Jacky Ickx/Sir John Whitmore in Lotus Cortinas

I am continually amazed by the knowledge of TNF members, so perhaps someone can assist me. Since discovering this forum a year ago, I've returned daily to read many a fascinating discussion about arcane racing topics. I wish to learn more about the racing efforts of both Jacky Ickx and Sir John Whitmore in the mid-1960s, when I was fortunate to watch them racing Lotus Cortinas (I believe) on one occasion.

The first race I attended as a boy of 16 or so was at Mid-America Raceway in Wentzville, near St. Louis, Missouri, about 1965. At the time I had been a disciple of Denis Jenkinson and Motor Sport magazine for several years already, reading each issue from the Coys ad on page one through to the last of the classified adverts. So I was absolutely thrilled that day to watch these two young talents from across the pond gracefully cornering with the inner front wheel lifting from the tarmac on each lap. I seem to recall Ickx and Whitmore drove matching Lotus Cortinas, but recall little of their cars' livery. Can anyone tell me about this team or the type of race I witnessed? It was likely an SCCA-sanctioned event, as I recall a variety of classes of cars racing that day.

Forty + years on, their exhibition of driving prowess at my first motor racing event remains a pleasant, hazy memory. Thanks.

Frank

Living in the US in the 1960'S, did you as a spectator ever come across a Lotus Cortina driver by the name of Alan Moffat. For 20 odd years he was a Ford Australia contracted driver. He is now long retired.........

Pete:
I believe you would be talking about the Alan Mann run Cortinas. They were red with a gold top and gold flash down the side. I checked with our "Cortina list guru", Bob Winkelmann who raced against them. I had the opportunity to spend some time chating with Sir John Whitmore at Laguna Seca a couple of years ago. What a gentleman.

Sorry, Cosworth bdg, but I don't recall any of Allan Moffat's racing exploits here in the States until the 1980s in a Mazda. java script:smilie(':|')

Thanks a million, Mike. Now I can investigate the Alan Mann Cortinas further! Should Sir John Whitmore be present again at the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca, I'll seek him out for a chat.

The race you have seen is probably this one , part of the 1966 Trans-Am championship. You may have seen Hubert Hahne too, another spectacular driver.

Yes, that must have been the race! Hubert Hahne likely drove with the same panache as Ickx and Whitmore, but, for whatever reason, those two, espec. Ickx, made an indelible impression. The field had quite a number of drivers who would distinguish themselves in future years - Sam Posey, Bob Tullius, Tony de Adamowicz, etc, etc. I see that Alan Moffat was part of the field as well.

I knew that I could count on TNFers' encyclopedic knowledge to fill in my memory gaps. Thanks to all.
Frank

Originally posted by cosworth bdg
Living in the US in the 1960'S, did you as a spectator ever come across a Lotus Cortina driver by the name of Alan Moffat. For 20 odd years he was a Ford Australia contracted driver. He is now long retired.........

I remember seeing Moffat at St. Jovite in a TransAm race - probably 1966/67. Very quick! I think the race was won by Milt Mintner, but Moffat probably won the under 2 liter class.

One of our list members, Ron Goldsack, said the he had raced the Canadian factory Locort against Whitmore at the Saloon race for the 64 Canadian GP. At that time, and up in Canada, Whitmore's car was the standard ermine white with the green flash.

Our Cortina site, www.lotus-cortina.com is hosted by Bob Woolner on the east coast. Many, many great site members, just about anything regarding Cortinas can be found there. One of the listers from Florida is Ross Bremer, he owns one of the Alan Mann Whitmore cars.

Mike Summers
68 MKII Cortina race car
66 MKI Locort

Originally posted by Pete Aron

Forty + years on, their exhibition of driving prowess at my first motor racing event remains a pleasant, hazy memory. Thanks.

Frank

Great memories Pete, I never saw these guys your side of the pond but saw them regularly in the UK. My memory of Whitmore in the Motor 6 Hour Race (Brands Hatch, he finished 1st O/A) was that at South Bank Bend the inside front wheel would lift for the same time every lap, such a neat driver! Ickx in the Mark 11 Lotus Cortina was spectacular! He looked so small in the drivers seat and the front inside wheel lifted even higher than the Mark 1, the back of the car dug down and the front high in the air Graham Hill drove a works car to very good effect also, just great days, one race meeting and the Lotus Drivers were entered in other races to.
If only it were like that today

Originally posted by Mike Summers
Ross Bremer, he owns one of the Alan Mann Whitmore cars.

Mike Summers

Is that KPU392C? Any individual car I/Ds and history welcomed for the Cortina database in "another place".

Originally posted by zoff2005


I remember seeing Moffat at St. Jovite in a TransAm race - probably 1966/67. Very quick! I think the race was won by Milt Mintner, but Moffat probably won the under 2 liter class.

Thanks very much for the reply ,Cheers, PN...................

Image #1:
Mosport
1963
Player's 200
SSM-entered, iirc, Lotus Elan for SJW.



Image #2:
Mosport
1965
Tourist Trophy
SJW's Cortina at speed about halfway up the back straight. Another of my dismal 'action' shots. Sorry. Don't recall exactly how he finished up but believe that he gave a very good account of himself and the Cortina.



Photos by MC. All rights...