The Roaring Season

Well, after more than 7 years without one, I will soon have another Lotus/Caterham Seven I am in the process of importing this http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3840062.htm Alfa Romeo-powered Lotus 7 from the UK. I'm waiting for the history file to be sent over but, from scanned documents I've been sent, it seems the car was owned and raced in New Zealand by Wyndham Gray of Amberley between 1974 and 2002 when it was sold back to the UK. Does anyone on here know anything about the car?
Thanks!

He ran 2nd to the Paton at Ohakia in sports cars up to 1500 in 1982-3 that was the big reunion also raced against him at Wigram 95?/

I think I did some engine mods to this car back in the day, or did Windy just ask me for quote and not get round to it? I do remember the car though.

painted grey with red gards I think .only had small mirror on the Paton

Well, it's still red with (unpolished) ally panelling. Barry Leitch is going to look at it and sort out compliance etc when it arrives - and he remembers racing against it I've written to Wyndham - I think he's still at the address on the car's old NZ motorsport registration cards!

Yes was allie not grey ,nearly 20 yrs ago I last looked at it didnt know it was a Alfa ,,What size??

Wow, fantastic story!

Ohakea 1982 was the 1st big reunion puke followed in 83? {Ardmore} here are some times of cars racing against Wynhan Gray Lotus 7 Gray 1.36.34 G Brayshaw buckler climax 1.36.26 Hallett Buckler MG 1.39.55 D Childs Buckler elva 1.37.39 Wilson { Morgan}1.48.43 in other races the times were different examp. Sports and racing W Rogers Brabham 1.32.17 Disher Studybaker 1.46 {later killed in this car on the road}C Waite Cooper imp1.45 Fred Courtney Jackson Jag.1.46 GRAY Lot 7 1.35.81 Brayshaw 1.35.07Sutcliffe Buckler 1.43.02 D Hulme cooper 1.29 I Archibald xk120 1.36.83 G Pierce A Healey1.45.81 Becket 365B 1.38.98Then a couple of car NOT pre 65 who stole the headlines!! B Bellis Turbo 911 1.20.86 Parkinson V12 E 1.25 also Dennis Ganley Lotus 71.35.53 B Cook XK120 1.40 Bob Gibbons {D type} in a AustinCooper1.42.97over thirty years ago now

jim short wrote:Yes was allie not grey ,nearly 20 yrs ago I last looked at it didnt know it was a Alfa ,,What size??

I'm not certain yet until I get the history file but I believe it's a 1968cc Berlina engine.

and to think he ran in under 1500..may be a 1300??

jim short wrote:Ohakea 1982 was the 1st big reunion puke followed in 83? {Ardmore} here are some times of cars racing against Wynhan Gray Lotus 7 Gray 1.36.34 G Brayshaw buckler climax 1.36.26 Hallett Buckler MG 1.39.55 D Childs Buckler elva 1.37.39 Wilson { Morgan}1.48.43 in other races the times were different examp. Sports and racing W Rogers Brabham 1.32.17 Disher Studybaker 1.46 {later killed in this car on the road}C Waite Cooper imp1.45 Fred Courtney Jackson Jag.1.46 GRAY Lot 7 1.35.81 Brayshaw 1.35.07Sutcliffe Buckler 1.43.02 D Hulme cooper 1.29 I Archibald xk120 1.36.83 G Pierce A Healey1.45.81 Becket 365B 1.38.98Then a couple of car NOT pre 65 who stole the headlines!! B Bellis Turbo 911 1.20.86 Parkinson V12 E 1.25 also Dennis Ganley Lotus 71.35.53 B Cook XK120 1.40 Bob Gibbons {D type} in a AustinCooper1.42.97over thirty years ago now

Thanks for that, it looks as though Wyndham was quite a handy driver!

jim short wrote:and to think he ran in under 1500..may be a 1300??

That's quite possible - the only information I have so far is from the book "Skidding the Tyres in Classic Style" which apparently says the engine was a 1968cc engine from a 1968 Berlina. The Berlina for that year appears to have a 1779cc engine and the piece in the book also quotes a different registration mark to the one visible in the photos in the advertisement. I will obviously have to wait and see what the history file says

My Paton only had 80bhp max .was lighter and better shape for that Ohakea long straight plus I remember telling myself to slow down on the gravel parts.I have a 1750 berlina it has over 100 lplus hp ?? the Hallett Buckler ran a MG A mtr I think not sure what size A little storey about Wyndam I never met him and we ran at Ohakea in 1982 ,the next time was at the final Wigram 1995,in the super line waiting for our meal and what a meal those Country Gents put on with the dixee{thank jammie} jass band he intraduced himself to me and I replyed didnt you come 2nd to me at Ohakea ,well he was so pleased any one would remember that he shouted a btl bubly!!He didnt know I had waited for over 25 yrs to race and that was my first serious start ,The same day John? Milligan in Dave Craws Singer gazelle on slicks ran into my mk2 and its not true I actually had dust in my eyes

jim short wrote:and to think he ran in under 1500..may be a 1300??

Am sure that it was a three bearing 1340cc. Don't recall it ever with an Alfa in NZ.

Before the car under discussion, didn't he race a 7 replica? Maybe that was the 1340 one

I belived that the Grey car was a great little car that was not a replica.
In the Wings & Wheels Classic 1985 #101 W. Grey, Amberley, 1968 Lotus 7 red/silver
and at Queenstown 1989, # 121 B. Leitch, Invercargill, 1986 Series lll replica blue/silver Alfa Romeo 1779cc

Kwaussie wrote:Am sure that it was a three bearing 1340cc. Don't recall it ever with an Alfa in NZ.

I think the "Skidding the Tyres" book entry says car started out with a Ford engine but, until I get the history file, I don't know which engine or when the Alfa unit was installed.

Great that you are getting the history file for your Lotus7 Alfa.
I am sure that you will have a lot of fun with a well known car.

Kwaussie wrote:Great that you are getting the history file for your Lotus7 Alfa.
I am sure that you will have a lot of fun with a well known car.

Yes, I certainly hope so!
I've got the history file now, which raises as many questions as it answers The chassis number shows the car is an early Caterham, which is straightforward enough. It was registered in New Zealand as a 1974 Lotus Super 7 in 1975 (with 300 miles on the clock), with a note that it was previously registered in the UK. It had a 1498cc engine in 1977 and 1983 but a 1968cc engine (presumably the Alfa one) in 1994. There's no clue in the history as to exactly when, or why, the engine was changed, or which engine it was. There are various racing programmes (including Pukekohe March 1983 - when it is shown as 1498cc - and Wigram February 1994 - when it is shown as 1962cc) included in the file, all of which show it as a 1968 Lotus (Super) 7. So it looks as though I have a bit of research to do On the plus side, I have addresses for the previous owners - as long as they haven't moved! It also looks as though the most recent UK owner has spent a lot of money on it, including replacing the Alfa engine with another one and putting a "proper" bulge in the bonnet. Plenty of work to do while the car makes its way to me

So getting back to my Post 15, what did he race in the late '60s?