12 replies to this topic

[nudgernog]

hello, can anyone remember eric oliver racing a red lotus elan in 1966/7. any info to his career in cars would be most appreciated. many thanks for your time

[Sharman]

Was it the same Eric Oliver?

[Doug Nye]

Yes it was - and I do recall the former World Champion sidecar ace racing the Elan in the mid/later 1960s, but without looking up the relevant race reports that is the absolute limit of the information I can offer here...

DCN

[nudgernog]

thanks doug for that. i would very much like to make a contribution to your beer fund if you could find any more info out.

[RAP]

It seems from my records that it was more 1964/65 that Oliver raced his Elan, one of the first to appear I club racing as I recall. From my own records I have the following, which are certainly not comprehensive but perhaps gives a flavour.
1964
March 14 BARC Members Goodwood GT 7th (2nd Class)
Handicap 7th
March 15 BRSCC Members Brands GT 2nd (1st class)
May 10 Brands BARC GT 9th (6th class)
Handicap 3rd
Aug 9 BARC Members Brands GT1600 12th (6th class)
Handicap 11th
Aug 29 Goodwood TT GT 2000cc Race 7th

1965
May 2 BRSCC Members Brands Non starter
June 6 BRSCC Brands Redex GT Championship Retired
June 7 Goodwood Whitsun Trophy 16th (7th class)
June 19 Silverstone BARC Autosport Championship up to 1600 5th
Handicap 7th
July 18 Mallory BARC Members GT 3rd (2nd class)
Handicap 3rd
July 31 Crystal Palace Norbury Trophy 12th (6th class)
Sept 5 BARC Brands Speed Trial 30 minutes GT 1600 5th
Sept 12 Brands BARC Members 4th (2nd class)
Handicap 8th
Oct 31 Brands BARC Members Redex Championship GT 14th (3rd class)

No entries found in 1966.
RAP

[David Beard]

Originally posted by Sharman
Was it the same Eric Oliver?

And did Jenks hang out of the left hand door to assist cornering?

[jph]

Adrian Oliver, who pedals an Imp with some success in HSCC saloon races, is Eric's son.

[Alan Cox]

Originally posted by RAP
No entries found in 1966.

I note from Autosport that, after three rounds of the 1966 Autosport Championship, Eric Oliver had 1 point. Possibly gained at the Brands or Snetterton rounds, I haven't had time to check through Autosport reports.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread.

EO was my late Auntie's cousin.

[Bjorn Kjer]

E.S.Oliver/D.Jenkinson 1949 Sidecar world champions on Norton 3 races : 1,5,1
E.S.Oliver/L.Dobelli (I) 1950 ditto ditto 3 races : 1,1,1
E.S.Oliver/L.Dobelli (I) 1951 ditto ditto 5 races : 1,5,1,1,2
E.S.Oliver 1951 500 cc solo , on Norton , at least 1 race (retired)
E.S.Oliver/E.Bliss 1952 Sidecar finished 5th on Norton 5 races : 0,1,0,0,1
E.S.Oliver/S.Bibben 1953 Sidecar World Champions on Norton 5 races :1,1,0,1,1
E.S.Oliver/L.Nutt 1954 Sidecar 2nd ditto 6 races :1,1,1,0,5,- this was the first WC year for BMWs and marked the ending of the Norton dominance.
E.S.Oliver/L.Nott 1955 Sidecar finished 10th on Norton 6 races : 3,0,-,0,0,?

E.S. would NOT go BMW!

[nudgernog]

hello manfred. can you add anything to the thread about his car racing days.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

No, sadly, nudernog.

My Aunt...no mean enthusiast in her own right...died in 1991 and her only recollections were of going round to EO's as a young girl...prewar?...to see him work on the machines. That she frequently attended meets at Brands undoubtedly would lead to almost certainty that she did see him ride. I do recall that prior to her passing she did have a book about EO. Her son...whom I keep in touch with on a frequent basis...may still have some old memorabilia. As it so happens, I'm running out an email to him this very night. I'll make mention of EO and this thread.

[nudgernog]

in reply to RAP post. you are quite correct about him racing a red elan. one of the first to appear in club racing in 63 /64.
he bought a white 26r in 1965 and had some success in the next year also. its info from this car i was interested in. many thanks