Carla's Cars

Carla Marvin

The following three race cars were campaigned by Carla Marvin from the 2000 to 2009 season. Prior to joining the ranks of Vintage Race Drivers, Carla spent the preceding several decades driving in a variety of on road rally events, culminating in the Great Race across the United States in a 1932 Chevrolet Four Door Sport Sedan. Carla won the Sportsman Division of the Great Race from Norfolk Virginia to Seattle Washington in 1991. She then progressed to a 1923 Hudson Open Speed Event Car from Charleston South Carolina to Costa Mesa, Ca and from Ottawa, Canada to Mexico City, Mexico. The winning 1932 Chevrolet and the 1923 Hudson remain in her collection to this day.

During the time spent racing, Carla has remained a philanthropist, participating in various charitable events, race recreations and fund raising car shows. During one such event she was exposed to on track road racing, leading to collection of the 1920 Falls Eight American Special or Oval Race car, the 1956 Lotus 11 Sports Racing Car and the 1959 Stanguellini Formula Junior. Each car has been prepared and campaigned by Carla n a variety of events in the Western United States including the Sonoma Wine Country Classics, Monterey Historic Races, the CSRG Charity Challenge, the British Extravaganza and countless Historic Motor Sport Association, Vintage Oval and VARA events.

Carla remains dedicated to racing cars as they were, returning each car to as close to original condition as possible. In keeping with her artist heritage, the Stanguellini Formula Junior is currently featuring unique livery, highlighting a stylized Stanguellini “s” across the length of the hood. The Stanguellini has been returned to the original race configuration with a correct 1100 cc motor prepared by Epifani Restorations of Berkeley. Each of the cars featured on these pages may be readily found in countless photo features on the internet.

The Falls Eight is unique as the single extant example of the Falls Motor Company Straight Eight developed in 1919/20 by Lewis Knocke and featuring overhead valves and high pressure internal oiling. Research reveals the straight eight includes various features and characteristics found on the Buick Straight Eight which debuted in 1931. History suggest a strong link between the bankruptcy of the Falls Motor Company in 1926 and acquisition of one the eight, 8-cylcinder engines produced by the Falls Motor Company in 1920. Buick fans have often mistaken the Falls Straight Eight for an early Buick 8-cycliner motor at numerous racing events.

The 1956 Lotus 11 includes a well documented history, including the original owner Peter Ross who obtained the Lotus ‘at cost’ for his work at the Lotus facility in period. Peter was reunited with his car at a recent Monterey Historic Race Event. Raced extensively throughout Europe and the US the Lotus includes a full history, and extensive log books featuring the various drivers over time.