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The first Kaditcha cars


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#1 SR781

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Posted 23 February 2013 - 02:30

Does any one have photo's or history of the early Kaditcha cars, i have owned the first car made Barry Lock's own Open Wheeler for the past eighteen years and the first Sports Car the SR781 for the past fourteen years, which is undergoing a lengthy restoration, with the original Cosworth Chev Vega engine back in the car.

Edited by SR781, 23 February 2013 - 22:28.


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#2 Ray Bell

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Posted 23 February 2013 - 11:57

Do the Centaurs count?

I thought the openwheeler was the first Kaditcha...

Or is it all just too many years ago?

#3 Team Result

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Posted 24 February 2013 - 14:26

Ray, I think SR781 says as much in his post. He wants to find out more about the two cars he has, one of which is the original Kaditcha front-radiator F2 car. IIRC, it had a lot of McLaren M4A DNA in it. Of course, Barry built it shortly after returning from the UK where he worked at McLaren.

The only history I can add concerns the 2nd (or 3rd?) owner of the first F2 car and first owner of the SR781, Bob Heinrichs. He was a member of the same car club as I and joined with friend, Dick Purser just before they both commenced racing - Bob in the Kaditcha t/c while Dick had the old ex-Brian Power Renmax BN1(with 1300cc x-flow engine) that I actually got to race once (nostalgic digression, sorry).

Bob's occupation was a civil engineer and he worked at an office on Gregory Tce, inner Brisbane. I recall him proudly telling us about his new sports car that he had commissioned Barry to build. Later, one comment I remember was about its first test, which was at Surfers Paradise Raceway. Bob nearly crashed under Dunlop Bridge on his first flying lap due to an acute lack of downforce (=lift) at the front of the car. IIRC, a small wing between the front wheel arches was added before its race debut. Another memorable comment concerning the SR781 was Bob one evening stating that he'd be missing the next two or three race meetings because the Chev Vega Cosworth was being rebuilt. When pressed, Bob revealed that it was just a freshen up, but that the engine had to be shipped to Nicholson's (more McLaren DNA) in the UK for that as "they were the only people who could touch it". To us at the time, it seemed a rather extravagant and unnecessary procedure for a privateer sports car driver to be undertaking.



#4 SR781

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Posted 25 February 2013 - 06:20

Ray, I think SR781 says as much in his post. He wants to find out more about the two cars he has, one of which is the original Kaditcha front-radiator F2 car. IIRC, it had a lot of McLaren M4A DNA in it. Of course, Barry built it shortly after returning from the UK where he worked at McLaren.

The only history I can add concerns the 2nd (or 3rd?) owner of the first F2 car and first owner of the SR781, Bob Heinrichs. He was a member of the same car club as I and joined with friend, Dick Purser just before they both commenced racing - Bob in the Kaditcha t/c while Dick had the old ex-Brian Power Renmax BN1(with 1300cc x-flow engine) that I actually got to race once (nostalgic digression, sorry).

Bob's occupation was a civil engineer and he worked at an office on Gregory Tce, inner Brisbane. I recall him proudly telling us about his new sports car that he had commissioned Barry to build. Later, one comment I remember was about its first test, which was at Surfers Paradise Raceway. Bob nearly crashed under Dunlop Bridge on his first flying lap due to an acute lack of downforce (=lift) at the front of the car. IIRC, a small wing between the front wheel arches was added before its race debut. Another memorable comment concerning the SR781 was Bob one evening stating that he'd be missing the next two or three race meetings because the Chev Vega Cosworth was being rebuilt. When pressed, Bob revealed that it was just a freshen up, but that the engine had to be shipped to Nicholson's (more McLaren DNA) in the UK for that as "they were the only people who could touch it". To us at the time, it seemed a rather extravagant and unnecessary procedure for a privateer sports car driver to be undertaking.


Hi
Barry once mentioned that the Open Wheeler was made at McLaren with the help of Gordon Coppuck and Joe Macquet and was based on the M7A and he later assembled it in Australia, in regards to my request i am hoping there is someone particularly in Queensland that will have pictures that i do not have or history of the days. In regards to Rob Hinrichs he has been very helpful with pictures previously and information along the way, also i am led to believe the Cosworth Vega's were a bit of a hand grenade in their day, with this one needing a new Crankshaft and Pistons due to previous damage. The second car that was made the Open Wheeler of Vern Hamilton is in Sydney also, i have a picture at Eastern Creek of both Open Wheelers together taken years ago.
Terry

#5 timbo

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Posted 27 February 2013 - 06:52

Spotted in the my105.com.au racing car classifieds,

http://www.my105.com...80/Default.aspx



#6 rbm

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Posted 27 February 2013 - 09:05

Hi
Barry once mentioned that the Open Wheeler was made at McLaren with the help of Gordon Coppuck and Joe Macquet and was based on the M7A and he later assembled it in Australia, in regards to my request i am hoping there is someone particularly in Queensland that will have pictures that i do not have or history of the days. In regards to Rob Hinrichs he has been very helpful with pictures previously and information along the way, also i am led to believe the Cosworth Vega's were a bit of a hand grenade in their day, with this one needing a new Crankshaft and Pistons due to previous damage. The second car that was made the Open Wheeler of Vern Hamilton is in Sydney also, i have a picture at Eastern Creek of both Open Wheelers together taken years ago.
Terry


Terry I think it would be Joe Marquart (Josef Anton Marquart b.1936 d.2003)

#7 Eshe

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Posted 27 February 2013 - 10:25

An image of the Kaditcha at Eastern Creek around 2007...a very tidy car with an interesting McLaren heritage link.

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#8 SR781

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Posted 02 March 2013 - 00:35

Terry I think it would be Joe Marquart (Josef Anton Marquart b.1936 d.2003)

You are correct