Lotus Europa Forums > The Paddock
Experieces in Racing an Europa
EuropaTC:
Allegedly ( ;) ) some Elans used to do that over this side of the pond, whether it was classed as cheating or period modifications I don't know. It's a tight fit but if yours is the only such car in scrutineering I think you might get away with it....
It does make a noticeable difference on the Elan but with the Europa being lighter at the front I'm not sure it would have the same benefit. I suppose it might be useful if you were running wider tyres though ?
Brian
Mecky:
Wider tyres would help, but it's hard to get bigger rims than 8x13" into the front wheel arches. There we use 215/50/13 semislicks. Slicks are not allowed for us. They are only allowed for cars built after 1971.
Does somebody know, how wide the rims and tyres of a Type 47 were in the period?
EuropaTC:
I have a copy of the Robinshaw/Francis book on the Europa which gives a spec sheet for the mk47 GT from January 1967. That states the wheel rims are 7.5" front, 10" rear, so you're ahead of the game with 8" rims. (which seem amazingly wide for such a light car ! ). As for tyres, it just says "to customer specifications".
The same book also gives the RAC/FIA papers for the Mk47. No wheels or tyres are quoted but the weight might be of interest to you, it was 559kgs (10.8cwt) with the TC engine fitted, so that's your next target :)
Brian
Mecky:
Oh yes,
a Type 47 is great. This car could have until 30 HP more, 120 kg less weight and disc brakes all around.
And it could even race in GT1600 class against cars like Ford Escort Twin Cam and Alfa Romeo Guilia. Unfortunately we have to race in Two-Seater-Racing-Car 2000 class against cars like Porsche 907, Porsche 906, Chevron B16 and Lotus 23B. The Lotus 47 would be really competative in the TSRC2000 class, but in GT1600 it would be the "everytime-winner".
559 kg... a dream, but we are not allowed to have less than 615 kg. But even that is a dream. We already reduced the cars weight from 740 kg to the actual 680 kg. There still is this massive exhaust manifold and the water-container (both stainless steel). These two parts replaced by lighter ones could bring around 10 kg, I think. But then it would be still 55 kg to reach our minimum-weight.
Do you guys have more ideas?
EuropaTC:
Anything to be gained from the alternator ?
Standard ones always seem quite heavy to me and there might be some mileage in looking to see if there are any others you could fit. I know you can get "racing" ones at around 2.5kg, which is (at a pure guess :) ) probably around half the weight of an old standard one.
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