Ralt RT 5 - Page 3

Texan · 24 Dec 2007, 18:57 (Ref:2094565)

I am still working on the history of my RT5. The chassis number is RT5-581. When it was new, in 1985, it was black in color and carried the number "00". I have noticed that the 1988 championship was won by Paul Radicish driving a black RT5 with the number "00". Is this just a coincidence, or could the cars be one and the same? It may be possible that some has a record of the 1988 car.
Thanks,
Rusty Tanner
Houston,Tx.

Bart Perlman · 24 Dec 2007, 23:56 (Ref:2094642)

Chris,

Dam..........Now you've got me. It's to the point that I have to get the number off of the cell. No two ways about it. Since I don't remember seeing, not that I was looking, the fuel cell number, can you tell me if it is on the front, back or a side of the cell? In other words, can I see this number without pulling the cell entirely, maybe by just removing the back stiffener/cover, or would that be too easy?

Best Holiday Wishes

Bart Perlman

Chris Townsend · 25 Dec 2007, 22:14 (Ref:2094824)

Can some other Ralt ground effect owners help Bart here before he starts dismantling his car. I'm not sure if the Marston stamp is consistently placed and I think he might have to take the whole cell out to find it. can others advise?

Chris

dereklola · 26 Dec 2007, 00:26 (Ref:2094858)

Ralt RT2/3/4/5 fuel cells install from the rear (the vertical rear panel of the tub comes off) and the stenciled fuel cell info is on the front sloping surface. So Bart you've got a nice job for tomorrow to work off your Christmas turkey and 'plum duff' by half disassembling your car!

If it is indeed an original Marston cell it will be black material with white paint stenciling including a number something like JM39999 (or maybe JM40000-something in your case), the Marston build date which might be up to a year before the car build date (can't remember if this is just month/year like 12/83 or day/month/year like 31/12/83), the Marston and customer part number reference etc etc. This white ink does tend to get erased over the years but you should be able to decipher it.

You really should inspect the cell after all these years - so go to it and get it out. If it would help (not sure how) I could take some pics of my two cells but they are in my storage unit right now and I'm not going out there this cold, windy Christmas Day - not even for a fellow Ralt owner.

Hope this helps - Derek

Scott B · 30 Dec 2007, 17:12 (Ref:2096614)

Hello all,

I have been following this thread for a while now. It is amazing the information out there.

I currently own RT5-571. The AM number is 85 19 65. The gearbox is Hewland MK9 5 speed number 89-6560. I have not removed the fuel cell, consequently, do not have a clue of that number.

If any one has information on this car it would be greatly appreciated, either through this message service, or my email blueheroninn@sbcgobal.net

Cheers,
Scott

Ralt RT5
March/Ralt 86A
Porsche 914-6
Ferrari 308 GT4

Chris Townsend · 30 Dec 2007, 19:47 (Ref:2096710)

Scott

Hi. Welcome to the forum. 571 was sold new to Dave Ammen who used it in SCCA rather than pro races for a couple of years.

Chris

Scott B · 31 Dec 2007, 00:28 (Ref:2096845)

Thank you for the follow up. Not as exciting as some of the cars here, but at least consistent with the first logbook.

Scott

ikeda · 9 Jan 2008, 06:22 (Ref:2102349)

We have just acquired chassis 492. Any history would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris Townsend · 13 Jan 2008, 09:46 (Ref:2105133)

Ikeda

I have full details on this car for 1984 and can work out 85 fairly readily.
Have sent you a private mail.

Chris

ikeda · 14 Jan 2008, 19:22 (Ref:2106106)

I have sent you a message.

Thanks for the reply.

dereklola · 11 Mar 2008, 04:01 (Ref:2148870)

This thread was started by Mike Edick from California asking about his Walt Lechner Ralt RT5. I really don't know Mike but have telephoned and emailed him once or twice. I'd heard that he was having health problems and today came across his ad still trying to sell his car - http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/ra...80911118ss.htm

Not sure there is anything we can do but thought the group might like to be reminded that life is not all roses. Here's a picture of him - http://www.mteengineering.com/images/michael.jpg

Derek

dlrugh · 10 Jun 2008, 17:25 (Ref:2225001)

Hello, I am new to this forum but have two RT5's in my shop. Chassis 346, gearbox H9-3015, and chassis 493, gearbox H9-4739. Are these on the History list? David

Chris Townsend · 10 Jun 2008, 19:10 (Ref:2225085)

346 is interesting because the build records are unclear if it was an RT5 or RT4, and there is absolutely nothing in the record but the number RT5 and the description Atlantic!
493 was one of Mike Miller's cars in 1984.
Are you the owner or prepping the cars for others? Do you have SCCA logs for any part of their history?

Chris

dlrugh · 11 Jun 2008, 18:47 (Ref:2226122)

I own RT5-346, and my friend owns RT5-493. I am gathering info on 3 other cars in the area, (Pacific NW). 346 was first run at Charlotte 25 March 1983, the log book is signed by Gary Rutherford, second event Road Atlanta 6 May 1983, signed by David Ammen. These two ran 12 races that year and Rutherford drove it at the National Championships at Road Atlanta. 3 races in 1984, 4 in 1985, 2 in 1989 (Don Denomme), 3 in 1990, 3 in 1991, 1 in 1992 (Tim Holt), 3 in 2000 and 2001 (Jim Johnson), I bought it in 2002. Probably more than you wanted to know..... 493 first ran Long Beach GP 11 April 1985, log book signed by Craig M. Hogan, then ownership shows Paul Rieffle, Michael Dow/Jeff Davis, H.C.Kassigkeit, Joe Reitmer, Mark Arnold, current owner Chris Billings.

I'll post the others as i get them...

David

Chris Townsend · 11 Jun 2008, 23:10 (Ref:2226508)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlrugh

Probably more than you wanted to know.....

David

Oh no, not too much...

Every bit helps fill the historical record

Chris

scotts216 · 22 Feb 2009, 15:10 (Ref:2401871)

Hello All,

Thought I would contribute to this thread and announce that I have acquired a 1980 Ralt RT5, chassis #190.

The car has been sitting for well over a decade, is in very good condition, and I plan to evaluate, then restore to track ready condition over the course of time.

I have already had contact with Chris Townsend regarding the Ralt documentation, and thus far the Tub # 80-12 is correct. The non-correct gearbox # is H9-4056. I have not yet seen the fuel bladder number but plan to do so at some point.

If you have been in on this thread from the beginning, you will know that this is one of 2 cars delivered to Walter Lechner in Germany in 1980. It was delivered to Lechner in April of 80', and is shown running several races. Lecner is absent from the racing scene for a bit, then the records show that he then took delivery of RT5-196 in July of 80'

RT5-196 was owned by Michael Edick, and may now be sold. I am in process of trying to contact Michael. I believe that there is an opportunity to discover the detailed history of these 2 cars. Mr. Lecner is still with us and runs a race team and driver school in Europe. I am hoping theat Mr. Lechner will be able to shed some light on these two cars he once owned, one of which could have been the one that Mr. Lechner won the 1982 Euro FSV Championship.

Always happy to receive any information about this car, or to share information I have acquired.

Thanks and regards,

Scott Sanders

scotts216 · 23 Feb 2009, 01:50 (Ref:2402110)

Correction: Walt Lechner was Austrian, not German. I'm sure he's appreciate being properly recognized. My mistake........

RVJ · 20 Apr 2009, 16:04 (Ref:2445651)

Hi all.
I've owned this RT-5 since 1990, and have been researching all over for original owners sequence for a long time.
So far, I've been able to connect with Robbie Groff and Craig Dummit, owners in 1984, and Mike McHugh, car numbered 10, who ran it in Long Beach 1985 ( Jeff Andretti crashed into him and put him in the wall).
Traded in for an Anson to Mike Pivec ( searching for him! ), and raced by Mike Groff at IRP ( Indy) to 2nd place.
But original ownership and delivery is still a mystery to me... tried Price Cobb, he's also researching on his side to see if the one was his after he ran an ex- Michael Andretti 1982 in the first races of '83.
Any information will be warmly welcome!
Ricardo

Michael Edick · 20 Apr 2009, 23:09 (Ref:2445918)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dereklola

I'd heard that he was having health problems and today came across his ad still trying to sell his car - http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/ra...80911118ss.htm

Derek

Thanks Derek (and everyone else) for the kind thoughts...

Thankfully, as Mark Twain once put it, "the rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!"

2008 was a very bad year, to put it mildly...it wasn't so much the Crohn's Disease that got me down, as it was the surgeon who worked on me that caused all the problems...he should be banned from ever holding a scalpel again...

The Ralt was for sale to help pay off some of the medical bills that were beginning to pile up, but wound up selling a Cooper T76 FB project car instead...hated to see it go (as did the wife! you gotta love her!), but it was going to be a very costly rebuild to say the least.

So now I'm down to restoring a Mallock for a good friend of mine, running some vintage karts to get my stamina back, then hopefully in 2010 we'll get the Ralt (and me!) back out on track!

Chris Townsend · 21 Apr 2009, 07:22 (Ref:2446069)

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVJ

Hi all.
I've owned this RT-5 since 1990, and have been researching all over for original owners sequence for a long time.
So far, I've been able to connect with Robbie Groff and Craig Dummit, owners in 1984, and Mike McHugh, car numbered 10, who ran it in Long Beach 1985 ( Jeff Andretti crashed into him and put him in the wall).
Traded in for an Anson to Mike Pivec ( searching for him! ), and raced by Mike Groff at IRP ( Indy) to 2nd place.
But original ownership and delivery is still a mystery to me... tried Price Cobb, he's also researching on his side to see if the one was his after he ran an ex- Michael Andretti 1982 in the first races of '83.
Any information will be warmly welcome!
Ricardo

Ricardo, you need to get in touch with John Timken or Mike Gue, who ran Essex Racing. There's an ad in On Track 27 Feb 1984 p. 68 with chassis number quoted for your RT5.
This doesn't mean it was Timken's 1983 car - he bought and sold a few - but they might know where it came from.
All the RT5 build records say for your car is that it was sold via Brian Robertson, which is about par for 1983. We have few definite attributions to owners for that year. However, I don't think yours is the 83 spec Cobb car.
We know that chassis 424 was new at Cleveland and Cobb got his new car at Mid Ohio. I think that means he has to have either 424 or 434.
420 might have been Carl Whitney's mount - especially as Essex Racing were running him

Chris

Chris Townsend · 21 Apr 2009, 07:23 (Ref:2446070)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Edick

Thanks Derek (and everyone else) for the kind thoughts...

Thankfully, as Mark Twain once put it, "the rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!"

2008 was a very bad year, to put it mildly...it wasn't so much the Crohn's Disease that got me down, as it was the surgeon who worked on me that caused all the problems...he should be banned from ever holding a scalpel again...

The Ralt was for sale to help pay off some of the medical bills that were beginning to pile up, but wound up selling a Cooper T76 FB project car instead...hated to see it go (as did the wife! you gotta love her!), but it was going to be a very costly rebuild to say the least.

So now I'm down to restoring a Mallock for a good friend of mine, running some vintage karts to get my stamina back, then hopefully in 2010 we'll get the Ralt (and me!) back out on track!

Welcome back Michael, glad you kept the car, and happier that you're going to be in a position to race it once more

Chris

RVJ · 21 Apr 2009, 19:25 (Ref:2446538)

Thank you, Chris !!
Will call the Essex guys and keep on searching.
Ricardo

RVJ · 22 Apr 2009, 01:00 (Ref:2446697)

It's starting to look more and more like definitely NOT the ex-Cobb car (#424 seems more like it)..
Ricardo

Bart Perlman · 6 May 2009, 22:49 (Ref:2456850)

Chris,

Although it has been awhile since I last posted, I knew at some point I would have to replace the existing fuel cell. Unfortunately, it has happened sooner than I anticipated. The bad news is it ruined two race weekends. The good news is, that I now know the number off of the Marston fuel cell. Does the number RT 427-4 on the cell, along with the Hewland number H94328 and the AM83-70, give you any more insight into the history of this car? Any information is appreciated. Thanks.......

Chris Townsend · 7 May 2009, 07:14 (Ref:2456976)

Bart
H94328 comes off an Eddie Jordan Racing RT3... It was an early 83 build but might well have had a convoluted history. The car it was originally attached to was in the Jordan transporter that went off the road on the way back from the Austrian GP support race that year. I believe that Brundle's mechanic died in that accident and all the cars in it were destroyed [I think Grunnah's car stayed at the shop that weekend] so it could well have been salvaged and sold off by the insurers.

Can you look at the fuel cell number again?
It should be John Marston construction and should somewhere have a number beginning JM
if your 427-4 was 40274 that would make sense for an 83 RT5 which I don't have a tub for but for which 83/70 would make sense. Could you photograph the fuel cell?
If it's not a Marston cell then it's not original.

RT4 274 would be a red herring as that car's complete in Australia with a clean history AFAIK

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