Brabham BT29

[Ted Walker]

Hickman had BT30-3.29-20 was only delivered new to MRE in SEPT69. It was going to be the 2nd team car with Matchets . Both cars were painted Black.

[Ted Walker]

What about BT 29-20 ???. Who bought it new from Peter Bloor ??? He cant remember. It was sold minus engine but with FT200.It ended up in France in the 80s as a 1 Litre F3.

[Steve Wilkinson]

Just spotted an advertisement in Motoring News 19th November 1970:

BRABHAM BT29X: full BT30 Specification: built April '70: FVC Cosworth with Hewland FT200

Ad placed by Tony Griffiths.

This implies the car would still be carrying the BT29X chassis plate.

[Ted Walker]

Steve the car DOES to this day carry the same chassis plate.As you know after Tony crashed it at Silverstone it was returned to Brabhams and had a new BT30 chassis installed.

[Ted Walker]

I think that Barker entered BT29-20 for the 72 F2 Mallory.Spencer had the BT28 for sale at the same time.The 29 coming from Peter Bloor as a cancelled order from Steve Matchett who went down the March route for 72.

[Bryan Miller]

Thanks Ted,
Must be a typo in F1R.
Bryan.

[Chris Townsend]

This is from my F.Atlantic car database concerning Dick Barker's F.Atlantic Brabham
I disagree with Ted that the car at Mallory was BT29-20, though Barker may own that car later in the year. It was, I think, BT28-2 at Mallory, but the confusion may stem from Barker owning both BT28-20 and BT28-2 at different times!

Brabham BT28 [2]–Ford t/c and later BDA, rebuilt to BT29/35 spec.
Delivered March 1969 for Clarke Mordaunt racing team for Mike Beuttler in F3. Used throughout the year. Sold to Jim Edwards for UK F3 in 1970. Edwards is described as appearing in ‘the Four Flags ex Beuttler BT28' [MN 25.6.70 p.9]. Sold to Mike Stow for Formula Atlantic in 1971: at the first race of the season Stow appears in ‘the hard-worked ex Beuttler 1969 F3 BT28 beautifully restored by Jim Glebe' [MN 11.3.71 p.6]. The car is updated to BT29/35 spec, or at least described as such in programmes. Sold to Dick Barker at the beginning of 1972. According to MN 27.1.72 p.19, Barker has ‘bought Stow’s ex Beuttler Brabham which was brought up to FB BT29 specification last year.’ Since Beuttler’s 1970 BT28 was used throughout 1971 by José Ferreira in F3, this reference can only be to BT28-2. (The Beuttler/Ferreira car is probably the ex-Beuttler BT28 used by Glenn Hyatt in F4 in 1972 [A/S Sept, 1972], though this could possibly be Barker selling on the remains of BT28-2 after its big accident in the European F2 race at Crystal Palace.) What complicates the attribution of this car as BT28-2 is that MN 16.3.72 p.9 and MN 6.4.72 p.6 give its chassis number as BT28-20. BT28-20 was an ex Stow car, used in late 1969 by David Cole [debuting Crystal Palace 13.9.69], and was sold in late 1969 [MN 27.11.69 p.19] to Barker who used it in F3 in 1970. However, BT28-20 was sold to Alan Joy in 1971, who used the car in F3 throughout 1971, and the chassis number is given [A/S 25.3.71 p. 35] Joy offers the car for sale [A/S 7.10.71 p. 45] updated to this year's F3 spec; and it is then offered for sale by Spencer Elton, [A/S 2.3.72, 'ex Stow/Barker/Joy’], after MN says that Barker has bought Stow’s 1971 car. Furthermore, it would seem as though BT28-20 spent 1972 being raced in F3 by David Wadham-Smith. An ad in A/S 11.1.73 p.50 by Spencer Elton [again] gives the chassis no BT28-20 and says 'ex Stow/Barker/Joy/Wadham-Smith’. The BT28-20 attribution for Barker’s car might be explained either by a misprint or mistake in note-taking (MN’s F2 reporter assuming that Barker had kept his 1970 ‘ex Stow’ car), or by Barker having kept a plate from BT28-20 and attaching it to his new car. Barker has a BT29/35 for sale A/S 5.4.73 p.64 [Ashley 2279] which may be this car, or possibly – given the damage suffered by BT28-20 at Crystal Palace – a rebuild of BT29-20, which was originally sold to Steve Matchett with BT29-19 in 1970 and which has not yet been traced elsewhere.

[Bryan Miller]

Chris,

Can't agree that a mistake was made in reference to the Mallory 1972 meeting , as I just checked the Autosport report which states ''Dick Barker in his ex Mike Stow BT29 in Atlantic trim with a Graham Eden BDA. That sort of deletes the fact that M.N made a reporting error , with the two magazines we rely on both advising ex Stow .What it could be is a reporter assuming that a BT28 when fitted with a BDA should then be called a BT29 off his own bat, when in fact is is a BT28 updated to BT29 specs.
What it may well be is chassis plate switching as you suggest.
Interestingly Autosport report BT35-8 as ''F/Atlantic man Ed Reeves entered his Dave Bowen prepared F3 BT35 chassis '', something this car has never been since leaving the factory is an F3.
What seemed prevelant at this time is pure confusion with some reporters stating a car was ''say'' a BT35 simply because it had been back to Brabhams and updated to new bag tank/body work , when in fact it was a BT28 updated with BT35 components , and correctly should have been entered and described as a BT28/35, similarly in the case of a March description should be March 712/73B/76B , but that would have made life too easy for us.

Bryan.

[Chris Townsend]

Bryan
Part of the problem is that these cars get called all things, not least by their owners.

However!
According to MN 27.1.72 p.19, Barker has ‘bought Stow’s ex Beuttler Brabham which was brought up to FB BT29 specification last year.’

This is certainly BT28-2. It cannot be chassis 20 as that's racing F3 with Joy.
Agree the Mallory car is ex Stow but there is no evidence of Stow having anything other than BT28-2 throughout 1971 Atlantic season, and he does fit a BDA in it during 1971, at the same time changing the description to BT28/29, or BT29/35 and
even plain BT35 depending on the bodywork fitted and the mood he was in. [I now have programmes for virtually every Atlantic race in 1971 and most of the organisers result sheets] Even at the first Atlantic race in 71 - the point at which MN identifies the car as Beuttler's 69 F3 car - Stow calls it a BT29/35.

MN is very specific: ex Beuttler, ex Stow [can't be a BT29 as Beuttler never raced one, can only be one of two BT28s and Ferreira's got the other]. Ergo, Barker, BT28-2 all of 1971.

Dick Barker was dirt poor - he'd be high up the grid for the race to be the hardest
up bloke on the grid [though I remember Eric Horsfield going without food for some
days when I was doing FF] Barker certainly didn't have the wherewithal to buy first Stow's BT28 and then a BT29 from somewhere, giving him two BDA engined cars. [If he had two cars in early 1972 how come he fails to start half the Atlantic races he
enters when all he need do is switch to the spare?]

If Barker did have BT29-20, and it's a big if, it might be after he bends the BT28
very badly at Crystal Palace and instead of repairing it buys a replacement.

I believe that what might be BT29-20 has been traced to Staffordshire - Barker's home county. This might encourage us to think that the ex Matchett car had passed
through his hands. However, another Staffordshire resident with a BT29/35 in 1972-3 is Howard Rose. This might be BT29-20 or it could be the much reworked remains of Barker's BT28-2

[Chris Townsend]

RAP

Yes, Ferreira's car was his new 1970 model - I didn't know what chassis number it carried.
Beuttler only drove this and chassis 2. Chassis 20 went new to Stow late 1969 then to Barker in 1970, then to Joy 1971 [or even earlier] then to Wadham Smith for 1972. When do we think Beuttler drove BT28-20? [I used to think this but then couldn't find any evidence.] Stow must have BT28-2 early 1971 for Atlantic: Ferreira has 35; Joy has 20 and Stow's car at Brands 1971 is described specifically as Beuttler's old car.

Agree it's b***** complicated and not helped by possible errors in recording
chassis nos. I've looked at this every which way for the last two years and this
seems to me the solution. The Barker car at Mallory can't be BT28-20.
It could be BT29-20, but that would mean Barker buying two different cars within a month of each other - without us having any evidence of the provenance of the second.

Chris

[allenbrown]

Just corresponding with Doug Brenner and have discovered that his BT29 was chassis 44, bought new from Charlie Hayes. He couldn't remember who he sold it to but it was in 1972, and he recalls it being wrecked and broken up for parts.

The Chevron B15b (wrong thread, I know) came from Fred Opert and was picked up at Sebring after Rene Wissell had won the race in it. That went to Byron Hatten who flipped it at Riverside. It was then a FC for a while.

[Chris Townsend]

Allen

I have BT29 chassis 44 as Larry Wright's car, delivered 15.12.70. Kept by Wright to end 1973 then shared with Mark Bahner for a few years more.

Chris

[allenbrown]

Chris

Where did your details come from? You have delivery dates?!

Allen

[allenbrown]

Sorry - I withdraw the question. I've just found Bryan's post. I'll go back and ask Doug if he's sure.

[Bryan Miller]

Allen,

No need to ask Doug really, it all ties up.
Car is very badly damaged and basically broken up , then when it becomes historically interesting the frame and some other dead bits start having other components added to them to be turned into a ''restoration project '' .

It is not a restoration when they are this far gone , more a recreation around a bent chassis and a few other damaged and rusty parts in my view.

Bryan.

[allenbrown]

Does it tie up? How can Larry Wright and Boug Brenner both have had BT29-44 from new?

Where did Steve Pike and Jim McColville get the chassis number and delivery date from? Mike Fitzgerald?

Allen

[Bryan Miller]

Allen,

I can only report what is in black and white in front of me , which is ,

Sales invoice from Hayes Racing Equip. inc.
1560 East Edinger Ave.
Santa Ana California , invoice no. 6077 dated 12/15/70.

1 x BT29 Brabham with used Brian Hart Engine , xxx dollars less xxxx dollars [ trade in ] Invoice made out to Larry Wright , 3060 Canyon Cres. # 5,
Riverside , Calif. 92507.

Further we then have SCCA logs # 19-332 [ 1972]
Brabham BT29-44 , FB , Yellow / Orange ,etc.

Also a recontruction of the cars history by Larry Wright starting at 2.13.71 through to 6.24.73 when and I quote ''
SCCA National Laguna Seca , crashed terminally in A.M. warmup ..punted off by F.A. at the crest of hill in turn one''.

I don't know where

[Bryan Miller]

stuffed that up ]]

I don't know where Doug Brenner comes into it , maybe co-owner of the car , ?????????????????

Regards Bryan.

[Chris Townsend]

Wright appears Seattle May 23 1971. I can't find an appearance for
Brenner in 1971 with a BT29. Did he run SCCA?

Bryan
A summary of the Wright appearances and results would be very
useful for those of us trying to piece together SCCA races from
1971 onwards, because there are hardly any results to be had otherwise.

[and thanks Australia for another great game -you guys just don't roll
over, ever, do you?]

[allenbrown]

Not a co-owner. Doug raced in the same races as Larry Wright in 1971 so it can't be the same car. Unless Wright bought a first BT29, crashed in before 1972, bought Brennan's similar car in early '72 and applied for a new log book. Sounds a bit implausible, doesn't it?

I reckon Brennan must have mis-remembered or misread the number. I'll ask.

Allen

[allenbrown]

Hi Chris - didn't see your post before I wrote mine.

Both Brenner and Wright race at Seattle and Monterrey at the start of 1971. Brenner stopped after Mexico because he ran out of money but didn't sell the BT29 until 1972 - after appearing in the Bogota race.

Chris - you haven't forgotten the 'back door' I gave you into the results section have you? It has a driver search.

[Bryan Miller]

Never give up.

And Warne does not know the meaning of patience.
At least you know you are going to get your money's worth when we are around.

Me.

[Bryan Miller]

Now to more mundane items.

This is all from the copies I have in front of me directly from the copies of the SCCA logs and a letter dated July 20 1993 from Larry Wright on University of California , Riverside letterhead.

Mr. Wright advises , purchased from Charlie Hayes , salesman was Mike Hiss , December of 1970 purchase.
Shook car down at Willow Springs 6 weeks later.
2.13.71 SCCA Nat. Riverside , blew eng on final lap while contesting 2nd place.
5.13.71 , Pro race Seattle , ran as high as 5th on incredibly hard tyres, finished 8th after a spin.
6.2071, Pro race Monterry Mexico , crashed on lap 20 while running midfield.
4.23.72 , SCCA Nat. Willow Springs , no record of competetion.
5.6.72 , SCCA pro , Laguna Seca, finished 18th.
5.27.72 , SCCA National + Regional Riverside , no records.
6.18.72 , IMSA Pro ,Las Vegas , finished 7th.
6.25.72, SCCA National , Laguna Seca , finished3rd.
7.30.72, IMSA Pro , Las Vegas , 3rd.
8.27.72 , SCCA Nat. Laguna Seca , 1st.
9.17.72 , SCCA Nat. Willow Springs 5th.
9.24.72 , SCCA Pro. Riverside , 11th.
2.9.73 , SCCA Nat. Riverside , scratched , no rain tyres.
4.1.73 SCCA Nat, Riverside , no records.
6.10.73 Outlaw Pro Race , Orange County Co. 2nd , lap record.
6.24.73 SCCA Nat. as reported , crashed terminally.

Mr. Wright advises in 2 1/2 years , entered in 16 races , competed in 15 of them blew one motor and crashed twice.

Bryan.

[allenbrown]

Interesting - crashed at Monterrey and then didn't reappear until after Brenner sells his BT29. Fits my "not very plausible" theory.

(I'm trying to resist mentioning Trent Bridge!)

[Bryan Miller]

The problem with threads as long as this and the Chevron B29 one is I , and possibly others forget exactly where we are , a case in point being a BT29 I have been advised of landing in N.Z. recently , BT29-41 to be prescise , without trolling all the way back I am unable to remember if we know about this car.

History as advised is ex Alan Carlsberg , Dick Dougerty , Hatton , Frank Monise, B.Blackmore , spelling may not be correct on some names.

Importer/owner is Warwick Mortimer.

Bryan.