Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I had the privileged of having a lunch with Jackie Stewart at the recent Australian Grand Prix.

I of course had to ask him if he actually said that the Elan was the worst race car he had driven.

He said yes... as it was very tricky to drive fast and very fragile. He said he did not like the Cortina either. But he said they were both light and fast and as Chapman intended them to be !!! When I said I had been racing mine for 35 years he said.... be careful



cheers
Rohan

Great post. Thanks.

It's amazing that back in the day so many people (including me, I'm ashamed to say) used to think Jackie Stewart was a wuss for complaining endlessly about safety when so many drivers were getting killed. But he was oh so right and we were oh so wrong.

Be careful indeed!

Nick

Probably a good thing you didn't ask him about Super 7s. As I think back, I can't believe I raced one with A and B Production, A and B sedans. Can remember sitting on the grid at Santa Barbara for a standing start in about the third row. The only way I could tell if the engine was running was by watching the tach. Talk about ground pounders.......

Hi

He was not obviously up to Jim Clark standards

Rohan
What a picture! One of my heroes! And standing next next to Jackie Stewart to boot!

Great post, thanks Rohan.

I always admired JYS for being a champion clay pigeon shot.

But wee Jimmy was my hero, closely followed by Graham Hill.

Tim

seniorchristo wrote:Rohan
What a picture! One of my heroes! And standing next next to Jackie Stewart to boot!

Great post Rohan.

And a very cool race. We may have a season in the making with Ferrari back in the mix.

Stu

PS After 35 years I would say you are pretty careful.

Great shot Rohan.
Sir Jacky looks like he is enjoying talking to you as well.
I'm sure that's not the case with half the plonkers he has to deal with at functions.
Dave

Hawksfield wrote:Hi

He was not obviously up to Jim Clark standards

Remember what happened to Clark though.

Fragile I get, but why did Jackie find that the Elan "was very tricky to drive fast"? I'm not disputing the master, just interested.

...not Clark's fault though.

To continue the Scots legend theme, Duns is not far from me and here are some pics I took at the Jim Clark day in 2015

Jon

daverubberduck wrote:Fragile I get, but why did Jackie find that the Elan "was very tricky to drive fast"? I'm not disputing the master, just interested.

By the Elan's nature, the wheelbase is short and the track is narrow. The combintation is less forgiving at the limit than cars with a longer wheelbase and wider track. The combination makes alignment, cornerweights and ride height critical. The earliest race versions used the Lotocones and rubber bushes which made the cars a handful at the limit.

Example: The Elite had a significantly longer wheelbase and was much easier to drive quickly.

Does that mean that the +2 is a better handling car?

daverubberduck wrote:Does that mean that the +2 is a better handling car?

Yes.