LOTUS SEVEN REGISTER

the web site for the

Seven made by Lotus between 1957 and 1973

THE SEVEN FIFTY MOTOR CLUB LTD.

1172 FORMULA FOR 1960

(For competition cars with Ford Eight and Ten engines.)



1. (a) The car must comply with the Road Traffic Act as regards to construction and must be capable of being driven to the meeting under its own power.
    (b) It must also comply with the RAC Regulations for cars taking part in Competitions.
2 The internal width of the cockpit must be at least 32 in. Passenger seats should normally be positioned for a two-seater sports car and suitable for an average sized adult. There must be a windscreen equivilent to one normal aero screen. Hoods, passenger seats and spare wheels need not be carried when racing.
3 The car must carry full electrical equipment including side and tail lamps and at least one headlamp, starter, battery and a production car dynamo, effectively mounted and driven and capable of maintaining a battery charge, with lights on, including at least one 36 watt bulb.
4 The power unit is to be based on a standard side valve Ford 933cc. or 1172cc. Engine casing of any type (i.e. Eight, Ten, Popular or Anglia or Prefect of either early type or 1954 or later). Modifications must not include supercharging, conversion to o.h.v., reversal in function of the inlet and exhaust ports or the dividing of the siamesed inlet ports. The standard stroke of 92.5mm. must not be exceeded, and thebore must not be greater than 63.5mm. plus 0.060 in. rebore allowance. Standard timing, camshafts and cam follower profiles must be used unaltered in any way except for the advance or retard of the camshaft complete.
5 There is no minimum weight restriction.
6 When racing one of the standard or premium grade fuels as supplied by roadside pumps must be used.
7 This formula is devised for the benefit of the amateur constructor-tuner with limited resources. The 750 MC Board reserves the right at all times to reject any car which it considers represents an attempt to defeat the spirit of the regulations even though it complies with the letter of them. This also refers to expensive production cars, or cars developed with a high percentage of costly proprietary components, and those cars which are professionally maintained.
In order that existing and intending competitors should fully appreciate the intentions of these regulations the following Notes of Explanation will no doubt clarify the position:
    (a) The Formula envisages 'sports cars' of a type for daily use and occasional competitions, constructed by Club Members and not costly proprietary production cars and sports-racing machines having no other use between races.
    (b) For the 1959 Racing Season the Lotus Mark VI and the Lotus Seven will be accepted if built to the basic standard specification with, of course the normal 1172 Formula engine modifications, and the fitting of modified gears to the standard Ford gearbox casting if desired. These cars will be ineligible if fitted with De Dion rear axles, disc brakes, wire wheels or similar modifications involving costly proprietary components. The Lotus Mark VIII, Mark IX and the Lotus Eleven will not be acceptable in the 1959 season. The Lotus Mark VIII, Mark IX and the Lotus Eleven are excluded solely on the grounds of their basic cost. The Lotus Mark VI has always been regarded as a car for home building and racing by an amateur and the Lotus Seven in this respect is its logical successor. Any production car should be kept in its original form i.e. Mark VI and Lotus Seven and Dellow Mark V etc. to retain a non all enveloping body with exposed front wheels. Buckler 90, Tornado, Convair and other similar low priced all-enveloping bodied cars being acceptable.
    (c) With the banning of the Lotus Mark IX and XI for the 1959 season it will not be in order to fit Mark XI bodywork to a Mark VI or Seven chassis or similar.
    (d) Genuine 'one-off' Specials of the all-enveloping type will be acceptable, but in order to avoid misunderstandings and possible exclusion at a later date, intending competitors are requested to obtain individual rulings, by written application as to the eligibility of cars either proprietary or Specials. If a Special in the opinion of the Club Scrutineer, represents an outlay substantially greater than a Lotus VII in kit form, plus amateur assembly, it is not considered to be within the spirit of the Formula.
    (e) Whilst it is of course appreciated that machine work is necessary to modify engines, and build up chasssis, etc., the term 'professionally maintained' refers to complete and regular preparation by other than the competitor and this is not acceptable.
    (f) It was never intended that the Formula should provide a direct advertising medium for commercial interests. Therefore in future it is required that:-
        (i) There shall be no trade manes emblazoned on the side of cars. (The manufacturers' insignia or emblem affixed on the front is acceptable if of normal size.)
        (ii) All entries for competitors events shall be from individuals and not trading establishments or equipes bearing the name of a trading concern. It is appreciated that some Club Members are directly connected with garages businesses and there is no objection to their owning and personally competing. However they should not enter cars for others to drive which maybe interpreted as 'works' entries in the professional sense.
    (g) Competitors in races under either Formula must realise that they are carrying the banner of the 750 MC before the public. A high standard of preparation and turn-out is therefore essential and will be insisted upon.
    (h) If the control exercised by the Board is considered inadequate, complaints concerning any possible infringements should be made in writing to the Board of Directors when matters will be investigated and action taken if it is deemed necessary.
The attention of competitors is drawn to the fact that the standard Ford Ten steering arms, of any type, are liable to fracture without warning under racing conditions when used without reinforcement.
The standard cast flywheel is liable to burst if appreciable lightened.

Addenda to the 1960 1172 Formula
As previously announced, there will be no changes to the 1172 Formula for 1960 although the racing Sub-Committee wishes to draw attention to the following points of 'clarification of intention'.
    A. The wording of Clause 4 means that the entire valve actuating mechanism should be used completely standard and unaltered in any way although modifications such as enlarged valves or lightened tappets would be permitted.
    B. Clause B of the Notes of Explanation to the Formula relates to the addition of various costly proprietary components and it is intended in future to relax this ruling as far as it relates to wire wheels on production cars.
Only fully paid up members of the 750 Motor Club will in fact be eligible to compete in Formula Races.

The 750 Formula similarly remains unaltered for 1960.

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