Ian Walker Racing

[silverlink]

Shortly after buying my Elan Sprint in 1973 I decided I wanted to uprate the power by having the head modified so decided on having it done by Ian Walker Racing who, at the time were one of the leading Lotus Twin Cam tuners. The head was polished and ported and fitted with reprofiled cams and a great job they did. I still have my Sprint engine complete with head at the back of my garage (I built another engine a few years ago) waiting for time and money to rebuild it. I just wondered if there are any more customers of Ian Walker Racing on this forum who had work done by them especially to cylinder heads.
Ian

[casalunge]

?255 for a recon Big Valve Twink on an exchange basis in 1975.

The book is a superb read as well.

[Chancer]

?255, sounds cheap now doesnt it!

Back then it would equate to 4 months of my wages after tax and NI.

Mind you I would not have had an Elan to start with, a 50CC moped was all I could afford to run.

Everything comes to he who waits

[silverlink]

Seeing the photos it brings back more memories, I think somewhere I may have one of the yellow leaflets and I think I have a BRM one somewhere.
With reference the costs when I purchased my first Elan S4 which was a 1969 model I paid ?900 for it in 1971 and this was part exed for my present car which is a 1971 Sprint FHC which I purchased in 1973. Cost ?1550. and they gave me ?900 for my S4. I've attached photo of both cars together in 1973

Cheers
Ian

[gjz30075]

Very cool literature!

Greg Z

[dougweall]

Ian,

Your rebuild gets a little more interesting as time goes on.

Looking forward to seeing the end result and another natter soon.

Doug.

[LCRJ]

Hi Ian,
I'm very interested in a history of some tuning Lotus TC engine at that time(60's).
Your IWR engine has thier engine plate? If so, please let me know the IWR "unit number".
If you find the leaflets include BRM one, I would like to see some pictures.
Thank you.
Hiro

[silverlink]

Hi Hiro,
I didn't have my whole engine rebuilt by IWR it was just the head which I sent to them.
Ian

[LCRJ]

Hi Ian,
Thank you for your reply.
Does anyone know about IWR unit number?
I appreciate your cooperation.
Hiro

[silverlink]

Having an interest in the history of Ian Walker Racing I was pleased to come across this whilst trawling through Google today. Some great pictures of all things Elan & Lotus, just check out the prices.
http://www.sebringsprite.com/pdf-files/ ... rticle.pdf
Cheers
Ian

[pharriso]

Thanks for posting the link, interesting article. I love the "electronic tuning equipment"...

Out of interest I did a Google maps street view of 236 Woodhouse Rd N12:

Unfortunately there's no trace of the old business.

[Craig Elliott]

My +2 S130/5 has had IWR cams fitted to it at some point in the dim and distant past and I've been trying to find out what spec they are. I don't suppose the info you have gives any details on the different types of cam they sold by any chance?

[Famous Frank]

That Ian Walker stuff is so cool! I don't have any memories like that. i better start making memories now.

Frank

[elansprint71]

The Ian Walker book is a good read (although there are some school-boy howlers to look out for, e.g. the Supermarine Spitfire was the first all-steel fighter aircraft (don't think that idea would have got off the ground). Unfortunately some information I sent on the location of Gold Bug number two did not get included, so there is a gap there, it simply says "believed to be in Japan" but I sent photos and details. Author did not even reply to what I sent him, so he's off my Christmas card list.

Perhaps an even better read is "A Chequered Life, Graham Warner and the Chequered Flag" by Richard Heseltine. This tells the early story of how the Elan went racing and how the 26/R was developed, one or two myths busted, by the man who did it.

[casalunge]

Pete

A superb recommendation "A Chequered Life", just bought and read.