Bringing it home... 49's first race at Zandvoort 1967

[Lou Drozdowski]

As a follow up to an earlier post...Hethel rollout 1967...

The Lotus 49 made it's first race debut at the Dutch Grand Prix in June.
Two chassis, R1 & R2 were available for Graham Hill & Jim Clark. The weekend would favor each driver on diffrent days.
Hill who had tested the brand new chassis (R1) earlier in England was untouchable on Saturday, setting fastest time and pole position. Clark, who saw the new car for the first time on Friday, struggled with set up and complained of a vibration. Chapman had the mechanics go over the car and found nothing unusual. Saturday the problem revealed itself as a right rear bearing race had split and the hub assembly failed. Not taking any chances, both cars would be worked on thru the night and new parts fitted.
Race day had pole man Hill dominate the first eleven laps, but on the next tour he was spotted... pushing the car back to the pits.  Inspection would reveal a cam sprocket was the cause of the engine failure.

Clark, who had started eighth was making steady progress on the field. On lap 12 he passed Hulme and Amon, Rindt was next on lap 15 and finally passing Brabham one lap later for the top spot. Clark duly gave the new Lotus and the Coswoth DFV a famous debut victory, beating Brabham's Repco by nearly 25 seconds.

It was the start of a new era in F1 history   

[EuropaTC]

Now there's a coincidence, I've just started reading a book called "Tales from the Toolbox" which is a collection of anecdotes from racing team mechanics of the 50s/60s/70s and I'm just about this era so these photos are very apt.

The "all nighters" seem to be a common thing from that era, and Lotus seemed to do more than any of the other teams. Chapman comes across as either genius or  ######## depending on who's telling the tale so it must have been quite, erm, "interesting" to work on those Lotus cars.

Brian

[Bainford]

Cool pics, Lou. Of course it goes without saying, but my God that car is gorgeous.

I've been reading Peter Warr's book 'Team Lotus', which is quite enlightening, and has some interesting mentions regarding the 49. For the last couple of years I've been hungrily reading up on the glory years of Team Lotus. Wild times.

Loving the historic pics. Cheers.

[Jas]

Great stories and pictures Lou, please keep them coming.

- Brian I have also read that book, they are indeed some interesting / funny / scary stories.
I like the one where they were stuck at a border crossing in no mans land for a day or two, and they just rolled the cars out and started to rebuild them and make them ready for the next race  .

It is cool that Bob Dance is still around, I have seen him a couple of time at Spa 6 Hour where he has been preparing a Lotus 25.

[Lotusjps]

Here's that car today, along with a type 72.

[Bainford]

Very cool, nice pic. I'll soon be collecting pictures of the early 49 for an upcoming model building project. This is exactly the configuration I intend to build. Many years ago I photographed one in detail at Beaulieu. I would love to have that opportunity again, especially with a digital SLR.

[Lou Drozdowski]

JPS...I would like to know where your pic was taken, curious about the chassis#...by the way the other car in your shot, next to the 49 is a type 76. The first F1 car developed to take advantage of ground effects.
The type 72 was known as the most successful F1 car with 18 victories and having the longest competitive lifespan of five years.  ld 

[Lotusjps]

Doh, you're correct it is a 76 (brain fade).  The picture is from Beulieu National Motor Museum in the UK (was there last month).  Also took a bunch of pictures over at Classic Team Lotus.  Very cool place.  And of course had to hit the Heritage museum in Gaydon, and the Coventry Motor Museum.  Also did factory tours at Aston Martin and Jaguar.  It was a very car related holiday.  LOL

[Roger]

The first Ground-Effect F1 Lotus was the Type 78.

[LotusJoe]

I have always loved the classic wobble web wheels 

[cal44]

Number 19........  a Lotus 30? 

[LotusJoe]

Number 19........  a Lotus 30?

Lotus 30


The Classic Wobbly Web Wheel

[Jas]

Here is Bob Dance atending to a Lotus 25 at the 2011 Spa 6 Hour's.
It's pretty cool that he is still around spannering on these cars.
I hav also atached some pictures of other Lotus F1 cars and sports  cars from the event.

[Jas]

Here are a few pictures from the Spa & Hour's 2012 and of cause we need to have an Europa also 

[cal44]

Jas...........great shots..........this stuff gives me goose bumps..............

Joe...........indeed it looks like a 30. 

mike