Brabham BT29

[Andrew Fellowes]

If the other BT29-49 is with Rex Thompson and it is Rowland's bent frame that has been restored, then the AM number I have for it is AM70-121, which would be reasonably logical I guess.
Andrew

[Chris Townsend]

There are two problems with this as I see it.
Firstly BT29-49 would be a very late 1970 delivery, and indeed the frame number it now has is in line with cars from late in the build run.
(BT29-45 has AM70/120; what was Barry Fox's car, which I thought was 49 has AM70/121).
So this does not explain the first noted appearance we have for Bill Roland, at Lewisburg, Texas in July 1969. That could be a rental car of course.
Secondly, where does it leave us with the Fox car, said to be the last one built, which means, I think, 49. It could be that was 48 which is still unknown.

Chris

[Andrew Fellowes]

Brad's information on #49 does conflict with previous information. I'll post a photo of the car in a moment as he is keen to see it go to a new home, I really need to speak to Bill Roland which I will try to do!!

Doesn't BT49-45 have a Wayne Mitchell chassis now? I understood that AM70-120 was going to be used to rebuild BT36-10,

David Irwin has it I think, David, over to you.

Andrew
pm sent regarding BT29-48

[Andrew Fellowes]

BT29-49
Photos copyright Brad Balles



& I do have more and I have Brad's contact information. Its very reasonably priced!!

Andrew

[Chris Townsend]

Andrew

Interesting conjecture on Jay Jamison's car.
I know that you theorised that car as 15 or 16, and which ever one it was then sold back to Hayes for Hiss in 1971.
Jamison's sponsor was the same as Chris Gompf, who was Wayne Mitchell's mentor [John's Imports Racing Enterprises] Gompf ran an FC BT21B in the series a few times [maybe the 21B that Wayne ran in British F3?]
Denis Lupton has 15 as the BT29 that Wayne took back to California when he left UK racing

Chris

[Andrew Fellowes]

Chris do we know when Ernie Haze acquired #14? I am worried that Hiss could have access to either #14 or Jay's car for his '71 outing.

Yes Jay says Gompf was heavily involved.

Andrew

[Andrew Fellowes]

Originally Posted by Chris Townsend

So this does not explain the first noted appearance we have for Bill Roland, at Lewisburg, Texas in July 1969. That could be a rental car of course.
Chris

we're making progress, it wasn't a hire car he had in '69. I have received this from Brad;
Bill Roland started in late 1969 (acquired his car from Champin Oil Racing)
He also acquired his before Chaz Derbes who's first car was BT29-33, #31 would fit and maybe #6 or #18. Certainly Bill's first chassis must have been AM69-?

Andrew

[Andrew Fellowes]

owners list of Brad's car;

1. W D Roland
2. Mike Clavert, Houston Tx
3. ? Irving
4. a builder from Argile Tx in lieu of payment
5. Mike Saxon, Argile Tx
6. Brad

[Andrew Fellowes]

& a bit more;
invoice from HRE or Gus Hutchinson Racing Enterprises
one of the documents shows Bill Roland paying for an engine on 7/1/70..$2795.--with a discount of $195.00 for purchasing with a "car"..total bill...$2600.00....Bill took possession of both car and engine on 7/4/1970

another car altogether ????
Andrew

[Chris Townsend]

Originally Posted by Andrew Fellowes

& a bit more;
invoice from HRE or Gus Hutchinson Racing Enterprises
one of the documents shows Bill Roland paying for an engine on 7/1/70..$2795.--with a discount of $195.00 for purchasing with a "car"..total bill...$2600.00....Bill took possession of both car and engine on 7/4/1970

another car altogether ????
Andrew

I agree that this looks like an early model in 1969 [from Champin Oil Racing] and then a late one from HRE which might well be something like 49...

Chris

[Andrew Fellowes]

One of Matchett's BT29's (#19 or #20) when new, was sold through Frank Williams at bargain price,
ref."Hodges" TNF

Andrew (photo supplied too)

[Andrew Fellowes]

BT29-40
Bought new by Bill Rowland.

Ref: Bill Rowland email to me confirming he has the original bill of sale, date requested. Andrew

[allenbrown]

Excellent!

[David Irwin]

"Doesn't BT49-45 have a Wayne Mitchell chassis now? I understood that AM70-120 was going to be used to rebuild BT36-10,

David Irwin has it I think, David, over to you."

BT29-45 still retains the Wayne Mitchell frame that was put under it in the early 70's while owner by Doug Brenner. This car is in Denver and will be restored soon.

AM70-120 is being used to restore BT29-10 that had been converted to a sports racer in the late 80's. This car is in my shop now. And for sale.

David Irwin
Evergreen, CO

irwin_eng(at)hotmail.com

[Andrew Fellowes]

BT29-40
The car has changed hands and the new owner tells me that Bill purchased the car in July of 1970. In fact his first race was in Dallas, TX on July 5, 1970.
Chris what were the earlier races that you had so that I can find out from Bill what he drove?
This late purchase might undermine the suggestion of a replacement chassis,

Andrew

[Chris Townsend]

Originally Posted by Andrew Fellowes

BT29-40

Chris what were the earlier races that you had so that I can find out from Bill what he drove?

Andrew

Andrew, I was working from Brad Balles claim that Bill started racing a BT29 in 1969, I don't have records of him appearing in FB before the 5 July 1970 pro race, and he doesn't appear in pro series after that, so I guess ran SCCA

Chris

[Andrew Fellowes]

Thanks Chris, I have passed that on and asked for confirmation on the chassis replacement.

Andrew

[Douglas Brenner]

Originally Posted by David Irwin

"Doesn't BT49-45 have a Wayne Mitchell chassis now? I understood that AM70-120 was going to be used to rebuild BT36-10,

David Irwin has it I think, David, over to you."

BT29-45 still retains the Wayne Mitchell frame that was put under it in the early 70's while owner by Doug Brenner. This car is in Denver and will be restored soon.

AM70-120 is being used to restore BT29-10 that had been converted to a sports racer in the late 80's. This car is in my shop now. And for sale.

David Irwin
Evergreen, CO

irwin_eng(at)hotmail.com

Brabham BT29 was sold as original and uncrashed by me in 1972. The new frame was done some time after. Douglas

[Andrew Fellowes]

Originally Posted by Andrew Fellowes

Thanks Chris, I have passed that on and asked for confirmation on the chassis replacement.

Confirmed chassis was replaced but with hindsight Bill says it was really could have been repaired.
Andrew

[brahal]

I am now the proud owner of BT29-35. Car was restored by Al Lader then to Tony Senniger, to David Romaine to me as of 8/08.

[Andrew Fellowes]

Originally Posted by brahal

I am now the proud owner of BT29-35. Car was restored by Al Lader then to Tony Senniger, to David Romaine to me as of 8/08.

Congratulations!
I have several names attributed to this car but no dates or order.
Les Miller, Michael Brawn, Bob Lee, and Bob Esseks? Can you give us any early history please?
Thanks Andrew

[brahal]

I will try to find further info as I have asked Alan lader and Fred Opert if they have any further info on this car

[allenbrown]

Brabham BT29s in 1969

I'm working through the 1969 FB season and I'm surprised how few BT29s are mentioned. The entry list for Brainerd (10 Aug) only lists Larry Hamel (#49) and Fred Opert (#73).

The first to be mentioned in an Autoweek report is Bill Gubelmann's at Lime Rock (1 Sep) (#17 in a photo but #47 on the entry list) but the results panel for that race also shows Opert's car as a BT29. The entry list for that race also shows BT29s for Bob Welch, Nick Craw and Opert. Craw's car is entered by Scorpio Racing as #49, the same as Hamel's at Brainerd.

The entry list for the next race, St Jovite, just shows Craw and Opert. The Sebring race in December has seven BT29s on the entry list: Brian Robertson (#5, an orange Opert entry), Bill Bowman (#10 blue/orange), Welch (#23 Black/Red/Blue), Craw (#49 Yellow), Evan Noyes (#71 Yellow), Opert (#73 Yellow/Orange/Blue) and Tim Schenken (#74 Yellow).

If 19 were built in 1969, where did all the others go? Could SCCA Nationals really have supported so many?

And was Schenken's definitely BT29/25? It seems a high number given the relative scarcity of BT29s so far that season.

[allenbrown]

I neglected to mention the Run-Offs, as they occured before Sebring. The entry list does not state the model of four of the ten FB Brabhams entered but does list Opert, Welch and Craw as having BT29s. The four unknowns are Bowman (BT29?), Adams (who we know had a BT21C), Monson (who we also know had a BT21C) and Chet Freeman (who I doubt had a BT29).

[Chris Townsend]

Originally Posted by allenbrown

Brabham BT29s in 1969


And was Schenken's definitely BT29/25? It seems a high number given the relative scarcity of BT29s so far that season.

Harry Reynolds said it was Schenken's Sebring car, and gave the chassis number for it. I don't think it's such a problem being that number. Brabham probably grabbed the most recent car off the assembly line and sent it out. The remainder were mostly intended for 1970 delivery, even though built November/December 1969.

I think that maybe only eight or ten BT29s were actually delivered and raced in 1969. Welch's car was chassis 8, wasn't it? Even if there were more, trucking all the way from Minnesota or Texas to Sebring, over Christmas, might not have seemed such a great idea.
That Noyes is on the entry list is telling [I don't think he appears in the results, without looking...] If that was his chassis 23 that he uses in 1970, and not an Opert hire deal with chassis 2, then it implies he was expecting the car and it maybe didn't arrive quite in time.

BTW Chet Freeman does get a BT29, but in 1970. f/s CPAW 14.11.70 p.26 w. chassis no 42, June 1970, blue, Hart, Columbus OH [Freeman Racing]

#17 on the entry list at Lime Rock is Eyerley's BT18, have they got the photo wrong?


Chris