Lovely birthday present down under...

The spectacle of two Gold Leaf Team Lotus 49s dicing on the streets of Adelaide (above) had F1-starved residents cheering on April 10-11, especially since local hero Vern Schuppon won two of the four races for Pre-1969 F1 cars in Classic Team Lotus’ version.

Schuppan, winner of Le Mans in 1983, held nothing back, flinging the car – prepared by its original mechanic Eddie Dennis – round in power slides. “It was a fantastic. I’d love to drive it again,” he said. American veteran Pete Lovely (a works Lotus F1 driver in period) diced with Schuppan and snatched victory in one of the races, an unforgettable 73rd birthday present, in his own car. Sir Jack Brabham, also 73, led another.