9 replies to this topic

[BarryD]

Can anyone help please.

 

I am seeking to establish the identity of my very early S2 Lotus Eleven chassis with HLR Registrar Vic Thomas.

 

He recalls seeing an article some long time past with reference to Roland Dutt, who we know a little about from other threads, which links him to a Lotus Eleven with some distinctive features common to mine, possibly at the racing school that he was involved in (Vanderbyl).

 

Vic is just "hot" off the success of forensically identifying the ex Hawthorn Eleven, so if anyone out there in NTefferLand has any clues, we'd sure be grateful to keep the momentum going.

 

Roland Dutt,  Roly Dutt, even an Ivor Dutt have popped into the early history equation, as have the "Money Brothers".

 

Anyone else recall the article?

 

The same goes for any period pictures of a racing eleven in very dark BRG with two white stripes about 2 1/2" wide and the same width apart, with the le Mans type "V" screen and twin tanks (extra filler to the usual one on drivers side, ie. fillers both sides of the scuttle.)

 

I have regularly trawled Ted Ferret's Lotus eleven boxes at various events but to no avail, however you never know ...................

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks

 

Barry D

Edited by BarryD, 11 May 2015 - 16:09.

[Charles Helps]

Roland Dutt wrote a road test report for 'Motor Clubman and Special Builder' and Jay Sloane has the article on his Lotus Eleven website here.  It doesn't help that much as the article isn't about his (Dutt's) own cars (I assume that he had more than one for his racing school). 

 

TNFer Simon Lewis started a thread a couple of years ago with a colour picture of Roland Dutt at the start of a race at Crystal Palace in 1959.  Dutt was in Lotus Eleven no. 54, described as red with white nose band.  It is difficult to see whether it has the extra fuel tank or a Vee screen as the picture is quite small.  Maybe an enlargement would be more useful.

[Charles Helps]

A thread on the Elva cars website gives more details of Roland Dutt and the Vanderbyl Racing school and points to an article in Autosport sometime in December 1964.

[layabout]

A thread on the Elva cars website gives more details of Roland Dutt and the Vanderbyl Racing school and points to an article in Autosport sometime in December 1964.

Howden Ganley's book, The Road to Monaco", provides a look at Dutt & the "school". Based on the book, I guess you would say that Roland Dutt was an odd character & a lousy employer....

[pmurray]

Barry,

 

I have been loaned a number of years of Autosport to research for mention of Edward Lewis and the Lotus Elite he purchased in 1959 and for possible leads as to subsequent owners of that car.

 

I have found the article Charles referred to in the 11 December issue and have scanned it to a pdf file.  I'll send you a private message  with my contact details then  I can send it to you direct.

 

Peter Murray

[Rupertlt1]

Vanderbyl Motor Racing Instructional School operated from "our private circuit near Evesham." Where was it?

Apparently at Honeybourne Aerodrome, near Broadway. Opened Saturday 21 May 1960.

"The track covers one and

three-quarter miles and has

eight corners, the fastest being

100 m.p.h. and each becoming

progressively more difficult."

 

One of the school cars was 20 KVX, ex-Keith Greene, Gilby Engineering.

 

Lt. Richard J. Pryor, USAF, who also raced a Lotus XI, was a pupil in 1961.

Car prepared by Jack Brabham Motors.

 

Adam Faith was also a pupil 1965.

 

They operated from Castle Combe, 1962.

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 December 2023 - 17:08.

[DUFFY]

Vanderbyl Motor Racing car badge (22)

109 mm (4.25") tall.

Manufactured by Renamel of London, centre part in resin and having the Crown and “R” on the front of the tang.

c 1960’s early 1970's

Vanderbyl was a Motor Racing Drivers school

 

Was on e-bay this week

 

 

 

Autosport 1963 March 22nd.

 

Edited by DUFFY, 22 December 2023 - 14:38.

[Rupertlt1]

Mallory Park, Nottingham S.C.C., 31 July 1960

There was, however,

a considerable race between Edward

Greenall (Lola) and A. Willoughby and

Roland Dutt in Lotuses and these three

had a very fine scrap, far behind the

leaders, which enlivened what might

otherwise have been a demonstration.

Autosport, 12 August 1960, Page 223

 

Roland Dutt #54 Lotus-Climax, 1098 c.c., at Crystal Palace, B.R.S.C.C., 18 May 1959, entrant Motor Racing Enterprises.

Heat 1 and Final. Car red with white nose band.

See: https://forums.autos...9/#entry5877932

Strangely there is a #54 Lotus Eleven on the cover of the programme:

https://www.progcove...alace590518.pdf

 

Roland Dutt #54 Lotus-Climax, 1098 c.c., at Crystal Palace, B.A.R.C., 6 June 1960, entrant Roland Dutt.

Car colour blue.

https://www.progcove...alace600606.pdf

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 23 December 2023 - 05:57.

[Rupertlt1]

See #45 Gordon Jones at Brands Hatch, 30 August 1958:

 

https://library.revs...national/436385

 

See also:

 

https://library.revs...ch-brscc/456498

 

https://library.revs...t-trophy/452016

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 28 December 2023 - 14:22.

[Rupertlt1]

Gordon Jones, Mallory Park, Whit Monday 1958:

 

https://www.stilltim.../aaj/aaj291.jpg

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 30 December 2023 - 10:03.