History for Can-Am Lola please.

[Tom Walker]

I have recently bought a 1968 Lola T160, chassis no. SL160/9, which was bought from the USA by Rod Leach (of Nostalgia) in the late 70's, and converted into a road car (!).

Sometime in the 80's it was bought by Alex Seldon, who raced it in the Atlantic Computers Historic GT Chamopionship in 1984. It was then sold to a German collector calld Peter Kaus.

The early history of ther car is supposed to include being bought by Carl Haas Racing and driven in Can-Am by Chuck Parsons as the Simoniz sponsored car, in 1968.

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to how I can find out more about its history ?

I have tried Google which came up with something from the WSPR (or is WSRP !?) website, and those "facts" are being disputed.

Thanks in advance, Tom Walker.

[John Turner]

Tom, although I'm hoping that you have acquired the car for 'Historic Racing Today', I think that if you are seeking to fill gaps in its early history, we might get better success in here!

[Ol'_Motorhead]

Originally Posted by Tom Walker

The early history of ther car is supposed to include being bought by Carl Haas Racing and driven in Can-Am by Chuck Parsons as the Simoniz sponsored car, in 1968.

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to how I can find out more about its history ?


Thanks in advance, Tom Walker.

I found a Simoniz booklet from 1968 stuck in the centre of the Monterey Can-Am program I picked up at the race. Sadly, I don't remember much about the race or these particular cars.

Briefly, Parsons' car carried #10. There was a second team car (both run under Haas) #26 driven by Skip Scott. They were both T-160's with seven litre Chevy engines. One of the cars won the Elkhart Lake race in 1968.

There's a historic Can-Am group (based in the USA I think) that could likely tell you more about the cars.

HTH.

Cheers.

[LoLola]

Have you spoken to Dan Davis yet at the Historic Can Am group? They organize most of the Cam Am outings here in the US Dan DAvis also owns the Surtees T160 and is a very nice guy who would be glad to help you. Post some pictures, we would love to see it. We are trying to document the T160's still remaining and so far can only locate 6 of them so any information would be great.

http://www.historiccanam.com/background.html


Nick

[Tom Walker]

Nick thanks for that. I could not see anywhere on the site to communicate/post pictures.......is there a link to a forum or message board ?

[Tom Walker]

I also meant to say, does anyone know the whereabouts of Alex Seldon? I would really like to get in touch with him.
Tom.

[LoLola]

I don't think you can post to the Can Am site. You can post pictures here though. Are you familiar with the procedure?

Nick

[Tom Walker]

This is how the car looks now

[Ol'_Motorhead]

Originally Posted by Tom Walker

This is how the car looks now

Are you sure the car's a Lola and not a "Shadow"?

There doesn't appear to be a photo attached to your last post.

Cheers.

[allenbrown]

Alex Seldon now lives in Scotland and has left historic motor racing behind him. He's more into shooting the wildlife nowadays.

Allen

[Tom Walker]

Ah, sounds like he wouldnt want to be annoyed then !

I reckon I am on the trail for most of the cars history except the crucial first year or two.......if Carl Haas bought it (he seems to have bought most of the Lola factory output!!) is there any way of knowing which chassis no. was raced by whom ??

It could well be that kind of record was never kept ! Ike Smith, who worked on Chuck Parsons car, told me that /2 was CP's car, not 5 or 9. But he said that, having first told me they didnt take much notice of chassis numbers !

Well the mechanics would'nt would they, but the team management might........Do Haas hold an archive......?

[TimD]

(Thoroughbred and) Classic Cars road-tested it in the very early eighties when it was still in Rod Leach's ownership. I'm trying to find the article in question but it might have something on the competition history.

Off the top of my head, late 1981 or early 1982, but I'm blessed if I can find the box with those magazines in it!

[driftwood]

Haas was USA Lola agent hence him taking all the Can Am cars
they do hold some archive records but finding the right guy to talk to there is the problem as someone needs to go searching for the files and there will not be many "oldies" left there

If you cant get t speak to Alex Seldon seek the team or mechanic that ran the car
I would certainly write to Alex for info although people leave motorsport very few people will tell u to p@@@ off
That more likely to happen from those that are in it !!

If u need body work tony waterman TW Mouldings on the A14 has the old lola moulds
Do you intedn to race the car in Orwell events

U seemed chuffed after the gavel went down with the purchase i often think thats the easy part getting the cars restpred to race is the harder part

[Tom Walker]

Dont know what you mean....bit of diesel down the bores, pull 'er round the block twice and bobs yer uncle !

I'm in no rush...obviously the orwell and masters series are the current jobs. T70's will always be the iconic Can-Am Lola, but I think the T160's and later cars will come into their own given time.

As far as post auction euphoria is concerned that was probably a grimace of fear not a smile of elation ! I spent a lot of money, but I am very happy with the price, and the feedback I have had since the sale has been good.

Whether finally realising the dream is a good or bad thing, is another matter all together.........how many of us are really capable of driving a Can-Am car ??? (Cant wait to give it a try though!!)

[driftwood]

get your team some driver to pit radio kit so the can hear you scream and brown underpants to hide the fear!
Masters representents value for money racing if you have a friend who can share the car wth you
If you get the timing right the USA historics have 1 or 2 can am races that would be worth sending the car over to