BDDFKP Ultra Violet Degradation of the Rubber", Plus They've Only Ever Had 12Psi Pressure in Them

f"1 Peter Mayne The only alterations Peter made to the car were a few pre-build modifications to the standard Ford 100E engine. These were common changes at the time, such as fitting an Aquaplane cylinder head, four pipe exhaust, twin SU carbs, lighter flywheel and close ratio gears. Peter did this work himself except for having the con rods and crank dynamically and statically balanced by Jack Brabham Motors in Chessington. Once finished there was no post-build inspection, however Peter was advised to contact his Local Licensing Authority, which was Kent County Council. "They said that as long as I didn't make a habit of this then they wouldn't charge me purchase tax", which at the time was 25%. "I sent them some details, and nobody came to inspect it". Amazingly 'FKP' is still wearing it's original Firestone crossply tyres, "Nobody can fault them" says Peter, putting the preservation down to the fact that, "the car's been stored in the dark, therefore no BDDFKP ultra violet degradation of the rubber", plus they've only ever had 12psi pressure in them. The car's only incident in nearly forty years was rear-ending another vehicle in the early hours of a wet February morning, on Park Lane. This left a nice dent in the aluminium nose cone. "People can't believe I've never had it bashed out", says Peter, "but NAME: Peter Mayne others like James and Lol say, 'no no it's all part of the character of the car' and I'm inclined to agree". LIVES: Camberley, Surrey I assume that Dot, Peter's wife, is fairly broad minded about the CAR: Lotus Seven Series 1 apparent uses of a Lotus Seven since Peter pronounces, "It's ENGINE: Ford 100E amazing how many girls you can pull in it" he goes on, "I get most of them to scream, I howl up to a round-about and they think I'm going YEAR: 1959 straight on because we're going so fast, then I tweak it", he laughs - MEMBER SINCE: 1994 gesticulating a steering movement, "and we go round, and they go arh!! They just can't believe it" he continues, "one bloke did try to get out thinking we wouldn't make it!". eter must be fairly unique amongst current Lotus Seven Staying on this subject we discuss the exaggerated perception of owners, he bought his Series 1 car in 1959, from the fledgling speed which a Seven gives, "You think you're going much faster than Lotus Engineering Co. of 7 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey. Since P you are", he says, "of course my wife's convinced we're doing bloody then the car, 'FKP 600', has only managed to cover a fraction over eighty all the time, but I barely exceed forty when Dot's in the car". 20,000 miles, the first nineteen of which were accomplished well Some might think that the round-about incidents prejudice his case before Kennedy was shot. a little. What lead up to Peter's purchase of a Lotus Seven was a chance How come a Lotus Seven owner of 38 years only joined the Club meeting in Camberley, with John Derisley, a well known Lotus racer in '94? "It was my sixtieth birthday" he says, "and my eldest and Team Lotus volunteer. Peter recalls, "He took me out in his Six daughter, who's always been keen on cars, said 'you must get the and terrified me, it was fantastic!" adding, "We went through the Lotus going, it'll be my present to you' so she discovered the Lotus middle of Camberley like a rocket". The order went in just before Seven Club". The Club put her in touch with Tony Weale as Christmas '58 and was eventually completed for collection the someone who could make the car roadworthy after twenty odd years following March. in the garage. 'The car had never really left my jealous possession" A friend of Peter's had a Jaguar XK120 plus trailer, and it was in muses Peter, "but Tony took it away and he actually found it needed this that they went to Hornsey to meet Peter Warr, the Lotus Sales very little doing to it, other than an MOT, service and a new battery". Manager, and collect the bits. He recalls finding Lotus at the back of Back on the road Peter has displayed 'FKP' on the Club stand at an hotel in a number of sheds, "It was only later we heard that an the Loseley Park Show and The Lotus Show at Donington. This extension had been built without planning permission", so Chapman year he'd like to drive to Le Mans but Dot's against the idea on could carry on expanding, "I seem to remember it was hidden safety and comfort grounds. The car doesn't have seat belts and behind packing cases". Peter never fitted the windscreen, which is carefully stored, Once home it took three weeks to put together. "My recollection preferring instead the aeroscreens. is that it was very straight forward", says Peter. The only problem he By way of a postscript; shortly after building the Seven, Peter built had, apart from one or two bits missing, was getting the front the 'Mayne' family house. The house is constructed from a steel suspension in, "You had to squeeze the combined shock absorber space frame structure with lightweight materials forming the walls spring unit, it was very difficult to compress the springs enough to and partitions, it's clear to see where some of the inspiration came get them in". from! Andrew Walker June 1997 Low Flying .

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