Australian Formula 2 Race

Amaroo Park, 1 Jun 1975

All cars are 1.6-litre ANF2 unless noted.

Notes on the cars:

1. Brabham BT40 [35] (John Macdonald): New to John Macdonald (Hong Kong) and fitted with a Hart twin cam engine for the Southeast Asian 2-valve 1600cc formula. Macdonald won the 1973 Malaysian Grand Prix, the 1973 Macau Grand Prix, the 1974 Selangor Grand Prix, and Malaysian and Penang Grands Prix in 1975. Driven by José "Pocholo" Ramirez, Macdonald's Rothmans Cathay Pacific team mate at Macau at the end of 1975. Next seen with Jason Ho in 1988, then with Neville McKay in 1992. Still owned by McKay (Mona Vale, NSW, Australia) in December 2004.
2. Mildren 'Mono' (Ray Winter): Designed by Len Bailey and built by Alan Mann Racing for Alec Mildren Racing in Australia in late 1968, when it was raced by Frank Gardner using one of 2.5-litre Alfa T33 V8 engines from the team's Brabham BT23D. Raced by Gardner in the 1969 Tasman series, then by Kevin Bartlett in the 1969 Gold Star series. Later in 1969 it was fitted a Waggott TC4V engine, and Bartlett used it in this form in the 1970 Tasman and the 1970 Gold Star. It was sold to Bob Muir at the end of 1970 and raced by him through 1971 and early 1972, both with his 2-litre Waggott engine and with a Ford twin cam engine for Southeast Asian events. Then to Ray Winter and used in ANF2 in 1973 and 1974. Winter used the car again on occasion in 1975 and 1976. Later on, when the new single-cam Australian F2 was introduced, the old Mildren was raced in that category by Greg Ferrall. Then unknown until acquired by Lionel Ayres and restored. The car was retained by Bruce Ayres after his father Lionel's death in 2013.
3. Lola T360 ['AU1'] (Doug Macarthur): Believed to be the prototype T360, which was tested at Silverstone and then used to facilitate construction of production jigs. It was a complete car when acquired by Don Baker of Dolphin Racing and Lola agent Glen Abbey, but dismantled and shipped to Australia in parts, where it was given the identity 'AU1'. Fitted with a Ford twin cam engine for ANF2, and raced by Chris Farrell, Graeme Lawrence, and Kevin Bartlett. Acquired by Fred Gibson from the Bartlett-Abbey organisation in mid-1974. To Doug McArthur for 1975 and 1976, then to Andrew Miedecke and rebuilt as a Formula Pacific for the 1977 New Zealand series. Returned to Australia for John Davis to race as an ANF2 in 1977, then converted to the new single-cam ANF2 and raced by Davis in 1978. Then to Jim Hunter but remained unused until it reappeared in historic racing in 1989. Bought by Colin Haste (Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia) in 2002, and still with him in 2013.
4. Rennmax BN7 (Andrew Miedecke): New to Andrew Miedecke (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) and raced in the Australian Formula 2 championship in 1975, sponsored by Grace Bros-Levi's Racing Team. Retained for 1976, and again raced in the Australian Formula 2 championship. Then sold to Richard Fleming in Tasmania for 1977.
5. March 732 [15 as '9'] (Ken Shirvington): A new car for Andy Sutcliffe at Karlskoga run by Brian Lewis Racing and replacing 732-9, crashed by Mike Beuttler earlier in the year. To save paperwork, the team put the "732/9" chassis plate onto the car and it still wears it today. Sold to Ken Smith in New Zealand after Sutcliffe's money did not appear and raced by him in the 1974 Tasman series. Then rebuilt as a ANF2 car with a Ford twin cam for the 1974 Australian Formula 2 series and sold to Ken Shirvington mid-season. The car remains in Australia in 2012.
6. Bowin P8 [P8-118-72] (Sue Ransom): Built in August 1972, supplied to Bob Jane Racing and fitted with a Repco Holden V8 for John Harvey to race in the Australian Gold Star series. First appeared at Surfers Paradise 27 Aug 1972 but failed to start with fuel problems. Then raced in a non-championship event at Warwick Farm a week later, where Harvey finished fifth in Heat 1 but collided with Kevin Bartlett at the start of the Heat 2. The car was then stored for 18 months, until sold to John Leffler to replace his damaged ANF2 Bowin P8/2. Converted to ANF2 specification and raced in the Australian F2 series in 1974, and in Australian Gold Star events. Leased to Sue Ransom for a one-off race at Wanneroo Park in May 1975. The car remained in Western Australia, and is reported to have been owned by Rod Housego and Ian Wookey, before reappearing at Wanneroo Park in the hands of Rob Richards in 1980. Richards raced it as late as 1982, in Formula Pacific specification. Then unknown until 2004, when it was being restored by Matthew Lloyd. Lloyd died in 2008, just as the car was being completed, and in 2009 it was bought by Dean Saunders.
7. Rennmax BN7 (Ross Switzer): New to Ross Switzer (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) and raced in Australian Formula 2 events in 1975.

Sources

Note that the identification of individual cars in these results is based on the material presented elsewhere in this site and may in some cases contradict the organisers' published results.

All comments, clarifications, corrections and additions are most welcome. Please email Allen (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you can help in any way with our research.