9 replies to this topic

[ed holly]

I must admit at the outset that I have a vested interest in starting this thread. I do own the Lotus Eleven LeMans chassis 538 which as far as I can tell did run driven by owner George Jamieson in this event on the 12th June 1960. Every indicator points to it running there but I would like some definitive proof as in a spectator recalling it running or some documentation or a photo that it did. I have a comprehensive history file on the car and to know for sure that it did run would be terrific.

 

Some years ago, before my purchasing and restoring 538, I acquired a programme of the event, and it seems to have been filled in by someone who was very diligent in their record keeping with even what appears to be non-runners being scratched out in the Competitor's Numbers page and a lap chart for the first 10 runners in the AGP itself.. 

 

538 was in the programme for 2 races, Event 2 the Division 2 Scratch Race and Event 5 the AGP itself. In event 2 (4 laps) the car was to be driven by the Jamieson's mate, Les Agnew who often shared the car with George. The page for this event shows Les Agnew crossed out and that would indicate a non-starter. One could imagine that on the eve of such an important event as the AGP an entry for Les might have seemed like a good idea at the time but on race day I think Les would not have wanted to risk the Eleven in a Division 2 race and did not start.

 

The page for the 25th AGP shows various scratchings, 1. the second car for Lex Davison - 2. Tadgell in the Sabacat - 3. Barry Collerson in the Talbot Lago and Lionel Ayres in the Cooper MG S/C - the rest would have been starters and I think I am safe to include Jamieson among them.

 

I spoke to Graham Howard about 538 running in this event and he couldn't really elaborate on what was written in his book that there was no information on a few competitors of which Jamieson was one. In another website http://www.silhouet..../1960/1960.html  below the following is recorded.

 

There are other threads on TNF about this event but not specific to it - 

 

https://forums.autos...gp#entry1762417

https://forums.autos...hl= lowood agp

 

 

 

 

Grand Prix of Australia
12 June 1960 - Lowood: 163.635 km (4.545 km x 36 laps)

1 Alec Mildren             Cooper-Maserati T51             1:04:35.05, 152.020 kph
2 Lex Davison             Aston Martin DBR4/300             1:04:35.25
3 Bib Stillwell             Cooper-Climax T51            36 laps
4 Jon Leighton             Cooper-Climax T45             35 laps
5 Noel Hall             Cooper-Climax T51             35 laps
6 Arnold Glass             Maserati 250F             35 laps
7 Glynn Scott             Cooper-Climax T43
8 Charlie Whatmore             Lotus-Climax 11
9 Mel McEwin             Tornado-Chevrolet V8
10 Noel Barnes             MG TC Special
NC Max Williams             MG TC Special
NC Keith Russell             MG TC Special
NC George Jamieson             Lotus-Climax 11

Fastest Lap: Lex Davison (Aston Martin), 1:44.0, 157.327 kph


Did Not Finish
Frank Matich             Lotus-Climax 15              9 laps/engine
Stan Jones             Maybach-Corvette              4 laps/engine
Joe Bonenti             MG TF Special         engine

Did Not Start
Bill Patterson             Cooper-Climax
Alan Tatham             Cooper-Hillman
Peter Lovett             Maserati 4CL
Bill Ford             HWM-Jaguar
Bob Jane             Maserati 300S
Barry Collerson             Talbot-Lago
Lex Davison             Ferrari
Lionel Ayers             Cooper-MG
Ern Tadgell             Lotus-Lycoming 12

 

there is no information as to where the this information came from.

 

Here are the relevent pages from the programme along with a photo of 538 as it is today.

 

Any help would be very much appreciated .... Ed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by ed holly, 06 July 2018 - 03:46.

[Allen Brown]

If it helps, these are the results of that race that David McKinney researched for OldRacingCars.com:

 

http://www.oldracing...php?RaceID=AU60

[MarkBisset]

Ed,

there were a whole batch of shots put up on Bob's FB page of Lowood AGP some many months back, I went back and looked last nite (Cripes that archive is getting huge!) but no shots of your car there sadly- am not suggesting there are shots of all of the grid in that group of postings,

M

[cooper997]

Here's Ed's earlier thread https://forums.autos...ix-lowood-1960/

Given the recent activity on Bob W's facebook site of Quentin Miles, he might be a promising start if his dad's archive has Queensland motor racing paperwork and more photos relating to this meeting. In the last few days Bob posted a Brier Thomas photo of the Jamieson car stating it to be the September 1960 Lowood. So one can only hope Brier's archive might solve this.

The June 1960 AGP meeting results published in the September 1960 Lowood meeting programme aren't of any assistance in furthering this quest.

What follows are reports/features I'm aware of for this AGP.(but I don't have access to the Autosport )

July 60 AMS report p252
Aug 60 Modern Motor p27.
Aug 60 SCW p53
5 August 1960 Autosport
1960 Automobiles Australia (AMS book) p144
Nov 77/Jan 78 SCW – .
When Cooper beat an Aston – 1960 AGP p72

Stephen

[ed holly]

Can someone identify this circuit please- and if Lowood would the crowd there normally have been this large or could it have been the AGP meeting ?.

 

Thought it was Lakeside but then when I looked at this site:-  https://www.pressrea...282260961046940 - it shows a section of Lowood track very similar to the Jack Psaros photo background..

 

Thanks to Jack Psaros for posting on Facebook.

 

Edited by ed holly, 31 July 2018 - 09:18.

[Ray Bell]

It does look like a good crowd...

And it is Lowood. I don't think Lakeside ever had that many strawbales anywhere at any time. And it's not Strathpine, either.

By the way, that site's map is way out.

[The Chasm]

I have driven around a lot of the Lowood track precinct over the years, and I do not recall any earth bank like that in the photo - even at the top of the hill around the taxiways.

 

That looks like Lakeside to me - heading up the Eastern Loop - photographer on the outside of the circuit - spectators in the centre.

 

There are four people still with us that were there on the day who might recall the Lotus Ed - Kevin Bartlett, John French, Bill Kelly & Tim Harlock. Have you contacted them ?.

 

What is so wrong with the site map Ray ?. The pit location is a little out, but the Google overlay is very close.

Edited by The Chasm, 31 July 2018 - 13:08.

[ed holly]

If you look at Jack's other photos in his Lakeside and Lowood file - I think the "embankment" is in fact hay bails.

 

See the 5th last row at this link ....  Especially the MGA coupe and Cooper in the centre photo the row above.  You will have to scroll down quite a ways to get to the end.

 

https://www.facebook...50288579&type=1

Edited by ed holly, 31 July 2018 - 22:10.

[The Chasm]

Thanks Ed,

Yes I agree it is Lowood and not Lakeside given the other shots at different angles from the same vantage point (camera position).

[Ray Bell]

From the 1960 GP pics by Brier Thomas:



Chasm, I'm away from home now, when I get back I'll try to remember to get a Lowood Map out and show what I'm talking about.