Lotus Cortina driven London to Sydney

[Peter Meyer]

In 1972 Mike Burrows and Keith Denniss drove a MK1 LC from London to Sydney in 72 days. Does anyone know anything about this.
The car is in Sydney and is now in good condition.

 

[kingfisher]

Thanks for highlighting the London to Sydney

Anyone know if there are any of the original 1968 London to Sydney Works or privateer rally cars still alive?

 

[robertverhey]

Hi Peter
Sorry a bit off track from your original request but these might be of interest. I was 14 when all this happened and already a Lotus Cortina fanatic. The Australian leg really proved to be the testing ground....a Hillman Hunter....who'd have thought!

Robert

 

[kingfisher]

Hi Peter
Sorry a bit off track from your original request but these might be of interest. I was 14 when all this happened and already a Lotus Cortina fanatic. The Australian leg really proved to be the testing ground....a Hillman Hunter....who'd have thought!
Robert

Yes sorry for going off at a tangent. Similar to Robert, I too was a petrol head schoolboy at the time of the 'London To Sydney Marathon'. I doubt if any long distance rally has, or ever will, catch the public imagination quite like this one. The London /Mexico in 1970 probably came close, but for me it was the 1968 epic that hit the spot.

Roger Clarks performance in the Lotus was awesome, but alas as with the tortoise and the hare, the Hillman Hunter proved too reliable, coupled with a bit of luck along the way and the misfortune of others. I remember also the winning Hunter doing the rounds with all the Scottish Rootes dealers and a very nice evening in our local garage, with car and a lecture by Andrew Cowan, who incidentally still owns the car.
This leads me back to my question...........,
Anyone know if any of the works of privateer cars on this rally are still alive?

 

[Peter Meyer]

I believe these guys just drove the route for the adventure. It was quite common in those days I seem to recall. Not thjat I was born or anything.....hehe. Well I was 22!

 

[An old racer.........]

Sorry to also go off a bit but... How many of us went to Crystal Palace to watch the start, fantastic so much to see, none of your modern pay, pay, pay. to see this or that. I still have a program somewhere....

I remember the shock to 'Roots' with the Andy Cowan win & being caught out with no publicity material ready, took them a couple of weeks to get going, bit late by then.

Ahhhh. those were the good old bad old days !

Mervyn

 

[Pete G]

I remember going down to watch the start of the 1968 or 69 event at Wembley stadium,- there was a Roller and an Australian contestant who through fireworks out of his car all the way around the track!
An amazing collection of cars

 

[the83man]

Way off topic really, but if anyone is interested I am currently selling an original set of Regulations for the 1977 London-Sydney event on ebay...

(If this is out of order simply delete or ask me and I'll delete the post)

 

[An old racer.........]

Thanks for highlighting the London to Sydney

Anyone know if there are any of the original 1968 London to Sydney Works or privateer rally cars still alive?

I was involved with much Renault 'stuff' in the mid 70's & the R16 was known to 'survive' at that time......

Mervyn