21 replies to this topic

[Lifeline]

I have been following this site for a few months now and am amazed at the amount of knowledge.

I have a RALT RT30 Formula 3 car and would like to find out if at all possible the cars history. The chassis number is RT30 567. This was one of the first of the flat bottom cars from 1985/6. The car was quite peculiar as it has asymmetric side pods.
I look forward to hearing from anyone whom may be able to help.

Kind regards

Jim Morris

[Jeremy Jackson]

Jim,

According to my chassis number collecting in the 80s, RT30-567 was raced by Dave Scott for Mint Engineering in 1985, sold to Lynx Engineering for 1986 and driven by Paul Stott, and used by Steve Bottoms (possibly others, I don't have complete results to hand) for Vixen Racing in 1987.

After that, I don't know. I went to quite afew ARP F3 races in the UK in the late 80s and early 90s, and haven't noted this chassis being used.

Hope someone else can get you further.

[Lifeline]

Dear Jeremy

Thank you for that information. This now gives me something to go on and start to fill in the cars history. Do you by any chance have any reults from those years or maybe even a picture of the car.

Once again many many thanks

Jim

[Jeremy Jackson]

Jim,

Afraid I don't have complete F3 results during this time, but I'll see what I can find. If anyone knows where I can find F1R's F3 fact books at a decent price, I'm interested!

If you send me your e-mail address, I'll send what I have.

[fines]

Results for Dave Scott in 1985 (Ralt/Volkswagen RT30, although I'm not sure if it's always the same car):

Mar 3, R1, Silverstone Club: 5th
Mar 10, R2, Thruxton: 4th (Ralt/Volkswagen RT3?)
Jun 9, R9, Silverstone: 3rd
Jun 23, R10, Brands Hatch: 2nd, FL & PP
Jul 21, R11, Silverstone: 2nd
Jul 28, R12, Donington Park: 1st
Aug 11, R13, Snetterton: 10th, PP
Aug 17, R14, Oulton Park: 3rd
Aug 26, R15, Silverstone Club: 1st, FL
Sep 1, R16, Francorchamps: 5th (Ralt/Volkswagen RT3?)
Sep 15, R17, Zandvoort: 3rd
Oct 13, R18, Silverstone: 6th

[Jeremy Jackson]

Thanks for those, he definitely drove an RT3 in the first 2 races races, presumably as the RT30 wasn't ready.

[dolomite]

I have some pix of F3s from the 1985 Silverstone British GP meeting, do you know what car number/colour it was?

[Jeremy Jackson]

It was a red RT30, race number 5, with Swift Caravans sponsorship.

[dolomite]

Originally posted by Jeremy Jackson
It was a red RT30, race number 5, with Swift Caravans sponsorship.

OK, can't find any shots of that one, sorry!

[dolomite]

Here's the race start, must be in there somewhere.....

[char76]

And the owner of Swift Caravans is father of Bentley driver, Guy Smith. And iirc Dave Scott was coach/mentor to the young Mr.Smith in his early years. I have always been intreagued by this. Was is a "regular" sponsorship deal which happened to get the son of the boss into motor racing? Or something else.

[Lifeline]

Thank you all for your help so far.
I can now start to assemble a history file on the car.
Any more information would be gratefully appreciated.
Today I will take delivery of the remains of another RT30. This time however it has come from sweden. I do not know the chassis number yet. Might anyone be able to help me with that. I will post the details in the next couple of days.
Once again many thanks.

[Jeremy Jackson]

Here's the race start, must be in there somewhere.....

It's trhe red car (Dark helmet with green & yellow flashes) behind Gerrit van Kouwen's no. 10...but it looks like race number 6 - Forgot that F3 race numbers were based on top 10 championship positions per race, not permanent numbers - I saw it as no. 5 at Donington on July 28th, and didn't consult my race programmes.

So if you have a red no. 6...

[provapr]

Great photo.

Is that Mauricio Gugelmin heading straight towards camera in navy blue car - I think it was a West Surrey Car.

And IIRC, van Kouwen was sponsored by a jeans company and his team mate was Graham de Zille, who has something to do with a snooker sports consultancy (?) these days. I may well be wrong though!!!

[Lifeline]

The remains of this RT30 have arrived from Sweden this morning. The chassis number is 588. I do not know how long the car has been in Sweden and will try to find out from the guy whom I bought it from.
ps Any help and ideas on how I can get this home and hidden in the garage before my wife sees it, would be greatfully appreciated!!!!!

Thank you all again for the help.

Look forward to hearing from any one.

many thanks

Jim

[dolomite]

Originally posted by provapr
Great photo.

Is that Mauricio Gugelmin heading straight towards camera in navy blue car - I think it was a West Surrey Car.

Yes that is Gugelmin. And the car obscured behind the fence post on the left I believe is Russell Spence (whatever happened to him?).

[char76]

If i remember correctly Russel Spence made a breif comeback in the British Touring Car Championship, only a few years ago. He raced for Arena Motorstort which was owner by Mike Earle of Onyx F1 team. Did he (Spence) not get replaced by the late Will Hoy half way through the season?

[Chris Townsend]

Concerning Dave Scott's sponsorship deal with Swift Motor Caravans.

I think that this happened quite independently of any arrangement
for Dave to mentor/instruct Guy Smith. Swift was involved with Dave
from his first races in FF1600 in 1979, in the Dunlop series with a
Royale RP26. Dave was very young himself at that time [no more
than 19/20 at most I guess] and Swift stuck with him all the way.
I suppose that once it became clear that for whatever reason, and
don't think it was lack of talent, that Dave wasn't going to make it into
the pinnacle of the sport it was a natural thing to work with the people
who'd done so much to help him.

[dolomite]

Originally posted by Jeremy Jackson


It's trhe red car (Dark helmet with green & yellow flashes) behind Gerrit van Kouwen's no. 10...but it looks like race number 6 - Forgot that F3 race numbers were based on top 10 championship positions per race, not permanent numbers - I saw it as no. 5 at Donington on July 28th, and didn't consult my race programmes.

So if you have a red no. 6...

I've only got this one, this is the best I can find!

[dolomite]

Maximum enlargement from the same shot

[ensign14]

Originally posted by provapr
And IIRC, van Kouwen was sponsored by a jeans company and his team mate was Graham de Zille, who has something to do with a snooker sports consultancy (?) these days. I may well be wrong though!!!

The DeZille family is involved with Sweater Shop and made the Times 1000 Rich List (again). I think Graham must be a part of them, but whether he is in the Slavica or Revson position, I don't know.

[mjhjava]

I raced in ARP F3 from it's inception in the eighties. I have emailed you.