Memories of racing my Elan in Portugal
13 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Post by: bevan63 » Tue May 27, 2008 6:58 pm
Hi,
I am new to this forum, but as an Elan fan I have visited it several times.
The Elan is one of my favorite cars, and as I was 13th when it was launched in ?63, I dreamed about racing one, reading the old CCC every month.
Living in Portugal, I watched a fantastic John Miles racing is red Elan in our circuits, as well as several other very good local drivers.
In 1972 I bought my first Elan, a ?66 S2, which after 23 years I converted to full 26R spec to race in our Historic Championship, which I won in 1996 and 1997.
Now that I learned how to convert old films for YouTube, I produced a selection of my memories and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
As a new member I am not yet allowed to insert an URL, for security reasons that I completely understand.
I will do it as soon as it will be alowed.
Best regards,
Rui Bevilacqua
I am new to this forum, but as an Elan fan I have visited it several times.
The Elan is one of my favorite cars, and as I was 13th when it was launched in ?63, I dreamed about racing one, reading the old CCC every month.
Living in Portugal, I watched a fantastic John Miles racing is red Elan in our circuits, as well as several other very good local drivers.
In 1972 I bought my first Elan, a ?66 S2, which after 23 years I converted to full 26R spec to race in our Historic Championship, which I won in 1996 and 1997.
Now that I learned how to convert old films for YouTube, I produced a selection of my memories and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
As a new member I am not yet allowed to insert an URL, for security reasons that I completely understand.
I will do it as soon as it will be alowed.
Best regards,
Rui Bevilacqua
- bevan63
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Post by: bevan63 » Tue May 27, 2008 7:41 pm
[quote="bevan63" Living in Portugal, I watched a fantastic John Miles racing is red Elan in our circuits, as well as several other very good local drivers.]
A photo I took of John Miles in Montes Claros circuit (close to Lisbon) in 1966, when he finished 3rd overall.
A photo I took of John Miles in Montes Claros circuit (close to Lisbon) in 1966, when he finished 3rd overall.
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 3?geral sp.jpg "Montes Claros 66 John Miles (Lotus Elan 26R) 3?geral sp.jpg (60.23 KiB) Viewed 1523 times")
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Post by: stuartgb100 » Wed May 28, 2008 12:05 pm
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Post by: bevan63 » Wed May 28, 2008 6:27 pm
Hi,
Thank you, it was a fantastic car, and I managed to have an almost perfect set-up, after a whole night inside a box in Estoril circuit, using a friend?s Formula Ford weight balances for each wheel.
My mechanics were about to kill me, but at the end we had almost 50/50 weight distribution, with me inside the car.
From then, I spent half the tyres in next season, and the car was like a kart, neutral but also understeer or oversteer depending on your braking and driving.
I was using Avon slicks with different sizes to alter the ratio if I needed to lower for hillclimbs, and springs came from Tony Thompson with ref. 85 300 ~1.9 (front dry) and 88 180 S (rear dry).
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Rui
Thank you, it was a fantastic car, and I managed to have an almost perfect set-up, after a whole night inside a box in Estoril circuit, using a friend?s Formula Ford weight balances for each wheel.
My mechanics were about to kill me, but at the end we had almost 50/50 weight distribution, with me inside the car.
From then, I spent half the tyres in next season, and the car was like a kart, neutral but also understeer or oversteer depending on your braking and driving.
I was using Avon slicks with different sizes to alter the ratio if I needed to lower for hillclimbs, and springs came from Tony Thompson with ref. 85 300 ~1.9 (front dry) and 88 180 S (rear dry).
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Rui
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Post by: Old English White » Wed May 28, 2008 7:49 pm
... Welcome Rui ,
And thank you again for your videos ... Great !
Just a question: When battling with the Porsche's , did you remove rear view mirrors !?!
Christian.(french fan)
And thank you again for your videos ... Great !
Just a question: When battling with the Porsche's , did you remove rear view mirrors !?!
Christian.(french fan)
-
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Post by: dougweall » Fri May 30, 2008 7:42 pm
Nice to have you with us Rui.
Excellent video, I was willing you on in front of those Porsches at every turn.
What has happened to your Elan ? Have you still got it or where is it now, it looked a real beauty.
Doug.
Excellent video, I was willing you on in front of those Porsches at every turn.
What has happened to your Elan ? Have you still got it or where is it now, it looked a real beauty.
Doug.
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Post by: bevan63 » Fri May 30, 2008 9:55 pm
dougweall wrote:What has happened to your Elan ? Have you still got it or where is it now, it looked a real beauty.
Doug.
Hi Doug,
After that season in ?97, I decided to change my life for less involvement in motor sport, after very intense 30 years, but I never stoped even if now I only do one or two events every year.
My Lotus was sold in ?98 to a former portuguese driver, but unfortunately he only used it once, but he still keep it.
Now I am preparing a 998cc Rally Imp to enter in next Historic Rally of Portugal, a fantastic rally with 1.700 kms using the old WRC roads.
Regards,
Rui
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Post by: type36lotus » Sat May 31, 2008 1:18 am
Welcome Rui,
Fantastic video, Pink Floyd for the sound track, simply wonderful. The Porsches looked HUGE next to your Elan. You certinly drove your Elan well.
Fantastic video, Pink Floyd for the sound track, simply wonderful. The Porsches looked HUGE next to your Elan. You certinly drove your Elan well.
Mike Geiger
66 S3 Coupe', no more
66 S3 Coupe', no more
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Post by: dougweall » Sat May 31, 2008 9:25 pm
[/quote]My Lotus was sold in ?98 to a former portuguese driver, but unfortunately he only used it once, but he still keep it.
Now I am preparing a 998cc Rally Imp to enter in next Historic Rally of Portugal, a fantastic rally with 1.700 kms using the old WRC roads.
[/quote]
Rui,
Seems a shame that you sold to a guy who only used it once, I assume you mean in competition ?
That would be one car I would sell my soul to the devil for.
Good luck with your latest charge.
Regards,
Doug.
Now I am preparing a 998cc Rally Imp to enter in next Historic Rally of Portugal, a fantastic rally with 1.700 kms using the old WRC roads.
[/quote]
Rui,
Seems a shame that you sold to a guy who only used it once, I assume you mean in competition ?
That would be one car I would sell my soul to the devil for.
Good luck with your latest charge.
Regards,
Doug.
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- Joined: 12 Sep 2003
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