Rennmax

bludvl_x19 · 15 Apr 2008, 15:20 (Ref:2178118)

Hi all,

My father owns the Rennmax BN3 (Formula 2) and as a surprise for his birthday in September, I would like to give him a book with a bit of history this car. I know some things off hand, and others I have written down at home (I'm at uni, so living away from home) but I'll try to give an overview of what I know.

It was built in 1969 by Bob Britton, and AFAIK it is the first Australian built car to be designed with wings. It was raced by Kevin Bartlett in the 1970 Singapore GP, where I believe it won.

Previous owners include Doug Heasman and Laurie Knight, and it's current owner is Gary Neilsen (I do have a list of the owners somewhere)

I don't want to make him suspicious by asking him too much about it, so any information that tenthers have would be appreciated, as would photos, competition history etc

Thanks in advance,

Mick

allenbrown · 24 Apr 2008, 22:10 (Ref:2186104)

Hi Mick

I may be able to help you with this car. I thought Chad Wheeler owned it. Is that your father?

I'm not sure it's the car Bartlett used to win the 1970 Singapore GP - that was the Mildren-Alfa - but he may have used it at a different race.

Allen

bludvl_x19 · 25 Apr 2008, 15:42 (Ref:2186706)

Chad my father? No, he's not. I have a list of people who I think owned it laying around somewhere, the only name I can remember is Doug Heasman. I'll have a look for the list at home.
I have been told for as long as I can remember that it won the SGP, but that doesn't mean that it is, how often does a story get that embellished that it gains a life of it's own?

Thanks Allen.

Mick

allenbrown · 25 Apr 2008, 17:45 (Ref:2186839)

Mick

Someone did tell me that Bartlett used this car (assuming it is the one I think it is) at the Macau GP. I don't know if that's true but it should be possible to find out.

Allen

bludvl_x19 · 25 Apr 2008, 17:49 (Ref:2186840)

Erm, I don't have any pics with me now, its a Lotus TwinCam engine, currently in red paint with yellow striping on the wings, if that helps you.

Mick

cavvy · 26 Apr 2008, 06:38 (Ref:2187131)

Bob Muir raced a BN3 Rennmax in the 68 or 69 Gold Star - Ray Bell seems to know more about matters Rennmax than anyone else. Perhaps someone can post a contact.

allenbrown · 26 Apr 2008, 14:18 (Ref:2187451)

Here's a draft of my Rennmax BN3 page. All comments welcome.

bludvl_x19 · 26 Apr 2008, 14:29 (Ref:2187455)

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldRacingCars.com

Car in damaged state went to Laurie Knight of Wagga who rebuilt it. Subsequently to Chad Wheeler (Ipswich, Qld) and now in green livery. Note that this is the car Kevin Bartlett used at Macau GP in the early 70s.

This car (the ex-Heasman one) was rebuilt by Laurie, and my Father, Gary Neilsen who at the time was in the RAAF. When Laurie decided to get rid of it, Gary bought it, and it now lives in Victoria. The paintjob is predominately red, with some yellow striping as I described earlier.

Laurie had a couple of Rennmax's, the only green one that I can think of now was the 23B, a sportscar. I have some photo's of both cars at home, I will get them tomorrow when I go back.

EDIT: I also think that Peter Ffrench has one of the BN2's, which one I am not sure.
EDIT2: I'm not entirely sure that allison was killed in this car, I will ask my parents who were at the meeting.

Mick

allenbrown · 26 Apr 2008, 15:15 (Ref:2187494)

So who is Chad Wheeler? Any idea?

bludvl_x19 · 27 Apr 2008, 08:18 (Ref:2187855)

None sorry. I will call Laurie Knight sometime this week to chat to him about the various Rennmax's he had over the years, he might know.

EDIT: I did a quick Google search, and came up with this http://www.tasmanrevival.com/review.html website, which apparently has Chad Wheeler driving the Rennmax Palliser. Maybe this could be where you got the name from?

Mick

allenbrown · 27 Apr 2008, 09:33 (Ref:2187896)

No, I was given the name by an Australian expert on this subject.

This is interesting: http://planeimages.smugmug.com/galle...93970977_6BoiZ. That would suggest the history I have on ORC has two cars intertwined somehow. What exactly do you have as the history of your car?

bludvl_x19 · 27 Apr 2008, 09:38 (Ref:2187904)

Ok, maybe I need to rephrase for clarity. Maybe Chad Wheeler and the Rennmax Palliser came together, and somwhere along the line (no blame being apportioned anywhere) made a mistake and put Chad with the Heasman car. As I said, I will talk to Laurie in the next week or so about his Rannmax's

Mick

allenbrown · 27 Apr 2008, 14:02 (Ref:2188154)

I have now published all my Rennmax material:

Rennmax

Rennmax BN1
Rennmax BN2
Rennmax BN3

Any extra material would be most welcome. Bob Britton deserves a proper history being available.

bludvl_x19 · 27 Apr 2008, 14:08 (Ref:2188169)

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenbrown

I have now published all my Rennmax material:

Rennmax

Rennmax BN1
Rennmax BN2
Rennmax BN3

Any extra material would be most welcome. Bob Britton deserves a proper history being available.

I second that motion.

Mick

Bryan Miller · 27 Apr 2008, 23:49 (Ref:2188720)

I don't have time at the moment to make corrections in detail , however the Chad Wheeler car is NOT the Heasman car , the Heasman car is x good friend John Allison who was killed in the car at Amaroo Park, this is the car that went to Laurie Knight and will be the ex Kev Bartlet driven car .
The BN3 Alfa engined car initially thence 1.8 and 2.0 litre Waggotts is fully rebuilt with iron block Waggott and with Max Pearson from Qld with Kev Bartlett lending a hand with rebuild , I did an inspection on car at the Tasman meeting for it's logbook which was an easy inspection , I have a photo in my camera somewhere and will send too Allen Brown.

allenbrown · 28 Apr 2008, 06:57 (Ref:2188852)

Thanks Bryan

scatvw88 · 30 Apr 2008, 10:27 (Ref:2190955)

chad wheeler's ph no is [removed, please PM scatvw88 if you need this number.]

bludvl_x19 · 30 Apr 2008, 10:31 (Ref:2190958)

Thats not the sort of thing I would post on a public forum. PM it someone who is interested.

Mick

bludvl_x19 · 30 Apr 2008, 10:45 (Ref:2190962)

Oh, btw, welcome to 10tenths!

Mick

allenbrown · 5 May 2008, 10:54 (Ref:2194328)

Bryan

I can't find anything about Bartlett driving a Rennmax - apart from the Mildren of course. Do you recall where he would have driven this car?

Allen

bludvl_x19 · 5 May 2008, 10:56 (Ref:2194331)

I had a quick chat with KB at the Phillip Island Classic this year, and he does remember driving the BN3.

Mick

Bryan Miller · 5 May 2008, 22:56 (Ref:2194734)

Allen,

S.E.Asia.

Bryan.

allenbrown · 6 May 2008, 06:12 (Ref:2194908)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan Miller

Allen,

S.E.Asia.

Bryan.

It's a big place Bryan!

Bryan Miller · 6 May 2008, 09:37 (Ref:2195037)

Racing Car News , March 1972 , page 55 ,

Extract from article on '' Strong Team Attack Asian GPs ''
'' Kevin Bartlett has borrowed Doug Heasman's Rennmax Ford for the attack''

Specifically ,Singapore and Kuala Lumpur G.Ps on successive weekends of April 1-2 and 8-9.

allenbrown · 6 May 2008, 22:08 (Ref:2195564)

Fantastic! Many thanks Bryan.