Chapman conquered F1, F2, F3, Junior, FF for a bit, Indianapolis, small engine sports cars (i.e. up to circa 2.5 litres), the Tasman series and of course contributed to the iconic Lotus-Cortina. There will be other things I haven't mentioned as well.
But 'big' engined sports cars eluded him. The Lotus 30/40 (I will refrain from the normal quoting of R.Ginther - if indeed it was him) wasn't even attractive so arguably had nothing really going for it.
Funnily enough, because it wasn't dominant, I always had a bit of a soft spot for the Lotus 30. Considering it wasn't successful in period, good to see a few racing now.
Tiff Needell gave this one a good run in 2016. (Picture taken in practice)
...but the race was on a wet track.
2018 was dry - thank goodness.
Last edited by ERC; 04-05-2020 at 05:28 AM.
2002 - Lola-MG
2009
2016 - Merlyn
Lister Bristol
Elva
Last edited by ERC; 04-05-2020 at 08:52 PM.
2016 - Love this car! And some people think that we'll be attracted to seeing Sing Song, Ford and Holden utes?
Crossle
2018
Last edited by ERC; 04-07-2020 at 09:02 PM.
"And some people think that we'll be attracted to seeing Sing Song, Ford and Holden utes?"
Wouldn't it be great if we could have meetings that comprised HMC, HSC, Historic Sports Sedans, Pre 65's, Central Muscle Cars, F5000 etc.
Unfortunately I find myself going to fewer events these days because I don't want to spent a whole day at the track when there's really only one class I want to watch.
It probably doesn't matter so much if you are a competitor, but if you're a spectator like me, you want to watch what interests you, and not some boring classes that hold absolutely no interest for you at all.
Generally agree Nigel. However, look at the average grid sizes for some of those classes (I did say average) and unfortunately, since the original Festivals, there haven't been too many meetings a year with a decent turnout. In fact, most of the grids at some of the Festivals were also rather small.
Some drivers are now only doing 4 or 5 meetings a year and some of them are being spread around the country. The days of racing most weekends are long gone, and that also means for spectators.
I have no idea of what it now costs to put on a meeting at HD for example, but way back when I was organising, we needed a $12,000 income to break even, from six classes. Costs have rocketed since then - plus driver costs (CoD has jumped to $350!) so grids are not going to improve anytime soon.
That is why I now try and get to the Goodwood Revival every two years. To see a range of cars I like - and most, we never see down here anyway - and that also goes for many in the pre 1966 car park. Many real rarities to be found there.
Last edited by ERC; 04-08-2020 at 11:12 PM.
Pics disappeared...
1971 - Brands Hatch - the one time I visited other than the driving experience in a single seater.
1973 - Racing Car Show. For several years, this was a fixture on my calendar. A train from Nottingham to London then the excellent underground to BP House (That is Baden-Powell). The RCS was staged at Olympia and I usually returned even more skint than usual having visited the Chater's Bookshop stand. Maybe a Racing Car Show in NZ during our Winter would be a goer?
1988 - Chapparal, Donington paddock.
Last edited by ERC; 04-09-2020 at 01:12 AM.
shame you could not spend more time at brands hatch. i reckon it was one of the best tracks in the uk. the long track that is, the short track is very visible and technical for drivers, but the long track has it all.
Like any long track that disappears into the woods, better for drivers than spectators - unless televised that is. But agree, the Brands long track looks interesting.
I'd like to revisit Cadwell Park now I have a camera with a longer lens. In some respects, an even better track than Brands.
1996 - Goodwood FoS
2000
Ray,
Do you remember seeing a dapper looking chap with long hair, wearing "bell-bottom" trousers at Earls Court ?
One day we will meet somewhere.
( Ken H )
1973 - Racing Car Show. For several years, this was a fixture on my calendar. A train from Nottingham to London then the excellent underground to BP House (That is Baden-Powell). The RCS was staged at Olympia and I usually returned even more skint than usual having visited the Chater's Bookshop stand. Maybe a Racing Car Show in NZ during our Winter would be a goer?
From a December 1973 Autosport ad.
(If only ...!)
Ray,
I think this is the same Porsche 917-10 (AAW) that you photographed at the show.
(Ken H)
Last edited by khyndart in CA; 04-09-2020 at 06:50 AM.
Sorry Ken - but it was Olympia! Was it you who bumped into me and spilt my coffee???? Sorry, I didn't keep a diary from 1970 to 1990, so just kidding.Originally Posted by khyndart in CA
Yes, I'm sure we'll catch up one day. I still have my fingers crossed about Goodwood Revival this year, but they keep evading my query "If we are unable to fly because of restrictions, either here or USA/GB, but the meeting still goes ahead, or is shifted to a new date, do we get 100% refund on the ticket?"
Goodwood Festival of Speed, it was always so difficult to get track photos of the cars so the majority are static shots.
2002
I used to love to draw this car as that shark nose was so distinctive.
2004
2004
2009
2012 - Museo Ferrari. Road registered in the UK (not David Piper's usual bright green) so can you imagine rocking up to a Tesco Supermarket in that?
Last edited by ERC; 04-10-2020 at 09:39 PM.
Nice black Super Snipe of 2009 ...that my favourite
Isnt that a Pullman...........
Both probably!
This is page 1 of an Autocar road test from 1952. The car shown in Ray's post is a later model but at least this shows what they were called back in the day. Hardly the fastest thing on the road - standing quarter mile in 23.2sec
Last edited by Milan Fistonic; 04-11-2020 at 04:25 AM.
Regarding the Racing Car Show - in 1983 I lived in Sinclair Rd, right behind London Olympia. In fact I walked past the place almost daily and imagined days gone by of racing car shows that I'd been reading about since the 60s.
Ken, 1973 would have been a great year to be there too - plenty of options for F2/F3/Atlantic and Group 6 on top of F1, maybe some Can-Am and Indy McLarens and a ton of Formula Fords.
Would one day be enough?
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