Burdette "Burdie" Martin could qualify along with Chuck Dietrich and Carl Haas as "Mr. Elva" in the US. Burdette began competing in hot rod racing in 1946 and went on to midgets and racing boats. He served in Korea with the rank of Captain when the war ended. He went back to racing cars and motorcycles and established Vogue Motor Imports, which distributed Elvas and parts. "As a Distributor, I got the latest models" that included a MK II he entered in the 1957 Road America 500 (and sold to Frank Campbell) and a MK III he raced at Nassau in December of '57.

He became an official with the SCCA and in 1965 became its Chief Steward and in 1969 was elected head of the SCCA Chicago region.

In the early 1970s he acted as chief steward for TransAm, CanAm, SuperVee and all the North American F1 races. By 1974 he was assistant director of the SCCA's racing department and 3 years later took over the job. In 1983 when he was appointed head of ACCUS, the sporting authority of the United States, and became America's delegate to the FISA Executive Committee By 1985 he had been elected a FISA Vice-President, was the chairman of several FIA Commissions and was a regular steward in F1, sports car and rally events.


Here is a photo taken in late 1958 or 1959 showing Doc Wylie (left) and Burdie standing next to a new MK IV. The motor came from the Elva MK III with the FPF 1500cc Climax that Doc crashed at Sebring in March. The MK IV had to be scary fast!


Burdette will be joining us at the Elva 55th Reunion at Road America in September, 2010.

All the more reason for one to attend this years reunion. Again, thanks for sharing. Keep up the good work.

Al

Art Fanter contributed this photo of his Elva MK I taken at Elkhart Lake in the late 1960's. It originally had wire wheels and he ran it with a "small" Coventry Climax. The two air inlets are distinctive. Bill Tannhauser was the first owner of the car. Art Fanter owned it in the late 1960's and met Bill, who identified the car as his. This photo shows the wide wheels and fender flares that Art Fanter made.

(Art Fanter Photo)

A few years back (7 +) an identical Elva ran the VSCCA Equinox Hill Climb, in Sunderland, VT. According to the owner/ driver it was a MK V. I'm trusting memory here, and I'm not sure if I recorded it or not. At the time, I was video taping the event, and driver/ owner interviews. I'll try to locate the video.

I remember the car as being red, and was impressed with it's styling. I've seen a silver one run at Lime Rock.

Keep up the good work.

Al

Bob, You may have been the one who let me know about this great photo site, but I don't see it mentioned on the "new" ELVA forum.

The sports racers are included from 1957 thru 1968, and a few Couriers, too.

Check out http://www.racingsportscars.com/make/photo/Elva.html


Gary C, the Registry guy.