Elva Courier Forum
Elva 70th Reunion PIB September 16-18 2025
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Elva Cars will celebrate their 70th reunion returning to it’s US historic roots of (PI
Put In Bay Vintage Sports Car Races September 16-18, 2025.
Beginning with a small event in 2009, the Put-in-Bay Road Races Reunion celebrates sports car races that were held on the streets of the town of Put-in-Bay on Ohio’s Lake Erie South Bass Island from 1952 to 1959 and again in 1963. The three-day reunion engages racers and non-racers alike in an event that reaches back in time to capture the history and re-create the atmosphere of sports car racing of that era in a uniquely beautiful setting. Book-ended around two days of Vintage sports car racing at the island’s airport, is a balanced mix of events honoring the island’s racing history, a few social gatherings, a car show, original course controlled laps and airport-track lapping, self conducted island rally, rocker cover races and plenty of unstructured time as well.
Put-in-Bay is a nostalgic island enclave and a short ferry ride off the shore of Lake Erie near Sandusky, Ohio. A summer resort community little changed from the ‘50s, it is one of the very few places in North America where post-war sports cars raced through towns and countryside on public roads and where those roads exist today virtually unchanged. This 3 day event is more than a Vintage Sports Car race and is a great way to entertain friends and family while enjoy some Vintage Sports Car Racing too!
Elva History at PIB – Chuck Dietrich was the first to receive an Elva in the US and he states “I contacted Frank Nichols and he said he had one that had been made for a Canadian who was overcome by fumes in his garage. It was supposed to have been prepped for Sebring, but it had no lights! I bought it and it was the first one in the country. I became the exclusive importer for a couple of years until it became too much work. I had a new one every year and won G-Modified at the 'Bay every year. One year I hit a tree and still won. In 1956 I had the Mk. I, in '57 a Mk. II, in'58 and Mk. III and a Mk. IV in '59. I could sell the Elva and make money on it. An Elva was about $2,000 from Frank Nichols, cheaper than a Lotus or Lola, but just as fast."
The first known record of Elva racing at race at PIB was in June 8, 1957 listed as a MkII (other information has Chuck referring to it as a MkI) placed in G Modified and driven by local legend Chuck Dietrich. This front engine Elva SR (Sports Racer) was a unique one and maybe the first to arrive in the US. The body was hand crafted from aluminium and resembled Maserati’s A6GCS styling. This same body is alleged to be the buck for the later fiberglass molds that were built by Falcon for MkIs and early MkIIs. The wire wheels were not center lock, but instead the bolt on more typical of a Mk1 Elva. A Coventry Climax FWA 1098cc engine and semi-independent DeDion rear axle were part of the package. This car may have been labeled a MkII since it was equipped with a DeDion rear axle, which was a major technical change in Elva’s evolution. Chuck was an accomplished driver having raced at PIB from the very beginning and was 1st in the 1957 GM class race closely followed by a Cooper Bobtail that weekend. Early in the race this beautiful ally body became more wrinkled and maybe the tree incident that Chuck mentioned earlier in this article. From this point on Elva would be better represented at PIB, with increased interest in Elva probably helped by the 1957 SCCA success Chuck had with his new steed.
There was a move in 1957 by several drivers to have an Elva Race Team represented at the 1958 Sebring International Endurance Race. Frank Nichols Proprietor of Elva gave his support. Alec Ullman Sebring’s Race Director was approached, but was unfamiliar with Elva and asked that they prove themselves at the December 1957 Nassau Races. Four Elvas were shipped to Nassau (2- MKII and 2 MkIIIs). Chuck and wife Suzy Dietrich were some of the drivers there. The results from this event were overwhelmingly satisfactory for Alec’s approval into the 58 Sebring entry. The 1958 Sebring Race had a major presence of Elvas with 5 Cars (2 MkIIs & 3 MkIIIs). Chuck and Suzy would share the 12 hour race drive with Doc Wyllie in his specially prepared Elva MkIII with a 1500cc Coventry Climax FPF (double overhead cam Grand Prix engine reported to be the first in the US). This car was crashed heavily in practice and never made the race. The Bill Bradley from Detroit entered a MkIII at Sebring and would race the same car at 58 PIB.
The June 7, 1958 race had 3 Elva MkIII SR The Dietrich entry was a MkII that was wrecked at Nassau 1957 race with Suzy at the helm. Inheriting the name the Reynolds Wrap Queen when this ally bodied Elva was mangled. This MkII was rebodied to resemble next year’s MkIII model with front brake intake ducting. Chuck led the charge in his traditional British Racing Green Livery leading in GM with a 1st overall in an arm cast from an earlier ladder accident at his nearby VW Dealership. Bill Bradley’s MkIII SR earlier raced a Sebring was 2nd. Burdie Martin’s MkIII DNF.
1958 PIB Driver Elva SCCA Class Comments
Chuck Dietrich #96 MkII/III 100/37 G Mod 1st
William Bradley #58 MkIII 100/53 G Mod 2nd
Burdie Martin #36 MkIII G Mod DNS
Part 2 will cover the 1958 race and the delayed 1963 ending racing at the Bay
Put In Bay Vintage Sports Car Races September 16-18, 2025.
Beginning with a small event in 2009, the Put-in-Bay Road Races Reunion celebrates sports car races that were held on the streets of the town of Put-in-Bay on Ohio’s Lake Erie South Bass Island from 1952 to 1959 and again in 1963. The three-day reunion engages racers and non-racers alike in an event that reaches back in time to capture the history and re-create the atmosphere of sports car racing of that era in a uniquely beautiful setting. Book-ended around two days of Vintage sports car racing at the island’s airport, is a balanced mix of events honoring the island’s racing history, a few social gatherings, a car show, original course controlled laps and airport-track lapping, self conducted island rally, rocker cover races and plenty of unstructured time as well.
Put-in-Bay is a nostalgic island enclave and a short ferry ride off the shore of Lake Erie near Sandusky, Ohio. A summer resort community little changed from the ‘50s, it is one of the very few places in North America where post-war sports cars raced through towns and countryside on public roads and where those roads exist today virtually unchanged. This 3 day event is more than a Vintage Sports Car race and is a great way to entertain friends and family while enjoy some Vintage Sports Car Racing too!
Elva History at PIB – Chuck Dietrich was the first to receive an Elva in the US and he states “I contacted Frank Nichols and he said he had one that had been made for a Canadian who was overcome by fumes in his garage. It was supposed to have been prepped for Sebring, but it had no lights! I bought it and it was the first one in the country. I became the exclusive importer for a couple of years until it became too much work. I had a new one every year and won G-Modified at the 'Bay every year. One year I hit a tree and still won. In 1956 I had the Mk. I, in '57 a Mk. II, in'58 and Mk. III and a Mk. IV in '59. I could sell the Elva and make money on it. An Elva was about $2,000 from Frank Nichols, cheaper than a Lotus or Lola, but just as fast."
The first known record of Elva racing at race at PIB was in June 8, 1957 listed as a MkII (other information has Chuck referring to it as a MkI) placed in G Modified and driven by local legend Chuck Dietrich. This front engine Elva SR (Sports Racer) was a unique one and maybe the first to arrive in the US. The body was hand crafted from aluminium and resembled Maserati’s A6GCS styling. This same body is alleged to be the buck for the later fiberglass molds that were built by Falcon for MkIs and early MkIIs. The wire wheels were not center lock, but instead the bolt on more typical of a Mk1 Elva. A Coventry Climax FWA 1098cc engine and semi-independent DeDion rear axle were part of the package. This car may have been labeled a MkII since it was equipped with a DeDion rear axle, which was a major technical change in Elva’s evolution. Chuck was an accomplished driver having raced at PIB from the very beginning and was 1st in the 1957 GM class race closely followed by a Cooper Bobtail that weekend. Early in the race this beautiful ally body became more wrinkled and maybe the tree incident that Chuck mentioned earlier in this article. From this point on Elva would be better represented at PIB, with increased interest in Elva probably helped by the 1957 SCCA success Chuck had with his new steed.
There was a move in 1957 by several drivers to have an Elva Race Team represented at the 1958 Sebring International Endurance Race. Frank Nichols Proprietor of Elva gave his support. Alec Ullman Sebring’s Race Director was approached, but was unfamiliar with Elva and asked that they prove themselves at the December 1957 Nassau Races. Four Elvas were shipped to Nassau (2- MKII and 2 MkIIIs). Chuck and wife Suzy Dietrich were some of the drivers there. The results from this event were overwhelmingly satisfactory for Alec’s approval into the 58 Sebring entry. The 1958 Sebring Race had a major presence of Elvas with 5 Cars (2 MkIIs & 3 MkIIIs). Chuck and Suzy would share the 12 hour race drive with Doc Wyllie in his specially prepared Elva MkIII with a 1500cc Coventry Climax FPF (double overhead cam Grand Prix engine reported to be the first in the US). This car was crashed heavily in practice and never made the race. The Bill Bradley from Detroit entered a MkIII at Sebring and would race the same car at 58 PIB.
The June 7, 1958 race had 3 Elva MkIII SR The Dietrich entry was a MkII that was wrecked at Nassau 1957 race with Suzy at the helm. Inheriting the name the Reynolds Wrap Queen when this ally bodied Elva was mangled. This MkII was rebodied to resemble next year’s MkIII model with front brake intake ducting. Chuck led the charge in his traditional British Racing Green Livery leading in GM with a 1st overall in an arm cast from an earlier ladder accident at his nearby VW Dealership. Bill Bradley’s MkIII SR earlier raced a Sebring was 2nd. Burdie Martin’s MkIII DNF.
1958 PIB Driver Elva SCCA Class Comments
Chuck Dietrich #96 MkII/III 100/37 G Mod 1st
William Bradley #58 MkIII 100/53 G Mod 2nd
Burdie Martin #36 MkIII G Mod DNS
Part 2 will cover the 1958 race and the delayed 1963 ending racing at the Bay
Attachments:
2 Dietrich Elva Mk III copy.jpg 44.3 KB
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