14 replies to this topic

[Pullman99]

I am currently doing some research on the various Cooper-Maserati Formula One cars; in particular the T81 and T81B

 

On the TNF Archive section, I came across this post (from 2005) by Stephen W.    I used to be an occasional marshal at mainly BRSCC events at Brands Hatch in the early 1970s and I seem to recall one of these cars - possibly the T81B - being entered in an early 1971 season - although could have been late 1970 - club meeting at Brands and being an entry in a Libre race but having the Maserati engine still installed (so could have been a T81).    I recall the livery as being yellow.  

 

Just wondered if anyone has access to club programmes from the period and whether or not it is possible to confirm its identity.   I am pretty certain that it was not powered by the Chrysler V8 mentioned in Stephen's post (but it was along time ago...).

 

Over to the experts...

 

Ian

 

 

 

 

Posted 21 January 2005 - 11:29

The T81B F1-1-67 went into the Speed Events arena in the UK.

In 1968 Martin Brain, who had installed a 7.2 Chyrsler V8 in place of the Maserati engine, took 2nd place in the British Hillclimb Championship. In 1969 he retained the T81B using both it and a BRM engined T86B to finish 4th.

The T81B reappeared in 1971 in the hands of Johnty Williamson when he WON the British Sprint Championship.

Terry Smith then acquired the T81B and he only did two British Sprint rounds in 1972 with the car but still finished 10th.

The car then disappeared from top flight speed events. 

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Steve Wilkinson - TNF Badge Number 115

[68targa]

The programme for the Fordsport Brands day 24 May 1970:

 

#31 - Falken Racing Developments Ltd (Drv: Toby St George Matthews) - Cooper-Maserati  (2988cc)

 

Entry for BOC Libre Championship race.  No colour shown.

[BRG]

According to Allen Brown's OldRacingCars.com site,  the sole T86 was sold to Falken Racing Developments after racing in the 1969 Monaco GP.

[Henk Vasmel]

Source: Milestones Behind the Marques (Paul Sheldon, 1976)

 

It has concise histories of all the Cooper 81 cars, but it won't help you much, I'm afraid

 

F1-2-66: After '68, sold to Cegga in Switzerland

F1-3-66: Last race with Alan Rees. Nothing after that

F1-4-66: Car wrecked beyond repair. Engine to F1-7-66

F1-5-66: Car in the Donington Collection. Nothing about the period between "retirement" and Museum

F1-6-66: Sold to Mitsubishi

F1-7-66: Last mention is GP-I '67 for De Adamich (DNA), owned by Jo Bonnier

F1-1-67(81B): The car was sold to hill climb specialist Martin Brian and was fitted with an American engine, which prolonged its career for several years.

 

I hope it helps you to reduce the possible candidates, but the info is not positively helping you.

[FlyingSaucer]

According to Allen Brown's OldRacingCars.com site,  the sole T86 was sold to Falken Racing Developments after racing in the 1969 Monaco GP.

 

Yep, and before that, this particular car raced for the Colin Crabbe Antique Automobiles Racing Team. As far as I know, the car was driven by Vic Elford in Monaco and in the non-champioship BRDC International Trophy, and by Neil Corner, in the one-off Madrid GP.

 

As a 'extra note', the only reason for Corner to drive in Madrid was that Elford was scheduele to drive a Porsche in the BOAC 500, that was happening in the same weekend as the race in Spain.

Edited by FlyingSaucer, 29 February 2024 - 19:26.

[timf5000]

The Formula 1 Register F5000 Factbook 1969-1972 lists the chassis number as F1-2-67 in Madrid.

 

Yep, and before that, this particular car raced for the Colin Crabbe Antique Automobiles Racing Team. As far as I know, the car was driven by Vic Elford in Monaco and in the non-champioship BRDC International Trophy, and by Neil Corner, in the one-off Madrid GP.

 

As a 'extra note', the only reason for Corner to drive in Madrid was that Elford was scheduele to drive a Porsche in the BOAC 500, that was happening in the same weekend as the race in Spain.

[Pullman99]

Thanks everyone for this information.   I haven't had the opportunity to delve into the Autosport reports for early 1971 club meetings at Brands but will do so shortly.

[cooper997]

From the pages of 22/4/66 Autosport

 

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Classified from 25/6/70 Autosport

 

 

 

Stephen

[Roger Clark]

Interesting (from the Autosport report) that Moss was to demonstrate the car at Snetterton.  Did that happen or was it cancelled after the engine failure?

[Pullman99]

Found it!

 

Should have checked with ORC.    The event that I marshalled at was the Rochester Motor Club Rochester Trophy Formule Libre race at Brands Hatch on the 28th February 1971 and the car was, therefore, the sole Cooper-Maserati T86 listed as Chassis No. F1-2-67.  As Allen Brown records,  following its works career it was entered by Colin Crabbe for Vic Elford and Neil Corner before appearing for Falken Racing Developments Ltd for Tony Lanfranchi and John Markey and then by Toby St George Matthews who raced it at the Rochester MC meeting.

 

The race report (see below), by Robert Fearnall, appeared in Autosport on the Thursday where the by now venerable Cooper-Maserati is described as "painfully slow"...

 

One question?   As opposed to the emerging "historic" racing categories, was this the final time that a Cooper Formula One car raced in a contemporary regular (ie club or national) race meeting?   ORC records the car as being in Japan in 2018.   Jochen Rindt scored the only World Championship points for the T86 when he finished 4th in the Italian Grand Prix 1967,

 

Incidentally, the event also saw the debut of a few Formula Atlantic as additional entrants in the Libre race prior to the first round of the Yellow Pages Championship on the 7th March, again at Brands Hatch.

 

 

Just found this photograph from what I assume is an auction entry featured in "Keith Martin's Sports Car Market" website.   Minimal supporting text and I cannot find a date for this.    I will remove this image if anyone objects to its use here.

 

Edited by Pullman99, 29 March 2024 - 13:36.

[FlyingSaucer]

 

 

One question?   As opposed to the emerging "historic" racing categories, was this the final time that a Cooper Formula One car raced in a contemporary regular (ie club or national) race meeting?   ORC records the car as being in Japan in 2018.   Jochen Rindt scored the only World Championship points for the T86 when he finished 4th in the Italian Grand Prix 1967,

 

Incidentally, the event also saw the debut of a few Formula Atlantic as additional entrants in the Libre race prior to the first round of the Yellow Pages Championship on the 7th March, again at Brands Hatch.

 

 

 

 

Well, as far as I know, at least three late-spec Coopers ended up being converted to the F5000 at some point in the late 60s. As you rightly mentioned, some of them raced in the early 70s in that category. So, I think the last record of a Cooper racing in a minimally relevant category was of the peculiar/mysterious T86b/90, owned by Peter Hawtin.

 

He participated in, at least, some stages of the British F5000 in early-mid 1971 (like the Castle Combe meeting, in May 1971).

[davidsalt]

Peter Hawtin was sadly killed iin his Cooper T86 at the September 1971 F5000 meeting at Oulton Park.
I was there on that sad day. I believe his engine seized and he crashed near Hill Top. He was not wearing seatbelts.
I will always remember the sight of his old Austin Cambridge, behind which he had towed the Cooper, left in the paddock at the end of the meeting.

Edited by davidsalt, 01 April 2024 - 14:36.

[Pullman99]

Well, as far as I know, at least three late-spec Coopers ended up being converted to the F5000 at some point in the late 60s. As you rightly mentioned, some of them raced in the early 70s in that category. So, I think the last record of a Cooper racing in a minimally relevant category was of the peculiar/mysterious T86b/90, owned by Peter Hawtin.

 

Hello FlyingSaucer.   I should have qualified my query a little better!  I meant to say that the February 1971 outing for the Cooper T86 may have been the last time an F1 Cooper - in Formula One spec - participated in a contemporary race (albeit minor) meeting as opposed to later "historic" outings or having been converted to run in F5000 with the obligatory and much missed Ford or Chevrolet derived V8s.    ORC has the Peter Hawtin accident in September 1971 as being in the T86B based F5000 Cooper T90 (F1C/2.69) as noted by davidsalt above.  If anyone has any pics of the T86 at the Rochester MC meeting at Brands, it would be great to see them. 

Edited by Pullman99, 02 April 2024 - 14:02.

[FlyingSaucer]

Hello FlyingSaucer.   I should have qualified my query a little better! 

 

No problems! I understood that you were talking about all F1 Coopers, regardless of whether they had been converted to F5000 or were preservated in their original Specs. 

 

Btw, I'd love to see a photo of Toby St. George's car too, if anyone has it. For me, the history of the 'purebred' F1 Coopers officially ended with the Colin Crabbe Team - and to know that there is smt beyond that is very interesting. Its smt really important to know and have records of the last moments of a brand as special for all of us as the Cooper Cars.