155 replies to this topic

[Odseybod]

A bit of a long-shot but I'm hoping the combined wisdom of TNF might come to the rescue.

A reader in Belgium contacted me recently, trying to trace the early history of his Lola Mark 1, chassis number BR-8. The reason he picked on me was that it was advertised for sale in Thoroughbred & Classic Cars (as it then was) in February 1983 - but unfortunately, the seller used a box number and since we've had several publishers and associated change-over chaos since then, it's impossible to attach a name to the number.

I'm told Lola Heritage has no trace of the original owner (though I've not yet managwed to confirm this), its Chassis Register merely showing that it's a 1960 sports-racer, recently domiciled in France. Does anyone here happen to know of the car and its early life, leading up to its 1983 sale?

Much obliged (on behalf of the owner) for any help!

[David McKinney]

David Pratley's book on the Mk1 Lolas suggests there might not have been a BR8, though there was a car of that number in France in 1998...

[Odseybod]

David Pratley's book on the Mk1 Lolas suggests there might not have been a BR8, though there was a car of that number in France in 1998...

Thanks, David. Hope we're not in a 'continuation situation'!

[D-Type]

reading this, the name "Widi" comes to mind.

[David McKinney]

I think the Widi history is well known, though its consructor, Willy Widar, did have a pukka Lola Mk1 at one stage. That existed post-Widi however

[David Birchall]

I started tracking sales of Lola Mk1s in the seventies but never saw a reference to BR8 except the one mentioned.
Pratley's book says "Not identified but possibly the dark blue car supplied to John Wolfe."

[Odseybod]

I started tracking sales of Lola Mk1s in the seventies but never saw a reference to BR8 except the one mentioned.
Pratley's book says "Not identified but possibly the dark blue car supplied to John Wolfe."

The only relevant Lola book we have in the office is the 'Illustrated History 1957-77' by John Starkey & Ken Wells. Afraid I've no idea how reliable its information is, but it suggests that in 1960, 19 Mark 1s were built at Bromley out of a total of 44 Lola cars of all descriptions. Concversely, the Lola Heritage Chassis Register shows 21 Mark 1s from 1960, within the number range BR-1 to BR-24, plus a 1960 car with no chassis number and a couple of duplicated numbers with unverified history.

Beginning to wish I hadn't answered the phone ...!

Edited by Odseybod, 18 November 2010 - 17:16.

[piperp2]

Does anyone know the chassis number of John Ewers ex Lola Mk1, the picture below shows John Ewer with the car in Sep 1960 at the Roskilde Ring. Unfortunately this was the weekend that George Lawton was killed, John that weekend and the following days helped Lawton's distraught team mate Denny Hulme with all the paperwork to get poor George flown back to New Zealand


By piperp2 at 2010-11-18

[JB Miltonian]

Hi, Tony;
I looked in my old Autoweek magazines from early 1983, in case anything popped out at me. I don't claim to know anything about the subject of Lola's, but this might be a connection. From February 7, 1983 (same time frame as the T&CC listing):

"Lola. First ever built. Ex-Eric Broadley. Ex-Wershat. Consistent winner English 1172 Formula 1955-1964. Exactly as last raced. Also 1959 AC Bristol. Offers to Lawrie Loveless, 2 Mill Cottages, Crimple Lane, Harrogate, Yorkshire, England, 44-423-887467"

This car might have a known history under a specific chassis number. Don't know...

Jeff / JB Miltonian

[David Birchall]

Jeff, that sounds much more like SKM201 Broadley's first special that looked somewhat like a Lotus 7 and was powered by an 1172 Ford.

[David Birchall]

Does anyone know the chassis number of John Ewers ex Lola Mk1, the picture below shows John Ewer with the car in Sep 1960 at the Roskilde Ring. Unfortunately this was the weekend that George Lawton was killed, John that weekend and the following days helped Lawton's distraught team mate Denny Hulme with all the paperwork to get poor George flown back to New Zealand


By piperp2 at 2010-11-18

Not to usurp this thread, but do we know who's Lotus Seventeen is on the left?

[ERault]

Not to usurp this thread, but do we know who's Lotus Seventeen is on the left?

That should be Ronald Wrenn, who had his moment of fame here : http://forums.autosp...showtopic=61916

According to Pratley, Ewer's Lola was BR-20.

[raceannouncer2003]

I started tracking sales of Lola Mk1s in the seventies but never saw a reference to BR8 except the one mentioned.
Pratley's book says "Not identified but possibly the dark blue car supplied to John Wolfe."

The following link shows John Wolfe as having had BR8, and lists some of the races he ran:

http://www.racingspo...esults/BR8.html

Vince H.

[David Birchall]

The cavalry has arrived!

[Odseybod]

The following link shows John Wolfe as having had BR8, and lists some of the races he ran:

http://www.racingspo...esults/BR8.html

Vince H.

Ah, this looks very promising. Many thanks - knew TNF wouldn't disappoint

[piperp2]

Not to usurp this thread, but do we know who's Lotus Seventeen is on the left?

Yes the Lotus Seventeen is Ronald Wrenn's, the guy standing next to the car is his mechanic Johnny Langton.

[Rupertlt1]

Snetterton West Essex, August 21, 1960

#18 Lola Mark 1, registration VSF 230, Snetterton, August 21, 1960:

https://revslib.stan...log/gn435dv7765

 

Can we identify driver and chassis number?

 

Updated link: https://library.revs...ion=p17257coll1

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 29 November 2021 - 08:17.

[Rupertlt1]

Is this John Woolfe?

 

Mallory Park BRSCC, 16 April 1961:

 

https://revslib.stan...tem/sv312qf3581

 

https://revslib.stan...tem/kr545rv2007

 

See also?

 

https://revslib.stan...tem/yn474kc5314

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 14 November 2016 - 01:32.

[Rupertlt1]

Is this John Woolfe?

 

Mallory Park BRSCC, 16 April 1961:

 

https://revslib.stan...tem/sv312qf3581

 

https://revslib.stan...tem/kr545rv2007

 

Dave Riswick confirms that these two pictures are of John Woolfe.

 

RGDS RLT

[RobMk2a]

Rupert,

Have you found any photos of John Woolfe's Lola with a painted bonnet, the one at Mallory 16th April 1961 looks as though the bonnet has been replaced. I'd like to see if he painted it with twin (probably yellow) stripes.

Thanks Rob

[Rupertlt1]

Rob,

 

I've had a good look and the short answer is no.
You are right the bonnet on the car in the two pictures looks to be in primer.
The yellow stripes would presumably match his helmet?
The later John Woolfe Racing cars favoured a yellow on blue colour scheme.
The large windscreen also suggests some international history?

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 November 2016 - 12:23.

[Rupertlt1]

Ongoing attempts to trace the history of the Lola Mk 1 cars.

 

Two fragments:

 

Crystal Palace, 11 June 1962, Event 5:

#43 Team Springbok (Driver: W.G. Ferguson), Lola-Climax, 1098, blue

 

Silverstone 8 Clubs, 13 June 1964, Events 6, 8:

A.C.O.C. member B.S. Glockler in a #113 Lola, 1098 c.c., Class D - which I take to be a Mk 1. (The club know nothing about him.)

Address: 37 Lancaster Mews, London W2

 

Who was Team Springbok? I assume a South African connection?

 

Attempts to trace B.S. Glockler on Ancestry have drawn a blank. Could he be a South African?

 

RGDS RLT

[barrykm]

Just a guess, but I wonder if W.G. Ferguson is not Willie Ferguson, who I remember from the early 70s in South Africa?

 

http://www.oldracing...Willie_Ferguson

http://www.oldracing....com/lola/t142/  and then SL142/25)

 

Hope this helps?

Edited by barrykm, 01 October 2018 - 12:32.

[Tim Murray]

Willie Ferguson’s Racing Sports Cars page shows him entered in a Lola Mk 1 at a couple of races at Snetterton in 1962, although he’s listed as DNA for both:

http://www.racingspo...erguson-ZA.html

Team Springbok are also listed as the entrant for Bob Olthoff’s Brabham BT2 in a few 1962 FJ events, including that same Crystal Palace meeting:

http://www.the-fastl...2/FJ62_GB27.htm

[Rupertlt1]

Conjecture: John Woolfe raced a blue Lola 1960-1961 - could the Ferguson car be BR8?
Any sign of the car for sale?

 

Here is John Woolfe:

 

https://library.revs.../0/default.jpg?

 

https://library.revs.../0/default.jpg?

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 01 October 2018 - 13:41.

[Tim Murray]

I was wondering if it might have been BR17, which seems to have been based in (or near) South Africa from 1963 onward:

http://www.racingspo...sults/BR17.html

[Rupertlt1]

I was wondering if it might have been BR17, which seems to have been based in (or near) South Africa from 1963 onward:

http://www.racingspo...sults/BR17.html

 

So who was Henri le Roux?

See: http://www.wsrp.cz/c...is_lola_mk.html

 

 

On another matter BY3  Brenda Dickinson (1961) => Tony Hegbourne (1962)

 

doesn't fit. There is an overlap in ownership - Brenda & Peter Dickinson were still entering their Lola through August 1962.

As documented elsewhere:

B.A.R.C. Goodwood, 24 March 1962
Event 1, 5-lap scratch race
Motor Sport, May 1962, Page 358:

Hegbourne had things all his own way, building up a
useful lead in his Lola-Climax to win by 11.8 sec. from Hyslop in
Dickinson's Lola-Climax, ...
(Is he John Hislop or Hyslop?)

 

So Hegbourne was driving another Lola. 

Could Hegbourne be driving BR8? The headlight treatment on both cars looks the same. Does anybody know the colour of the Hegbourne car?  Any pictures?

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 01 October 2018 - 14:15.

[Geoff E]

Brian Stanley GLOCKLER was born in Surrey in 1941.

A Google search shows him to have been living in Monte Carlo in 2009.

[Rupertlt1]

Re BY3:

Oulton Park, 17 March 1962
Motor Sport, April 1962, centre spread photo caption:
 

Circulating in very close

company during the sec-

ond five-lap handicap

race was Entwhistle's

T.V.R. and Peter Dick-
inson's Lola-Climax.
Later in the day the
Lola suffered mechani-
cal trouble and Dickin-
son used his wife's similar
car for the last race.
 

Peter & Brenda Dickinson, known associates Joe Payne, John Hislop.
The above points to a second Lola? (although could have been a Lotus 11?)

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 01 October 2018 - 14:51.

[Rupertlt1]

Another random fragment in an Autocar advertisement from September 1962:

 

#40 Lola Mk 1, registration XDW 919. Dark paint with light diamond flash on the nose.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 01 October 2018 - 16:24.

[barrykm]

I remember the Henri le Roux Lola in the early 60s in South Africa, painted in a gold colour as I recall  it was the most beautiful car my young eyes had ever seen to that point.

[Rupertlt1]

Another random fragment in an Autocar advertisement from September 1962:

 

#40 Lola Mk 1, registration XDW 919. Dark paint with light diamond flash on the nose.

 

RGDS RLT

 

Chassis BR9: Edward Greenall >> Peter Boshier-Jones for 1961 Hill Climbs - at this time the car had dark green bodywork with light-coloured full-width diamond-shaped motif across the nose.
But who was the next owner? This car just disappears in the history books.
 

Great Auclum National Speed Hill Climb, Saturday 11 August 1962:

 

Class 2, Sports Cars up to 1100 c.c.

 

#18 J. Richardson/Mrs B. Richardson, Lola 1100

 

(Peter Boshier-Jones is entered in #23 Lotus 23, so has presumably disposed of the Lola.)

 

Is the Richardson car BR9?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 12 October 2018 - 16:23.

[bradbury west]

As one who browses the racing photos on e bay, I can confirm that there is a nice period shot from 1963 of Brenda and Peter Dickinson et al posing with their Lola. Search by Brenda by name or look under site jaguarmotorracing
Roger Lund

Looking at the photo again, Mr Payne is listed as John not Joe, fwiw, and with a Lola nearest to foreground, they are sitting and leaning on an Eleven, with a third car behind them which could be another Lola or Eleven.

Edited by bradbury west, 02 October 2018 - 12:39.

[Rupertlt1]

More fragments:

 

Snetterton Unlimited Sports, 18 March 1962

#69 Lola Mk 1-Climax, T.P. Hart, 5th

 

Silverstone 8 Clubs, 2 June 1962, 2nd Handicap

Lola Mk 1-Climax, T.P. Hart, 3rd

 

Also who is this #64?  Snetterton Scott-Brown Trophy, 15 July 1962:

 

https://library.revs...040/default.jpg

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

As one who browses the racing photos on e bay, I can confirm that there is a nice period shot from 1963 of Brenda and Peter Dickinson et al posing with their Lola. Search by Brenda by name or look under site jaguarmotorracing
Roger Lund

Looking at the photo again, Mr Payne is listed as John not Joe, fwiw, and with a Lola nearest to foreground, they are sitting and leaning on an Eleven, with a third car behind them which could be another Lola or Eleven.

 

The key to this could be Maidstone and Mid-Kent National Silverstone, 28 April 1962:
#12 J Payne, Lotus 11

#14 P. R. Dickinson, Lola Mk 1, (dark solid colour)

#15 Brenda Dickinson, Lola Mk 1 (dark solid colour, writing on side)
#14 and #15 could be same car, different event?
One car or two? Does anybody have the programme?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 02 October 2018 - 14:14.

[Rupertlt1]

Thanks to Russell Filby I now have the programme for Maidstone and Mid-Kent National Silverstone, 28 April 1962.

I think this proves beyond doubt that there were two Lola Mk 1 cars in Team Venture:

 

12 Team Venture, Lotus, 1098, J. Payne, events 2, 5

14 Team Venture, Lola, 1098, P. R. Dickenson, events 2, 5 

15 Team Venture, Lola, 1098, Mrs. B.M. Dickenson, events 2, 5

(Note difference in spelling. See also Post #8. #22 Lola Mk 1, driver Tony Hegbourne, also entered events 2, 5.)

 

This suggests the Hegbourne car is not ex-Dickinson? (See post #6.)
The Dickinson's are thought to have had BY3, and now a hitherto unidentified car, possibly BR3?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 02 October 2018 - 17:58.

[Rupertlt1]

More fragments:

 

Competition Press, 10-14-1961

1961 LOLA. 1100-cc stage 3 Coventry-Climax.

1961 national class championship car, black.

Complete FIA equipment. Two axle ratios.

Meticulously maintained, excellent condition

throughout. Just rebuilt. Charles T. Kurtz,

III, 42 Pauline Drive West, Clearfield, Pa.

PO 5-8814

 

Competition Press, 8-25-1962

LOLA 1100 Climax. Recently built, remarkably

fast, reliable trophy winner. $5250; spares,

trailer and tow car also available. Details

upon request. Matt Kleinman, 4 Washington

Square Village, New York 12, N.Y. AL 4-7141

 

Competition Press, 9-8-1962

LOLA 1100 Climax. Northern California Class

G Champ 1961. Engine, transmission, steel

clutch assembly, completely rebuilt. Perfect

in every detail. Webers. Extras including

wheels, rear ends, tires. $3800. Tilt-bed

trailer, $200. R.W. Hathaway, 1098 S. 5th

St., San Jose, Calif. CY 3-2543

 

Competition Press, 1-12-1963

1960 LOLA. 1100 Climax, Webers, absolutely

most perfect condition. Engine, trans, etc.,

just done. Three diff units, 8 wheels, tires

spares. $9000 invested. $3298 now! Leslie

Motors, FR 3-1033, Monterey, Calif.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 05 October 2018 - 13:19.

[Rupertlt1]

Frank Hilson, Miami, FLA, raced a Lola in 1963-1964. Accident at Mid-Ohio, 14 June 1964.

 

http://www.racingspo...Hilson-USA.html

 

What car was this? Was it written-off?

(Reappears with a Lola Mk 1 in Vintage car racing in 1986.)

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 05 October 2018 - 15:58.

[Doug Nye]

So who was Henri le Roux?

See: http://www.wsrp.cz/c...is_lola_mk.html

 

 

On another matter BY3  Brenda Dickinson (1961) => Tony Hegbourne (1962)

 

doesn't fit. There is an overlap in ownership - Brenda & Peter Dickinson were still entering their Lola through August 1962.

As documented elsewhere:

B.A.R.C. Goodwood, 24 March 1962
Event 1, 5-lap scratch race
Motor Sport, May 1962, Page 358:

Hegbourne had things all his own way, building up a
useful lead in his Lola-Climax to win by 11.8 sec. from Hyslop in
Dickinson's Lola-Climax, ...
(Is he John Hislop or Hyslop?)

 

So Hegbourne was driving another Lola. 

Could Hegbourne be driving BR8? The headlight treatment on both cars looks the same. Does anybody know the colour of the Hegbourne car?  Any pictures?

RGDS RLT 

 

Hyslop? Possibly the Tasmanian (or Kiwi?  I can't remember which, but this one was certainly from down under) Angus Hyslop?

 

From falling memory I think Tony's Lola was dark blue.

 

DCN

[Rupertlt1]

Hyslop? Possibly the Tasmanian (or Kiwi?  I can't remember which, but this one was certainly from down under) Angus Hyslop?

 

From falling memory I think Tony's Lola was dark blue.

 

DCN

 

I am fairly certain he is John Hislop:

 

http://www.racingspo...-Hislop-GB.html

 

Does anybody have the programme from B.A.R.C. Goodwood, 24 March 1962?

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Goodwood, 11th March 1961, Event 5

1st-B.G.P. de Mattos (Driver: H. Taylor)

(Lola-Climax), 16 min, 30.6 sec., 87.24 m.p.h.

#22 is described as a Lola-Climax 1½ litre driven by Henry Taylor.

Reportedly the car went to the USA to Bill Stone via Alan Ross, chassis BR19.

28 January 1962, Daytona SCCA.

#70, Race Eight, Cumberland, Maryland, 11 May 1962. 

Entered in the Player's 200, Mosport, 9th June 1962. Described as Lola 1500.

#17 "Lola Medallion" Du Kane Corporation, St. Charles, Illinois, driver: Bill Stone, St. Charles, Illinois

The car was a no show.

8 July 1962 entered Lake Garnett Grand Prix, Kansas. 

Also entered Road America, 9 September 1962.

What happened to it?

 

RGDS RLT  

Edited by Rupertlt1, 14 July 2021 - 03:06.

[opplock]

Hyslop? Possibly the Tasmanian (or Kiwi?  I can't remember which, but this one was certainly from down under) Angus Hyslop?

 

 

DCN

 

Angus Hyslop was a Kiwi. He competed in Europe in Formula Junior in 1961, plus at Le Mans driving with Denny Hulme in an Abarth. Unlikely to have been at Goodwood in March 1962 as he doesn't appear to have raced in FJ after 61. 

Edited by opplock, 06 October 2018 - 15:12.

[Rupertlt1]

Mid-South Grand Prix, Lauderdale County Airport, Halls, Tennessee, 8 April 1962

"Latest in the field are two

Lotus, one a Lotus 23, the other

a Lotus 11 LeMans. Indications

are that there will be an A-O (sic)

Bristol and a Daimler 250-SP in

the pack when the first race gets

under way at 10:30.

Already definitely in the race

are two Jaguar XKE's, two Lot-

us LeMans, a Lola, a Corvette

powered J2X Allard and a Jag-

uar with a Buick Special engine

under the hood." 

 

Cotton States Grand Prix, Lauderdale County Airport, Halls, Tennessee, 17 June 1962

"Both big winners at April's

Mid-South Grand Prix, Phil Herold

and Don Horn, are entered in to-

day's racing over the extended

three mile airport course.

Last April Horn won both pre-

liminary races by narrow mar-

gins in his A Production Jaguar

XKE. But in the big race of the

day, Herold drove his G Modified

Lotus XI to nearly a full lap's

victory in continuous rain that

lasted the entire race. 

Another driver of

national stature who figures to be

in contention at Halls is Harry

Braswell who placed third in the

National G Modified competition

in an English Lotus."

 

"The card for the Cotton States

Grand Prix has been expanded

to include four races; one of 15

minutes, two 30 minute races and

an hour long endurance run."   

 

No results for this (wonderfully obscure) Cotton States Grand Prix have been found to date.

 

Competition Press, 27 April 1963:

1961 LOLA-CLIMAX 1100-cc Stage II. Webers,

MGA C/R gearbox, excellent condition. Harry

Braswell c/o The Chequered Flag Inc.,

2938 Summer Ave, Memphis, Tenn. FA

4-0466.

 

Thought to be BR26.

 

Also: Phillip Herold,

Small Car Motors, 3003 Summer

Ave., Memphis

 

Photo caption: "Don Horn's Lotus 23 winning the 1963 1st Annual Mid South Grand Prix, an SCCA race at Halls, Tennessee."
(red #42 F Mod - is the year correct?)

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 07 October 2018 - 16:08.

[Michael Oliver]

Mid-South Grand Prix, Lauderdale County Airport, Halls, Tennessee, 8 April 1962

"Latest in the field are two

Lotus, one a Lotus 23, the other

a Lotus 11 LeMans. Indications

are that there will be an A-O (sic)

Bristol and a Daimler 250-SP in

the pack when the first race gets

under way at 10:30.

Already definitely in the race

are two Jaguar XKE's, two Lot-

us LeMans, a Lola, a Corvette

powered J2X Allard and a Jag-

uar with a Buick Special engine

under the hood." 

 

Cotton States Grand Prix, Lauderdale County Airport, Halls, Tennessee, 17 June 1962

"Both big winners at April's

Mid-South Grand Prix, Phil Herold

and Don Horn, are entered in to-

day's racing over the extended

three mile airport course.

Last April Horn won both pre-

liminary races by narrow mar-

gins in his A Production Jaguar

XKE. But in the big race of the

day, Herold drove his G Modified

Lotus XI to nearly a full lap's

victory in continuous rain that

lasted the entire race. 

Another driver of

national stature who figures to be

in contention at Halls is Harry

Braswell who placed third in the

National G Modified competition

in an English Lotus."

 

"The card for the Cotton States

Grand Prix has been expanded

to include four races; one of 15

minutes, two 30 minute races and

an hour long endurance run."   

 

No results for this (wonderfully obscure) Cotton States Grand Prix have been found to date.

 

Competition Press, 27 April 1963:

1961 LOLA-CLIMAX 1100-cc Stage II. Webers,

MGA C/R gearbox, excellent condition. Harry

Braswell c/o The Chequered Flag Inc.,

2938 Summer Ave, Memphis, Tenn. FA

4-0466.

 

Thought to be BR26.

 

Also: Phillip Herold,

Small Car Motors, 3003 Summer

Ave., Memphis

 

Photo caption: "Don Horn's Lotus 23 winning the 1963 1st Annual Mid South Grand Prix, an SCCA race at Halls, Tennessee."
(red #42 F Mod - is the year correct?)

 

RGDS RLT

 

Rupert

 

I can't help you on the Lola, I'm afraid but Don Horn took delivery of his Lotus 23 (23-S-77, a B-spec car) in March 1963. I have three photos of him competing with competition number 42 in his red Lotus 23 at the Halls race in 1963. At the time of the April 1962 meeting, there were only two Lotus 23s in the US - the cars that were entered for the Sebring 12 hours on 24th March 1962 but were both DNS. One reportedly went west with Harvey Snow and the other went back to John Posselius's in Detroit, so it is possible that one of these cars could have raced at Halls in 1962 but I suspect the more likely explanation is that someone was hoping to take delivery of a 23 and put in a rather optimistic entry in advance.

 

Harry Braswell first appeared at the USRRC round at Corry Field on 26th May 1963 with a Lotus 23 he reportedly acquired (along with an Elva Mk6) during a trip to England. This would fit in well with his for sale ad for the Lola Mk 1 in April 1963.

 

Hope this helps a bit. About the only other thing I know about Lola Mk 1s is that both Jack Patterson and Jim Morley had one before they moved on to Lotus 23s. I'm in touch (or have been in the past couple of years) with Jim if it helps. Jack is no longer with us but Jim was good friends with him so might know something about Jack's car's history.

 

Michael

[Rupertlt1]

Michael,

 

By mid-1962 the Lotus 23 was showing up in North America - viz Frank Monise, Pat Pigott, Al Pease. The car in question is unlikely to be any of these.

Could the 'optimist' be Jim Baker, Sheffield, Alabama - first known sighting at the Confederate Grand Prix, Courtland, Alabama, 30 June/1 July 1962, #7 3rd in last race on 30 June.
Presumably this wasn't one of the Sebring cars? (Baker by 1965 of Atlanta, GA.)

 

You might like:

 

The Los Angeles Times, Sunday 5 Aug 1962, Page 328

LOTUS 23 Sebring car-Special gus-

seting, distance tanks, FIA screen,

VW close ratio gearbox. $7495. Write

or call T. Orlando at Italian Motors.

14801 E. Jefferson, VA. J-1600, De-

troit.

 

Here is another yarn:
 

Dr David & Phyllis Kiser

Overland Park, Kansas (just across the state line from Kansas City, MO)

Both drove a Lola Mk 1 from late 1961 through 1962.

 

Bob Hindson was a racer and car dealer in Kansas City:

 

Competition Press, 15 June 1963:

1962 LOLA G-MODIFIED. Only 1150-cc available,

car raced twice since purchased. Excellent

condition throughout, R6 Dunlops, $4500

firm. Three optional rear axles. Bob Hind-

son, 2946 Gilham Rd., Kansas City 0, Mo.

VA 1-8469.

 

The car was raced by Hindson at the SCCA Lake Garnett Grand Prix, 7 July 1963, so looks like two other events prior to that.

 

Was this car sold to Howard Smith (H.L. Smith) of Marlin, Texas? He was handily beaten by David Kiser in the Lola at the Mansfield Labor Day Sports Races at De Soto Parish Airport, Louisiana, 2 September 1962.

 

RGDS RLT     

Edited by Rupertlt1, 08 October 2018 - 23:28.

[Michael Oliver]

Rupert

 

I think you are right about Jim Baker, most likely candidate as delivered 16th June 62. Thanks also for the info re the Sebring car f/s. Italian Motors seems to have been a Lotus sub-dealer/agent as they supplied another 23 new around that time via Sy Kaback's Weathermatic company (the main East Coast Lotus agent).

 

Some US Lola Mk1 snippets for you which you may or may not have already:

 

Competition Press & Autoweek 22nd May 1965 p18 - M.R.J. 'Doc' Wyllie (Allison Park, PA) is offering his Lola-Climax f/s. [This was BR-30 and the history of this car is well-documented I see]

Competition Press & Autoweek 19th June 1965 p15 - James Nunan (Corona del Mar, CA) is offering his Lola-Climax with fresh engine and close ratio MG gears.

 

Let me know if you'd like copies of either of these.

 

Michael

[Rupertlt1]

We need more information on the Cotton States Grand Prix, Halls, Tennessee, 17 June 1962? Did a Lola or Lotus 23 (just possible) show here?

 

Competition Press, 19 June 1965:

LOLA-CLIMAX-Immaculate chassis,

fresh engine, close ratio MG gears, plus

a new, professionally built, sprung tilt-

bed trailer. Must sell. A gift at $1800.

James Nunan, 422 Heliotrope, Corona del

Mar, Calif.; (714) 673-1518.

 

Thanks for raising the California question. How many Lola Mk 1 cars on the west coast?

#8 Ron Hathaway (1960-1961) blue

 

http://www.tamsoldra...onHathaway.html

 

Note white nose treatment Nov 1961.

 

#7/#73 Art Snyder (1961) red, stripes >> William Molle (1962)

 

http://www.tamsoldra...Slides0007.html

 

These are not all the same car, as stated elsewhere. See SCCA Regional Laguna Seca, 10 June 1961, #8 and #73 in the same photograph:

 

https://library.revs...966/default.jpg

 

#161 Arthur O'Connor (1960) red

 

Then there is this #66 car, Frank Monise, from SCCA Regional Stockton, 15 April 1962:

https://library.revs...976/default.jpg

 

This is likely the Molle car?

 

https://library.revs...143/default.jpg

 

Monterey Pacific Grand Prix, 20 October 1963, #17 this is Forrest Tindall?

(described in Oct 1964 as "a six year old 1100-cc. Lola" - this is ex-Ron Hathaway blue car?)

 

RGDS RLT
 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 09 October 2018 - 19:13.

[Rupertlt1]

Competition Press, 15 June 1963:

1962 LOLA G-MODIFIED. Only 1150-cc available,

car raced twice since purchased. Excellent

condition throughout, R6 Dunlops, $4500

firm. Three optional rear axles. Bob Hind-

son, 2946 Gilham Rd., Kansas City 0, Mo.

VA 1-8469.

 

The car was raced by Hindson at the SCCA Lake Garnett Grand Prix, 7 July 1963, so looks like two other events prior to that.

 

Likely went to Ralph Miller, Wichita, Kansas for 3rd in G Mod, SCCA Lake Garnett Grand Prix, 4/5 July 1964?

Miller raced the car through 1965.

 

Competition Press, 26 March 1966

Picture #71, light colour probably white

LOLA SPORTS LESS ENGINE - GM champion

Mid-Div 1965. Many modifications include

wide-rim 13" wheels, limited slip different-

tial. Weight, including FWA Climax, 810

lbs. Inexpensive winner HM or GM. Any

reasonable offer accepted. Ralph Miller,

2201 So. Volutsia, Wichita, Kansas, 67211;

(316) MU 3-2622 home, AM 3-2671 office. 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 11 October 2018 - 15:06.

[Rupertlt1]

Competition Press, 29 January 1966

LOLA 1150cc-Climax, Webers, Isky, extra

wheels, MG box, double disc clutch, third

Central Division, many spares, trailer, very

quick, red. Low price, extra rear ends.

Pete Dawson, 1410 Washington, Royal Oak,

Mich.; (313) 883-4500.

 

Peter Dawson was on the entry list for the SCCA American Road Race of Champions at Virginia International Raceway in 1965:

 

http://www.virhistor.../1965-entry.htm

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 11 October 2018 - 14:05.

[Rupertlt1]

Joe Sargent from Raleigh, North Carolina, raced a #5 G Mod Lola Mark 1 at VIR in 1962-1963:

 

http://www.virhistor...bk-6210-009.JPG

 

http://www.virhistor.../rb-6307-17.jpg

 

http://www.virhistor.../rb-6307-27.jpg

 

Bashed it:

 

http://www.virhistor.../rb-6307-33.jpg

 

(Thought to be BR5, a different car to #37 Art Tweedale, is Tweedale ex-Kurtz?)

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 11 October 2018 - 14:56.