1961 Nota Formula Junior. Period Winner.

History

Chassis #38

This rare Nota was the first Australian built mid-engined Formula Junior. It was produced by Guy Buckingham’s Nota Cars in Sydney Australia for the 1962 season. By then Nota had already established themselves as a small but versatile marque specializing in single-seat, and sports racing cars. 

Buckingham produced the prototype of an expected production run to rival the likes of Brabham, Elfin, Lotus and Rennmax which had previously been the dominant manufacturers in the national Formula Junior Championship.

As this particular car was the prototype Nota it was clothed in an aluminum body (fabricated by Jack Wifton). Buckingham intended to produce the customer versions with the cheaper and lighter fiberglass bodies. The car was originally painted blue with bare aluminum engine side panels. The wheels were a Ron Tauranac (Brabham and later Ralt owner/engineer) design with cast aluminum centers bolted to spun steel rims. 

The Nota was completed in December, 1961. Guy Buckingham took the Nota for its first shakedown run at Warwick Farm in January 1962. In April, Les Howard piloted the Nota in its inaugural race at Oran Park. It won its first time out! 

The Nota was subsequently entered in various Australian Formula Junior races by both Les Howard and Norrie Salter until 1963 when it was sold to John McCormack of Tasmania.

McCormack owned the Nota until 1966 and in this time raced it at Baskerville and Symmons Plains Raceways, plus he ran it in the Domain and Penguin hill climbs. During 1965/66, McCormack also fitted a supercharger to the car.

In 1968 chassis 38 was sold again to Geoff Black who ran the car in a variety of events until 1974. Black earned a lap record with the Nota at Symmons Plains in 1968, which was never beaten.

From this point the car went through a series of different owners who all club raced the car in Australia’s Group M historic single-seater category (1974-1977 Phill Walters, 1977-1978 John Medley, 1978- 1990 David Hill, 1990-2003 George Yeremeyev).

Philip Venables bought the car in February 2003. He raced the Nota at the Phillip Island Classic and then imported it to the UK. 

Venebles’ son, Jarrah, next raced the Nota in the 2003 Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix where he finished on the podium. Jarrah also raced the Nota at the 2004, Nurburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix but suffered a DNF due to clutch failure.

Thereafter from 2005-2006 the Nota chassis was stripped, inspected, and repainted, In 2007 the car was invited to compete at the Goodwood Revival (where Philip drove). Unfortunately the Nota suffered a puncture on the first lap! Jarrah then raced the Nota at Angouleme, finishing 2. 

In 2008 the Nota was shipped to New Zealand and Australia to compete in the Historic Formula Junior races at Pukekohe. The Nota also raced at Calder and Phillip Island with a best finish of 2nd. The Nota was then shipped back to the U.K. in 2009. 

In 2010 the Nota was again invited to the Goodwood Revival. This time the car was raced by former Formula One driver, Desiré Wilson. 

The Nota rested for the 2011 season, but was back in action in 2012 at Donnington. Qualifying 4th, the Nota was off to a promising start until suffering an oil filter problem. 

Jarrah next raced the car at the 2013 Silverstone Classic earning a 3rd in class, and a 4th in class at Silverstone. Later that season when scheduled driver, Nick Wigley, who had qualified 4th, was injured in an earlier race at the Silverstone Classic, Joe Colasacco stepped into the Nota. Having not been the qualifying driver, and having never driven the Nota before, Colasacco had to start dead last. Despite the setback Colasacco and the Nota climbed all the way back up to 11th before the flag fell. 

Thereafter the car was sold to its current owner. It is currently in excellent condition, and is located in the U.K.  The car comes with HTP papers that are valid through 2027. 

Description

Low time Stuart Rolt engine. Rebuilt VW gearbox. Outboard front drum brakes and inboard rear drum brakes. 

The Nota chassis is reminiscent of the well proven, highly successful, Lotus 20 space frame design. Yet it is unique and special with its prototype aluminum bodywork. So you get the best of both worlds with the Nota, proven design, yet a rare and desirable entry for the top events.

The Nota is currently located in the U.K. at Hall and Hall. If you would like to see the car let us know and we can arrange a local inspection for you. If you are overseas and will not be seeing the car in person, we can also arrange to have an inspection done for you. In addition we can also assist with shipping worldwide.

Formula Junior is ramping up again for its next worldwide anniversary tour with races around the globe. The Nota is an excellent candidate to get into the finest FJ races in the world. It’s already been accepted at, and raced at, the highest levels of historic racing. Its unique history and design, and its performance, make this car an excellent choice whether you want to run on the world’s biggest stages for FJ events, or just at your local track. It draws attention, and produces results virtually every time out. 

On top of all of the above reasons to get the Nota, is the price. The owner is “thinning the herd” and has told us to “sell the car!” So that is what we are going to do. Make us an offer and take it home. 

Seriously, this is a real opportunity. If you want to race at the best events, win your class, and do it for far less than what your competitors have invested in their cars, get the Nota. 

If you are not already familiar with Formula Junior (“Junior” in relation to their F1 siblings), take a look at last year’s Silverstone Classic Formula Junior race. This is what you can become a part of with this lovely Nota Formula Junior.

Feel free to contact Art Hebert (former 1960 Lotus 18 FJ driver, 1961 Cooper T56 FJ driver, 1962 Cooper T59 FJ driver, and currently driver of a 1963 Lola Mk5A FJ) directly at 707-328-2452 (California time), or ahebert@MotorsportSMarket.com.

Let’s get you on the FJ grid with us. You’re going to love it. 

All vehicle descriptions are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Corrections, and supplemental information, are always welcome. Buyers are responsible for confirming vehicle histories, condition, and authenticity to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. Motorsports Market is not the owner of the vehicle and assumes no liability for errors and omissions.

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Photos

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