I started digging around and can’t even find the serial number of the one I had although I think it was something like 1218 or 1281 but I don’t see either. The attached are ‘before and after’ of it. It was a ‘62 ‘America’ with the BMC engine. The first photo was taken on the wall at the old Meadowdale track outside of Chicago a month or so after I bought it. The second was at one of last races I drove a few years later. I think it was at Nelson’s Ledges in Ohio. I thought you might get a kick out of the transporter / motor home we used, a far cry from the way they arrive at the vintage races today!

Now a bit about me and the car. I grew up in Chicago watching 'midgets' racing on the 1/4 mile tracks. Once I had a license I had to go out to Watkins Glen to see what these "Grand Prix" cars were all about. After seeing Jim Clark and the car I became an instant Lotus fan. (I actually chatted with Graham Hill in a bar that Friday night although neither of us probably should have been there!). After saving (and borrowing) for a year or so I bought the Seven from a pilot who had flown it back as 'excess baggage'.

It hadn't been raced when I got it but did have a 'roll bar' and a bizarre plywood 'gullwing' top that I wish I had a picture of. I started autocrossing it immediately and continuously 'improved' it as funds permitted. I continued autocrossing for two or three years before getting an SCCA license. The story could go on and on but basically I only raced it for two years and then sold it some time later. I think it went to someone out east but not as a race car. We took all the goodies out of it first but then never heard of it again. The car could probably be identified by the reinforced steering mount added after watching a friend drift into a wall when his came loose. Although I suspect most that raced had something similar because mine were already loose just from autocrossing. It also had a crudely welded brace across the axle and differential case that was also welded when it split shortly after stiffening the suspension and adding wider tires. If you should ever see such a car I'd enjoy hearing about it.

Two years ago we moved back to the Chicago area after living in Europe for 15 years where I got to many of the tracks there for the historic races. I get up to Road America for the vintage races and have been out to Monterey irregularly since living there before moving to Europe. I was there in '95 when Lotus was the featured marque and then drove my ex Elan+2 and a (new) Elite back to Chicago. No mechanical failures at all but still an unforgetable trip.