| Author | Message | ||
| Kevin Butler (Challenge)
Junior Member Username: Challenge Post Number: 127 Registered: 9-2002 |
good thing no one was firing up any doobies! | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 527 Registered: 10-2002 |
Those were the days... | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 344 Registered: 6-2002 |
Red low Converse Allstars - many a blister formed inside those bad boys while playing high school and college B-ball (although - I did where the high tops). We should go off-line and catch up. Jim S. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 526 Registered: 10-2002 |
James I've still got my red Low Cons. If you wear something long enough it comes back in style. (Except my Nehru Jacket) I remember the mud, boy did it rain. Between the unmuffled motors and The WHO I've lost a bit of my high end as well. I recently had a great experience which I reccomend to you. My wife daughter and I all went to hear Bob last summer. Hearing my daughter singing along to "Forever Young" as I held my wife's hand made me feel that maybe, as John said, it's gonna be, allright... Best Jim | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 342 Registered: 6-2002 |
James - I remember seeing you there - in Yasgar's farm - I was wearing the shorts and no t-shirt. The guy with the muddy sneakers. I am sure I saw your car run at either Cumberland (Maryland), Limerock, Watkins Glen, Sebring, Daytona, or some such place during the mid 1960s. I attended all of these races each year from 1966 - 70, and Daytona and Sebring 1963, 64, 65, 66, ,,,, 75. Great racing back during the CAM AM series Group VII. (Ford, Ferrari, Porsche vintage). My roommate�s (college) Dad raced a McGee (McKee?), and we watched him every weekend at the Glen, Cumberland, Lime Rock, Elkart Lake, etc. He moved on to a Lola T70. Paul Newman used his car for his opening scene spin in the moving "Winning". I was one of the track doctors for Watkins Glen during the 1975..79 years for the Formula I. Got to examine Mario Andretti after a shunt - the man was a bit loony. Wrecked his car (can't remember who he was driving for) in a fast (160 mph) turn. I was on the ambulance to go get him. He walked out of the wreck, fought the paramedics, but finally acquiesced to going to the infirmary to be checked out by, you guessed it, me. He complained of a stiff neck, but was hell-bent on getting in the back-up car to requalify. Nice man, however. It is nice to know there are a few of us still around old enough to remember the mud fields and beautiful fall days of racing in the northeast. Although, I lost most of my hearing standing at the wall where the cars exited the infield at Daytona. The 512s, 917s, and GT40s were, perhaps, 3 feet away as they drifted onto the high bank of the back straight. Couldn't hear a thing for a long time (still can't hear my kids when they ask to drive the cars). Sorry for the trip down memory lane. Jim S. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 522 Registered: 10-2002 |
Jeff There were a few continuation coupes made much like the Saffir continuation Gt40s but these were made never looked at in the same way as those that were built originally. Sabarro made a few T70 street cars as well one which had a Ferrari engine. T70ies are still very active in vintage racing. In the last classic LeMans one hit 210 four times on the course even with the 2 chicannes on the mulsanne but I suspect they're running much beefer engines and halfshafts than these cars originally did. Bob Akin raced a T70 for a while with a monster engine in the vintage Thundersports races. David As my cars are real 1967 cars they are emission exempt. They are only required to meet safety standards which they do. There are mufflers built internally into the exhaust system. | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Junior Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 118 Registered: 12-2002 |
James: There is an article in "Car & Driver" of February 1968 (page76) about a man named Reeve Whitson, who apparently had authorization from Eric Broadley to produce Lola GT Mk. III coupes for the street. Aside from the prototype shown in the article, do you know if he ever made any other examples? His version was powered by a 302 cu. in. Z-28 engine. | ||
| David J. Smith (Darkhorse512)
Junior Member Username: Darkhorse512 Post Number: 167 Registered: 10-2002 |
James To make this car street legal how do you go about making sure that emissions and noise levels are OK? Or do you get some kind of limited use historic race car exemption? Sly Stone!?! Next your gonna say you used to like "The Meters" too. ;-) | ||
| Bryan Phillips (Bryanp)
New member Username: Bryanp Post Number: 49 Registered: 8-2002 |
I swear to God, James, I don't see how you leave your shop each night! | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 517 Registered: 10-2002 |
Jeff This car also raced in 6 CanAm races winning one:Mosport on 9/24. It also won at Naussau but that wasn't a Can Am race. Kent was a USRRC race which it won as was Ohio where it DNF'd.(SL71/32 Starkey third edition) Best Jim | ||
| Douglas A Hunt (Boxercrazy)
New member Username: Boxercrazy Post Number: 30 Registered: 11-2002 |
its a good thing i can type cause i am just speechless!!!!!! wonderful story,beautiful car,thank you for sharing!! douglas hunt | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 916 Registered: 6-2001 |
James: I had the good fortune to see that car run when I was a wee child, hehehe. Great that it would be kept, used, and enjoyed. Art | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 473 Registered: 10-2002 |
Rob As I stood in Yasgar's field, along with 500,000 others, holding a candle in the wind, listening to Sly sing "Everyone is a Star" I realized he was right. Never forget it. Burn Bright! Best | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 654 Registered: 2-2002 |
Here's the Lola GT Mk VI that spawned the Ford GT:  | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 3441 Registered: 12-2000 |
Can you be my hero for this week, James? Maybe longer? | ||
| Ron Dallas (328infoseeker)
Junior Member Username: 328infoseeker Post Number: 138 Registered: 12-2000 |
Wow thanks for the storied car! I was a kid when these cars were IT on the raceway. Had many slot car replicas to dream with as a kid. Lola and Chapperell bring back fun kids times memories! those six pack looking carbs. and the old wings really did mean race cars to me. THANK YOU! | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 471 Registered: 10-2002 |
Pete is correct. When Ford found he was unable to buy Ferrari he deceided to build a car that would beat Ferrari Primarily at LeMans. Ford looked around and realized that the Eric Broadley designed Lola GT which was Ford powered would be a good starting point. Ford bought Lola (The Co.) and the Ford GT was born. Broadley and Ford soon became unhappy with each other and Ford moved on and Broadley got Lola back and promptly launched the T-70 which could be configured as an open windshieldless spyder or an enclosed coupe on the same tub. The tub could fit Ford, Chevy, and even Aston Martin engines. My car raced as a spyder. I couped it when it's racing days were over. The GT40 MKI, MKII, and MKIII were derived from the Lola GT but the Ford MKIV was a totally new car the only "40" that was manufactured by Ford and chassis plated as such. Lola's were meant to win races not last 37 years. It was said that at the end of the season if you wanted to remove a wheel on your Lola all you had to do was grab it and pull and it would come off in your hands. The construction, unlike the MKIV which is massive and very well thought out, was a witches brew of materials that began corroding in the factory. Over the years I've had to repair and modify most of them. Andretti crashed a MKIV into the wall at LeMans at 145 and sort of walked away. Lola's weren't that strong and killed several drivers and no one walked away from a 145mph crash into a wall in a P4 which is a tube chassised car. Des you have to use all cars. Letting them sit is IMHO the worst thing you can do. Drive them, note what goes wrong and fix it, either yourself or with the help of people such as Alberto, Sal, Joe and his team, John , Greg, JRV, or the others who have the talent to do it. John. When I drive this I think most think it's a kit car but those who realize what a billet titianum knock off looks like know what it is. It's an amazing car to drive. Everything works even the electric windows. It feels like you could go on forever and with the 45 gallons of fuel it holds you almost can... | ||
| Andrew Menasce (Amenasce)
Member Username: Amenasce Post Number: 544 Registered: 10-2001 |
James that car is absolutely gorgeous ! And to think that it gets driven on the street is absolutely mad ! It must be an unforgetable sight seing this beast smoothly pass by ! Thanks for sharing once again ! | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Junior Member Username: Psk Post Number: 100 Registered: 11-2002 |
Heh, you actually own two Lola (heritage) cars that beat Ferraris, as the GT40 was reputably based on a Lola that ran at Le Mans (did not finish I believe) and is considered the successor to the Ford GT40. Didn't Ford hire Lola to design the car? Heh that spinning car trick does work (car always spins away from the starting point of the spin) and would help people in road accidents too, ie. if a car looses control in front of you ... unfortunately most people get such a fright that panic and brain disfunction set in and an accident is the result. But I do not want to get into driver training debate ... what driver training! Pete | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 410 Registered: 3-2002 |
What kinds of comments/looks do you get when you take this car on the streets? I am sure some people have no idea how great of a car this truely is. I would imagine that some actually think it is a kit car. If they only knew... Thanks for preserving the history! | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 812 Registered: 11-2002 |
Beautiful....!!!!!! | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1778 Registered: 8-2002 |
What do you mean "in this configuration"...? The car didn't always look like this or have these parts...? You said it's comfortable- is this a car you can take on a long drive...? Is it the same as a Ferrari where, if you leave it in the garage, you should expect problems; does it thrive off of being driven...? | ||
| Sean Ruckel (Sruckel)
Junior Member Username: Sruckel Post Number: 160 Registered: 10-2001 |
Jim... awesome! Great to see another piece of a wonderful collection, to hear the history, and especially to see it with license plates. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 470 Registered: 10-2002 |
Ernesto My MK-IV raced against my P4 (or least pieces of it) at LeMans in 1967. There were Lola coupes in that race but they weren't the one I now own. Des I've driven it (in this configuration) for several years. It's a wild, comfortable, ride. The car doesn't overheat and I never get tired of the hydrolic opening gullwing doors. It's now undergoing it's winter service. Best Jim | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Intermediate Member Username: T88power Post Number: 1171 Registered: 2-2001 |
Jim, out of curiousity (and perhaps ignorance), did any of your cars professionally race against each other in the 60s, given that they are from the same time period? That would be very interesting! Ernesto | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1776 Registered: 8-2002 |
SuhWEEEEEEEEEEEEET...! (Does is have cup holders...?) The top picture seems to show that it's all put together- is it ready...? Have you taken it out...? | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 469 Registered: 10-2002 |
Compressed Photos               | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 809 Registered: 11-2002 |
Thanks for taking the time to share all this History with us Mr. G. Can't wait to see more photos. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 468 Registered: 10-2002 |
Jeff You are right. That was my car but as you'll soon see it looks a bit different 37 years later. Lola's weren't exactly built to last. I do still have the pedistal rear view mirror and Mark's original set up sheets... | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Junior Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 106 Registered: 12-2002 |
One tiny clarification: The Kent race in 1966, won by the Donohue/Penske Lola, was not a CanAm race, it was USRRC. I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures, I always loved those those blue Donohue cars. | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1773 Registered: 8-2002 |
That's an intense story... | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 467 Registered: 10-2002 |
(Photo's To Follow) In 1966 Donohue/Pensky bought this Lola and entered it in the Can Am. They won the Kent, WA race and turned the car over to Jim Hall who used it as a baseline for his Chaparall and fitted it with one of the first chin spoliers ever used on a race car. The car was returned to Donohue/Pensky who won more races in it, crashed it during tire testing at Riverside, rebuilt it and won the season closer at the Nassau speed weeks beating the Ferrari's and everyone else. They sold the car to John Meyers who continued to win in it becoming A Sports SCCA Champ in 67-68-69. He also took it to the Mt Eqinox hill climb where he came in 1st overall setting a record that has never been beaten. Those of us who saw him coming through the saddle at 150 with a 3000 foot drop on each side will probably never forget that sight. He sold the car to the strange guy I bought it from. Years earlier I had visited this guy who had a Ferrari 750 Monza which he had blown up the 4 cylander Ferrari and replaced it with a 327 Corvette engine. As my Dad didn't think it would make a good car to drive me and my sister to school in the NY winters,(As Wyane knows this car had no top/no windshield) I had to pass on his offer to sell it to me for $3,000 including the Ferrari engine. Anyway several years later I bought the Lola. I will never forget driving it in it's open Can Am configuration through the Starlight nights on NY's 684. One day in a club race at Lime Rock I was about to Lap a 250 LM when he lost it and began spinning wildly. I remembered what Mark had taught me: "If someone in front of you spins head straight for him as by the time you get there he'll be somewhere else." I watched as the 250LM spun accross the track and crashed into the trees. That's when I deceided to stop racing in anger. Mark had been killed a few weeks earlier at the Austrain GP and I began to feel mortal. I took my Lola home and began turning it into a full street car, AC,Speedo,Extra cooling etc. As a homage to Mark I made it a bit of a Hot Rod as all of his Pensky cars were a bit like that. These are photos of it's winter teardown/service being done by Joe Kern and his his crew at Custom Fab and welding who did it's final restoration. (Photos will follow) Best Jim |