OldRacingCars.com

Brabham BT8 SC-1-64

1964 - Arthur Owen

This was the original prototype, built for the 1964 season with a 2-litre Climax and exhibited at Earls Court Motor Show that year. Originally supplied to Bill Knight, it was used by former British hill climb champion Arthur Owen between May and August 1964. However, before that, local reports say that Owen raced the car at the Singapore GP on 29/30 March 1964. He stalled on the grid due to a short circuit but was quickly under way and finished second behind Alan Bond's Lotus 23B.

The BT8 had its first UK outing at Great Auclum (AS 14 Aug 1964 p254), comfortably winning the 2-litre sports car class and taking eighth place in the RAC Run-off. Earlier appearances include Mont Ventoux in June (AS 26 Jun 1964 p924) where Owen was eliminated by engine trouble.

1964 - Robs Lamplough

Then sold to Robs Lamplough. In May 2002, Robs explained the car's early history:

I puchased this car from Bill Knight (father of Mike and Richard Knight, long term owners of Wingfield motor racing schools, in France etc) in the summer of 1964 racing it it one event at Goodwood (winner Tony Lanfranchi in an Elva-BMW?) before taking it to the Canadian G.P. at Mosport; Los Angeles Times GP Riverside, and Pacific GP at Laguna Seca of that year (memory has faded as to how I fared, although recall qualifying and finishing !!). Arthur Owen had connections to Bill Knight somehow. Bill, he, and Tico Martini ( later constructor of racing cars in Magny Cours) all had been sand racing in Jersey.

As I recall, it was planned that he was to have had a 'team' with Epstein and tackle the Targa Florio. This project was stillborn and they sold me the car (for £2,250!!). I sold the rolling chassis to Martin through Bob Winkelmann, retaining the engine/gearbox.

The Canadian GP at Mosport Park that Robs mentions was on 26 September 1964, the Los Angeles Times GP at Riverside was on 11 October and the Pacific GP at Laguna Seca on 18 October.

1965 - Judy Kondratieff/Bart Martin

Sold to Bart Martin or to Judy Kondratieff (US) for Martin to drive and fitted with a 289" Ford. Crashed at Candlestick Park 1965 and Martin killed. The car was destroyed in the accident but a 'recreation' has subsequently been built by Philippe de Lespinay.

Sources:

  • Vintage Motorsport (November/December 1991 p48)

  • Robs Lamplough (email 16 May 2002)

  • Eli Solomon (email 11 June 2005)