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THE LOLA T190

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The T190 testing at Silverstone...

Lola had had quite a lot of success with the T140 and T142 F5000/FA designs, perhaps a little surprisingly as the cars were spaceframes and used suspension parts from the T70 and they were up against the more "modern" monocoques from McLaren, Eagle, Surtees etc.

For the 1970 season Lola joined the rest with a new monocoque design, the T190. It was lighter, smaller and stiffer than the previous designs and it was notable for its short wheelbase in comparison with its rivals. This short wheelbase proved to be the Achilles heel of the design and many customers struggled to deal with the car's handling and Lola quickly realised that something needed to be done. No nonsense Aussie Frank Gardner was entrusted with the development of the car and a longer wheelbase was the outcome which moved it much closer to the McLaren M10B. Having said that, Mark Donohue in his book "The Unfair Advantage" was complimentary about the Penske car.

The development car with the lengthened chassis used by Gardner was 190/F1/14 and it was often referred to as T190X.

...Mike Hailwood at the wheel.

This article originally appeared in Motor magazine, 25th October 1969.

LOLA HAVE developed a lighter, lower car, the 190, to succeed the types 140 and 142 in European Formula 5000 and American Formula A racing. The main change is the use of monocoque instead of space frame construction, the light weight of the hull, which is riveted and bonded in aluminium alloy L 72 is only 70 lb., partly accounting for a total of 1 ,290 lb., some 200 lb. less than 142. Modifications to the starter motor, flywheel and dry sump lubrication have lowered the position of the engine in the chassis and dropped the height of the centre of gravity.

Though not completely unstressed, the engine is fully supported in the chassis by extensions from the monocoque and a tubular subframe extending rearwards to a Dural plate behind the gearbox. From this is mounted a novel type of rear suspension arrangement in which the normal lower radius arm is replaced by a rear mounted lower link in tension, joining the hub carrier between the outboard mounting points of a normal reversed wishbone. In addition to more positive longitudinal location this arrangement permits better alignment of the pivots of the various links to minimize camber and castor variations.

The Hewland DG 300 gearbox is used in place of the LG 600 as it is lighter and has a better shift, while to save it from unnecessary stress there are new drive shafts with Hookes joints to accommodate angular movement and a doughnut subjected only to plunge and torque loadings. The rear brakes, Girling ventilated discs 12 in. in diameter, are outboard of the carriers and deeply buried within the 17 in. wide rims. Front suspension is similar to the 142, by double tubular wishbones, but the steering rack now passes over the driver's feet.

Engine is the normal Chevrolet 302, said to be producing around 450 b.h.p. at 7,500 r.p.m. with 48 IDA Webers and Lucas transistorized or Bosch magneto ignition. Eric Broadley says he plans to build some 25 190s by the beginning of next season, for sale at about €8,300 each complete. Trials of the prototype in the hands of Mike Hailwood, who will probably race it under the Epstein-Cuthbert banner, have been very promising; it has already lapped Oulton Park in 1m. 28.4s.—slightly below the F1 lap record.

For details of the individual chassis histories please visit OldRacingCars HERE.

Year(s) of Construction: 1969-1970

Total Built: 18

Hailwood pressing on.

T190 CHAMPIONSHIP WINS

YEAR	CHAMPIONSHIP	WINNER(S)	NOTES
2008-2009	MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Revival Series	Poul Christie	Class A

SIGNIFICANT T190 RACE WINS

1970

DATE	VENUE/MEETING	CAR	DRIVER	NOTES
24^th May	Edmonton – Lucerne 100	Lola T190	Ron Grable	US FA (F5000) – Round 2 of US Championship
14^th June	Laguna Seca – Monterey Grand Prix	Lola T190	Ron Grable	US FA (F5000) – Round 4 of US Championship
21^st June	Elkhart Lake	Lola T190	Jerry Hansen	Road America June Sprints (FA class)
15^th August	Silverstone	Lola T190	Frank Gardner	Guards European F5000 Championship – Round 15
31^st August	Snetterton - BARC Guards F5000 Meeting	Lola T190	Mike Hailwood	Guards European F5000 Championship - Round 17 - Winner Heat 1
19^th September	Oulton Park - BARC Guards F5000 Meeting	Lola T190	Frank Gardner	Guards European F5000 Championship - Round 19 - Winner Heat 1

The rear of the T190 at a time when tyres were getting wider by the week.

1971
DATE	VENUE/MEETING	CAR	DRIVER	NOTES
17^th April	Silverstone - SUNBAC	Lola T190	Kaye Griffiths	Tracey Memorial Challenge Trophy Formule Libre race
16^th May	Michigan International Speedway	Lola T190	James Dunkel	SCCA National (FA class)
20^th June	Laguna Seca	Lola T190/2	Ed Felter	SCCA National (FA class)