10 replies to this topic

[jabingb]

I'm missing ownership information on my S2 26R that I've owned since 1973, when I purchased it from a person near Summit Point Raceway.

 

It had raced in the Bahamas Speed Week, 1965 and '66 and I believe it stayed on Nassau until it came to the US in 1968/9. I also believe it was yellow in the day. I have located the original owner who bought it from Dutchess, shipped it to Nassau and raced it those 2 years after which he sold it to ??? That's the link I'm trying to discover, until it's arrival in the Baltimore area. 

 

Through the years while researching it's history I was fortunate to get a copy of the original invoice from Dutchess and visited the original owner who in mid-November 1965, drove it from Millerton, NY to Miami, FL in order to get it shipped to Nassau in time for that '65 Speed Week event.  The car is pictured here, either at the '65 or the '66 race.  I have other pictures of the car as it passed through a couple other hands in the guise of an SCCA CP/DP race car until I took possession lo those many years ago, but still that elusive gap of ownership remains.  Any memories of the car would be greatly appreciated and, of course, who owned for those 2-3 years, thx.  jerry_bassler@hotmail.com

 

[richardspringett]

Hi jerry

 

Congratulation on the longevity of ownership; but regretfully I cannot help in your info request.

 

However, many years ago I happened to be discussing my car's history with a contact and he passed the phone to Janos Wimpffen for his comment; he advised searching photographs of all the period events and photographer's web sites etc. etc.. ie researching backwards.

 

It worked for me and I now have an complete history of it's glory days to minor club events as it's competitiveness and age took it's toll!

 

Good luck

 

Richard

[Rupertlt1]

The driver in 1965-1966 was Peter Pulver of Millertown, N.Y.?

 

https://library.revs...e=Pulver, Peter

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 09 November 2019 - 04:57.

[RobMk2a]

https://www.facebook.../peter.pulver.5
 

I think he owned Duchess Auto's Lotus Dealers 

 

Rob 

[Ray Bell]

Is that car one of the rare ones with roller-splined driveshafts?

Do you have the chassis number?

[Rupertlt1]

30 May 1965, $10,000 Pepsi Cola Trophy Race, Le Circuit Mt. Tremblant-St. Jovite

14-Lotus 30, Class 2, Newt Davis, Lime Rock, Conn, Duchess Auto Co.

15-Lotus Elan, Class 3, Peter Pulver, Millertown, NY, Duchess Auto Co.

16-Lotus Elan, Class 3, Lance Pruyn, Sharon, Conn, Duchess Auto Co.

Note also:

84 TVR, 3, Allen Hickling, Montreal, Racing Partnership Montreal

 

Lime Rock, 22 April 1967

Peter Pulver, Lotus Elan, was a class winner in C Prod

 

Who is this? 4th July 1967 at Lime Rock? Car at back?

Is the other Elan driven by Bob Leitzinger (lost a wheel two laps from finish)?

 

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

 

Peter Pulver, Lotus Elan, was a class winner in C Prod at Lime Rock, 29 July 1967.

 

Watkins Glen Nationals, 20 August 1967: Pulver, Lotus Elan, DNF crankshaft

 

Lime Rock, 6 July 1968

Peter Pulver, Lotus Elan, 2nd C Prod.

 

RGDS RLT  

Edited by Rupertlt1, 09 November 2019 - 17:49.

[jabingb]

Yes, as this Elan is an S2, it incorporates roller spline rear halfshafts, one of many improvements over the Series 1.  The car was owned and driven by Columbus O'Donnell, at that time a resident of Nassau.  I would describe him as more of a gentleman racer, not hardcore like Pete Pulver, who owned Dutchess Motors/Lotus East. 

 

Columbus has pretty good recall of those days, including a friendship with Henry Ford which resulted in Columbus later acquiring one of the 2 road going Lotus 51s, a 51R, detailed here:

 

Unfortunately, Columbus couldn't come up with the name or circumstance of the next owner of his 26R, thus this inquiry.

[Ray Bell]

A chassis number?

[jabingb]

26-S2-20

[Ray Bell]

Thanks...

I was just interested to know how close it was to the most famous of the 26Rs to race in Australia. That was the car bought from Peter Mould in the UK by Doug Macarthur and which ultimately did so well under Peter Hopwood.

Its chassis number was 26-S2-37. 26-S2-40 also came to Australia, this one from new, and didn't have the same illustrious career.

We had three of the first series of 26Rs here.

[elansprint72]

I've asked Elan guru Dave Hughes (via his son) if he can help with the name.