Chevron B27

[Chris Townsend]

Mike

Also, you've probably already done this, but if you google Lloyd Callaway MD you get one in Galena, Illinois with 45 years practice. This is probably your man, and it would be worth contacting him. He may have paperwork, he may even remember who he sold it to, and the same for the B34 he bought, or he may not remember ever taking part in a motor race...

Chris

[Chris Townsend]

Something of an update on Chevron B27s

1: 1974: Bob Marsland, retained 1975, then to Belgian hillclimber F. Polack.
Now owned by Alan Bell [UK]

2: 1974: Freeman Racing, Ohio. Does not seem to appear at pro level and I wonder if the car was sold back to Opert in 1974, unused, to become either of Holmes's or Jaussaud's cars. Owned by Bob Dupré in 1985 but some earlier history on this car is urgently needed!

3: 1974: Shierson for Chip Mead [owned by Mead]. 1975: Keith Feldott, retained to 1977

4: 1974: Shierson for James King [owned by King] badly damaged and given a new tub after Mosport. This suggests a new chassis number was given to the car, according to Chevron practice. However, the car subsequently rebuilt and perhaps used by Vince Muzzin late 1974. Either this car or the replacement sold to Lloyd Callaway [Detroit] 1975 and used until early 1976, before being sold to Opert. Callaway's car now with Mike Winebrenner [Kentucky] without plate, but definitely ex Shierson - and ex King, as the history of Mead's car is known in 1975-76

5: 1974: Opert for Hugh 'Wink' Bancroft [owned by Bancroft]. Retained unraced 1975. Used in SCCA early 1976 then sold mid season. Recently sold in Calfornia with 'ex Roos' description

6: 1974: Opert team car for Bertil Roos. Used in early races of European F2 season, then sent to N.America for Atlantic. Taken over by Richard Melville [St Johns/Road America] Bill Brack [Halifax] Rebaque [Watkins Glen] 1975: Dick Hayes [California], car described as 'ex Opert' and all other Opert cars can be accounted for at this time. Retained by Hayes to late 1976. In USA.

7: 1974: George Sabin, used by Alan Lader to win Westwood race 1974. 1975: Bob Fisher, run by Steve Jennings Racing. for sale by Jennings late 1975 as ex Lader, Westwood winner. 1976: Jim Van Horn [San Francisco] described as ex Fisher. for sale by van Horn Feb 1977. For sale on Fantasy Junction.

8: 1974: Opert team car in UK Atlantic for Hector Rebaque and Jim Crawford. 1975: Derek Cook, described as 'Crawford's works car'. Retained to 1977.

9: 1974: Team Harper for Dieter Quester; w/o Enna 1974 but reappears at Nogaro for Crawford. Possibly a new car, but likely to have kept the old plate to keep customs happy. 1975: Probably Doug Thompson [described as late season F2 car, which has to be Pryce's car, as the other chassis [12] is owned by Harald Ertl at this time. Probably the 'ex Pryce' B27 for sale by AMCO racing in 1980.

10: 1974: Team Harper for David Purley. An ex Purley car now said to be in USA and a possible history for this car is 1975 Ashtune Race Hire for Ronald Remeuus [More information on this car needed urgently!] then to Bob Brown late season and run by him in early 1976 Indyatlantic. Brown was in the US airforce and probably took the car home with him.

11: Not built

12: 1974: works F2 car for Tom Pryce and Harald Ertl. 1975: Used by Ertl in F2 until a B29 was ready. Kept by Ertl unraced until his death. Estate sale to Jack Perkins who still owns the car.

13: Not built

14: 1974: Derek Cook. 1975: Hugh Munro [loaned to Cook for 1975 British GP]

15: 1974: Opert. Note in Chevron record says SCCA California, but this may well be wrong - I can't find a B27 in California nationals before 1975 and then only 2h cars. This number may be either the number given to the second car for King [though replacement cars tend to be left blank in the build record] or more probably another Opert team car. The build date [June or July] would tally with it being the car used by Pryce at Trois Rivieres and raced elsewhere by Holmes.

16: 1974: Peter Williams. 1975: Mike Franey. 1976: John Scannell. 1977: Martin Murphy. then unknown to 1984: Phil Sharp.

17: 1974: Stebro for Peter Broeker. Destroyed in a trailer fire before Trois Rivieres 1974.

18: 1974: Bobby Brown, new late season car in US series. Very badly damaged when a lamp post leapt on it at Trois Rivieres. However! Not scrapped as first thought. Brown advertises a B27 June 1976 as not raced since complete rebuild at Chevron. As pretty much every other B27 is accounted for in 1975/6 this has to be 18 finally rebuilt. Speculatively the car raced in SCCA and Can Am by Bertil Roos in the late 1970s, which has the right colour scheme to be an ex Brown car.

Two Opert cars appear late season which may be chassis 2 and 15 or may be cars not on the build record.

Howdy Holmes appears from the race at St Johns in July, alongside Bancroft and Roos, in a brand new car. Pryce takes over this car for Trois Rivieres and crashes it badly. However, Holmes is back in this car at Watkins Glen. Sold in 1975 to Dan Neuman [Minnesota] and advertised by him as 'ex Pryce' up to Feb 1976.

Jean-Pierre Jaussaud appears with a new car at Trois Rivieres. Although 06 is available at this race, Opert subsequently advertises the Jaussaud car in 1975 as with only 2 races on it, so it can't be that car. Richard Melville uses this car at Watkins Glen. Used by Bagley in two races in 1975 (described as ex Jaussaud and this is the only B27 Opert seems to keep). Then for sale by Pierre Phillips AW 31.7.76 p.28 'ex Bagley'. To Frank Scott (Racine WI) and used in Cen Div SCCA. For sale by him Oct 76 with 8 races on it 'ex Jaussaud'. (Those 8 races may include one or two by Michael Landrum in the 1976 IMSA series, entered by Opert). Retained 1977 and for sale again early 1978.

Mystery cars 1976-77:

Tom Christ of Racine WI [like Scott] has a B27 in 1976/77 at exactly the same time. As Christ and Scott both appear at the 1977 June Sprints this can't be the same car. I suspect it might be Callaway's car, which has been traded in for a B34 with Opert in spring 76.

Chris

[Brad Ellingson]

Just found this site and can shed a little light on one of the cars here. It's the Jaussaud car (Opert). Frank Scott sold that car to my dad (Richard Ellingson, Madison, WI) in either late 1978 or early 1979 (I was 9 so I don't recall exactly). My dad ran the car in the Midwestern Council and won championships in 1979 and 1980. He then sold the car to a guy out of Milwaukee, WI who claimed he would "super-charge that sucker" and autocross it. Later it was purchased by Paul Berg and campaigned in the Midwestern Council. Last I heard the car was owned by Bob Dupre who wrote it off up at Road America. If anyone has any pictures of this car from any owner, I'd like to see them.

-b

[Chris Townsend]

Brad

Welcome and boy do I mean welcome! Your trail of ownership up to Bob Dupre [who I've just traced but haven't contacted] solves all sorts of questions regarding B27s - specifically the Jaussaud car, which either had to be a car built off the books by Chevron or a customer car bought back by Opert to run at Trois Rivieres.
The Chevron records have a note against chassis 2 as being owned by Dupre in the mid 80s, a car originally sold to Freeman Racing but which I could never find a record of being run by them. So it looks as though 2 was bought back by Fast Freddie and its description as being a new car at Trois Rivieres is not quite right, more like previously unraced.

Chris

[Brad Ellingson]

I called my dad and he seems to think he may be able to find the photocopy of the log book. He said he thought the chassis was #5, but said he couldn't be sure of that. We know it was Frank Scott's old car and was orange when he bought it. Interesting fact, my dad's first car was a Titan Mk6B purchased from Tom Christ...the very same Tom Christ you mention in previous posts. Here is the car entering turn 5 at Road America..1980.

[Chris Townsend]

Brad

Many thanks. If it's 5 that would complicate matters - as the Chevron records are clear on that as Bancroft's car - but it would be explicable in terms of car swapping or plate swapping in the Opert team.

Don't suppose your dad is still in touch with Tom Christ? I believe he now lives in Florida.

Chris

[Brad Ellingson]

He does live in Florida. Retired Continental Airlines pilot. Last raced a Swift DB6 Formula Ford. He helped me a bit when I started racing.

[Brad Ellingson]

I can confirm that the Car my dad had, ex-Frank Scott, ex-Jaussaud was indeed chassis 02.

[Chris Townsend]

Many thanks Brad.
A big update on B27s is due thanks to this, and I'll list it at the weekend

Chris

[Brad Ellingson]

Chris,

Here is a copy of the log book from when my dad owned the car.

[allenbrown]

Thanks for that Brad. I don't recognise the style of log book. Is MCSCC the Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs?

[Brad Ellingson]

You are correct sir.

[Chris Townsend]

Here's the update on B27s. Mystery cars to follow...

27-74-01 Sold to Bob Marsland to use in European F2 in 1974. Still for sale AS 13.11.75 from Bromsgrove number [probably Marsland] “3 races/3 hillclimbs since update by Chevron”, with chassis number given. Sold to Belgian hillclimber F. Polack in 1975 and then to G. Burgraff (date uncertain). To Nick Crossley for renovation and then to Paul Newton. Sold to Alan Bell in 2004

27-74-02 Sold via Opert to Freeman Racing, Yellow Springs, Ohio. Either never delivered or bought back by Opert in 1974 and used by Jean-Pierre Jaussaud at Trois Rivieres and Richard Melville at Watkins Glen. For sale AW 5 July 75 p.25 by Opert “2 races from new”. However, retained and used twice by Tom Bagley later in 1975 (Halifax; Trois Rivieres), where his car is described as ‘ex Jaussaud’.
We then have Pierre Phillips selling the car AW 31 July 76 p.28 'ex Bagley'. Subsequently to Frank Scott (Racine WI) for sale AW 9 Oct 76 p.27 B27 'ex Jaussaud, 8 races from new'.
Somehow the car does an extra four races between late 1975 and the end of 1976, and goes from Opert in New Jersey to Seattle (Phillips) and back to Wisconsin. Perhaps explained by Michael Landrum’s otherwise problematic use of a B27 in the IMSA series. Opert continued to run the car in early 1976, taking it to the west coast as a spare car, disposing of it after the race at Riverside – where Phillips might well have bought a car surplus to requirements once Opert's B34s had been delivered. The extra four races would thus be Landrum’s race at Road Atlanta plus three nationals/regionals for Scott in 1976.
Scott kept the car until early 1978. f/s AW 31.3.78 p. 39. Sold to Richard Ellingson and used in Mid West until 1980. Then to an autocrosser and subsequently to Paul Berg. Owned by Bob Dupré (USA) 1985 and said to have been written off at Road America that year.

27-74-03 Sold via Opert to Doug Shierson Racing for Chip Mead. Sold to Keith Feldott for SCCA races in Cen Div in 1975 and retained by him to at least 1977

27-74-04 Sold via Opert to Doug Shierson Racing for James King. Badly damaged at Mosport and rebuilt around a new tub. Formula Mar 75 p.29 reports, 'King is trying to sell the B27 he drove in 1974 under Shierson's management'. (King still has the plate for this car.) Sold to Lloyd Callaway (Chicago) and used in 1975 early 1976 SCCA and some pro races. Callaway advises that the car was sold to Opert in early 1976 in p/x for a new Chevron B34. A very strong candidate for the car of Tom Christ (Racine, WI) in 1976/77. Now owned by Mike Winebrenner.

27-74-05 An Opert team car, used by “Wink” Bancroft in 1974. Possibly also used by Roos and Jim Crawley in SCCA before the Canadian season started. The car was owned by Bancroft, who according to Formula and Sports Car retained it un-raced in 1975, and then wheeled it out for a few SCCA So Pac division races in early 1976. [Riverside, Feb uses ‘the same B27 that he campaigned in 1974' Formula May 76 p. 26] For sale AW Vol.26 no.19 May 76 p.33. Possibly the Mike Morris car in 1977.

27-74-06 An Opert team car, initially used in European F2 by Bertil Roos, where the chassis number is given by MN, then shipped to North America for Atlantic races. This was also used by Roos in the early season British Atlantic races [MN 28.3.74 p. 12 says that the car run at Estoril had been used the previous weekend at Brands Hatch.] MN 11.4.74 said that after the Hockenheim F2 race the car was to be flown to America. Probably Roos's car in Canada, since Bancroft would have raced the car that he rather than Opert actually owned. Probably the car used by Melville at St. Johns in July 1974, certainly used by Bill Brack at Halifax 18.8.74, and by either Rebaque or Melville after Roos left the team. Not advertised by Opert at the same time as the late 1974 team cars so presumably sold before the end of 1974. This has to be the ex Opert car of Charlie Hayes in SCCA races in California in 1975-76. The car is described as ‘ex Opert’ on debut at Riverside Feb 1975. At this time the other three Opert team cars are accounted for: Bancroft has 05; the ex Holmes/Pryce car (15) is probably in Minnesota and cannot be the Hayes car since it is for sale in early 1976, when Hayes is still using his car; the ex Jaussaud car (02) is retained by Opert through 1975.
Possibly the Mike Morris car in 1977. Found in USA and now being restored in UK.


27-74-07 Sold via Opert to George Sabin. The Vancouver Star report of the 1974 Westwood Atlantic race says the car used by Alan Lader was loaned by Sabin. CMB report of the round at Edmonton says that Sabin appeared himself. Sold to Bob Fisher, who raced a B27 in 1975 in SCCA and the first round of the Players’ series. For sale AW 30.8.75 p. 25, described as ex Lader, and AW 19.7.75 p.30 'Westwood winner in 1974'. Sold to Jim Van Horn (San Francisco) [described as “ex Fisher” Formula May 76 p. 26]. f/s Formula Feb 77, p. 45; a strong candidate for the car of Californian Mike Morris in SCCA races in 1977 though this may have been the ex Hayes car (27.75.06) from 1975-76. Either this or the Hayes car likely to be the B27 for sale by Crosslé Cars Pacific in On Track 22 April 82 p. 37. For sale on www.fantasyjunction.com in 2005.

27-74-08 Derek Cook’s car is described in report of John Player Atlantic round at Snetterton, 29 March 75 as “last year’s Opert chassis”. [A/S 3 April 75 p.38] Chassis 08 was an Opert team car for Hector Rebaque in British Formula Atlantic races. According to MN and A/S reports this car was returned to the works and used by Jim Crawford in late season races. For sale by Opert Formula March 75 p. 8, and also in A/S. Sold to Derek Cook, 1975, to replace his 1974 car [27.74.14] sold to Munro. Cook retains it until at least 1977, using it in ShellSport races.

27-74-09 Sold to Team Harper for Dieter Quester. Also driven by Tom Pryce and badly damaged at Enna; returned to works and rebuilt for Jim Crawford to use at Nogaro late in 1974. Driven by David Purley at Boxing Day 74, Brands Hatch libre race. Probably sold to Doug Thompson [“late season F2 car” used Scottish hillclimb championship is for sale A/S 8.1.76]. Probably the ex Pryce B27 f/s A/S 7.8.80 p. 72 by AMCO Racing. T. French (UK) 1987; V. Wheeler (UK) 1993

27-74-10 Sold in May 1974 to Team Harper, and used by David Purley in the European F2 championship. Probably the car taken to Macau by Team Harper for Purley in November 1974. This car is attributed to the American driver Bob Brown [not Bobby Brown] who occasionally raced what is described by A/S as an ex Harper B27 in Indyatlantic and Libre in 1976. An ‘ex Purley’ B27, without chassis number, was offered for sale in 2001 on www.race-cars.com, in the USA; it is presumed that Brown, serving in the US air force in the UK, took his car back to America with him.

[NB parts of the post 74 histories of these two Harper cars may be swapped between 09 and 10]

27-74-12 Built for the Baty team to use in European F2, driven by Tom Pryce. Sold to Harald Ertl and used by him late in 1974 and early in 1975 in European F2. Retained un-raced by Ertl until his death. Bought from the Ertl estate by American Jack Perkins and still in his possession.

27-74-14 Sold to Derek Cook, August 1974. Hugh Munro’s car is described in A/S report of John Player round at Mallory Park, 9 March 75 as “ex Derek Cook”, so Cook’s late 1974 chassis. [AS 13 Mar 75 p. 26]. The race report for the support race at the British GP meeting, 1975, says that Munro loaned the car back to Cook after he had wrecked his 73B against Val Musetti’s car. Found in France and now being restored in UK.

27-74-15 Consigned to Opert, July 1974, for “a Californian SCCA driver”. Almost certainly the Opert car that appears July 1974 for Howdy Holmes, described as ‘brand new’. Used by Tom Pryce at Trois Rivieres and badly damaged. Rebuilt for Holmes at Watkins Glen. Sold to Dan Neuman (St. Paul Minnesota) early 1975. f/s AW 28 Feb 76 p.21 by Neuman, ‘ex Pryce three races from new’ which means the car had not been raced by him. Still for sale AW 9 Oct 76 p.29. Almost certainly the car used by Tom Cooney (Cen Div SCCA) from 1977 to 1980 or later. Cooney’s prolonged ownership and the known histories of other cars in the area rule out most other possibilities, and if it is not this car he would either have bought the Callaway car (04) which then creates a problem with Tom Christ’s B27, or bought in a car from outside the region – unlikely with a three year old car.

27-74-16 Sold to Peter Williams, June 1974. MN report for John Player Atlantic round at Brands Hatch, September 14, 1975 describes Mike Franey’s Samatco Racing car as ‘ex Williams’. John Scannell’s B27 in 1976 Indyatlantic races is described as ‘ex Franey’. Martin Murphy has an 'ex Williams' B27 at a Thruxton Formula Libre race, [MN 31 Mar 77 p. 6]. Owned by hill-climber Phil Sharp in 1984.

27-74-17 Sold to Peter Broeker, June 1974. This car was destroyed in a trailer fire in late 1974 on the way to Trois Rivieres.

27-74-18 Sold to Bobby Brown, June 1974. Badly damaged at Trois Rivieres. Brown says that the remains were returned to Chevron in p/x for two B29s in 1975. However, for sale by Brown AW 31.5 and 7.6.76 'not raced since complete rebuild at Chevron' which suggests that the car survived.
This chassis number attributed to a B27 recently for sale by the Henry family and it seems as if they bought the car somewhere between 1977 and 1979, running it alongside their ex Brown Chevron B25 and ex Holmes B34. Run for Denny Sideri in FC in Cen Div SCCA in 1980.


Chris

[Bud Morrison]

Update on some B-27's in Southwestern U.S.

B27-74-02 Has been owned by Johnie Crean, SCCA racer in Southern California for several years. Recently (10/2008) sold to Phileppe Reyns, Phoenix, Arizona, and has competed in two HSR West events.

B27-74-04 Restored by Sandy Dells, San Diego, CA. Purchased by Jim Sparks, San Diego, CA, and competing actively in HSR West events.
Extremely well maintained car.

B-27-74-04 #2 Pile of bits sold by Sandy Dells to Mike /Winebrenner, see series of previous posts. I purchased this pile of stuff for spare parts,and am intent on removing it from further confusing the records.

B27-74-05 I purchased this car from Paul Wesselink, Huntington Beach, CA, May 10, 2005. Extensive records and log books, details recently forwarded to Chevron Heritage website. This car has had a hard life, and
is currently being restored by Jack Crone, Corona, CA.

B-27-74-07 I purchased this car from Neil Johnson, 2/22/07, who had stored it many years, and consigned it to Fantasy Junction, Emeryville, CA. This is an exceptionally well preserved original car. Actively competing in HSR West events. More details soon available at Chevron Heritage website.

I tried to keep this concise, any questions kindly advise.

[Bryan Miller]

B27-74-04 # has just been sold by Mike Winebrenner at www.apexspeed.com , or that what appears to have happened , listed for sale on 12th Jan 2009.

Bryan.

[Chris Townsend]

Originally Posted by Bud Morrison

Update on some B-27's in Southwestern U.S.

B27-74-02 Has been owned by Johnie Crean, SCCA racer in Southern California for several years. Recently (10/2008) sold to Phileppe Reyns, Phoenix, Arizona, and has competed in two HSR West events.

B27-74-04 Restored by Sandy Dells, San Diego, CA. Purchased by Jim Sparks, San Diego, CA, and competing actively in HSR West events.
Extremely well maintained car.

B-27-74-04 #2 Pile of bits sold by Sandy Dells to Mike /Winebrenner, see series of previous posts. I purchased this pile of stuff for spare parts,and am intent on removing it from further confusing the records.

B27-74-05 I purchased this car from Paul Wesselink, Huntington Beach, CA, May 10, 2005. Extensive records and log books, details recently forwarded to Chevron Heritage website. This car has had a hard life, and
is currently being restored by Jack Crone, Corona, CA.

B-27-74-07 I purchased this car from Neil Johnson, 2/22/07, who had stored it many years, and consigned it to Fantasy Junction, Emeryville, CA. This is an exceptionally well preserved original car. Actively competing in HSR West events. More details soon available at Chevron Heritage website.

I tried to keep this concise, any questions kindly advise.

Bud, Welcome and most helpful. Of your chassis 5 and 7, were these the Hayes and Morris cars in California SCCA races in the mid 70s?

Chris

[Bud Morrison]

B-27-74-05 Previously owned by Paul Wellelink, who purchased it June 11, 1997 from Grand Prix Classics, La Jolla, CA. previously owned by Monte C. Shalett, New Orleans, LA, who purchased it Oct.5, 1988 from Bruce McQuiston,Bertil Roos Racing School, Blakeslee PA.

From there all I have to go by is a copy of an SCCA log book, detailing 13 events driven by a Frank Shofer, the last in Pro Atlantic August 9-10, 1985 the first at Marrs I March 21, 1979. Previous to that there was one event driven by Ken Valern at Summit Point August 20, 1978.
The copy of the log book has a notation on it indicating that this is the "Wink Bancroft Players Car".

I have talked with Fred Opert, confirming his original ownership, however, he did not have anything further to add, other than it originally ran in Gitanes livery, blue and green, as we plan on re-creating as we finish restoring it.

[Bud Morrison]

B-27-74-7 Purchased Feb.22,2007 from Neil Johnson, who had stored it with several other race cars for approx. ten years. He had consigned it to Fantasy Junction where we picked it up. We bought it for spare parts for 74-5, but discovered that it was well preserved and original.

I do not have any details of previous history on this car.

[Chris Townsend]

Originally Posted by Bud Morrison

B-27-74-05 Previously owned by Paul Wellelink, who purchased it June 11, 1997 from Grand Prix Classics, La Jolla, CA. previously owned by Monte C. Shalett, New Orleans, LA, who purchased it Oct.5, 1988 from Bruce McQuiston,Bertil Roos Racing School, Blakeslee PA.

From there all I have to go by is a copy of an SCCA log book, detailing 13 events driven by a Frank Shofer, the last in Pro Atlantic August 9-10, 1985 the first at Marrs I March 21, 1979. Previous to that there was one event driven by Ken Valern at Summit Point August 20, 1978.
The copy of the log book has a notation on it indicating that this is the "Wink Bancroft Players Car".

I have talked with Fred Opert, confirming his original ownership, however, he did not have anything further to add, other than it originally ran in Gitanes livery, blue and green, as we plan on re-creating as we finish restoring it.

Bud, many thanks for that. McQuiston actually used his car in a pro race as late as 1988 at Lime Rock; interesting that it was Shober's. Frank Shober is still around, runs a haulage company in New Jersey. He and Ken Valan were regulars at Summit Point over the years. So it looks as though this car stayed at Opert's when Bancroft wasn't using it after 1976.

Incidentally I have a couple of Canadian results in pro races for Shober using the car; his last appearance is at Montreal in early 1986. Then he did the sensible thing and bought an early Ralt

Chris

[mdwracer]

The B 27 that I sold to Bud Morrison - , Bud , do you think that this was one of the original #4 cars?? either the original #4 or the recreated #4 from Kings bad wreck. I guess that Sandy Dells ending up with both cars is pretty unlikely?? I know that the SCCA rollbar # indicates that it was the Lloyd Callaway car that was purchased from Shierson and was the King car. Sandy Dells definetly had two cars in the shop at the same time (I was there) and there were too many parts there not to have been two cars. All this really doesnt matter but I am just curious and wonder what the real story is on the #4 cars.

Thanks, Mike Winebrenner
Louisville, KY USA

[Bud Morrison]

Mike:
I believe that the B-27 that Jim Sparks has is complete with a data plate that indicates it to be #4. I do not have contact information on Jim, however the car is stored and maintained by Graham Collins, tele 714-540-2591 cell 714-293-5150. Graham is very well informed on racing cars, and could fill in some of the questions on the two B-27's with the same serial #4. Your parts are being used to restore B-27 serial #5 which Jack Crone is doing in Corona, CA. I expect to see Graham at a vintage car race in Fontana,
CA in June and hope to chat with him about the B-27's then.

[Chris Townsend]

Originally Posted by mdwracer

The B 27 that I sold to Bud Morrison - , Bud , do you think that this was one of the original #4 cars?? either the original #4 or the recreated #4 from Kings bad wreck. I guess that Sandy Dells ending up with both cars is pretty unlikely?? I know that the SCCA rollbar # indicates that it was the Lloyd Callaway car that was purchased from Shierson and was the King car. Sandy Dells definetly had two cars in the shop at the same time (I was there) and there were too many parts there not to have been two cars. All this really doesnt matter but I am just curious and wonder what the real story is on the #4 cars.

Thanks, Mike Winebrenner
Louisville, KY USA

It's hard to say which is the original chassis 4 given that the car was re-tubbed mid season after extensive damage. Mike's car had all the signs of being the Callaway car [the SCCA stamp for starters] and that was known to be King's car. We know King's car was chassis 4 because James still has the plate in his office...
Neither of these cars should have a plate on them.
If the Dells restoration for Sparks is wearing plate 4 I'd be interested to know the source.

I'd say the "Winebrenner" chassis 4 was probably the car with which King finished the season and which went on to be raced by Callaway. But there are the remains out there that would justify another chassis 4 IF the original tub was repaired and formed the basis of the rebuild.
We need to know much more about the provenance of the Dells car

[Bud Morrison]

Mike Winebrenner:
RE B27-74-04 in your post of 8/24/07 you indicate your tub had a lot of holes from possibly sports racer modification. You might check out www.racingsportscars.com,
on 10/6/79 Bertil Roos ran a B-27 at CanAm Mid Ohio with the ugliest sports car body I have seen. On 6/22/80 he ran a B-27 with a different, more stylish body. I found a few other races he ran with a B-27, the last on 8/24/80 Can Am Trois Rivieres.
I have written, e-mailed and called the Bertil Roos Racing School with no cooperation.
My B27-74-05 came with a bill of sale by Bertil Roos Racing School selling B27-74-05 to
Monty Shalett on 10/5/88, but there is no evidence of that car ever being modified to be a sports racer. Could the car Bertil Roos used have been your #4, especially since none of the race entries reveal a serial number?

[Chris Townsend]

Originally Posted by Bud Morrison

Mike Winebrenner:
RE B27-74-04 in your post of 8/24/07 you indicate your tub had a lot of holes from possibly sports racer modification. You might check out www.racingsportscars.com,
on 10/6/79 Bertil Roos ran a B-27 at CanAm Mid Ohio with the ugliest sports car body I have seen. On 6/22/80 he ran a B-27 with a different, more stylish body. I found a few other races he ran with a B-27, the last on 8/24/80 Can Am Trois Rivieres.
I have written, e-mailed and called the Bertil Roos Racing School with no cooperation.
My B27-74-05 came with a bill of sale by Bertil Roos Racing School selling B27-74-05 to
Monty Shalett on 10/5/88, but there is no evidence of that car ever being modified to be a sports racer. Could the car Bertil Roos used have been your #4, especially since none of the race entries reveal a serial number?

Bud
I don't think that your 05 can be the car that Roos ran in Can Am, and indeed before that from 1979 in SCCA events as a single seater. His use of that car totally overlaps with Valan and Shober in the logbook for your car.
However, the Winebrenner 04, with the holes you mention, would be a good candidate. Lloyd Callaway said that the car went back to Opert in 1976 in p/x for a B34. This would mean it moved from the mid west back to the north east and was perhaps sitting around in Opert's shop - though I can't find an advert for it by Opert in 76/77. Roos didn't get his second hand B27 before late 78, when he'd finished his Ralt works drive.

I think that this car was sold to Alan Highhouse of Philadelphia in late 1980. Highhouse offers for sale a B27 in Autoweek 7 Dec 81 p. 48 that is described as ex Roos. This may have been one of the Opert cars for sale - simply called 'ex Roos' to help sell it, however, Highhouse’s close proximity to Roos’s racing school makes it likely that this was the Can Am car, especially as Roos's regular 1974 was by then in California. [Though it could also be the car Roos raced in F2 in early 74, which became Derek Cook's Atlantic/F2 car in UK and disappears after 1978

Chris

[driftwood]

Bertil Roos is no longer associated to the race school anymore
the school told me he is living not far away but they had not seen him around for a while when i was chasing hard last year for info on a can am car he drove