56 replies to this topic

[austmcreg]

That certainly does help as it probably confirms that the original photo was taken at the July '67 Warwick Farm meeting and shows Ian Jenkins in the AMRD Lotus 20 rather than a 22. The photo background is consistent with the 'farm (horserails etc.), the competition number (23) is correct and the car has several features (rear wheels and engine location) which distinguish it from a 22. It does appear to have a 22 style top rear link but that was a pretty common update on Lotus 20s.

Blanden lists 20-J-965 as having been owned by Ian Jenkins without chassis number after a major rebuild following Kent Price's 1964 Bathurst accident. Then mention of Reg Papps having it in 1969-72. Does anyone have more knowledge of this car - would a year in Tasmania in 1968 fit into this somewhat vague ownership history in mid-late 60s?
Rob Saward

[BT 35-8]

Rob,

As per previous post somewhere , I owned and mostly restored 20-J-965 and there is no way it ever went
anywhere near Tasmania .
For the record John Blanden's 2nd book completed after his death used a few people like myself for
input and corrections , the foreword acknowledges same with my input on Brabhams.
I wasn't asked re. the Lotus section but would have made alterations to 20-J-965 's history a little.

May I suggest XX-LC-1 was not imprinted by anyone in Australia on the section of the car where the marking
exists , similar numbers are to be found on other Lotus 20s and these are I believe the frame number from
the chassis constructor for Lotus , similar to AM numbers on Brabhams etc.

I carry a very valid theory as to this cars build etc. at Lotus and how it carries XX-LC-1 yet was nearly the last car
''built'' in the Lotus 20 production run .

The chassis number was confirmed after years of research with other Lotus 20s in Australia and having all the build
records from Lotus including , chassis numbers/ gearbox numbers and types / carburettor numbers / date cleared by
Lotus accounts / colour etc.

The AUST/31 etc. was done by Reg. Papps and sons when they did the '' update'' to Lotus 31 sort of specs.
The rear uprights had been modified by Papps's by welding a new magnesium top section to the existing Lotus 20 uprights
which during the course of restoration we painstakingly removed and linished back down to correct spec.
When purchased by myself the car was on 8.0'' front and 10.0'' rears , the fronts were Lotus , the rears MRC from Lionel Ayers
and were swapped in a standard chinese deal with Stephen Fryer as spares for his MRC 23B for a pair of 45 Webers.

As an aside , Leo advised me that they '' were dying in the bum'' with this last Lotus 20 kit on their books when Kent Price
walked in and wished to purchase not just a Lotus but a Lotus 20 , as Leo said he was already running the 22 and expected
a request for same .

John Sheppard also did a rear camber link alteration to Pete's 20 as John was concerned about the drive shaft breaking
with that car which generally ran as a 1500cc , John's version was a fabricated bolt on piece simply to hold the rear wheel
something like upright if the drive shaft let go.

Another car that may cause confusion is Ken Shirvington's 20 which he entered as a 22 I noted whilst checking programmes
probably another car which had the Rennmax rear uprights etc. fitted to it.

Bryan Miller.

[Ray Bell]

Ah, the famous Ken Milburn...

Purveyor of fine chocolate coated ants.

The fan was working overtime when he went into the fence at Bathurst and broke his legs. Did the damage done to the chassis that day show?

[ed holly]

Bob Young has loaned me some additional photos of his Lotus 22. One of them is with the rear bodywork removed showing the pushrod 1475cc engine and Hewland gearbox. It also shows a couple of other non standard mods as done by Bobby Britton, a great mate of Bob Young's. There is also a photo of Bob Young in his Formula Vee in which he was very successful.

[Peter Morley]

May I suggest XX-LC-1 was not imprinted by anyone in Australia on the section of the car where the marking
exists , similar numbers are to be found on other Lotus 20s and these are I believe the frame number from
the chassis constructor for Lotus , similar to AM numbers on Brabhams etc.

I carry a very valid theory as to this cars build etc. at Lotus and how it carries XX-LC-1 yet was nearly the last car
''built'' in the Lotus 20 production run .

Presumably the LC part of the number refers to Lotus Components?
They could either have made the chassis or numbered frames supplied by an outside constructor and kept them in stock so as to supply a customer quickly following an accident?

[BT 35-8]

Peter,

Yes , LC would translate to Lotus Components , just the same as AM is Arch Motors .
I have no knowledge as to whether Lotus built their frames in house or sub contracted
some or all out , or if all were done by Lotus Components internally and numbered as
per normal business practice for stock control / invoicing purposes.

Bryan Miller.

[iainflett]

I think ex-owner David Doubtfire in Vic can probably explain that car as well as any, and I spoke to its most recent owner earlier this year, the car then living just north of Mittagong

Hi there - one or 2 points re Lotus 22-J-49. The owners according to the CAMS papers were (in order): Leo Geoghegan, Peter Williamson, Bob Young, Peter Larner, Werner Becker, Peter Larner(again), John Hill, John Sheppard, Gary Ryan. I became the current custodian when I bought it from a third party who had bought it from G. Ryan the previous week!

I was alerted to this thread by John Ellacott (photographer) today and we will be meeting at the Silverstone Classic next week.

The car has been used in most of the Lurani rounds since I got it 6/7 yrs ago. It won the GP Historique de Dijon 2 weeks ago driven by John Fyda.

The car is in great order and is still in the original livery as is Leo's 20 which is owned by a friend of mine here in Scotland.

All the best,

Iain Flett