Category: Historic Lotus

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Peter Cambridge Dies

Peter Cambridge (right)

Peter Cambridge (above right), the designer of the Elite’s interior and other Lotus’ interiors, passed away over the weekend.

Peter was deeply loved by his family and friends.

Peter was part of the small team that were pulled from Ford (England) to work on and design the Type 14 Elite. Even after leaving Lotus he remained active in the Lotus community in the UK.

The Elite is frequently included as one of the iconic and most beautiful cars. The elegance is found both outside and inside. While it is unintentional the dash on the Evora mimics that of the Elite, proving how classic Peter’s design is.

Peter will be missed.

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Elliot Moss drives a Lotus 18

It seems appropriate that on the day Elliot Moss, Stirling’s son, drives a Lotus 18 for the first time, courtesy of Classic Team Lotus, Stirling was winning the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix, the first Formula 1 win for Lotus, exactly 50 years ago. This was also the first time Elliot had ever driven a single seater let alone a race car on a race track, so the timing and type of car driven was very fitting.

The reason for Elliot driving is to demonstrate the Lotus 18 at the Classic Team Lotus Festival on 20th June 2010 at the Snetterton Race Circuit, along with 33 Formula 1 cars from the Lotus’s Formula 1 history. The festival will also feature the newest Lotus Formula 1 car on track, the T127, and its drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli.

As Stirling is still recovering from the injuries he sustained from his accident back in March, Elliot will drive the Lotus 18 in a demonstration run, alongside a other Lotus Formula 1 cars around the Snetterton track. Stirling’s son did not follow his fathers professional career path, he is a trained chef and now run’s the family’s property business with his wife Helen who was present at Hethel to witness a little bit of Lotus and Moss history being made.

[via stirlingmoss.com]

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A piece of Lotus F1 History

Piston from Lotus Cosworth DFV 339

The mailman just brought me this amazing piece of Lotus F1 history: a piston from the Cosworth DFV engine #339 used in the Lotus 81 Formula 1 car.

Piston from Lotus Cosworth DFV 339

In the 70s and 80s, Team Lotus was in the habit of keeping the pistons from rebuilds to use as VIP gifts. Each engine’s pistons were labeled and stored but not all were presented. With reference to the team’s archives, Classic Team Lotus is able to identify the detailed competition history for the engines in which the pistons ran. A great deal of polishing, then mounting on a wooden plinth, complete with presentation plaque, makes a rather special item of memorabilia.

Piston from Lotus Cosworth DFV 339

Now while a piston from an F1 engine is amazing in itself (Ferrari charges >$600 for a 2000 piston), this particular engine has some additional history that makes it even more unique. The DFV 339 was used by not one but two F1 world Champions: Mario Andretti used it in his final season at Lotus while Nigel Mansell used it during his first two seasons in F1.

Piston from Lotus Cosworth DFV 339

The piston comes with documentation of the engines usage and you can see that while it was used primarily in practice and testing, it was also used by Andretti in the 1980 USA GP West where he retired after a first corner accident.

DFV 339 History

If you’d like to get your hands on some original Team Lotus history, head on over to the Classic Team Lotus webstore and be prepared to fight the temptation to buy out the entire store.

[via The Racing Geek]

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Monterey Motorsports Reunion to celebrate 60 years of Formula 1

The Monterey Motorsports Reunion (formerly known as the Monterey Historics) has announced that the 2010 event (August 13-15) will feature 38 historic F1 cars will take the grid including a Lotus 49 and GGLC Member Chris Locke‘ Lotus 77.

Hungry Lotus

As mentioned before, the GGLC is once again arranging for a Lotus Corral at the event. Click here to purchase your Monterey Motorsports Reunion ticket and Lotus corral pass from the GGLC and for a discount. Please order early and reserve your spot in the corral. GGLC membership is NOT required, but you must drive your Lotus to the event to park in the GGLC Lotus Corral. DEADLINE TO BUY TICKETS & CORRAL PASS: MAY 25, 2009! We will not be able get tickets and corral passes after this deadline!

Scroll down for the full press release and for pictures of Lotus from the 2007 event.

[press release from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca]

For motorsports fans there’s no sweeter sound than the high-revving engines of Formula 1 cars. And for those attending the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 12-15 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, there will be plenty to see and hear as 38 historic F1 cars will take to the grid to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Formula 1.

“The first world championship Formula 1 race was held at Silverstone in 1950 and for this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, we wanted to celebrate the 60 years of Formula 1 history with a featured race,” explained Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “Dan Gurney, the only American to build and win in a Formula 1 race in a car of his own construction will be on hand to help us pay tribute to the beautiful and history-laden grid of Formula 1 cars.”

On the grid will be one of the most radical entries ever to succeed in Formula 1 competition. The 1976 Tyrrell P34 ‘six-wheeler’ used four, tiny 10-inch wheels and tires at the front and two ordinary sized wheels in the back. The idea of the smaller front tires was to increase air penetration and have a smaller ‘frontal area’ to reduce drag. Driver Patrick Depailler debuted the car and with team-mate Jody Scheckter earned one win and several high place finishes.

No historic F1 race would be complete without a few of Colin Chapman’s revolutionary cars. The 1976 Lotus 77, known as the John Player Special MK II, driven by Mario Andretti to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, will be on track along side the 1967 Lotus 49. The Lotus 49 was the first Double Four Valve powered car in F1 with an engine that not only was revolutionary; it started the Ford/Cosworth relationship. Driven by Jimmy Clark, it won its debut race at Zandvoort. This was the first F1 race car that had sponsor liveries.

The red team from Modena, and F1, are two names that will forever be entwined with each other as Ferrari is the oldest surviving and the most successful F1 team in Grand Prix racing. Fans will experience the 1969 Ferrari 312 driven by Chris Amon and Pedro Rodriguez, the 1970 Ferrari 312B driven by Jacky Ickx which was the first F1 car from the Scuderia with the ‘boxer’ engine (flat 12 cylinders), and the 1980 Ferrari 312T5 which was driven by Jody Scheckter and Gilles Villeneuve. The Ferrari 312T series won 27 races, four constructers’ and three drivers’ championships.

The Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion is honoring one of the true legends of motorsports- Dan Gurney who is one of five Americans to have won an F1 race. Additionally highlighting the 19 race groups will be a dedicated grid of 40 Bugatti race cars in the Bugatti Grand Prix, a featured race for Trans-Am; and for the first time ever, Stock Cars (with drum brakes) that competed between 1959 and 1975.

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Fatal Lotus 7 crash in Tampa Bay

The Lotus community lost one of our own on wednesday. Dana Pighetti was killed in an accident while driving his original Lotus Seven in Florida. Dana was a long time Lotus fan and owned amongst other an S2 Europa, a Banks 62, an Esprit, and an Elise. Our condolences go out to his family and we remind you all to drive safely on the streets.

[via tampabay.com]

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Lotus to be the featured Marque at the 2010 Classic Motorsports Mitty

Classic Motorsports magazine will be returning to Road Atlanta for their annual celebration of all things automotive, and this year’s event promises to be the best yet. Lotus will be the featured marque for this year’s event, and will celebrate the honor by showcasing their new Evora coupe along with scores of historic Lotus racing cars. The Barber Museum will be displaying 10 historic Lotus cars from its collection in the Lotus tent.

Peter Brock will be the guest of honor at the event which will be recognizing the accomplishments of Peter and the rest of the Brock Racing Enterprises team in the automotive world. Peter Brock on hand to address fans in the Cobra Corral Area on Friday along with a BRE tent with many famous BRE racing cars on display

Other events include:
Concours d’LeMons– We love classics in all shapes and sizes, so we wanted to find a way for some of the orphaned and unknown to enjoy the spotlight. To that end, we’ve worked with the same minds that created the 24 Hours of LeMons to create the Concours d’LeMons. This event promises to be a light-hearted highlight of the weekend for lovers of underappreciated classics.

Mazda Drivers Party– After the racing action on Friday, Mazda will be hosting a special party open to anyone with a Mazda key in their pocket. Come to meet and talk with the Mazda Pro racers, factory representatives, and executives that help make this company the number one choice of amateur racers.

Classic Motorsports Cup race– The Classic Motorsports Mitty will host the second round of a new series for 2010—the Classic Motorsports Cup. The series is open to small-bore cars produced before 1965 and their continuation counterparts. this race promises to be a hotly contested battle among the cars that make up the core of our reader’s interests.

Kumho autocross– Thanks to Kumho Tires USA, the 2010 Mitty will again offer spectators the chance to drive a Kumho-equipped Mazda MX-5 around our infield autocross course. This driving experience is completely free of charge, so make sure you sign up for some top-down driving fun!

Moss pub– The Moss pub will be open for business during the evening hours on Friday and Saturday night. Come by for a cold drink and the best bench racing you’ll find this side of Siebkins. Challenge a friend to a game of darts or a spin around our slot-car track anytime, but don’t miss the live music performed by Wess Cobb on Saturday night.

Historic Stock cars– No cookie-cutter “Cars of Tomorrow” here—HSR’s Historic Stock Car class features a full field of competitive racers piloting the cars from NASCAR’s past. Be sure to walk through the paddock to see these famous former race winners.

Swap meet– Need headlight trim for your Spitfire? How about a new bumper for your Jag? Expanded for 2010, The Classic Motorsports Mitty now offers spectators an opportunity to find those elusive parts for their own project at our Swap Meet.

Vintage motorcycle racing– More than just four-wheel fun, the Classic Motorsports Mitty will also feature vintage motorcycle racing around Road Atlanta’s 12-turn circuit. See and hear classic marques like Vincent, Triumph, Matchless and Norton in a nostalgic battle for bragging rights.

The latest information for the event is available at http://classicmotorsports.net/events/mitty-2010/

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GGLC Lotus Corral @ 2010 Monterey Motorsports Reunion (13-15 August 2010)

The GGLC is once again arranging for a Lotus Corral at the 2010 Monterey Motorsports Reunion (nee: Monterey Historic Races) at Laguna Seca Raceway on August 13-15, 2010. Purchase your Monterey Motorsports Reunion ticket and Lotus corral pass from the GGLC and for a discount. The GGLC must sell at least 25 tickets. Please order early and reserve your spot in the corral. GGLC membership is NOT required, but you must drive your Lotus to the event to park in the GGLC Lotus Corral.

# A few things have changed since last year. The GGLC/Lotus Corral is available all 3 days!
# A corral pass is $10 and is good for all 3 days.
# You must purchase a ticket from the GGLC to be able to purchase a GGLC/Lotus Corral Pass
These new “rules” are based upon the new policies from the Monterey Motorsports Reunion organizers.

Click here to buy your Monterey Historic tickets. Typically the tickets are sent to the GGLC 2-3 weeks prior and we will then immediately distribute them to you. Expect your ticket(s) and corral passes approximate one week prior to the event.

DEADLINE TO BUY TICKETS & CORRAL PASS: MAY 25, 2009! We will not be able get tickets and corral passes after this deadline!

[Buy GGLC Corral Pass + tickets]

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All-Lotus Historics Race

ZIONSVILLE, IN (December 21, 2009) — Legends of Motorsports, has announced an additional event to its premium historic automobile race weekend at Barber Motorsports Park on May 20-23, 2010. The special race will solely include Lotus racing cars, featuring a variety of the marque’s most popular models.

“Few brands of race cars have more racing mystique than Lotus,” observed Legends of Motorsports co-founder and partner Bobby Rahal. “For anyone who loves these great cars, and there are many, it will be very exciting to see a sea of Lotus racers battling it out on the beautiful Barber Motorsports Park circuit.”

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum at the Barber Motorsports Park includes more than 1000 vintage and modern motorcycles and a substantial collection of 43 vintage Lotus cars, the largest collection in North America.

Consequently, the Lotus-exclusive race will be open to a raft of years and models of the famed British sports cars including Lotus 7, Lotus Super 7, Lotus 9, Louts 11, Lotus 15, Lotus 17, Lotus 19, Lotus 23, Lotus 26, Lotus 47 and Lotus 62.

Rahal, a revered international racing champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner, is one of three Legends of Motorsports primary partners through the brand’s Historic Motorsports Productions (HMP) parent company. He is joined in the venture by Just Marketing International (JMI) founder and CEO, Zak Brown and noted business
executive Peter Stoneberg, who serves as CEO for HMP. All three men are active participants in historic racing in their own right.

Legends of Motorsports events typically include a variety of the most popular historic racing classes and cars. These include GTP/Group C; 3.0 Liter era Formula One; F.I.A. Championship of Makes; 2.0 Liter Sports Racers; Trans-Am; Can-Am; IMSA GT/Production Cars; and Formula Libre. In addition, at certain events individual automobile manufacturers and classes will be celebrated through special programming. Beyond vintage racing, HMP event weekends feature a variety of entertainment diversions such as fashion shows, race car parades, car shows and rallies.

“The owners of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, founder George Barber and the museum staff are truly great stewards of racing history,” said Rahal. “They appreciate the legacy of legendary racing marques and certainly Lotus is high on that list. Their stellar facility will be a perfect venue for guests to appreciate the best of this historic racing brand.”

Tickets for the Legends of Motorsports at Barber Motorsports Park are on sale to the public beginning January 15, 2010.

About Historic Motorsports Productions
Historic Motorsports Productions LLC (HMP) is a business partnership dedicated to staging the Legends of Motorsports, a Bobby Rahal Signature Event, which is an annual series of premium vintage racing events and related lifestyle experiences at historic North American venues. Based in Zionsville, Indiana, HMP’s principal owners are racers and businessmen Bobby Rahal, Peter Stoneberg and Zak Brown. Additional equity investors in HMP include Spire Capital Partners and Just Marketing International, which provides comprehensive strategy, marketing, public relations and event logistics services to the venture. For more information, please visit HMP on the worldwide web at www.hmpseries.com or by calling (317) 344-1998. ?

About Barber Motorsports Park and Zoom Motorsports:

Barber Motorsports Park opened in the spring of 2003. Since its inception, Zoom Motorsports, LLC has been the exclusive event promoter for the events at the Park. The 2.38 mile racing circuit is 45 feet wide, with 17 turns and elevation changes of more than 80 feet. The Barber Motorsports Park has been considered one of North America’s finest road courses for car and motorcycle racing, and has served as the venue for several international product launches. The Barber Motorsports Park also features the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. This 144,000 square-foot facility houses more than 1,000 vintage and modern motorcycles from 17 different nations and more than 125 manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.barbermotorsports.com.