SOLVED: FW #609: Piper Buick, Jerry Titus, Riverside 1967

[fromwien]

Please be so kindand identify this racer: Make? Engine? Year? Driver? Track?

[fromwien]

Experts?

[fromwien]

Professionals?

[nicanary]

American ?

[fromwien]

Partly

[nicanary]

Canadian chassis ?

[fromwien]

No

[nicanary]

UK chassis ?

[fromwien]

Yes!

[nicanary]

The front looks like a Lotus 19, but the back doesn't  .Is there a Lotus connection ?

[fromwien]

No Lotus connection

[nicanary]

Did the chassis maker build other cars ?

[fromwien]

Yes

[nicanary]

Did this car race in the USA ?

[nicanary]

 

[fromwien]

Sorry, YES

[nicanary]

Is it the "other" Merlyn Mk 8 ? We've had one as a previous puzzle.

[fromwien]

Not a Merlyn and not Mk 8

[nicanary]

Was it raced by the John Mecom team ?

[fromwien]

No
But, as I am sure you know the car, I want to give you a small hint: It has a special (nearly unique) feature, which cannot be seen from this perspective

[nicanary]

Is it the Cooper Monaco used by Heppenstall to test the future Howmet's gas turbine engine ?

[fromwien]

No, the special features are parts of the bodywork

[nicanary]

Did it have a Gurney flap before Dan Gurney thought up the idea ?

[fromwien]

No
The special feature didn't affect driving dynamics or the competitiveness of the car

[nicanary]

Is there any Brabham in this car ?