1986 Simpson Series - Pukekohe

[Steve Holmes]

Awesome photos Milan. Its always interesting seeing prominent race cars during later ownership, and their new colour schemes etc.

What is the history on the Lorimer 635?

[seaqnmac27]

Awesome photos Milan. Its always interesting seeing prominent race cars during later ownership, and their new colour schemes etc.

What is the history on the Lorimer 635?

From Lew McKinnon on Ten tenths:

The RHD 635CSi (001) was leased from Sytner via Aucklander John Morton. Morton actually drove a LHD 635 in the 1985 Wellington Street Race with Frank Sytner (whilst I drove a locally built VK Commodore). In fact, there is speculation to this day that Morton / Sytner actually won the 1985 race but were pushed back into 2nd due to lap scoring errors by the officials! But I digress...

I actually leased the car and it came to NZ under bond. The car was raced in South Africa in 1985 / returned to the UK / was rebuilt by the late Ted Grace and sent to NZ for the 1986 races. It arrived in NZ in BMW UK livery. Morton actually put Crosby and I together - and after the 1986 Nissan Mobil Series (in yellow and blue colours), the car had to leave the country - only to return a year later in the hands of Graeme Lorimer (raced under DSIR colours). IIRC, Lorimer purchased it and later sold it to Warren McKellar. McKellar approached me and I actually helped with the set up of the car for subsequent racing. Unfortunately, McKellar had no racing licence / no motorsport experience at all and had to go to Australia to get a provisional licence by paying for a drive with Joe Sommariva in another LHD 635. For McKellar it was a baptism by fire and when he failed to qualify for the next Nissan Mobil in Wellington, I moved into commentary work with TVNZ and he put the car away.

And the Chassis details ( from 2007)

RA001 (the chassis number has also been listed in the thread as RA2/01....)
Eggenberger 1983 ETCC (Kelleners/Grano)
CC Motorsport (BMW GB)- 1984 BTCC (spare car)
Frank Sytner 1985- sold on to Graeme Crosby in NZ- (maybe went to Jumet Motors in Belgium first?)
Graham Lorimer 1986/7- rebuilt using parts from the ex-Kent Baigent RA2/035
Now under restoration in NZ

And from Eggenberger:

21st November 1985

Dear Mr Hicks

We refer to you letter received on November 14th.

It took us some time to search in our records to find the information you desire to compile the history of your car.

The BMW 635CSi, Chassis no. E24-RA2-01 was built by Ruedi Eggenberger between December 82 and February 83 and competed in the European Touring Car Championship in the season of 83. It was only driven by Helmet Kelleners (D) and Umberto Grano (I) except for Johnny Cecotto who raced as third driver at the 24-hours at Spa.

We enclosed photographs of the drivers and the car in the original Team-colours. Find also attached the race schedule for the season 1983 with the final results and some additional information.

The car was sold to BMW Ltd.. Ellesfield Avenue, GB-Bracknell EG 124 TA on 10th November 1983 but that you probably know.

We hope to have been helpful to you to get all the information together you require and remain.

Sincerely yours
EGGENBERGER MOTORSPORT

The car as it was raced originally by Kelleners and Grano.