1210 replies to this topic

[Catalina Park]

The tree Tim Mayer hit wasn't that big, as I recall...

© Oldracephotos
 

[ellrosso]

Time to revive the Longford thread......Leo Geoghegan in 1st shot. Dummy grid is Robin Bessant Lotus Cortina, Bruno Carosi ex Jane Jag Mk2, Robin Pare Mustang, Ian Smith Cooper S

Edited by ellrosso, 21 December 2023 - 01:46.

[Ray Bell]

Geoff Smedley in the background of the Leo Geoghegan shot...

 

He was spannering for Leo that weekend.

[SJ Lambert]

Dropped into the Longford Hotel for a wee dram last night - enjoyed the ambience with the Tasman Reports out of The Examiner to absorb throughout!

[ellrosso]

Haven't had a post on Longford for a while......

[ellrosso]

Time for a few more Longford pics......

[malomay]

Thanks once more Lindsay,

 

the clarity of these photos of cars moving at speed is wonderful.

[MarkBisset]

Thanks Lindsay, Mal

 

One's 105 'buried' its nose into the road under hard braking, Hammo's is no exception!

 

Superb shot of Jack shows what a 'prototype' BT23A was for the upcoming, superb, victorious '67 F1 BT24. Engine a 640 rather than definitive 67' 740, but their was still great Tasman testing value in advance of the Grand Prix season.

 

'67 was the only big buck, whole series BRO/Repco Brabham Engines two car attack on the Tasman, that was the year they should have won it. The irony of the RBE 2.5s of course, is that the original purpose for the engine was designed - Tasman 2.5 - didn't meet the mark: no Tasman Cup, only one Tasman round (Longford '67as per the photo above), and no Gold Star either. Four World Championships in 1966-67 was more than adequate compensation...never were four F1 titles bought for  less??

 

m

[Ray Bell]

A part in a Gold Star with Leo Geoghegan, of course, the 39 and 59 each gaining points for him...

 

And a Japan Grand Prix.

 

But it's really interesting that the engine might have been planned for the 2.5-litre formula. This was the shortest stroke version of the engine, or as John McCormack related Phil Irving's words, "Those pistons are only wobbling about in there."

 

The 3-litre's bore/stroke ratio, allied with the rod length/stroke ratio, was more productive than the mix for the 2.5.

[MarkBisset]

Agreed re Leo's Symmons 1970 points, and J.A.F GP win.

 

The Repco 2.5-litre engines had more than enough mumbo to do the job.

 

Repco quotes: they all had the same 3.34/2.16 inch bore/stroke

 

620: 250bhp Phil's design

640: 265bhp @ 9500rpm

740: 275bhp @ 8500rpm

730: 290bhp @ 8600rpm

830: 295bhp @ 9000rpm

 

Why?

 

Tasman:

Jack didn't do the full series in 1966, 1968 and 1969

 

Gold Star

No customer 2.5s in 1966

1967: Martin and Bartlett were mighty fast in BT11As. Leo and Cusack had a Repco win each. Harves BT14 was Repco quick when sorted

1968-69: Bartlett was on another planet to The Rest...simple as that 

1970: Harvey's Jane Repco was a winning car with more reliability. Garrie's 600D Repco was a winning car with a quicker driver.

 

Repco 2.5 V8s, coulda, woulda, shoulda...but sadly didn't as an RBE Cheerleader

[ellrosso]

Slightly off the Longford topic but on the Repco topic, McCormack went the Repco V8 route in his Elfin 600C after trying his old 2.5 Climax four banger from the Brabham at first.