Checkered Flag: Lew Spencer

[67411F--0100-ENG.]

https://vintageracecar.com/famed-morgan-cobra-racer-lew-spencer-passes-away/?fbclid=IwAR3_RSH6XDaMCX_EULUUA0loSCF8H5QdEj9KpFcK0uZkue2G-QNXq9fCW9s

The Shelby world lost another good one this week.  Lew Spencer has passed away.  In June of 2007, Lew was a guest speaker at the RMVR Trans Am race in Pueblo. He liked the car that my friend Mike Cox and I had built and were racing. Lew hung out with us in the car trailer for several hours that weekend. He shared some really great stories with us.  Then on 12/01/07 when 0100 was on display at the Shelby American Collection, Lew and Chuck Cantwell were gracious enough to speak with me for a few minutes about the car and pose for a couple of photos.  Godspeed, Lew!!!

[JD]

Very sorry to hear of his passing.

Thanks for posting and best wishes to him and his family.

[Side-Oilers]

Yes, sad news.  Thanks for letting us know.

[propayne]

From the September 1967 issue of Sports Car magazine.

- Phillip

[1690]

I am so sorry to hear this.  Thank you for letting us know.  If anyone else has any other pictures, I would love to see them.  This shot of him in the Street 427 with Sunbursts and Blue Dots, and the grin, is pretty darn cool.

[Rocket]

Sorry to hear that. We had some good conversations with Lew at the Shelby Museum get togethers.  Ron & Cheryl

[aCMXCVIIIer]

I had a brief encounter with Lew Spenser back when he owned a Morgan/Sunbeam dealership in So Cal.  I believe it was sometime in 1963.  A friend of mine had ordered a Sunbeam Alpine from Spenser and needed transportation to the dealership from our location in the San Fernando Valley.  I agreed to drive with him in his MG-TD.  Then to drive his MG back to the valley while he drove his new Alpine back.  Actually we both had TDs at the time and we were both hot to "move up" in our sports car ownerships.

Anyway, Spenser offered to give us a tour of the onsite garage where he kept his Morgan +4 race car.  What I really recall about the Morgan was how pristine it was.  Needless to say, both my friend and I became big time fans of Spenser and this Morgan.  We went to most of the local races he drove in and because my friend's mom live in Carmel even his Laguna Seca races.  And of course we continued our fandom when he moved on to racing Cobras.

Definitely found memories.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Knew Lew for a short period of time before he went back east due to his wife getting a job transfer. He enjoyed rowing in Marina Del Rey. Took CS about 30 seconds to call him and SOB and undo his retirement when he told him he was moving.

[Richstang]

Sad to hear we lost another great one who help put Shelby in the front of the pack!

This photo is with csx2357 in front of their dealership on 1150 South Le Brea in October '64.
I'm not sure when the dealership opened, but I believe it closed in November '65, just over a month after the Cobra Caravan visit.

[NC TRACKRAT]

This speaks for itself: https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/results/Lew-Spencer-USA.html