VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Lotus 19

Frank Lance, Lonestar Mechanic Part 7

By

Le Mans, June 1965. Saturday 4 PM and in front of a full house, the always spectacular Le Mans-type start. The white Maserati Tipo 65 of Jo Siffert makes the fastest getaway, but up front the Fords manage good starts as well, with Chris Amon [#2], Bob Bondurant [#7] and Bruce McLaren [#1] on the move. [Photo by Flip Schulke, Willem Oosthoek Collection]

By Willem Oosthoek All photos by Henri Beroul [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.

After the GT40 successes at Daytona and Sebring in early 1965, it was time to concentrate on the June Le Mans 24 Hours, for which a test weekend was scheduled in April.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Frank Lance, Lonestar Master Mechanic, Part 6

By

Sebring, March 1965. Clad in his Carroll Shelby jacket, Frank Lance signals second place Bruce McLaren during a wet night. Donn Allen seems to be better prepared for the elements. [Photo: Frank Lance Collection]

Story by Willem Oosthoek
All photos from the Willem Oosthoek Collection, unless stated otherwise.

Enticed away from the Mecom Racing Team by Donn Allen, with the promise of a higher pay, and especially overtime pay, Frank Lance joined Shelby American in California. He left Houston in July 1964.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Frank Lance, Lonestar Master Mechanic, Part 5

By

Nassau, December 1963. Frank Lance [right] and Roger Penske next to the Traco Chevy-powered Cooper Monaco that Penske would race. Lining up next, the 2-liter MRT Special [the original Zerex-Duralite], the Scarab/Chevy and one of the Grand Sport Corvettes. [photo: Frank Lance Collection]

Story by Willem Oosthoek
All photos by Flip Schulke [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.

When Frank Lance joined the Mecom Racing Team in November 1963, John Mecom had already been involved in road racing for almost two years. Not as a driver, but as a team owner. John’s dad, who ran an oil exploration business out of Houston and, at one time, was among the six richest independent oilmen in the world, would not allow his son to race himself. In 1962 John was 21 years old and his first competition car was a Corvette, raced by Frank’s former colleague at CSSCI, Bob Schroeder. He and Mecom made a trip to Modena and visited the workshop of Alejandro de Tomaso [essentially a two-car garage according to Schroeder] to become the Argentinian’s best customer.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe
MENU