[me73]

The last episode of the newest series of Top Gear (S27E5) has a really cool documentary on the Lotus 79 ground effect car. Another fantastic documentary by Chris Harris. The actual review is on the show, but this is a complimentary piece:

Every little bit of information on the history of this company makes me love it even more. Lotus, as much or more than any other company, builds that heritage into every subsequent car and never forgets it's history. I hope that never changes because it makes these cars so special.

BTW, the new host trio are pretty darn good. This is the best chemistry between hosts of the revamped show. Great series.

 

[glb]

Agree about hosts. And they are fun.

Agree about Lotus. If the Elise had not existed, I'd probably still be driving my '72 Elan Sprint which I restored in 1985.

I think, tho, that in this case, we want the word "complementary", but doesn't really matter.

Thx for posting this.

 

[withe103]

Great episode.

 

[Dr.Hess]

I've got this poster that I've been carrying around since about 1980 when I got it at an auto parts store. They had a bunch and I saw one and they said "Here, have a few." Been carrying it around since, moving, lesee, swamp land to Ca to Tx, to Tx, to Tx, to Ar, 5 moves I guess. Finally got the driver to autograph it for me a couple years ago when he was in town for a Firestone grand opening.

He said "Oh, wow, look at that."

 

[Julian73]

A friend in Dallas owns 79-1 and races it in Historic F1 racing.

 

[me73]

A friend in Dallas owns 79-1 and races it in Historic F1 racing. View attachment 1269490 View attachment 1269491 View attachment 1269489

Well that's the coolest thing I've seen in quite a while. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Europa TC]

Rego Racing? That's the car Doc Bundy drives once or twice per year, isn't it?

 

[71type65]

Type 79 "Black Beauty" has been rightfully called the most beautiful race car ever built. So fortuitous that the slippery and ground hugging engineering features would resolve to such an elegant profile.

I attended the Watkins Glen Grand Prix in 1977 and 1978. Back then you could walk through the garage down the center aisle while the mechanics were working on the cars just feet away on either side. Unreal.

The teams would sell odd bits as souvenirs, right there in the garage, and which I assume was for the benefit of team members' "beer money" or some other appropriate purpose. Cracked wings and body panels, used spark plugs, just about any discarded non-reusable component. Even used team clothing items. This was before the huge team logo franchising business that now prevails.

I was a huge Lotus fan. Bought this JPS mechanics shirt from the team, it's labelled "Waters" inside. Glenn Waters was Mario's mechanic.

Another JPS F1 top mechanic around that time was Bob Dance. He kindly signed a couple items for me at LOG 39, which are now treasured artifacts:

What an incredible legacy Lotus has created and hopefully will continue to build on. I feel it every time I look at or drive my V8 Esprit. 🥰😎

PS: @Europa TC: Yes, Doc drives the Rego Type 79 at historic races. Met and saw him driving in the Classic Grand Prix event supporting Montreal F1 race a few years back. Great and friendly guy. Recently hit by COVID, after some tribulations he seems to be on the mend now, thankfully. Here's a link to info:

Doc Bundy Medical Expense Fund, organized by Janet Upchurch

Doc has been a beloved racing figure for years. Doc had heart surgery years ago and re… Janet Upchurch needs your support for Doc Bundy Medical Expense Fund

www.gofundme.com