Octagon January, 2017

IF ONLY!
by Graham Hepburn, Cairns North Queensland.
Jochen Rindt’s Brabham BT23-5 recently
came up for auction in Germany. My mate
Tony Williams of Wagga Wagga sent me
details from the catalogue, which listed my
name as a previous owner. The car came
to the antipodes for the ‘67 Tasman series
and was damaged in N.Z. Bob Britten of
Rennmax fame had a BT23 chassis jig and
so could build a new frame quicker and
cheaper than repairing the old one.
The original frame went up into Bob’s ceiling
and eventually was rebuilt as a Formula
Ford, but the client didn’t pay. Tony and I
came across it in 1972, bought it and with
Bob’s help reassembled it as a FF with
light body, fuel and oil tanks, piped up and
complete except for engine and gearbox.
I then went to England as Van Dieman’s
third employee to learn about setup in
Formula Ford and had a successful season
as Don McLeod’s mechanic, culminating in
winning the FF Festival in ‘73. I then went to
Germany as Dave Walker’s spannerman. He
drove an F2 and 2 litre sports car for Team
Obermoser in ‘74. That was enough motor
racing for me.
We never used the Brabham and eventually
sold it to Denis Lupton who started to
reassemble it as an F2 car. We had paid
$1800 for the Brabham, and sold it I think
for $2500. The recent auction estimate was
360,000 to 500,000 euro. If only!
FOR SALE
Elfin Malala (replica) just FULLY
overhauled. I am busy getting it logbooked.
Comes with rear body mould and some
spares. Construction can be viewed at
frizellclassicracing.com
(Ed: Vern and I can recall seeing that chassis
in Bob Britten’s shed at Easter 1972. Vern had
been competing at the F2 Championship round at
Hume Weir and, after the event, we took the Elfin
to Bob Britten’s to remove the motor and have it
refurbished. Thanks for the memory, Graham!)
Price $35 000.00
Contact: Geoff on 0400 531 669
Email: gfriz00@gmail.com
The Octagon - January 2017 11