Lloyd “Lucky” Casner remains one of the defining figures of post-war American sports car racing. Entrepreneurial, charismatic and relentlessly ambitious, he founded CAMORADI (Casner Motor Racing Division), an independent American team that would go on to challenge the established European manufacturers on the international stage. Through his ability to attract both financial backing and exceptional driving talent, Casner assembled a formidable roster that included Dan Gurney, Graham Hill, Masten Gregory, Jo Bonnier and Stirling Moss, whilst forging an important relationship with Maserati, for whom CAMORADI would campaign factory-supported entries.
The story of BEX 310 predates CAMORADI’s greatest successes and represents an important chapter in Casner’s rise through international motorsport.
Supplied new by AC Cars, chassis BEX 310 was dispatched from Thames Ditton on 28th May 1957 to Lloyd Casner and his partners, Jim Hunt Jr. and David Lane. As one of the latest Ace-Bristols, the model represented the benchmark of two-litre production sports car performance and had already established itself as the car to beat in SCCA competition. Competition began almost immediately – Entered by Casner at the SCCA meeting at Fort Pierce, Florida, BEX 310 made an impeccable debut by winning the ‘E’ Production class in both races. Further appearances at Fort Pierce followed before the Ace was entered for the prestigious Nassau Speed Week a year later, one of the premier international meetings of the period. By 1959 Casner’s ambitions had grown beyond domestic sports car racing. Following a handful of early-season SCCA appearances, BEX 310 was sold, allowing its founder to concentrate on the increasingly ambitious international programme that would soon establish CAMORADI amongst the leading names in endurance racing.
Like many competition cars of the era, BEX 310 continued to evolve under subsequent ownership. The Ace was campaigned in autocross before being converted for drag racing, receiving a V8 engine and a solid rear axle during this later phase of its competition life. By 1973 the car had been retired from active use and placed into long-term storage, where it remained until its acquisition by the present owner in 2019. Following its repatriation to the United Kingdom, a comprehensive restoration was commissioned with the objective of returning the car to its original 1957 SCCA specification as raced by Lloyd Casner. The work was entrusted to recognised AC specialist Nigel Winchester, with particular attention given to reversing the later drag racing modifications. The correct rear suspension arrangement, including the original suspension tower and leaf spring configuration, was reinstated, while a period-correct Bristol 100D engine, sourced from an Ace-Bristol originally exported to Venezuela, was rebuilt by Simon Lane, alongside the remainder of the mechanical components. Finished in its distinctive original livery of Old English White with Oxford and Cambridge Blue stripes, the restoration faithfully recreates the car as it appeared during its earliest and most significant competition career.
Completed in 2024, BEX 310 occupies an important place in AC Ace-Bristol history. Combining documented SCCA competition, appearances at Nassau Speed Week and direct association with Lloyd Casner during the formative years of CAMORADI, it represents an unusually well-documented and historically significant example of one of Britain’s finest post-war sports cars.
Paperwork – UK V5c registration document, FIA Papers valid to 2034, selection of photographs showing the car in drag racing configuration c.1974, AC dating certificate (BM Gilbart-Smith), shipping / importation paperwork (all tax and duty paid), together with a large wad of invoices and receipts for parts / work carried out. Eligible for the 1000 Miglia, Goodwood and other very high profile events, by invitation.
Available for viewing at our Cheshire showrooms by appointment only.
Please note – Interested parties should satisfy themselves with the description and condition of each vehicle. Each motorcar is offered ‘as is/as seen’ as per our terms and conditions of business. The history listed above is to the understanding of ourselves and the vendor, using the available resources. Any disputes will not be entertained after a sale has been agreed.
Research into the early life of BEX 310 –
1957
Ex-factory 28 May 1957, bound for Chicago dealership Charles E King.
Car invoiced to LP Casner. Old Engish White, black leather interior. Original engine was 100D 645. (Factory dispatch book)
First race meeting. Fort Pierce Fla., 28/29 Sep. Practice on Sat, 4 x races on Sun. Casner & Ace in races 2 and 4. Casner 1″ EP in both races. (Palm Beach Post 30 Sep, Oosthoek)
4* Sam Collier Memorial Race, Fort Pierce, 16/17 Nov. Race 2 Casner
3rd in Ace. (News Tribune 17 Nov.)
File contains 2 x good colour photos of Casner in white Ace #33 competing in above event.
Casner and Ace among 12 Floridians listed as entered for Nassau in December. (Miami Herald 26 Nov)
Nassau Speed Week 01/08 Dec. No mention of Casner attending.
(O’Neil)
1958
Orange Bowl Races 11/12 Jan, Opa Locka Fla. Casner and Ace entered.
(Miami News 05 Jan)
11/12 Jan. Orange Bowl Races. Casner races VW Special in 2 x races. No mention of the Ace. (Oosthoek)
David Lane enters Novice race (race No 1) at New Smyrna Beach Fla, 15-16 Feb with Ace and finishes third. (Oosthoek) Lane also enters race no. 6, Main Event and finishes 16″ OA. Lane car number is 88. (Racing Sports Cars & Oosthoeck) Casner drives Ferrari 500TR at this race.
David Lane brings 2 cars to 2nd Annual Boca Raton races, 8/9 March.
Enters GP Alfa in race 1 and finishes first in class. Lane enters Ace in the Feature, race 5 and finishes 5′ OA and 2nd in EP behind Duncan Furlong (1 OA). (Oosthoeck) Casner drives Ferrari 500TR at this race.
Sebring, 22 Mar. Casner/Jordan/Campbell entered with Ace. Reserve placing only, DNS. (Racing Sports Cars)
Picture and article on Jim Hunt having bought Ace ‘raced so ably by Casner’, Hunt entered for Dunnellon (Ocala) Fla. 26/27Apr. (FL News 11 Apr)
Further confirmation Hunt will race Ace. Casner to appear with 2 x Testarossas. (FL News 19 Apr).
Dunnellon Race meeting. 26 Apr (Sat). Hunt entered in Novice’s race, places 2n° in EP. (Orlando Sentinel 27 Apr)
27 Apr. Hunt 5th OA and 3rd in 20 lap feature Race 6. Casner 3rd in Ferrari in Race 4, DNF race 6. (Tampa Tribune 28 Apr, Oosthoek)
Gainesville. Article states Hunt (Ace) Packo (Lotus 11) Casner (Ferrari and Lotus 11) are forming a team to contest most of the races at Gainesville, 7/8 Jun. (FL News 07 Jun)
Gainesville 7/8 Jun. Casner wins race 4 in Lotus (GM1), 7 and FM2 in Race 5. Packo FM3 in Race 5. No mention of Hunt, but good photo of him in Ace #61 competing in Queen City Race battling with 3 other Ace-Bristols. (Oosthoek)
09 Jun. Full Gainesville results published in Atlanta Constitution. No mention of Hunt, so assume a DNF.
14 Jun. FL News article. Hunt had head gasket/valve trouble at Gainesville.
28 Jun. FL News article reports Hunt, Casner and Packo have formed the International Competition Driver’s Club (ICDC) and have a Testarossa,
AC Ace and 2 x Lotus 11s in their stable.
Warm up article for Cocoa races, 19/20 July, makes note Hunt heading for the races in his Ace. (FL News 20 Jul ’58)
Cocoa 19/20 Jul. No mention of Hunt or Casner. (Oosthoek)
File contains colour picture of cars lined up at Cocoa. Closest to camera is a Ferrari
(#34) and an Ace (#38) in matching colours – red bodywork with blue centre stripe and blue sill panels. Ace has single screen, factory roll bar, white tonneau, and small leather straps to hold down bonnet. Caption says cars are Casner’s. Car possibly had a respray around this time.
Courtland, Alabama 30/31 Aug. Warm up article in Decatur Daily (Alabama) has Casner down to drive the Ace. (Published 26 Aug’ 58)
Courtland. Results published in Moulton Advertiser 04 Sep ’58. No mention of Casner, but Hunt 2nª in Lotus 11 in Race 2. No mention of either in Oosthoek.
5th Sam Collier Memorial Race Venice, Fla. 11/12 October. FL News 13 Sep reports Hunt and Casner will enter their Ace following repairs sustained during accident with TR3.
Race report in Oosthoek only records Casner was a DNF in his Lotus 11.
No mention of Ace.
Jim Hunt a late entry for Nassau with his Ace-Bristol. (FL News article 29 Nov)Nassau Speed Week, December. Hunt behind Duncan Forlong in Race 2, heat for Nassau TT. DNF in Race 4, the TT. Described as ‘bearing trouble’ (O’Neil)
1959
FL News 17 Jan. Article states Casner/Hunt have bought a ‘2 Litre Ferrari’ to go with a Testarossa and Ace-Bristol.
Miami News 14 Feb. ‘Races at Boca Raton to be Sebring test. Casner and Hunt expected to be there in Ferraris. Lee Lilley expected to be driving an Ace-Bristol.’
FL News 14 Feb. Racing a Ferrari together at Sebring. Big article with photos of Hunt and Casner with families.
Feb 14/15, 2nd Cocoa Races. Oosthoek vol 2 has 2 pictures on page 36 showing (together with the white Rahal Ace) a partially obscured red Ace # 48. Personalities in photo are Casner, Hunt and Lane, the last mentioned who also raced an Ace. Car has black roll over hoop and a white tonneau. Hard to see if it has a blue centre stripe/sills, but the white tonneau and black hoop make the car appear very similar to the 1958 Cocoa picture (although car was # 38 in ’58)
7/8 Mar, Boca Raton. Casner and Hunt competing in a Ferrari, both winning their various races. No mention of the Ace.
