DELOREAN DREAM

John Zachary Delorean’s 2005 obituaries dwelt on his chequered industrial career, his drugs bust and his glamorous private life. There were not many compliments for a man whose personal vanity knew no bounds. He also persuaded our government to part with £80million for a factory in Northern Ireland, and his role in the downfall and death of Lotus founder Colin Chapman remained shrouded in mystery.

Read More

Clark's Crucial Brands

In his prologue to Black Sheep in the Fast Lane Ian Scott-Watson recalled Jim Clark’s crucial debut race against Colin Chapman:

"There were three Lotus Elites on the front row at the 1958 Brands Hatch Boxing Day. The sun was taking a Christmas break and it was cold. It was the first time Elites had raced one another and bookies were offering “evens” on Colin Chapman its designer and 3 to 1 on Mike Costin, who had worked on the car’s development. For the first and only time I placed a bet on a motor race, half-a-crown (12¼p), the loose change I had in my pocket. 

Read More