Brabham BT21

[Bryan Miller]

BT21C-3,

A bit light on early history , as it is an ex U.S.A. car .
Letter from Fred Opert 2000, advises almost sure one of the cars he bought in in 1968, appears to have gone to ,
Coleman.
Campbell.
Mike Whelan.
Mike Fitzgerald.
Wayne Taylor [ restoration 1994-8 ].
Mark Leonard 1998-99.
John Ashwell 1999 , resident of Casino , N.S.W. Australia.

Also in letter from Opert, he advises he had his own special car which would have been ch. no. 2,3,4 or 5, this car had a Hewland Mk 7 , 6 speed and an 1100cc Cosworth S.C.C fuel injected engine.

BT21C-12.

Another U.S.A. car , seems to be new to Mr. C.H.Adams of Springfield Illinois .
Returned to Australia in March 1983 with Gary Simkin , when he returned from working in the states , sold to George Goodare of Sydney , rebuilt and used in Historic racing ever since , 1989-1995 Mr. Howard Blight of Sydney, 1995-1998 Mr. Rob. Bailey of Victoria , 1-12-1998 to Mr. Nereo Dizane [ the late ] still with his estate.

Prior to Howard Blight car was owned by Peter Addison of Sydney .

Bryan.

[275 GTB-4]

Bryan,

John is a Dr in Lismore....search using his name on AtlasF1....he is also a lucky lucky boy after the shunt at Turn 9 Eastern Creek in front of me....:-(

[allenbrown]

CH Adams would presumably be Charlie Adams who drove a BT21C in the Continental Championship in 1968. See here and here.

Allen

[Chris Townsend]

Charlie Adams indeed used this car all the way into 1970 in FB races I think - either that or he gets another BT21C, which seems perverse...

Didn't solve the Buxton car yet, but as Brabham built about 100 BT21s in various guises I'm sure we've got hours of endless fun to go with this thread!

Chris

[RAP]

According to F1R F3 Fact Book 27 March 1967 Silverstone A Rollinson is in BT21-18. Entered by F Lythgoe. However, 23 June 1968 Cyd Williams is shown as BT21-49 so I'm not sure where BT21-18 fits in 1968?


RAP

[Chris Townsend]

RAP, who is the entrant on the Cyd Williams 21-49 in June 68?
Is it Goodwin Racing or Frank Williams?

Chris

[RAP]

23 June 68 Mallory Park Cyd Williams Goodwin Racing BT21-49
20 July 68 Brands Hatch Cyd Williams Goodwin Racing BT21-49
14 Sept 68 Oulton Park Cyd Williams Goodwin Racing BT21-49
All per F1R F3 Fact Book

RAP

[Steve Wilkinson]

The following is a list of drivers/entrants/chassis types from the three Formula Three races I saw in 1967/68:

15/07/67 Silverstone - Push Rod Trophy Race

Ken Crook - Bernard Lewis Racing - BT18
David Berry - Frank Lythgoe Racing Ltd - BT15
Barrie Maskell - A.G.Dean (Racing) Ltd - BT15
Peter Westbury - F.I.R.S.T. - BT21 Felday
Derek Bell - F.I.R.S.T. - BT21 Felday
Alan Rollinson - David Bridges - BT21 Holbay (stated as being a 'new' BT21)
Peter Gethin - Sports Motors (Manchester) Ltd - BT21
Chris M.M. Williams - Chris Williams Racing Ltd - BT21 Holbay
Graham Coaker - driver - BT18
Chris Meek - Gilbert Baird - BT18
Peter Gaydon - Special Motor Racing Team - BT18
Chris Jackson - Barry Payne Auto Services - BT21 Holbay
David Morgan - driver - BT10/15
David Williamson - P. & M. Racing Preparations - BT18
Mike Walker - Frank Manning Racing Ltd - BT21
Peter Fattorini - driver - BT21
Richard Knight - Winfield Racing Organisation - BT21
Mike Knight - Ian Walker - BT21
Michael Keens - driver - BT21
Harry Stiller - Lucas (Engineering) Ltd - BT21
Tetsu Ikusawa - Motor Racing Stables - BT21

25/05/68 Monte Carlo 10th Grand Prix de Monaco F3
Wayne Mitrchell - Paul B Watson
Carlos Giro - driver
Renne Ligonnet - Pennelier Racing Organisation
Jean-Pierre Cassegrain - BP France
Patrick Champin - driver
Alain Franceschi - driver
Philippe Vidal - driver - BT21
Jean-Francois Gerbault - driver
Harry Stiller - Ken Bass Racing Limited - BT23C Lucas (F2 ex-works/Troberg)
Philip Tose - Ian Walker Team Celerity
Peter Westbury - Ian Walker Team Celerity - BT21B IWR
Richard Burton - Frank Williams Racing Cars Ltd
Michael Keens - P & M Racing Preparations
David Williamson - P & M Racing Preparations
Peter Gethin - Frank Lythgoe Racing Ltd - BT21B
Francesco Ghezzi - driver
Ulf Svensson - driver - BT21B Lucas
Egert Haglund - Team Baltzar Racing
Per Jonas Qvarnstrom - driver - BT21B Lucas
Peter Korda - The Jurg Dubler Racing Organisation
Bernard Baur - Midland Racing Team Switzerland
Georges Schafer - Wicky Racing Team
NB all unassigned chassis were either BT21 or BT21B!

20/07/68 Brands Hatch The Clearway Trophy Race
Kinny Lall - Paul B. Watson - BT21
Tony Lanfranchi - Alan Fraser - BT21
Richard Burton - Frank Williams Racing Cars - BT21B
Tetsu Ikusawa - Frank Williams Racing Cars - BT21B
David Berry - Frank Lythgoe Racing Ltd. - BT21B
Michael Beuttler - driver - BT21
Barrie Maskell - driver - BT21B
Michael Keens - driver - BT21B
Peter Westbury - Ian Walker Team Celerity - BT21B
Alex Trotter - P & M Racing Preparations Ltd. - BT21B
David Williamson - P & M Racing Preparations Ltd. - BT21B
Cyd Williams - Goodwin Racing - BT21

[Chris Townsend]

RAP

Sorry, more questions! Is 21-18 the only Lythgoe car in 1967 used by Rollinson, or is a number given for that new car highlighted by Steve as appearing in July? Or is there a late season car? 49 is the highest chassis no I have for BT21s.

Is a number given for the 21 used by George Lewis in 1968 which was also entered by Goodwin Racing?

I think that 21-49 is likely to be the Buxton car. This car is now in the USA and the owner had remarked that it was 'ex Williams' but I'm guessing now that this could as easily be Cyd as Frank!

Chris

[RAP]

Unfortunatly F1R book has no chassis numbers for BT21 for any date in 67 other than 27 March so can't help with first Q

BT21 numbers in 68 are -
35 Cassegrain 23 June
32 Jacobsson 23 June
49 Cyd Williams 23/6, 20/7, 14/9
15 D Powell 23/6
5 N Foulds 23/6 ( D Bridges Rcg)
20 H Ganley 23/6
46 P Tose (I WAlker/Celerity) 23/6
42 K Lall (P WAtson) 20/7
12 M Beuttler 20/7
2 N Goodwin (Goodwin Rcg) 20/7 & 17/5/69
16 J Campbell 14/9

43 R Burton (F Wiliams) 20/7 Listed as BT21B in one place but BT21 chassis number so could be either? I have BT21B as a mark up in my Prog (I was there)
Doesn't really answer any of your questions I'm afraid but of interest anyway, I hope.(Don't worry about asking - pooling our info is the only way to answer some questions),

RAP

[allenbrown]

On the subject of BT21 production numbers, I have a production list from MRD dated 13 Sep 1967 that lists 2 BT21s from 1966 and 47 from 1967. Up to that point, just 10 Ford 1600cc libre BT21As had been built, a single F3 BT21B and the Ford 1600cc libre BT21C was shown as at "Drawing Stage".

However, a handwritten note at the foot of the page if headed "Additional cars built Aug Sep 1967 to 16th Jan 1968" and shows a single F3 BT21 under the 1968 column.

For comparison, the Lawrence book (p205) shows production as 4 - 45 - 1, so at least it agrees on the single 1968 car.

So if 50 BT21s were built, I'd expect the highest number to be 50 or 51.

Allen

[Chris Townsend]

OK

I think I solved my query about the Buxton car.
There are several more obscure BT21s in Atlantic still to work out, but I thought that I would have a stab at working out those 50 or so BT21s, based on RAPs chassis numbers and my own notes from the press about who bought whose car:

BT21-1. December 1966. to Frank Williams used by Viannini in Temporada.

2: December 1966. Charlie Crichton Stuart in Temporada, then to Natalie Goodwin as her own car. Retained to end 69 then to Tony Birchenough.

3: Jan 67 Felday for Derek Bell. 1968 Jeff Holdrup

4: ?

5: March 67 Anglo Spanish Racing for Adan Czartoryski. 1968 David Bridges for Norman Foulds

6: ? By 1970 in Australia with Graham Baker

7: By 1968 in NZ with Graham Harvey

8: By 1969 run by Bill Stone with t/c engine

9: March 67 Anglo Spanish racing for Brian Classick, 1968 maybe Peter Hanson, 1969 to Cam Mackenzie [Canada] for FB races and still in Vancouver or thereabouts today

10: ?

11: March 67 Kurt Ahrens, 1969: Willi Deutsch

12: March 67: MRS for Harry Stiller and Tony Lanfranchi, sold to Charles Lucas and used by Stiller, Bev Bond and Lucas. 1968 Mike Beuttler, 1969 sold to Fred Opert along with Jupp's BT21

13: Probably not built

14: ?

15: March 67 for Peter Westbury, 1968 Davey Powell, 1969 - 70 Ronnie Mackay, 1971 Vivian Candy

16: March 67 Richard Burton, 1968 John Campbell, 1969 Campbell to Wayne Mitchell and then on to James Hunt. 1970 Terry Harmer

17: ?

18: March 67 Lythgoe for Alan Rollinson and then Dave Berry

19: March 67 Ian Walker Racing for rent a drivers including Revson, Nunn and Hitchcock 1968 Phil Tose [still owned by Walker?] then 1969 Mike Stow and also used by Graham Coaker and David Cole

20: March 67 Howden Ganley, retained 1968

21: March 67 Mike Keens

22 - 27 not a clue

28: Winfield Racing for Mike Knight then 1968 to Len Gibbs and retained

29: April 67 Mike Walker, 1968 - 69 Chris Court

30: Chris Lambert with FVA engine. 1968 damaged in trailer accident, sold damaged to Joseph Erlich and rebuilt for Bev Bond/George Dixon, may not race in this format, 1971 Jonny Dimsdale for Atlantic races

31: April 67 Ulf Svensson

More to come

[David McKinney]

My period notes say Harvey's car was BT21A-7, which is presumably a different beast from BT21-7.
Baker's was the ex-Harvey
Bert Hawthorne's car, landed NZ about November 1967, was said to be BT21-9 - maybe it was BT21A-9?

[RAP]

FRom F1R Fact Book 27/3/67

BT21-4 Derek Bell
BT21 - 13 Rollo Fielding
BT21-14 Chris Williams

Agreed re 5, 11, 12, 15, 18, 20, 29.

With due thanks to who ever took the notes !!!

[Bryan Miller]

All, especially David. BT21A .? BT21.? -7

The ex Graeme Harvey car is in Australia.

Called out as 1966 build , 1st event December 1966 at Pukekohe, thence to Les Jones 1967-8 , then to Graham Baker 1968-70 , thence Allan Rhodes 1970-3 , then Russell Noble 1973-5 , then Neil Whittaker 1975-2001, sold to Robert Hands of Melbourne .
David do you concur.?
We have A.M. number but no chassis no.
Car is now for sale via Len Selbys site in the U.K.

If David agrees then you have chassis -6 idle again.
My build sheets advise ,

BT21 x 49 in 1966. as F3
BT21A x 10 in 1967 as F.Libre.
BT21B x 30 in 1968 as F3.
BT21C x 19 in 1968 as F.Libre.

Total of 108 cars , plus at least 1 x backdoor car I have already listed.

BT21 - 48 , sold new? to Frank Williams [ less engine but with MK 4 Hewland , we have the AM no. on car , and it appears this went straight to the U.S.A .
Has been in Australia since 1999, chassis plate is on car , and history back to early 1970's .

An advert in Autosport Nov. 9 1972 ,BT21A , page 51, John Wingfields sucessful race winning Libre car , a genuine works built car , not to be confused with a converted F3 , for sale.

Bryan.

[Bryan Miller]

BT21C-17 ,

New to Malcolm Eaves , but did not appear untill Prescott Spring meeting 1970 , apparently due to Ron T. not wanting to build it with the Buick eng , and when it did appear the eng. bay [ from memory ] was BT23C.

1971-1973 Peter Boshier Jones with Buick.
1973-1979 Nigel Pow with 5 litre quad cam Repco.
1979-1981 John Harper .
1981-1983 to Les Wright in Australia.
1983-1987 to Clive Osborne in Oz .
1987-present back to Les Wright Oz.

Bryan.

[David McKinney]

Originally Posted by Bryan Miller

Called out as 1966 build , 1st event December 1966 at Pukekohe, thence to Les Jones 1967-8 , then to Graham Baker 1968-70 , thence Allan Rhodes 1970-3 , then Russell Noble 1973-5 , then Neil Whittaker 1975-2001, sold to Robert Hands of Melbourne .
David do you concur.?

Close
First event with Harvey at Pukekohe Dec 1967
Then (in seasons):
1967/68: Harvey > Jones March
1968/69: Jones > Baker April
1969/70: Baker > Rhodes late
1970/71: Rhodes
1971/72: Noble
After that it gets confusing, as many parts were used in the construction of the Noble sportscar which raced the following season, and till 1978, and ultimately ended up with NZ Brabham collector David Manton.
The bits not used for the sportscar were built into Neil Whittaker's FF, which he raced from 1973, IIRC, and owned for many years afterwards - 2001, if you say so.
I don't know which parts went into which car, so can't be sure how much BT21 (or BT21A) remained with Whittaker

[Chris Townsend]

Rest of BT21s so far!

32: 1967 Egert Haglund, kept by Haglund early 68 then to Eddie Jacobsson; then 1969 to Richard Scott, run by Williams and updated to BT21B. Sold to Bert Hawthorne when Scott got his Chevron. Run by Hawthorne in UK F3 races in 1970. This is not Hawthorne's Tasman car I think.

33: 1967 not sure, but appears 1968 Race of Champions run by Lythgoe for Gethin with a BMW 2 litre in the back, so maybe a Lythgoe F3 car in 1967. Run by Millar with the Beemer still in it in 1969 Libre races

34: Don't know

35: April 1967 for Cassegrain, run by Lamplough, so maybe he owned the car. Cassegrain again in 68

36: Williams team car to mid 69 then sold to Canada and used in FB. Maybe Bruce Jensen's BT21 in Canadian championship

37: Ingvar Pettersson 67 and 68

38: Lars Lindberg 1967

39 and 40 : Don't know

41: 1967 FIRST for Mac Daghorn to replace early season car, 1968 to Alan Deacon for Libre

42: 1967 don't know. 68: Kenny Lall

43: 1967 don't know. 68 Williams for Burton, so maybe a Williams car in 67

44: 1967 - 68: Juoko Valli, 1969 Jonas Quanstrom

45: Not known before March 1971 when Jeff Uren has it for sale in Autosport, so maybe the Uren team car all the way back to 68 at least when Uren runs "Pele" [not the Pele]

46: 1967 don't know, 1968 Phil Tose entered by Ian Walker, so maybe a late season Walker replacement in 67

47: Don't know

48: Williams to USA thanks Bryan! Would the known history back to the early 70s include anything that might interest someone researching the history of Atlantic and FB races?

49: 67 perhaps Lythgoe mid season replacement used by Berry and Rollinson, 68 Goodwin racing for Cyd Williams, 69 Goodwin then sold to John Buxton, retained by Buxton to end 71, F/S Autosport Jan 27 72, then to Howlings. Owned by Lou Pavesi, California, at some point, now owned by Bruce Mansell.

New cars in 67 still to be accounted for:

Charlie Lucas
Tetsu Ikuzawa
Peter Fattorini
Mervyn Wingfield
Sports Motors: Gethin
Winfield: Tico Martini
Woodward
FIRST: Mac Daghorn [early season]
Jurg Dubler [badly damaged in the Casserta F3 accident]
Williams: Mauro Montagnani
Williams: Ole Vejlund
Kurt Lincoln
Carlos Gaspar
Lamplough: Phillipe de Henning
Bridges: Malcolm Foulds
Silvio Moser
Jorgen Ellekaer [maybe Williams]
Alain Franchesci
Mike Hiss [FB]
Fred Opert [FB]
Joe Grimaldi [FC]

[Chris Townsend]

The 21A advertised by Wingfield is probably 21A-12
1967: Stockbridge: John Fenning 1968: Stockbridge: Fenning-> Nick Williamson 1969: Nick Williamson->Robin Darlington->Jim Charnock Run by Wingfield at Thruxton FL 22.5 [MN report says it's ex Charnock]

Chris

[Bryan Miller]

Chris,
I wasn't being devious when I posted re. BT21-48 , as this is what I have been advised , but as a formal application hasn't been recieved , and knowing the owner , may not progress for years is best I can do at the moment , and as it appears to have always been a Twin-cam car it should help someone.

David, I have just re-read Vercoe's version of events , and think we have two distinct cars , both of which at one time were with the same person, i.e. Russ Noble. and the owner may have histories of two cars intertwined.

Bryan.

[Bryan Miller]

Chris,

Vercoe's book also advises BT21-19 was bought back from the U.K. by Bert Hawthorne , and first race at Timaru Feb. 1968 . But this doesn't work with your call out of BT21-19.
In Oz in period we had no permanent resident BT21 series cars , they have all migrated in since.

Bryan.

[Bryan Miller]

Chris,

BT21-48 is the car owned by Bruce Mansell , not -49, as far as I know.

Bryan.

[Chris Townsend]

Bryan

Vercoe never struck me as terribly reliable, especially when Allen and I looked at F5000 cars. I haven't looked at the 1967/8 races yet, and don't know what Hawthorne drove in UK in 67, but in 68 in UK he uses a BT21B which is then sold to Ed Reeves for the 69 British season. He then takes what my notes record as 'the last one built' of the BT21Cs - so BT21C-19?. F1R has this chassis no in its Tasman book [don't know how reliable that is!] and it staying downunder with Cary Taylor in 1970.
What might confuse Vercoe is that the BT21B which Hawthorne buys in the UK to race F3 in 69 is ex Graham Coaker. [AS 6.6.69 p. 2] But this is NOT, as far as I can tell, BT21-19, which is also raced by Coaker in 69 [when it belongs to Mike Stow], and which has been updated by then to B spec. Rather it is a genuine 21B. In Sept 69 it goes to David Martell [AS 25.9.69 p. 24]

I would have to have a good look at MN and AS late 67 to start getting further on this at this end. My guess however, is that Vercoe took 21C-19 and extrapolated back that this had always been Hawthorne's car and that he'd just upgraded it. He actually gets through at least four Brabhams between late 67 and Sept 69.

Chris

[Bryan Miller]

Chris,

We have agreed before on Vercoe's info being a bit suspect , I would tend to believe that the car is probably BT21C-19 , most people don't have a clue that there were so many different BT21 varietys.

Bryan.

[Bryan Miller]

Would you believe varieties.