Brabham BT29

[Bryan Miller]

BT29-23 FB Cosworth FVC , entered in Tasman by Fred opert Racing for Evan Noyes as 1850cc.
At the 36th. Australian G.P. 21-11-1971 , Warwick Farm , now with Graeme Lawrence [ N.Z. ] but called a BT30 FVC 1800cc. Used by Lawrence around S.E. Asia , to David Sharp N.Z. at least before 1988 , still retained and for sale on internet.

[Bryan Miller]

David Render's BT29X/30

BT29X[Y]/BT30 . I don't believe anybody has yet come up with a ch.no. for this yet.If so I've missed it.

New to Tony Griffiths as a FB with an FVC , reported written off at Silverstone and rec'd a BT30 [ chassis , whole car ???? }.
Retained into at least mid 1970.
To Spencer Elton 18-2-1971 , and reported fitting BDA ,p.4.
T o David Render , reported in car A/S. 28-6-1973 , as ex Elton. p.47.
Render reported in ex Griffiths Brabham , A/S. 7-3-1974 p49.
Render now reported in BT29X, a/s. 11-4-1974.
Confusion reigns in A/S . as Render reported in ex. Hawley BT29 .
Render still has car 6-3-1975.A/S. p.50.
By 15-4-1976 a/s. P.50 , Render has obtained JPS Type 76 , but note states still has his two Brabhams, but intends to sell his BT29.
Advert for sale BT29X , which states car is hillclimb version of BT30. A/S. 6-5-1976 p.65.
At 16-9-1976, still retains BT29X.

[Ted Walker]

The Chassis No of the Tony Griffith BT29-X is BT29-37. After the crash it was re-chassied as a full BT30. It still carries its BT29 Plate,and lives in a private collection with a BT30.

[Andrew Fellowes]

BT29-27 co-habits with a BT30

[Chris Townsend]

Further to Bryan's brief note about Brabhams at Trois Rivieres in 77 here is the list I have of Brabham BT29s in Canadian and SCCA races 1972 - 76.

1972
Bob Criss BT29
Roger Seacrist BT29
Ken Huband BT29

1974
SCCA
Peter Halsmer BT29

1975
Canada
John Storr BT29
Gordon Munroe BT29 retained 76
SCCA
Charlie Derbes BT29

1976
Storr BT29
Munroe BT29

Anybody able to fit any of those into a pattern or offer connections?!!

Chris

[David McKinney]

Comment on Chris's impressive list:
I also have John Milledge in a BT29 in 1972 - have I got the model wrong?

[David Irwin]

I see I'm pretty late in getting involved here. First a brief intro:

My name is David Irwin, I owned a restoration shop, Lime Rock Motors for 15 years in Connecticut. I've restored about 15 Brabhams, have owned several and have vintage raced since 1989. Recently moved to Virginia, bought some property where I'm putting up a small shop (3200 sq. ft.) while I work for ProtoType Technology Group restoring vintage racing BMW's owneds by BMW of N.A.

Here are a pair of BT29s I've had contact with:

BT29-2 Original owner Bob May, not Fred Ashplant (I've talked with Fred.) Sold to Tom Scott 1971, Scott killed in car at Daytona. Remains to Carl Whitney, Remains to Ken Duclose, Remains to David Irwin, Restored frame back to original, car restored, TwinCam/FT200, Sold to John Coughlin 2000, Sold to present owner Joe Blacker 2003.

BT29-46 Original owner Al Lader, crashed car, remains to Carl Whitney, remains to Ken Duclose, Remains to present owner Marty Handshy, chassis restored by Lime Rock Motors 1999, car restored by owner Twin Cam/Hewland MK5.

Hope this helps fill in some gaps for you. Keep up the good work, this info should help many in the future. David Irwin

[David Irwin]

I do know of other 29,30,35's,and maybe a 36 in the US. BT29's are very popular, must be 20 of them in the US. A vintage race on the East Coast can have 8 or 9 of them at a single event.

[Bryan Miller]

Over the years 3 ex USA BT29 's have migrated to our shores.
BT29-41??
BT29-14.
BT29-44.

[David Irwin]

My records:

BT29-41 Barry Blackmore, reproduced frame by Wayne Mitchell, I think this car is still in California.

BT29-14 Jim McConville Aussie

BT29-44 Steven Pike Aussie

[Bryan Miller]

BT29-14 , Jim McConville has sold to Steven Lunn .

BT29-44 , Jim McConville has taken over car from Steve Pike , finished it and is out and being used.

BT29-41 , that's why I had a question mark against it , this was from current owner , Tony Onley , who I see has car for sale as a roller on Racecars direct in the U.K.
I do have AM 69-47 , supplied against that car , but the -41 is certainly ????

[Andrew Fellowes]

BT29X

A/S Oct 15th, 1970 p.15
Tony Griffiths has an ad for BT29X to full BT30 spec. for sale.
Did he drive a BT29 & a BT30 in 1970?

Annnnd…, how many Brabhams did he have please?

BT29X and BT30X2 and BT35X2, or have I made a real stuff up on my notes?


Andrew

[David Irwin]

Andrew,

The BT29 and BT30 share the same engine cover. The BT29 has a fiberglass undertray (no side bulge) with the fuel cell behind the seat. The BT30 has fiberglass sidepods with fuel cells located inside. BT30 side pods are the same as BT36. Most BT35's had aluminum side tanks with fiberglass contoured ends, fore and aft.

David Irwin

[Ted Walker]

Andrew. As I think I said in an earlier post Tony Griffiths destroyed his BT29X at Silverstone. Brabhams replaced the chassis with a BT30 one. The car still carries its BT29 Plate BT29X-37. Tony ran this car on the hills with an FVC engine.He re-placed this car with BT35X-2 that was fitted with a Repco V8 for the 72 season. I later owned this car when it had a Rover engine installed and sold it to Shaun Mooney,who had it fitted witha BDA by Simon Hadfield.

[Chris Townsend]

Some more digging in Canadian race results for 1973 gives us the following update on Brabhams

BT29
Archie Snider [Californian driver]

[allenbrown]

I've been working through Jim Thurman's 1970 US Fb results and I thought you might appreciate a list of all the BT29 drivers in the Continental Championship FB events (plus the Elkhart Lane non-champs race).

John Angus, Graham Baker, Bill Boyer, Nick Craw, John Dellagnese, Syd Demovsky, Dave Dours, Ken Duclos, Dexter Farley, Randy Fraser, John Girdler, Mike Hall, Larry Harley, Cecil Harris, Fred Harris, Steve Harris, Mike Hiss, Ken Huband, Allen Karlberg, Allan Lader, Robert Lamson, Dale Lang, John Lewis, Randy Lewis, Carl Liebich, John Marshall, Roy Maze, Wayne Mitchell, Evan Noyes, Jack Quinlan, Brian Robertson, W. Roland, Sandy Shepard and Matt Spitzley.

According the Fred Opert's invoice records, the chassis numbers of these cars are as follows:
&*$%^&...<transmission interrupted>

[Bryan Miller]

Allen.

Would love to sight the chassis numbers when you sort out your connection problems.

Was Fred Ashplant able to assist with March cars he was involved with.????

Bryan.

[Chris Townsend]

Nice wind up Allen

John Angus BT29-1
Evan Noyes BT29-23

BT29-2 was probably an Opert team car

[allenbrown]

Thanks Chris.

What's your source on Angus? Did he have the car that had appeared in that end-of-season '68 race? And are you assuming Noyes Tasman car was his 70 car?

Is it worth me trying to figure out who had their own car and who guested?

Allen

[allenbrown]

I found a couple of 1970 entry lists (Edmonton and Road America) so here's more on those US and Canadian BT29 owners:

John Angus (Hartland, WI) - 8 races - #16 private
Graham Baker (Christchurch, New Zealand) - 13 races - #67 or #82 private
Bill Boyer - 1 race
Nick Craw (Washington, DC) - 13 races - #71 Fred Opert Racing, Paramus, NJ
John Dellagnese - 1 race
Syd Demovsky (Chicago, IL) - 7 races starting at US R3 - #11 private
Dave Dours (Hudson, OH) - 1 race - #99 Manitowoc Crane and Shovel Sales Corp., Cleveland,
Ken Duclos - 1 race
Dexter Farley (Waldorf, MD) - 2 races - #55 Lykos Racing Corp, Neuberg, MD
Randy Fraser (Piedmont, Quebec) - 11 races - #54 Team IRI, Piedmont, Quebec, Canada
John Girdler - 3 races
Mike Hall (Chicago, IL) - 5 races - #27 private
Larry Harley (Dallas, TX) - 2 races
C. N. 'Butch' Harris Jr (Houston, TX) - 1 DNA - #34
Cecil Harris (same man as "Butch" above?) - 1 race
Fred Harris - 1 race
Steve Harris (Fort Wayne, IN) - 1 race - #45 private
Mike Hiss (Delran, NJ) - 1 race (R5, having driven BT15 previously) - #4
Ken Huband (Ottawa, Ontario) - 5 races - #15 private
Jay Jamison (San Diego, CA) - 1 race - #0
Allen Karlberg - 2 races
Allan Lader (Gresham, OR) - 14 races - #43 or #75 Fred Opert Racing, Paramus, NJ
Dale Lang (Wilton, CT) - 3 races - #38 private
Robert S. Lemson (Fort Collins, CO) - 2 races - #85 private
John Lewis - 4 races (R1 to R5 - is this Randy Lewis?)
Randy Lewis (Mountain View, CA) - 7 races (from R7) - #7 private
Carl Liebich (Two Rivers, WI) - 2 races - #78 private
John Marshall (Sandusky, Ohio) - 1 race (R6 in "BT29", BT21C thereafter) - #37 Team Suzy, Sandusky, Ohio
Roy Maze - 1 race
Wayne T. Mitchell (San Diego, CA) - 1 race in "BT29", described as BT28/29 at another race) - #53
Evan Noyes (Cedarville, MI) - 13 races - #72 Fred Opert Racing, Paramus, NJ
Fred Opert (Paramus, NJ) - 1 race (R1, DNA at R2; used Chevron thereafter) - #73
C. L. Phillips (Palos Park, IL) - 1 DNA only - #52 private
Jack J. Quinlin (Portland, OR) - 2 races - #81
Brian Robertson (Ottawa, Ontario) - 8 races - #5 Fred Opert Racing Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Peter Roberts - 1 race
W. D. Roland - 1 race
Sandy Shepard (Denton, TX) - 8 races - #59 private
Matt Spitzley (Aspen, CO) - 14 races - #36 Spitzford Racing, Detroit, Mich
R. C. (Bob) Welch (Alexandria, VA) - 1 race - #23 private

Beware the entry numbers. Even with only two entry lists, I can see they are not always the same.

Does anyone have any other programs or entry lists for 1970 US SCCA Continental Championship. If so, could you send me the FA and FB entry lists?

Allen

[allenbrown]

That's 38 BT29 drivers!! If only 29 were built, there must have been quite a bit of sharing going on. Or maybe Wayne Mitchell wasn't the only one with an upgraded BT21 or BT28.

Team Suzy in Sandusky would be Suzy Dietrich.

Allen

[Chris Townsend]

Allen

Fred Opert may have run a BT21 rather than a BT29 at R1 Riverside. That reduces by one.

Like you I think that Randy and John Lewis may be the same person, or else relatives sharing a car.

Chris

[Andrew Fellowes]

Ted do you have any BT29 AM numbers?

Could it be that the reason that there is such a large gap fom BT28-20 to 23 is that the numbers may be taken by the BT29's?

or,

Bob Ilich tells me that when a bent chassis arrived on Monday morning, the parts needed were taken out of stock. Beuttler's replacement chassis may well have been in stock for several weeks where as Tim's had to come from Arch.

How's that? Andrew

(the old frames were thrown onto the heap outside the back door. Bob did think about doing a salvage operation as these frames went to the rubbish dump).

[David Irwin]

I believe Harry Reynolds had BT29-25, (formerly Tim Schenken ran at Sebring), he removed the TwinCam and FT200 and installed a Cosworth SCA and ran it in FC here in the states.

[allenbrown]

Funny what you can sometime find when looking for something completely different:

Autoweek 24 Oct 1970 p26: Allen Kahlberg of Seattle advertises his "Brabham BT29 - Chassis No 41".