Lola T70 Spyders

As the information on SL70/4 is so brief, this week I am including information on SL70/5 as well.

SL70/4

This T70 was sold to Hugh Dibley but he returned it to the factory as the chassis was faulty. The rear roll hoops collapsed, necessitating it being re-chassised with SL70/7. Not re-issued as /4. That chassis scrapped. See: SL70/7.

SL70/5

Mike Taylor of Taylor and Crawley, a well known Sportscar dealership in England, took delivery of SL70/5 for David Cunningham. Ford 289 cubic inch engine.

David Cunningham raced this T70 just once at Silverstone, where he finished seventh. He then sold /5 to David Good (Good International Racing) who hill-climbed it. (David Good had a withered arm, which prevented him from obtaining a racing license for the circuits.) Roy Pierpoint then raced it for him both in the U.K. and in South Africa where Doug Serrurier, after driving it with Pierpoint, bought the car and campaigned it successfully until 1969.

Doug Serrurier then converted the car into a T140 F5000 car using the running gear, engine, and gearbox, etc. (Presumably, the chassis was discarded–Ed.) This car was known as the T70/140. The car was then crashed and sold to the Domingo Bros., who sold the project on to Peter Haller. He turned it into a dragster, which was never used. A company called Delport carried out this conversion. Johan van der Merwe then acquired the "sorry remains." They were rebuilt into another T70 for Ivan Glasby in Australia.

From David Harvey: "SL70/05 was subsequently sold to a gentleman in New Zealand called Mr. Richard Hook who sold the car on. Mr. Andy Culpin purchased the remaining ‘parts’ and then quietly set about completing the assembly of parts so the car could be completely restored. By 2001, the car was back to very much original condition (such as uprights, steering, brakes, suspension, wheels, etc.) and the balance of parts were new ‘original’ such as IDA Webers and/or restored items.

Andy Culpin purchased an original Lola factory MKII body, swapped and traded to get the original LG500 transaxle (completely restored), with large Girling Le Mans brakes and vented rotors that came with the car. Originally, solid discs with BRE calipers were used. A Gurney Weslake 289 Ford engine originally installed in this car is now fitted.

1965:
15/5: Silverstone, International Trophy: Cunningham, 7th.
Sold to David Good.
01/7: Silverstone: Pierpoint; DNF.
12/7: Silverstone, Senior Service 25 laps: Pierpoint. DNF. Gear selection problems.
24/7: Silverstone, Martini Int: F. Gardner; DNF.
30/8: Brands Hatch, Guards International Trophy: Roy Pierpoint; DNF.
8/11: South African 9 hours, Kyalami: Entered by David Good and driven by Pierpoint/Serrurier. Broke pushrod after 6 hours, dropped valve, broke piston. DNF.
28/11: Rhodesian GP, Bulawayo: P. Hawkins; 2nd.
4/12: Rand GP, Kyalami: P. Hawkins; 1st.
27/12: Pietermaritzburg 3-Hours: P. Hawkins; DNF.
Killarney, Cape International 3-hours. P. Hawkins. Result unknown.

1966: May. Sold to Stirling Moss Auto Racing Team.

7/11: Kyalami, 9th South African 9 hours: Entered by Roy Pierpoint and driven by Pierpoint/Serrurier, #1. Led until 88 laps when a pushrod broke again.
19/11: Cape 3 hours at Killarney: Pierpoint/Serrurier; 2nd OA.
17/12: Lourenco Marques 3-hours: Serrurier/Pierpoint; 1st.
27/12: Dickie Dale 3-hours, Roy Hesketh Circuit, Pietermaritzburg: Serrurier; Pole position. 1m 16. Led at the start, DNF with rear suspension breakage after 65 laps.

Sold to Doug Serrurier.

1967:
02/1: Kyalami Sportscar race, 20 laps: D. Serrurier; 1st OA. First lap over 100 mph lap.
07/2: Killarney circuit, Capetown: D. Serrurier. DNF, crashed at half distance due to front suspension failure when leading after rain fell. New sportscar lap record, 3 seconds faster than previous.
27/3: Roy Hesketh Circuit, Pietermaritzburg: D. Serrurier; DNF (engine).
Bulawayo GP: D. Serrurier; Withdrew from event.
Rhodesian GP Sports car race: D. Serrurier; Rear suspension trailing arm broke when leading.
08/4: Killarney Circuit, Capetown: D. Serrurier; 2nd in both heats.
09/7: Roy Hesketh Circuit, Pietermaritzburg: D. Serrurier; 2nd in 2 x heats, 2nd OA.
7/10: Kyalami 12-laps: D. Serrurier; led until oil pressure forced retirement. (Broken piston.)
04/11: Kyalami 9 hours: D. Serrurier/Jackie Pretorius; DNF due to piston failure.
18/11: Cape Int. 3-hours, Killarney: D. Serrurier/J. Pretorius, #3; 3rd OA.
16/12: Lourenco Marques 3-hours. D. Serrurier/J. Pretorius; DNF. (Overheating.)
26/12: Roy Hesketh Circuit 3 hours: D. Serrurier/J. Pretorius. 1st OA.

1968:
09/11: Kyalami 9 hours: D. Serrurier/J. Pretorius; DNF, fractured oil pipe.
23/11: Killarney Capetown: D. Serrurier; Crashed when brake pipe blew off at end of pit straight. Frontal damage.
08/12: Lourenco Marques: D. Serrurier; 3rd OA.

1969:
08/11: Kyalami 9-hours. D. Serrurier/J. Pretorius; led from start then pit fire. DNF. (Slight damage.)
27/12: Roy Hesketh 3 hour. D. Serrurier/J. Pretorius; Left front suspension damaged in practice so DNS.
Pietermaritzburg: D. Serrurier; 1st.
2006: Now restored back to original specification.