Van Diemen 1976

[HH Tech]

Hello
I'm about to get another FF1600
I'm looking for the history of VD-RF76 chassis #1
Who drove for Van Diemen in 1976, or who drove RF76's in 1976?
How did the RF76 do compared to other makes in 1976?
Any ideas how many FF1600 Van Diemen made during 1976?

Regards
Henrik

[Alan Raine]

Henrik,

Is this your car?

http://www.race-cars.com/carsold/van...1/v76x01ss.htm

If not it still might answer some of your questions

[Dan Rear]

Originally Posted by HH Tech

Hello
I'm about to get another FF1600
I'm looking for the history of VD-RF76 chassis #1
Who drove for Van Diemen in 1976, or who drove RF76's in 1976?
How did the RF76 do compared to other makes in 1976?
Any ideas how many FF1600 Van Diemen made during 1976?

Regards
Henrik

The RF76 was a bit of a disaster as I recall, thoroughly outpaced by the 1976 Hawkes, Royales, and Crossles in a v competitive year in the UK. I can only recall a few drivers using them, Matt Argenti (?), Mario Ferraris, spring to mind. I think it improved at the end of the year when Firman put Don McLeod in one. The 77 car was much better and started the VD domination of FF.

[HH Tech]

Hello Alan,
No that is not the car, I believe that one was sold to Belgium.
But still some nice VD info

Thank's

Henrik

[Andrew Kitson]

Why not try e-mailing John Uprichard at Van Diemen? He may be able to help.
site: vandiemen.co.uk

[RAP]

Looking at my programmes for 76, Van Diemens were VERY thin on the ground, far out-numbered by Hawke, Royale, Elden & Crossle. Those entered were
19-20 June Brands (3 heats required!)
Nigel Gough
Ashley Ward (Swan Lager Racing)
Teddy Voellmy (D) (Van Diemen International)
Marc Donaldson (AShtune Racing)
Mario Neto (Van Diemen International)
15 August Brands
Nicky Leon (Ashtune Race Hire)
Ashley Ward (Swan Lager)
Robert Goodwin (Ashtune Race Hire)
23-24 Oct Brands (2 heats required)
Don MacLeod
Only!! but he did manage 3rd in the final

[HH Tech]

Hello

Now I almost have the completet history of my car. VD RF76 #1
except for who drove it in th UK in 1976
From UK it went to Norway to a guy named Langrekken during winter 76-77 who later worked for Van Diemen until about 1984/85.
The car was sold to Sweden in 1979 and has not had much use since.
He was told me that the car was driven by several drives in the UK but when He aquired the car it had adverts for a Swiss chees company on it and it was probably a Swiss who drove it last in th UK.
Any recolections?
I will check if Langrekken has any photos of the car when he got it.

Henrik

[HH Tech]

Hello
I have put together a Excel document containing some FF 1600 results
Swedish 1970-1989
FF Festival 1972-1990
EFDA Euroseries 1979-1987

http://hhtech.se/files/ff_resultat_sverige.xls (3Mb)

More period results wanted!

Henrik

[HH Tech]

Hello

I spoke to Van Diemen and it shows that Nigel Gough drove a works car for them in 1976. Donald MacLeod also drove for VD in -76. Does anyone have any results of these drivers during the 1976 FF season?

Henrik Hansson

[Dan Rear]

As I put earlier, Macleod only got in one late on that year, I guess at Firman's behest to try to get some results and hence business for 77. He went quite well at some late season 76 races, including the Festival IIRC. Gough was only a midfielder at best in the 76 season, which was super-competitive that year.

[chris bailey]

I shouldn't worry too much about how competitive the car was in period. The tyres are different now, and the most unlikely cars are quick today, when they weren't back then. The important thing is to get a strong engine and a good setup. Mind you, as bad cars go, the RF76 was pretty dire..........

[John Elwin]

Hello Henrik

Very little in the way of results I'm afraid, but a quick run through my programmes from that year reveals that RF76's were a bit thin on the ground. Even Matt Argenti switched to a Royale. Apart from those already mentioned, Van Diemen Race Hire ran cars for a few drivers, such as Teddy Voellmy during the year. Ashtune Race Hire also ran cars, as did J.R.R.D.S. on occasion. David Sears had a Nick Dixon-entered car whilst David MacPherson raced one also.

I remember Nigel Gough; he was a Canadian who came over for a year, I think as a result of winning a championship at home. He ran his car himself, based at the Van Diemen factory & living in an old bus. I don't think he achieved any great results, his main claim to fame being a barrel-roll at Druids hairpin, Brands Hatch. I think it's likely his car was an early example but whether or not it was #1 I don't know. The bodywork was red with yellow cockpit surround, but that was 30 years ago!

Hope there's something there of help.
JOHN

[Tim 27]

Originally Posted by HH Tech

From UK it went to Norway to a guy named Langrekken during winter 76-77
Any recolections?
I will check if Langrekken has any photos of the car when he got it.

Henrik

Are you refering to Bjorn Langrekken who raced a Van Diemen under the works umbrella in around 81?
I remember seeing him race, and although being quick I don't remember him winning too much.

[Dan Rear]

Tim, I think it was 1982, and yes I recall him pretty quick early that year, before Gugelmin got into his stride, and the better Lolas and Reynards were sorted. 81 was the Senna/Morris/Mansilla/Toledano etc etc year.

[Chris Townsend]

Bjorn Langrekken was pretty quick. I remember him barrel rolling off someone's wheels at Mallory hairpin in 1982. He had the Duckhams backed Van Diemen that year and ran alongside Gugelmin and Gianfranco? Cane

I think he went on to race in the USA a bit.

Chris

[Tim 27]

Your right Dan, it was 82. Chris, I don't remember Bjorn running in the Duckhams colours, I seem to remember his car being just blue. It was Gianfranco Cane and Mauricio Gugelmin that year, but who else remembers the Swiss driver I became friendly with that year called Beat Jans? He also ran from the factory and won a few races before unsuccesfully moving up to F2?
As a sidenote, I remember sitting with Beat and Gianfranco in the Paddock grandstand for the Festival final that year. Cane should have been on the grid, but was refusing to race because Van Diemen were not giving him the same equipment as Gugelmin!