Group A BMW 635 CSi - a popular, solid performer

[MalcolmC]

Originally Posted by KA

RA1-17 Grace / Gartland `83 GB National- Frank Sytner BTCC car, seems to have been used 1983-85. Think it went to NZ 1985/6-ish

Is there an unused red Group A 635 sitting under a dustsheet in a shed behind BMW GB's offices...?

I was thinking a similar thing about RA1-17. The last post I found relating to its whereabouts is this:
http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....&postcount=310
If you go looking for the red car, I'll check my neighbours sheds for RA1-17, and we'll see what we can find.

In the meantime here's RA2-46 (on the left) and RA1-22 reunited last Sunday at Hampton Downs.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/..._NZFMR_320.jpg

Malcolm.

[KA]

I'm just trying to recap the movements of the ex-CC (Woodman) car RA2/039 that was sold to Charlie O'Brien-

Debuted at Sandown in 1985, now painted yellow, ('O'Brien/Andrew Miedecke- DNF) then appeared at Bathurst (O'Brien/John English- again a DNF).

http://media.photobucket.com/image/c...agic/85044.jpg

O'Brien then takes it over to NZ for the Nissan-Mobil races at the beginning of '86, now red, with 'State Coal' sponsorship, shared with Glenn McIntyre.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8021817...7606882601980/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8021817...57606882601980

He then runs part of the 1986 ATCC, and the Surfers' Paradise AEC round , however by now, he's also acquired a second, LHD 635, and I'm not sure which car was used
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...agic/86009.jpg

Both cars seem to have appeared at Surfers', O'Brien apparently crashing one of them in practice, and taking over the other, originally slated for Troy Dunstan to drive.
http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....0&postcount=18
There's a pic in the 1986 Bathurst annual (actually of Graeme Bailey's Chickadee Commodore) which shows O'Brien's yellow/red 635 just disappearing out of shot, but I'm guessing it may have been taken in practice, as there's a similarly-liveried car in the background...

By Sandown, however, he'd joined the Gregg Siddle/Bob Jane Goold Motorsport 635 squad, sharing the orange Bob Jane-sponsored car with Garry Rogers for Sandown and Bathurst.

One of his own cars is at the Mountain though- the RHD car- with yet another change of colour- now white- is leased to John English, sharing with Glenn McIntyre. I can't find a pic of this online at the moment, but it was plain white with BMW Motorsport-style stripes over the RH front and LH rear corners.

Originally Posted by 1986 Bathurst annual

Although entered by Brisbane sales manager John English, the No.32 car was actually leased from Gold Coast-based racer Charlie O'Brien, for Bathurst 1986 only, A rare RHD example, it was first raced in Britain by Englishman Frank Sytner for BMW GB until 1985. O'Brien and London resident Aussie Erle McRae purchased the car and brought it to Australia for Bathurst 1985. O'Brien had that and a LHD sister car for this 1986 ATCC campaign. After mixed success and the conclusion of a local sponsorship deal, both cars were put on the market. O'Brien then latched onto the Bob Jane BMW effort as a driver only.

(That's an 'interesting' version of the UK history of the car- so much for relying on contemporary sources...)

He then takes both cars (now red again!) to NZ for the 1986/7 Nissan-Mobil races, racing the LHD car himself with Glenn McIntyre...
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...tyreObrien.jpg
....and leasing the RHD car to locals Avon Hyde & Allan Milligan
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...nMilliganb.jpg

Any idea where the ex-CC car (or the LHD car- ex-Gardner/JPS I think?) went after that?

[MalcolmC]

Originally Posted by KA

Any idea where the ex-CC car (or the LHD car- ex-Gardner/JPS I think?) went after that?

I'm fairly sure I have an Auto Action report about O'Brien receiving a replacement 635 after a big crash, possibly the Surfers' accident. I'll check tonight.

Malcolm.

[MalcolmC]

Originally Posted by MalcolmC

I'm fairly sure I have an Auto Action report about O'Brien receiving a replacement 635 after a big crash, possibly the Surfers' accident. I'll check tonight.

Sorry, false alarm. It was Gary Rogers who ordered a 'rolling chassis' from Germany after destroying his ex-JPS 635 at round 10 of the ATCC at Oran Park in July '86. He reverted to running the ex-Schnitzer 635 in the mean time. Both cars being identically painted in Bob Jane T-Marts colours.

Malcolm

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

It's a long while ago, so I can't remember what specification the 'car' was in, but many years ago there was at least a full size 'replica' of Franks 635 racing car used as a 3D advertisement near to trent Bridge in Nottingham. (Basically, from memory the advertising hoarding was a typical BMW white background, with a headline across the top and a tag line across the bottom. Instead of a 'side-on' picture of a 635 part of the car stuck out 'through' the advert, with the rest presumably secured and supported behind the hoarding).
Could this be where the mysterious car came from, or, could they have used the accident damaged bodyshell for this as the damage was hidden?

There's an (admittedly small) picture of this advertising hoarding in the latest issue of Classic & Sportscar Magazine (which was a relief for me to see as I was wondering if I'd imagined it!). I will try to scan & post it soon for you all to see.

[racer69]

Originally Posted by KA

He then runs part of the 1986 ATCC, and the Surfers' Paradise AEC round , however by now, he's also acquired a second, LHD 635, and I'm not sure which car was used
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...agic/86009.jpg

Gregg Hansford drove the second car at the Surfers Paradise ATCC round, it was painted in similiar colours to O'Brien's #7 car, but was sponsored by 'Westfield' and ran as #22.

During the race he narrowly avoided getting caught up in David Oxton's run-in with Tony Longhurst

Results of the race here
http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....78&postcount=9

I'll have a watch of the DVD and see if i can get a clear screengrab of the car.

[Gerard Hodges]

Originally Posted by KA

I'm just trying to recap the movements of the ex-CC (Woodman) car RA2/039 that was sold to Charlie O'Brien-

Debuted at Sandown in 1985, now painted yellow, ('O'Brien/Andrew Miedecke- DNF) then appeared at Bathurst (O'Brien/John English- again a DNF).

http://media.photobucket.com/image/c...agic/85044.jpg

O'Brien then takes it over to NZ for the Nissan-Mobil races at the beginning of '86, now red, with 'State Coal' sponsorship, shared with Glenn McIntyre.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8021817...7606882601980/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8021817...57606882601980

He then runs part of the 1986 ATCC, and the Surfers' Paradise AEC round , however by now, he's also acquired a second, LHD 635, and I'm not sure which car was used
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...agic/86009.jpg

Both cars seem to have appeared at Surfers', O'Brien apparently crashing one of them in practice, and taking over the other, originally slated for Troy Dunstan to drive.
http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....0&postcount=18
There's a pic in the 1986 Bathurst annual (actually of Graeme Bailey's Chickadee Commodore) which shows O'Brien's yellow/red 635 just disappearing out of shot, but I'm guessing it may have been taken in practice, as there's a similarly-liveried car in the background...

By Sandown, however, he'd joined the Gregg Siddle/Bob Jane Goold Motorsport 635 squad, sharing the orange Bob Jane-sponsored car with Garry Rogers for Sandown and Bathurst.

One of his own cars is at the Mountain though- the RHD car- with yet another change of colour- now white- is leased to John English, sharing with Glenn McIntyre. I can't find a pic of this online at the moment, but it was plain white with BMW Motorsport-style stripes over the RH front and LH rear corners.

(That's an 'interesting' version of the UK history of the car- so much for relying on contemporary sources...)

He then takes both cars (now red again!) to NZ for the 1986/7 Nissan-Mobil races, racing the LHD car himself with Glenn McIntyre...
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...tyreObrien.jpg
....and leasing the RHD car to locals Avon Hyde & Allan Milligan
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...nMilliganb.jpg

Any idea where the ex-CC car (or the LHD car- ex-Gardner/JPS I think?) went after that?

Hi Guys RA2-39 is alive and well living here in New Zealand, I was talking to the owner today, it has not been raced for some years, but has just had a mechanical rebuild and is ready to hit the tracks again. It was supposed to be ready for the NZ Festival of motorsport That was celebrating BMW Motorsport but didn't quite make it in time. It was great to have so many ex works Grp A cars together, The photo that Malcolm posted of my car, chassis#46 and Dougals car chassis#22 together again was great, pity #39 couldn't join us. Chassis RA2-01 is still here in NZ waiting to be restored, we also had 2 JPS 635,s numerous M3,s, including a 1987 Ravaglia driven car, and a 1992 DTM Pirro car, and a JPS car, 4 Sierra cosworths including the 1988 ETCC winning Texaco car. Also a group 2 RS 3100 Works capri, and a Mk2 Zakspeed Escort. Have a look at the photos of the meetings on www.groundsky.co.nz our grid was the Grp A and historic touring cars, you will be impressed.
Gerry.

[brunoleite]

Originally Posted by zakspeed

championship french mountain
treffort 1985

Can anyone tell me what wheels are these?

[E36ST]

Is there any further information on the history of RA2-01 and RA2-39 and who owns them now? They don't seem to be covered in the Chassis History archive.

[MalcolmC]

Originally Posted by E36ST

Is there any further information on the history of RA2-01 and RA2-39 and who owns them now? They don't seem to be covered in the Chassis History archive.

There's some info there, RA2-01 is also known as RA001, but the archive could do with updating.

The latest info on these cars is here:
http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....&postcount=924

and here:
http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....&postcount=927

[DAVID PATERSON]

There were two JPS 635s competing in the Group A races at Phillip Island last weekend. The '85 ATCC winning car was driven by it's current owner, Adrian Brady. The former Group C car, now in Group A spec, was driven by Jim Richards himself.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by DAVID PATERSON

There were two JPS 635s competing in the Group A races at Phillip Island last weekend. The '85 ATCC winning car was driven by it's current owner, Adrian Brady. The former Group C car, now in Group A spec, was driven by Jim Richards himself.

Dying to see some images......



Ooops edit....seen a few in the V8SC section thread.

Would love to seem EVEN MORE though???

[E36ST]

I don't have anything on the Phillip Island round but there are some photos here when Jim was running Pete Sturgeon's car at the Hampton Downs meeting late January. Also a couple of photos showing Dougal MacGibbon's car (1-22?).

http://www.groundsky.co.nz/index.php...ntrantID=17755

[KA]

Some more period 635 images- from Germany this time, don't think I've seen these particular pics before...

Leopold von Bayern's 'Warsteiner' car in 1984
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7572724...in/photostream

Volker Strycek's 'Gubin' 635- and a lovely 'retro' transporter- a converted bus...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7572724...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7572724...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7572724...in/photostream

[KA]

A few more period images- Way back in the thread, we talked about the various 635s raced in Portugal- A while back I found a Facebook page about Portuguese driver Sidonio Cabanelas, complete with albums of pics showing his 635, as well as a previous 528i and Triumph Dolomite Sprint

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...6731759&type=3

[davyboy]

Frank Jacob's got RA2/38, the Garage du Bac / Motul machine up for sale here as well as the Brun Motorsport Jambon des Ardennes machine here and the Hartge Wurth machine here this morning.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Frank Jacob's got RA2/38, the Garage du Bac / Motul machine up for sale here as well as the Brun Motorsport Jambon des Ardennes machine here and the Hartge Wurth machine here this morning.

The last one's quite cheap comparably?

I wonder if any UK bods have their eyes on any of them for a historic series?

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by chunterer

The last one's quite cheap comparably?

I wonder if any UK bods have their eyes on any of them for a historic series?

Maybe yourself

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Maybe yourself

It's not THAT cheap!

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by chunterer

It's not THAT cheap!

Have a word with the missus and get the house on the market [possibly in the opposite order] you know it makes sense

By the way, in the run-up to the debut of the new DTM M3, there's a lovely photo montage of BMWs highs and lows in motor sport over the years in Autosport Plus at autosport.com.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Have a word with the missus and get the house on the market [possibly in the opposite order] you know it makes sense

By the way, in the run-up to the debut of the new DTM M3, there's a lovely photo montage of BMWs highs and lows in motor sport over the years in Autosport Plus at autosport.com.

Ha nice thought but it was on the market and as long as all goes to plan, is now sold so that's that plan up the swanny!!

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Ha nice thought but it was on the market and as long as all goes to plan, is now sold so that's that plan up the swanny!!

In another life maybe . Good luck with the completion, hope all goes smoothly for you.

[chunterer]

Yes very much so.What i'd love to do is buy something like that 635 and have someone half decent pedal it for me. Or finally get my ARDS which i've been meaning to do for a thousand years and drive it myself!!

[FLORENT MOULIN]

Dear All,

I just wanted to let you know that my 635 GRA has been invited to the Festival of Speed.

Hope to see you there.

All the best,

Florent

[Redzone]

I'll just drop this here folks..

http://www.bowdensown.com.au/welcome...nitzer-635_BMW