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[David Birchall]

In 1983/84 I decided a Lotus 23 was the way to go so I bought a rough 23B, sitting on a trailer, for $2500. I subsequently learned it was the 1966 Canadian Drivers Championship winning car driven by George Chapman (no relation). I did a lot of restoration work on the car-it was fitted with the McLaren M8F body from George Eaton's "Spirit of Edmonton" CanAm car when I acquired it-plus it had been end over end at Westwood...
Before I could finish restoring it, things changed and I sold it to Gil Nickel of California-Gil went on to win the FIA Historic Championship with the car in the early nineties. 
I just found this video on Youtube about the history of the car and George Chapman-who I finally go to meet about eight years ago:

https://www.youtube....h?v=2pHfZIN2D8s

Serial number is 23/S/119--TNFer Tom Johnston is responsible for the video

Edited by David Birchall, 28 March 2018 - 02:36.

[raceannouncer2003]

The last I heard, Ned Spieker has the car in Europe.  Peter Lipskis also was involved with the video.

 

As it happens, George Chapman recently visited his brother here in Victoria, BC, Canada.  A bunch of us visited the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit.  

 

 

Chapman (right) with former racer Laurie Craig and Craig's wife Lisa

 

]

 

left to right, track manager Paul Rossmo, George's son Doug Chapman (a stunt driver), George, and George's brother Cec Chapman.  Paul is looking at a photo of George in the Lotus...he is another former owner of 23/S/119.

 

George is 89 years old, and retired from his law practice in Winnipeg, Manitoba just a few years ago.  He hopes to come out of retirement this year to race an MGTC that belongs to his former Lotus mechanic, Frank Mancini.

 

Vince H.

Edited by raceannouncer2003, 28 March 2018 - 05:34.