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Lotus single-seater at Toronto Sportsman's Show


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#1 R.W. Mackenzie

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Posted 28 January 2011 - 01:38

In a similar vein to my "Porsche at Expo 67" thread, I'm trying to find out what model of Lotus I saw at this show.

Our father used to take us to the Toronto Sportsman's Show in the late sixties/early seventies which was held at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) grounds (now the site of the Toronto Indycar race) each year around February or March. The show still takes place but now it's more focused on certain outdoor sports (fishing, etc.). Back then then it was more eclectic. (I can't believe I actually used that word!) In fact, in addition to all of the traditional outdoor sports, they had quite an impressive auto show.

In addition to the latest models of cars there was often a famous race car or two. In later years once I was a passionate racing enthusiast I was able to recognize John Surtees "Hondola" one year and his 1968 Honda another or Horst Kroll's Kelly-Porsche in one show and his Lola T-142 at another or a Porsche 910 that ran in a couple of Mosport Can-Ams in the seventies. Then there was the Mosport display with a Hawke Formula Ford from the Gary Magwood school.

But at one of the first shows I went to there was an impressive Lotus display. I don't remember much about it except for the single seater they had. It was painted in traditional Lotus colours, green with a yellow stripe and displayed mounted at an extreme angle, almost as though it was mounted on a wall. It may have been 1967 but I doubt it and by 1969 I knew just about everything there was to know about Lotus racing cars. So I figure it had to be the 1968 show.

At that time I wouldn't have know the difference between a Lotus 33 and a Lotus 51. Those are the only two models I thought it could be. Although, it could have been Bill Brack's Lotus 41. (But I believe it was white when he campaigned it in 1968.)

I realize just how obscure this question is but does anyone else have recollections of this and know what model of Lotus this was?

Also, while I have your attention, at one of these shows one of the displays showed a movie of the 1967 Canadian Grand Prix. It was made by Players, the race sponsor. It was an awesome film but I've never seen any sign of it since. Another, shown at the Mosport display noted above, showed some incredible in-car footage of Bill Scott driving a Formula Ford at Road Atlanta. Likewise I never heard anything of it since.

Does anyone have any recollections of these movies or know anything of them?

Bob Mackenzie

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#2 Doug Nye

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Posted 02 February 2011 - 19:27

Might that have been the Mike Fisher Lotus-BRM V8 Type 33 - R11? It was re-engined for Formula A/5000 in 1969 I believe, but could have been still intact in green/yellow F1 trim (at least good enough for display) in 1968.

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 02 February 2011 - 19:33.


#3 R.W. Mackenzie

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Posted 02 February 2011 - 21:46

Might that have been the Mike Fisher Lotus-BRM V8 Type 33 - R11? It was re-engined for Formula A/5000 in 1969 I believe, but could have been still intact in green/yellow F1 trim (at least good enough for display) in 1968.

DCN


Hi Doug!

Yes, I suppose it could have been the Mike Fisher car. My dad took pictures of the two Hondas and the Horst Kroll cars mentioned above but I don't remember him taking any pictures of the Lotus. My sister now has all of his slides. I'll have to pay her a visit and see what I can find.

Bob Mackenzie