32 replies to this topic

[Nestora]

Hi all,

I am currently documenting the history of the Australasian Formula Holden (nee Brabham, 4000) category from 1989 to 2006 in the form of a race and championship results archive as well as a chassis register outlining the history of every car that competed in the category since 1989. I plan to publish the complete register online and hopefully within the next 12 months.

As many will know, the chassis that competed in Formula Holden were mostly ex-Formula 3000 chassis imported from Europe or Japan. I have chassis numbers and some F3000 histories for many Formula Holden chassis but with around 100 chassis having competed in the category since 1989 and with no access to a manufacturer's records it is difficult to match many of the Formula Holden chassis with their F3000 competition histories.

I am therefore inviting all TNF members who have access to chassis numbers or information on any pre-1996 Formula 3000 or pre-1998 Formula Nippon chassis to contribute to the project through the sharing of such information.

I will note that the last F3000 chassis imported from Europe for use in Formula Holden was the Reynard 95D which along with the previous flat bottom floored 91D, 92D and 94D models was continually retained in favour of the post-1995 step bottom floored Lola chassis, the first of which (T96/50) was built to the FIA's single specification chassis and engine regulations for F3000 in 1996. Reynard of course continued producing the 96D and 97D for use in Formula Nippon and these were the last F3000 chassis imported from Japan for the category.

I have chosen to undertake this project because I believe that Formula Holden was a great, unrecognised era of Australian motor racing, one of high powered, 'real racing cars' producing some of the fastest lap records and highest average speeds ever recorded on Australian and New Zealand circuits and therefore needs to have its history properly recorded.

My interest in building the chassis register was born by the fact that almost all the cars that had competed in the category had illustrious competition histories in Europe and Japan and in that time had passed through many a notable team or driver, later of Formula 1 or otherwise. Also, such a chassis register could prove useful for future/prospective owners of the cars wishing to verify the histories of the cars that they own or are wishing to purchase.

Any assistance is valuable and much appreciated as is information on non-championship Formula Holden races such as the Australian Grand Prix support races, 1993/95 Indonesian Grands Prix and the New Zealand Gold Star championship that was run for Formula Holdens from 1994-1995.

Thanks in advance and I look forward to seeing what TNF can come up with!

Edited by Nestora, 04 July 2014 - 15:10.

[fines]

I applaud your initiative, I believe it's a worthy subject. In my experience, FHolden is fairly well ignored in terms of media presence, and it's also not very well liked by the Australian enthusiasts, but it surely deserves its place in history. Having said that, I'm not sure I can help very much.

[Richard Young]

A number of (former) F.Holdens seem to have found a new home here in Ireland. Most seem to be Reynards, plus (I think) a Ralt and perhaps a Lola, but there's also a fairly unique alloy-tub Australian creation called a Shrike. They seem to have been acquired, perhaps as a job lot, by experienced former F.Atlantic driver Dan Daly.
Any detailsm, of the Shrike in particular ?
All are racing - or preparing to race - in the newly resurgent Irish F.Libre category.

[Lee Nicolle]

Originally posted by Richard Young
A number of (former) F.Holdens seem to have found a new home here in Ireland. Most seem to be Reynards, plus (I think) a Ralt and perhaps a Lola, but there's also a fairly unique alloy-tub Australian creation called a Shrike. They seem to have been acquired, perhaps as a job lot, by experienced former F.Atlantic driver Dan Daly.
Any detailsm, of the Shrike in particular ?
All are racing - or preparing to race - in the newly resurgent Irish F.Libre category.

The Shrikes were built by the TAFE team in the late 80s. I think there was 3, 1 of which is at Birdwood Mill and another is being hillclimbed here in SA by Andrew Mitchell

[Team Result]

TAFE, of course, standing for Technical and Further Education - a fancy acronym for Technical Colleges.
IIRC the Shrikes were built as a project by an Adelaide TAFE teacher and his students
Did K & A Engineering have some involvement, too?

[The Mountaineer]

One of those Formula Holden cars seems to be in Switzerland now. It came only a few months ago, it's a 89 Reynard in the same livery as Jean Alesi's car when he did F3000, with a Lexus engine fitted. I'll try to find out more about it.

[Adam F]

Hi, Nestora,

I have sent you an e-mail regarding the F3000 which I have.

[O Volante]

Hi, Nestora,
a very worthwhile enterprise!

As some requests I started here at TNF some time ago may show, I was quite interested in the matter when Formula Holden was still active. So I have to dig out my notes again, and we have to see what will help your purposes!

I assume that your result record is rather settled. If not - and that may also be useful to know for others interested in the matter - the complete official results for many of the later races after c. 1996 are still available at the NATSOFT Race Timing & Results Archives.

Have a look here: http://www.natsoft.com.au/results/

[Lee Nicolle]

Ross, the TAFE team was quite professional and I believe some of the students went on to bigger and better things.
As far as I know K&A had no involvement though possibly unofficial.
At one stage Stan Keen had at least 2 of those chassis,he won a silver star in them. Not bad considering he was twice the age of most of the opposition.
One of those cars had a big hit at the GP one year in Mark Pooles hands. I dont think it was ever quite right after. I think the hillclimb car.

[jeremy durward]

Originally posted by Lee Nicolle

One of those cars had a big hit at the GP one year in Mark Pooles hands. I dont think it was ever quite right after. I think the hillclimb car.

that would be andrew mitchell's car, it was rebuilt in a different way to the others witha a carbon fibre upper section bonded onto the aluminium chassis, it also featured a slightly different body. it now features a turbocharged 600+ HP motor

[Lee Nicolle]

Yes I think so too.

[jeremy durward]

actually if you want some photos next time i'm down at adrews workshop i'll grab some. i have a couple of the one in the motor museum around too

[Bblock]

Nestora.

An ambitous and great undertaking on your part.

These cars were pretty much our Formula 1. They set records at every race track where they competed at.

I am sure so many of these great cars have left our shores already, I am aware of cars in Ireland and the USA.

I want to see these uniquely (albeit of European origins) Australian adapted vehciles enter into the realms of Australian historic racing in the near future. Sadly, I feel that there will be only a few that will be available for such. Given, that many of the few that remain in Australia have entered the hillclimb and sprint competitions and have been modified irreversably in some instances.

It is time for the historic commission of CAMS to recognise the flight of these vehicles from our shores and commence the entry process of these vehciles into historic categories. We must make sure that some remain here for future generations to see and admire.

I can provide details to you on my 90D via seperate email.

[jeremy durward]

i believe the early cars will be eligible within the next few years, i know andrew has talked about it with the shrike as nothing has been changed to prevent it goin back exactly how it was. unfortunately as you say most of thses cars have left the country

[Bblock]

one of the issues faced by the historic commission is what to do with cars that are just so very fast.

One of the misconceptions witht eh classification of "historics" is that manyt hink of old slow cars.

It is likley that if accepted into historic racing they would have to be in Group "R" or another new classification.

Group "R" will allow Formula Brabham/Holden/4000 to race with ground effects Atlantic cars but also includes things like sports 2000, pre 1986 Australian Formula 2, Pre 1984 Formula Ford and others. It is likely that a mixed field of Formula Holdens, Atlantics and others will run into the 130% rule, in that there shall not be a time difference greater than 130% of the slowest lap to the fastest lap.

[jeremy durward]

how far behind are the formula atlantics in terms of speed? from memory didn't ty hanger beat the 4000s with an RT4 when his 4000 was broken? surely not a huge problem except for maybe the formula fords which i thought ran in their own class?

[Bblock]

it depends on the track.

I have been behind a formula Holden (later non preferred ground effects car) going into a big corner and been all over him until he comes out of the turn, straightens up and in this particular case climbs the hill. Nothing like that added torque of 3.8 litres and six cylinders to walk away from 1.6 litres spread over carburetted four cylinders.

I should also say it depends on the driver, maybe if Ty Hanger had been driving the Formula Holden it would of been a different story.

But, having said all the above, I think ground effect Atlantics are a good mix with FH.

Here is the official Group "R" ellegibility according to CAMS:

Group R - Historic Racing and Sports Racing Cars

This group caters for racing, sports racing, and clubman sports cars with a competition history established between 1st January 1978 and the various end dates as follows.

FIA Formula 1, but restricted to cars with normally aspirated engines, and with a competition history prior to the 31st December 1985.

FIA Formula 2 with a competition history prior to the 31st December 1986.

FIA Formula 3 with a competition history prior to the 31st December 1984.

Formula B (SCCA), Atlantic, Pacific and Mondiale cars with a competition history established in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the UK and North America prior to the 31st December 1986.

Formula Ford with a competition history prior to the 31st December 1983, but excluding the Swift DB1.

Sports racing cars with a competition history prior to the 31st December 1987 but excluding Sports 1300 cars.

Clubman sports cars with a competition history in Australia prior to the 31st December 1981.

Australian Formula 2 cars with a competition history prior to 31 December, 1985.

[jeremy durward]

that is a wide spread of speeds isn't it. i would imagine it would just lead to the group being divided up into smaller ones.

[Ken Herd]

Originally posted by Lee Nicolle
Ross, the TAFE team was quite professional and I believe some of the students went on to bigger and better things.
As far as I know K&A had no involvement though possibly unofficial.
At one stage Stan Keen had at least 2 of those chassis,he won a silver star in them. Not bad considering he was twice the age of most of the opposition.
One of those cars had a big hit at the GP one year in Mark Pooles hands. I dont think it was ever quite right after. I think the hillclimb car.

Did Wayne Gardner crash Pooles car at Mallala in a private test session just before the 1990 AGP meeting?

I was under the impresion that was a factor in Poole not winning the Gold Star that year.

[stevenormoyle]

Yes, Wayne Gardner did crash Poole's Shrike during pre-race testing at Mallala, but it was not a huge accident and I doubt it affected the team's preparation much. I can't see how it played any role in Poole not winning the title. Gardner also crashed in qualifying (in the other car) at Adelaide, when he slid off on oil left by Drew Price's gearbox.

As for Formula Holden chassis, in the early years there were quite a lot of local cars, plus a one-off from the UK, in addition to the old F3000 Ralts. The rules initally were for aluminium tub cars only, the intention being that cars would be locally made, at a time when carbon-fibre cars were still expensive to buy and difficult to maintain (especially in Australia). Local manufacturers Elfin and Cheetah each built one car; Chris Hocking built five March 87B replica tubs (only two of which actually raced, as far as I can remember); there were several Ralt RT4s fitted with the bigger Holden engine, along with the Liston-Fisher Formula Pacific made in Sydney. There was also the Spa-001, a car designed by Gary Anderson especially for F/Holden and built to order for Bab Romano in the UK.

[Ray Bell]

I guess that would be Bap Romano, rather than either Bob or Bab Romano?

Guess it was also a slow work day at Chevron, Steve?

[Lola5000]

Minogues ex F3000 Lola T87/50.

[KandA]

K and A were not involved in the Shrike project. Some K and A contractors, namely the late Jon Porter and Greg Mobbs, were integral in it. We also took on some of the students who completed the course as employees. The tub Gardner crashed at Mallala in testing was written off and never used again, Stan Keen had it hanging from the roof in his workshop. Another tub was damaged substantially, but repaired, after an Mg rear upright failed on Pooley from bearing failure going up Wakefield Street at the F1 support event one year.

[Bowinracer]

Hi are there any chassis for sale out there?

[Lola5000]

Originally posted by Bowinracer
Hi are there any chassis for sale out there?

wonder where they all are.

[xbgs351]

Originally posted by Bowinracer
Hi are there any chassis for sale out there?

http://www.my105.com...ed.asp?id=10973

http://www.race-cars...formula3000.htm

[Lola5000]

Originally posted by xbgs351


http://www.my105.com...ed.asp?id=10973

http://www.race-cars...formula3000.htm

wonder where the Lola T87/50 went to?

[Nestora]

Gents,

Thank you all for your interest and support of the Formula Holden Register. With the project being solely a hobby and work/other commitments taking priority I have not quite been able to regard the project as much as I would have liked but I am pleased to say that over the past six months progress has definitely been made.

Firstly, thank you to everyone who has offered input to the project, most notably Adam Ferrington of the Formula 1 Register for his excellent work providing chassis numbers and F3000 competition histories - without which the chassis register would be largely redundant. I now have chassis numbers for over 75 per cent of all known FHolden chassis and comprehensive or full chassis histories for almost as many.

Race and qualifying classifications from every round between 1989-2006 have now been transferred from timing printouts to electronic form and will form a significant part of the register as will full championship standings from the same period.

Progress for the most part has been brisk but there is one small request for assistance which I must make. I am hoping to complement the information held in the chassis register with photographs of the relevant chassis during various times of their history and would like to call on any TNF members who have access to photographs of F3000 cars from 1985-1995, whether they be professional images, personal shots or magazine scans as these would be of great relevance and value to the project. Acknowledgements to the authors and/or sources of photographs used will be made where necessary.

Thanks again all for your support and at this rate I plan to have the register complete (or as near to as possible) and online by early next year.

Edited by Nestora, 04 July 2014 - 15:10.

[timbo]

how far behind are the formula atlantics in terms of speed? from memory didn't ty hanger beat the 4000s with an RT4 when his 4000 was broken? surely not a huge problem except for maybe the formula fords which i thought ran in their own class?

A quick look at a couple of track websites reveals the following lap records.

Winton (short circuit). Outright Lap Record : Mark Larkham, Reynard 90D 52.99 sec.
Formula Mondiale: John Bowe, Ralt RT4 53.80 sec.
Formula 5000: Alfredo Costanzo, Lola T430 55.80 sec.
Historic F5000: Bob Minogue, Lola T430 58.27 sec.
Historic F Atlantic: Ty Hangar, March 77B 55.30 sec.

Winton's short circuit is very tight, with only a couple of straights, and would suit the smaller cars.

Phillip Island. Outright Lap Record: Simon Wills, Reynard 94D 1.24.22 sec.
Historic F. Atlantic: Chris Farrell, Chevron B35 1.31.34 sec.

Phillip Island is a fast free flowing track suited to the bigger cars.

Eastern Creek. Outright Lap Record: Nico Hulkenberg : A1GP Lola Zytek 1.19.14 sec.
Formula Holden(F4000) Tim Leahey Reynard 92D 1.22.51 sec.
Historic F.Atlantic Ty Hangar, Ralt RT4 1.27.67 sec.

Eastern Creek is a mix of fast and slow corners with a very long straight.

[O Volante]

Somebody with an idea what happend to this enterprise?

[willini]

As an aside a couple of Formula Holdens have started running in Historics. It is great to see these cars running again. At the Winton Festival of Speed last weekend there were 2 cars, a Cheetah (ex Lowndes, Sampson) and a Ralt RT21 driven by ex Lancia Martini works driver Lucio Cesario. InPItlane were there doing some filming with Lucio, resplendent in his works Lancia driving suit, so maybe we can look forward to finding out more in a future episode on Channel 31? The 2 Formula Holdens had quite a good battle over the weekend, closely followed by a ground effects Cheetah Australian Formula 2. As mentioned previously this type of track doesn't really allow them 2 stretch their legs fully, but still great to watch "real" racing cars.

[Ray Bell]

I'd have thought their wings, wider wheels and superior acceleration would have helped...

Or is the lump too heavy to get them balanced?

[Lee Nicolle]

K and A were not involved in the Shrike project. Some K and A contractors, namely the late Jon Porter and Greg Mobbs, were integral in it. We also took on some of the students who completed the course as employees. The tub Gardner crashed at Mallala in testing was written off and never used again, Stan Keen had it hanging from the roof in his workshop. Another tub was damaged substantially, but repaired, after an Mg rear upright failed on Pooley from bearing failure going up Wakefield Street at the F1 support event one year.

I might be wrong but I think that is the car that Stan put together for hillclimbs only. With the high front wing. Andrew Mitchell has it now I think.