SEPTEMBER 2018

1948—2018 70 Years of

2018 — 70 YEARS OF LOTUS 2018 — 50 YEARS SINCE

EDITION No. 65

. CLUB LOTUS NEWS & EVENTS . . JIM CLARK 1936 —1968 . . THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DAVID DICKER . . 2018 ICEBREAKER . WEDNESDAY WANDER UPDATE . 1 - EDITION No. 65 — SEPTEMBER 2018 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF CLUB LOTUS NZ Inc.

EDITION 65 SEPTEMBER 2018

The Official Newsletter of PRESIDENTS REPORT Club Lotus NZ Inc.

Club Lotus NZ Inc. PO Box 100 869,

North Shore Mail Centre, Auckland 0745

Web - www.clublotus.co.nz Welcome to the Edition 65. I hope that you enjoy reading some Facebook - Club Lotus NZ of the fascinating content that Rex has brought together. You Tube— Club Lotus New Zealand There has been plenty happening in the club over the last few Forum—www.thelotusforums.com Club Lotus NZ Archives—www.clublotus.org.nz months. A personal highlight for me was the run to Waipu organised by

David White. This run reminded me how spoilt we still are for great President driving roads here in NZ. Even around busy and congested Auckland David Crandall—[email protected] you don’t have to venture too far to find some great driving, especially

Vice President / Membership if the weather is kind. David White - We have now had a couple of our ‘first Monday of the month [email protected] Pub nights’ at the Horse and Trap in Mt Eden. I encourage you to come Treasurer along at some point – a lovely opportunity to catch up with other club [email protected] members and have a few yarns. Secretary/Editor We have had a great signup to our 70th Anniversary weekend Rex Oddy—[email protected] with around 40 attendees confirmed. While the registration cut-off Social Media date is now officially past, there are currently still a couple of places left Rich Miles—[email protected] at the optional track event, so please get in-touch if you would like to General Committee attend. Nigel Brock, Tony Bowman Kevin Newton has resigned from the role of Club Treasurer. I’d

Regional Coordinators like to thank Kevin on behalf of the club for his work in this role, as well Northland as his contribution in general to the committee over the last couple of Darren Hills — [email protected] years. If you ever get a chance to talk to Kevin about his involvement in

Bay of Plenty a Guinness World Record for reversing you will be in for an entertaining John Mallard — [email protected] story… With Kevin’s departure this role is now vacant, so if you think

Central North Island you would like to join the committee, please get in touch. Tony Bowman — [email protected] I have just finished reading the second NZ Classic Driver article

Wellington on Lotus cars which features club members and their cars. A very en- Nick Cater — [email protected] joyable read with some great photography. What really stands out

MotorSport NZ Liaison though are the owners and their stories. And these really sum up the Tony Bowman—[email protected] club – people who simply enjoy sharing their passion with other like- minded members.

David

Club Lotus NZ is a MotorSport New Zealand affiliated club

At the Brit and Euro Car show in March, David Crandall discusses 70th Anniversary options with Allan Walton , Editor of NZ Classic Driver Magazine.

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CLUB LOTUS NEWS Events 26 September 2018 Club Lotus & Austin-Healey Car Club Wednesday Wander 30 September 2018 Caffeine and Classics, Smales Farm, Takapuna 6 October 2018 TACCOC Spring Classic Meeting—Pukekohe 14 October 2018 Club Run, to be advised 28 October 2018 TACCOC Spring Classic—Hampton Downs (Event cancelled) 28 October 2018 Caffeine and Classics, Smales Farm, Takapuna 31 Octobr 2018 Club Lotus & Austin-Healey Car Club Wednesday Wander 2-5 November 2018 Club Lotus NZ, Lotus 70th Anniversary Celebration , Taupo

For full details of the 70th Anniversary celebrations visit the club web site www.clublotus.co.nz

29 November 2018 Club Lotus & Austin-Healey Car Club Wednesday Wander 26 November 2018 Caffeine and Classics, Smales Farm, Takapuna 9 December 2018 Outsource IT Christmas at the Downs Meeting—Hampton Downs 9 December 2018 Club Lotus Christmas Show and Shine Lunch 23 December 2018 TR Register Christmas Run to the Salty Dog, Snells Beach 30 December 2018 Caffeine and Classics, Smales Farm, Takapuna 5/6 January 2019 HRC Tasman Revival Meeting—Taupo 11/13 January 2019 NZ Festival of Motor Racing celebrating Bathurst—Hampton Downs 18/21 January 2019 Historic GP—Taupo 28 January 2019 HRC Tasman Revival Meeting—Pukekohe 30 January 2019 Club Lotus & Austin-Healey Car Club Wednesday Wander 29 April 2019 BOP Mystery Run

Club Lotus is collecting photos for the 2019 club calendar. The close off date is the end of October so there is still another month to get that special photo to the selection committee.

Email photos to [email protected]. We would like to know where the photos were taken and who took them. Be aware that the standard image size of most cameras does not line up perfectly with an A4 sized sheet. Please allow some space around your special car so we can crop the image to fit the calendar page format.

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Jim Clark 1936—1968 April 2018 marks 50 years since the death of Jim Clark

This April on the 50th anniversary of Jims death, fans gathered at Duns on the Scottish borders to remember. This EDITION includes two articles from people who were there. Club Lotus NZ Life Member, Warwick Chandler and The UK Lotus Seven Club’s John Aston.

This page. One Race — 1963 Belgian Grand Prix “In practice at Spa, Clark—his car fitted with a new windscreen—was dogged by gearbox troubles again, which left him in a lowly eight place. The car which was still on Monaco settings, persisted in jumping out of gear and oversteering simultaneously.” In the race “Clark made such a good flying start that he was leading by the time he reached the first cor- ner and he simply drew away from the opposition once Hill had been plagued by gearbox troubles on the slippery track. Unaffected by the thunder and rain at the end of the race he won easily for the second year in succession. Such was his supremacy that he finished almost 5 minutes ahead of the Cooper of Bruce McLaren, which was the only car on the same lap.”

Image—Classic & Sports Car. Text—Lotus A Team History by Bruce Grant-Braham.

4 4 — - EDITIONEDITION No. No. 65 65 — SEPTEMBER— SEPTEMBER 2018 2018 See page 17 for the reason this Eau Rouge photograph is included

Jim Clark Warwick Chandler Remembers

I’ve been a huge admirer and fan of Jim Clark since the sixties when he came down under for the Tasman Series. I was flag marshalling back then and so had a very close up view of his style, pace and ease that he carried throughout the various races. To me he will always be the incomparable Jim Clark. When it was time for a stand down from the Flag Point I would head off to the Paddock and Pit areas in the hope that I just might be lucky enough to meet him, however that didn’t even- tuate – mind you I was a bit of a shy bloke in those days so if I had been lucky enough to meet with him I probably would have been “lost for words”. So from then on I decided to meet as many of the people that worked with him which took quite a few years not to mention a few trips to the UK and it was cer- tainly worth it. I always have a special recognition for the 7th April, the date Jimmy was killed at Hockenheim. Down in Nelson my ex 1965 Series 2 Super Seven lives just one street away. On my first April 7th in Nelson that was the car I went out in, wearing a Jim Clark shirt. On the 50th anniversary of Jimmy’s death I am back in the Scottish Borders heading for Dunns and elsewhere. Signifi- cant to me was the seemingly lack of population throughout the Borders. Ok so by and large it is a massive farming area but after all these decades one would have thought to be more visible activity. I can well imagine Jim absolutely enjoying driv- ing all those deserted rural country roads. I know I did, and it is indeed a good thing that the Borders appears not to being spoiled. So the JC Weekend held throughout Duns & Chirnside with the Jim Clark or JC Room reopened for the weekend to display much of JC memorabilia, and trophies etc. and the Above—EDITION’s Editors complete collection of Jim Clark photos. All Chirnside Community Centre continuing the same theme with a taken at the same time at the same place near the hairpin at Pukekohe huge display. Back up in Newton St Duns (the JC Room address) during the 1967 NZ Grand Prix. Jimmy driving the type 33 a 2.0 litre Cov- entry Climax powered V8 onto second place behind ’s BRM it was just full of Lotus models dating back over the years with a P261. Jackie and Jimmy appear in the top photo. very, very tied looking Seven which had come from Holland

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Jim Clark Warwick Chandler Remembers

along with several other mem- bers of the Lotus Club over there. Saturday 7th at 11 am there was a ground breaking ceremony for the JC Room Ex- tension with a display of his road and race cars outside the JC Room arranged by the Jim Clark Trust and Classic and I managed to ar- range a photo of me standing alongside the first and original Elan that Jim used for his per- sonal transport still showing the chrome 1500 badge and the Border Reivers logo. It was driven up by Classic & Sports Car journalist Julian Balme who is to write a story on the event which will be in the July edition so little ole NZ should see this issue sometime in August. Fol- lowing on from a few eminent speakers one of Jim’s sisters was called upon to wave the chequered flag to symbolise the start of the JC Room exten- sion planned to be complete early next year. There is con- troversy over the plans but that’s another story and while I definitely wish them the very best it is apparent that it will not please a lot of people. The commemorative Saturday evening dinner in the somewhat grandiose Car- fraemill Hotel in Lauder is yet another example of the very unspoiled nature of the Bor- ders region. Indeed it was a pleasant evening where Mar- garet and I were introduced as being the furthest travelled to be part of the Commemorative weekend --- I guess a rather unique way to be introduced. Top class wine and Champagne flowed as various people had a wee chat. One of whom was Scottish Rally driver and farmer friend of Jims namely Andrew Cowan who used to compete in the Rally NZ all those years ago. It was indeed pleasant to have time to continue the talks

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Jim Clark Warwick Chandler Remembers

I’d had earlier in the day with Clive Chapman, Bob Dance and and lawn area were still as I remember them from my first visit of course Ian Scott Watson. It was great to see him there after back in 1989 thereabouts and walking all it was he who initially mentored Jim way back in the late up the drive to briefly chat with some of the farm hands, how- fifties putting Jim into his ordinary DKW and later his Porsche ever today immediately to the right and alongside the drive- 1600 Super, and entering him in all manor of events much to way is a recently completed tennis court. Jims surprise. Ian also brought Jock McBain in on Jims pro- gress needless to say he was super impressed enough to re- Warwick vitalise the Border Reivers. The following day we headed back to Chirnside where the display of Jim’s road & race cars were again displayed, there were people seemingly everywhere just wanting to be part of the occasion and certainly the Clock Tower in the centre of Chirnside attracted a fair amount of attention. It ‘s certainly not a huge gallant construction by any means but a simple concrete block construction with a smallish metal build by Scott Watson of a Lotus single seater attached to “for the want of a better word” a sort of concrete block shelf. However it has stood the test of time being just as clean as when I first saw it back in 1989 or 1990. We decided to motor off to Edington Mains just a very short distance from Chirnside to see what changes, if any, had been made since my initial visit there, however as we walked to Below—images of Jim Clark at the Jim Clark Museum the car out the corner of my eye I saw a Border Collie running keenly about taking much interest in the goings on. One could be forgiven for thinking that this fine looking Border Collie kind of knew that, that weekend was about Jim who’d had a Border Collie named Sweep. How significant is that?. When his father took him out of school he gave him a shepherds crook and the Border Collie and said “go to it son”. We arrived outside Edington Mains, Jims farm, and observed that the house frontage garden

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JIM CLARK 4 March 1936 — 7 April 1968 John Aston remembers the glittering career of Jim Clark, who died at Hockenheim at the wheel of his Lotus 48, fifty years ago.

John Aston is a member of the editorial team of Lowflying the magazine of the UK based Lotus Seven Club. This article is published with the kind permission of Lowflying, The Lotus Seven Club and John Aston.

echoed everybody else’s, as the feeling was that, if it could happen to Jim Clark, it could happen to anybody. And, God knows, it did. Because, in that ghastly year, Clark’s fellow Grand Prix drivers Mike Spence, and were killed in the successive months. Jim Clark was driving a Lotus 48 Formula 2 car at Hockenheim when he was killed and everybody believes that

JIM CLARK , 4 MARCH 1936 - 7 APRIL 1968

On 7 April 1968 I was in the back of dad’s Rover 3 Litre, somewhere in Northern Ireland, en route home after seeing family friends in County Donegal. I was fifteen, and already spending far more time reading about cars and motorsport than on my ‘O’ Level revision. I was only dimly aware of Radio 4 playing through the Rover’s single dash speaker but then, in the funereal tones radio announcers use for bad Above—At Hockenheim on the starting grid photographer Rainer news, came the words ‘ ...the racing driver , Jim Clark ..’ and Schlegemilch captures Jimmy’s final conversation with team mechan- you can guess the rest. I wasn’t upset, because racing driv- ic David Sims. “Good luck and see you later were Sims’ last words. Image—Classic & Sports Car Magazine ers were killed almost every week in the Sixties, but I was shocked, as I thought that Jim Clark was somehow different Top photos—Jimmy Clark’s Elan at Dunns. Ian Scott Watson who was to all the others. He was the artist behind the wheel of a the second owner of the car said Jimmy had somehow managed to make the hardtop waterproof and although he had personally driven racing car who had not only won everything, but had made the car in the order of 80,000 miles he had never been game to take the winning look easy, almost inevitable. My thoughts the hardtop off.

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JIM CLARK 4 March 1936 — 7 April 1968 John Aston remembers the glittering career of Jim Clark, who died at Hockenheim at the wheel of his Lotus 48, fifty years ago.

the cause of the accident was not driver error, but tyre and/or his Honda fended off an elbows out Jack . And on mechanical failure. Clark’s career had started only twelve the evidence of that day alone, Jim Clark will always be a leg- years earlier, driving a DKW at the Crimond race circuit near end to me. And possibly to more than a few of you too... Peterhead in north east Scotland, and within four years he was racing in Grands Prix. Out of the 72 Grands Prix he con- John tested, he won 25, starting from pole 33 times and winning the world championship in 1963 and 1965. He also won the British Saloon Car Championship in 1964, the Indy 500 in 1965 and the Formula 1 Tasman series on three of the four occa- sions he contested the ‘off season ‘ F1 series in Australia and New Zealand. As a man, Jim Clark was universally popular and was renowned for being as indecisive outside the cockpit as he was incisive within it. His partnership with ran deep, and Clark drove a Lotus in every Grand Prix he entered, and he also took the gorgeous to his Indy victory. And, just for good measure, his saloon car championship was at the wheel of a Lotus Cortina. Jim Clark grew up near Duns in the Scottish Borders and, until Hockenheim, there was every likelihood that, on retirement (after another two, maybe even three more cham- pionships ) he would have returned to the family farm at Ed- ington Mains. The people of Duns commemorate Jim Clark in a dignified and understated way and the town’s Jim Clark Memorial Room is a lovely tribute to the man and well worth a visit if you are touring the Borders. You’ll be in good compa- ny as you will find Ayrton Senna’s name in the visitors’ book. Another driver touched by genius, but Senna’s ‘win at all costs’ ruthlessness means that any resemblance ends there. Motor racing forums often feature spurious ‘greatest of all time’ debates but I will not even attempt to suggest where Jim Clark should stand in the pantheon of great Grand Prix drivers. Because, whilst few would deny he was one of the very best, he drove in an era which was very different to mod- ern Formula 1. Sixties’ Formula 1 cars were far more unrelia- ble than today’s hybrids, the circuits were both much longer and far more dangerous than their modern counterparts, and crashing nearly always involved the driver (and sometimes spectators too ) getting hurt or killed. There were also far few- er Grands Prix per season; you might be as surprised as I was when I worked out that if Jim Clark were racing in April 2018, his first Grand Prix would have been as recently as Silverstone in 2014. Those are the reasons I am avoiding going down the GOAT road but let me finish this tribute by telling you about the only time I saw Jim Clark race in period , at the Italian Grand Prix in 1967. I was 14, and watched the race on a small black and white TV, but I have never forgotten it. Clark had started from pole in the , powered by the Ford Cos- worth DFV engine which had raced for the first time only three months earlier. He led the first 12 laps at Monza, but then lost a full lap because of a puncture. His recovery drive was heroic, as in a mesmerising display of on the limit driving he retook the lead on lap 60 until – on the last lap- he had fuel pump problems and finished third after John in

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CLNZ at the Icebreaker 2018 HRC Icebreaker, Hampton Downs 22-23 Sept

If you didn’t go this year because it was the Ice- breaker and it was going to be cold or wet or both we could well say more fool you, you missed an absolute cracker. Above right—Paul McCarthy in his immaculate Zak- speed replica. Right—Des Redgwell, Volvo 246 GT chasing a couple of hard charging Escorts that col- lectively have six wheels on the track. Shortly after Photos—John Miller and Rex Oddy the Volvo fractured a brake line and went into a barrier on two wheels. Conveniently some spare body panes should get the car back for the next meeting in two weeks. Des was more than thankful for his HANS de- vice compulsory worn for the first time at Hampton Downs this meeting. Below—Peter Boel, first time out in the 51 following a complete rebuild after being shunted into a barrier last season. Below right—Michelle Stevens first time out in the Excel(fantastic —Ed). Bottom right—Paul Couper in his Westfield took out Round 1 of the Classic Trial Championship. Poul Christie was driving an Escort, sorry no photo, that he has owned for a whole week.

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A VISIT TO DICKERWORLD Ash Price writes about the wonderful world of David Dicker

Ash Price, Lotus enthusiast and Southern Lotus Register member writes about his trip late last year to Dickerworld.

Above—Two Formula 3 race cars, for track training. Left— GP2, and Clio RS Cup race cars. Below—Rodin Cars two of the workshops.

I have a dream, in which you have a garage with a dozen of the best, most amazing sports cars in the world, your own 5 km race track at the door, and an income that means you never have to worry about paying the bills. Oh, and your fulltime “hobby” is building single seater race cars for track days. Unbelievable? Well, for David Dicker, this is his reality, every day. David is the man behind ASX-listed Dicker Data, a company he started in 1978, wholesaling computer hardware. Last year, its turnover was just over $1 billion. A motor racing enthusiast for many years, David always wanted to build his own supercar, and by 2005, had settled on a final site in back country New Zealand – it’s near Waiau, 128 km north from Christchurch Airport. Australia was the Sepang Formula One circuit in Malaysia. Kiwi Richie apparently just too difficult, with government over-regulation Stanaway has been suggested as the test driver. and media issues. His company is called Rodin Cars – How did I come to visit Rodin Cars and meet David www.rodin-cars.com. Dicker? I am on the board of Kohatu Park here in Nelson; our The first car he built, from a part-completed GT car aim is to set up a motorsport and adventure park 45 minutes project sourced from in the UK, was good but not from Nelson, on 200 hectares of rolling country. A fellow exceptional enough to meet David’s high standards. He decid- board member was invited to visit Rodin, for a tour around the ed to go all out and create a track-only car that would lap fast- facilities and a drive around the track. Hard to say no, really! er than an F1 machine! The first example, called the FZero, is Around forty other car enthusiasts drove up from Christ- due to be completed by early 2018, ready for track testing at church, and four of us came from Nelson on a 4 hour drive

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A VISIT TO DICKERWORLD Ash Price writes about the wonderful world of David Dicker

Jaguar, , Cobra, 3 .... – my orange Lotus felt quite at home!

Rodin Cars We drove through an anonymous gateway onto the 587 hec- tare property, and parked in front of 4 very large and quite new sheds. David gave a guided tour through the various high tech facilities, including numerous engineering workshops, a carbon fibre manufacturing plant, a huge 3D printer (which can produce completed titanium suspension uprights in 7 days continuous printing!), industrial robots, water jet cutters, mill- ing lathes, a plant which does anodising and chrome plating.... and many more massive machines. There’s even a fully equipped paint booth; as with every part of this facility, all equipment is expensive state of the art. David only buys the best technology available, and all the buildings and facilities were established for just this purpose – to build a world- beating super car from scratch. Rodin Cars even produces all its own bolts, in titanium of course. David is determined to produce as much as possible himself, to his own design – he is through the mountains to Waiau one Saturday morning in very much hands-on with design, materials used and direction November. for his team of engineers. The day started with low cloud and soon turned into Current staff numbers 8, mainly young graduate engi- showers up to the 864 metre summit of Lewis Pass. Once neers from Christchurch University who have been through through to North Canterbury, the weather turned warm and the Formula SAE competition. This is worldwide, and involves sunny, thankfully. engineering students building, testing and competing in a sin- By midday, we arrived at Waiau, and soon saw the Christ- gle seater race car designed and built from scratch to a fixed church contingent coming through. These included 7 , set of parameters. Universities across NZ and Australia take 2 Astons, 3 , 6 Porsches, 4 Maseratis, an Alfa, part in local and international runoffs. It is a unique way to generate a diverse range of engineering and business skills, and David has found employing these graduates to be very successful.

The Rodin FZed In 2016, David had a call from Lotus Cars – would you like to buy the Lotus T125 Exos race car project? This was a track-only Formula 1 inspired car, with a 3.8 litre Cosworth V8, producing 480 kW, of which Lotus origi- Above — Waiting in the sun outside Rodin Cars’ workshop complex – Lambor ghini, Lotus, Alfa, Maserati, ... nally planned to sell 25 at From left top— 458 Italia and 488 GTB. Lotus 340R (Ferrari F12 tdF in $1,000,000 each. After a background). Lotus Exige V6 Cup. The first Rodin supercar, developed from a Lola Cars unfinished project. quick decision, 2 large con- tainers arrived at Waiau shortly afterwards, with tool- ing and parts for 5 cars. Da- vid is currently busy revising many details on the car, such as the hand clutch, to make it more suitable for the wealthy track-day drivers it was aimed for. The T125, now re-

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A VISIT TO DICKERWORLD Ash Price writes about the wonderful world of David Dicker

branded as the Rodin FZed, is kept in another very large ware- repaired, so we had to make 2 separate speed runs, slowing to house /workshop, along with his other race cars – a GP2 car, take the 2-way link road at a gentle pace. The main track is three Formula 3 cars, a Renault Clio Cup racer, a Ferrari 458 around 3km, and is all corners, blind crests, plunging dips and GT3, and a Formula Ford. These are planned to provide step- steep hills, with only short/medium straights. Commitment is ping stones for FZed purchasers, for quick laps around the test called for initially, at least until a fair number of laps has im- track 200 metres away. planted the track layout firmly in your brain! Just a spectacular After walking through all these functional areas, it was circuit, and with little to no camber on corners. Concrete cor- time to visit the “Toy Shed”, where David keeps some of his ner entry and apex kerbs had just been completed, so we road cars. They include, in no particular order, (deep breath) were warned to be careful of the holes adjacent to these. Ferrari 458 Italia, 488GTB, 599GTB, a rare F12 tdF, Lotus Exige We all had an hour or so to experience the tracks at our V6 Cup, Lotus 340R, Porsche 996 GT3RS, Diablo, own pace, though we had to be careful as some cars were another Diablo Trofeo race car, 1999 Subaru WRX STI 2 door, taking it steady. Wonderful fun! As always, driving on a track, and an early 80s RX7 race car with a deranged front with no limitations except your own sense of self-preservation bumper. David takes a road car round the track for a few laps was a thrill. In a road car, any repaired sections were hardly before driving into town, then does the same on his return. noticeable, though I’m sure 250kph+ in a single seater would Speed is seriously important to him! He has completed proba- be a different story. bly 1000 laps around the track. The Rodin FZero The Test Track The first car we saw, which I’ve left till last, was the still-secret Ah, the track. Not very wide (probably around 6 metres), and FZero track supercar. No photos were permitted, as it has not unfortunately it suffered damage in some sections from last yet been revealed to the public. This was planned to be at the year’s Kaikoura earthquake, which occurred nearby. Most of Dubai Motor Show (David has one of his homes in Dubai) but these have been repaired, but he says that it isn’t quite as may now be early in 2018. The FZero is just breathtaking. It smooth as before, at least until the whole track is resurfaced. truly looks like a cross between the Batmobile and a fighter jet There is a 2km section up on the flat area beside the road, on wheels! Made completely from carbon fibre, it has a closed with a few corners but 2 long straights. One of the 2 link roads cockpit with a clear canopy which tilts forward for entry, a with the other section, which makes 1 long circuit, is still not single seater-style fuselage (only one seat), massive stream-

Below left— David Dicker by chrome plating / anodising equipment Below centre — Plant 3D printer – printing a suspension hub in titanium! Below right—Graduate engineer Matt and carbon fibre autoclaves.

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A VISIT TO DICKERWORLD Ash Price writes about the wonderful world of David Dicker

gramme used by the Red Bull F1 team. Ground clear- ance will be 25mm, the car will be air conditioned. The front hubs are hollow titanium, made by a 3D printer, the wheels are carbon fibre, again made in-house. I presume that a potential buyer might start with an FZed, then step up to an FZero! We drove away from this sprawling complex, lost for words. David Dicker’s ambition, his drive and determination, his achievements so far..... incredible. All realised in a quiet rural location, far away from any ex- lined pontoons covering each wheel – the rear pontoons are ternal influences or traditional motorsport centres. I look for- nearly 2 metres long – huge rear wing and front splitter, and a ward to hearing more about Rodin Cars in the future. very short rear cover over the engine. It is initially only for track use, but David plans to produce a road version later. Ash That could be a challenge! The details are amazing: weight will be around 640kg Pictures—Ash Price with driver, the same as for pre-2014 F1 cars. It will use a 4 litre V10 with turbos, specially built for David by three ex- Cosworth engineers in the UK. The engine is extremely com- Above—The FZed with the 3.8 Cosworth V8. pact and light, c 125kg. Power will be limited to 1000 bhp to Below left—Late lunch at the Mt Lyford Lodge. start. Much more downforce than a current F1 car, and all Below right— Countach 5000QV & Aventador SV – 30 years apart!

aerodynamics are tested in-house by the same CFD pro- There is now a teaser photo of the FZero on the web. Worth a look—Ed

One of Danny Bahar’s dreams. The original Lotus T125 that came with a £1,000,000.00 price tag and Jean Alessi to offer you advice on how to drive it.

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WEDNESDAY WANDERS A progress report by Rex Oddy

The club does not hear a lot about Wednesday Wanders. One happens every month except Decem- ber, and those members with a Gold card sometimes get to use it. Allan Horner of the Austin-Healey Car Club and Club Lotus and myself are joint organisers. We quite like walking so some Wednesday Wanders include a walk and although it is fair to say walking doesn’t have universal appeal, walking is one of the reasons we call it Wednesday Wanders. Sometimes we visit places of interest, we have visited car collec- tions that have value in the many millions of dollars but these visits come with the proviso of, no photos please, so they quietly come and go but are not for- gotten by those who were there. Sometimes if we are lucky we get to see what most people do not. The August Wednesday Wander was one of these. We went to MOTAT to see their collection of Short flying boats. MOTAT is the only place in the world where you can see two Short flying boats to- gether. In their case the military Short Sunderland operated by the RNZAF and the Short Solent operated by TEAL, the forerunner to Air New Zealand. There are only three Sunderlands and two Solents left anywhere so MOTAT has 40% of the worlds remaining craft. What was special about this visit was that we got a guided tour of these rare craft including seeing them on the inside. The Sunderland has had the exterior refur- bished and painted. Wednesday Wanders visited in May 2015 to see this work being undertaken. It has now replaced the Solent inside the main display hall. The Solent now in the rear yard, scaffolded and under plastic having the same work carried out as was under- taken on the Sunderland. Already the hull has been reskinned other corroded areas are being replaced and work is gearing towards repainting. The long term plan is to house both craft inside the main display hall. We are a little country but we are one that is not short of treasures.

Anticlockwise from top left—Sunderland cockpit. Inside the Sunderland fuselage, no sound proofing here. Viewing the Sunderland. Up on the scaffolding surrounding the Solent. One of Solents four 14 cylinder 1,700 hp Bristol Hercules engines, the Sunderland had to make do with 9 cylinder Bristol Pegasus 1065 hp engines. Engine connection point one of four per engine (we are told it is common for modern jet engines to be connected with four bolts) . Inset a 450 hp bolt.

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MISCELLANEOUS

Left—A big thanks to NZ Classic Diver Magazine. Two issues on Lotus’s 70th Anniversary. A fantastic plug for the marque and for CLNZ.

Issue 79, far left, covered the earlier cars and Issue 80, in the bookshops right now, covering the later cars.

You may remember the photo to the right from EDITION 61. We had pub- lished an article from the UK Lotus Seven Club’s magazine Lowflying, about Carl Greatrix an amateur Lego designer and the Caterham model he had designed. Lego, always open to great ideas from the public put the best of the ideas submitted to them on their web site and ask the public to vote. Any design receiv- ing over 10,000 votes goes on to another stage and the company will select a small number of the 10,000 vote concepts and put them into production. Lego allow a few months to collect votes but Carl’s Caterham achieved its 10,000 votes in days so it wasn’t a big surprise that it got selected and went into production after first being redesigned by Lego. EDITION’s Editor thought Club Lotus people in New Zealand will have bought up large, for their children and grand-children of course, but have never heard back from anyone having done so. So we have been forced to include a photo of the Editors own model Caterham just to prove they did go on the market in New Zealand. And the verdict? - Your Ed wasn't overly impressed. Carl’s Seven has steering, the Lego one hasn’t. There are also a few bits that fall off if you touch them such as the nose cone and the bonnet. We are sure Carl’s version doesn’t do that. Was it worth the trouble? - Possibly

16 16 — - EDITIONEDITION No. No. 65 65 — —SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2018 2018

MISCELLANEOUS

Left—Nigel Hayman gets a mention in a July issue of Mahurangi Matters.

Below — From 2013, Peter Boel with his Mk 5A Lola FJ. The photo was taken the Silverstone Classic Meeting. With Peter is a previous owner, happy to be reunited with his old car and very happy to see it racing.

Bottom of page —Same trip, Peter again in the Lola driving motorsports most famous corner, Eau Rouge at Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

Back page—Peter again, this time racing at Silverstone, a track he admits he never got on top of. Fifteen minutes of practice and two twenty mi- nute races just wasn't enough time he said. Peter faired better at Kirkis- town in Northern Island with a full day of practice before the meeting Peter not only won but set a FJ lap record. While away Peter also raced at Donnington Park, Snetterton and .

17 - EDITION No. 65 — SEPTEMBER 2018

18 - EDITION No. 65 — SEPTEMBER 2018