McLaren M8D aka Gardos wins Brian Redman International Challenge

cavvy · 15 Sep 2005, 22:52 (Ref:1408926)

In mid July at Road America , the Greg Matthews McLaren M8D won the Brian Redman International Challenge. This is the car that was first owned by Don O'Sullivan & first raced at Wanneroo in Western Australia.
The car came to Australia in bits to minimise (avoid?) import duties & was built under the guidance of Jaime Gard
and was raced by the O'Sullivan team as a Gardos (they also built the Gardos F5000).
Also placed 8th at Road America was the Lola T70 MkIIB, I understand that is also an ex O'Sullivan car - can anyone shed any light on the car following its O'Sullivan days.

The O'Sullivan/Gard team also raced a hybrid as a McLaren LT170 after the Lola was discarded - does anyone know anything about this car.

Haydn · 17 Sep 2005, 04:53 (Ref:1409744)

cavvy,

I understand only last year there was a Lola T70 with a Mclaren body resting peacefully in a barn in Australia but the owner was not interested in selling or restoring. I have not seen it but my source of information has and he was confused why anyone would put a Mclaren body on what appeared to be a genuine T70. Do you know of owners since Don O'sullivan and what colour scheme the car had?

Was the T70 tub and parts from a complete car or was the car built from spares?

HaydnM

cavvy · 17 Sep 2005, 10:46 (Ref:1409858)

I dont know thats why I am asking.

The Don O'Sullivan (DOS) Lola was the real McCoy - time frames are fuzzy but he drove it in a 6 hour at Caversham (1968) & in the Surfers 6 hour. He also drove it at Wanneroo.

When he bought a Matich SR3 the Lola was pensioned off & I recall it being rebuilt out the back of Howie Sangsters Perth nightclub (Pinocchios in Hay Street).

When next a car appeared it was the McLaren LT170 & it was competitive with John Harvey in the McLaren M6b - Repco V8 particularly in Howie Sangsters hands. The new body reminded me of photos of the Porsches of the time.

The ex DOS Lola in the Brian Redman race is listed as a 1969 model, which makes me question whether it was the same T70.

Haydn, sounds like you know the whereabouts of the car. Can I add DOS did not do his motor racing on the cheap debuting in a Cooper Climax in the mid 60s.

Haydn · 18 Sep 2005, 10:06 (Ref:1410285)

cavvy,

Sorry I misread your post but I checked my notes re car I am aware of and I can tell you the following information:

The car still had a chassis plate. I dont know number.

The body fitted was a McLaren m6 style open body with a road type windscreen.

The engine had a 4 barrell Holley carby.

The gearbox was a Hewland LG series.

It was reported to be road registered at some stage.

Does this match what you know of LT170? I have never seen photos of O'Sullivan car.

cavvy · 18 Sep 2005, 10:22 (Ref:1410297)

Certainly not a road type windscreen - it was painted in the Shell colours of the era the last time I saw it - I 'll try & find a photo.
Maybe the same car jigged for road rego???

cavvy · 18 Sep 2005, 10:36 (Ref:1410308)

apologies doubled up looking for photo - no luck.

Nivola · 18 Sep 2005, 13:28 (Ref:1410483)

Cavvy I was up at the track today and Jamie Gard was nowhere to be seen but I will find a pic of the lola in the yellow and bob janes mclaren soon!

cavvy · 21 Sep 2005, 13:02 (Ref:1413086)

Keep looking Nivola - any photos of the Gardos sporty?

Anyone steer me in the right direction for a comprehensive listing of Lola T70, as I pursue what happened to the O'Sullivan car probably a 1966 model even 67?

Nivola · 22 Sep 2005, 01:24 (Ref:1413580)

cavvy dont hold me to it but I think there is a book with chasis data around somewhere. Can only remember hearing about it.

Should get the image to you on friday when I have time at home to do it. Working day and nights sux! But will be worth it in the end.

Nivola · 28 Sep 2005, 02:32 (Ref:1418440)

cavvy I got something for you!!!!

http://photobucket.com/albums/y53/Ni...current=14.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/y53/Ni...current=15.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/y53/Ni...current=22.jpg

Camaroz · 28 Sep 2005, 06:37 (Ref:1418518)

Just browsing RCN Feb 1973 and there is an article on the Denis Geary Lola T70 that was converted to a road car in Qld. The article states that this car won the 'Tourist Trophy' in the UK driven by Denny Hulme!

Is this car still around?

cavvy · 29 Sep 2005, 04:16 (Ref:1419577)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nivola

cavvy I got something for you!!!!

http://photobucket.com/albums/y53/Ni...current=14.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/y53/Ni...current=15.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/y53/Ni...current=22.jpg

Thanks Nivola,
How to blow them up for a better view? Is it Howie or DOS at the wheel?

Haydn, not sure if you have seen the car in the barn - if so, are any bells ringing?

Nivola · 29 Sep 2005, 06:42 (Ref:1419610)

its howie I would say

But Don in the grados F5000.

Michael Oliver · 30 Sep 2005, 14:28 (Ref:1420966)

I note that the McLaren M8D aka Gardos is for sale in this month's Victory Lane, for $275K...

cavvy · 5 Oct 2005, 14:20 (Ref:1424456)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavvy

I dont know thats why I am asking.

The Don O'Sullivan (DOS) Lola was the real McCoy - time frames are fuzzy but he drove it in a 6 hour at Caversham (1968) & in the Surfers 6 hour. He also drove it at Wanneroo.

When he bought a Matich SR3 the Lola was pensioned off & I recall it being rebuilt out the back of Howie Sangsters Perth nightclub (Pinocchios in Hay Street).

When next a car appeared it was the McLaren LT170 & it was competitive with John Harvey in the McLaren M6b - Repco V8 particularly in Howie Sangsters hands. The new body reminded me of photos of the Porsches of the time.

The ex DOS Lola in the Brian Redman race is listed as a 1969 model, which makes me question whether it was the same T70.

Haydn, sounds like you know the whereabouts of the car. Can I add DOS did not do his motor racing on the cheap debuting in a Cooper Climax in the mid 60s.

The ex Don O'Sullivan Lola T70 MkII racing in the US is a closed car 1969 model - the car O'Sullivan raced in Australia was open.

Still searching.

Can anyone steer me to an authoritative book/site on the T70s?

Michael Oliver · 5 Oct 2005, 14:38 (Ref:1424465)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavvy

The ex Don O'Sullivan Lola T70 MkII racing in the US is a closed car 1969 model - the car O'Sullivan raced in Australia was open.

Still searching.

Can anyone steer me to an authoritative book/site on the T70s?

There is a book by John Starkey on the T70 which includes a chassis register/history.

Also, although not directly relevant to the O'Sullivan T70, there is a fascinating T70 thread here:

http://www.gt40s.com/ubbthreads/show...0&Number=57967

Cheers

Michael

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