115 replies to this topic

[Ray Bell]

Welcome John...

I see you've done some hunting around here. Keep it up!

Didn't you have a Clubman at one time?

[Team Result]

Hi John!

Ray, John raced Mazda R100 and Rx3 Production Touring Cars before he bought the Lola. I bought his Rx3, which was the start of my long association with rotary-engined racing cars .

[jwharton]

Hi Ross,

Haven't spoken with you in many years. How are you going these days?

[Bondy]

I think the "Alan Nolan" from Geelong may be Peter Nowlan from Geelong, he races karts, has since i was a kid and i recall stories that the family had a road going Lola Sportie. 

[Ray Bell]

While I know that the thread is labelled 'F5000'... I have a question...

Don was racing a Brabham-Climax in 1968, he set fastest lap of the meeting (and post AGP era) at Caversham driving this car. But what car was it?

The photo of him dicing with Mike Tighe's Elfin in Dec '68 RCN shows it to clearly be a little car, like a BT14, BT23 etc, but the only one of those I can think of which came out with a Climax engine was at that stage owned by either Niel Allen or Col Green.

One would assume it was a locally-cobbled car, and Don should have had the odd spare Climax for it, but where did it come from and where did it go?

[ken devine]

Ray they did break up a car to build the Cooper Ford Sports it may have been the first one.His Tasman Cooper went to Gordon Stephenson.

Edited by ken devine, 21 September 2016 - 08:58.

[Ray Bell]

But this was a Brabham, Ken...

Stephenson was at the same meeting with the Cooper but damaged the gearbox in practice.

[TerryS]

Attached is O'Sullivan's record in the McLaren M18.

Pretty miserable really. Only wins were minor races at Wanneroo against no opposition

http://www.tuttomcla...m.asp?cod=Don O'Sullivan%20Racing

[TerryS]

While I know that the thread is labelled 'F5000'... I have a question...

Don was racing a Brabham-Climax in 1968, he set fastest lap of the meeting (and post AGP era) at Caversham driving this car. But what car was it?

The photo of him dicing with Mike Tighe's Elfin in Dec '68 RCN shows it to clearly be a little car, like a BT14, BT23 etc, but the only one of those I can think of which came out with a Climax engine was at that stage owned by either Niel Allen or Col Green.

One would assume it was a locally-cobbled car, and Don should have had the odd spare Climax for it, but where did it come from and where did it go?

The story on O'Sullivan's Brabham

http://forums.autosp...an#entry4044071

[Ray Bell]

Thanks for that, Terry...

Plenty of reason there for me to not know the history of the car.

[cooper997]

Last week it was recorded on social media that Don O'Sullivan passed away. I've tried to find more detail online but thus far failed.

 

 

Stephen

[TerryS]

Don O'Sullivan died March 10.

[MarkBisset]

 

 

Not the sharpest of shots of Don O’Sullivan but the best I have. Post WA Road Racing Championship victory TV interview in the cockpit of his McLaren M18 Repco-Holden at Wanneroo Park in May 1972. (State Library WA)

 

Quick chat with Jaime Gard, blue shirt and long strides, dark hair in the happy-snap. Don died in the early hours of Sunday March 6, 2022 aged 86 of dementia. They had been colleagues and mates for over 50 years.

[ellrosso]

Shot of Don in the McLaren M18 3/9/1972 Warwick Farm meeting.

[Ray Bell]

About to exit Creek Corner and attack The Esses...

 

A busy moment for quick drivers.

[barrykm]

"..A busy moment for quick drivers.."

 

What a great description