24 replies to this topic

[Rupertlt1]

Lotus 23 histories are all over TNF.

 

Insert list here:

 

https://forums.autos...-the-early-60s/

 

In Pau for the historic races, 19-21 May 2023, I came across #146 a green with yellow stripes BRM twin-cam which was said to be chassis '108' — presumably 23B-S-108.

Per Graham Capel supplied new to Fritz Baumann, 15/05/1964, red. Baumann from Uster, Switzerland.

Baumann had raced a yellow Lotus 23 in 1963, with 1.0 litre Cosworth motor, described as a "large windscreen" car.

Baumann raced a Lotus 23-A.T.S., 2,495, during 1964.

Anything more known?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 11 July 2023 - 15:43.

[D-Type]

So we can understand the magnitude of the task, how many 23s were built? Including the 23, 23B, 23C, and possibly reproductions such as the Xanthos 23, Noble 23, and further derivatives?  

[Rupertlt1]

Graham Capel lists up to chassis 131 from Lotus (was there a #13?).

 

RGDS RLT

[The Mountaineer]

Baumann's first car was 23-S-69, the second, ATS-engined one as you wrote 23-S-108.

 

Could you tell me the name of the driver at Pau?

[GazChed]

Baumann's first car was 23-S-69, the second, ATS-engined one as you wrote 23-S-108.

Could you tell me the name of the driver at Pau?

According to the online programme for the Pau Classic Grand Prix, the drivers of Lotus 23B #146 are listed as Xabier Rascagneres and Jerome Peyrat. In the results the first driver appears as Xavier which presumably is the correct first name.

[Rupertlt1]

Mountaineer: I was hoping you'd join in! Good work!

 

Capel says 23B-S-69, 1,000cc, yellow, sold to Perry in the UK, 01/02/63. (Could it have been Mark Perry?) When did it show up in Switzerland?

 

RASCAGNERES/PEYRAT at Pau. (The programme contained no entry lists. The whole show was poor value for money at Euro 41 per day.) 

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 08 July 2023 - 07:04.

[GazChed]

Mountaineer: I was hoping you'd join in! Good work!

Capel says 23B-S-69, 1,000cc, yellow, sold to Perry in the UK, 01/02/63. (Could it have been Mark Perry?) When did it show up in Switzerland?

RASCAGNERES/PEYRAT at Pau. (The programme contained no entry lists. The whole show was poor value for money at Euro 41 per day.)

RGDS RLT

For many race meetings these days Rupert, entry lists etc appear online. Whether this is to pander to the eco brigade by not wasting paper or to save money I am not sure but, either way, you have a choice of downloading them onto your Smartphone or printing them off using your own paper.

[Henk Vasmel]

Graham Capel lists up to chassis 131 from Lotus (was there a #13?).

 

RGDS RLT

Indeed, Capel lists 131 chassis. With their first owners. Only the entry for number 13 is blank (well, it contains only question marks). Even so, it is listed as an 1100.

In the same book there is also a little story why there is no such thing as a Lotus 23C. Including why some people called their cars 23C, despite it not being an official Lotus type.

[The Mountaineer]

Hi Rupert

 

There is another theory about this "Perry", although not confirmed. The Lotus list contains a number of spelling errors, so Perry could be Mme Perrin from Geneva, then official Lotus importer for Switzerland.

.

Baumann's first race with 23-S-69 was at Montlhéry on 07/04/1963.

[Rupertlt1]

What have we here?

 

https://library.revs...us-event/373310 } Is this at Lime Rock, 4 July 1966?

                                         } Is this George E. Alderman, Newark, Delaware?

https://library.revs...uble-500/261854 }

This is the car driven by Brett Lunger? Was it blue? Ex-Bob Bucher?

Who is this?

https://library.revs...us-races/432522

 

https://library.revs...-raceway/357946

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 11 July 2023 - 07:08.

[Rupertlt1]

Lotus Built 162 competition cars last year

if you count 34 racing car simulators; 55 were

Lotus 47s (the racing version of the export-only

Europa), 53 were Lotus 51 Formula Ford single-

seaters, 17 were Lotus 41 formula 2 or 3, and

3 were Lotus 23 sports-racers. Expect an overall

40 per cent increase this year. Lotus racing cars

are famous the world over. 45 per cent of the

Norwich factory's production going abroad

(this figure does not include road cars). Photo

shows production lines for Type 51 (left) and 47.

Autocar, 28 March 1968, Page 38

 

This points to three Lotus 23s being built in 1967, hitherto unknown, which do not appear in the records published by Graham Capel.

Can we identify chassis numbers beyond 23B-S-131 (which went to Lotus Southwest, Dallas)? Any evidence?

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 13 July 2023 - 05:50.

[The Mountaineer]

132 went to Lotus Switzerland (Mme Perrin) and from there to Henri Bürgisser. First start at Payerne in 1967. Bürgisser always called the car Lotus 23C, but I don't know if that "C" was also on the chassis plate. 

[ellrosso]

I don't know much about these two cars I'm afraid - hopefully other TNFr's will have info.

[MarkBisset]

Thanks Lindsay,

 

Bernie’s car was as ugly as a hatful of arseholes, even worse than the photo suggests. Saw him race it at the Island and Calder at least, it’s covered here; https://forums.autos...0-lotus-23b-gt/

 

Roxburgh’s car was bought new via Derek Jolly in 1962. Blanden gives the chassis number as 23-S -16

 

Fitted with SOHC and DOHC 1.1-1.5-2-2.2 and 2.7 Climax engines and an 1850 Ford pushrod. Raced in the historic era by Alan Cruickshank and Peter Whelan, to the UK circa 2000

 

m

Edited by MarkBisset, 13 July 2023 - 09:58.

[Jamesks]

Thanks Lindsay,

 

Bernie’s car was as ugly as a hatful of arseholes, 

Hearty congratulations on using the English language with such finesse.

You should be proud…

[MarkBisset]

Cheers James,

 

Praise is rare in this manor so I'll happily accept it in the manner intended.

 

Not particularly original I'll grant you but two Melbourne Uni temptresses caught my attention mid-posting on the tram.

 

Welcome to the Bogan Brothers, a small TNF subset, all the same.

 

m

[Rupertlt1]

Goodwood, 6 October 1962:

Mike Renny, in a borrowed Lotus 23,

took the lead in the sports-racing car event

which followed, but he found the cockpit

too small for his large frame and, having

some difficulty in pedal-pressing, wisely

eased up to let C. A. C. Hodgson take the

lead in his 1,216 c.c. Lotus, while retaining

the 1,100 c.c. class lead with his second

place overall.

Autosport, 19 October 1962, Page 548

 

Anything more known? Car colour?

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

B.A.R.C. (SURREY CENTRE)

GOODWOOD SPRINT, 11th August 1963

RESULTS

Best Open Car: J. E. Manfield (Lotus-Ford 23), 63.2 secs

 

James Manfield.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 July 2023 - 06:02.

[Rupertlt1]

Per Capel: 23B-S-61 Jack Pearce 18/04/63 1500TC Red

> Morris Nunn for 1964, sponsored by Walsall businessman Bertie Bradnack

and Team Walpres, colours red/yellow

On Jan 22nd 1965 the car was advertised for sale:

"Five wins, five seconds, car in immaculate condition £1,600. contact M Nunn, New Mills Garages, Wednesbury road, Walsall"

See: https://forums.autos...ndpost&p=592864

Who bought it?

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Who are these at Mallory Park in 1964?

 

384081 #85, note the distinctive double-round holes either side of the main intake, double Raydyot mirrors?

 

https://library.revs...rk-brscc/411675

#57, registration TCK 322, is this Geoff Breakell?

 

https://library.revs...xing-day/425861 #38

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 01 August 2023 - 06:44.

[69seven]

Who are these at Mallory Park in 1964?

 

384081 #85, note the distinctive double-round holes either side of the main intake, double Raydyot mirrors?

 

from Autosport report, possibly P D Brown. Charles Lucas was also entered in a 23.

 

https://library.revs...rk-brscc/411675

#57, registration TCK 322, is this Geoff Breakell?

 

racingsportscars has #57 as Geoff Breakall, #49  Bob Anderson (Brabham BT8)

 

https://library.revs...xing-day/425861 #38

 

 

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Boxing Day Brands Hatch 1964 was postponed until 31 January 1965 due to snow:

 

Guards Trophy race (sports racing cars,

10 laps).—Overall winner: R. Nathan

(Repco Brabham Climax), 10min, 40.8sec,

(69.66 m.p.h.). 2nd: A. Dean (Lotus Ford);

Class A (over 1,200 c.c.)

R. Nathan. Fastest lap: Nathan 1min 03.0sec (70.86).

Class B (up to 1,200 c.c.) 1. B. Pittard

(Lotus Ford), 10:55.4sec (68.11), 2.

J. F. Morley (Lotus Ford), 3. R. McArthur

(Lotus Ford)

Fastest lap: J. F. Morley (Lotus Ford), 1min 03.6 (70.19)

 

Nathan in #5 dark blue and orange Brabham. Bo Pittard entered by John Willment.

 

But what happened at Boxing Day Mallory Park Guards sports car race? Bob Gerard Formula Libre? #38?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 03 August 2023 - 08:55.

[Rupertlt1]

LOTUS 23B, ex-Robin Macarthur (sic), the fastest and

best sorted available. Showroom condition in red and

white. 6½ in and 7 in wheels, arches flared for

8 in and 9 in. Complete less engine and gearbox.

Fully prepared as Group 4 GT for next year, and

a certain 1150 class winner. £650 ono. Cosworth

SCA, Hewland available. 3 Welbourn Gardens, Lin-

coln.

Autosport, 18 October 1968, Page 55

 

This address thought to be dealer George Dixon.

 

Could it be this car at Croft? Malcolm West from Hull?

 

https://library.revs...-paddock/621877

 

https://library.revs...-paddock/617591

 

See: https://www.racingsp...lm-West-GB.html

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 28 August 2023 - 18:03.

[Rupertlt1]

Lotus 23-B Pwrd by Saab, spare

eng. w/trlr. Fully race prepared! H-

Spts, (850cc) Comp. $7500. Pr. pty.

Car may be seen in S.F. Call collect

David Biggs, Clarksville, Mo. aft. 6

p.m. (314) Ci.2-3452

The Los Angeles Times, Sunday 18 Dec 1966, Page 325

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

ARE YOU HAVING ANY FUN?

Lotus 23 Red & Red Int. Stage IV Climax 1100 C.C.

New. Unstarted. Arriving 7th Oct....$6,255...Class G

Modified Championship Car...

BOB CHALLMAN

ECURIE SHIRLEE CORPORATION

2301 SEPULVEDA, MANHATTAN BEACH

FR 6-8833

Sales - Service    Lubrication for all imported cars

MotoRacing and Economy Car News, Vol. 7 Issue 22, 21 September 1962

 

This has to be 23-S-35? Ex-factory 27/08/62.

 

See: https://forums.autos...3/#entry4371160

 

Riverside, California, 14 October 1962:

#95 Lotus XXIII Climax, 1200, Red, Skip Hudson, Riverside, Arciero Brothers

"Skip Hudson kept the

hopes up in the Arciero camp by

placing their new Lotus 23 in the

3rd spot."

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 16 September 2023 - 18:32.