New Lola 440 owner

Hey guys,

New guy here. just wanted to introduce my self and start the learning process. I am picking up my 1977 Lola T440 in a few weeks and I'm super excited. The car is currently in Pueblo CO, and I'll be bringing it back to southern California to race with VARA. I have been running an F Production Spitfire for the last few years with the club and have been drooling over a FF for a while now. The constant peer pressure from the FF dudes to join the dark side and tagging me in links to ever car that came available for sale finally led to pulling the trigger on what looks like a good starting point for my budget and skill level. Looking forward to ditching the fenders and going faster!

The car currently belongs to Jim Roelofs, and looks like it belonged to Bruce Domeck before that. It's slowly making its way from the midwest out to the west coast.

Looking forward to asking lots of questions, (using the search function) and learning from you folks.

Cheers,

Jon Wright

Welcome to the wonderful world of vintage FF racing Jon. By the end of your first session you will be wondering why you didn’t do this earlier!

The VARA/FFDC gang are great. If you can, please try to make the trip north sometime and run with us in the Crossflow Cup too!

I’ve got a PFM and do track days at Willow Springs with Open Track Racing. It’s a great time, with a fun group. The next track day is in September I believe, it’s too hot there now. You are really close to WS. Stay in touch and we could meet there the next track day.

Congratulations (or condolences, whichever is more appropriate...)!

On a serious note, on the safety front. I had a client with a 440 who got in a shunt. As the car came back on the hook, it was sobering to be looking at the bottom of the seat! I can't remember now if the floor had been peeled back or if there was no floor under the seat shell, but either way, a thorough inspection of the underside is important.

I have had stainless floors on both my Swift and on my Tiga. It literally saved my butt in the Swift when I hit oil and slid off the track at Willow where I swear that there are no rocks smaller than a golf ball. The floor had scratches and some small dents, but that was it.

Enjoy your new car, and to echo what Ethan said, come on up and race with Crossflow; it's been some of the best racing I've had in over 35 years of racing!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brian Forster

Congratulations (or condolences, whichever is more appropriate...)!

On a serious note, on the safety front. I had a client with a 440 who got in a shunt. As the car came back on the hook, it was sobering to be looking at the bottom of the seat! I can't remember now if the floor had been peeled back or if there was no floor under the seat shell, but either way, a thorough inspection of the underside is important.

I have had stainless floors on both my Swift and on my Tiga. It literally saved my butt in the Swift when I hit oil and slid off the track at Willow where I swear that there are no rocks smaller than a golf ball. The floor had scratches and some small dents, but that was it.

Enjoy your new car, and to echo what Ethan said, come on up and race with Crossflow; it's been some of the best racing I've had in over 35 years of racing!

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Thank you very much! good tip on the floor, ill check out what ive got to start with and see if it looks sturdy enough.

Jon;

I owned a T-440, and restored it to pristine condition.

As this car is called the flexi-flyer I stiffened the chassis at the gearbox as well as making an SCCA legal semi-monocoque interior chassis. Really stiff, really fast.

If you need something, simply ask.

Hi Rick

Any pics on what you did to stiffen it? Or even some words to describe what you did?

Thanks

Mark

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rick Iverson

Jon;

I owned a T-440, and restored it to pristine condition.

As this car is called the flexi-flyer I stiffened the chassis at the gearbox as well as making an SCCA legal semi-monocoque interior chassis. Really stiff, really fast.

If you need something, simply ask.

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I sent you a message! It would be great to see pictures of how and where you stiffened the chassis