Lotus Cortinas in 1969 Circuit of Ireland

[tommy]

Found this old copy of Motor Week from March 1970 with a preview of the Circuit and it shows pictures from the 1969 event. NAB 495D and KMX520B where are they now? Tommy

[martin k]

loving the donkey and cart. been in a few of them,thinking of getting one for kens london

[Matthew]

Wouldn't they put some sort of "crappers tax" or "slow vehicle tax" on the donkey? Then they would charge you the $200 (I cant find the UK pound symbol) for storage and feeding while you are in there, so there would be no benefit at all. May as well have fun in the old vehicle.

I know this should be in the correct link, but I couldn't resist.

[Lashman]

Good find Tommy!
I really like the way they have 'broke-up' the stripe on the car in the 3rd photo...Good to way to stop the old banana stripe problem.

[tommy]

The break in the stripe is the top of the entry number, where it says Gallagher Circuit of Ireland, if you look really closely Louis. On the entry list for 1970 there are no less than 7 lotus cortinas but this is dwarfed by 32 escort twin cams which shows how the L.C. rally career was coming to an end by 1970. Total entry 182 cars.
Tommy

[tommy]

Found these images from the 68 Circuit in an old progrmme for the 69 event.
Tommy

[conal]

Don't know where NAB is now but I(the driver) am doing fine,
the car was prepared by David Sutton(London), and had a new (standard) Twin Cam engine fitted from a Mk1 Escort Twin Cam, I did 25,000 miles in the year including the Circuit of Ireland(finished 14th), the Welsh International(finished in the 20's), 10 or so Motoring News events, plus regular local events in the south of England.
The engine never missed a beat in all the 25k miles, oil change and cams done regularly, otherwise not a thing. A smashing car.
I'd love to know if it still runs!

[Michael Winstock]

This must be a record for the longest gap between posts...a week short of 3 years!

[Steve 155C]

Welcome Conal - I bet you never wore any tires out the amount of time the car spent in the air

[conal]

Welcome Conal - I be you never wore any tires out the amount of time the car spent in the air

In fact I had free tyres from Uniroyal, and on the Circuit that year we started out with 6 new tyres and rims and finished with 4 usable tyres. Given the total rally mileage was 1,600 about half of which on special stages the tyre usage was indeed restrained.
From your photo it seems the technique you employ ensures that you only use 75% of your rubber . Not as frugal as airborne but impressive none the less.