January 2013 Newsletter Apologies for a rather overdue Newsletter, always much to do, however I trust that we can all look forward to an extremely pl

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January 2013 Newsletter

Apologies for a rather overdue Newsletter, always much to do, however I trust that we can all look forward to an extremely pleasant and successful 2013.

Last year proved to be demanding but most encouraging due to lots of ELVA activity and increasing awareness following the publication of the ELVA book at the end of 2011. There have been further 'finds' of cars which had been inactive for long periods, many now with new enthusiastic owners, promising that more ELVA road and race cars will be seen and enjoyed worldwide. The official ELVA website has many visitors, but I would welcome more stories from previous and current owners, to be included on the site and/or the ELVA Forum. This facility is being provided FOC so do please make good use of it!

Elva News

01-Jan2013

There was an impressive Courier turnout at the Pittsburg Vintage GP in July 2012 as the image shows ... Courier photo line up left to right ... #81, Tucker Madawick, #11, Bud Byrnes, #26, Norman Burke, #22 Kevin Michael, #204, Brian King, #379 Nate Sciglaiano, with Michael Oritt and his Mk. VI sports racer just out of sight. Michael has been obtaining some excellent results in the Mk.IV. Great job!

02-Jan2013

The Monza 1000K race in June 2012 had brothers Pierre & Laurant Dutoya together with Alain Guanzini & Marc Bessand, driving two ELVA Mk.VIII sports racers and achieving podium results. This highly competitive race showed the two Mk.VIII's finishing a highly creditable 2nd and 3rd, being only out paced by the much more powerful Lola T70 Mk.IIB. Fourth place went to the very fast ELVA Mk.VIII of Dion and Gabriel Kremer. Another fabulous outing for the Mk.VIII sports racers currently being campaigned in Europe.

03-Jan2013

A number of cars have found new owners via the website, and of course eBay increasing features as a shop window for all sorts of goodies. A search on "ELVA" brings up a myriad of things, much having no connection with our cars, but occasionally there is a previously hidden treasure to be found! I was pleased to spot a 'unique' photograph of "1960's UK pop star Adam Faith taking race lessons his new white ELVA Mk.V special racing car in 1965" (sic). A news story which would have certainly made it into the book. More at
www.elva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=308

04-Jan2013

The special meeting at Lime Rock in September honoured Sir Stirling Moss and certainly one of the nicest Mk.IV T-Type Couriers was put on show by one of the nicest ELVA owners, Elva Fisher. She later wrote "My car was in perfect condition, thanks to all the help from Craig and wonderful people at Automotive Restoration. Many hundreds of people took pics of my car -- I must admit it pleased me!" While not attracting an award, the car is a further superb example of why ELVA is such an important and much respected historic marque.

05-Jan2013

Another very impressive Mk.IV T-Type, the UK road test car, which has received careful sympathetic restoration is owned by Dan Mitchell who has long experience with these cars, having driven many hundreds of miles during various ownerships. He collected one car from the Lambretta-Trojan Purley Way factory in Croydon, visited Ken Sheppard (who was working on Couriers for Trojan and modifying GT160 #2 for the Buick set-up) and similarly Tony Ellis at Eton Wick. I am gently nudging him towards an article telling his full story!

Len Sayers

On a more personal note I was immensely saddened to learn we had lost Len Sayers who had been with Frank Nichols before the ELVA days, and went on to build almost all of the sports racer and Formula Junior chassis frames. Despite always being in demand, the nice guys always are, he gave much time to help with the rebuild of the museum Mk.III and was always willing to recall wonderful stories of his time at ELVA and subsequently as "Sayers & Crowe", a light engineering company he formed with Barry Crowe in St.Leonards. Hugely talented but equally modest, Len was a true superstar amongst many stars that were the team at ELVA. Next time I will relate his story of the ELVA boomerangs!

Coming Soon and more ELVA News

06-Jan2013

I have previously recommended a small number of special books which relate to our shared interest. Although not all of us are model builders or collectors, I thought it important that ELVA should be seen to be part of that massive scenario and contributed to a new publication due next month. "The History of Resin Transport Modelling" has been prepared by David Wright and deserves your consideration. Info at www.elva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=307

The ELVA Mk.III sports racer which I located and bought on behalf of the Bexhill Museum took a mini holiday as part of the annual Classic Car Show exhibition held at the huge National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham, thanks to the efforts of members of the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club. It was good to see the car being greatly admired by a whole new audience, and by chance there was an ELVA Mk.1 (Climax) and ELVA front-engined F/J (BMC) located within a few yards of the Bexhill MC stand. See www.elva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=309

This year will be the 50th GOLDEN anniversary of the stunning victory by the ELVA-PORSCHE in the Elkhart Lake "500" race at Road America, a result which certainly deserves a celebration, particularly as Frank Nichols thought of this amazing achievement as the highlight of his motorsports career. This was recognised by his ashes being scattered at the circuit some 34 years later. It would be wonderful if some of the Porsche engined ELVA Mk.VII's could be assembled together there later in the year.

ELVA DIamond Anniversary

While it seems a way off, 2015 will represent the 60th DIAMOND anniversary of ELVA and we really need to start planning a very special celebration. Going back some years, we had some fabulous gatherings at Mid-Ohio, Elkhart Lake (Road America) and perhaps the best being Road Atlanta in 1990. I still have a very thick file to show many hours, plus how much effort and cash went into making that happen but we have the opportunity to better Road Atlanta if we all pull together as a team effort.
So your thoughts, suggestions and commitment needed over the coming months so that we can get the ball rolling.

Thank you ...

Roger A. Dunbar
E: rogerdunbar@elva.com
M: +44 (0)7976 234470

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