Lola Race Cars

For my Investigative Reporting project at the University of Florida, I investigated the brief history of Lolas, the effort that goes into building Lolas, and also what makes these cars so valuable and nostalgic.
I also investigated the story of my human element - Mac McClendon - the worlds most renowned Lola historian and restorer. Mac has an amazing story that I wanted to share with everyone.
He fought in the Korean War at the young age of 15, and then Vietnam. He received his degree in engineering and business, and began racing professionally in 1960.
Mac purchased all the official Lola tooling and machinery when Lola International had a financial collapse in the 1970's.
After Mac retired from professional racing, he got a job at Nasa thanks to his engineering background.
He retired from Nasa in 1991 and moved to Jacksonville, Florida with his wife Angie to continue his hobby of building Lola race cars.
Mac has been building and restoring the cars for 32 years.
I filmed and edited all of the interviews and footage from the car.
The video footage of the blue street legal Lola is footage that Angie's brother filmed (Angie is Mac's wife). His name is Mark Morris, and his production company is called Improds.
The footage of the Challenger space shuttle is from Nasa and CNN.
The footage from the "Most Interesting Man in the World" is from the Dos Equis Beer Commercial.
The documentary could easily have been done without the three accompanying clips, but I feel they added a demonstrative element to the piece.

[@bernardwarr4187]

Great video Amanda

[@the73spit]

This was great! I just bought a Lola

[@andyhamilton8940]

Nice story young lady. Lots of racing history with these cars. 1972 Daytona 24 hour race winner is a Lola T-70. Owned by Penske

[@ricardobdl3011]

fantastic. what a dream.

[@tomwinchester55]

These care are incredible......

[@Scramblerkidd]

Awesome! Love them T70s!

[@mntoddster]

Nice job!

[@KrazyKontollerGuy]

I am in the Video at 3:30 :)

[@jurgenblick5491]

I am wishing.

[@ChrisEsposito]

im the owner of 1978 LOLA T506

[@findsinecure]

There I am!

[@davidhamer8333]

250 mph sounds very optimistic.

[@andykerr3803]

No, it is a little bit though. All these cars need stabilizing in the rear of some time past 250. They are so small, the frontal area is nothing when you consider they could be running 8.5 liter motors. A lot of street drag cars can temporarily hit 250 with really simple set-ups. That setup must be tested incrementally and adjusted.

[@suzukiyesteryear]

How much and how soon!!!???

[@christianoffen6576]

Is there a way to get a hold of Mac? I have a Lola and I would like to talk with him.

[@elizabethelswick8868]

Christian Offen he lives off of CAR 210 in St John's county. Look him up in the yellow pages.

[@KhayeMira]

The man who built most of the main parts for the chassis was my father. He created the chassis for the cars he builts now. Let me know if you need a contact

[@andykerr3803]

If it relates to the motors, the best were made by AL Bartz. 5 liter to 8.5 liter. He is gone now. There were also Traco motors. The machine shop that ported the heads still operates in California, doing mostly Harleys now... I'll try to get you their name... Plover, maybe...

[@andykerr3803]

That would be "SLOVER PORTING", it was originally Charlie Slover, he also did the work on Chapparalls for Jim Hall. GM actually put out a short line of Pontiac Firebirds with Bartz's own Chevy motor, so they could race them in Trans Am. You may also have a Ford in your Lola, they ran a 429 Boss at 492 cubic inches. These motors are like gems... So rare. Cheers 🍻

[@hillarylevenworth8824]

Who does Mac's hair?

[@TheJudgeMr]

Eh How come you did not mention about the real owner of Lola, it's know Irish owned, the owner of Mondello race teack owns Lola

[@elizabethelswick8868]

Judge Mac owns the rights to the older cars, not the current company that manufactures the newer models.

[@ekek2961]

How come you didn;t even mention the man who helped engineer lots of parts in 1992-1994?? Cmon Mac, you forgot to mention Chingiz, remember him? At least you could have given him some credit.. not nice

[@elizabethelswick8868]

ek ek Mac gives credit to every man who works for him or with him. He's an honest good man. They were talking about the team be had working there currently and also his background in the Lola.

[@KhayeMira]

He never gave a credit who got his parts building back. He builds his chassis based on the blueprints my father created.