Lola T142 car-by-car histories
Bud Morley's fabulous red T142 at Road America in July 1969. Copyright Tom Schultz 2006. Used with permission.
Lola's first Formula A model, the T140, had been a great success in sales and although the Eagle had proved faster in the US, its price advantage ensured good sales for an improved model, the T142, in 1969.
In the US market, several of Lola's Can-Am customers decided to try the new Formula A and the T142 also sold well in the UK, where Formula 5000 was having its first season. With 28 vehicles produced in the space of just ten months, the T142 would prove to be the most successful production F5000 ever, at least in terms of units sold. Even the later Lola T332 couldn't manage that in a single year. A better indication of "market share" is by appearances, either in the race or even on an entry list, and Lola's market share was a massive 42% in 1969.
Tracing the history of old racing cars is never easy but the Lola T142 sometimes looks like it was deliberately posed as an exercise in automotive encryption. The cryptanalysis has a page of its own: take a look at the Lola T142 hunt page before you go much further on this page. If you know of a Lola T142 not listed here, please email Allen.
All and any help would be gratefully received. Please email Allen at allen@oldracingcars.com if you can add anything.
Invoice undated (Sold to Taylor). Sid Taylor 1968. First seen at Mallory Boxing Day 1968 but did not start; then damaged in testing by Tony Lanfranchi in mid-Jan and fitted with a new frame. First raced at Brands by Lanfranchi 19 Jan 1969, winning and setting a new outright lap record of 49.2s for the club circuit. Sid Taylor UK 1969 for Robin Widdows (1 race + 1 DNS), Frank Gardner (1 race only: second at Brands May 1969) and Alan Rollinson (1 DNS only). Not seen after R5 Silverstone 15 Jun 1969. To David Good for hillclimbs and fitted with a 5.5-litre Chev (first outing at Gurston Down Oct 1969) and used in early 1970. Sold in late summer to Chris Summers. (John Harris used the car on its first appearance.)
This car was destroyed in Summers' fatal accident at Snetterton at the end of August. According to Autosport, the car veered off line after a tyre deflated, "hit an obstruction and completely disintegrated". Summers, who did not wear seat belts, was thrown from the car and died on the way to hospital.
Driven by: Tony Lanfranchi, Robin Widdows, Frank Gardner, Alan Rollinson, David Good, John Harris and Chris Summers. First race: Brands Hatch, 19 Jan 1969. Total of 7 recorded races.
Reto Kuprecht's magnificently recreated Lola T142 at its first appearance for the at the Hockenheim Bosch Historic in April 2012. Copyright Reto Kuprecht 2015. Used with permission.
Roger Stones, owner of '21', was sold a frame and many spares bearing the chassis number '20'. The car has no frame tag which is possible in the case of SL142/20 as it was built very early and, like a T140, may not have had a frame tag. Sold to Reto Kuprecht June 2007. Although Reto had acquired a frame as part of the package, he said that it 'must have joined the "basket of parts" in later times' so the only part of the package that he regarded as original was the chassis plate. Starting in May 2010, Reto embarked on a complete "recreation" of SL142/20, using the frame, and other parts "sourced, rebuilt or constructed from scratch". It was taken to Hockenheim for its first tests in April 2012.
Chuck Dietrich in the Hogan Racing Lola T142 at Riverside in 1969. Copyright Gil Munz 2006. Used with permission.
Lola T142 SL142/21 residing in Brenton Griguol's living room Adelaide in 2011. Copyright Brenton Griguol 2011. Used with permission.
Invoice date 1 Jan 1969 (Sold to Haas). Carl Hogan for Dietrich US 1969 (from R1); not raced in 1970 and not seen in 1971 - Roger Bighouse Oct 1971: US 1972 and SCCA races for three seasons - unknown club racer (Savannah, GA) around 1974. Not seen again until registered in Australia by Barry Lee in 1985 with a well-researched history including a copy of the Savannah Morning News from 1974 that had been found as packing inside the nose! Raced at Amaroo Park once but crashed. The car was then white. Sold to Malcolm Higton (Toowonba, Queensland) by Oct 1987. The car then fades from sight for another two years before being acquired by a Mike Gore (Australia) by Lincoln Small (UK). Later sold to Roger Stones (Bowness-on-Windermere, UK) 1995; advertised April 2005 ('black'). Chassis number 21 and also frame tag 21. Sold to Brenton Griguol (Adelaide, South Australia) Jan 2009. Fully restored and used in historic events in Australia. Raced by Griguol at the Anzac Weekend Mallala Historics April 2015.
Driven by: Chuck Dietrich and Roger Bighouse. First race: Riverside (US R1), 20 Apr 1969. Total of 21 recorded races.
Invoice date 1 Feb 1969 (Sold to Henley Forklift). New to Doug Hardwick, owner of forklift truck manufacturer Henley Forklift, and used in the British F5000 series and in formule libre in early 1969, then driven for him by Alan Rollinson in August and September. Retained by Hardwick for 1970, when it was driven by Davey Powell in the first two races before Hardwick's new Lola T190 was delivered and again later in the season after Trevor Taylor was brought in to drive the T190. The T142 was sold to dealer Bobby Howlings for 1972 and raced in libre at Croft and Oulton Park, then sold to John Coulter who won the Northern Single Seater Championship race at Rufforth on 24 July 1971 on his debut, then led until the last lap at Croft the next day. He also won at Croft finale on 16 Oct 1971, was second to Howlings' M10B at Croft on 19 March 1972 and third at Croft on Easter Monday 3 Apr 1972. After finishing sixth in the Rothmans F5000 race at Nivelles on 9 April, Coulter bought a F2 Lotus and the Lola T142 was sold to Max Reinhard but he only raced it a few times in May/June 1972.
The T142 was next seen when raced by Tony Pasley at Harewood hillclimb September 1972, then by Fred Cliffe (Sherbourne, nr Leeds) in October 1972. Sold by Cliffe to to John Ravenscroft and used to win the British Sprint Championship in 1973, with wins at Curborough in April, Bassingbourne in May; Curborough again in June and Duxford a week later. John's father Arthur Ravenscroft also drove it during the season. Ravenscroft acquired the ex-Bob Rose McLaren M10B for 1974 and the T142 was sold to John Parsons and Tony Sofiano (Harborne, Birmingham), a couple of Birmingham Night Club owners, who used it in sprints in 1974. Parsons was 7th and Sofiano was 9th at the Curborough round of the championship in April and also appeared in a Curborough sprint in May 1974 and at the Shelsley Walsh hillclimb in June. The car was prepared for Parsons and Sofiano by Willy Riley (Eardiston, Worcestershire), and he was was entered at Shelsley Walsh in August 1974 in the car and then advertised it in August and September 1974 through his W. J. Riley Sports and Thoroughbred Motor Cars Ltd (Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire). The car was sold to Robin Darlington (Overton-on-Dee, Wales) then to Ian Stronach (Manchester) who raced it at Aintree in June 1975, then to Derek Robinson of Motor Racing Supplies (Frome, Somerset) all around 1975.
Subsequent history unknown but the chassis plate is on a Lola T70 bought from Richard Simms by Ryan Hodges around 1997. Ryan recalls that the car was owned at some time by Eagle Racing in Sussex (see also SL142/35). This T70 was still with Hodges in 2006. The existence of a T70, poresumably based on the components of the T142, would suggest the T142 has been broken up.
Driven by: Doug Hardwick, Robs Lamplough, Alan Rollinson, Davey Powell, Bobby Howlings, John Coulter, Max Reinhardt, Tony Pasley, John Ravenscroft, Arthur Ravenscroft, John Parsons, Tony Sofiano, Willy Riley and Ian Stronach. First race: Oulton Park (UK R1), 4 Apr 1969. Total of 52 recorded races.
John McNicol's Lola T142 at Roy Hesketh, Pietermaritzburg Easter 1969 (John Mac is in the blue shirt and brown shorts behind the car). Copyright David Pearson (motoprint.co.za) 2007. Used with permission.
New to John McNicol in South Africa (invoice date 18 December 1968) and fitted with a Weslake Ford engine for the 1969 South African championship. Raced 11 times by McNicol with wins at Roy Hesketh in June and Kyalami in August. Nicol then crashed the car heavily at the Rand Spring Trophy in early October. It was sold to Spencer Schultze and rebuilt on new Lola frame (number 49). Schultze raced it in the South African series in 1970, still reportedly with its Ford engine, but only raced twice. He failed to start his other three races.
Doug Brown reports that the car then went to Dino Angeloni (Krugersdorp). He appeared with the car at Kyalami in June 1971 and also entered at Kyalami two month later. He also used the car in hillclimbs. Allan Saffy may also have raced the car during this time.
Subsequent history unknown but see Anthony Corin's car and Steve Ward's car.
Driven by: John McNicol and Spencer Schultze. First race: Roy Hesketh (R2), 7 Apr 1969. Total of 13 recorded races.
Spencer Schultze in a rather shortened version of the Wynns Lola T142 at Kyalami in 1971 after he tangled with Kipp Ackerman. Copyright David Pearson (motoprint.co.za) 2007. Used with permission.
New to Doug Serrurier in South Africa (invoice date 31 January 1969) and fitted with a Ford engine for Jackie Pretorius to drive in the 1969 South African championship. Serrurier acquired a Surtees TS5 to drive in 1970, so Willie Ferguson joined Serrurier's team to drive the Lola. In 1971, Pretorius moved to Team Gunston, so Ferguson took over his Surtees and Spencer Schultze took over the Lola. He only drove it twice, before it went to Fred Cowell, who raced it three times that season. It was sold for 1972 to Harold Rosenberg, who appeared six times but only started four races and only finished once. Subsequent history unknown but see the David Wood car.
Driven by: Jackie Pretorius, Willie Ferguson, Spencer Schultze, Fred Cowell and Harold Rosenberg. First race: Roy Hesketh (R2), 7 Apr 1969. Total of 28 recorded races.
Dan Harper in his Lola T142 at Laguna Seca for the 1971 Continental Formula 5000 race. Copyright Dan Harper 2021. Used with permission.
Dan Harper's Lola T142 prepared for the 1972 season. Copyright Dan Harper 2021. Used with permission.
Invoice date 5 Mar 1969 (Sold to Haas). New to Bud Morley (Denver, CO) and raced through the 1969 US series, when it was red and entered as #14 . He advertised the car in November 1969 and again in August 1970. Sold in April 1971 to Dan Harper (Eureka, CA) who raced it at the Laguna Seca Pro race 2 May 1971 despite only having had a chance to drive it briefly at Vacaville earlier in the week. He intended to race in SCCA Nationals for the remainder of 1971 but a broken bulkhead required a lengthy rebuild and he did not score any points at SCCA level that season. He had planned to follow all the west coast Pro races in 1972, and appeared on the entry list for race at Laguna Seca on 7 May 1972 but there is no record of his participation. He also raced the car at the Laguna Seca June Sprints in 1973. Harper advertised the car in August 1974, describing it as "Best T-142 in the country; rebuilt throughout, new fabroids, etc; fresh Al Bartz engine; have full history of car; never bent". He recalled to Mike Matune in 2021 that he sold it in April 1975 to Don Korntved (Weaverville, CA) and his son Chris, who ran it in Redwood Sports Car Club (RSCC) events from 1975 to 1977. They ran the car in the RSCC's Lord Ellis Hillclimb at Blue Lake, the Keno Hill Climb near Klamath Falls, Oregon and the Virginia City Hill Climb in Nevada. Chris Korntved also won RSCC Autocross events at Samoa Field, a former airstrip in Eureka, northern California, July 1976, September 1976 and July 1977, and competed at Chico, CA, Redding, CA, and Medford, OR. He advertised the T142 at the end of 1977 and traded it to Jerry Dulski (Plymouth, MN) for Dulski's A Sedan Camaro. Dulski ran the car in Midwest SCCA Formula A until an accident at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, when his wing collapsed in the high speed Turn 1 and he left the track, hitting a telephone pole. The car continued airborne through a number of trees before coming to a stop upside down still in the trees. Dulski was very lucky to walk away unharmed, but the Lola was a complete loss. Dulski salvaged the Hewland gearbox and used it in his next car, a Lotus 70, and the Chevy engine was later used in a Trans-Am Camaro in historic racing. A part from a few suspension parts that were sold, nothing else remained of the Lola.
Driven by: Bud Morley, Dan Harper, Chris Korntved and Jerald Dulski. First race: Riverside (US R1), 20 Apr 1969. Total of 17 recorded races.
Eppie Wietzes in his Lola T142 at Mosport in August 1969. Copyright Thomas Horat 2011. Used with permission.
Lothar Kremer's immaculate T142 in 2007. Copyright Lothar Kremer 2007. Used with permission.
Invoice date 7 Feb 1969 (Sold to Formula Car Racing). To Clayton family (Canada) for Eppie Wietzes US 1969 and Canada 1969 (first raced at a Harewood Acres club event on 3 May and then at St Jovite Canada R2 25 May 1969) - Tony Simms (Willowdale, Ontario) Canada 1970 (adv as "ex-Weitzes" 6 Mar 1971) - Craig Fisher (Lola T142 "ex-Simms" Canadian series last race of 1970) ... via two? "three" other Canadian owners ... Jim Land (Vancouver, Canada) 1986: used in vintage events in NW US - Tom Quatsoe (Panama City, Panama) in 1994 and identified as the ex-Wietzes car by the engine and gearbox numbers. Restored to Wietzes' specification and run in vintage events in 1995 (11 events: Portland, Seattle, Sebring, Savannah, Road America, Road Atlanta, Moroso, "Targa 66" and a few SCCA vintage events in the NW). Sold to Lothar Kremer (Colorado Springs, CO) 2005. Lothar still had the car in January 2017.
Driven by: Eppie Wietzes, Tony Simms and Craig Fisher. First race: Harewood Acres, 3 May 1969. Total of 23 recorded races.
John Saucier's Lola T142 at Ponca City in July 1971. Copyright Mark Milliken 2010. Used with permission.
Invoice date 5 Mar 1969 (Sold to Haas). Unknown in 1969 (see the 1969 mystery cars) but raced by John Saucier (MidWest City, OK) in 1970. This might be the car of Richard Negley (San Antonio, TX) in 1969, as his is one of relatively few T142s that fit into this gap in the history of SL142/30, and Oklahoma and Texas are neighbouring states.
First known when John R Saucier won the SCCA National at Mid-America Raceway on 24 May 1970, the opening round of the Midwest Division season, in his #61 Lola T142. He raced in at least five SCCA Nationals that year, in two US Pro races (R6 Dallas 5 Jul and R12 Mid-Ohio 27 Sep), and at the ARRC in November. Retained for SCCA Nationals 1971 as well as two Pro races (Elkhart Lake in July and Brainerd in August) and the ARRC in November. Used again in SCCA Nationals 1972 (won at Mid-America Raceway 7 May 1972). Advertised Autoweek 1 Jul 1972 ("MiDiv Champion 1970, 1971"). To Brad Blankenship (Indianapolis, IN) and raced by him in the Mid-America Raceway National on 24 Sep 1972. Advertised by Blankenship in CP&A 16 Dec 1972 p27 ("MidDiv champ 1970, 1971, 45 points in 1972"). To Duane Smith (Milwaukee, WI) February 1973 and raced in SCCA events at IRP, Road America and Blackhawk Farms in 1974 and 1975. After blowing an engine, Smith sold the car to Dick St John's car owner.
The car was converted into a supermodified and raced in 1975 by Dick St John (Milwaukee, WI). The Post-Crescent, a newspaper in Appleton, WI, said in 1975 that St John's car was "a five-speed Lola, which was originally built as a grand prix car and later converted into a super modified". St John was very successful in this car but it was not used again after his ownership and was still in his livery when sold by Mike McComas (Pampa, TX) to Earl Zwickey (Amarillo, TX) in the autumn of 1995.
Sold to Kerry Anderson (Auckland, New Zealand) late 2004 or early 2005 and restored by Barry Leich (Southland, NZ). Raced by Anderson at Brands Hatch and Silverstone in July 2005 (on the Kiwi F5000 racers' trip to the UK), then at Teretonga Feb 2006 in the F5000 Revival Series. Returned for the 2007/08 Tasman Cup Revival series, the 2008/09 series and the 2009/10 series. Last seen at the Australian GP meeting Mar 2010 where Anderson crashed while being lapped. Still with by Anderson in 2024.
Driven by: John Saucier and Brad Blankenship. First race: Mid-America Raceway, 24 May 1970. Total of 17 recorded races.
Willie Forbes in his Lola T142 in 1969. Copyright Fred Scatley 2003. Used with permission.
Willie Forbes' Lola T142 at Ingliston on 7 Sep 1969 for a libre race. Copyright John Brown 2006. Used with permission.
Invoice date 19 Mar 1969 (Sold to Forbes). Willie Forbes UK 1969 (8 races; best finish 3rd at Brands Hatch 7 Apr and Silverstone 15 Jun); UK 1970 (3 races only, but entered at other events); used in libre racing 1971 - Bill Wood UK 1971 (raced at Croft 7 Oct 1971, DNS at Croft finale 16 Oct 1971). Wrecked in testing at Croft March 1972 and replaced with a McLaren M10B.
Driven by: Willie Forbes and Willie Wood. First race: Ingliston, 30 Mar 1969. Total of 30 recorded races.
Invoice date 3 Apr 1969 (Sold to Haas). See the 1969 mystery cars.
The car that currently has the SL142/33 chassis plate can be traced back to Gerald Geishart in 1970, and may be the car Wes Wilson raced in late 1969.
Invoice date 20 Apr 1969 (Sold to Haas). This number is reported to be on Horst Kroll's yellow T142 at UK R1 Oulton Park 4 April 1969 and R1 Brands Hatch 7 April 1969, reportedly a car originally intended for Jo Bonnier and therefore yellow. Race Report also gives its number as '34'. See SL142/38. Also see the 1969 mystery cars.
Mike Walker in the Alan McKechnie Racing Lola T142 in 1969. Copyright Fred Scatley 2003. Used with permission.
Invoice date 12 Feb 1969 (Sold to McKechnie). New to Alan McKechnie for Mike Walker to race in the 1969 British series (also raced in libre at the start of the season). Sold to Kaye Griffiths and raced by him in the 1970 series.
For 1971, Griffiths acquired a Lola T190, and the old T142 was next seen in libre racing with Mike Mather (St Helens, Lancashire). He made his debut in the car at Oulton Park on 12 June 1971, but within a few weeks was racing a Chevron B15/17 instead, and the T142 was not seen again for nearly two years. It reappeared in March 1973 when Chris Shaw (Lower Beeding, West Sussex?) ran the "extremely scruffy ex-Kaye Griffiths" T142 in a libre race at Lydden, and also entered it alongside his Leda LT25 at a couple of early rounds of the British F5000 series.
This may be the T142 that John Brannigan remembers running in Aintree's Tuesday practice sessions at about this time. He believes he sold it to Scotland.
The "ex-McKechnie" T142 resurfaced when it was found in a barn in Scotland in the mid-1970s by Peter Kirkby complete with a spare chassis. That would align with an advert for a T142 ("complete", "spare chassis") advertised from Glasgow in May 1974 and presumably the same car ("spare chassis") advertised from Carstairs (Lanarkshire) from May to November 1974. Kirkby campaigned the car in sprints and hillclimbs around 1976/1977 and advertised it from a Manchester number (again with "spare chassis") in March 1979. Sold to Robin Darlington (Ruaben) and presumably the "completely rebuilt" T142 advertised by Darlington in July 1979. Ian Webb (Dorking) recalls buying a Lola T140 or T142 from Darlington and this would presumably be the car Webb advertised in Nov 1979. Ian advises that the suspension was used for a Lola T70 but the chassis and body were then sold to someone who traded as Eagle Racing, in Kent. At that time, that would have been Peter Coleman. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Mike Walker, Kaye Griffiths, Mike Mather, Chris Shaw and Peter Kirkby. First race: Silverstone, 16 Mar 1969. Total of 33 recorded races.
The Alan Fraser Lola T142 in 1969. Copyright Fred Scatley 2003. Used with permission.
Roger Deans in his ex-Alan Fraser Lola T142 at Cholmondeley in June 2014. Copyright Alan Cox 2014. Used with permission.
Invoice date 25 Feb 1969 (Sold to 'Fraser'). Alan Fraser UK 1969 for Keith Holland. Retained by Fraser for Holland in 1970, but Holland left the team after the Anderstorp race following a disagreement with the team. His place was taken by Ray Calcutt for the rest of the season. Advertised by Harry Linney early 1971 and sold to Bob Miller for the engine. Then to John Bowtell (Witney, Oxfordshire) who appeared at a couple of European F5000 races in September 1971, then used the car through the early part of the 1972, entered by Andrew Cavell, before by Martin Ridehalgh raced it at the Silverstone round and in the International Trophy. Bowtell made a few more appearances in F5000 and libre later in 1972.
For 1973, the car was sold to Richard Brown (Chieveley, Berkshire) for hillclimbs, but he only appeared in it a handful of times and advertised it in August 1973. It then went to Bob de la Haye who appeared in it at the Le Val des Terres and Bouley Bay hillclimb events in 1974 and 1975.
Then unknown until bought by John Peskett (Leicester) in 1978. Unused and stored until the car was featured on TV program 'Salvage Squad' broadcast in March 2002 when a team led by Lee Hurst restored the car for Peskett. Peskett mentioned in the program that the car had last run in 1977. It was restored into Alan Fraser livery and 'raced' by Jerry Thurston at Mallory Park. Again unknown until advertised by Marcel Roks (Belgium) 2005 (blue with white stripe, #39). To Will Tomkins (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire) 2005, then to Roger Deans (Baldock, Herts) 2006, and debuted at Shelsley Walsh Sep 2006. Raced by Roger Deans at Shelsley Walsh June 2013, Harewood September 2014, Prescott September 2016, and Loton Park September 2017.
Driven by: Keith Holland, Ray Calcutt, John Bowtell, Martin Ridehalgh, Richard Brown and Bob de la Haye. First race: Oulton Park (UK R1), 4 Apr 1969. Total of 36 recorded races.
Invoice date 23 Apr 1969 (Sold to Norinder). Sportscars Switzerland for Ulf Norinder (Sweden/Monaco) and used in the British F5000 series in 1969. Norinder did the complete season, regularly qualifying inside the top ten and typically finishing fourth or fifth. His best result was at Hockenheim in September, where he qualified fourth and finished third. Also raced by BRM F1 driver Jackie Oliver at the Oulton Park Gold Cup.
Norinder bought a new Lola T190 for 1970, and loaned the T142 to Ian Ashley for the opening round of the 1970 British series prior to selling it. On Ashley's first lap of practice, taking it easy in bitterly cold and blustery conditions, the Lola was blown sideways as it crested Hilltop, and slammed into the bank. Autosport commented that it would need a new chassis before racing again. Norinder announced that the car would either be sold in its damaged state or would be repaired and then sold. The car was not mentioned again.
It is not known whether this car was ever repaired, but see Anthony Brazzo's car, which has a very convincing SL142/37 chassis plate, and Roger Townshend's car which is also said to have the same plate. Neither of these cars have frame tags, which could be explained by a new frame being needed after this accident.
Driven by: Ulf Norinder, Jackie Oliver and Ian Ashley. First race: Oulton Park (UK R1), 4 Apr 1969. Total of 12 recorded races.
Horst Kroll at Road America in July 1969. Copyright Tom Schultz 2006. Used with permission.
Horst Kroll's T142 at Westwood in May 1970, his last race in this car before its crash at Seattle. Copyright Tom Johnston. Used with permission.
Invoice date 15 Apr 1969 (Sold to Kroll). Horst Kroll. See also SL142/34. This or SL142/34 raced in UK at start of 1969. Then to Canada: first race Mosport Park Canada R1 18 May 1969. Canada 1969 (9 races, 5 second places); US 1969 (8 races, best finish 4th). Kroll retained the car for 1970, again racing it in the Canadian and US series, but crashed heavily at Seattle 7 Jun 1970, presumably in practice as he is not mentioned in the race results. Kroll told Murray Bryden that he bought another T142 from Arizona and transferred his bits onto that. He was reported at Rockcliffe Airfield 1 Jul 1970 to be driving a borrowed car.
Kroll appears to have transferred the SL142/38 chassis plate onto the Arizona car and continued to race it in both series. He raced three more times in the Canadian series in 1970, winning at Harewood in August, and in seven more US races. Used again in US series 1971 (8 starts, best finish 6th).
Retained until sold to Aldo Bigioni 1980, in good but unrestored condition. To Dick Baker (Toronto, Ontario) in July 1987; restored in 1993/94 and raced in vintage racing by his sons Brad Baker 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2000, Duncan Baker 1995 and Dean Baker 1996. Dick Baker died in 2001, and the T142 was sold to David Gathercole (Peterborough, UK) in November 2006. Subsequently to Phil Walker and raced in the UK in 2008. To Adam Simmonds 2009.
Note that this car has chassis plate 38 and frame tag 26. The frame tag is much too early for chassis 38, implying the Arizona car used to rebuild SL142/38 in 1970 was a much earlier car.
Raced by Simmonds in HSCC Derek Bell Trophy events in 2011, 2012, 2013, and again in 2016. Appeared at Silverstone in May 2016, and at Brands Hatch in May, and at Oulton Park in August.
Driven by: Horst Kroll. First race: Oulton Park (UK R1), 4 Apr 1969. Total of 23 recorded races.
Miles Whitlock's Lola T142. Copyright Phil Creighton 2005. Used with permission.
Invoice date 8 May 1969 (Sold to Haas). See the 1969 mystery cars.
Unknown until advertised by Richard Schoenfeld (Muttontown, NY) Nov 1994. According to Bill Storke, who bought the car from Schoenfeld, the T142 was originally from Eno de Pasquale who was supposed to be the importer of two T142s. Owned by Bill Storke (Boca Raton, FL) May 2001 - December 2002. Sold to Miles Whitlock (Atlanta, GA) some time before April 2005.
This car has chassis plate 39 and frame tag 43. It also has SCCA number 11-9609. This is a Florida Region number but given the very high sequence number, it is likely to be from historic racing when owned by Storke.
Raced by Whitlock at Road Atlanta April 2005. After a long interval, Whitlock raced a T142 again at the HSR Savannah Speed Classic in October 2014 and October 2015.
Built for a semi-works Lola team, managed by Jackie Epstein and entered as Paul Hawkins (Racing) Ltd. It was raced in the 1969 British F5000 series by Mike Hailwood and Jonathan Williams. After team principal Hawkins was killed in a sports car racing accident at Mallory Park in late May, Epstein combined with another sports car racer, Nick Cuthbert, to form Epstein Cuthbert Racing for the rest of the season. Hailwood finished the season with one win, three second places and three pole positions from seven races. The T142 was sold to Lingard Goulding (Dublin) later that year and raced at Mondello Park by Goulding and by Jim Fitzgerald. Goulding then ran it in the 1970 F5000 championship, but crashed in practice at Castle Combe in early May, seriously damaging the frame. The suspension, engine and gearbox were fitted to a new monocoque built by Chas Beattie.
Driven by: Mike Hailwood, Jonathan Williams, Lingard Goulding and Jim Fitzgerald. First race: Oulton Park (UK R1), 4 Apr 1969. Total of 15 recorded races.
Dick Thymian racing his ex-Lew Florence Lola T142. Copyright Richard Thymian 2010. Used with permission.
Invoice date 8 Jul 1969 (Sold to Haas). Still "new" when advertised by Lew Florence (Yakima, Washington) in May 1970 so presumably not raced in 1969. Only seen at a handful of races, all at Seattle: the Pro race on 7 Jun 1970; an SCCA National 9 May 1971 which Florence won, and the Pro race on 23 May 1971. Next seen when advertised by Bruce Kearsley (Bellevue, WA) in June 1972 and bought from him by Dick Thymian (Seattle, WA). Thymian believed Kearsley had bought the car from Florence and the results quoted in Kearsley's advert, including a win in a Seattle National, reinforce that. Thymian raced it in NW Region SCCA events from 1973 to 1975, still in Florence's yellow #24 livery. He later advertised the "ex-Florence" car in CP&A in March 1975 and "traded it to the local BMC dealer name of Dick Lightner for a 250 Ferrari". Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Lew Florence and Dick Thymian. First race: Seattle (US R3), 7 Jun 1970. Total of 4 recorded races.
Invoice date 31 Aug 1969 (Sold to Williams). Derek Williams for the British F5000 series in 1969 and 1970.
This car was burnt out in the incident that claimed Derrick Williams' life at Anderstorp in June 1970. At the start of Heat 2, Williams slid into Fred Saunders' Crosslé. The Lola was launched over the Crosslé and landed upside down on the track. The rollhoop was flattened and the fuel tanks split open; sparks immediately set the car on fire. With fuel continuing to pour from the full tanks, fire marshals were unable to bring the fire under control until a fire tender arrived and covered the car in foam.
It seems highly unlikely that this car could have been rebuilt. However, note that the Jim Brackett car now in New Zealand uses frame number 42 and has previously been incorrectly identified as the ex-Williams car.
Driven by: Derrick Williams. First race: Koksijde (UK R7), 3 Aug 1969. Total of 20 recorded races.
The 1969 mystery cars
All the mysteries between 1969 and 1972 are in the US. In 1969, these can be split between the cars probably delivered new and the later ones that were probably second hand.
New T142s up to May 1969
Haas bought 16 T142s during 1969 and another two were sold direct to Canada (Wietzes and Kroll). At least 10, probably 11, of the Haas cars were invoiced in time for the first race at Riverside on 20 April with one more in early May and the last four in July and August. At that first race were seven T142s: George Wintersteen, Bud Morley (T142/28), Chuck Dietrich (142/21), Rich Galloway, Dick Simon, Bill Moore and Ron Courtney. John Gunn also joined the series at Laguna Seca on 4 May and Sherwood Johnston appeared in a SCCA Regional a week later so that makes nine known T142s against the 11 invoiced cars. In June, Richard Negley joined the series, bringing the total to ten, which still leaves at least one unexplained car. As will be seen below, Wes Wilson, Eno de Pasquale, Keith Saunders, Len Guneau, Russ Murray and Lew Florence later have cars that may be new and may therefore explain the missing cars. Also Don Finlayson (Lombaro, IL) entered a T142 entered a T142 for the Brainerd F5000 race in August but did not appear.
Note that Brian O'Neill/ARM advertised a Lola in early 1969 but this seems to be a reference to his late-season T140.
The July/August cars
Haas bought four T142s well after the start of the season, in July and August, and three of these appear to have been supplied without gearboxes, suggesting they could have been sold on as kits. One of these was Lew Florence's car but no other new T142 appeared in the Pro series after Negley's car in June. The following references may help explain the other three cars.
- Cliff Phillips (Palos Park, IL - a Chicago suburb SW of the city and therefore only 40 miles or so from Haas) advertised a brand new unraced red T142 on 23 Aug 1969.
- Wes Wilson (Akron, Ohio) drove a T142 in a National on 7 Sep 1969 - too early to be a second-hand car - and advertised it the following April as "bought new last fall".
- Eno de Pasquale (Mamaroneck, NY) advertised a "new" T142 AW 15 Nov 1969 and again (Mt Vernon, NY) "brand new, never driven" 1 Jul 1972. See SL142/39 above.
- Keith G. Saunders (Albuquerque, NM) bought a BRG T142 as a kit from Carl Haas and completed it late 1969 or during 1970.
- Len Guneau (Hermosa Beach, CA) raced a T142, first appearing at a Laguna Seca Regional on 12 October 1969. It could (just) be a second-hand T142, but is more likely to have been new.
- Russ Murray (Darval, Quebec) also entered a Lola T142 in August and September 1969 but has no definite race appearance until 1970. It's distinctly possible he didn't take delivery until some time after those entries so the car could be second-hand.
Second-hand T142s
The first of these cars to vanish were Ron Courtney's (wrecked at Riverside on 20 April), Rich Galloway's and George Wintersteen's (both crashed heavily at St Jovite 7 Sep and assumed written off), Dick Simon's (last seen at Thompson 21 Sep and then to Mel Andrus), John Gunn's (last seen at a VIR National on 28 Sep and then sold to either Dave Heinz or Randy Blessing), Eppie Weitzes (last seen at Mosport on 14 Oct and then to Tony Simms), Richard Negley's (last seen at Thompson 21 Sep but advertised 29 Nov) and Chuck Dietrich's (last seen at the ARRC on 29 Nov).
Bud Morley's T142/28 and Sherwood Johnstone's car both continued through to Sebring in December. Horst Kroll's did three seasons.
Meanwhile, Wes Wilson and Len Guneau also raced T142s in SCCA events in September and October. Wilson's appears the same day as St Jovite confirming that it must be new but Guneau's could possibly be second-hand. Russ Murray's only appears on entry lists in 1969 and first races in 1970 but is believed to have been new.
The 1969 early-season cars
If 12 T142s were in the US by early May, these would be SL142/18, SL142/19 (both sold in late 1968), SL142/21 (sold to Carl Hogan), SL142/24, SL142/26, SL142/27, SL142/28 (sold to Bud Morley), SL142/30, SL142/32, SL142/33, SL142/34 and SL142/39 (probably sold to Eno de Pasquale). The Hogan car above plus the nine cars below account for ten of those, leaving two more that are not yet understood. If Eno de Pasquale did have SL142/39, the last of the pre-July cars, that reduces the unknowns to just one.
To make the research more difficult, five of these nine cars are believed to have been destroyed.
Bill Moore (Scottsdale, AZ) raced "a new Lola T142" in an SCCA Regional at War Bonnet 13 April 1969 and then in the Pro race at Riverside 20 Apr 1969, where he crashed. He later advertised a #69 Lola T142 ""one race, like new" in November 1969. [The website my5000.com reports that Moore advertised a Lola T140 from Ponca City, OK on 14 Jun 1969.] Subsequent history unknown but the car's location in Arizona hints that it could the T142 bought by Horst Kroll to replace the car he crashed heavily at Seattle 7 Jun 1970.
Driven by: Bill Moore. First race: War Bonnet, 13 Apr 1969. Total of 2 recorded races.
Mike Kramer tries Ron Courtney's Lola for size while it was being completed at Carrera Motors in Lombard, Illinois. The model of Courtney's Lola wasn't published but the photo shows a standard T142. Copyright Mike Kramer 2008. Used with permission.
Ron Courtney (Chicago, IL) had a Lola T142 for the 1969 season but had an incident during practice at Riverside in April with Sam Posey, and the car "exploded in flame". Two photographs provided by Mike Kramer show that it was a standard Lola T142. Kramer worked for Carrera Motors in Lombard, Illinois, 20 miles due west of Chicago, and recalls that the car was light blue and brand new.
Driven by: Ron Courtney. First appearance: Riverside (US R1), 20 Apr 1969.
Rich Galloway in his early-season T142 at Road America in July 1969. Copyright Tom Schultz 2006. Used with permission.
Rich Galloway (Golden, CO) raced a yellow #27 Lola T142 through the 1969 US series. It was generally entered as a T142 but was entered as a T140 at R4 Sears Point. Galloway was involved in the first lap accident triggered by George Wintersteen at St Jovite in early September and the Lola hit the Armco on the outside of the track head on before being hit by two other cars and coming to a rest against the bank on the opposite side. Galloway was able to exit the car quickly, but it appeared to be heavily damaged. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Rich Galloway. First race: Riverside (US R1), 20 Apr 1969. Total of 10 recorded races.
Dick Simon's Lola T142 at Road America in July 1969. Copyright Tom Schultz 2006. Used with permission.
Dick Simon (Salt Lake City, UT) US 1969 (yellow #66 from R1) - (maybe with Hayes 10 Dec 1969?). In the book "The Boys of Indy" (Phil Berger & Larry Bortstein, 1977), Simon is quoted as saying the car was "used". But he also says he won one race (true) and finished in the top six five times in his six races (not so). Simon used this season to get into USAC. Maybe to Hayes. Then to Mel Andrus (Salt Lake City, UT): US 1970 (two races: R2 Edmonton 24 May and R5 Sears Point 28 Jun); US 1971 (only appeared at R1 Riverside 25 Apr: crashed in practice and Andrus was killed). The car was stripped and the remaining damaged section of the chassis lay in a wrecking yard for many years.
Driven by: Dick Simon and Mel Andrus. First race: Riverside (US R1), 20 Apr 1969. Total of 12 recorded races.
Bill 'Murph' Mayberry tending to George Wintersteen's Lola T142 at Lime Rock Park 1969. Copyright Greg Rickes 2012. Used with permission.
George Wintersteen (Villanova, PA) raced a white #12 Lola T142 through the 1969 US series. Entered by his own team, Wintersteen Racing Inc, Wintersteen was highly competitive, finishing second behind Sam Posey's Eagle at Laguna Seca in May, and second again behind Posey's McLaren M10A at Lime Rock in September. He also had two third place finishes, two fourths and a fifth. The car met its end at St Jovite in September when Wintersteen triggered a huge first-lap accident. Coming out of the second turn, a downhill right-hander, Wintersteen came off the track and hammered into the earth bank on the outside of the track, careered across the track, collecting two other cars on the way, and hit the opposite bank, the Lola bursting into flames. Wintersteen was able to get out of the car very quickly, and a marshall had the fire under control in less than 30 seconds, but it is highly unlikely that the car would have been repairable.
Driven by: George Wintersteen. First race: Riverside (US R1), 20 Apr 1969. Total of 10 recorded races.
Another 'Golden Yellow' Lola T142, this one with John Gunn aboard at Road America in July 1969. Copyright Tom Schultz 2006. Used with permission.
New to John Gunn (Miami, FL), and raced in the US series in 1969. The car was yellow and entered as #39. Gunn's last known race in the car was an SCCA National at Virginia International Raceway in September 1969, and he advertised the car in November. A local newspaper reported that month that Tampa car importer Dave Heinz had bought the car (see the Dave Heinz car), but Randy Blessing also had a T142 in Florida in 1970, and his recollection is that his was the ex-Gunn car (see the Randy Blessing car). As they raced against each other, and as John Hood raced the ex-Gunn T140 at the same time, this is an unresolved puzzle.
Driven by: John Gunn. First race: Laguna Seca (US R2), 4 May 1969. Total of 7 recorded races.
Ed Luke in his Lola T142, probably at Phoenix International Raceway in 1970. Copyright Estate of Edwin Lawrence Luke Jr 2017. Used with permission.
Evan McGreevy's beautifully restored Lola T142 in August 2021. Copyright Evan McGreevy 2021. Used with permission.
Sherwood Johnston (Scottsdale, AZ) first seen at an SCCA Regional at Tucson Airport on 11 May 1969 and then raced in the US Pro series (#47 from Continental Divide on 8 June, up to Sebring on 28 December). Then sold to Ed Luke (Phoenix, AZ), a cattle rancher and property developer, for SCCA events. Luke crashed the car heavily at Phoenix International Raceway in 1970, when he had to go off line to avoid an emergency vehicle on the track, spun on the "marbles" and collided heavily with a telegraph pole, suffering serious leg injuries and burns that ended his racing career. None of Luke's race results have been found, suggesting his accident was early in 1970, quite possible the Arizona Region SCCA National on 1 Mar 1970. He sold the damaged car to Ron Elliot (Scottsdale, AZ) who raced it at Riverside Feb 1972. Subsequently to Ernie Rollston (Mesa, AZ) in 1974 - Steve Bolen (Scottsdale, AZ) - Bill Neibauer (Red Lodge, Montana) June 1976. Sold by Neibauer to Donald McGreevy (Mill Valley, CA) Dec 1987 This car has frame tag 40 but no chassis plate. Completely restored by Don McGreevy by December 2013. Still with Don's son Evan McGreevy in August 2021.
Driven by: Sherwood Johnston. First race: Tucson Airfield, 11 May 1969. Total of 11 recorded races.
Richard Negley (San Antonio, TX) bought a Lola T142 for the 1969 US series, replacing the Lotus 41C he had raced in FB in 1968. Raced at Continental Divide 8 Jun 1969, Sears Point (DNS) 22 Jun 1969, Road America 20 July 1969, Mosport Park 23 Aug 1969 and Mont-Tremblant 7 September 1969. He raced as #74 early in the season but as #79 after Andrea de Adamich took over #74 for his Surtees TS5. Negley advertised the Lola in Competition Press & Autoweek in November 1969. Subsequent history unknown but this is a leading option for John Saucier's SL142/30 in 1970, Saucier's home in MidWest, OK, being a mere 500 miles from San Antonio, TX.
Driven by: Richard Negley. First race: Continental Divide (US R3), 8 Jun 1969. Total of 4 recorded races.
The 1969 late-season cars
Cliff Phillips (Palos Park, IL - a Chicago suburb SW of the city and therefore only 40 miles or so from Haas) entered a Lola T142 for the Pro races at Road America on 20 July 1969 and at Brainerd on 10 August 1969, but there is no record that he turned up to either. He then advertised a brand new unraced red T142 in Competition Press & Autoweek on 23 Aug 1969. Nothing more known.
Ross Murray (Dorval, Quebec): entered at Mosport 23 August 1969 and St Jovite 7 Sep 1969, but there is no evidence that he was present at either. The car was entered as #61, but the colour is unknown. Ed Butt, who did the chassis set up for Murray, recalls that it was a brand new car. Murray made his first known appearance in the non-championship Oak Cup Trophy races at Mosport in May 1970, then at Rockcliffe Airfield, the fourth round of the 1970 Canadian series, and also appeared at Trois-Rivières, Lime Rock and Mosport later in the year. Subsequent history unknown, but see the Tim Duke car.
Driven by: Russ Murray. First race: Mosport Park, 17 May 1970. Total of 7 recorded races.
Wes Wilson (Akron, Ohio): only seen twice, in SCCA Nationals at Mid-Ohio 7 Sep 1969 and at IRP 5 Oct 1969. Advertised "bought new last fall" in Autoweek in April 1970. Subsequent history unknown.
This car could be one of the last three Haas cars (SL142/43, SL142/44 or SL142/45). But see the Gerald Geishart SL142/33, which Geishart bought from a Firestone engineer in Ohio. Attempts to locate Wes Wilson or to establish he worked for Firestone, have not been successful so far, but Firestone was, of course, one of Akron's biggest employers.
Driven by: Wes Wilson. First race: Mid-Ohio (R9), 7 Sep 1969. Total of 2 recorded races.
Len Guneau (Hermosa Beach, CA): first seen winning FA class in SCCA Regionals at Laguna Seca on 12 Oct 1969, then at Riverside two weeks later, so possibly second hand but there are no obvious contenders except the cars crashed at St Jovite. If new, then likely to be one of the last three Haas cars (43, 44 or 45). Raced at Sebring 1969, the West Coast races in 1970 and at Laguna Seca 1971. On the entry list for Laguna Seca 1972. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Len Guneau. First race: Laguna Seca, 12 Oct 1969. Total of 7 recorded races.
Keith Saunders on the left of his newly completed Lola T142 with crew Pete Betz (centre) and Michael Lucero (right). Copyright David Hutson 2006. Used with permission.
Keith G. Saunders (Albuquerque, NM): bought as a kit from Carl Haas and completed late 1969 or during 1970. David Hutson recalls that it ran at the Laguna Seca Pro race, presumably in 1970, but the engine blew in practice and it did not start. This ties in with entry lists, which show Saunders entered for the Pro races at Laguna Seca and Sears Point in June 1970. His car is likely to be one of the last three Haas cars (43, 44 or 45). Advertised by Saunders in August 1970. A legal case between Saunders and Carl Haas was settled in April 1971. Subsequent history unknown.
The 1970 mystery cars
Of the cars seen in the US in 1969, Hogan had retained SL142/21, Len Guneau was still running his car, Bud Morley advertised his SL14/28 as late as August 1970, Mel Andrus had the ex-Dick Simon car, Wes Wilson advertised his unseen car in April, Keith Saunders almost certainly still had his car, and both Florence and Murray would finally debut their cars. Ron Courtney's car was burnt out early in 1969 and another two, Rich Galloway's and George Wintersteen's, had been crashed heavily at St Jovite. The two Canadian cars, by now with Simms and Kroll, can also be accounted for, as can the late-season car for Ross Murray. The puzzle is John Gunn's car: a period newspaper report says it went to Dave Heinz, but Randy Blessing recalls that his car was the ex-Gunn car.
Three other T142s cannot be tracked into 1970: Richard Negley's car in Texas, last seen when advertised in late November; Bill Moore's in Arizona, also advertised in November 1969; and Sherwood Johnston's car which is unknown in 1970 but appears to have stayed in Arizona as well.
Appearing for the first time late 1969 or during 1970 were two other new T142 drivers: John Saucier's SL142/30 in Oklahoma, a car unknown in 1969 and first seen in May 1970; and Gerald Geishart's red car in Wisconsin, seen in June 1970. It is likely that Geishart had acquired Wes Wilson's late season car, and Saucier's could be Richard Negley's or Bill Moore's cars. The third of these presumably went to Heinz or Blessing.
Dave Heinz in his "ex-John Gunn" Lola T142. Copyright Thomas Heinz 2020. Used with permission.
The frame tag on Burt Curtis's T142. Copyright Evan McGreevy 2004. Used with permission.
Dave Heinz (Tampa, FL) purchased "John Gunns's Lola T142" in November 1969, and ran it at the Sebring F5000 race in December 1969, entered by Dave Heinz Racing Inc as #59. Retained for 1970, when he appeared in at least one Pro race, and in SCCA National and Regionals. He qualified for the SCCA Runoffs, which he won.
The Lola was advertised by Roy Maze's company Royal Dodge Inc (Alvin, TX) 6 Mar 1971 and sold to Don Inferrera (Oakland, CA), who raced it extensively from 1971 to 1974 in Pro races and in SCCA Nationals and Regionals. Don still has the log book for this car and it gives the car as "T 142/38", a number which was later explained as its frame stamp. It was sold by Infererra to "a Mr. Owen Star in Boise Idaho [who] said it was to be raced as a sprint car".
Then unknown until around 1989 when Donald McGreevy found a car that had been converted for oval track sprint car racing. Subsequently to Bert Curtis (Eureka, CA) who has frame and suspension but no transmission. This car has frame tag 38 but no chassis plate. The frame tag matching Infererra's log book combined with the life as a sprint car securely identify this car as Dave Heinz' car.
Sold to Murray Bryden (Melbourne, Australia) 2011. Still with Murray in April 2016.
Driven by: Dave Heinz and Don Inferrera. First race: Sebring International Raceway (US R13), 28 Dec 1969. Total of 27 recorded races.
Gerry Geishart in his Lola T142 at Mid-America Raceway in September 1970. Copyright Mark Weber 2014. Used with permission.
Mead Korwin's Lola T142 in 2014. Copyright Mead Korwin 2014. Used with permission.
Former snowmobile racer Gerald 'Jerry' Geishart (Wisconsin Rapids, WI) bought a Lola T142 from "a Firestone engineer in Ohio" in April 1970. He raced the red #98 Lola T142 in SCCA Nationals, Midwest Council events and in some Pro races in 1970. He scored 25 points in CenDiv Formula A, narrowly losing the title to McKee driver Kurt Reinold. He appeared again in 1971 but only scored four points in Nationals and was a non-starter at the Elkhart Lake Pro race in July. Traded to Barry Michael (Coldwater, MI) for a Bobsy Formula Vee in 1971. Barry sold the car to Bill Schmitt (Frankenmuth, MI) in late 1974 or 1975, taking a Sunbeam Tiger as a trade. It was advertised by Schmitt in Autoweek in March 1976 and he sold it to Ed Murray (Farmington, MI) later that year. Murray later had the Lola on display with a "for sale" sign at the Detroit Autorama in the winter of 1979/1980, and it was seen there and bought by Dino Crescentini (Rochester Hills, Michigan).
Crescentini stored the car in a museum in San Marion for about ten years, after which it was restored by RM Motorsports (Wixom, MI) in 1996. Sold to Mead Korwin (Shelby Township, MI) in 2001. The car has the SL142/33 chassis plate but Mead cannot find a frame tag on the car and suspects it was lost during repairs at some time. Still with Mead Korwin in June 2015 when he spoke to previous owners Michael, Schmitt and Murray to provide this history. Advertised in September 2015. Sold by Korwin around 2020 to Rainer Ott (Germany).
Driven by: Gerald Geishart. First race: Wisconsin State Fair Park, 28 Jun 1970. Total of 5 recorded races.
After damaging his regular car at Seattle, Horst Kroll was reported to have borrowed a car for his race at Rockcliffe Airfield (Canada R4) on 1 July 1970. Kroll told Murray Bryden in 2011 that he had bought this car in Arizona and used it thereafter.
Driven by: Horst Kroll. First race: Rockcliffe Airfield (R4), 1 Jul 1970. Total of 19 recorded races.
Randall M. Blessing, aka Randy Blessing (Lakeland, FL) raced a T142 in the SCCA Regional at Daytona 1 Aug 1970 and at the 'Pro' race at Sebring 25 Oct 1970. He raced more consistently in the Pro series 1971 entered as #31, appearing in five races but retiring at every one. The Lola's colour was listed at Brainerd as blue.
Blessing's recollection is that his T142 was John Gunn's, but that clashes with a newspaper article from November 1969 where Dave Heinz stated that he had bought that car from Gunn. Blessing later advertised both his T142 and the ex-Hood T140 in Aug 1972 but before the T142 could be sold, Blessing wrecked the T142 in a race at Roebling Road. Although the mangled frame was sold off, Blessing reports that "there really was nothing left of it".
Driven by: Randy Blessing. First race: Daytona, 1 Aug 1970. Total of 7 recorded races.
The 1971-1972 mystery cars
Of the five known and identified US-based T142s, SL142/21 was still with Hogan, Bud Morley's SL14/28 went to Dan Harper, SL142/29 was last seen with Craig Fisher in 1970, SL142/38 had been crashed by Kroll, and Lew Florence still had SL142/41. Of the 10 known but unidentified cars, Galloway's and Wintersteen's had been wrecked in 1969 and not seen since, Ron Courtney's had been destroyed, Mel Andrus's ex-Dick Simon car had been destroyed, Sherwood Johnston's was with Ed Luke, Keith Saunders still had his car, Richard Negley's and Bill Moore's had been missing since the end of 1969, and Wes Wilson's had been last seen in April 1970.
Of the two claimants to be the ex-John Gunn car, Randy Blessing retained his car and Dave Heinz' car went to Don Inferrera.
That still leaves two unaccounted for: the cars of Len Guneau, which he kept for 1971, and Ross Murray's which goes missing after 1970. Of the mystery 1970 cars, John Saucier and Gerald Geishart both kept their cars.
So that means the cars of Richard Negley (San Antonio, TX) since 1969, Bill Moore (Scottsdale, AZ) since 1969, Wes Wilson (Akron, Ohio) since an advert in April 1970, and Ross Murray (Canada) since October 1970 are all missing in 1971.
Amongst the new drivers of T142s in North America in 1971 and 1972 were Randy Johnston (Suitland, MD), possibly in the ex-Pete Sherman T140/142, Terry Matheny (Newton, Iowa) and Tim Duke (Lewisville, Texas). The T142s of Kendall Noah (Kansas City, MO) and Jim Stevens (Dearborn, MI) are both covered on the Lola T140 page. Also a T142 was entered by a Theodore Lebsack (Denver, CO) at Riverside in 1971. This might be Ted Lebsack, who raced in the 1980s.
Randolph P Johnston, aka Randy Johnston (Suitland, MD): raced at Lime Rock 6 Sep 1971 and Watkins Glen 18 Jun 1972. Johnston later drove the ex-Pete Sherman Lola T192 and as both drivers were from Maryland and as no other T142 appeared in Maryland, it is likely that Johnston drove the ex-Sherman 'T142' (actually the ex-Mike Hiss Lola T140). Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Randy Johnston. First race: Lime Rock (US R8), 6 Sep 1971. Only one recorded race.
Terry Matheny (Newton, Iowa): won the Formula A class at an SCCA National at Mid-America Raceway on 19 Sep 1971. Matheny was then 29 years old and owned Continental Imports, a foreign car dealership in Newton, Iowa. After this one season in Formula A, he built his own car for the cheaper D Sports racing. Nothing more known.
Driven by: Terry Matheny. First race: Mid-America Raceway, 19 Sep 1971. Only one recorded race.
Tim Duke (Lewisville, Texas) bought a red Lola T142 from someone in Canada in November 1971. The only Canadian T142s were the early-season cars of Horst Kroll and Eppie Wietzes, both of which stayed in Canada until the 1980s; and the late-season car of Ross Murray, which is unknown after 1970. It would appear that Duke had bought the Murray car.
The car was financed by Bill Browning, owner of Precision Motors in Dallas, TX, a foreign car dealer, where Duke and his crew chief John (Bob) Foster both worked. The Lola was raced by Duke in SCCA Nationals, starting at Dallas in February 1972. He won his class at Ponca City in July and Lake Afton in August to win the Formula A class in Southwest Division. The front suspension of the car had been damaged during the season so Duke then sold it about September 1972 to finance a newer Lotus 70 to take to the Run-Offs. Tim's recollection is that the Lola went to Colorado. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Tim Duke. First race: Dallas International Motor Speedway, 27 Feb 1972. Total of 3 recorded races.
Known Lola T142s to race in North America during 1972 include Roger Bighouse (in SL142/21), Dan Harper (in SL142/28), John Saucier (in SL142/30), Ron Elliott (in the ex-Sherwood Johnston car), Len Guneau (in his late-1969 car), Don Inferrera (in the ex-Dave Heinz car), Randy Johnston (in the car he had raced in 1971), and newcomer Tim Duke.
Lola T142s in 1973
Four T142s raced in Formula A in 1973: Roger Bighouse (in SL142/21), Dan Harper (in SL142/28), Don Inferrera (in the ex-Dave Heinz car again), and Dave Eshelman who raced a mystery T142 in a SCCA Regional at Riverside.
The supermodified conversions
There is evidence of three Lola T142s being converted to run in the Super Modified class of short track racing in the early 1970s. One of these, Dick St John's T142/30 in 1975, is covered above, but the other two cars are of unknown origin. The first to be built was probably the car Jerry Malloy sold to Jim Brackett, but its racing career is unknown. The third car was that of Pan Am airline pilot Earl Kelley, who raced a #78 maroon Supermodified at San Jose Speedway in September 1973 that was reported to be a "Lola Formula A". However, apart from a story that four-time local champion Bill Scott drove Kelley's car once in April 1974, nothing more is known of that project.
Lee Huls' Lola T142 at Continental Divide Raceway for the 28-29 Jun 1981 event. Copyright Lee Huls 2011. Used with permission.
The frame tag on the Steve Ross's T142 in New Zealand. Copyright Warbirds Photography. Used with permission.
At some point in the early 1970s, probably in late 1971, Jim Brackett (Arvada, CO) bought a Lola T142 from Jim Malloy in Salt Lake City, Utah. The car had been set up as a circle track car with a full roll cage, and was painted blue. Jim and his brother Jerry Malloy built short track "modifieds", "roadsters" and "wedges", and are thought to have bought the car to run as a supermodified, although no evidence has yet been found that they raced it. The brothers were from Denver, CO, but Jerry Malloy moved to Salt Lake City to work for Dick Simon in 1971, which would explain Brackett's recollection of buying the Lola there. Jerry Malloy's company, Chassis Research, built rear-engined supermodifieds in 1972 and 1973.
In July 1975, Brackett entered what was described as a former Formula 5000 Lola for the Pikes Peak hillclimb. Running as #30, he crashed the car heavily in practice on the Monday before the event. Bracket returned in 1976 with a #43 Lola 305 but failed to qualify. Brackett also had a T140 but this did not have a rollcage so it is likely he used the T142 both years.
In 1979, Lee Huls (Englewood, CO), bought the T142 from Brackett, still with the rollcage he had used at Pikes Peak in 1975. Huls raced the car in MidWest Division Formula A for a couple of seasons, and then traded it to Ken Petrie (Denver, CO) in 1981 or 1982. From Petrie, it was sold to Garry Tapp (Denver, CO) in 1988. The car's New Zealand papers say that it was raced in SCCA between April 1980 and September 1983, and then in Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing events from May 1985 to May 2001. That last date would be Tapp's appearance at Pueblo Motorsports Park 5-6 May 2001.
In 2003, it was acquired by Larry Detrich who had addresses in Denver, CO and Christchurch, New Zealand. Sold by Detrich to David Harvey (Upper Moutere, NZ) of Cult Sports Cars 2005, and then to Steve Ross (Dunedin, NZ) in 2007. Competed in HSCC events in the UK in 2008, and in New Zealand in early 2009. Ross bought a McRae GM1 for the 2009/10 season and the Lola T142 has not been seen in the Revival Series since then. Raced by Ross at a Southland Sports Car Club event at Teretonga in September 2012. Sold to Gary Lovie (Christchurch, NZ) in early 2016. Gary has done a lot of research into the car, and believes it may be Horst Kroll's first car, the one he wrecked at Seattle in June 1970.
This car has frame tag 42 but no chassis plate.
Driven by: Jim Brackett. First appearance: Pikes Peak, 4 Jul 1975.
Earl Kelley (or perhaps Ron Kelley) in his "Lola Formula A" in an open event at San Jose Speedway in 1973 or 1974. Copyright Don Mize 2023. Used with permission.
In September 1973, Earl Kelley (San Jose, CA), a Pan Am airline pilot, appeared at a San Jose Speedway race with a "Formula A Lola complete with roll cage and wing". He drove this #78 car in the Super Modified class in 1973, but it is unclear how many times it ran, as rear-engined Supermodifieds were soon banned, and Kelley was racing a "normal" car in 1974. Photographs of this car are rare, but if it was a Lola, it can only have been either a Lola T140 or T142. Note that Kelley's name often appears in newspaper reports as Earl Kelly. It is also worth noting that the rollcage Kelley had added looks quite different to the rollcage on Jim Brackett's car at Pikes Peak two years later. Kelley continued to race in Open Competition events at San Jose Speedway and Madera Speedway in the 1970s and early 1980s. It is believed he was still racing this car when he crashed at Madera Speedway in July 1982. Kelley was badly injured, and the local fire department had to pry apart the car to get him out.
Later mystery cars
The mystery car previously shown here, the car raced by Willy Riley at Shelsley Walsh in 1974, is now known to be SL142/22. This car went to Robin Darlington, Ian Stronach and then Derek Robinson, so may well be the one advertised by Chris Cuff in late 1975 and early 1976, and then may well be the car raced by Basil Stainer and David Burton in 1976 and 1977. By this stage, only three of the eight UK-based T142s had remained intact: SL142/22, Peter Kirkby's SL142/35, and Bob de la Haye's SL142/36. De la Haye's SL142/36 is unknown in 1976 and 1977 so is the other possibility to be the Stainer/Burton car.
Basil Stainer (Sherborne, Dorset) and David Burton (Sherborne, Dorset) shared a 5000cc Lola T142 in sprints, Formule Libre and hillclimbs in 1976 and 1977. Stainer entered the car for a libre race at Thruxton in early March 1976, and both drivers appear in the results at Wroughton in July 1976 and August 1976. Stainer also won his class at Gurston Down 30 Aug 1976.
Driven by: Basil Stainer and David Burton. First race: Wroughton (R6), 1 Aug 1976. Total of 5 recorded races.
Mystery cars today
Nick Buttress in the Lola T142 '37' at Donington Park in Sep 1992. Copyright Jeremy Jackson. Used with permission.
Anthony Brazzo's Lola T142 in 2006. Copyright Anthony Brazzo 2006. Used with permission.
Believed to be SL142/37. Earliest known owner Tom Fletcher (Helsby, Cheshire) but the date of his ownership is unknown. Fletcher reportedly sold it to Henry Pearman (now Eagle E-types in Kent) [date unknown], and it then passed to Nick Buttress (Leek, Staffordshire) in October 1987. Buttress raced the car in historic events. Sold to Ken Gladdis (Chale, Isle of Wight) 2000, then to Anthony Brazzo (Romford) October 2005. It was still with Anthony in September 2006 but was later sold via historic racer David Watts to an unknown customer.
This car has no frame tag but does have a '37' chassis plate.
In October 2011, the car was offered by auction house 'Historics at Brooklands' but did not sell. It later appeared at Magny Cours in 2012, and then appeared on Autodiva's stand at Epoqu'Auto in November 2012. By this time, the car had Denis Blanot's name on the side, and he is believed to be the new owner. Denis Blanot (Moux-en-Morvan, central France) is a former president of Club Autun Rétro. This car was also run at "Classic Days" at Magny-Cours in May 2013, in May 2016, and in April 2018, still with Blanot's name on it.
Larry Harvey raced a Lola T142 at VARA Las Vegas in April 1991, at VARA Willow Springs in February 1993, and at VARA Tustin Thunder in July 1996. This car was later bought by Scott Bader (Rosamond, CA) and was still owned by Bader in July 2013. Still with Scott in January 2017.
Robert Scott's Lola T142 at Teretonga in 1999. Copyright Kevin Thomson 2007. Used with permission.
Believed to be SL142/37. Imported from US to NZ in early 1990s by Kenny Smith ... Robert Scott (Dunedin, NZ) by 1999 - Roger Townshend (Christchurch, NZ) c2003 and repainted blue and gold. Raced in the Tasman Revival series. Last seen in Townshend's hands at Sandown Park in November 2006, the opening round of the 2006/07 series.
This car has no frame tag but has chassis plate 37.
By 2012, the car had been sold to Terry Rush. In April 2016, it was photographed with a collection of Terry Rush's cars., and was still with the collection in October 2021.
Steve Ward in his Lola T142 in the pit lane at Pukekohe in January 2006. Copyright Marcus Pye 2006. Used with permission.
This chassis was imported into New Zealand by Andy Culpin in the 1990s but its origins are still unclear. It carries a "SL142/23" chassis plate, suggesting it came from South Africa. It was bought from Culpin by Steve Ward (Christchurch, New Zealand) and rebuilt/assembled by Frank Wigg. Ward ran it at the Tattersall's Historic Sandown meeting in November 2001. He later appeared in F5000 Tasman Revival races at Ruapana Park, Teretonga Park and Pukekohe in New Zealand in 2004, 2006 and 2007. The car was raced in high-wing form, and with a Ford V8 engine. It was said to be "ex-John McNicol".
This car has chassis plate 'SL142/23' but has no frame tag.
Ward did not appear again in Tasman Revival meetings with this car. In early 2023, it was bought from Ward by Clyde Walters (Paparimu, New Zealand).
Roland David's Lola T142 in Vienna in 2011. Copyright Roland David 2012. Used with permission.
David Wood (UK) owned a Lola T142 between 2002 and 2005. He said he had bought the car in 2000, but was not able to supply the name of the previous owner. After some research, he concluded that it was chassis SL142/25, and that after Doug Serrurier it had gone to the Domingo Bros and then to 'Mick van Rensberg for club races sprints and "Drag Races"'. As Wood raced this car as #93, it is likely to be the #93 Lola T142 raced by John Belsey in HSCC races in 2008. Sold to Roland David (Vienna, Austria) in February 2011.
This car has chassis plate 25 and frame tag 28, but the plate shows signs of alteration.
Crashed very heavily when David was punted off in the rain at the ADAC Salzburgring Classic "Sounds of Speed" in August 2011, and damaged the chassis at the front and rear. Erwin Derichs helped with the restoration until his untimely death. In January 2017, the car was still completely dismantled.
Sources
Fred Scatley kindly gave permission to use a number of the images he took at Brands Hatch in 1969 prior to his death on 27 Dec 2002. His photograph collection passed to Ted Walker who then held the copyright on these images until his Ferret Fotographic changed hands in 2020. Thanks also to Marcus Pye, Bryan Miller, David McLaughlin, Ian Webb, Evan McGreevy, Roger Stones, David Wood, Tom Quatsoe, Mike Rowe, Kerry Anderson, Lawrence Sufryn, Roger Townshend, Anthony Brazzo, Ryan Hodges, Andrew Reeser, David Hutson, Duane Smith, David Gathercole, Steve Wilkinson, Reto Kuprecht, Gerald Swan, Mead Korwin, Scott Bader, Don Infererra, Murray Bryden, Randy Blessing, Mike Matune, Rob Uhl, Dave Prescott, Tim Horn, Ron Lair, Gary Lovie, Thomas Heinz, James Riley and Clyde Walters for the information they have provided. Thanks also to Dan Harper and Chris Korntved who told Mike Matune the story of the Lola T142 they owned, and for their photographs.
These histories last updated on .