1971 Fred Opert Racing Titan Mk6 (71611 - AM71/1)

[deimh]

All

I have recently purchased a 1971 Titan Mk6 Formula Ford (numbered 71611 and AM71/1) with a remarkably intact history, including 2 SCCA Log Book from the period, driver’s competition licences, notes on testing, some race results, etc.

The car was continuously raced in the US from 1971 through till 1987 where it was dismantled and put into storage in a New Jersey basement of all places! It was re-discovered in 2004 and re-imported it back to the UK where it has had a 3-4 year restoration back to as-new / racing condition.

I have been fortunate enough to track down and talk to the first two owners!

The first owner in one of the SCCA Log Books is listed as "Fred Opert" the legendary US team owner and importer of Titans (and other racing marques) into the US. On the front cover there is the name “Robert Kime” and Kime is also the individual recorded in the Log Book as the driver during the period that the car was owned by Fred Opert (1971 up to September 1972).

I have spoken (and exchanged emails to confirm the details) with Fred Opert and he recalls the car its circumstances / period in his ownership well:

· The car (71611) was part of the Fred Opert Racing Team in 1971/2 where he ran three cars.
· One of these cars (in this case 71611) was driven by Robert (Bob) Kime who won a few races in the car, but generally was a mid-field runner (according to Fred Opert)
· Drivers names were written on the front of the Log Books as mechanics were shared across the team and this stopped mix-ups at scrutineering (this explains why Kime’s name appears on the cover despite the fact he doesn’t appear inside as an owner - although he is obviously listed as a driver within the Log Book)
· Robert Kime decided to move up to F3 in 1973 and hence towards the end of the 1972 season left Fred Opert Racing and bought himself a (white Fred believes) Brabham where he raced it in Formula C in 1973/4 (with a best result I think a 2nd at the Atlanta Nationals in November 1974 – I have the newspaper clippings if anyone is interested)
· Fred Opert then sold 71611 onto a privateer racer, James Richard Koestler, in September 1972 as Kime was making the transition to F3 and the car was surplus to Fred Opert Racing’s requirements

Unfortunately there aren’t any records of Kime’s results, apart from Fred Operts confirming that some races were won by Kime in 71611. Hence if anyone has any SCCA Formula Ford race-results from the period 1971/2 that mention Kime I would be most interested in hearing from you.

I would also like to track down Richard Kime and would appreciate any help in this area too.

I have also spoken (and exchanged emails to confirm the details) with the second owner, James Richard (JR) Koestler, who also recalls the car and buying it from Fred Opert racing too. The circumstances around Richard’s purchase of 71611 from Fred Opert Racing make for a funny story that sums up the period well:

· JR Koestler had ordered a new Titan Mk6 through Fred Opert, but on arriving to collect his car he found out there was only one new Titan Mk6 and three people that wanted it
· Fred Opert then convinced JR Koestler to buy one of his year-old Fred Opert Racing Team cars (i.e. 71611, the Kime car that was surplus to requirements), throwing in a trailer to sweeten the deal / lessen JR’s disappointment of not getting the new Titan Mk6 he had ordered
· Apparently there was a condition that JR Koestler needed to repaint the car prior to running it (i.e. he wasn’t allowed to run it in the Fred Opert Racing colours)
· JR Koestler ran 71611 with moderate success, with a best of 4th at the SCCA race in Ohio
· JR Koestler sold 71611 to Richard A Cook also of Ohio (perhaps after getting his 4th place?) in June 1974

There aren’t any real records of James Richard (JR) Koestler’s race results (although all (some?) of his races are listed in the Log Book), so if anyone has any SCCA Formula Ford race-results from the period 1972/4 that mention JR Koestler I would be most interested in hearing from you.

The other owners in the USA have been:

· Richard A Cook acquired 71611 on 1 June 1974
· Formula First Inc. acquired 71611 in September 1975
· AV (Al) Coleman acquired 71611 on 5 September 1976
· Michael Czepil acquired 71611 in August 1978
· AV (Al) Coleman re-acquired 71611 on 5 September 1976 and raced it till 1987 when it was dismantled and put into storage till he sold it to Rod Law of the UK in 2004

Once again, if anyone has any SCCA Formula Ford race-results from the period 1974/87 that mention any of the above names I would be most interested in hearing from you.
Thanks to everyone in advance for any help or insight they might be able to provide!
Dave

[m2mike]

I owned the Titan in early 1980's. e-mail me and I will give you a phone #
Thanks, MIKE

[deimh]

Originally Posted by m2mike

I owned the Titan in early 1980's. e-mail me and I will give you a phone #
Thanks, MIKE

Hi Mike


Thanks for the message, but my car was owned by Al Coleman in the US (whom is in the log books and who I have already spoken to as well) in the early 1980 so if this is a genuine message I thank you for your time and interest but I think you are thinking of another car


Best Regards
Dave

[m2mike]

Hi, Al colman was my business partner. He sold it to me, I raced it. I sold it back to him a few years later. I my self did the motor over. He won a couple of races with it, then a piston got a hole in it. I am the one who had the coolant tubes put on the outside by the head of the RCCA. I ran RCCA. Tel # 201-798-1647, Mike at ALPHA_OMEGA.
Thank's, MIKE

[Rupertlt1]

Ref 1972, Bob Kime:
"Kime who won two region-
al Formula Ford races at
Watkins Glen and one at Po-
cono in his Titan"
Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York) Friday 27 Apr 1973, Page 43
#43 in photograph.

The #74 car advertised as being prepared by Fran Larkin's Tech Garage, 112 Old Vestal Road, Vestal, New York

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Ref 1972, Bob Kime:
"Meanwhile in Bridgehamp-
ton, local SCCA member Bob
Kime of Hallstead, Pa., driv-
ing in his first Formula Ford
regional, led for most of the
race before encountering
steering problems. He was
fifth in a field of 40."
Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York) Monday 14 Aug 1972, Page 23

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Ref 1972, Bob Kime:
TWO LOCAL SCCA members will compete in this weekend's
Nationals at Thompson, Conn. Hallstead, Pa.'s Bob Kime, grad-
uate of Bob Bondurant's Professional School of Driving in Cali-
fornia, will drive a Titan Formula Ford in his first national.
Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York) Fri 16 Jun 1972, Page 17

So the car competed at Bridgehampton, Pocono, Thompson, Watkins Glen.

RGDS RLT

[Fragaz]

I am originator of the Gordon Smiley Tribute page. Can anyone provide info on Gordon's ride in the #74'?.Opert.Titan?