Dear Listers,
I have some sad news to report. Roy Thomas, designer of the Titan
formula cars for Charles Lucas Engineering and later co-owner of Titan
Cars past away this morning (Monday, November 5) due to complications
associated with lung cancer. Roy was involved in Motor Racing for over
40 years. His nickname was "Tom the Weld" or just "Tom" to his friends
because of his expertise in welding straight formula car chassis when
the technology was not what it is today.
Tom got his start in racing with Les Redmond (designer) and Graham
Warner (owner) of the Checkered Flag Racing Team, where he built the
Gemini Formula Juniors during the late 1950's and early 1960's. Tom left
the Flag and started his own race engineering business building the
AUSPER Formula Juniors and F1 Siroccos. In 1964, the FIA replaced
Formula Junior with Formula 3 (F3), which is about the time Tom's client
list included Peter Revson, Piers Courage, Jonathan Williams, Roy Pike,
(Sir) Frank Williams, and Charles Lucas.
In 1965, Charles "Luke" Lucas started a three car F3 team and bought
Tom's business making him technical director. Charles Lucas Engineering
(CLE) had a very successful season with drivers Piers Courage, Jonathan
Williams, Peter Gethin, and Luke. In 1966, CLE had another successful
year running the Lotus works F3 team with Piers and Roy Pike. Due to a
falling out with Lotus at the last race of the 1966, Luke and Tom set
out to build their own F3 car.
The Titan Mk3 was completed in less than eight weeks and raced for the
first time during July of 1967. Roy Pike put the car on pole for the F3
support race during the Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone. Works drivers
Luke and "Pikums" had much success that season. In 1968, the Mk3 was
revised for Formula Ford (FF) and designated Mk4. At the same time, CLE
had a serious engine development program. Tom's downdraft conversion of
the Cosworth MAE F3 engine became the choice for the formula. Proof of
Tom's engine skills came when Cosworth recommended that customers take
their engines to CLE for conversion.
In 1970, CLE introduced the Titan Mk6 Formula Ford, which was very
successful in the United States. The Mk6 was produced in large numbers
between 1970 and 1973 (approximately 300 cars). Mk6 pilots went on to
win 11 SCCA divisional championships between '70 and '73, plus the 1971
ARRC with Jim Harrell at the wheel. In England during the 1972 season,
the semi works team of Ken Bailey and Derek Lawrence won 35 races, and
two out of three UK FF championships with their Mk6s. In 1971, Luke sold
CLE to Tom and his wife Diana Thomas, and the name of the company was
changed to Titan Cars. In 1974, the replacement for the Mk6 was the
advanced but troublesome Mk8, which was quickly replaced by the much
improved Mk9. However, confidence in the marque fell, Titan lost market
share, and ended racing car production in 1976.
During a nine year period, CLE and Titan Cars built over 400 formula
cars and hundreds of racing engines. In the late 1980's, Tom retired and
sold his shares back to the company. Diana Thomas is still the principle
owner of the company. After he left Titan, Tom worked part time as an
engineering consultant, and was passionate about motor racing to the
end. Tom's impact on Formula 3 and Formula Ford was significant. His
chassis designs were well engineered and competitive and his attention
to detail produced reliable racing engines with excellent horsepower.
Tom's wisdom and great sense of humor will be missed.
Truly yours,
Andy Antipas
Titan Registry
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