16 replies to this topic

[etceterini.com]

Here we go again!

http://www.cliffreut...Mosport1967.htm

[buckaluck]

Way cool photos thanks for sharing! Happy Holidays

[Allen Brown]

Very interesting to see the Chinooks of Nat Adams and Ruiz de Perez. These two both appeared in Formula A (i.e. Formula 5000) in 1969 in Chinooks - anyone know whether these Group 7 cars were converted (briefly) to open wheel form?

[fbarrett]

Excellent photos! Thanks!

The 904 driver's last name is Brezinka.

Jacques Duval had a 904 before his 906, and it still survives with a friend in deepest New Jersey.

Frank

[RickT]

Very interesting to see the Chinooks of Nat Adams and Ruiz de Perez. These two both appeared in Formula A (i.e. Formula 5000) in 1969 in Chinooks - anyone know whether these Group 7 cars were converted (briefly) to open wheel form?

Hi Allen

Neither of these Chinook Mk2s were converted to FA cars at any point. Alfies car continued to race in Group 7 spec with various owners until about 1972 when it had a nasty shunt at Mosport, it was not repaired until we restored it for Ray Boissoneau several years ago. Nats Mk2 continued to race as a Gp7 until 1982 when it was bought by Jay Esterer who converted it to a road car, we recently rebuilt it to its original race spec for him to run at Goodwood this year.

My understanding is that Alfies FA Chinook car was a converted Lola T90 or T92 USAC car which George Fejer initially ran as a Chinook USAC car in the early 69 Phoenix race, it was then converted with a SB Chev for Alfie to run as an FA car.

Nats FA Chinook was definitely a purpose built spaceframe Chinook.

These photos are absolutely wonderful, I think that is the best colour shot I have seen of Alfies Mk2 !!

Cheers
Richard

[eldougo]

Very early use of exhaust gases to create more down force.


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Allen Brown]

My understanding is that Alfies FA Chinook car was a converted Lola T90 or T92 USAC car which George Fejer initially ran as a Chinook USAC car in the early 69 Phoenix race, it was then converted with a SB Chev for Alfie to run as an FA car.

Thanks Richard. So would this Lola-based car be the same "Chinook MK VII" that Fejer had raced during 1968?

[RickT]

Thanks Richard. So would this Lola-based car be the same "Chinook MK VII" that Fejer had raced during 1968?

Hi Allen

The car George ran in 68 was not the Lola, it was a purpose built spaceframe Chinook (which was absolutely gorgeous btw!!), they replaced it in 69 with the Lola when that Chinook got damaged in a trailer accident.

Over the past few years I have been compiling a list of the Chinooks, and the different models which I plan to email to you eventually once I am confident it is accurate. The tricky thing is they didnt really use type numbers in period very often, the cars were often just entered as Chinooks, or when they did use a number it was sometimes used more than once, etc. I am making up a list to try and make some sense of it all. Once I have done it perhaps you could add a Chinook page to your site ?

Cheers
Richard

[GeorgeTheCar]

There is a member f the Canadian Motorsport History Group who used to work with the Fejers

I will ask him to join

[GeorgeTheCar]

There is a member f the Canadian Motorsport History Group who used to work with the Fejers

I will ask him to join

[Allen Brown]

Hi Allen

The car George ran in 68 was not the Lola, it was a purpose built spaceframe Chinook (which was absolutely gorgeous btw!!), they replaced it in 69 with the Lola when that Chinook got damaged in a trailer accident.

Over the past few years I have been compiling a list of the Chinooks, and the different models which I plan to email to you eventually once I am confident it is accurate. The tricky thing is they didnt really use type numbers in period very often, the cars were often just entered as Chinooks, or when they did use a number it was sometimes used more than once, etc. I am making up a list to try and make some sense of it all. Once I have done it perhaps you could add a Chinook page to your site ?

Cheers
Richard

That would be great Richard. I drafted a Chinook some years ago and have added to it as I've discovered more but I've never felt it was in a fit state to publish. Feel free to email me something before it's perfect in case we have enough between us to complete the picture.

Was George able to remember where he bought the Lola from? Three of the five T90/92s had been wrecked by the end of 1968 and one of the others (the Jack Adams Aircraft car) continued racing into 1969. So that should only leave one candidate to be the Chinook-Lola.

The single-seater Chinooks that I'm aware of are:
1. The 1968 Indy car (MK VII?)
2. Nat Adams' 1969-70 car (debut Harewood Acres 17 Aug 1969?) - "Mk 9"
3. Brian Weightman's car (debut Harewood Acres 17 Aug 1969?) - a modified Lola T140/142?
4. Alfred Ruys de Perez' car (debut Harewood Acres 17 Aug 1969?) - the ex-Indy Lola T90/92
5. Harvey Craig's car (raced 1970-71)
6. Tom Haubert's Formula B twin-cam car (raced 1972) - likely to be a converted Formula Ford.

Plus varied Formula Fords, at least one of which was also called a Mk 9. And of course the slightly mysterious 1972 Indy project with George Eaton and the equally puzzling Lotus 70-like car that can be traced back to 1976 but may well date from 1972.

[RickT]

That would be great Richard. I drafted a Chinook some years ago and have added to it as I've discovered more but I've never felt it was in a fit state to publish. Feel free to email me something before it's perfect in case we have enough between us to complete the picture.

Was George able to remember where he bought the Lola from? Three of the five T90/92s had been wrecked by the end of 1968 and one of the others (the Jack Adams Aircraft car) continued racing into 1969. So that should only leave one candidate to be the Chinook-Lola.

The single-seater Chinooks that I'm aware of are:
1. The 1968 Indy car (MK VII?)
2. Nat Adams' 1969-70 car (debut Harewood Acres 17 Aug 1969?) - "Mk 9"
3. Brian Weightman's car (debut Harewood Acres 17 Aug 1969?) - a modified Lola T140/142?
4. Alfred Ruys de Perez' car (debut Harewood Acres 17 Aug 1969?) - the ex-Indy Lola T90/92
5. Harvey Craig's car (raced 1970-71)
6. Tom Haubert's Formula B twin-cam car (raced 1972) - likely to be a converted Formula Ford.

Plus varied Formula Fords, at least one of which was also called a Mk 9. And of course the slightly mysterious 1972 Indy project with George Eaton and the equally puzzling Lotus 70-like car that can be traced back to 1976 but may well date from 1972.

Hi Allen

The T90/92 Lola came from Bignotti (I think, will have to check later), the Fejers were quite close to Bignotti I believe, they worked together a couple of times and years later went back and bought a PJ Colt off him for Eaton in 71.

Brian Weightmans car was not a converted Lola, it was another purpose built spaceframe Chinook FA car with a Ford V8.

Harvey Craigs car was also a purpose built spaceframe Chinook FA car but with SBC motor.

The FB Chinook was a converted FF, the conversion was not done by the Fejers but by a private owner though we think.

The 1971 (Lotus 70 inspired) Mk12 was built specially for George Eaton to use in the new USAC road race series set up to rival F5000, the series collapsed after just one round at Seattle where Eaton had struggled in qualifying with throttle issues so did not race. When the series was cancelled they went and bought a Lola/Colt for Eaton to use in USAC oval races instead. After that I dont think the Mk12 ever raced again, it was eventually advertised by Dennis Reed of Irving, NY in late 75. It is the car now owned by Mike Knittel.

The 72 Indy project was well on the way (even down to the Fejer designed and built Flat 8, four cam, turbocharged engine ) when Eaton retired from Motor Racing and the project stopped.

I will get the list sorted and sent to you, I am working with Ed Butt and Rudy Fejer to try and establish a workable number system for the post Can-Am period single seater cars.

Cheers
Richard

[Allen Brown]

Thanks Richard

[EdButt]

Very interesting to see the Chinooks of Nat Adams and Ruiz de Perez. These two both appeared in Formula A (i.e. Formula 5000) in 1969 in Chinooks - anyone know whether these Group 7 cars were converted (briefly) to open wheel form?

Allen,

The Ruys de Perez car was the Lola T90 that Jackie Stewart drove in the 1966 Indy 500.
It was raced once at Pheonix by George Fejer as a USAC Champ Car and then converted to an Formula "A" car with a SB Chevy for Alfie Ruys de Perez.

I have a photo of the car but have not figured out how to post it.

[Allen Brown]

Allen,

The Ruys de Perez car was the Lola T90 that Jackie Stewart drove in the 1966 Indy 500.
It was raced once at Pheonix by George Fejer as a USAC Champ Car and then converted to an Formula "A" car with a SB Chevy for Alfie Ruys de Perez.

I have a photo of the car but have not figured out how to post it.

Thanks Ed. If you send the image to allen@oldracingcars.com, I'd be very pleased to post it up for you.

[Allen Brown]

Allen,

The Ruys de Perez car was the Lola T90 that Jackie Stewart drove in the 1966 Indy 500.
It was raced once at Pheonix by George Fejer as a USAC Champ Car and then converted to an Formula "A" car with a SB Chevy for Alfie Ruys de Perez.

I have a photo of the car but have not figured out how to post it.

Here's Ed's picture

[EdButt]

Here's Ed's picture

Allen, Thanks for posting the photo