Lola Mk 1

[BritishV8]

This seems like a pretty cool car to kick-off a thread about the Lola Mk.1 model:
Tom Grudovich's 1960 Lola Sports Mk.1 Race Car

The article includes historical notes, specifications, and 64 photos!



Here's a snapshot of the chassis plate:

[Rupertlt1]

Chassis BR9: Edward Greenall >> Peter Boshier-Jones for 1961 Hill Climbs - at this time the car had dark bodywork with light-coloured full-width diamond-shaped motif across the nose. RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Race #1D, registered AJD 432, driven by John Ewer. Thought to be BR20. RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

"Chuck Rizzo (right) of Kenosha, Wisconsin, is deep into a restoration of a basket case 1960 Lola Mk1 (BR-16). It's one of just 34 made, and it is one of the first of Lola's incredibly successful cars. Chuck's friend Rick Knoedler is working with Chuck on the restoration.
The Lola was campaigned in the Canadian Grand Prix by Francis Bradley, who holds a seat in the Canadian Race Hall of Fame. In 1962, the car was piloted by Ross de St. Croix in the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport. The car was involved in a serious crash in which de St. Croix nearly lost his life.
This article originally appeared in the October, 2010 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car."

The car was painted dark green when Francis Bradley drove it, known as "Miss Whiz" after a car-care product range, from entrant R.J. Hollingshead Company of Canada Ltd, 1 Mobile Drive, Toronto, Ontario. Also driven by Boris Janda/Eric Schwendau.

See: http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk/history/register/mk1.htm

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Originally Posted by Rupertlt1

"Chuck Rizzo (right) of Kenosha, Wisconsin, is deep into a restoration of a basket case 1960 Lola Mk1 (BR-16). It's one of just 34 made, and it is one of the first of Lola's incredibly successful cars. Chuck's friend Rick Knoedler is working with Chuck on the restoration.
The Lola was campaigned in the Canadian Grand Prix by Francis Bradley, who holds a seat in the Canadian Race Hall of Fame. In 1962, the car was piloted by Ross de St. Croix in the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport. The car was involved in a serious crash in which de St. Croix nearly lost his life.
This article originally appeared in the October, 2010 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car."

The car was painted dark green when Francis Bradley drove it, known as "Miss Whiz" after a car-care product range, from entrant R.J. Hollingshead Company of Canada Ltd, 1 Mobile Drive, Toronto, Ontario. Also driven by Boris Janda/Eric Schwendau.

See: http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk/history/register/mk1.htm

RGDS RLT

Car offered for sale in Canada Track & Traffic, February 1966:
LOLA CLIMAX FOR SALE Ex-Bradley, St.
Croix. Immaculate, full house Climax 1100
cc engine, spare block assembly, spare
wheel, tires, differentials, etc. New paint.
Sure Class 7 modified winner. Trailer. Paul
Muir, 850 Davenport Road, Toronto 4, Ont.
416-532-4744.
END

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Lola Mk 1, registration number 2084 JH. Thought to be BR7. Driven by Bill de Selincourt in 1959. D. D. Searls in 1960.

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[Rupertlt1]

Campaigned in California. See:

http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/RonHathaway.html

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[Rupertlt1]

Originally raced by Art O'Connor, colour red:

https://revslib.stanford.edu/catalog/zp636dj1131

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[bauble]

I remember seeing Eric Broadley race the Lola Mk1 for the first time at a Bank Holiday Meeting at Crystal Palace in 1958(?). The car did not perform well as the throttle cable had stretched, but it flew round the corners, however, later that same weekend it won at Brands Hatch once the problem had been fixed. Lolas then went on to dominate the 1100cc class in National races for some time.

I have a number of photographs of various models taken in current Historic races in the UK. One of my all time favourite race cars.

[Rupertlt1]

See:

http://www.wsrp.cz/chassis/chassis_lola_mk.html

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

"Chassis number [BR 27].
Purchased from British racing car
dealer Ian Raby of Brighton by Tom
Johnston in 1965. Johnston raced it in
Prairie Region CASC races 1965 to
1968, later selling it to Bob Evans of
Edmonton who traded it for a Formula
A car built (from the crashed remains of
ex-Bob McLean Lotus 30) by Jake
Rempel of Abbotsford BC. Rempel sold
the car to Al Cruickshank of Vancouver
who in turn sold it to the US.
Current owner is Syd Herman of
Marblehead MA.
Chassis number BR27B was
recently for sale. David Pratley author
of the book on Mk 1s tells the story of
how there came to be a 27 and a 27B."

Source: Tom Johnston, 2012

[Rupertlt1]

Competition Press, 24 September 1960:

Road America 500 Miles 1960:

"Millard Ripley created history
(and undoubtedly a soon-to-be-an-
nounced new SCCA regulation) by
driving both the first and second-
place GM cars. The Wyllie, Wyl-
lie/Ripley Lola, just obtained from
England by the Doc, completed 114
laps. The Ripley/Ross/Martin Lola
belonging to Ripley was next over-
all and in class, three laps behind."

[Rupertlt1]

Competition Press, 25 February 1961:

LOLA-CLIMAX, 1098 cc, Stage III, engine
completely o/hauled, special cam, works
maintained, new clutch and close ratio box,
new tires including spare. Complete 4.5
and 4.9 rear end assemblies. Very good
condition. $3625. Alan Rees, Wicks Field,
Yateley, Camberley, Surrey, England.

First owner Mike Taylor, registration MT 200:

https://revslib.stanford.edu/catalog/jc917dt9179

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

John Nicholson raced a Lola Mk 1 in 1961-1962. Can we identify the chassis number? Anything else known? (light coloured car with two dark centre stripes)

https://revslib.stanford.edu/catalog/vw241kx0783

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Originally Posted by Rupertlt1

John Nicholson raced a Lola Mk 1 in 1961-1962. Can we identify the chassis number? Anything else known? (light coloured car with two dark centre stripes)

https://revslib.stanford.edu/catalog/vw241kx0783

RGDS RLT

Thought to be: BR27A, see Post #11.

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[Rupertlt1]

George Pitt entered a Lola Mk 1 for the International sports car race at Silverstone, 14 May 1960. He was a non-starter. Anything further known? RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Competition Press, 27 April 1963:

1961 LOLA-CLIMAX 1100-cc Stage II. Webers,
MGA C/R gearbox, excellent condition. Harry
Braswell c/o The Chequered Flag Inc.,
2938 Summer Ave, Memphis, Tenn. FA
4-0466.

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Competition Press, 15 June 1963:

1962 LOLA G-MODIFIED. Only 1150-cc available,
car raced twice since purchased. Excellent
condition throughout, R6 Dunlops, $4500
firm. Three optional rear axles. Bob Hind-
son, 2946 Gilham Rd., Kansas City 0, Mo.
VA 1-8469.

The car raced at the SCCA Lake Garnett Grand Prix, 7 July 1963, so looks like two other events prior to that.

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Originally Posted by Rupertlt1

Chassis BR9: Edward Greenall >> Peter Boshier-Jones for 1961 Hill Climbs - at this time the car had dark bodywork with light-coloured full-width diamond-shaped motif across the nose. RGDS RLT

Great Auclum National Speed Hill Climb, Saturday 11 August 1962:

Class 2, Sports Cars up to 1100 c.c.

#18 J. Richardson/Mrs B. Richardson, Lola 1100

(Peter Boshier-Jones is entered in #23 Lotus 23, so has presumably disposed of the Lola.)

Is the Richardson car BR9?

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

#18 Lola Mark 1, registration VSF 230, Snetterton, August 21, 1960:

https://revslib.stanford.edu/catalog/gn435dv7765

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

#85 Lola Mark 1, registration VBL 858, thought to be BR11, driver John Bekaert:

https://revslib.stanford.edu/catalog/bf881dd3111

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[Rupertlt1]

Dave Riswick confirms that these two pictures are of John Woolfe. Thought to be BR8:

https://revslib.stan...tem/sv312qf3581

https://revslib.stan...tem/kr545rv2007

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Rufforth, BRSCC, 30th May 1959:

Up to 1,500 c.c. sports racing cars, winner Bernard Cox, Lola Mk 1. Chassis BY4.

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Lola Mk 1, registration MT 200, driver Mike Taylor
#26 Daily Express BRDC International Trophy, Silverstone, 2 May 1959

[Rupertlt1]

Oulton Park, 17 March 1962
Motor Sport, April 1962, centre spread photo caption:

Circulating in very close
company during the sec-
ond five-lap handicap
race was Entwhistle's
T.V.R. and Peter Dick-
inson's Lola-Climax.
Later in the day the
Lola suffered mechani-
cal trouble and Dickin-
son used his wife's similar
car for the last race.

Peter & Brenda Dickinson, known associates Joe Payne, John Hislop.
The above points to a second Lola, but I believe the similar car was a Lotus 11.
See: http://www.racingsportscars.com/driv...kinson-GB.html

RGDS RLT