Lotus Racer

Welcome to Lotus Racer

Classic Lotus History - a 1957 Lotus Eleven Series 2 Le Mans.

This Lotus Eleven is one of the highly successful cars developed during the 1950s by Colin Chapman. Colin's original inspiration and his first performance car was based on the amazing Austin Seven.

Many famous racing drivers such as Graham Hill, Roy Salvadori, Mike Hawthorn, Innes Ireland, Cliff Allison and Alan Stacey all drove early Lotus Cars, the Eleven particular. In fact you can read about Alan Stacey's very car on this site!

Even the great 1963 World Champion Jim Clark, raced against this Lotus Eleven; at Charterhall in 1961 - to read more click the Charterhall button above.

Enjoy learning of my involvement with these fabulous Colin Chapman/Frank Costin designed and built cars. At Monza the legendary Team Lotus with Stirling Moss achieved 143 miles in an hour - an amazing record!

The Historic Lotus Club and Historic Lotus Register have both helped with much of the car's history; both their sites are also very useful.

I'm John Gray and I restored this particular Lotus Eleven between 1982/5. For the last 24 years I and trusted friends [Don Hands, Martin Ricketts, Simon Braithwaite and Chris Alford] have raced the car both in the UK and Europe. I have had great fun on circuits such as Brands Hatch, Donington, Mallory Park, Oulton Park, Crystal Palace, Silverstone, Snetterton and Thruxton. In Europe the car has raced at Spa, Nogaro, Nurburgring and LeMans.

The car has also been up famous hillclimbs such as Prescott, Shelsey Walsh, Wiscombe Park and Etretat in France, so it is a really versatile race car.

Please explore Lotusracer and send me details on your car - I'd be very interested to receive your comments. Please email them to:

john@gray-matters.co.uk

John Gray

Latest News from LotusRacer.com

Spa Francorchamps - September 2009

A fantastic weekend was had over 26/28 September at the wonderful Spa Francorchamps track. I entered the car in two half hour races, I drove in one and my great friend Don Hands drove in the second. We have a great DVD of the meeting shot by Steve Henderson. If you would like a copy please email me. For now however, please copy and paste these two links to 'YouTube', where you will see all about our great weekend racing at the fabulous Spa Francorchamps Circuit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODMqDhnwUDw and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygqmt1XwhTc

Silverstone Classic Weekend:

The car was on display at the Silverstone Classic Weekend. Pictures will follow.

Lotus Eleven Found

21th April, 2017

A 1957 Lotus S2 LeMans version. It's been in storage since Nov 1972. It's complete minus the engine. I've already been in contact with the Historic Lotus Register. Vic ( UK ) Jay (US) . The are working on determining which one this is. The number plate is long since gone:

2002 Race Report

01th September, 2002

The chance of a lifetime, to be able to race the Eleven on the famous 'Circuit de Sarthe', a dream come true!

Shelsey Walsh

01th June, 2004

My conversation with David Abbott about John Gray and his Lotus Eleven in early July 2004 went something like this……

VSCC April Silverstone 1908 GP Itala Trophy Meeting, Silverstone UK. Date: 23 April 2005

23th April, 2005

Race report

VSCC May Oulton Park Hawthorn Memorial Meeting, Oulton Park UK. Date: 28 May 2005

28th May, 2005

Race report

Bentley Drivers Club, Silverstone, 11 June

11th June, 2006

What a super meeting this is! Without doubt, one of the very best in the ‘Club' calendar. The mix of cars is always excellent and each race is in the true spirit of a sporting event.

Bentley Drivers Club, Silverstone, August 2006

01th August, 2006

Here, John Gray is standing in the Silverstone paddock beside his Lotus Eleven. Photo taken by Andrew Fleming at the Bentley Drivers Club Event, Silverstone, August 2006 - Photo's from the day.