Grp C/Grp A - where are they now - JPS BMW 635 CSI

[wants2know]

I'm trying find information on the where-abouts of the JPS BMW 635 CSI cars as driven by Jim Richards at bathurst in the mid 80's.
Can anybody help with info?

[cornermsport]

A forum member used to own one of these cars!!

[Falcadore]

Wants 2 know - there were around 5 of them if memory serves - the oldest, the Group C car went on to become Jim Keoghs Group A car, the maroon one. One has been seen irregularly in ATCC in the last two seasons, but it's not David's preferred car as he also has a later M3.

The Bowdens own another one and it has come out for display from time to time.

[racer69]

Originally Posted by Falcadore

Wants 2 know - there were around 5 of them if memory serves - the oldest, the Group C car went on to become Jim Keoghs Group A car, the maroon one. One has been seen irregularly in ATCC in the last two seasons, but it's not David's preferred car as he also has a later M3.

The Bowdens own another one and it has come out for display from time to time.

There were two Group C 635s, the first one built for the 1981 season for Allan Grice, was driven in 1982 at select events by Jim Richards, last raced at Bathurst in 1982 by Denny Hulme/Stephen Brook....AFAIK this car is still around & still in Group C trim.

The other one was built for Bathurst 1982, and used by the team through to end of the formula in 1984. As mentioned this car was converted to Group A specs by Frank Gardner's team, run by Neville Crichton in the first few rounds of the 1985 ATCC (Crichton's car was on a ship over from NZ after the NZ series), and later in the year was bought by Jim Keogh.

[CRD]

The ex Jim Keogh car WAS a Group C car, I can say this as it was bought by a friend of mine Peter Hudson and run by Peter, my dad Ian Carrig and Ian Clark in the 1989 Pepsi 300 at Oran Park, the 1989 and 1990Sandown 500 and dad drove it at an ATCC round in 1990 at Phillip Island. It was the car that had the periscope camera in it as the patch could be seen in the roof. Peter sold it in 1991 to Jim Boult in New Zealand.

[Vanilla Dice]

I think there were 4.
The ex-Group C car that Keogh got
The ex-Alpina car that Crichton drove
The JPS-built 635 for Richards in 1985 (owned by Dave Towe, now sold)
The JPS-built 635 for Richards in 1986 (ended up with the Gulsons)

Longhurst drove 3 different 3 series bimmers for Sir Cranky Frank in 1986.

[lookleft]

Bowdens own two .... one that was raced and one that was never raced.

[Sultan]

Originally Posted by lookleft

Bowdens own two .... one that was raced and one that was never raced.

There was one that was never raced??? I always thought the Gulson car was the last one built.....

Here's a link to those E30's for sale -
http://www.racecarsdirect.com/cars/d...id=31268&cat=6

[lookleft]

Originally Posted by Sultan

There was one that was never raced??? I always thought the Gulson car was the last one built.....

That is the way Chris told the story. Apparently it was the spare for a season and never turned a wheel in anger. When they bought the race car the deal from BMW was that they had to take the "spare" as well - sight unseen (this was after BMW spent crazy money restoring the race car and the decided it was no longer required) - a fire sale if you like. As it turned out the "spare" was a fully built, race spec car in pristine condition.......

Send them an e-mail - they will have all the chassis details etc.

[drbob]

check out the Longhurst 3 series cars on Race Cars Direct

[David Towe]

My old car is now owned by Adrian Brady who plans on a full resto. then racing in historics. It was the 85 ATCC winning car with Richards at the wheel number 62 in Group A spec.

[E36ST]

Unless they are very good replicas there are two of these in New Zealand, one owned by Graham Dodd in his private collection in Christchurch and the other owned and still raced by Jim Boult of Queenstown (most recently raced at the Skope Classic at Ruapuna Feb 2008).

[E36ST]

Just further to that i have photos of the Graham Dodd car which I'm happy to email to someone if they would like to post them here (I don't know how to do it!).

[Adrian B]

I believe Graham Dodd's car is an ex JPS/Archibald car from 1986.
Jim Boult's car is the the second JPS Group C car (built from a GpA bodyshell), converted back to GpA early 1985, used by Neville Creighton for Winton, then sold to Jim Keogh.

[E36ST]

Just an update on this, Jim Boult sold his car to Peter Sturgeon in Christchurch earlier this year.

So if my understanding is correct, we have:

1. The first Group C car built in 1981 for Grice and still possibly around somewhere in Grp C trim. Possibly one of the Bowdens ones?

2. The second Group C car built for Jim Richards in 1982. Run by Neville Crichton at Winton in 1985, then to Jim Keogh, Jim Boult and now Peter Sturgeon. This was the car with the periscope camera fitted.

3. The first Group A car in which Jim won the 1985 ATCC, bought by Jim then David Towe and now with Adrian Brady.

4. The JPS / Archibald Grp A car built for Neville Crichton in 1985, now with Graham Dodd in Christchurch.

5. The final Grp A car built but never raced, also with Bowdens.

Sound about right?

[Adrian B]

Originally Posted by E36ST

Just an update on this, Jim Boult sold his car to Peter Sturgeon in Christchurch earlier this year.

So if my understanding is correct, we have:

1. The first Group C car built in 1981 for Grice and still possibly around somewhere in Grp C trim. Possibly one of the Bowdens ones?

2. The second Group C car built for Jim Richards in 1982. Run by Neville Crichton at Winton in 1985, then to Jim Keogh, Jim Boult and now Peter Sturgeon. This was the car with the periscope camera fitted.

3. The first Group A car in which Jim won the 1985 ATCC, bought by Jim then David Towe and now with Adrian Brady.

4. The JPS / Archibald Grp A car built for Neville Crichton in 1985, now with Graham Dodd in Christchurch.

5. The final Grp A car built but never raced, also with Bowdens.

Sound about right?

Not quite (but close)......

1. First Group C car (grice) was made from an ex-European Group 2, now owned by Dean Howe in Melbourne.
2. Second Group C car (Richards, Gardner) was built from BMW motorsport Group A shell, converted back to GpA at end of 1984, now with Peter Sturgeon.
3. 1984 Bathurst car GpA, 1985 ATCC, Better Brakes, Endurance Championship car used by Jim Richards. Sold to Garry Rogers in 1986. Now with me.
4. Neville Creighton's 1985 car, sold to Archibald. Used by Charlie O'Brien for some events in 1986. Now with Graham Dodd.
5. Richards early 1986 car (wasnt ready for the start of the season so he used the 1985 car for 2 rounds). I think sold to Archibald in mid 1986, driven at Bathurst by Bartlett and Crowe. In NZ now. I will check the name of the present owner.
6. The last GpA car was built 1986, used by JR/TL at Sandown, Bathurst, JR at Calder, Oran Park. Sold to Ray Gulson at end of 1986 and used for many years at Bathurst. Now in the Bowden collection.
7. There was one extra car that never raced in Australia and was going to be turned in to video game ride, but never happened. I think this car raced in Europe before arriving in Australia. Is now in the Bowden collection.

I think........

Adrian.

[Adrian B]

I have just re-read through the old posts on the 635 thread, and according to Gerard Hodges the '85 Creighton car(#4 above) is now owned by Allan Drinkrow in NZ. And the early 86 car (#5 above) is owned by Graham Dodd also in NZ. Both are ex-Archibald cars.

[pete60]

Thanks Adrian for that summary. Anuone care to take a stab at where the JPS M3s are today?

I know David Towe has one and there is one in Mobil livery up for sale. Didn't one become a mobile art work?

[blinkybm]

There were at least 3, probably 4, maybe 5, JPS M3's built by Frank Gardner in 1987.
#1) Early test car, ex 325i
#2) David Towe NSW, built early '87 by converting 325 Group A to M3 Group A specs, used in first round of ATCC
#3) Nick Rahimtulla WA, full M3 built just prior to Bathurst '87, now '87 JPS colors
#4) Jervis Ward VIC, full M3 built just prior to Bathurst '87, now Mobil '88 colors
#5) BMW Art Car - Jagamura Nelson - was a Bathurst car

One of these became the Sax car - I think #2 above - raced at Bathurst as ViaCard entry.

#3 and #4 were sold to Brock/Mobil, and another one or two were built in 88. Three cars raced in '88 ATCC in Mobil colors - Brock (white grilles), Richards (black grilles), Crompton (red grilles). Both #3 and #4 became Doulman/Cotter/Bob Holden/NZ, both came back here. One of the Mobil 88 Bathurst cars also became a BMW Art Car (Ken Done). Fourth car crashed at Wellington???

Others may be able to elaborate on this in more detail.

[rogered]

Originally Posted by Adrian B

I have just re-read through the old posts on the 635 thread, and according to Gerard Hodges the '85 Creighton car(#4 above) is now owned by Allan Drinkrow in NZ. And the early 86 car (#5 above) is owned by Graham Dodd also in NZ. Both are ex-Archibald cars.

what ever happened to the one kent bagent crashed

[E36ST]

Originally Posted by rogered

what ever happened to the one kent bagent crashed

That was an ex Schnitzer car, ex Ravaglia / Berger ETCC.

[E36ST]

Originally Posted by Adrian B

Not quite (but close)......

1. First Group C car (grice) was made from an ex-European Group 2, now owned by Dean Howe in Melbourne.
2. Second Group C car (Richards, Gardner) was built from BMW motorsport Group A shell, converted back to GpA at end of 1984, now with Peter Sturgeon.
3. 1984 Bathurst car GpA, 1985 ATCC, Better Brakes, Endurance Championship car used by Jim Richards. Sold to Garry Rogers in 1986. Now with me.
4. Neville Creighton's 1985 car, sold to Archibald. Used by Charlie O'Brien for some events in 1986. Now with Graham Dodd.
5. Richards early 1986 car (wasnt ready for the start of the season so he used the 1985 car for 2 rounds). I think sold to Archibald in mid 1986, driven at Bathurst by Bartlett and Crowe. In NZ now. I will check the name of the present owner.
6. The last GpA car was built 1986, used by JR/TL at Sandown, Bathurst, JR at Calder, Oran Park. Sold to Ray Gulson at end of 1986 and used for many years at Bathurst. Now in the Bowden collection.
7. There was one extra car that never raced in Australia and was going to be turned in to video game ride, but never happened. I think this car raced in Europe before arriving in Australia. Is now in the Bowden collection.

I think........

Adrian.

Thanks guys, I've also tracked down a photo of the Bryce / Geoghegan 325i at Sandown in 1987 which shows Leo's name on the car.


In reference to above, some changes in 635 status can be updated.

* The Dean Howe car has been restored & back on the track.
* Peter Sturgeon's car has been returned to Group C spec and recently underwent a wee jaunt to the UK & Europe with Jim.
* The Graham Dodd car has been sold to Peter Gleeson, a collector in the U.S.
* The car that was owned by Jim Richards (which one?) was sold to John Fairhall of Archibalds Motors in Christchurch just over a year ago and is now sporting 'Archibalds' livery from when Trevor Crowe raced with Archibalds sponsorship back in the Group A days. Trevor will be behind the wheel again for historic events, next one the Skope Classic in Christchurch 3/4 February 2018.

[David Towe]

Did Jim own more than one of the 635s? The one I sold to Adrian was one that Jim told me he'd owned after Joe Somariva and it was the 85 championship car.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by E36ST

* Peter Sturgeon's car has been returned to Group C spec and recently underwent a wee jaunt to the UK & Europe with Jim.

This car has been wrongly reported in recent times as the 1985 ATCC winner too.

[JAFA851]

Originally Posted by E36ST

* The car that was owned by Jim Richards (which one?) was sold to John Fairhall of Archibalds Motors in Christchurch just over a year ago and is now sporting 'Archibalds' livery from when Trevor Crowe raced with Archibalds sponsorship back in the Group A days. Trevor will be behind the wheel again for historic events, next one the Skope Classic in Christchurch 3/4 February 2018.

This car ( entered as a 1986 635 ) is being raced today and tomorrow by Trevor Crowe at the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs in Auckland. Jim Richards is also entered in a 1983 635, would this be the Peter Sturgeon Group C / A periscope car?. Various other BMW's entered, see the pic.

A local site will have pics up soon, which I'll endeavour to link to when they are up so you can all have a look.