Lola T290 FVC1800 HU-26
1971 Barrie did little racing owing to lack of funds. In the winter of that year he went to Paris to try for a sponsor, teaming up with old friend and fellow F3 racer Rene Ligonnet.
After 3 months of door knocking Barrie went to a photography exhibition where he met the marketing team of Kodak Pathé and after a short negotiation he secured his first real sponsor, Kodak Pathé France.
What a difference it makes to have proper funding. New car, 2 new Cosworth FVC 1800cc engines, Hewland DG300 gearbox, new transporter trailor. We had workshop rented with many French teams at St.Parize le Chatel, a stone's throw from Magny Cours.
Dinner most evenings at Chez Jeanette and with all the teams together, it was the best fun.
He won nearly all the races he did, racing exclusively in France for the 1972 season.
Barrie and Rene had competitions most week-ends, if there were no circuit races they did International Hill climbs. Barrie, having never done hill climbs before, found they were very daunting. “There was nowhere to go if you fell off the road” he said!
For skiiers interest and those who know the road, the International Hill climb at Meribel, over 18kms, was a typical event. From Brides les Bains to Meribel 1600 ski resort, they geared the little Lola T290 for 130 mph for the flat part near Les Allues, Barrie went up the hill in exactly 8 minutes, pulling top speed between the houses at Les Allues, he came second , missing the win by a tenth of a second. What a shame he nearly missed a hairpin at the bottom of the climb and had to select 1st gear loosing some 5 seconds or more !
Rene Ligonnet went off the road in his F3 Chevron B15, pitched into the void by a large bump in the road. He calmly reported to John McDonnell that he had spun and could not restart. The car had turned over in air, landing on it wheels some 100 feet down the mountain. Rene is the master of understatement!
Rene Ligonnet who drove with Barrie in the winning
2 litre Lola 1972 Le Mans.
A class win at Le Mans 24 hour classic with Rene Ligonnet co-driving was his career best result.
The Kodak Lola T290 was the first Lola to ever finish Le Mans. There was no help from the factory, Geoff Richardson prepared the Cosworth FVC, Grand Prix metalcraft modified the body and John McDonnell was the engineer in charge. The little Lola ran faultlessly throughout the 24 hours except for 30 minutes in the pits for a brake change but for that they would have been 5th overall !
Barrie was often the only “foreign” driver at many of these French events, so always won the prize for the best placed foreigner. Kodak Pathé were always impressed when he bought them the silverware on Monday mornings!
Kodak still have all the trophies in their Paris headquarters. Barrie won the Coupe des Salons at Montlhery, 3rd at Magny Cours, 2nd Meribel and 1st Chamrousse.
A class win at Le Mans 24 hour classic with Rene Ligonnet co-driving was his career best result.
The Kodak Lola T290 was the first Lola to ever finish Le Mans. There was no help from the factory, Geoff Richardson prepared the Cosworth FVC, Grand Prix metalcraft modified the body and John McDonnell was the engineer in charge. The little Lola ran faultlessly throughout the 24 hours except for 30 minutes in the pits for a brake change but for that they would have been 5th overall !
Barrie was often the only “foreign” driver at many of these French events, so always won the prize for the best placed foreigner. Kodak Pathé were always impressed when he bought them the silverware on Monday mornings!
Kodak still have all the trophies in their Paris headquarters. Barrie won the Coupe des Salons at Montlhery, 3rd at Magny Cours, 2nd Meribel and 1st Chamrousse.
click on image to see the pictures
