Solved NIC#337 - Lotus 43 converted to F5000 specification

[nicanary]

Sorry for the poor photo - what is the make and formula of this car, and who commissioned the car to be built?

[nicanary]

Experts?

[shamrock]

Lotus 43 , Formula 5000 , Robs Lamplough .;

[nicanary]

Lotus 43 , Formula 5000 , Robs Lamplough .;

That's exactly what I thought when I first saw it. But the source is quite adamant it's something else, and you've obviously got the correct formula.

[shamrock]

track tested by Simon Taylor in Autosport when new , will look for the article

[nicanary]

track tested by Simon Taylor in Autosport when new , will look for the article

Since mistakes do occur with upsetting frequency on the internet, I've just double-checked my source (a reputable site), and I've found the same photo with the same information in a well-known reference book.

So I'm happy enough with my info - sorry, it's not a Lotus.

[shamrock]

I will be waiting with interest to see the answer

[shamrock]

lotus 42 ( indy chassis) one of 2 converted by Ken Nicholls of Nike ff fame for Robs Lamplough

[nicanary]

lotus 42 ( indy chassis) one of 2 converted by Ken Nicholls of Nike ff fame for Robs Lamplough

I wasn't expecting that - you have the Nike connection but your answer isn't what I have. I will have to investigate my source again - I will LOCK this for you for 24 hours.

I have it as  a Nike, but not built for Lamplough, and not a converted Lotus!

[shamrock]

one Nike F5000 car was built and raced by Reg Gubbings this NIKE is not the car in the photo

[nicanary]

one Nike F5000 car was built and raced by Reg Gubbings this NIKE is not the car in the photo

Yes. This is not that car. It was commissioned by someone else, and was Nike's first attempt at a larger car beyond Formula Ford. It was raced in the UK and then went somewhere else.

I am aware that my information may be incorrect - certainly this car was news to me when I found it, and there's always the possibility that the internet has yet again given false details. I know from experience that you have a very good knowledge of historic racing, and you may well know more than me about this era.

I have not yet had time to check further. The puzzle is still LOCKED for you - a small clue: the source site may require you to click "translate this page".

[nicanary]

I have checked the source of my puzzle, and I have not misread the article. UNLOCKED for all.

(I can find no further information about this car, but the internet is a strange beast).

PS I have just found out that this same photograph is reproduced in a very well-known book about motorsport, and the car is incorrectly identified by the author. Shamrock is right - it's not the Nike Mk5.

[pftnbr]

I'll have a go ;D Nike F5000 MK1a, commissioned by Ray Caldwell?

[nicanary]

I'll have a go ;D Nike F5000 MK1a, commissioned by Ray Caldwell?

And that's exactly what I've been able to find out. According to the internet article, Ray Caldwell (of Autodynamics) commissioned the car from Nike simply because they had no previous experience of larger formula cars. It was Chevrolet powered. Mike Goth drove it in a few British races before it was shipped to the US to take part in Formula A. Later on, Nike made the pretty useless Mk5 of their own.

[shamrock]

please check lotus , in the F5000 section of OLD RACING CARS .COM it is in agreement with my answer , any raises questions about the accuracy of the source you used

[nicanary]

I think this puzzle needs to be analysed fully - I will investigate further.

PS I have found a post on another site in which it is claimed that Ray Caldwell sometimes built cars and named them something other than Caldwell or Autodynamics. The author of the post claims that the puzzle car is called Nike because Caldwell selected that name - which suggests it had nothing to do with the "UK" Nike. Which doesn't get me any nearer an answer.

I am still looking into it. BTW although you haven't actually posted a link, the mention of another site isn't really condoned by the editors. It gives other puzzlers another source  ;)

[nicanary]

Shamrock - PM sent.

[nicanary]

I have received information from non other than Carole Nicholls, daughter of Nike founder Ken Nicholls, who confirms that "shamrock" was right all along, and I was very wrong, especially to trust something on the internet.

The car is indeed one of the Lotus 43 cars which were converted to F5000 specification by Nike to the order of Robs Lamplough. The car is photographed in front of Hopkins' Garage which was just down the road from the Meddon Street Works of Nike. Apparently Reg Gubbings came to collect one of the cars, and at that time ordered a new car which became the Mk5 Nike.

The French site from which I obtained my information is clearly in error. The odd thing is that I believed them so whole-heartedly.

Pftnbr keeps his point, as he was only providing the info I had requested. Shamrock gets a point, and my humble apologies.