Rick Muther, Lotus 30, 1965 Times GP Riverside

[Kirk Keyes]

Hello all,

I am researching the history of a Lotus 30 sports racer that was driven by Rick Muther at the Los Angeles Times Grand Prix at Riverside in 1965. I am trying to get in touch with Rick and I was wondering if anyone here knew how to get in touch with him. I believe he was an Indycar driver up intil the early '80s.

I am also interested in hearing from anyone that knows of any Lotus 30s or 40s that may still be out there.

If anyone here has a program from the Times GP race, I would be interested in getting in contact with you.

Thanks,
Kirk

[everett brown]

I was very close friends with Rick Muther, sadly he died of a massive heart attack near his cabin in Washington State. His last Indy car effort was at Indy in 1980, he crashed on his 2nd lap of time trails. He was driving a yr old Eagle chassis. I will be greatfull to answer any more questions regarding "Racer Rick"

[Kirk Keyes]

Hello Everett,

I cross-posted in the CART forum and one of the moderators mentioned that they thought they had heard some recent mention of Rick's name - so I did a search and I saw your post where you mention that you knew Rick. Thanks for replying. I'm sorry to hear about Rick's passing.

My father owns the Lotus 30 that Rick drove at the Times GP. The car has been restored to near its 1970 racing condition, when it was known as the Pink Stamps Special in England. We believe that this car was the most successfully raced Lotus 30 or 40, it competed in over 50 International Grand Prix Races for Sports Cars and National Races. It has a total of 21 class wins with 13 overall race wins.

The car was with Team Willment during '65 and perhaps '66 and raced primarily in Britain with a trip to Norisring, Germany and Zeltweg, Austria as well as the Times GP. The main Willment drivers for this car were Brian Muir, Frank Gardner, and Bob Bondurand, with Rick being a one time driver. I have been able to find quite a bit about Frank Gardner, Bob Bondurant is well known and easy to find information about. Brian Muir is a bit harder, and I have relatively little other than a couple of mentions of Rick for sports cars and USAC.

What I hope to learn about Rick are at least some basic things, date of birth and where, when he died, and perhaps a couple paragraphs worth of biographical information, and a listing of his racings history. I realize that he raced for quite a long time, so highlights of his career would be fine. Also some info on what he did after his last race would be nice, too. We have many car mags from about 1958 on - do you remember any good articles on him in R&T, C&D, Motor Trend, or another magazine perhaps.

I would really appreciated it if you could fill in some of Rick's background, and since it sounds like you knew him pretty well, perhaps you could make some personal observations on his racing style, and his career, and on Rick himself.

This information will be put up on a web site for this car that I am making - it should be up in about 2-3 months.

If you would like to post a reply on this forum, that would be great. Or you can email me at kdkphoto@teleport.com

Thanks for your help,
Kirk

[mickj]

please share ricks back ground with us all. its interesting to hear of drivers careers.

[Kirk Keyes]

Mickj,
I'll do that! I'm also interested in any info, stats or stories about Frank Gardner and Brian Muir.

Kirk

[Milan Fistonic]

I have a friend who is compiling the racing record of Frank Gardner.He has listed the following races as those in which Frank ran the Williment Lotus 30.

June 7, 1965 - Mallory Park - won Heat 2
?? 1965 - Zeltweg, Austria - 2nd

[Kirk Keyes]

Hi Milan,

Thanks - here's what I know about Frank Gardner in the Lotus 30. Please pass it along to your friend. Also note that I have a date for the Austrian GP for him. Would you please let him know that I would like to get a copy of what he has compiled. He can send it to me at kdkphoto@teleport.com

As you said, Frank won the BRSCC Mallory Park Race, June 6th race on the cars second outing. Please note that I have a date of June 6th vs. your 7th. I have a listing of programmes from the BRSCC that lists the race as being on the 6th, but I'm not sure who's right.

The cars' next race was the Silverstone RAC race on July 10th, Bob Bondurant drove to a second place overall behind John Coundley in Bruce McLaren's Olds powered McLaren-Elva. Bob was third fastest qualifier but with a minute to go till race start, he raised his hand - the Willment Lotus 30 would not fire. After the field left, he reentered with a push start and worked his way up to second only to be disqualified after the race for being assisted at the start.

On July 24th, Frank Gardner again drove the Lotus 30 at the Silverstone Martini 150 mile Trophy Race. Frank qualified in second position alongside pole-sitter, Chris Amon, once again in Bruce McLaren Olds powered McLaren-Elva. Frank contested second and third places for most of the race but retired with clutch failure in the 39th of 52 laps.

For the next major international race, the Austrian GP at Zeltweg, Austria, Bob Waterman (head mechanic for Jim Clark and Team Lotus) brought along uprated vented 11.9" disc brakes and the 180 degree tuned spaghetti exhaust system for the 4.7 litre Ford engine. These mods brought the engine up to 385-390 BHP, at 7,000 RPM. 13 This was the latest equipment that also appeared on the Lotus 40 which was unveiled at this race. This equipment, including a new highly vented Lotus 40 engine cover, appeared at the next race, Brands Hatch. At Austria first Frank Gardner qualified the 'Race Proved by Willment' (now Lotus 30/40) with a 1 min. 9.76 sec. lap. This beat the lap record of 1 min. 10.56 sec. lap set by Dan Gurney in a Brabham Coventry Climax Formula 1 Championship race the previous year. Mike Spence, driving the new Lotus 40 set pole position with 1 min. 8.46 sec. so Frank was second on the grid. Frank finished in third position after maintaining second position most of the race and set fastest lap of race record. It was in this race when the frame broke in half three laps from the finish. The nickname "Pink Eye" was affectionately given to the car because of the vibration. Frank found it difficult to look anyone straight in the eye for a week! Jochen Rindt's Ferrari 250 LM and Mike Parkes Ferrari 365 P2 finished 1st and 2nd respectively.

Brands Hatch International Guards Trophy Race, August 30 was the next race appearance where better than 60,000 people jammed the stands. Frank Gardner again drove, this time starting from 4th place. Early in the race the Willment Lotus 30/40 began to smoke, due, it was found later, to a cracked gear box casing, the gears finally seizing up when all the oil fell out.

Kirk

[fines]

Rick Muther was born Aug 13, 1936. Sad to hear he's gone!