25 replies to this topic

[uwe_sautter]

Hi guys,
need yor help.
I see in the italian Autosprint Magazine a drawing from a Brabham BT 48 that raced
at the Race of Champions 1978 with higher sidepods.
Have anybody a pic or information about this configuration.

[eldougo]

;)

In 1978 the Brabham was the BT-46 it had no sidepods only the sloping sides it was made to suit the flat 12 Alfa-Romeo motor. The Brabham BT-48 was raced in 1979 with the V12 Alfa Romeo
motor it had side pods,the BT-49 had higher side pods but that was 1980 and Ford power.

[uwe_sautter]

sorry you are right.
I mean the 1979 Brabham BT48 and only at the Race of Champions in use.

[eldougo]

:

I was there in 1979,however i don't remember any different side pods, then again that was 26 years ago and the memory is not in it prime. And as soon as i say this some one will come along with a Pic ! .

[d.emerson]

I am certain to have one pic of this race in an old Auto Hebdo, I will search ... when I will go to my mother's home ....

One of hte rare races that this Brabham BT48 finished ....

[aerogi]

Do you mean this version?

http://users.pandora...tm/Weird_28.htm

[aerogi]

In early 1979 however, Brabham tried an Arrows A2 like rear wing, but I don't think it was ever used in the races...

http://users.pandora...tm/Weird_24.htm

[uwe_sautter]

No, I mean this car.

[David Hyland]

Originally posted by uwe_sautter
No, I mean this car.

Hi Uwe,

To clarify, the photo you have posted is the "standard"/low-sidepod BT48, not the "high sidepod" version you mentioned in your initial post, right?

David.

[uwe_sautter]

Hi David,
yes correct, my friend found the drawing of that higher sidepod Brabham.
I send it tomorrow.
Uwe

[David Hyland]

Frustration!

This page specifically talks about the 1979 Race of Champions, and mentions "Niki Lauda (debuting the 1979 Brabham)" - which could confirm the fact that there was something different about the BT48s at that race (or could just be an inaccuracy - the "1979 Brabham" (the BT48) had debuted at the Argentine GP).

But the link to the image (which might have shown the Brabham) is broken.

And if only there was a picture to go with this text: "Bernie Ecclestone ... looked quite chuffed as he walked the grid for that Race Of Champions at Brands Hatch, surveying his red Brabham cars"...

[Tim Murray]

From Autosport's Race of Champions report:

"During the untimed hour the Austrian's car - his Long Beach chassis - ran with revised bodywork and relocated oil radiator. For the timed hour, however, Ermanno Cuoghi and his boys put the car back to standard."

[jcbc3]

Originally posted by David Hyland
Frustration!

This page specifically talks about the 1979 Race of Champions, and mentions "Niki Lauda (debuting the 1979 Brabham)" - which could confirm the fact that there was something different about the BT48s at that race (or could just be an inaccuracy - the "1979 Brabham" (the BT48) had debuted at the Argentine GP).

But the link to the image (which might have shown the Brabham) is broken.

And if only there was a picture to go with this text: "Bernie Ecclestone ... looked quite chuffed as he walked the grid for that Race Of Champions at Brands Hatch, surveying his red Brabham cars"...

I know where to contact gulliver. I'll ask him to clarify on the picture.

[dolomite]

Originally posted by aerogi
In early 1979 however, Brabham tried an Arrows A2 like rear wing, but I don't think it was ever used in the races...

http://users.pandora...tm/Weird_24.htm

That is the configuration of the car when it was originally unveiled. It was quickly found not to work in initial testing, and was replaced by a conventional rear wing before the first race.

[David Hyland]

Originally posted by jcbc3


I know where to contact gulliver.

Lilliput?

I'll ask him to clarify on the picture.

Thanks. If (as suggested by Tim Murray), the revised bodywork was only used during untimed practice then the picture on gulliver's page (which the caption indicates is from the race) wouldn't show it [and nor would my "if only" photo of Bernie and the Brabhams on the grid], but it would still be nice to see anyway.

David.

[eldougo]

David Hyland.

But the link to the image (which might have shown the Brabham) is broken.

When i clicked on to it a pic of Mario and Gilles came up?????

[David Hyland]

Originally posted by eldougo
When i clicked on to it a pic of Mario and Gilles came up?????

Hey, you're right! I always thought that little red cross meant the link to the picture was broken - it never occurred to me to click on it! (I really do learn something from TNF each and every day...) Thanks, eldougo!

[uwe_sautter]

Hi Guys,
here are the drawing from this mystery car.
http://img114.exs.cx...bhambt488xj.png

[eldougo]

Hey i told you some one would find it,That wedge shape sidepods are surely different to the old Flat ones . I guess they were trying to get more air over the rear wing ,and give themself more under floor area for the tunnel affect. Thanks .....uwe_sautter. Great.

[eldougo]

I found this pic of testing Silverstone.79.No sign of those side pods.

[jcbc3]

Originally posted by David Hyland
Lilliput? Thanks. If (as suggested by Tim Murray), the revised bodywork was only used during untimed practice then the picture on gulliver's page (which the caption indicates is from the race) wouldn't show it [and nor would my "if only" photo of Bernie and the Brabhams on the grid], but it would still be nice to see anyway.

David.

His answer today:

Give me a bit of time and I will provide both pics.

As for the Brabham I was going from the commentary on the BBC transmission of the race, which is also where the pictures come from.

[gdecarli]

Originally posted by uwe_sautter
I see in the italian Autosprint Magazine a drawing from a Brabham BT 48 that raced
at the Race of Champions 1978 with higher sidepods.

You mean this drawing (click to enlarge) :


(from Autosprint 36/1979)

Yesterday I was at home for a short while and I gave a look to Autosprint issued close to Race of Champions, I should have find some photos. Next time I go home, I will check better and eventually I scan what I find.

Ciao,
Guido

[uwe_sautter]

Hi Guido,
many thanks for your help.
Uwe

[gdecarli]

OK, finally I could scan a large photo from Autosprint (click to enlarge) :


(from Autosprint #16/1979 page 30)

This photo was taken at Race of Champions, Brands Hatch, April 15th 1979 (but I think this photo was taken during practice, so on April 14th).
This car was used only during practice, I don't know if only by Lauda or also by Piquet. Autosprint explained that it was retired just after practice beginning because it was too hot.

Surely, both Piquet and Lauda raced Race of Champions with the BT48 "standard". I have only two pics taken during the race that shows many cars, so each car is very small (I don't know how to explain better). This thumbnails shows both Piquet and Lauda, but if you click on each photo you can see the whole pic (approx 300 KB each) :


(left: Nelson Piquet, from Autosprint #16/1979 page 32 - right: Niki Lauda, from Autosprint #17/1979 page 16)

As you can see, these cars are different from the first one. It's not easy to understand, but look at race number...

I looked for some more info on following issues, but I couldn't find any more details about this rare version.

Ciao,
Guido

[dolomite]

Interesting. Looks a bit similar to the subsequent BT50 BMW turbo car. I wonder what they were trying to achieve - I would have thought that bodywork would severely cock up the airflow to the rear wing.

[MattFoster]

It also looks a lot like the original F1 Osella the FA1 from the following year. Maybe an inspiration?