VIN: the Barrie Smith Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/148B
History of chassis SL76/148B
Chassis SL76/148B was built around a brand new chassis and body using the engine and gearbox from Picko Troberg’s wrecked T70: chassis SL76/148A.
The red Lola was supplied to British privateer, Barrie Smith, who ran Avalon Racing in the village of Garlinge, Kent.
In 1963, Smith had built a Lotus Seven and three years later he successfully started racing in a GSM Delta.
For 1967, Smith moved up to a Lotus 15 and Brabham BT8. A brace of Chevron B8s and a Broadspeed Mini were then campaigned during the 1968 and ‘69 seasons, during which time Smith racked up a series of victories in the UK and Europe.
In September 1969, Barrie Smith acquired chassis SL76/148B which replaced his most recent Chevron B8.
Over the next few weeks, Smith raced the Lola in half a dozen events around Europe and most notably picked up a class win at the Salzburgring.
The 1970 season began with a trip to Argentina for the Temporada series. Unfortunately, the bright red Lola failed to finish either of its races in Buenos Aires.
A dozen events then followed in the UK and Europe. When chassis 148B made it to the chequered flag, Smith was routinely a top five finisher despite his car not having the latest long crankshaft modification of most other T70s.
1970 saw Barrie Smith collect a brace of wins at Crystal Palace along with a third place finish at Phoenix Park in Ireland and fourth overall at the Thruxton RAC Trophy.
The season ended with a trip to South Africa where Smith and Jackie Pretorious finished seventh overall and won their class at the Kyalami 9 Hours.
Having exhausted most of his funds, Barrie Smith sold the red Lola to John Farley in 1971. Farley had 148B road registered and repainted blue. It subsequently went through the hands of several British owners to include David Piper and Richard Attwood.
Notable History
Red
Engine and gearbox from chassis SL76/148A
Sold to Barrie Smith (Avalon Racing), Kent
14/09/1969 NDC Anderstorp (B. Smith) 7th oa, 6th S class (#11)
27/09/1969 IND Zandvoort Dunes Trophy (B. Smith) DNF (#2)
05/10/1969 IND Inssbruck Preis von Tirol (B. Smith) DNF (#17)
12/10/1969 IND Salzburgring (B. Smith) 4th oa, 1st S2.0+ class (#16)
19/10/1969 IND Hockenheim Hessenpreis (B. Smith) 11th oa, 3rd S2.0+ class (#??)
26/10/1969 IND Zolder (B. Smith) DNF (#150)
11/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 1000km (B. Smith / E. Swart) DNF (#42)
18/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 200 mile (B. Smith / E. Swart) DNF (#42)
30/03/1970 BSC Thruxton RAC Trophy (B. Smith) 4th oa, 3rd S2.0+ class (#9)
10/05/1970 IND Fassberg (B. Smith) DNF (#3)
13/06/1970 IND Crystal Palace (B. Smith) 1st oa (#100)
13/06/1970 SGT Crystal Palace (B. Smith) 3rd oa (#100)
21/06/1970 IND Montlhery Coupes de l'ACIF (B. Smith) 4th oa (#11)
28/06/1970 INT Norisring (B. Smith) 9th oa (#18)
05/07/1970 INT Hockenheim (B. Smith) 14th oa (#6)
14/07/1970 IND Magny-Cours (B. Smith) 5th oa (#??)
09/08/1970 IND Swedish GP, Karlskoga (B. Smith) 11th oa (#9)
13/09/1970 IND Phoenix Park (B. Smith) 3rd oa (#??)
20/09/1970 IND Zandvoort Dunes Trophy (B. Smith) DNS (#41)
27/09/1970 IND Crystal Palace (B. Smith) 1st oa (#??)
07/11/1970 SBK Kyalami 9 Hours (B. Smith / J. Pretorius) 7th oa, 1st J class (#7)
1971 sold to John Farley
Road registered and repainted blue
1974 sold
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Barrie Smith - http://www.frenchpix.com/racingtimes/
