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1965 McLaren Elva M1A news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Sports Racer Designer: Tony Hilder Chassis Num: 20-06 |
The acquisition of Roger Penske's Zerex Special was the next step. The car was a modified F1 Cooper and powered by a 2.7-liter Climax four-cylinder unit. It was later fitted with a 215 cubic-inch Traco-modified Oldsmobile aluminum block V8.
The McLaren MK1 was built in time for the late season North American races. Power was from the Traco Olds which now displaced 4.5-liters. The competition was fierce, with strong teams from both Europe and North America. The McLaren car encountered a throttle linkage problem but rallied to finish third overall and established the lap record. cooling hose issues were responsible for the teams DNF's at Riverside and Laguna Seca.
The McLaren M1 was a very competitive and capable car. Teddy Mayer soon reaelized that a customer version of the car could provide additional income for hte team. Not wanting to over-work the Feltham McLaren shop, the team struck a deal with Frank Nichols who had joined Peter Agg's Trojan Group to re-estalish Elva cars. Elva would build customer cars for McLaren which were designated McLaren-Elvas.
The Elva-built McLarens were called the MK 1A and powered by a variety of powerplants. They had a simple and straightforward design with a frame based on three main tubes incorporating a multi-tubular space frame structured. At all four corners were an independent suspension with widely spaced pickups for the front upper wishbones. The rear had reversed lower wishbones, single upper links and parallel radius rods. Springing was by coil springs and tubular shocks. The gearbox was a Hewland transaxle. The body design was courtesy of Tony Hilder.
This recently restored MK1A was originally raced by Hammond, Indiana driver Ralph Salyer. Gene Crowe was his mechanic. Salyer named the car the 'Cro-Sal Special.'
Salyer was third on the grid with his MK1A at Road America in September of 1965. Along with co-driver Bill Mitchell, the car finished fifth overall. After a rather successful season of competition, the MK1A was invited to the American Road Race of Champions at the Daytona Motor Speedway. This was the predecessor to the SCCA National Championship runoffs. At Daytona, Sayler set the fastest qualifying time on the road course, setting a course record and besting his next closest competitor by nearly three seconds. Unfortunately, Salyer's MK1A went out after only eight laps.
The following season, the Cro-Sal Special raced in a few event of the new U.S. Road Racing Championship (SRRC) series before being replaced by a McKee-Chevy at Mid-Ohio.
Since then, the car has been given a concours quality restoration, returning it to the livery when it was raced by Ralph Salyer. It is painted in midnight blue with red driving seat upholstery. This M1A 20-06 is powered by a 358 Chevrolet V8 offering 482 horsepower and 452 lbs of torque. There is a Hewland LG500 gearbox and an overall weight of just 1300 lbs.
In total, it is believed that 24 examples of the McLaren-Elva MK 1As were built.
In 2009, this recently restored racer was offered for sale by Bonhams Auction at the Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia sale in Carmel, CA. It was estimated to sell for $250,000 - $300,000 , but would leave the auction unsold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2009
| Ctech Becomes Official Tool Cart And Cabinet Provider For Road America | |
| ELKHART LAKE, Wis., (April 29, 2013) - Road America announced today that CTECH, the leader in innovative aluminum trailer, shop, cart storage and cabinet solutions, has agreed to be the circuit's official tool cart and cabinet provider. Using proprietary designs, patented Motion Latch™ handles on doors and drawers, and GasketLoc™ counter tops that are durable, robust and aesthetically pleasing, CTECH gives racers the cabinets and carts to be the most productive and the most competitive. ...[Read more...] | |
| Firestone Returns As Presenting Sponsor of RRDC Evening With Brian Redman in Long Beach | |
 | The Firestone brand will return as presenting sponsor of the Road Racing Drivers Club's fifth annual West Coast banquet honoring auto racing's most influential leaders. This year, on Thursday, April 18, prior to the running of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the 'RRDC Evening with Brian Redman presented by Firestone' will highlight the career of one of the sport's most popular, talented and successful race-car drivers. This is the Firestone brand's fourth straight year as a supporter of the...[Read more...] |
| 1967 Can-Am Road America: The Beginning of the 'Bruce and Denny Show' | |
 | While Formula One will be forever considered the pinnacle of motorsport, from a period between 1966 and 1986 there existed a series that would likely be the closest to 'anything goes' as any motor racing series could truly get. Based upon the FIA Group 7 cars but allowed to showcase unlimited engine sizes and unfettered aerodynamics, the Can-Am cars would have to be considered the pinnacle of motorsport technology and power of their era. And for more than a couple of years there would be one tea...[Read more...] |
| The WeatherTech® CHICAGO REGION SCCA JUNE SPRINTS® | |
 | Winning the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) June Sprints at Road America has been every sports car driver's dream since the thrilling first event in 1956. That's when a tall, curly-haired chicken farmer from Texas named Carroll Shelby drove all night to make the race, jumped into the cockpit of a Ferrari 121 LM without even changing out of his work clothes - striped farmer's overalls - and won the 152-mile feature. No one back then knew that his win would set the tone for his momentous racing ...[Read more...] |
| Vintage Racing Ushers In The 2012 Season At Road America | |
 | It has been 62 years since racers tore through the streets of this tiny village about 60 miles north of Milwaukee. Still, every spring you would swear that the town speed limit doesn't exist when the sounds of historic racecars from days gone by seem to echo throughout the hillside. May 18-20 the Spring Vintage Weekend returns to Road America and kicks-off the start of a summer full of racing, from vintage and historic cars to motorcycles and even NASCAR. Racing came to Elkhart Lake in 1950...[Read more...] |
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