Ralt RT 1

[Smellybeard]

More on the Mystery RT1...

It appears that that this RT1 is the Mike Freberg car (or part thereof). Has anyone any ideas what it was before that? Was it seriously pranged at any stage?

Did CanAm bodies do the rounds on different chassis?

Also, looking at RT1/9 over the weekend, I spotted some more differences. The rere crossmember is an almost identical casting but is machined differently for the FG box.

Dave.

[allenbrown]

Dave

Why do you think it was the Freberg car? I was in contact with his ex-mechanic at one time and may be able to find out more.

Allen

[Dan Rear]

Atlantic RT1s, where did the Mike Catlow car come from. Always very well turned out in vivid green, it raced in England in 1980-81. Did he get it new, or was it ex-F2/Atlantic. Similar was the Ian Briggs car, I think this was the ex-Eden/Rouff/Wilds F2 car.

I used to hang go racing occasionally with Kim Mather at that time, that yellow Eden Ralt was his main opposition in Aurora '78. Kim was usually faster in practice, not so reliable in races. I suppose the Wilds Ralt was run by a slightly bigger team, with a little more resouce.

Dan Rear

[Chris Townsend]

The Wilds RT1-72 went to Ian Briggs in '79. I haven't traced it after that (partly because I haven't done UK 1980 races at all yet). However, I did make a start on '81. The Catlow RT1 is described as ex Rob Turnbull in 1980, so presumably a hillclimb car. I think Turnbull was using this in '79 and I guess it might be the ex McDowell car
RT1-2 ex Larry Perkins.
The other interesting British RT1 is that of Richard Hawkins in 1981. This is an ex Theodore Racing car, winner of Macau in '76 and '79 so it must be RT1-9. Wonder where it went post Hawkins.

[Dan Rear]

Chris

I vaguely recall the Turnbull car as being new to him for the hills in 1976-77(?). The MacDowell car was one of the very early ones I think, but now you mention it I think you're right, Catlow's was ex-Turnbull. Didn't the MacDowell one become the Coogar, that our Irish friend used to own.

I'd forgotten the Hawkins Ralt, quite old for '81, but he wnat well as I remember, pretty fast chap in FF and F3 in the mid-70s.

Did the Bernard Hunter RT1 go to NZ after David Duffield ?

[Chris Townsend]

Dan

The Hunter RT1-145 went off to Australia for Charlie O'Brien and then Ron Barnacle. I think it's still there.

The McDowell RT1 was definitely ex Larrykins RT1 the Euro championship winning car RT1-2.

[Dan Rear]

Chris/David,
Ralt RT1 no 145 was defintely ex Bernard Hunter/David Duffield. UK based in 79-80, then downunder. It was new in early 79 when Ralt were about to introduce the RT2-RT5 range, so I guess this was one of the very last RT1s sold. Btw what was the brand new RT4 Mallock had at the very last 79 UK meeting at Brands? Where did it go after, and was it the Hope Scott/Leslie car for 1980, or maybe the Lawler one? Or did it go out of the UK?

[Teretonga]

I understood RT1 -88 was actually purchased and rebuilt by millen himself and raced at historic events. Repainted in the green Chardon colours. May have been advertised for sale in the USA 2002.

[Richard Young]

Sorry Dan,
I've had my eye off the ball. Will check tomorrow, along with the Bill Gowdy query from the RT1 thread.

[dereklola]

Rather belated response to the summer discussion of a Ralt RT1 supposedly with CanAm/Cicale/BuickV6 history.

As Allen mentioned that was Mike Freberg's #33 car in hte CanAm series. It originally ran with a Hart engine and then the V6 - according to entry lists. Any reference to Cicale bodies should be viewed with caution - seems to me that almost any full width body with almost any ground effect tunnels was called a Cicale.

As for the pics posted showing the car in Ireland in May 2003 - do cars actually compete in such rough condition? The body looked nicelt painted but the chassis looks terrible. Also The "big brakes" refered to were normal on slightly later Atlantics. My 1976 Lola T460 originally came with such calipers and vented rotors but by the time I bought it it had AS calipers and solid rotors as used by RT1s - obviously swapped at some stage. In fact the Hewland FT200 is marked Ralt RT1 - wonder if my Lola and the Freberg Ralt swapped gearboxes and brakes at some time??? Just kidding - but it could have happened.

[Dan Rear]

Richard

Did you get anywhere with the Gowdy RT1 and the Tommy Reid Atlantic Marches ???

Dan

[Dan Rear]

On Irish RT1s, Alo had 2 I believe. The ex-Cheever F2 car that he raced a couple of times only in 78 with a Hart engine. He then got the Lola T760 for '79, didn't like it. From early 80 to mid 80, when he got the RT4, he had the ex-Mallock Atlantic RT1, I think an ex-Italian F2 chassis. I think, Richard/Dave will know better, this went to Tom O'Leary after. So what happened to the ex-Cheever 76-77 car ??

[Richard Young]

Dan,
Yes Bill Gowdy is on holiday at present but I will speak to him (hopefully) over the w/e. Regarding Tommys cars, I think I will have to pay a visit......

[Smellybeard]

RE. The Ralt RT1 supposedly with CanAm/Cicale/BuickV6 history.

Yeah... It looks a bit rough. Those photographs were taken on it's first outing this century! The B42 nose was as a result of contact that morning. Good RT1 FA noses are hard to come by at the moment. A lot of work has been done on it since.

Again, any ideas what it was before it was can-amalized? Did Mike Freberg build it or buy it complete?

David.

[allenbrown]

David

We don't know for sure it was the Freberg car - that speculation based on the V6 engine.

Allen

[Smellybeard]

It is the Freberg car.

Dave.

[allenbrown]

Dave

OK - calling it "speculation" was perhaps overdoing my reservations and I apologise if that caused offence. However, I do not believe the identification is conclusive and I would urge caution on your part. You could spend many hours chasing the Freberg car's origins only to find out it isn't your car.

[Smellybeard]

I have a picture somwhere of a yellow Cougar-Ralt doing the same thing...

Dave.

[Dan Rear]

Dave, good pictures, but I'm not sure about the history of that German RT1. Did Piquet, de Cesaris, EJ all have the same F3 car anyone ??

[Chris Townsend]

That German RT1

Piquet had at least three RT1s
May 77 he gets the first one when AFMP Euroracing folds
This car is then sold in 78 to Guido Pardini.
This car is one of the following 1977 chassis, all sold via Chuck McCarthy in Italy, where Piquet was then based.
41; 43; 44; 46; 47; 55 [my favourite]; 60; 61; 62; 63
Unless Piquet bought two 1977 cars I don't see how one can go to de Cesaris, who only raced Ralts in 78.

In 1978 he gets at least one new car in March.
In July he gets chassis 131 new for the British GP meeting
In 1978 one of these cars goes to Fernando Jorge

Chris

[Dan Rear]

Chris, interesting on the F3 RT1s, didn't the second Piquet car go to Jorge in 79 rather than 78 ?? I assume the Jorge car was the original not 131, as I believe Gomm has the latter and still uses it. There was a good article in Motorsport a while ago on this car, ie 131.

Do we really want to get into F3 cars aswell, could be an ever bigger nightmare tahn FAts/F2s !!

Dan

[Adam Ferrington]

As I'm now (belatedly) registered on Ten Tenths, I thought I'd put in an appearance. The interest in my F.Atlantic notes just shows that schoolboy scribblings do sometimes come in handy.....even if it is 30 years later.

I also have a copy of a Ralt Chassis listing (mostly complete) from 1978 to 1989

[allenbrown]

Hi Adam

It's good to see you here. Your Ralt chassis listing: didn't you tell me that was from the Autosport list plus later observations or is it from Ralt? I have always wanted to know which RT1 Tony Cicale bought for Can-Am.

[Adam Ferrington]

Allen,

Re. the Ralt listing, yes I did mention the Autosport list, but this is a full listing from Ralt records 1978 to 89 (which I'd completely forgotten I'd got)

[Adam Ferrington]

Allen,

Cicale bought two Ralt RT1s :-

RT1-94 delivered in Jan. 1978
RT1-149 delivered in about Feb 1979

Does this fit?

ADAM