13 replies to this topic

[Hugo Boecker]

The ex Wolfgang Seidel Lotus BRM 24 #946 was used in 1963 by his former teammate Günter Seiffert. At the end of the year 1963 this car was used by the former motorcyle rider Paddy Driver for the Rand and South African GP. At Kyalami in the Rand GP he came 7th and crashed in the practice for the South African GP. The car was beyond repair. In the beginning of 1964 there were reports that Kunke would convert the Lotus 24 into BKL Lotus-Borgward.

In the book "Sun on the Grid" it is said that Driver imported the Lotus BRM for the two events. Our member DCN said in his book "The Story of Lotus 1961-1971 Growth of a Legend" the car was on loan. Sheldon said in his black books that Driver had bought the car.
What's true ?
Was the car scrapped in South Africa or brought back to Europe.
Has anyone pics of this car in South Africa ?

[Hieronymus]

Hugo

In the race programme of the10th South African GP, the following is written:

"Paddy has since acquired a very fast Lotus BRM which should be worth watching."

CLASSIC CAR AFRICA also mentions in a report that they carried on this race that, "Paddy Driver had entered his Lotus 24 BRM, but rolled his car in practice when a tie rod end broke..."

Unfortunately I do not have any photos. If it is of utmost importance for you to know this information, I can try to get hold of Paddy and ask him about it.

[Felix]

The only reference to Paddy and the Lotus 24-BRM I can find in SPRINGBOK GRAND PRIX - whose author visits these halls regularly - is in his race report of the 1963 X SA Grand Prix, pg 80.

''Poor Paddy Driver rolled his Lotus-BRM at Potter's Pass, when a wheel ripped loose, but the bearded motorcyclist crawled from the wreckage unscathed - he was a definite non-starter.'

No more, I'm afraid. but have put out feelers...

[Barry Boor]

I wonder who told the writer of that programme that that particular Lotus BRM was a fast car.....

[Hugo Boecker]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
I wonder who told the writer of that programme that that particular Lotus BRM was a fast car.....

Must have been Seifert or Seidel ;)

Hieronymus
In the race programme of the10th South African GP, the following is written:

"Paddy has since acquired a very fast Lotus BRM which should be worth watching."

CLASSIC CAR AFRICA also mentions in a report that they carried on this race that, "Paddy Driver had entered his Lotus 24 BRM, but rolled his car in practice when a tie rod end broke..."

Unfortunately I do not have any photos. If it is of utmost importance for you to know this information, I can try to get hold of Paddy and ask him about it.

I'm only interested - if you meet him by chance please ask him. I won't die if I don't know the facts. Thanks.

[Hieronymus]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
I wonder who told the writer of that programme that that particular Lotus BRM was a fast car.....

Barry

Perhaps the car was "fast" when compared to the machines that were availible to the other local (South African) drivers or perhaps it was given the "fast" tag in the race programme to stir up some expectations amongst the local crowd?

The report on the 10th South African GP subsequently had the following to report on this car: "Only Paddy Driver had a fairly modern car among the Southern African contingent, although the Lotus 24 had never been considered one of Chapman's better models and his V8 motor did not appear to be delivering enough power."

Hugo

Do you perhaps need some other questions answered on this car? I can throw them all at Paddy, with the hope that he'll respond.

Personally I do not think that Paddy consider his single seater races as the highlight of his racing career that lasted from 1953-1993.

Some of the motor races that he recalls with fondness are the 1978 Trans Kalahari off road race, where he shared a Ford F100 truck with Denny Hulme, the Bulawayo 3 Hour race in 1971 and the Cape 3 Hour Endurance race in '69.

At the Bulawayo race he shared a Chevron B19 with Mike Hailwood. They won this race.

The Cape 3 Hour at Killarney in 1969 was in a Ford GT40 that he shared with Malcolm Guthrie. Paddy recall that this race was contested in extremely hot weather and that they "absolutely fried" in the car. Guthrie started the race, but only lasted 20 minutes. He then roared into the pits and just fell out of the car. Paddy took over and drove for just over an hour. By then he was starting to go a bit wonky - braking miles past the brake markers and doing so other dangerous stuff.

He then pitted and went off to find a shower. He stood under the cold shower for about 20 minutes in his overalls and with his shoes on. Guthrie again didn't last long in the heat, so before Paddy took over again, he filled his crash helmet with water and pushed it over his head. Then he took a wet towel and wrapped it around his neck. In the end he finished third.

Some other highlights of his racing career:

- 3rd in the 500cc World Motorcycle Championship in 1965
- works Suzuki rider in 1961
- EMC works rider in 1962
- competed nine time at the Isle of Man TT
- Winner of the Roof of Africa in 1972
- won South African off-road drivers' championship in 1984
- Gold Star Formula 5000 champion in 1971 & 1973
- class winner Modified Saloon Car Championship in 1993

Paddy Driver also received Springbok (national) colours in 1958 and also in 1962 for his achievements in racing.

[Hugo Boecker]

Thanks Hieronymus for all the infos on Paddy Driver.
I'm just collecting informations of the German Teams in the 1.5 Liter period, Just as Scuderia Colonia 60,61- Seidel Team Autosport 62 - Rhein Ruhr Racing Team (Seifert) 63 - Kuhnke BKL Borgward 63,64. Paddy Drivers car was Seidels 62 car then was taken over by Seifert and than landed in South Africa.
Did Paddy Driver buy or rented the car ?
Any Information about the price ?
Had it had still the old german coloursheme (white) ?
If he rented the car, where the any Seifert Team-Members in South Africa ?
What happend with the car, was it scrapped in South Africa or did went back?

Just another some other questions about the Scuderia Colonia adventure in 1960.
Seidel and Trips came over to the Cape and South African GP in December.
Trips was entered in both races with the Lotus 18 '914' The car was still grenn with a chequerd stripe. Later on back in Europe the car became a white coulor. In the Fairfield 100 at Killarney Tolny Maggs took over and was placed 5th. Seidel raced in all three races a Cooper. Scuderia Colonia owned to Cooper, the ex-Brabham T45 22-58 (seems to be a green car) and a T43 26-57 (white car). I think he drove the ex Brabham car and sold it there. In 1961 a David C,. Wright drove T45 22-58 in the Natal and South African GPs of this teams area. Do you know something about this ?

[Hieronymus]

Hugo

Sorry for my belated reply. Work issues and problems with my Internet service provider being the main reasons.

I shall raise all your questions with Paddy, with the hope of him answering to all within the next couple of days. Please be patient, though. It is summer holiday time out here, apart from the current Christmas/New Year madness. Hope to track him down over this period. I shall let you have the outcome by either posting on this thread or via PM.

With regards to the two Wolfgangs and their African adventure in 1960. Yes, I am aware of it and will surely have race reports on these events and maybe even a few b/w pics and a race programme from the Cape Town event. Please also give me time to sort this out.

[Hugo Boecker]

Hieronymus,
great effort many thanks in advance. I'm patient one week one month doesn't matter it is fine to hear something about that.

[Hieronymus]

Originally posted by Hugo Boecker

Seidel raced in all three races a Cooper. Scuderia Colonia owned to Cooper, the ex-Brabham T45 22-58 (seems to be a green car) and a T43 26-57 (white car). I think he drove the ex Brabham car and sold it there. In 1961 a David C,. Wright drove T45 22-58 in the Natal and South African GPs of this teams area. Do you know something about this ?

I found a b/w picture of Seidel's Cooper T45 from the 7th South African GP on 27 Dec. 1960. The car has a dark colour scheme - not white.

I can't track the details of Dr. David Wright, a Rhodesian driver. I think he quit driving single seater in 1961, at least here in the RSA.

[Hieronymus]

I finally had contact with Paddy Driver, with regards to the ex-Wolfgang Seidel Lotus BRM. Here is what Paddy has to say:

The car was hired from Wolfgang Seifert by Paddy’s sponsor, Tony Marsh, for him to compete in the European “off” season in South Africa. Tony also sponsored him in F. Junior races during 1963 in Europe and the UK.

Paddy drove the BRM Lotus in Bulawayo and at Kyalami he tried to qualify for the ’64 SAGP in East London. During practice the steering rod broke and he ran off the road, damaging the nose and front suspension in the process.

The car was sent by boat from East London to an ex-Lotus mechanic, John Pledger (?) in England. It was not seriously damaged and he repaired it as good as new. The car was then returned to Seifert.

The colour, Paddy can’t remember. He says it was too long ago to remember.

Paddy also says the engine was extremely underpowered, being an experimental BRM. Driver was the only person that worked on the car and none of Seifert’s mechanics, if he had any, were present when Paddy drove the car in South Africa.

[Tweddell]

Some years ago i was lucky to buy a Climax FPF engine, which i found beside many other items in the Hiller´s museum in Hamburg, which closed doors short after this.
Mr. Hiller told me it was the engine of Wolfgang Seidel´s Lotus, which was given to him by Seidel in exchange for a car after having had a full revision at coventry climax, but unfortunately he did not remember the year.

[Hugo Boecker]

Thank you Marius.
This seems to be very interseting because the car never appeared again in any races.

Tweddell
it seems to be one of the Lotus 18 engines which were use by Seidel's scuderia Colonia / Team Autosport in 1961/62 Theese cars later became the BKL-Specials.

[the18racer]

I have owned Lotus 18 chassis no 914 for over 5 years. I believe this is the car which was raced by von Trips in the Cape Town GP in late December 1960; I cannot prove this, however, and so the FIA papers give the car's year of manufacture as 1961. It has been restored to its Scuderia Colonia colours, as raced in period by Jo Bonnier and Miochael May, and is fitted with a 1.5 litre Climax FPF. I have competed regularly in the UK and Europe, and was invited to last year's Goodwood Revival; furthermore, I managed to win the HGPCA's Class 10 for 1.5 litre 4-cylinder GP cars.