20 replies to this topic

[Udo K.]

In Janos Wimpffen's TATS results table of the Nürburgring 1000 KM race 1968 the co-driver of Nicholas Granville-Smith is listed as "John Raeburn" from Australia. Now I do have the original press releases of the race here in front of me and in the entry list and in the results the second driver (and the entrant) of car No. 74 is called John Rayburn from England.
Which version is the correct one?

[Geoff E]

John Raeburn (AUS) seems to have driven a variety of GT40s in 1968, including one entered by a "John Reaburn":- http://wspr-racing.c.../ms1968.html#10

[Udo K.]

Originally posted by Geoff E
John Raeburn (AUS) seems to have driven a variety of GT40s in 1968, including one entered by a "John Reaburn":- http://wspr-racing.c.../ms1968.html#10

... yes, but it seems that Martin got his information for wspr also from "Time and Two Seats"

I also have "Raeburn" for the races at Vila Real, Solitude and Dunes Trophy.... but these info comes from wspr. Maybe this is correct, but on the other hand, how comes Rayburn (GB) into the official ADAC entry list for the 1000 KM ?

[Geoff E]

Is this John Rayburn (GB or England) someone that you have otherwise heard of? I ask since Googling *** "John Rayburn" 1968 *** seems to produce only genealogical sites and *** "John Rayburn" car *** gives more of the same plus a few mentions of someone in the States who drives a hotted-up VW Beetle. There is nothing to suggest anyone of the calibre which you seek.

[Ray Bell]

John Raeburn, Geoff Russell, Harry Firth and Ian Geoghegan were the 'works' Ford Cortina drivers in Australia in 1963.

[Udo K.]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
John Raeburn, Geoff Russell, Harry Firth and Ian Geoghegan were the 'works' Ford Cortina drivers in Australia in 1963.

Thanks, Ray. That would make it possible that John Raeburn was present in Europe in 1968 driving a Ford GT 40 ?

[Ray Bell]

Yes, in fact I think he wrote a couple of columns from Europe for Racing Car News... these would undoubtedly have discussed what he'd been doing there.

Maybe David or Milan can look them up, or you can wait till I get to Harden on Monday?

[Doug Nye]

I remember John Raeburn co-driving in the Spa 1,000Kms with a chap named Cox - I believe - who had won money on the football pools and bought himself a GT40. It was 1968 and I was doing the race report there for 'Motoring News'. It absolutely widdled with rain and early in the race John dropped the car in the pack on the right-hand kink coming down the hill from La Source hairpin, past the pits. The GT40 spun round and round and round in a ball of spray and only near the bottom of the hill - entering Eau Rouge - did it finally slither off onto the grass and subside into the ditch on the left-side of the track. It was very spectacular - with phenomenal avoidances all round. Pity, he'd been driving it pretty well until then.

DCN

[Udo K.]

Bingo! Thank you, Doug. Something like this I had hoped for! Your story makes me change my
1000 KM stats from Rayburn to Raeburn: Just a little change, but I need it correct.

[Geoff E]

Originally posted by Doug Nye
I remember John Raeburn co-driving in the Spa 1,000Kms with a chap named Cox - I believe - who had won money on the football pools and bought himself a GT40. It was 1968 and I was doing the race report there for 'Motoring News'. It absolutely widdled with rain and early in the race John dropped the car in the pack on the right-hand kink coming down the hill from La Source hairpin, past the pits. The GT40 spun round and round and round in a ball of spray and only near the bottom of the hill - entering Eau Rouge - did it finally slither off onto the grass and subside into the ditch on the left-side of the track. It was very spectacular - with phenomenal avoidances all round. Pity, he'd been driving it pretty well until then.

DCN

In the link which I gave, Cox was the entrant and Raeburn's co-driver was Schenken. It says the car completed one lap.

[David Shaw]

As for contributions for Racing Car News as mentioned by Ray, in the May 1968 edition, under CONTRIBUTING EDITORS it lists 'England John Reaburn ' (sic). By the December 1968 edition he was no longer mentioned under the now 'U.K.: ' listing.

[Geoff E]

It seems that the Aussie John Raeburn also had alternative spellings, as this picture shows:-


"John Reaburn" with his Buchanan Holden special 1960

This site says that Reaburn "went overseas" in 1963:- http://v8vantage.com...anan Holden.htm

[Paul Newby]

There is an interesting article in the latest copy of the Oily Rag about John Reaburn. The first thing the article does is to advise the correct spelling. It is John Reaburn ....
I can't say that I knew very much about him before I read this article, I found it all pretty illuminating. Here are a few dot points on his achievements:

Came to fame racing a Holden engined Buchanan.
Was a factory Ford driver from 61 to 65 predominately in Cortinas, but also a Falcon and a Zephyr. Was successful at Bathurst and Lowood, often co-driving with Harry Firth
Raced the ex Sir Gawaine Baillie Galaxie to a fifth place at the 65 Australian Touring Car Championship at Sandown.
Relocated to England at the end of 1965 and worked for Graham Warner's Chequered Flag Motors.
Tested an F3 car at Brands Hatch in 66 and matched the time set by Tony Lanfranchi. Received three offers but decided to concentrate on endurance racing due to his large stature.
Raced a Chequered Flag Cobra 289 at Zeltweg, Austria.
Tested a Team Lotus F2 48 at Hethel in 67.
Raced a Porsche 906 with Roy Pike and Udo Schutz in 67.
In 68 he raced a yellow Ford GT40 for Andrew Cox on the continent with mixed results.
Retired at the end of 68 at the age of 32 and never raced again.
Currently living in Melbourne.

The article also mentioned that he developed a keen interest in photography and that he had a brief dalliance with a very famous actress of the day. Not sure whether that last bit is true or not...

[eurocardoc]

It seems that the Aussie John Raeburn also had alternative spellings, as this picture shows:-


"John Reaburn" with his Buchanan Holden special 1960

This site says that Reaburn "went overseas" in 1963:- http://v8vantage.com...anan Holden.htm

John in fact was working at the Flag as a salesman. I remember him, Schenks (in stores) and others all aspiring racers in the late 60s working there.

[Terry Walker]

John Raeburn, and the GT40, early in the 1968 season. Two of his three pit crew, the third being Dave Sullivan, who took the pic. Dave took several other shots of the GT40 including one or two of the wreckage after the big off.

[Terry Walker]

Raeburn again, Monza, 1968. This time Dave Sullivan got himself into a photo. He's the one with the Birmingham Screwdriver, sitting on the back tyre to the left.

[Ellis French]

He was at the Baskerville Tasmania Historic meeting this weekend just past..18-20/9/09

[Terry Walker]

Maybe he'd like copies of the handful of pics Dave Sullivan took in '68.

[Ellis French]

A recent 09 pic of John Reaburn with TNF's Eskimut FX.......pic courtesy of Eskimut



John was a guest speaker at the Baskerville Historic Early Model Holden reunion 18-20/9/09

Edit...Name spelling correction

Edited by Ellis French, 27 September 2009 - 11:14.

[Ellis French]

Maybe he'd like copies of the handful of pics Dave Sullivan took in '68.

Thanks
I'll get Eskimut to contact him and give him this site details.

Edited by Ellis French, 27 September 2009 - 07:29.

[Terry Walker]

Great!