Race Retro provided visitors with an impressive variety of competition car to match not only miscellaneous tastes and budgets, but also grades of talent and bravery.
Among the highest levels demanded of each were several wonderful T70 Lolas. To be precise, no less than four incarnations of the iconic Mark IIIb model were present. Whether a restored original, a 1990s authentic replica or a ‘continuation’ example by either Lola Heritage or Broadley Automotive, the market – and demand – seems to be ever increasing. In recent years, opportunities to race them have also expanded.
They are often part of the Saturday evening highlight at the Silverstone Classic, the leading cars that blast through Eau Rouge when the Masters Series for Historic Sportscars decamps to the Spa Six-Hours meeting, amongst other circuits like the Nurburgring, Dijon and Zandvoort. Peter Auto include them at the biennial Le Mans event as well as their own Classic Endurance Series (to Paul Ricard, Monza etc). Now even Goodwood have invited a selection to attend the 73rd Members Meeting in March.
Gracing the early years of Can-Am and Les 24 heures sur le circuit de la Sarthe in the mid to late ‘60s, this was the era when it was still just about practical for gentlemen and ladies to steer less extreme vehicles to to a local track, stick on some numbers, race, and then drive them home again. However, this opportunity has just been given a new dimension. Some of the continuation cars can actually be road registered.
Therefore, imagine the scenario: Late September finds you very gingerly inching off the ferry or Eurotunnel train to avoid an embarrassing scrape of the nose immediately on entering the Continent, then aiming roughly due east for the most efficient route to the Ardennes and the Francorchamps circuit. The autumnal weather is cooler so man and machine shouldn’t overheat. Before long you find yourself on the Jebbeke straight where myriad speed records were set in the early post-war years. How irresistible would it be to really open up that thunderous Chevrolet V8? Assuming the Flanders traffic police couldn’t catch you, then the rush hour jams on the ring road north of Brussels will surely question the wisdom of not putting it on a trailer.
That said, the sensory thrills – for driver and spectator alike – don’t come much better than a Lola T70 Mark IIIb.
