Lew Spencer behind the wheel of his legendary Morgan “Baby Doll V” during a race at Del Mar in 1963. Spencer went on to the overall win (A,B,C and D production), beating a number of competitive Corvettes in the process.
Photo: Allen Kuhn
Few racing personalities have been involved in as many capacities as Lew Spencer. From herding Cobras around Sebring to managing the SCCA and major Trans-Am and Indy car efforts, Spencer has worn more hats than just about anyone. In the late 1950s to the early 1960s his famous series of “Baby Doll” Morgans dominated their class in West Coast production car racing. After drives in a Devin SS and the Zipper Dolphin-Porsche, Spencer went on to race Sunbeam Alpines and Austin-Healeys for the works. He also was the first to race a Sunbeam Tiger, which he never came to grips with and has no particular love for today. Next were the Cobras, which he ran for Shelby American. In 1963, he sold his Morgan dealership and moved to Shelby American, where he worked in management off and on until he retired in 1990. In his spare time he served as the Chairman of the Board of the SCCA, ran David Hobbs’ Indy effort for Roger Penske and briefly worked for Holman and Moody. Harold Pace caught up with him at his new Texas home to find out more about the many facets of his illustrious career.
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