Beschreibung:

One of the most attractive and fast developing categories within Historic motor racing is Formula 5000, catering for single-seater (near-Formula 1) cars powered by production-based engines of up to 5 litres capacity. Formula 5000 racing was introduced in 1968 in American SCCA as 'Formula A', and the category enjoyed popularity in the early '70s in the USA featuring such drivers as Mario Andretti, Jody Scheckter, Brian Redman and David Hobbs. In the UK and Europe, Formula 5000 matching American Formula A, was adopted in 1969 and such manufacturers as McLaren-Trojan and Lola Cars were quick to support it. In particular Lola Cars of Huntingdon had developed the multi-tubular space frame chassised T140 model for the pioneering American class in 1968 although for 1969 it was quickly updated into the replacement T142 as offered here . Formula 5000 had also caught on in South African national-Championship competition which had long been the preserve of former Formula 1 machinery. This particular car has been well-known within Historic F5000 racing since as early as 1979, passing from Henry Pearman to Nick Butress who used it in HSCC events for ""six or seven seasons"" before selling it to Ken Gladdis. The relevant Lola factory chassis records record Norinder as having bought a complete car direct from the Huntingdon works - serial 'T142/37' - plus a standby spare frame 'T142/25' which was destined originally for Lola's US agent Carl Haas but which Norinder bought from an intermediary listed as 'Sarquier'. The complete car raced by Norinder during the 1969 Guards Formula 5000 Championship would have been '37' and the last owner of this particular Lola-Chevrolet T142 has concluded that it is the example which was delivered new from Lola Cars to the Swedish private owner/driver. Ul Norinder was an archetypal playboy sportsman of the period, with a colourful reputation for hard living, hard racing and a spectacular lifestyle. He loved parties and pranks yet conducted his racing in a thoroughly professional manner, employing team manager Rod Sawyer and two full-time mechanics. He would become a prominent private entrant of Lola cars, including both the Formula 5000 T142 and a pair of the sister equally beautifully-built Lola-Chevrolet T70GT Coupés. The extrovert Swede's campaign in the 1969 Guards Formula 5000 Championship series included what is today described as a 'podium finish' at Hockenheim in Germany (third place) including three fourth places at Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Oulton Park. The larger-than-life Norinder finished that Formula 5000 season seventh in the overall Championship table. His car was also driven by Lotus, BRM and Shadow Formula 1 star Jackie Oliver in the Gold Cup classic at Oulton Park. This well-known Lola-Chevrolet T142 has been fully restored including a full engine rebuilt some four years ago, since when it has seen very little track use. Through last winter this car was re-commissioned with the fitting of foam-filled fuel tanks and it is described by the current vendor as being offered here in race ready condition. When Formula 5000 was adopted in Britain for 1969, Lola Cars was already featuring prominently within the export market, selling T140 Formula A chassis to the American market. Based upon T70 sports-car running gear, the original T140 had been a simple and capacious multi-tubular spaceframe design which proved competitive with the homegrown American Eagle. For 1969, the basic T140 specification was updated to create the T142 model as now offered here. The cars sold in considerable numbers to the USA, South Africa, Canada and in the UK with more than 40 combined T140/142 chassis being completed at Huntingdon. One compelling reason for the model's contemporary popularity was its selling price of £5,500 complete with Traco-modified Chevrolet V8 engine. At the end of the 1969 season it was apparent that the Lola T142 'circus' had really kept F5000 alive. The Paul Hawkins Racing-operated car w