I'll have to pretty well agree with you on that one, although, there
probably wasn't anyone around in UK at that time with as deep a pockets as
the gummit, so better to design a thinly disguised race motor as a man
carriable pump motor. And then look like a hero to the great unwashed too.
Roger
>From: "Elton Clark" <lotus.tony@airmail.net>
>Reply-To: "Elton Clark" <lotus.tony@airmail.net>
>To: <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
>Subject: Re: Engine Trivia
>Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 12:49:24 -0500
>
>Race engines adapted to Road cars:
>
>Harold Pace moots:
>
> << How about the Lotus Elite and its Coventry Climax engine? >>
>
>Myles Kitchen corrects:
>
> > The Climax engine was originally designed for pumping equipment
>(irrigation
> > and fire pumpers) and was "borrowed" by Colin Chapman for his race cars.
>
>Methinks sportscar guru Harold Pace set Miles up on this one: It's widely
>understood that the racing enthusiast designers at Coventry-Climax took
>advantage of a government development contract for the mundane fire pump to
>design a seriously dedicated basic race engine.
>
>Tony_______________________@Sherman.Texas
>Lotus Eleven, Lotus Elite, Bearcat 85
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