WORKS and NEAR WORKS CARS IN THE USA

This section is under construction. Please let me know if you spot any errors, or have any further information and /or  photos to add more content to this area.

Considerable help in compiling this section has been given by two guys in the US; Don Gwynne from Texas and Ross Bremer from Florida. Both were racing Fords towards the end of the Mk 1 period.

Don ended up with the ex-works Charlie Barns Lotus Cortina in the late 1960s, but sold it in the 70s, something I think he regrets, although he  does race a Mk 1 Escort RS1600 today which softens the blow!.

Ross drove Major Billy C. Turner’s Lotus Cortina in the 1967 Trans-Am 4 hour at Daytona and the Daytona 24 Hour in 1967, and found, bought and restored the same car in 1992. He still shows that car, and also races an ex-Alan Mann red and gold Mk 1.

In general, the cars racing in the USA couldn’t be recognised by the registration number on the bonnet, so I’ve organised this section a little differently to the section on UK race cars. Each major race in which Lotus Cortinas were participating has been identified, and then each car entered identified by driver / team and race number, where known. This will allow photos or any other information to be slotted into the right area, building up a picture of each car / race circuit / driver.

INTRODUCTION

Lotus Cortinas raced practically from the beginning in the USA, with Team Lotus bringing their ‘RUR’ cars over in the winter of 1963 for a full season of racing in the USRRC championships in 1964, along with a couple of non-championship races thrown in to ‘warm up’.

The drivers were mainly the Brits, and the cars were all right hand drive. Whilst the cars acquitted themselves well in the under 2 litre class, they made little impact in the overall race, unlike in the UK in the same year.

1965 was a very quiet year for the Lotus Cortina in the USA, although two non-championship high profile events were attended by Team Lotus, with good results.

The bravery award must go to Buck Baker and Bob Tullius, who kicked off the 1965 season by running in the Daytona 2000kms race in the ‘Prototype GT’ class.

In 1966, racing Lotus Cortinas really started in the USA with local drivers and 7 specially commissioned and supported Works cars. A new championship was started in 1966,  the Trans-Am series, incorporating some of the previous non-championship events. Lotus Cortinas were present at all events except the first (as the cars hadn’t arrived!), and made a significant impact in the under 2 litre class.

1967 continued the Trans-Am presence, although as the Porsche 911 and Alfa GTs had been homologated as saloon cars, as in Europe, the Lotus Cortina started to lose ground to these more powerful cars.

Here’s a great film from the archives of Ken Anderson, who runs the website ‘The Garagista’ http://thegaragista.com/ , a great site recording ‘stories and images of interesting cars and bikes along with random thoughts and coverage from various automotive events and races from around the world’. Ken is a confirmed Lotus nut, so the emphasis of his site is on one of the original Garagistas, Lotus.

The film covers the 1964 Sebring race, focusing on the Lotus Cortinas of course.

1964

NON-CHAMPIONSHIP RACES

20th March 1964 Sebring 3 hours / 250kms

Jim Clark 3rd overall / 1st in class (No.15) Registration 168 RUR

Dan Gurney (No. 16) Registration 166 RUR

21st March 1964 Sebring 12 hours Endurance

Jim Clark / Ray Parsons 21st overall / 2nd in class (No.59) Registration 168 RUR

Dan Gurney / ??  (No. 16) Registration 166 RUR

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 1 Sebring 6403 Jim Clark 1

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 2 Sebring 6403 Jim Clark 2

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 3 Sebring 6403 Jim Clark 3

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 4 Sebring 6403 Jim Clark 4

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 5 Sebring 6403 Dan Gurney 1

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 6 Sebring 6403 Dan Gurney 2

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 7 Sebring 6403 Dan Gurney 3

16th August 1964 Marlboro 12 hour (4th event)

Jackie Stewart / Mike Beckwith 1st (No. 17)

Sir John Whitmore / Tony Hegbourne 2nd (No 15)

Dave Clark / David Hobbs 9th (No. 16)

US ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP – GT CLASS (Group 1)

1st Round  1st March 1964 Augusta

No Lotus Cortinas entered.

2nd Round 5th April 1964 Pensacola

Sir John Whitmore 4th  1st GT2 (AMR)

Mike Spence DNF (AMR)

3rd Round 26th April 1964 Riverside

Peter Arundell 11th 6th GT2 (No.2) (AMR)

Sir John Whitmore, 12th  7th GT2  (No.1) (AMR)

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 8 Riverside 6404 Peter Arundell 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 9 Riverside 6404 Peter Arundell John Whitmore (2) 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 10 Riverside 6404 Peter Arundell John Whitmore 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 11 Riverside 6404 Peter Arundell John Whitmore 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 12 Riverside 6404 John Whitmore 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 13 Riverside 6404 Peter Arundell

4th Round 3rd May 1964 Laguna Seca

Sir John Whitmore 12th 5th GT2 (AMR)

Mike Spence 16th 7th GT2 (AMR)

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 14 Laguna Seca 6405 John Whitmore 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 15 Laguna Seca 6405 Peter Arundell 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 16 Laguna Seca 6405 John Whitmore

5th Round – 10th May 1964 Kent, Washington

Pete Lovely 7th 3rd GT2 (Team Lotus)

Ray Parsons 8th  4th GT2 (No.2) (Team Lotus)

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 17 Kent 6405 Ray Parsons

6th Round 28th June 1964 Watkins Glen

Sir John Whitmore DNF (No.11) (AMR)

Mike Spence 7th 2nd GT2 (No.12) (AMR)

7th Round 19th July 1964 Greenwood

Sir John Whitmore 10th 1st GT2 (No 15) (AMR)

Henry Taylor 12th 2nd GT2 (No.16) (AMR)

8th Round 9th August 1964 Meadowdale

Dave Clark 7th 2nd GT2 (No.15) (Team Lotus)

Trevor Taylor 8th 3rd GT2 (No 16) Team Lotus)

9th Round 30th August 1964 Mid Ohio

Pete Lovely 9th 4th GT2 (No.15) (Team Lotus)

Jim Spenser 10th 5th GT2 (Team Lotus)

10th Round  13th September 1964 Road America 500, Elkhart Lake)

Dave Clark 11th, 2nd GT2 (No.37) (Team Lotus)

David Hobbs / Craft 14th 3rd GT2 (No.36) (Team Lotus)

1965

NASCA star Buck Baker and future Triumph and Jaguar man Bob Tullius entered the Daytona 2000 kilometer race for Sports Cars (!), starting off the race season in 1965 for the Lotus Cortina.

Team Lotus entered the Sebring 3hr race in March, coming 1st and 2nd in class.

The USRRC started in April at Pensacola.

The Alan Mann Racing team were tied up with the European Touring Car Championship in their Lotus Cortinas for 1965, and made no appearance in the USA that year.

 

28th February 1965 Daytona 2000 kilometer

Bob Tullius / Buck Baker (No 87) (Prototype GT Class) DNF accident.

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 18 Daytona 6502 Bob Tullius Buck Baker 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 19 Daytona 6502 Bob Tullius Buck Baker 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 20 Daytona 6502 Bob Tullius Buck Baker

23rd March 1965 Sebring 3hr

Jim Clark (No 25) (1st) (Team Lotus)

Jack Sears (No 26) (2nd) (Team Lotus)

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 21 Sebring 6503 Jim Clark Jack Sears 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 22 Sebring 6503 Jim Clark Jack Sears 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 23 Sebring 6503 Jim Clark Jack Sears 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 24 Sebring 6503 Jim Clark Jack Sears 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 25 Sebring 6503 Jim Clark Jack Sears 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 26 Sebring 6503 Jim Clark Jack Sears 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 27 Sebring 6503 Jim Clark Jack Sears 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 28 Sebring 6503 Jim Clark Jack Sears 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 29 Sebring 6503 Jim Clark Jack Sears 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 30 Sebring 6503 Jim Clark Jack Sears

15th August 1965 Marlboro 12 hour (5th event)

Paul Hawkins / Roy Pierpoint (2nd)

Trevor Taylor / Jackie Ickx (9th, 4th in class)

Jake McLaughlin / Pete Seistman (16th, 5th in class)

Allan Moffat / Bob Tullius (dnf) (No 24)

Jackie Stewart / Mike Beckwith (dnf) (No 21)

US ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP – GT CLASS (Group 1)

1st Round April 11th 1965 Pensacola, Fl

No Lotus Cortinas entered.

2nd Round May 2nd 1965 Riverside, Ca

Jackie Stewart 15th 10th GT2

Tony Hegbourne 12th 7th GT2

3rd Round May 9th 1965 Laguna Seca

Jackie Stewart  13th 7th GT2 (No 33)

Tony Hegbourne 14th 8th GT2 (No 22)

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 31 Laguna Seca 6505 Jackie Stewart 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 32 Laguna Seca 6505 Jackie Stewart 50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 33 Laguna Seca 6505 Tony Hegbourne

4th Round May 23rd 1965 Bridgehampton, NY

No Lotus Cortinas entered

5th Round June 27th 1965 Watkins Glen

No Lotus Cortinas entered.

 

6th Round August 1st 1965 Pacific, Kent Washington

No Lotus Cortinas entered.

7th Round August 15th 1965 Continental Divide, Co

No Lotus Cortinas entered.

8th Round August 29th 1965 Mid Ohio, Lexington

No Lotus Cortinas entered.

 

9th Round  September 5th 1965 Road America, Elkhart Lake

No Lotus Cortinas entered.

1966

A more focused campaign was mounted for 1966 to run for championship points in the Trans-Am series under 2 litre class.

7 Lotus Cortinas and a spares package was ordered from Lotus, which wasn’t without it’s challenges!

50.1.37 USA 660429 Ford Letter US Race Cars 1

50.1.37 USA 660429 Ford Letter US Race Cars 2

50.1.37 USA 660429 Ford Letter US Race Cars 3

TRANS-AM 1966 Series

Under 2 litre Class

Professional and Amateur Classes

1st Round  March 25th 1966 Sebring 4 hour (Fl)

Sir John Whitmore DNF after 9 laps (AMR)

Peter Procter DNF after 8 laps (AMR)

2nd Round  June 12th 1966 Mid America 300 (Missouri)

Jackie Ickx / Hubert Hahne 3rd overall, 2nd in U-2 (No 1) (AMR)

Allan Moffat / Gerber, 11th overall, 7th in U-2

Dave Dooley / Crockney Peterson, 16th overall, 11th in U-2

Sir John Whitmore  DNF after 19 laps (No 2) (AMR)

3rd Round  July 10th 1966 Bryar 250 (Loudon, New   Hampshire)

Allan Moffat (1st overall)

Frank Gardner 5th overall, 3rd in U-2 (AMR)

Sir John Whitmore DNF after 94 laps (AMR)

4th Round  July 31st 1966  VIR 400 (Danville, Virginia)

Frank Gardner / Dickie Atwood or Skip Scott DNF after 96 laps(AMR) (No.12)

Dickie Attwood / Skip Scott DNF after 21 laps (AMR) (confusion on names)

Allan Moffat / Craig Fisher or Paul Hawkins DNF after 23 laps (No.2)

Richard O’Neill / Bob Johnson DNF after 8 laps (No.28)

5th Round  August 14th 1966 Marlboro 12 Hour (Washington, Maryland)

Sir John Whitmore / Frank Gardner (6th overall, 2nd in U-2) (No 23) (AMR)

Allan Moffat / Ray Parsons 13th overall, 8th in U-2 (No.25)

Hubert Hahne / Jackie Ickx (dnf) (No.24)

6th Round  September 10th 1966 Green Valley 6 hour (Dallas, Texas)

Lars Giertz / Lynn Kyser  5th 2nd in U-2

Ray Parsons / John Leighton 7th 3rd in U-2

Allan Moffat / Harry Firth 9th  5th in U-2

Dave Dooley / Elouise Norris 18th  11th in U-2

John Whitmore / Charles Barnes (DNF)

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 34 Green Valley 6609 Alan Mann John Whitmore Charlie Barnes

7th Round  September 18th 1966 Riverside 4 hour (Ca)

Frank Gardner 5th 1st U-2  (AMR)

Allan Moffat / Harry Firth 7th 3rd U-2.

Ray Parsons 13th 5th U-2 (No.24) (AMR)

John Bolander / Robert Winkelmann finished 20th overall, 10th in U-2 (No.95)

David Dooley – DNF

Sir John Whitmore (DNF)  (No.23) (AMR)

1967

TRANS AM  67 Series

1st Round, February 3, 1967, Daytona 300 Mile Race

Ross Bremer, 16th overall, 11th in U-2.

J.H.Jackson/Bob McQueen, 19th overall, 14th in U-2.

Tony Adamowicz – DNF.

Allan Moffat, (No.80), DNF.

2nd Round, March 31, 1967, Sebring 4 Hour Race

Tony Adamowicz  DNF (No.44) (Group 44 Team)

Allan Moffat – DNF.

Tom Payne – DNF.

Addison – DNF.

Curtis Turner / Smith – DNF

3rd Round, April 16th 67 Green Valley 300 (Smithfield, Texas)

Tony Adamowicz. 14th overall, 7th in U-2. (No.4)

Charlie Barns / Lynn Kysar 16th overall, 8th in U-2.

Allan Moffat 18th overall, 9th in U-2. (No.40)

Joe Starkey (DNF) (No.42)

David Dooley (DNF)

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 35 Green Valley 6609 Allan Moffat Joe Starkey Tony Adamowicz

50.1.37 USA Lotus Cortina 36 Green Valley 6704 Charlie Barns Lynn Kysar

4th Round, May 30, 1967, Lime Rock

Allan Moffat – DNF. (No.41)

5th Round, June 11, 1967, Mid-Ohio, Lexington, OH

Tony Adamowicz. 15th overall, 6th in U-2.

Gene Henderson, 16th overall, 7th in U-2.

Unknown driver, entered by Tom. Payne – DNF.

Dick Sorenson – DNF.

6th Round, August 6, 1967, Bryar Motorsport Park, Louden, NH

Gene Henderson, 13th overall, 8th in U-2.

Lyle Davis / Peter Sachs, 17th overall, 10th in U-2.

Allan Moffat – DNF.

7th Round, August 12, 1967, Marlboro Double 300 Races, Upper Marlboro, MD (U-2 only)

Sam  Caronia / Walter Novak, 13th overall, 13th in U-2.

Bob Tullius / Tony Adamowicz (Group 44) – DNF

Allan Moffat / Jim Adams – DNF.

8th Round, August 27, 1967, Continental Divide Raceways, Castle Rock, CO

David Dooley / John McComb, 14th overall, 8th in U-2.

9th Round, September 10, 1967, Gallo Trophy, Crow’s Landing, Modesto, CA

Robert Winkelmann, DNF.

10th Round, September 17, 1967, Mission Bell Trophy 250, Riverside International Raceway

Al Perez, 19th overall, 10th in U-2.

11th Round, October 1, 1967, Las Vegas 350 Race, Stardust International Raceway

Al Perez / Mica, 11th overall, 6th in U-2.

Charlie Gates, DNF.

Tony Settember, DNF.

12th Round, October 8, 1967, Kent 300 Race, Pacific Raceways, Kent, Washington

Robert Winkelmann, 14th overall, 5th in U-2.

John Bollander, DNF.