Checkered Past Racing: 1976 Lotus 77 at Sonoma Raceway

1976 Lotus Type 77

Ex Mario Andretti 1976 Lotus Type 77 Formula One – click above to learn more…

1963 Lotus 27
Formula Jr

Lotus 27 Formula Junior No. 27/JM/22 – click above to learn more…

1967 Lotus Elan S/E

1967 Lotus Elan S/E No. 45/7145 – click above to learn more…

Checkered Past Racing's Chris Locke races the 1969 Merlyn Formula Ford at Laguna Seca

1969 Merlyn Mk. 11A Formula Ford

Merlyn Mk. 11A No. 212/FF/69 was acquired by Chris Locke and Checkered Past Racing TM in April 2018. The Merlyn Mk. 11A was a successful Formula Ford model in period, with examples campaigned by drivers who went on to be Formula One World Champions.

Adventures of 2013

Adventures of 2013: Early July was Mont-Tremblant – a great destination and fabulous weekend despite 96 degree temperatures and a broken halfshaft in practice in the Lotus 77 on the first day. Duncan Dayton came through with a spare halfshaft from his Lotus 79 and we got it installed just in time to join the […]

Running at the historic Monaco Grand Prix circuit in the Lotus 77 with a Ferrari 312-T behind.

Monaco and Rush

Monaco was great fun despite being a bit off the pace in qualifying and a decision not to start the race due to wet conditions. It was to be a busy week with Monaco the first weekend, back to United States for a business meeting, then back to England for the Lotus 77 to be […]

Event Report: Goodwood and Silverstone 2012

The Goodwood Festival of Speed was a lot of fun — more than I expected for a drag race up a driveway! Although each run is very short (my best times were 53-54 seconds), the turns are challenging, it was raining off and on, speeds exceed 125 mph, and there’s even less room for error […]

Sonoma Historic Motorsport Festival: Lotus 27 in the Rain

Raindance in Sonoma: Lotus 27 in the Wet

For those of us spoiled by sunny California weather, the Sonoma Historic Motorsport Festival provided a glimpse of racing in less predictable conditions. Dry qualifying on Friday was followed by heavy rain Saturday morning that tapered off but continued off and on into Sunday. Steve Earle went to Plan B, with a change in the […]

Heikki Kovalainen Drives Checkered Past Racing Lotus 77!

Lotus F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen enjoyed some hot laps in 77/3 at the Annual Lotus Festival at Snetterton Circuit in June 2010 and at the Lotus test track at Hethel the previous month. Photo courtesy of Clive Chapman, Classic Team Lotus. Watch the video!

From the Notebook: Impressions of Algarve

Arriving in Algarve, you cannot help but be struck by the rugged landscape and beautiful beaches. It was my first time in the region, and for most of the competitors, the first time driving at the new Autodromo Internacional Algarve. The approach to the circuit is itself impressive, with excellent access and facilities, and after […]