According to the article article “Will 1965 be the Year? The Development History of the Biggest Lotus”, Motor, 10 Jun. 1965, two Series 2 Lotus 30s were delivered to a Belgian named ‘Dauwe”. This appears to be Firmin Dauwe. Dauwe was the Lotus importer / dealer for Benelux who mainly drove Elans on circuits, hillclimbs and rallies. Dauwe also raced Norton motorcycles in the ’50s, several Loti during the 60’s, including a Lotus Elite and Lotus 27-Ford Formula Junior.
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Lotus 30 Series 2
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| Dauwe (Belgium) | |
| Dauwe (Belgium) | |
It has been reported to this web site that two Lotus 30s raced at la Roche Hillclimb, in Belgium, in April 1965. One car was painted red, the other green. The drivers were “Beurlys”, who won the event, and “Eldé”. These cars appear to be the two cars sold to Firmin Dauwe.
‘The names “Beurlys” and “Eldé” figure significantly in endurance racing from the late 1950’s through the 1960s. Interestingly, the names ‘”Beurlys” and “Eldé” are pseudonyms.
“Beurlys” is Jean Blaton, a real estate developer who raced mainly Ferraris in the 1960s and 70s. He was quite successful, and frequently partnered by his protégé Willy Mairesse. Beurlys and Mairesse finished 3rd in the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans with a 275GTB-C (SN 6885) that was entred by Ecurie Francorchamps. Beurlys’ best finish was in 1963, again in the Equipe Nationale Belge Ferrari 250 GTO, driving with fellow Belgian Gerhard Langlois van Ophem. With a start in every 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1958 to 1968, Beurlys finished in the top 10 overall eight times — an excellent achievement indeed!
‘Eldé’ was Léon Dernier (LD being his initials). ‘Dernier’ actually means ‘last’ in French, so this was hardly an appropriate name for a racing driver. Eldé also did quite well at Le Mans, finishing 3rd twice and 4th once in 5 starts. He was killed at Spa in 1969.
Together, Beurlys and Eldé finished 3rd twice at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Once in 1959 in the Equipe Nationale Belge Ferrari 250 GT LWB Coupé, in 1962 in the Equipe Nationale Belge Ferrari 250 GTO.
During the rest of the 1965 season Beurlys primarly used a Ferrari 250 (or 275) LM, but he won again in a Lotus 30 at Houyet, in september. As to Eldé, he reverted to the Porsche 904 he had been campaigning since 1964.
As a footnote, Beurlys bought a Ford GT40 (painted silver with yellow stripes – chassis P/1041) in 1966 and then sold it on to … Firmin Dauwe.
The present whereabouts of these cars are unknown.
Lotus 30 chassis number 30/L/7 was sold at the 2002 Retromobile show in Paris, and the buyer seems to be from Belgium – could it be Mr. Dauwe?
Sources:
Norbert Vogel