Stan Mason
  • Male
  • Edwardsburg, MI
  • United States
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About Me:
In the 1950s I was considered the weird kid in my neighborhood that was a wanna be Furincar Gear Head who occupied his youth building plastic car models, enjoying Strombecker Slot Cars and reading Sports Car magazines while my friends were all normal American Kids with interest in hot rods.
1st Sports Car Race :
In 1965 @ age 16 I talked my Dad into taking me to Mid-Ohio to see my first Sports Car Race. This was a Professional USSRC race and the warm-up races before the main event were some Production SCCA classes including HP. Seeing how cool Bug Eye Sprites were racing together set my future goals, which could only be to get a Bug Eye as soon as possible (with intent of eventually racing).
1st Bug Eye:
When I graduated from High School in the Summer of 1967 (no cars before that point were the rules in my house) within the week I had purchased my first Bug Eye for $500. I was told by my American Car Buying Father that it was a piece of junk and that I needed reliable transportation to get to and from College that fall. I of course countered by saying it would be fine (knowing he was probably right). It just did not matter to me I was into the moment of having independence in a cool top down Sports Car with Summer drawing near. This Bug Eye had been painted black with a paint brush and had a wedged piece of 2 X 4 wood to replace the broken rear generator support. My first engine failure occurred a month later. This car became my main year around transportation for the next 3 years.
2nd Bugeye (Race Car #4):
In 1968 working part time at a gas station making $20 a week while attending college when a fellow gas jockey and college friend (Dave Braun) mentioned seeing an advertisement in the Newspaper for Sprite Racing Parts. An immediate phone call followed by a visit to the owner John Brase’s house. I examined the racing parts all of which were way more expensive than the $20 a week I could afford. He also had a Race Prepared Bug Eye BRG with Red interior. He asked if I was interested in a ride around the block. I of course gave him an excitable yes! He turned on the ignition switch triggering the sound of dual SU electric fuel pumps, as the clicked slowed after gaining pressure he pulled the starter cable, which resulted in a throbbing sound that only a race engine with headers and a straight exhaust can posses. After returning to his Garage I asked if he would be interested in selling the car (pretty bold for a $20 a week gas jockey). He explained that he was going on military duty in Germany for the next 3 years and would discuss with his wife. He called back after a week and said that it was important for him to sell his car to someone that really appreciated Bug Eyes, so yes he would sell it to me. I gulped deep and awkwardly explained that I only made $20 a week. He said, “No problem, just provide a $100 down payment and pay his Mom when I could”. I was able to pay off the car in the next 2 years with some of the pay off coming from the sale of extra race parts that were part of the deal (I wish I had those same parts today).
Present Day:
Thanks to John’s generosity I have owned this car ever since and enjoy Vintage Racing and Showing it at Sports Car Events. I am proud to say that every part of the car has been restored or rebuilt by me and I am only the 3rd owner. I kept my first Sports Car Program, and after buying the car I was surprised to see my new race car was listed as “Number 14 John Brase Fort Wayne Indiana”.
What car(s) do you own?
1955 Topolino Crosley H Modified unrestored race car (partially restored for sale)
1960 Austin Healey Sprite with VSCDA Era Correct sticker original 1965 SCCA H Production Race Car (restored)
1958 Elva MkIII Sports Racer 100/65 under restoration alloy body, Conventry Climax Engine with DeDion Rear axle
2001 Porsche Boxster
What do you like to do (e.g. vintage race with...)?
I enjoy going to a couple of British Car Shows per year.
My real passion is Vintage Racing whether observing or racing my Bug Eye
Vintage Slot Cars and Racing with friends in various classes
What clubs do you belong to?
Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association (Vintage Race Group)
Michiana Brits (British Car Club)
Austin Healey Club
Porsche Club of America
What would you like to do (e.g. go to race school; get into Vintage Racing)?
Vintage Racing is the ultimate especially big events with all those cars that you saw in Sports Car Magazines that you can now, see, smell and hear. It is the third dimension beyond just a car show.
Location
65790 Dailey Road



One of the cars I am restoring to eventually race in Vintage is:

1958 Elva MkIII Sports Racer 100/65
(late 1958 alloy body front engine with DeDion rear axle and drum brakes)
(revised 10/17/2011)• Original Castrol Brass Chassis plate states MkIII with A7743 (FWA Coventry Climax 1100cc Engine). White Exterior with typical Appendix C full width windscreen, single windshield wiper, headrest, wire wheels.
• 100/65 was the second to last MkIII known to exist.l
• My assumption to date is that 100/65 could be Alfred Zantzinger’s Car #41/174 at the August 59 Berwick PA race. White, no side mirrors. Elva Emblem located lower like my car and lower than Charley Kolb’s white MkIII.

KNOWN HISTORY (chronology):
• Lewis Flink bought the car in 1961 and removed the FWA Conventry Climax Engine and installed a 1500cc Alfa Romeo DOHC Engine a cooling cut out above the grill was added for additional cooling and painted a baby / french blue with white racing stripe. He raced at the 30 April 1962 Vineland, New Jersey in FM photo shows start of C-FM race with Lister Corvette, RS60/61 and then 100/65 leading another RS/60/61. I purchased this car in July 1987 with this same color combination.
• July 1987 - I purchased this car as a basket case from Walter Donicki through Lee Chapman in Newton Connecticut.
• May 1985 - Cap Chenoweth – I contacted Cap in December 1987
• Lenny Wilson in Jersey past Dover off of 80 near Rt10 may have owned it for awhile, with sketchy information.

100/65 Elva MkIII Sports Racer Identifiers:
• Elva Emblem was placed lower, which helps identify this car in picutures

- White original paint, medium blue and then baby blue with white stripe
• Center mirror only installed and no evidence of side mirrors mounting h*** locations.
• Center alloy round mirror only no side mirror location h*** evidence.
• Cut out on left side probably for exhaust (this was prior to baby blue paint)
• Speed bump on right side of hood for Alfa Romeo 1500ccc DOHC cam cover clearance.

 

Stan Mason Assumptions:

1. October 26, 1958 Vineland, NJ Art Tweedale from Continental Motors raced in G Modified race white car with darker blue roundel and center stripe which was consistent with other Continental Motor Elva MKII & III Sport Racers.

2. September 14, 1958 Alfred Zantzinger raced in G Modified at Bridgehampton, NY with assumed similar livery as seen in SCCA September 1959 Magazine for August 1, Berwick PA race.  He continued to race 100/65 through 1959 North East SCCA Races.

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Comment Wall (8 comments)

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At 8:37pm on October 26, 2009, Stan Mason said…
Bob,

I look forward to seeing some of your racing shots in motion.

Let me know how things turn out for the 55th. I have decided not to put myself and wife through the frustration of completing the Elva by next years event. My current Bug Eye eats up too much time trying to keep it running for racing. I will put off the MkIII until retirement which is somewhere from now until 2 years.

Hope things are going well for you.

Stan
At 7:40pm on October 8, 2009, Bob Engberg said…
Hi Stan, Welcome to the 21st. I put up some video from Portland and Monerey on YouTube. Talked with Thor Thorson and Bob Youngdahl in the past month about a 2010 Reunion at Elkhart. Thor was to speak with Rog while in England this week. Maybe something next fall. Keep posted. Bob
At 8:42pm on April 23, 2009, John E Entwistle said…
That would be a fun web site. It could serve as a focus for research into GM history.
At 8:09pm on April 21, 2009, John E Entwistle said…
Stan,
Take a look at http://www.lotuseleven.org/ and http://www.historiclotusregister.co.uk/. Jay Sloan, who runs the former, is US registrar for the XI. If your car raced on the west coast you might also want to take a look at Frank Sheffield's web page at http://fsheff.com/, or Tam McParland's web page at http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/.
Regards,
John
At 10:14am on April 11, 2009, Stephen Page said…
Great Home Page - well done :-))
At 10:14am on April 11, 2009, Stephen Page said…
Hi Stan
Great to have you on board !
Welcome to MyVRL.
Please personalize the appearance of your Home Page, join the Austin healey, Fiat, Lotus, Lola and your other favorite car Groups, post photos (and race videos if you have them) and invite your friends to join.
All the best - Stephen Page
Chairman
The Vintage Racing League
At 10:33pm on April 9, 2009, Michael Casey-DiPleco said…
Nice looking BE, I sometimes head out to Mid Ohio for the SVRA event, I hope we meet up some time.
M
At 12:10pm on April 9, 2009, Doug Bruce said…
Hey Stan!

Awww..I will miss you, all the best for recovery!
Yes, I am doing every VSCDA event and the SVRA events at Mid-Ohio and Road America, along with CVAR in the fall!
I really enjoyed racing and hanging out with you last year!
Wait til you see the car this year!
 
 
 

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