53 replies to this topic

[Rope]

Does someone recognise this Lotus 23? The car has been imported to Switzerland in 1971 as rolling-chassis without engine/ gearbox. The only information abouts it's past is, that the car was acquired in the south of England. It came with these large 47-style-rimes and an all-aluminium body. The paint scheme was not altered after its importation.





Thanks a lot for any kind of information or pictorial material!

Kind regards, Roger

[Rupertlt1]

Possible:

https://www.racingsp...1-03-20-122.jpg

 

RGDS RLT

[Rope]

Thanks a lot for your answer and the interesting link: there are similarities indeed! But it's not the same car. The race at Oulten Park was held in march 1971 and the customs papers of the swiss car are dated 19th of february 1971. But I came across the following sales offer, it might be the car of your picture.

 

Kind regards, Roger

 

[Ray Bell]

It certainly looks like the rear bodywork came out of the same mold...

 

That might be a help in tracking it down.

[Rope]

This also very special about the swiss car. The bodywork came out of no mould and wasn't made of fiberglass! It was made of aluminium. The last two owners confirmed this fact. If you look at the first picture, you will see the grey colour on the inner side of the righthand door!

[Ray Bell]

That should make it even easier to identify...

 

Perhaps the car at Oulton Park had a copy from that shell, someone would know who made the alloy body.

[Rope]

Rumor hast it, that this could be the first Chris Williams car. The second one, known as Lotus-Brabham-BMW, had also an all aluminium body and there is a period report about this car saying that the body was made by a company called Peel's of Kingston. But I couldn't find any information about this company, seems that they don't exist anymore...

[Rupertlt1]

Per Graham Capel:

23-S-25 ?Chris Williams/Bob Hicks, ex-factory 08/07/62, 1100cc, blue

 

A DARK blue Lotus 23, fitted with an 1100

Cosworth-Ford engine and a Hewland

five-speed gearbox, will be entered in most

important events this season by Chris

Williams, Ltd., who are also undertaking

a certain amount of work for private

owners including preparation of a similar

Lotus 23 for Mike Renny.

Autosport, 22 March 1963, Page 379

 

Both Williams #60 and Renny #59 were entered at Goodwood, 23 March 1963.

 

The Robert Peel Sheet Metal Works

The proprietors of 'Peel's' (as it was usually referred to),

Alec Goldie and Fred Faulkner, had premises down by the

river in Kingston upon Thames at 50 High Street, off the

Portsmouth Road. The business actually took the title from

the adjacent public house, the Sir Robert Peel, named like a

good few pubs in London after the British Prime Minister..."

 

"Alec and Fred's work was generally considered to be not quite

up to the extremely high standards of Charlie Williams and

Len Pritchard (higher than the standards to which, say,

Ferraris were built at the time), but Peel's charges were

very much more realistic and they must have represented a

reasonable — and very practical — alternative for a

competition car risking its carrosserie every minute of its

working life.

 

"Though less well-known, the Peel cars should not

necessarily be regarded as less authentic — the first car

with a Peel's body was Chris Williams' 52 LPH and this

made its debut at the BARC practice day at Goodwood

on 4 March 1961, a few days before PMO 200 and S 221

took their bows at Sebring.

Extracts from Spritely Years, John Sprinzel and Tom Couthard, Pages 172-173

 

So we know for certain that there was a prior connection between

Chris Williams and Peel's with his Austin Healey Sprite, 52 LPH.

 

A UNIQUE LOTUS 23 FORD

At the end of September Chris Williams

Ltd. will offer for sale their unique Lotus 23

Ford. This car has been developed and

maintained by a full-time mechanic, and is

the only one equipped with a dry sump

1,145 cc. steel crank Cosworth Ford engine.

The specification includes a Hewland 5 speed

gearbox, special chassis, and long range

tanks. ln short this car is completely sorted

and has scored 10 firsts and 4 seconds in 18

races this season.

CLASS E AUTOSPORT CHAMPIOMSHIP leader.

BROOKLANDS MEMORIAL TROPHY leader.

Lap times include Oulton at 1.48.2.

The only reason for sale is our move to

another class of racing in 1964. Anyone

interested in purchasing this car should

contact Chris Williams at

53, LONDON ROAD, HORSHAM. Tel.:2927.

Autosport, 13 September 1963, Page 375

 

Chris Williams had premises at:

174 Epsom Road, Guildford, Surrey. Later:

Shere Garage, Shere, Near Guildford, Surrey.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 23 April 2023 - 12:31.

[Rupertlt1]

Carter Racing Services

LOTUS 23. Rolling chassis. Very smart. £595

1 HIGH ST. GODALMING, SURREY.

TEL: GODALMING 6618

Autosport, 27 November 1969, Page 62

 

MAGNIFICENT LOTUS 23B GT, BT21 suspension 2

sets 10 inch, 12 inch, with brand new YB11. New

Hewland, less engine. £675 no offers. Dronfield 3257.

Autosport, 27 November 1969, Page 67.

 

Martin Warren, from Alton, Hampshire was the 1969 Motoring News GT Champion driving an 1150 cc Lotus 23. Car colour: white.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 24 April 2023 - 12:14.

[Rope]

Goodwood 1963

[Rope]

Goodwood 1964

[Rope]

Dear RLT, thanks a lot for all the information! The connection C.Williams - Peel‘s seems very interesting to me: and the fact that it‘s going even further back! In 1962 and 1963 the Lotus 23 looks very standard, in 1964 the colour-scheme and that back-end of the body evolved (work of Peel‘s?). The back-end seems larger and has a little flap like the BT8. In 1965 Chris Williams drove the Lotus-Brabham-BMW (for sure work of Peel’s!) and the first car Lotus 23 was announced in the same year in Autosport…with an alluminium body (work of Peel‘s?) ! Untill now, I couldn‘t find any information about the following owners.

Best regards, Roger

[Rope]

[Rupertlt1]

Aintree Racing Team featured drivers John Scott Davies of Ormskirk, Jim Charnock of Liverpool and Harry O'Brien of Melling.

At Oulton Park, 17 April 1965, it would seem that Scott Davies and Jim Charnock both drove Lotus 23s in the same event. The Charnock car was "badly damaged" in an accident. 

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 24 April 2023 - 17:33.

[Rope]

The above sales ad is dated May 14, 1965. Best regrads, Roger

[Rope]

To what extent is it known that other 23ers with aluminum bodies existed? Or is this fact alone rather unique?

[Rupertlt1]

Scott Davies was driving a Lotus 23 at Oulton Park, 22 August 1964.

Another report says John Scott Davies "finished up in the bank" at Oulton Park, 10 April 1965.

Also at Aintree, Lotus 23B, 15 May 1965.

Scott Davies was driving a Lotus 23 at Oulton Park, 29 May 1965. Result 4th. Car colour: red/yellow.

Silverstone, 7 June 1965.

By 10 September 1965, Scott Davies was entered in the ex-Innes Ireland Lotus 19 at Snetterton.

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 26 April 2023 - 16:14.

[Rope]

Jim Charnock, Oulton Park 30th of may 1964 BRSCC formula libre 

 

[Rope]

Silverstone Senior Service 200: 20th of march 1965: racingsportscars.com. Colours of the two 23s: Charnouk green/ Davies gold and black => Williams colour-scheme! 

[Rope]

In addition to the aluminum body, the frame of the Lotus also has characteristic features. These are features typical for the first series, i.e. the gearshift lever mount in the center of the cockpit (for the Renault gearbox). And the left side lacks the reinforcing tube typical for the 23B. However, this tube can be found on the driver's side. In the sales ad of the Aintree Racing Team a five speed Hewland gearbox is mentioned, which has the input on this very side and therefore also needs a shift lever mount on the right hand driver's side. So, besides the bodywork, this could be interpreted as another indication that the car could be the same as the first Chris Williams Lotus 23. 

So a cockpit shot of the car Williams drove from 1962 to 1964 would be very precious!

[Rupertlt1]

THAT BMW-engined "Lotus-

Brabham " that Chris Williams raced

last season has been sold to John

Bridges, who is going to have a go at

the Guards Championship with it. The

somewhat curious title of the car arises

fiom the fact that it has a Lotus 23

chassis, strengthened and brought up to

23b specification, and fitted with a

special aluminium body instead of the

original glass-fibre one—and Brabham

wheels, the slightly far-fetched cause for

the " Brabham " bit. Robin McArthur's

Manfield Racing Lotus 23, which won

the Guards Championship last season,

was another Chris Williams-prepared

car.

Also looked after at the Chris

Williams workshops, incidentally, is the

BMW-engined Elva Mark 7 which Peter

Gethin and Tony Lanfranchi drove last

season—a car which, I gather, is now

for sale.

Autocar, 21 January 1966, Page 154

 

RGDS RLT

[Doug Nye]

I remember Chris Williams's cars most for being just exquisitely well prepared - beautifully presented - and in his hands very fast indeed.  He was one of my leading local racers, in Guildford, Surrey, with his modest (but immaculate) shop in Epsom Road, Merrow.

 

DCN

[Rope]

Thanks a lot to everyone who contributes with comments and information to this research! The text from RLT insinuates, that the Lotus 23 which Chris Williams drove throughout 1962 to 1965, was always the one and same car. So the Lotus- Brabham-BMW would be an evolution based on an early first series chassis. If this was the case, and if the swiss chassis on the first pictures of this thread would be the same car, therefore on a cockpit picture of the Lotus-Brabham-BMW the gear-lever brackets in the center should be visible. And if so,  also the reinforcing tube on the passenger side which was typical for the Lotus 23B, should not be there. Unfortunately the only cockpit picture which I found in a Motor Racing article from january 1966, shows only the driver's side.

 

[Rupertlt1]

Brands Hatch, Holt Trophy Meeting, Sunday 5 September 1965,

High-speed trial:

"Chris Williams was having a terrible time in his Lotus-Brabham-BMW.

He spun in Clearways, damaging the tail of the car. He

went into the pits and had the metal pulled way from the tyres.

On the next lap he went off at Paddock—the fuel filler cap had come

loose and was showering petrol all over the back tyres.

Autocar, 10 September 1965, Page 520

 

Also at this meeting: Tony Beeson, Lotus 23B.

 

See also: https://forums.autos...us-brabham-bmw/

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 26 July 2023 - 15:13.

[Rupertlt1]

LOTUS 23 FORD

1,145 c.c. Cosworth dry-sump steel crank engine,

and Hewland five-speed gearbox. Maintained by

full-time mechanic and fully sorted, with special

chassis and long-range tanks. Ten wins and four

records in 19 races. Lap times include Oulton at

1.48.2. Contact Chris Williams at

53 London Road, Horsham. Tel.: 2927.

Autosport, 8 November 1963, Page 658

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

John Scott-Davies, well-known northern

driver, has emigrated to Australia

with his wife, three children and his ex-

Sid Taylor Lola-Chevrolet T70. John

has sold his Liverpool car business and

plans to take part in the Japanese GP

and the Can-Am series. Now 34-years-

old, he has a record of 110 British

race wins.

Motor Racing, May 1967, Page 195

 

Anything known about his exploits down under?

 

Update: https://forums.autos...n-scott-davies/

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 July 2023 - 07:21.

[bradbury west]

In his preamble notes for the programme for the Oulton Park race on July 5 1969 Graham Macbeth  gives a profile of Chris Williams. It appears that there were three Lotus 23 cars.For 1962 he bought a 23 with a Martin 1500 engine , delivered mid season, which proved troublesome, so a used 1100  engine was fitted for 1963 to good effect with ten wins.

For 1964 a 23 twin cam was  ordered  winning  five races after  which it was sold to John Scott-Davies. Chris was frustrated by the successes of the new BT8s but could not afford one. (Remember that he had a trust fund controlled by a guardian until he was 21, hence no racing, so he may still have had a limited access to chunks of trust cash thereafter , simply an income. RL comment).

For the following year, 1965,  he bought a 23 chassis, added Brabham brakes, wheels and suspension, and fitted  a 2 litre BMW engine. the profile suggests that the car deserved more success, but many races were lost through niggling little troubles. the new Group 7 class meant  the old sports racing class declined, so for 1966  he bought a BT21 to good effect, with a BT 21 for the next year, leading to an invitation from John Bridges to lead his F3 team for “this year”, 1969.

I believe Graham Macbeth was the period commentator at Oulton or a journalist, or both, so should have been able to be accurate, so we can take his  period notes as correct.

Hope this helps.

Roger Lund

[Rupertlt1]

In 1965 Graham Macbeth was Competitions Manager of the B.A.R.C. and Editor of the B.A.R.C. Gazette.

 

We are looking for a Lotus 23 chassis for sale, going spare late 1964/early 1965? When did the Lotus-Brabham-BMW first appear?

 

Goodwood, 13 March 1965:

 

Then came the Formule

Libre race with Chris Williams showing off

his Lotus Brabham B.M.W. for the first

time and winning comfortably from John

Dean's Lotus 30 and Jim Moore's Cooper

Ford single seater

B.A.R.C. Gazette, June 1965, Page 21

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 29 July 2023 - 04:00.

[Bloggsworth]

The 23 that made the most impression on me was the immaculately painted 23 driven by Robin Widdows - It always looked the business.

[bradbury west]

Racing Sports Cars site has a nice John Crick off centre frontal colour shot of the car at Crystal Palace 7.6.65.

Interestingly the car had success at Ouston, of all places, a long way from Surrey, a couple of weeks later.It seems a long way to go to get some race miles in.

Roger Lund

[Rupertlt1]

Per Capel: "John Scott-Davies who made his first appearance in his Lotus 23 at the Southport Speed Trials on Sunday 23rd February" Pictured in Autosport, 28 Feb 1964, a light-coloured car with conventional bodywork. Event postponed from Boxing Day.

Chris Williams, Lotus 23B, entered Goodwood, Monday 30 March 1964. #39 listed as yellow/black. 1,594 c.c.

Chris Williams, Lotus 23B, entered Oulton Park, Saturday 11 April 1964. #17 listed as yellow/black.

Chris Williams, Lotus 23B, third at Aintree, 16 May 1964 in 75-mile sports car race.

Per Capel: Oulton Park, Saturday 23 May: "Chris Williams won the main event in his mustard coloured Lotus 23B with ease..."

2nd at Snetterton, 19 July 1964.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 02 August 2023 - 05:28.

[Rupertlt1]

2 May 1964 at Silverstone see https://library.revs...l-trophy/387003

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 01 August 2023 - 14:25.

[Rope]

To give my research a new approach, I looked again at the special features of the car: These include the '47' rims. Based on the fact that the car was imported into Switzerland in February 1971, I took a close look at the Autosport sales ads in late 1970 and early 1971. I made a fascinating find, the advertisement actually names the rims! The seller, Trevor Hamblen, attended a club meeting at Silverstone in June 1970 and a SWAC meeting at Llandow race track in May 1970. Would it be possible to reconnect the two ends of the thread by finding out more about Trevor Hamblen!!!?

[Rupertlt1]

The race meeting at Llandow was held Monday 25 May 1970 (2 pm).

The phone number for Trevor Hamblen is a London number, Hounslow and Heston? Hamblen possibly located in Hounslow at that time.

What was the date of the advertisement?

Match with: "The only information about it's past is, that the car was acquired in the south of England."

 

There was a S.W.A.C. meeting scheduled for Llandow, Easter Monday, 15 April 1968.

"The first race, for G.T. and sports racing cars, over 25 laps, is at 2 p.m."

Also 2 September 1968.

 

Is this the same car in 1968? #39? Lotus Mercury GT?

https://www.progcove...combe680525.pdf

 

Castle Combe, BRSCC St John Trophy Meeting, Saturday 27 July 1968

"Bob Miller had a convincing win in the ten-lap Special G.T. and saloon car race despite spinning his Lotus 23B at Quarry Corner on the second lap." R. H. Miller from Cardiff?

 

See also #164 at Crystal Palace:

https://www.progcove...alace680914.pdf

 

See also #150 in 1969 at Silverstone: https://www.progcove...stone690413.pdf

This was a round of the Motoring News GT Championship. Miller had already scored 3 points presumably in Round 1?

#134, Thruxton, B.A.R.C., Sunday 16 March 1969?

 

1968-1969:

https://www.racingsp...-Miller-GB.html

 

There was a sprint at Llandow end March 1966 (exact date unknown)

Class 11. Sports racing cars up to 1500 c.c. R. H. Miller in his newly acquired Mallock U.2. spun off in a big way on the bottom bend and bent his car rather badly.

Class 12. Sports Racing Cars over 1500 c.c. The Lotus 23B of the very experienced driver Brian Field, won this class with a time of 90.24 seconds which also gave him second fastest time of the day.

Other dates in 1966: 11 April (Brian Field won race 5, 2nd race 9), 12 June, 24 July

Castel Farm, Whit Monday 7 June 1965:

"Brian Field, in his very attractive white Lotus 23b got fastest time of the day with a run in 25.73 seconds." 

(Brian Field of Cardiff had his Lotus 23B 1964-1966?)

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 13 August 2023 - 08:45.

[Rope]

There were several advertisements from October 1970 until the last one on 21 January 1971. The customs papers of the swiss car are dated 19 February 1971.  So the rims, the date of the advertisements/ imporation and the area of residence of the seller match. I found an "age-matched" Trevor Hamblen on Facebook and wrote to him. Unfortunately, I did not receive a reply. At the moment I am trying to get a response from his Facebook friends. Or does anyone else have any details on Trevor Hamblen?!!!?

[Rupertlt1]

I notice that Brian White #27 was entered at Mallory Park, the very same day that Trevor Hamblen was racing at Llandow. This rules out any connection between the two cars?

 

https://www.progcove...llory700525.pdf

 

RGDS RLT

[Rope]

There is no connection with the White brothers car since they were racing it, when our car was already in Switzerland (see also the beginning of this thread).

[Rupertlt1]

I notice that Tony Beeson raced a Lotus 23 GT, 23B-S-120. From the London area?

 

https://www.racingsp...-Beeson-GB.html

 

Also at Brands Hatch, Sevenoaks DMC Cup Car Races, 12 November 1967?

 

See also:

 

https://www.progcove...erton680603.pdf

 

https://www.progcove...rands680825.pdf

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 15 August 2023 - 09:44.

[Rupertlt1]

"Peter Beaver (Lotus 23b GT Mercury SCA), and Bob Marvin (Lotus 23b TwinCam) run under the Mike Spence Racing banner and painted in their colours of Orange with Purple stripes. All the cars were actually owned by the drivers with assistance given by Mike Spence Developments."

 

Peter Beaver, by all accounts, was in 23B-S-103. Who was Bob Marvin? I can't find him competing anywhere? Presumably Marven, as above?

 

https://www.racingsp...-Marven-GB.html

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 18 August 2023 - 12:21.

[Rupertlt1]

Lydden, Thames Estuary Automobile Club, Sunday September 7th, 1969

Practising 9.00 a.m., Racing 2.15 p.m.

Trevor Hamblen crashed his Lotus 23 GT, #139, in practice, turning the car over on some oil. He was unhurt.

"Mr. Hamblen works as an engineer in a Hounslow factory and motor-racing is his favourite week-end relaxation. He already has one motoring trophy to his credit, but this is his first racing season."

Middlesex Chronicle: Staines, Ashford and Sunbury edition, Friday September 12, 1969

Does anybody have a programme, report, results for this meeting?

Anything for Lydden 1969-1970?

 

Lydden Hill, West Essex Car Club, Sunday 23 March 1969 (9 races)

 

Lydden Hill, Thames Estuary Automobile Club, Sunday 6 April 1969

 

Lydden Hill, East Surrey Motor Club, Sunday 20 April 1969

 

Lydden Hill, Thames Estuary Automobile Club, Sunday 4 May 1969

 

Lydden Hill, Festival of Speed, Sunday 18 May 1969 (3 car races)

 

Lydden Hill, Thames Estuary Automobile Club, Saturday 7 June 1969 (Eight 12-lap races, part televised by the BBC)

 

Lydden Hill, Austin Healey Club, Sunday 15 June 1969

Brian and Barry White, Lotus 23GT
MN, 19 June 1969

 

Lydden Hill, Thames Estuary Automobile Club, Sunday 6 July 1969 (8 races)

 

Lydden Hill, A.C.O.C., Saturday 19 July 1969, Sprint meeting

 

Lydden Hill, 750 M.C., Martin Walter Trophy Meeting, Sunday 20 July 1969 (8 races)

 

Lydden Hill, Thames Estuary Automobile Club, Sunday 10 August 1969

 

Lydden Hill, East Surrey Motor Club, Sunday 24 August 1969 (9 races)

 

Lydden Hill, Motor Sprints, B.A.R.C. South Eastern Centre, Sunday 31 August 1969

 

Lydden, Thames Estuary Automobile Club, Sunday September 7th, 1969

 

Lydden Hill, 750 M.C., Sunday 21 September 1969

 

Lydden Hill, Motor Sprints, B.A.R.C. South Eastern Centre, Sunday 16 November 1969

 

Lydden Hill, Thames Estuary Automobile Club, Friday 26 December 1969

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 20 August 2023 - 15:53.

[Rupertlt1]

Another item of local motor-

racing news is that Barrie

Williams versatile driver of

the 7-litre E-type Jaguar

Egal, Mini-Coopers, and other

machines of the McKechnie

stable, is to co-drive with

Derby garage proprietor Willie

Green in long distance events

this year.

In addition to sharing the

2-litre V8 BRM engined

Chevron, Barrie will also

occasionally be at the wheel of

Willie’s smart new Lotus 23

with F.V.A. engine, at races

in this country.

Derby Daily Telegraph, Tuesday 4 February 1969, Page 18

 

Is it this car?

https://www.racingsp...ve/23-S-70.html

Or something else altogether?

Did Barrie Williams ever drive a Lotus 23?

 

See:

 

https://forums.autos...0-lotus-23b-gt/

 

https://forums.autos...9-lotus-23b-gt/

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 21 August 2023 - 09:38.

[Rope]

See also: Lotus 23/Mercury GT History with Jack Paterson - The Nostalgia Forum - The Autosport Forums

[Rope]

Could the rims represent the key to the mystery?!? Another AUTOSPORT sales offer includes them (Autosport, July 18, 1969, p. 49)!

Compared to the Hamblen sales offer from 1971, the 5-speed gearbox and the Twincam engine also match, just as the residence of the seller and the buyer! The first race of Hamblen was on September 7, 1969 at Lydden Hill.

 

[Rupertlt1]

I can find nothing about "Gardner" in Hampshire, except to say his local circuit would be Thruxton? Can anybody help?

 

There was a Motoring News GT event at Thruxton, Monday 26 May 1969?

(Alan Fowler was entered in his Mercury GT.) 

 

Cadwell Park Midsummer Trophy, B.R.S.C.C., Sunday 29 June 1969

G.T. and racing sports in-

clude David Boler (Lan-

dar R6), Peter Raffo (Raffo

G.T.) Jeff Schonberg and

Alan Fowler (Mercury G.T.'s)

P. Wright (Emeryson) and

D. Orbell (Lotus).

Spalding Guardian, Friday 27 June 1969

 

I think Jeff Schonberg was from Glasgow?

 

https://www.racingsp...Schonberg#.html

 

Note also Deryck Harbison, possibly from London?

 

https://www.racingsp...arbison-GB.html

 

Gerard Horgan, Lotus 23, at Thruxton, B.A.R.C., Saturday 30 August 1969.

Silverstone, B.A.R.C., Sunday 13 April 1969, #149, red. 

Also Thruxton, B.A.R.C., Sunday 16 March 1969.

Was he at Brands Hatch, T.E.A.C., Sunday 1 December 1968? In a U2?

 

A clue is in the stanchions for the mirrors?

 

See: https://forums.autos.../#entry10356253

 

Did the car come with any mirrors?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 August 2023 - 03:00.

[Rupertlt1]

Alan Fowler at Brands Hatch 1970 (note the car is a sports-racer, not a GT):

 

https://youtu.be/h2okEItBbhs?t=173

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 August 2023 - 06:46.

[Rupertlt1]

Castle Combe, B.R.S.C.C. South-Western Centre, 9 May 1970

GT cars (over 2500 class and over-

all) 1 A. Cowin (McLaren 6B)

100.99 mph; 1,601-2,500 cc, 1 B. D.

Martin (Martin Spyder) 99.10 mph;

1,151-1,600 cc, 1 J. Paterson (Saturn

GT) 94.90 mph, 2 L. Aylott (Ardua

GT), 3 J. E. Baldwin (Lotus 23B);

Up to 1,150 cc, 1 M. Raymond

(Daren) 93.96 mph, 2 B. Ewin (WRA

111 GT), 3 B. C. Baker (Ginetta G12).

 

See: https://daveriley.we...mbe9may1970.pdf

 

Baldwin connected to Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. Raced on into 1971-1972.

Lt. Col. Jim Baldwin USAF.

Four Flags Racing Ltd.

What about Robert 'Bob' H. Kulaas? Entered as Lotus 23K. 'K' for Kulaas?

He was in the U.S. air force, known to be stationed at USAF Ruislip in June 1969. (Possibly posted to Fairborn, Ohio, in 1970.)

https://www.progcove...rands691109.pdf

(Note also Colin Addison, entered by Four Flags, in a Lotus Elan. Barry White from Ruislip.)

See also, what was the Marion Mk4?
https://www.progcove...rands690629.pdf
Also here in Lotus 23B-Climax:

https://www.progcove...stone690413.pdf

Also at Brands Hatch, Surrey SMC Clubman's Car Races, Sunday 3 November 1968.

See also at Brands Hatch (running in GT, 1558 c.c.) https://www.progcove...rands680825.pdf

Note also Jim Baldwin, Lotus Elan. 

BTW the paint scheme does seem American-influenced.

Brands Hatch, Sunday 1 March 1970: #62 Four Flags Racing (Dvr.: Jim Edwards) Brabham BT28 F3 997cc

See also John Mitchell, Staines, Middlesex: https://www.jensenmu...drix-jensen-ff/

Four Flags Racing Limited was struck off the companies register April 1974.

 

Obit: https://www.legacy.c...ary?id=37401366

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 August 2023 - 03:07.

[Rupertlt1]

Brands Hatch, B.R.S.C.C. Melaware Cup, Sunday 3 March 1968 

Main race 30-lap event for formula Libre. Video:

https://www.britishp...m/asset/155898/

Who is #70 Lotus 23? Is it John Markey?

Markey from Hersham, Surrey.

Also Tootal GT championship race, 10 laps, club circuit.

Trevor Taylor won both races in a Lotus 47.

The commentator is Anthony Marsh, seen at end.

 

Brands Hatch, M.G. Car Club Clubman's Car Races, 20 April 1969

Trevor Hamblen, #22 Lotus 23, entered event no 5, Courage-Kent Messenger Formula Libre Race. DNS.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 28 August 2023 - 03:09.

[Rope]

Sales offer AUTOSPORT 17/1/1969: 47-rims and identical technical data as Gardner and Hamblen! Price identical as in the Gardner ad: "reluctant sale" because Gardners racing-plans were prematurely interrupted by other circumstances after having bought the car in January from Coombe??!!

[Rupertlt1]

Silverstone, B.A.R.C., 18 June 1966

Lotus 23 Fords are to be driven

by Jim Morley (Chalfont St. Peter),

Peter Gaydon (London), John

Nicholson (Glasgow), C. P. Watney

(St. Albans), Ken Crook (Birming-

ham) and Ben Moore (Hull). A

similar car has been entered by the

international Willment team for

Jack Paterson to drive but using

a Cosworth Formula 2 engine in a bid

for supremacy.

 

See also ref SCA: https://forums.autos.../#entry10363279

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 29 August 2023 - 19:23.

[Rope]

Sales offer AUTOSPORT 20/12/1968: 47-rims and identical technical data as Coombe, Gardner and Hamblen! Knock-on adaptors as there are with the swiss car (see picture below).