2 replies to this topic

[RS2000]

Whilst there is an active thread on here on racing Cortinas, it seems a good time to ask for missing data on Mk1 Lotus works rally cars. A new, hopefully definitive, website on the Lotus Cortina is being updated/corrected/expanded and the following information is needed. (TNF's Ted Walker has provided some of the photos).
Unfortunately none of those working on the rally data have access to Motoring News, Autosport, Motor or Autocar of the period. The 60s Motor Sport archive has been of some help.
Apart from a couple of much earlier attempts, the continuous works rally history of the Mk1 Lotus covers a very short period of some 18 months because the leaf spring rear was only homologated in June 65. Unlike racing (where the jury still seems to be out), the A bracket rear was a show stopper in rallying.
Reg nos are sought (but need to be referred to as "carried ...reg no", rather than "the car" of that reg no!).

Scottish June 1965
4 works entries but were they Lotus or GT? Clark's winning GT was not works. According to Davenport in MS, Taylor finished after delays and 3 other works entries went off terminally. Elford? Siegle-Morris? and ? Reg nos of all 4? (Clark was in his own car 2ANR).

Coupe des Alpes July 65
Elford in KPU395C, Siegle-Morris in KPU380C, Taylor in KPU385C. Were there any other Ford works cars? Lungfeldt? reg no?

Monte Carlo Jan 66
Apart from the 3 red works Group1 cars for Clark, Elford and Soderstrom (details known) and 2 Alan Mann prepared "second string" red/gold cars (NNO821C and NNO822C) for Procter and Lungfeldt, was there a third Mann prepared car? Later in 66, the white/green NOO29C is described as an ex-Alan Mann Monte car, when used by Mann mechanics Rose and Mancester on the Welsh and a club rally.

Circuit of Ireland Easter 66
Clark in KPU382C or KPU383C? Melia was in Clark's Monte car, NVW243C. Elford crashed (and wrote off?) his car (ex-Monte NVW242C?)

Scottish 66
Any other works Fords than Clark in KPU383C?

Vltava 66
Soderstrom (in KPU387C?), Elford in ?

German 66
Elford in ?

1000 Lakes 66
Soderstrom in KPU387C, Clark in what was reported to be a white/green car, reg no?

Any confirmation would be of help. Hopefully it will be possible to produce a definitve reference. Some previously published data (including some from the drivers themselves) is plainly wrong.

[Fred Gallagher]

Scottish June 1965
4 works entries but were they Lotus or GT? Clark's winning GT was not works. According to Davenport in MS, Taylor finished after delays and 3 other works entries went off terminally. Elford? Siegle-Morris? and ? Reg nos of all 4? (Clark was in his own car 2ANR).
Elford, Seigle-Morris & Melia according to Autosport.

Coupe des Alpes July 65
Elford in KPU395C, Siegle-Morris in KPU380C, Taylor in KPU385C. Were there any other Ford works cars? Lungfeldt? reg no?
Lungfeldt started in car #79 but retired.

Monte Carlo Jan 66
Apart from the 3 red works Group1 cars for Clark, Elford and Soderstrom (details known) and 2 Alan Mann prepared "second string" red/gold cars (NNO821C and NNO822C) for Procter and Lungfeldt, was there a third Mann prepared car? Later in 66, the white/green NOO29C is described as an ex-Alan Mann Monte car, when used by Mann mechanics Rose and Mancester on the Welsh and a club rally.

Circuit of Ireland Easter 66
Clark in KPU382C or KPU383C? Melia was in Clark's Monte car, NVW243C. Elford crashed (and wrote off?) his car (ex-Monte NVW242C?)
Roger in KPU 382 C, Elford in NVW 242 C - photo with crews clearly distinguishable in 1967 programme.

Scottish 66
Any other works Fords than Clark in KPU383C?

Vltava 66
Soderstrom (in KPU387C?), Elford in ?

German 66
Elford in ?

1000 Lakes 66
Soderstrom in KPU387C, Clark in what was reported to be a white/green car, reg no?
Roger was definitely in a white/green car NVW 241 C and finished 20th -there is a photograph in "Finnish Grand Prix".

Any confirmation would be of help. Hopefully it will be possible to produce a definitve reference. Some previously published data (including some from the drivers themselves) is plainly wrong.

Fred

[RS2000]

Many, many thanks Fred. That's invaluable.
I had mentioned on here some time ago I had a feeling the 1000 Lakes car was NVW241C (later the Jim Clark 66 RAC Rally car for those not familiar with the numbers - or those who believed the dross a major auction house spouted about KPU386C not so long ago)