JOHN STARKEY CARS :: CARS FOR SALE

~~Price: $550,000.~~

Just finished a total restoration, SL71/27 is presented here as a “ready to use” classic historic/vintage racecar. It is one of the few cars to have immediate charisma, wherever it appears. Its history is below and I’m here to ask any questions that any interested buyer may have.

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1966: Sold to Charles Bridges. Red Rose Racing Team for Brian Redman. Chevrolet Engine Number: TS51 (ex-Team Surtees).

After an E Type Jaguar, Brian Redman found SL71/27: “A revelation!” Very fast, but Brian was well up to coping with it, winning at Rufforth, his fifth race, and taking four fourth places in the 1966 season.

1966:
08/4: Archie Scott-Brown Memorial Trophy, Snetterton: B. Redman; DNF.
29/4: Tourist Trophy, Oulton Park: B. Redman, #28; 13th.
14/5: Daily Express Trophy, Silverstone: B. Redman; 4th.
28/5: Grovewood Trophy, Mallory Park: B. Redman; 3rd in first heat, DNF in second (damaged wheel).
18/6: Rufforth: Lap record, 1m 12.8, 84.07 mph, B. Redman, #39; 1st.
17/7: Brands Hatch: Support race to British G.P. 5.9 engine, B. Redman; 4th.
14/8: Croft: B. Redman; DNF. Accident (bodywork damage).
29/8: Guards Trophy, Brands Hatch: B. Redman, #33; DNF.

At the end of 1966, Robin Darlington, a gentleman farmer, bought SL71/27 and scored six victories with it! Peter Gethin drove it at Oulton Park and won also.

Sold to Robin Darlington.
01/10: Club race, Silverstone G.P. circuit: R. Darlington, #154; 1st.
09/10: BARC Club Handicap, Silverstone: R. Darlington; 1st.
Silverstone Club: Lap record, 59.4 97.45 mph, R. Darlington.
27/12: BRSCC Meeting, Mallory Park, Formula Libre: R. Darlington; 1st.

1967:
22/1: Racing Car Show Trophy Meeting, Brands Hatch, Guards Trophy: R. Darlington; DNF after spin into ditch (no damage).
12/3: Sports Cars 10 laps: R. Darlington; DNF on last lap with broken rocker. Fastest lap 50.0s.
24/3: Oulton Park: R. Darlington; 1st.
24/3: Formula Libre, Oulton Park: P. Gethin; 1st.
24/3: Sports Car 10 laps, Oulton Park: R. Darlington; 1st.
09/4: Formula Libre, Snetterton: R. Darlington; 2nd.
16/4: Brands Hatch: T. Lanfranchi; 2nd after clutch failed.
23/4: Leicester Cup, Mallory Park: Richard Kennedy; DNF when anti-roll bar came loose.
23/4: Sports Racing10 laps, Mallory Park: R. Darlington, 2nd.
In April 1967, David Bridges bought SL71/27 back and sold it to South West Spring, which was an 18 wheeler tractor and trailer suspension repair company based in Chicago, USA.

Harry Heuer remembered:
“As I recall, it had a 350 cubic inch Chevy. I was hired by South West Spring to drive it. I think the partners name was Jack? I do know that we won the 1968 Central Division Championship with it. Little brother drove the same car later.”

“For the National Championship races at Atlanta, I had made a deal with Carl Haas to use John Surtees’ car, putting up our Lola as collateral until we returned Haas' car in good shape. However the owner, forgetting why he hired me, drove the car himself and wrapped it around a tree, damaging it badly. Oh well, that’s racing.”

“The only tracks that I remember for that year were Mid-Ohio, MIA and Blackhawk; there were others, but memory fails.”

“At the beginning I tried the car for the team at Blackhawk and set a new lap record. Based on that the owner wanted to compete in that years Can-Ams. We went back East against my advice and were also rans. Not good!”

“The team had limited resources, so I advised that we run SCCA and win the championship, thereby finding a sponsor to be able to procure a competitive Lola and whip up on Bruce (McLaren) and the Bear (Denny Hulme). You can see how that ended!”

In recent years, SL71/27 has surfaced in original but “used(!)” condition and has been totally restored.