265 replies to this topic

[Kenzclass]

Seems cheap now, but $9000 was a significant amount when Geoghegan's advertised the Lotus 39 in December 1969.

 

Stephen

"Terms or trade", though.

Should've traded my GT500 in on it at the time, then.

[cooper997]

Ken, You still may have had to sell a kidney or two. Alas, Cortina GT500s are now commanding silly money, but not like a Lotus with this car's history.

 

We've got a GT500 thread lurking around TNF somewhere. Got any period photos?

 

Stephen

[ed holly]

Seems cheap now, but $9000 was a significant amount when Geoghegan's advertised the Lotus 39 in December 1969.

 

Stephen

 

To put in in perspective $9,000 was exactly 2/3rds of a Ramsgate NSW Australia home unit 6 months later - that would now be worth around $450,000 - so on that basis $9,000 then would equate to $300,000 today all other things equal ... 

[ed holly]

Back around 1966 a model slot car club started up at a track in Drummoyne. To officially open the club various celebrities were asked to come along to a " celebrities race" using some of the club member's slot cars, then it was off to the Drummoyne Town Hall for some films. I can't remember exactly who attended, I think Leo, Mike Raymond, not sure who else and of course big Pete. As I had worked for Pete at his car yard in Homebush opposite Ron Wards I asked him to "drive" my Cox Lotus 30 which was a bit of a weapon back then.

 

I used to see Pete over the years at the Western Suburbs Soccer Club but it was on a Repco Mountain Rally that he was driving a Mk2 Jag that I asked him if he remembered the evening, to which he replied that he did. I then asked if he remembered "driving" the Lotus 30 - and with a bit of a stutter he said no and quick as a flash asked the question "did I win" to which I said yeah, just like you usually do. Sadly I never asked Leo if he remembered that night.

 

 

 

 

So another Lotus with history !     Maybe I should apply for a C of D 

Edited by ed holly, 19 May 2018 - 06:50.

[Ray Bell]

That might qualify you to talk to Barry Boor, Ed...

Make sure you take it with you when you go to England, join him some Monday night at the races.

[Porsche718]

Back around 1966 a model slot car club started up at a track in Drummoyne. To officially open the club various celebrities were asked to come along to a " celebrities race" using some of the club member's slot cars, then it was off to the Drummoyne Town Hall for some films. I can't remember exactly who attended, I think Leo, Mike Raymond, not sure who else and of course big Pete. As I had worked for Pete at his car yard in Homebush opposite Ron Wards I asked him to "drive" my Cox Lotus 30 which was a bit of a weapon back then.

 

I used to see Pete over the years at the Western Suburbs Soccer Club but it was on a Repco Mountain Rally that he was driving a Mk2 Jag that I asked him if he remembered the evening, to which he replied that he did. I then asked if he remembered "driving" the Lotus 30 - and with a bit of a stutter he said no and quick as a flash asked the question "did I win" to which I said yeah, just like you usually do. Sadly I never asked Leo if he remembered that night.

 

 

 

 

So another Lotus with history !     Maybe I should apply for a C of D 

 

Ed, one of rare Lotus 30s that actually one a race?

 

Cheers Steve

[Team Result]

Back around 1966 a model slot car club started up at a track in Drummoyne. To officially open the club various celebrities were asked to come along to a " celebrities race" using some of the club member's slot cars, then it was off to the Drummoyne Town Hall for some films. I can't remember exactly who attended, I think Leo, Mike Raymond, not sure who else and of course big Pete. As I had worked for Pete at his car yard in Homebush opposite Ron Wards I asked him to "drive" my Cox Lotus 30 which was a bit of a weapon back then.

 

I used to see Pete over the years at the Western Suburbs Soccer Club but it was on a Repco Mountain Rally that he was driving a Mk2 Jag that I asked him if he remembered the evening, to which he replied that he did. I then asked if he remembered "driving" the Lotus 30 - and with a bit of a stutter he said no and quick as a flash asked the question "did I win" to which I said yeah, just like you usually do. Sadly I never asked Leo if he remembered that night.

 

 

 

 

So another Lotus with history !     Maybe I should apply for a C of D 

I'd strongly recommend crack-testing of the wheels and chassis before taking it back on the track! Magnesium doesn't age well. 

[cooper997]

Worth adding this link that will get you to 30 minutes of Castrol footage on 'The Racing Geoghegans'

 

Lots of variety in both circuits and cars covered.

https://www.facebook...?type=2

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

It has been recorded on speedcafe that Ian and Nanette Geoghegan's son, Michael passed away aged 54 on the Gold Coast early this month.

 

https://www.speedcaf...an-passes-away/

 

His funeral was last Saturday https://www.speedcaf...hael-geoghegan/

 

As you will read in those features, Michael raced Formula Ford briefly in the late 80s/early 90s.

 

My condolences to the Geoghegan family and friends.

 

Stephen

[Lee Nicolle]

It was on Speedcafe a week or so ago that Michael had died. And about his funeral

I was going to mention it but could not find this thread.

Very sad for a bloke of 54.

How old was Pete when he died, a bit older I feel.

[Tim Murray]

How old was Pete when he died, a bit older I feel.

From this thread’s opening post:

Ian Anthony Geoghegan
Born, Bankstown, 26 April 1939
Died, Camperdown, 15 November 2003

[Ray Bell]

Back at the start of his career he ran at Foley's Hill...

 

[cooper997]

When things were getting serious... Frank, Leo and Ian

 

 

Stephen

 

[Ray Bell]

An interesting sidelight to the Total Team, particularly with regard to the Geoghegans, colours...
 
About March, 1965, Tom Geoghegan died. At the same time the Mustang had been ordered, with some apparent effort involved in getting an all-black car. A photo of the car in black appeared in Racing Car News in June, 1965.
 
The first car to appear in white was Frank Matich's Brabham 2.5 at Sandown on April 11. A week later the Leo Geoghegan 32 was still black at Bathurst (I suspect the Lotus 23B was also black at this meeting, but have no evidence either way, Ian drove the Lotus Cortina in black that day) but the Lightweight Elan was there in white.
 
On May 2, 1965, an Oran Park meeting saw all of the Total Team cars of the Geoghegans, Leo in the Lotus 32 and the Lightweight Elan and Ian in the 23B, appear in white for the first time. The cars were obviously a better platform for Total Oil as they were presented that way. The Lotus Cortina had been sold and was never seen in white.
 
Two weeks later Frank Matich turned out in the Lotus 19B also in the white with the long Total stripes, Leo again drove the 32 and the Elan and Pete finished second to Frank in the 23B. There was no 2.5-litre race that day, nor was it seen at the June Catalina Park meeting where Frank in the 19B diced with Leo in the 32 ahead of Pete in the 23B in a combined race.
 
July 7 was practice day for Warwick Farm and the Brabham made its next public appearance in the new colours...

 

Matich in July. Ironically, after a short race at Sandown, the only appearances of the Brabham in the white colour scheme were on practice days. Here is John Ellacott's shot of it at Warwick Farm on July 7.

 

But the race day was postponed until August due to 8" of rain falling overnight, which meant that Matich wasn't to race it at that meeting. Why? Because on July 24 he crashed the Lotus 19B at Lakeside and sustained burns and minor injuries which put him out of racing for several weeks. In that time the Total Team involvement with Matich was wrapped up and the Brabham put up for sale. The Geoghegan Mustang made its debut at Calder in August in white.
 
At the time I was told that Tom Geoghegan wanted the cars to remain black and that his death paved the way for the team cars to become white. I don't know how correct that is, but it is logical to me, that Total wanted a greater 'visibility' and it could only come with a colour change to the cars.
 
Does anyone else recall anything about this?

[MarkBisset]

Thanks for posting Ray,

enjoyed that lesson, and not seen that shot of John’s before, a beauty. Before my time so cannot help.

John is in good cheer, I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago, he has just re-booked a trip to Canada, give him a yell folks.

m

[Ray Bell]

I'll have to find out what time he did that day...

 

John was shooting, if I have the story right, with Kodachrome 50ASA film. That's one hell of a good pan with that speed film in that spot.