62 Lotus (Ford) Cortina #164, C. Donaldson

For all those interested..the first official road test and finished photos of the ex #64/164 Mike Mcdaniels Ford Cortina..Ready for the all British Show next weekend, then it will be on display at Infineon Raceway June 2 for the Sonoma Historics, then it'll be off to Thunderhill Raceway for it's first outing. Thanks again to all, will keep you posted! http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadracer68/

Perhaps you could explain this image?

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Looks like you are airborne? What part of the course is this?
 
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It's a Photo-chop. See the reflection from the RR wheel just below and to the left? Couple of other artifacts, too. (Still a fun photo, though!)
 
I was following big Mike through T5 at PR in his the Cortina back in the mid 70's when he flipped over on drivers left. It was weird because as I drove by we made eye contact while he was upside down! He was okay and car wasn't hurt very badly, so we could laugh about it afterwards. I miss Mike, he was a great guy.
 
It's a Photo-chop. See the reflection from the RR wheel just below and to the left? Couple of other artifacts, too. (Still a fun photo, though!)

There is a series on his Flickr page. It looks like he is going over a rise. The car gets up off of first three, then all four wheels. Then comes back down on the right front then all four.

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That is a lot of work in PhotoShop.
 
Huh. Taken as a group, it does look like a whole different thing. That third picture looks really odd, though. Hard to tell with that resolution. If it's true, then he's gonna hafta repaint that car orange and start callin' it the "General Lee."
 
Huh. Taken as a group, it does look like a whole different thing. That third picture looks really odd, though. Hard to tell with that resolution. If it's true, then he's gonna hafta repaint that car orange and start callin' it the "General Lee."

For sure!

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It's not photoshopped...the sequence is from a rare clockwise run at Thunderhill. And it's me driving. This is my "other" tracktoy besides the Cortina. At the time 331, TKO, some other goodies, all Maier underneath...now in the process of rebuild now that the Cortina is done...
Getting a new Dart based stroker, Jerico, some prototype suspension from Maier Racing...should be fun, at a whole lot faster..

I have to say that 99 percent of people say it's photoshopped...until they see the sequence. The reality is that we ran the whole after noon in this track config...so it went airborne about 30 times. I have some shots of it higher, but just arent framed as well...

I'm hoping the Cortina can get some air like my Cougar :)
 
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What ever happened to the X-Trans Am Cougar that used to run in conference, anyone know? Maybe roadracer68 has it as well as Mikes Ford Lotus Cortina.
 
I have the original poster from the very first Trans Am sedan race at Pacific Raceways on Oct 8 1967.
It features a 67 Cougar, #2. It not a picture, but rather a drawing.
Gurney had the #98 Cougar, so who is #2? Or is that artistic license?
 
@James:
http://www.historictransam.com/Drivers/RichardRodeck.html
The car you are thinking of? It doesn't mention a club racing history, but how many Cougars ran in the original Trans Am seasons? [or the Kent race] And was the car you are recalling built locally, beside running locally after its years of glory? [and how many tribute cars now exists to blur the history of the original cars?]
A
 
somewhere i have a picture of my car going counter clock with 3 wheels off. in the same area if you are to close to the cyclone side the track there is a drop off/bump depending on direction and it will launch cars :)
 
I'm here to resurrect this thread nearly 10 years later! I now own the #164 Cortina, having acquired it from the gentleman Mike sold it to a number of years ago. It's in Northern CA, and once again in a project state - I'm currently completing the conversion back to steel fenders (with flared lips similar to the original photos) and preparing for a repaint. I've been in touch with Mike, but I'd love to chat with anyone who has a history with this car or has any further info/photos! Unfortunately the logbook got lost somewhere between Mike and myself.
 

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I know you’ll have to go through this thread a post at a time, and there is a little confusing info, but much of the history of the car in the NW is in this thread.
Mike McDaniel built and ran the car for years in the 1970s. B Sedan I think. Also, I think it was his second Cortina build. Don’t know what happened to the first.
Jim Blackwell ran the car for one weekend about 1981. Sprint races, ICSCC I’m guessing.
I rented and ran it in 1984, ICSCC Second GT-4.
Steve Justiss bought and ran it a number of years.
Mike Laythrop bought and ran it a number of years. Moved the motor back.
Chuck Dolandson bought and ran it. Moved the motor back to stock location I think. ICSCC early 1990s, 2nd, then following year 1st GT-4.
Car sold to Mike Druin in Lodi, CA. He told me he sold the twincam to someone in Japan for $10K. Painted the body Gulf Colors.
Mike Barrett bought it, put AVO Escort bubble flares, painted yellow, 2 liter OHC motor.
?
Then you Luke. Mike Barrett, in this thread, said he had the log book.
Some of the stories in this thread you can fit into the timeline above.
I took the in-the-era photos posted early in this thread.
Hope that helps and that all is well,
 
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