18 replies to this topic

[Andrew Fellowes]

I am trying to find Bob Keys who placed the ad below back in '65. Always possible that I am too late however if anyone knows anything about him I'd be very grateful!

1965 Dec 4th Competition Press & Autoweek, p.9
Lotus 27, FORMULA B-Twin cam ex team Lotus car, Hewland 5-speed, inboard front shocks, adjustable rear shocks, green/yellow paint. One race on newly rebuilt engine. Excellent, $5495. Bob Keys, 11547 W.Califa, N.Hollywood, Calif. 91601; (213) 769-1089

Thanks Andrew

Edited by Andrew Fellowes, 04 December 2011 - 20:56.

[David Beard]

I am trying to find Bob Keys who placed the ad below back in '65. Always possible that I am too late however if anyone knows anything about him I'd be very grateful!




Thanks Andrew

Not Bobby Keys, the saxophonist?

[Andrew Fellowes]

I did wonder but I'd guess not quite old enough and I cant find any mention of that Bobby driving a race car!

[David Birchall]

I think bobby Keys would be flyin' rather than driving--if you see what I mean...

Andrew, the only California Lotus 27 I recall was raced by the late Bill Morton in historic races in the San Francisco area--is this the same car?

[Andrew Fellowes]

No, that car I am trying to get a handle on is 27/JM/35 that has been in a house in California for 36 years. This was a works car (as in Ron Harris) and the body's original colour is green and the wheels are yellow and by reputation its been in California since 1964. Apart from the engine bay its very unmolested but owners pre 1975 is a mystery save for 4 participant plaques that came with it.
It could easily be Bob Key's but the evidence is purely circumstantial. All I can find is that he also raced a 20 and a 23 and from the ad lived in Califa St; N.Hollywood.

There are two 27s in historics in California, Nicholas Colyvas has one and more interestingly Phillip Ribbs from Santa Cruz has an ex works one but I have no chassis numbers for either.

Edit. Correction, 4 in California.

Edited by Andrew Fellowes, 08 December 2011 - 22:00.

[raceannouncer2003]

I understand there is a Bob Keys in the Long Beach MG Car Club. Don't know if it's the same guy. You could try to contact them via this link:

http://www.lbmg.org/..._Few_Words.html

Vince H.

[Michael Oliver]

Hi Andrew

I don't know if it is a red herring or not but there was a green Lotus 27 entered in the support race to the 1964 Times Grand Prix for Sports Cars at Riverside (Oct 10/11). It was driven by Bruce Eglington from 'London, England' and entered by Ian Raby. There was also another 27 entered but that was a black car for Pierre Phillips.

Michael

[Red Socks]

Andrew I have notes on 4 27's in the US, the chassis numbers I have are, 27-JM-7, 27-JM-14, 27-JM-36 and FJ-27-22.I feel sure that Nick would not mind me revealing that his is 14.

Edited by Red Socks, 07 December 2011 - 15:00.

[Andrew Fellowes]

Hi Andrew

I don't know if it is a red herring or not but there was a green Lotus 27 entered in the support race to the 1964 Times Grand Prix for Sports Cars at Riverside (Oct 10/11). It was driven by Bruce Eglington from 'London, England' and entered by Ian Raby. There was also another 27 entered but that was a black car for Pierre Phillips.

Michael

Thats a very interesting one that I was unaware of, how did Ian Raby fit into the picture, there is a 27 in the States with his plate in the cockpit.

Competition Press & Autoweek 27-FEB-1965 page 19.
IAN RABY (RACING) LTD, -England’s racing and sports car specialist offer New/Used sports and racing cars at U.K. prices with prompt delivery. Satisfaction assured, Bona Fide club references , shipping from $100. Exporting arranged, Stocked lists/mailing, $1. Ian Raby (racing) Ltd., c/o Empire Cars Ltd., 85 Preston rd., Brighton, Sussex. England; Brighton 63344/5, Cable address: RABY - RACING, BRIGHTON.

[BT 35-8]

Andrew,

Bruce Mansell's Lotus 22 has an Ian Raby Racing chassis plate , it was probably a bit of promotion by
Ian Raby in the U.K. stamped up the Ian Raby plate with the Lotus number and put all the old Lotus plates
in a drawer , now where did he work in the U.K???????

Bryan.

[RAP]

Andrew,

Bruce Mansell's Lotus 22 has an Ian Raby Racing chassis plate , it was probably a bit of promotion by
Ian Raby in the U.K. stamped up the Ian Raby plate with the Lotus number and put all the old Lotus plates
in a drawer , now where did he work in the U.K???????

Bryan.

now where did he work in the U.K???????

Not sure if its really a question but the answer is Brighton, Sussex

[Andrew Fellowes]

No, not really a question but what it does do is question the link between Ian Raby & Lotus and from what I can see is that the connection was between Colin Chapman and Ian Raby, perhaps someone here can tell me if that is right? I can see no connection between Ian Raby and Ron Harris.

Was this Keys' car? 27/JM/35 found recently in California where it had been lying dormant for 36 years. Chopped nose, cut body, type 32 front & rear suspension.

Edited by Andrew Fellowes, 08 December 2011 - 21:56.

[David McKinney]

Ian Raby was a wheeler dealer - he no doubt acquired cars from a wide variety of UK sources - public and private
I haven't checked who Eglinton's entrant in UK races was, but if it wasn't Raby, the Englishman could have supplied a car for American races - and maybe kept his name on it till it was paid off

[David Birchall]

Ian Raby was a wheeler dealer as David Mc says. He also provided a service to those in "foreign parts" who wanted a competitive car, a Lotus say, but did not have access to the people who could set it up properly. In the case of Lotus 23 #23S-119, on behalf of Geoge Chapman of Canada, Raby picked up the car in kit form from Lotus, assembled and tested it and arranged shipping to Canada. George Chapman won the Canadian Drivers Championship with that car "fresh out of the box". When I owned 23S-119 it had Ian Raby's plate on the dash.

[David M. Kane]

Supposedly there are only 10 or 11 Lotus 22 FJ left, 77 were built. I thought I heard one was destroyed in the last two years either at a Historic race at Spa or England. Any help would be greatly apporeciated.

Thanks!

[Andrew Fellowes]

David what about Duncan Rabagliati? he is keeper of Lotus FJ records.

Happy Ending.

I found Bob Keys in Hawaii and spoke to him, he bought his car from Bruce Eglinton who in turn bought his car from Ron Harris at the end of '63. I think I now have all the subsequent owners too, a complete chain in less than a month! Not often that happens.
My thanks to Allen Brown for one vital link that opened the door!

[RonPohl]

David what about Duncan Rabagliati? he is keeper of Lotus FJ records.

Happy Ending.

I found Bob Keys in Hawaii and spoke to him, he bought his car from Bruce Eglinton who in turn bought his car from Ron Harris at the end of '63. I think I now have all the subsequent owners too, a complete chain in less than a month! Not often that happens.
My thanks to Allen Brown for one vital link that opened the door!

So, this is your 27?

[Rupertlt1]

He is Bob Keyes?

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

See: https://library.revs...una-seca/219703

 

San Carlos' Bob Keyes has

sold his Lotus 23 to Dr. Bond

of Stanford. Jim Marshall of

Marin will do the wheeling.

The Peninsula Times Tribune, Friday 29 Jan 1965, Page 27

 

See: https://forums.autos...2#entry10173897

 

https://library.revs...er-creek/412496

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 16 February 2023 - 16:55.