived in Glenn Ellen, IL at the time. I did a white search and there are 8 Tom Peacocks in Illinois. The one in La Grange may be him.

Also try the Chicago Region's Office.

Joel Jacobs