John Brannigan Racing/history

[ghinzani]

Did'nt John Brannigan go out to Florida around the same time? I recall him trying to sell a March 87c for ages. I think he ran an Iranian for a bit called Reza Rashidin, who ended up giving Rupert Keegan a small fortune to pootle round at the back.

[jonnyrocks]

I met a guy called john brannigan when I was in Monte Carlo who seemed to have a conection with motor sport and the March company. I am not sure what his conection was but he was very charming and very very rich. He lived at Casino Square, I would be very interested to learn more about this person just an awesome guy, he was sat having coffee with Celine Dion and her husband I was very impressed.

[Alan Raine]

Originally Posted by jonnyrocks

I met a guy called john brannigan when I was in Monte Carlo who seemed to have a conection with motor sport and the March company. I am not sure what his conection was but he was very charming and very very rich. He lived at Casino Square, I would be very interested to learn more about this person just an awesome guy, he was sat having coffee with Celine Dion and her husband I was very impressed.

The same John Brannigan who ran a few night clubs in the North West?

[jonnyrocks]

WoW Thxs it might be he seemed to have a lot to do with the music biz, recording studios in Stockport which sounded like it funded his motor racing. Some one told me he was known as The March Man? and later Florida John with conections to Tony Dean and Brian Naylor (not sure if they are musicians or racers) any further clues would be great.

[Paul Carr]

Originally Posted by MATTinSURREY

All,

Who out there knows what happened to Bobby Holwings inventory of Race Cars when he decided to uproot and move to the US?

In addition, did Bobby work on the cars himself or did he have a mechanic working at his garage in the Arches, Manchester? If so who was this person and where is he now?

The reasoning behind my post is that we know Bobby acquired a car in 1983 that we're researching the history of. The car reappeared in the early 90's in Belgium but we have a gap of 7-10 years in it's life, which we'd like to uncover.

The car in question is a March 782, which needed some major restoration work when Bobby acquired it in 1983. At the time 782's weren't popular so it may have sat in Bobby's workshop or someone elses for some considerable time.

Any clues would be appreciated...

Hi my name is Paul Carr.

I worked for Bobby on and off for many years. In Manchester under the railway arches also out in the states when he moved to Deerfield Beach Fla. I did a lot of very interesting stuff. I worked prity much full time for John Brannigan Motorsport but he and Bobby were almost joined at the hip, there business were next door to each other and they even lived next door to each other and moved out to Florida at the same time dealing with Tony Dean and Yanoshik. Those two Howlings and brannigan ran the second hand market for many years they must have salted away some serious stuff, those guys owned the cars; bought them for cash; no commision agents or borrowed these guys are the real deal. I can remember F1 cars stacked up ontop of each other at Brannigans house I remember picking the 6 wheel tyrell up for Bob and other amazing memories.
Poor old Bobs gone now as far as John Brannigan goes he made a mint of money when he sold his entertainment buisness to Top Rank/Mecca or Granada Lesiure cant remeber who but was multi milions now in Monaco.
If its anything to do with a March believe me Branny would know. he was the March Man I can remember March Eng would contact him for spares and info.
Only those guys can unravel lots of strange goings on with cars.
It was without a doubt a blast to work for them. R.I.P Bob. If your out there Branny have a ball!!!!
Your mate Paul.

[PeterMorley]

Here's a short autobiography of John Brannigan's musical career.

http://www.manchesterbeat.com/mystor...nbrannigan.php

He was apparently somewhat inclined to over-exaggeration but given jonnyrocks encounter there must be some substance to the story.

I bought some March/F1 parts from him just before he moved to the States and last heard from him shortly after - when the yacht he was apparently living on was parked on the Interstate following a rather large storm!

A further link suggests that John might have moved back (or kept a house) to Wyre near Fleetwood:

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/ne...rt_is_1_399022

[jonnyrocks]

Originally Posted by PeterMorley

Here's a short autobiography of John Brannigan's musical career.

http://www.manchesterbeat.com/mystor...nbrannigan.php

He was apparently somewhat inclined to over-exaggeration but given jonnyrocks encounter there must be some substance to the story.

I bought some March/F1 parts from him just before he moved to the States and last heard from him shortly after - when the yacht he was apparently living on was parked on the Interstate following a rather large storm!

A further link suggests that John might have moved back (or kept a house) to Wyre near Fleetwood:

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/ne...rt_is_1_399022

Peter Thxs so much.

Awesome it will give me loads to work on. After meeting with John and talking to him I thought what an amazing guy to write a book about. As two people we had so much in common from a music stand point then he told me all about the motor racing part of his life. He told me how he had lived on a boat in Fort Lauderdale.Thxs.

[PeterMorley]

Originally Posted by jonnyrocks

Peter Thxs so much.

Awesome it will give me loads to work on. After meeting with John and talking to him I thought what an amazing guy to write a book about. As two people we had so much in common from a music stand point then he told me all about the motor racing part of his life. He told me how he had lived on a boat in Fort Lauderdale.Thxs.

I was surprised to learn about his musical past, I only talked to him about cars while I also had some musical connections with my brother being a musician and having known various stars when I lived in Manchester in the 80s - including the owners of Suite16 that was also in Rochdale!

Having had a bit of a search, I think the easiest way to contact John might be via his sister (Gina Branelli) who is still involved and runs a music school near Fleetwood and is also deeply involved in accordions...

Peter

[jonnyrocks]

Originally Posted by PeterMorley

I was surprised to learn about his musical past, I only talked to him about cars while I also had some musical connections with my brother being a musician and having known various stars when I lived in Manchester in the 80s - including the owners of Suite16 that was also in Rochdale!

Having had a bit of a search, I think the easiest way to contact John might be via his sister (Gina Branelli) who is still involved and runs a music school near Fleetwood and is also deeply involved in accordions...

Peter

Peter thank you so much you are doing my research for me. I have worked with Gina in the past she was a past World Champion Accordion player a fantastic musician (diidnt know it was his sister) I will look her up. I need to ask John's OK to start to write this book hence I am urgent to talk with him. Thank you once again.

[Paul Carr]

Hi my name is Paul Carr pro race mechanic all my working life, now retired.

I worked for Brannigan on and off for many years he was my boss and a very good mate.
The FVL team we ran for 3 years we never had a DNQs or any DNFs our regular driver was a strong midfield runner called Jon Barlow from Cheshire who never killed, crashed, or injured himself after miles and miles of testing and racing. We also ran a renta drive team as well as winning the the Irish FVL championship with the Brannigan/dempsey car with not one single break down.
Being part of the Brannigan team was a real honour and blast we raced all over the world USA, South Africa, India, europe and we never killed anyone.
We NEVER ran Reza Rashidin. our 87c Indy car was a mint example from Johnny Rutherford sold to a turbo company in the Netherlands as a working show car with enough new spares to build another.
We race for 2 years in the Hooters speedway series in the USA and we were one of the consistant top earners, never crashed.
Sold up in 95. I emigrated to Aus then back to Canada where I live, retired John returned to europe. In 98 he sold his music/entertainment business for a mega amount. John Brannigan was always a gent, kind and polite he went out of his way to help people, I know he never had a bad word to say about any one. He was a business man in avery hard business he would never cheat anyone I guess people didn't fully understand him but he was the real deal.

Paul Carr ex Lotus, Theodore, Ensign, March.

[Paul Carr]

Originally Posted by jonnyrocks

Peter thank you so much you are doing my research for me. I have worked with Gina in the past she was a past World Champion Accordion player a fantastic musician (diidnt know it was his sister) I will look her up. I need to ask John's OK to start to write this book hence I am urgent to talk with him. Thank you once again.

Hi jonnyrock.

My name is Paul Carr a very good mate of John Brannigan send me a PM with your address will be happy to help you.
Your right he is an awesome guy I am glad someone has seen that.
Paul.

[John Day 151]

Originally Posted by Paul Carr

Hi jonnyrock.

My name is Paul Carr a very good mate of John Brannigan send me a PM with your address will be happy to help you.
Your right he is an awesome guy I am glad someone has seen that.
Paul.

Hya Paul. Remember me Bacardi John. I have been reading this forum for a while now and in the past few days your name, John B and Jim Crawfords names along with Yanoshik and Howlings have all poped up, just had to join and to quote "join in the mix".
Remember when we had all the Leyton House F1 cars at the workshop here in Lauderdale all living on JBs boat. We drove the Tyrell transporter down from Virginia very over loaded. Night racing in the Hooters series, fantastic times. Great to know you are still around. Not spoke to JB for a while he was living in Antibes or Monty spending his millions he left here in 1996 but I know he's always in Vegas for the winter.

Cheers have a Bacardi for me.

[Paul Carr]

Originally Posted by John Day 151

Hya Paul. Remember me Bacardi John. I have been reading this forum for a while now and in the past few days your name, John B and Jim Crawfords names along with Yanoshik and Howlings have all poped up, just had to join and to quote "join in the mix".
Remember when we had all the Leyton House F1 cars at the workshop here in Lauderdale all living on JBs boat. We drove the Tyrell transporter down from Virginia very over loaded. Night racing in the Hooters series, fantastic times. Great to know you are still around. Not spoke to JB for a while he was living in Antibes or Monty spending his millions he left here in 1996 but I know he's always in Vegas for the winter.

Cheers have a Bacardi for me.

Hi John. Welcome to the forum, welcome to the Mix!!
What happened to all that stuff in the workshop??? Must have been 5 F1 cars 2 F3000 and 2 speedway cars which we ended up racing in the Hooters series but where did they all go? Never seen them Advertised did Branny keep them.
Paul.

[John Day 151]

Originally Posted by Paul Carr

Hi John. Welcome to the forum, welcome to the Mix!!
What happened to all that stuff in the workshop??? Must have been 5 F1 cars 2 F3000 and 2 speedway cars which we ended up racing in the Hooters series but where did they all go? Never seen them Advertised did Branny keep them.
Paul.

Hya Paul.

It was a big day when we moved out of Lauderdale. All the Leyton House F1 cars and spares went to a guy up in Orlando called Scott ?. I think he still owns them. The F3000 cars went to Yanoshik. The Hooters speedway cars went to the guy in Miami who bought the team. The Tyrell transporter after we rebuilt the engine went back to the UK and sold to a Caterham 7 team. The workshop went to formula boats, and Branny's boat went to SaOil and is at the moment in Durban SA. I stayed in Lauderdale got married had to get a normal job. Branny went to live in Longboat Quay but left in 1998 back to europe.
Bring me upto speed on yourself, do you ever get down to Fla?
Cheers 151