BRYAN FALOON

[CUSTAXIE50]

the boy from levin,like to hear some talk on this.

[Michael Clark]

There is a story in the latest NZCC - 40 yrs on from that dark day at Pukekohe

[CUSTAXIE50]

yes i was at pukekohe that day and i said hi to bryan before he went out,I was standing just before the first turn and to see him go through there he had the car up on its toes and dancing ,to this day i have not seen it done the way he did it, i went to his service in levin-sad day ,each time i go to levin i always stop and go in to where he is- on the corner of mako-mako rd and Tiro-tiro rd.this weekend i will be in levin so will look in,i see its getting very hard to read his head stone you can just make it out, I see no one from levin has put something up about bryan,whats up,maybe the car club could--come on something about-THE BOY FROM LEVIN.

[Murray Maunder]

Sad, sad memories when I hear that name. He was a favourite of this young fan, driving in that flamboyant tail-out style. So when getting the chance to get a ride to Pukekohe for the first visit I got my harsh reminder of the words on the back of the ticket "Motor Racing is Dangerous...." The pall of smoke from the scene over on the back straight was dark and forboding and with it was a sense of doom. The same sense of dread has always struck me at events when someone has met such a fate, a spiritual sense that life can be fickle and to be appreciated.

I would love to learn more about this guy whose talent at the wheel promised so much, one of my first, close-at-hand racing idols.

[CUSTAXIE50]

race car builder george Begg who is no longer here, asked bryan to drive his f5000 before asking David Oxton to drive,can you see what bryan would have got up too driving a f5000.

[Grant Ellwood]

I shared an apartment in Levin with Bryan in the mid 60s, introduced him to Anne who he married, sadly she passed away a few years after Bryan died. I was just out of high school and working for Rob Collier at Performance Accessories in the infamous shack in Tyne street (Bob Homewood knows it well!). We prepped Bryan's old Brabham there, completely stripped the chassis to repair various cracks and replaced bent tubes and of course the maintenance on the Climax engine and Colotti box was never ending.
I have enough memories and anecdotes to fill a book but perhaps better to contribute in small doses rather than take up too much space on this post. Hopefully Rob Collier will add his thoughts, the Tyne street workshop hosted many race cars including regulars Frank Gardner, Kev Bartlett and Max Stewart. I also recall working on Digby Taylor's Lotus 27 and his McBegg, which I thought at the time was an M1 McLaren. Cheers, Grant Ellwood

[CUSTAXIE50]

Thats more like it get on this thread,years ago i was on the phone talking to someone in Tauranga he wanted to buy some autonews off me, and we got talking about levin and how it was in the good old days and we talked about Bryan Faloon ,i think he said to me he ended up with the car ,the one that i am clear on is that he had the plans for the stanton porsche ,look at this this way the plans are there and i do know there are some in levin who could build it up maybe someone down the track will .

[Grant Ellwood]

David Manton in Tauranga had Bryan's Brabham in his collection for a while, think that car is now in Oz. Regarding the Stanton plans, I did have the Rorstan (Climax) chassis plans, originally built by Bobby Brittan (Renmax) and I think he modified the Rorstan to fit the Porshe engine. I haven't read Michael Clark's article about Bryan yet so hopefully there is more info there. Back to the plans, I'll look through my papers here in Virginia but its possible I might have them in storage back in NZ.


Thats more like it get on this thread,years ago i was on the phone talking to someone in Tauranga he wanted to buy some autonews off me, and we got talking about levin and how it was in the good old days and we talked about Bryan Faloon ,i think he said to me he ended up with the car ,the one that i am clear on is that he had the plans for the stanton porsche ,look at this this way the plans are there and i do know there are some in levin who could build it up maybe someone down the track will .

[David McKinney]

I thought the Rorstan-Porsche (as it originally was) was a different car from the Rorstan-Climax, though they no doubt had some parts in common. Perhaps MAC's article explains...

The Faloon Brabham went via Australia to the UK around 1994

[Russ Cunningham]

Grant - I've got the Rorstan plans tucked away. Can't recall whether you gave me the originals or photocopied them. What's this about you introducing Bryan to Anne? you never introduced me to any nice girls.

[bob homewood]

I shared an apartment in Levin with Bryan in the mid 60s, introduced him to Anne who he married, sadly she passed away a few years after Bryan died. I was just out of high school and working for Rob Collier at Performance Accessories in the infamous shack in Tyne street (Bob Homewood knows it well!). We prepped Bryan's old Brabham there, completely stripped the chassis to repair various cracks and replaced bent tubes and of course the maintenance on the Climax engine and Colotti box was never ending.
I have enough memories and anecdotes to fill a book but perhaps better to contribute in small doses rather than take up too much space on this post. Hopefully Rob Collier will add his thoughts, the Tyne street workshop hosted many race cars including regulars Frank Gardner, Kev Bartlett and Max Stewart. I also recall working on Digby Taylor's Lotus 27 and his McBegg, which I thought at the time was an M1 McLaren. Cheers, Grant Ellwood
Grant yes some great memories of Tyne Street and Faloony
Was it really 40 years ago ,Pukekohe 1972

[Grant Ellwood]

Russ, hope I have the originals in storage but I'll call you if I can't find them.
Regarding nice girls, I tried sending a few your way but they complained the interview line was too long. I think Theseus ended up with them...


Grant - I've got the Rorstan plans tucked away. Can't recall whether you gave me the originals or photocopied them. What's this about you introducing Bryan to Anne? you never introduced me to any nice girls.

[bob homewood]

5633

Happier days for the nice guy and the nice lady

[bob homewood]

5635

This one of him in the Escort from the Levin 4 hour race deserves to be in this thread as well

[CUSTAXIE50]

I pulled into levin late on saturday the levin show was on the place was full ,after doing the job i had to do i stopped in at the cemetery as i allways do when i am in levin ,this time the flowering shrubs are starting to take over so i removed some of it so i could see the head stone reading of the head stone this time was very hard to read ,standing back and having a good look around no one has been there for a long time this time i had paper and pencil with me so i put down what i could read off the head stone ,I know this may not read like this but here goes it goes somethink like this ,SOME PEOPLE ARE SO AFRAID OF LOSING THAT THEY NEVER ENTER THE RACE JUST BECAUSE NO ONE CAN GUARANTEE THEIR WINNING, THEY DENY THEMSELVES THE FUN OF TRYING ,THE RACE ISNT ALWAYS TO THE SWIFT NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG OFFEN VICTORY GOES TO THE ADVENTUROUS AND PERSISTENT.

[frd1]

I never had the privilege of meeting Bryan but owned the old #57 Anglia for a fair while. Everyone always spoke very highly of him. I'll see if I can load a picture of him at Cabbage Tree, at this stage he had gone to the 1650 cc engine with a locked diff.10102

[frd1]

Another pic of Bryan, must be the Brabham?

10103

[David McKinney]

Yes, if that's 1968 it's his first Brabham (BT4), before he joined the Rorstan team

[Rod Grimwood]

I have just discovered a folder with newspaper cuttings and headings/story about the accident. Photos of wreckage etc.

I remember cutting these out of 8'oclock, Sunday news and Herald. This accident impacted on me at the time as I and mates had travelled out on train and were over back of straight waiting for train when the accident happened.

I may post photos along with other classics I have found tucked away in 'Scrapbook' forum, not sure, but they are history.

[CUSTAXIE50]

I have just discovered a folder with newspaper cuttings and headings/story about the accident. Photos of wreckage etc.

I remember cutting these out of 8'oclock, Sunday news and Herald. This accident impacted on me at the time as I and mates had travelled out on train and were over back of straight waiting for train when the accident happened.

I may post photos along with other classics I have found tucked away in 'Scrapbook' forum, not sure, but they are history.I have the same photos,what do others on the rs think about putting them up.

[Grant Ellwood]

I have the same photos,what do others on the rs think about putting them up.

Rob Collier, Francis Atkins and I were mechanics for Bryan when he ran the Brabham. I'm not sure if Rob and Francis are active on this site but personally I would have no objection to seeing any of the accident pics posted here.
I have the same collection of newspaper articles, one of the reports showed Graeme Lawrence's wrecked Lola but described as Bryan's car. The Brabham was comparatively lightly damaged compared to Graeme's car, it would be easy to assume Bryan was in the Lola. I have always thought it was a miracle that Graeme wasn't killed also.

[Ross]

Having been brought up in Levin in the heady days of the Levin Motor Racing Circuit, I have many recollections of things and people automotive.

I remember Bryan mostly as the driver of a Ford 105E Anglia (gray or pale blue, I think)
I recall this road registered car becomming progressively lower and louder as weeks & months when by.
I remember Bryan racing it successfully at the track but also it being driven along Queen Street past our family garage (Hudson & Burnham) where I often worked after school.
I think Bryan and his family used to attend the church nextdoor to the garage.
I will have a look through my old Levin memorabilia to see if I have any pics of the driving star from the past who was taken from us far too early.
Ross

[Grant Ellwood]

5633

Happier days for the nice guy and the nice lady

Bob, great photo, I'm thinking the guy working on the rear of the Brabham is Rob Collier, one of the unassuming but brilliant Kiwi engineers that work away in the background without much recognition.

[bob homewood]

Bob, great photo, I'm thinking the guy working on the rear of the Brabham is Rob Collier, one of the unassuming but brilliant Kiwi engineers that work away in the background without much recognition.
Grant I probably have collected a few more photos lately ,we are overdue for a catch up ,I was talking to Rob yesterday by a strange coincidence

[Jeff]

I have the programme from that fateful day in '72
Must admit I liked the idea of having the NZ Motorcycle TT races in the same programme !
People got value for money then...

Hope the competitor list shows up ok

23572

23578

[GD66]

Wow, thanks for that Jeff : amazing to scoot through that list and see not just the calibre of the great drivers and their associated machinery from those far-off and heady times, but all those others who balanced the fields : up-and-comers, has-beens, legends and dickheads alike : they're all there. So many memories...:D

[Jeff]

Here's a few more pages from the 72 GP Programme :

23644

23645

23646

23647

[Jeff]

23648

[CUSTAXIE50]

Well another year rolls by, will pop down there this weekend as I try to do each year.

[Grant Ellwood]

Well another year rolls by, will pop down there this weekend as I try to do each year.

Hi Custaxie
I visited Bryan's grave during my visit to NZ a couple of weeks ago, looks very tidy so thanks to whoever looks after it.
Grant

[CUSTAXIE50]

Hi Custaxie
I visited Bryan's grave during my visit to NZ a couple of weeks ago, looks very tidy so thanks to whoever looks after it.
Grant Tidy yes,but the head stone needs some work dont you think Grant.

[Grant Ellwood]

Tidy yes,but the head stone needs some work done you think Grant.

Some of lettering on the headstone is getting hard to read but the overall condition is quite good.

[Grant Ellwood]

Bryan died at 29 years old, when I worked with him in my teens I thought he was "old", what I would give to be 29 again.....

[CUSTAXIE50]

Some of lettering on the headstone is getting hard to read but the overall condition is quite good. I will ask around about getting this fixed.

[Grant Ellwood]

Custaxie, I would like to assist but perhaps we should check with his family first. Can you email me direct - ellwoodusa@yahoo.com

[CUSTAXIE50]

Custaxie, I would like to assist but perhaps we should check with his family first. Can you email me direct - ellwoodusa@yahoo.com I was talking to a lady in Levin about this today,she told me the council is going through the place doing all the headstones up,i will phone them up to see what the story is on this.

[Noo Noo]

I never had the privilege of meeting Bryan but owned the old #57 Anglia for a fair while. Everyone always spoke very highly of him. I'll see if I can load a picture of him at Cabbage Tree, at this stage he had gone to the 1650 cc engine with a locked diff.10102


Some years ago - might have been around 15 - I happened to be in Hamilton when a National car show was on at Mystery Creek so I went to have a look. I was wandering around in the building and came across an Anglia 105E racer. Talking to it's owner, he told me it was Bryan Faloons old car and he was restoring it to exactly how it was when Faloon raced it.
The guy was very friendly but before we really got into a conversation some acquaintance of his walked up and commenced talking over the top of me ( one of those people who didn't get taught manners when he was young ) so I wandered off.
When I saw it the car was well advanced in it's restoration so it seems strange that it wasn't completed and become known.

Anyone know anything about it?

[Grant Ellwood]

Some years ago - might have been around 15 - I happened to be in Hamilton when a National car show was on at Mystery Creek so I went to have a look. I was wandering around in the building and came across an Anglia 105E racer. Talking to it's owner, he told me it was Bryan Faloons old car and he was restoring it to exactly how it was when Faloon raced it.
The guy was very friendly but before we really got into a conversation some acquaintance of his walked up and commenced talking over the top of me ( one of those people who didn't get taught manners when he was young ) so I wandered off.
When I saw it the car was well advanced in it's restoration so it seems strange that it wasn't completed and become known.

Anyone know anything about it?

I'm guessing Murray Whitehead in Palmerston North still has Bryan's car, he made a great job of restoring it back to its period specs.

[Oldfart]

I'm guessing Murray Whitehead in Palmerston North still has Bryan's car, he made a great job of restoring it back to its period specs.
Yes Murray still has the car. It has been used at a few events, mainly hillclimbs and goes well. Murray does not live in Palmerston any longer. At this time he is not in the best of health, but as always optimistic, and looking forward to a great recovery.

[Noo Noo]

29400

How's this for coincidence?
Last week I asked if anyone knew about Bryan Falloon's old Anglia that I saw when it was well advanced in it's restoration. Today, I was hunting for something in my shed, picked up an old POR15 catalogue and saw this photo on the front cover. The car itself.

David Hunter

[Oldfart]

Hi David, that is because Murray was the owner of the POR15 company in Nz.
While at a show some guy came on the POR 15 stand, he and I often shared display space, and waxed on about the car, He then asked if he could look inside. Some time later (perhaps the same show) he returned and handed Murray a bible. He said that Bryan had always carried one in the glovebox, and that this was Bryan's actual one. True or not, I don't know, but the bible is in the glovebox.

[faminz]

That Anglia was THE hot car when I was going to school at feilding ag in the day. Everyone who liked fast cars knew the Falloon Anglia and somehow it's just stuck in my memory. I must do a drawing of it!

[Terry S]

Here's a few more pages from the 72 GP Programme :


23645

Was surprised to see that there were 4 Brabhams listed for the Formula Ford championship.

Were these "real" Brabhams, as Brabhams never made a FF car?

[rf84]

In the early days of Formula Ford in NZ it was very common to convert old National Formula cars (the 1.6 Ford Twin Cam powered cars) to Formula Fords. So they would have been European Formula 2 or Formula 3 cars that had been converted to NZ National Formula then FF.
As a matter of interest, anyone know what the first purpose built FF car in NZ was?

[GD66]

Elfin 600 was the first I saw.

[Allan]

Titan Mk6?

[Terry S]

Was surprised to see that there were 4 Brabhams listed for the Formula Ford championship.

Were these "real" Brabhams, as Brabhams never made a FF car?

My curiosity was raised by Brabhams racing in Formula Ford events so I decided to investigate further.
Of particular interest was the Brabham BT23 in this starters listing.
After wading through Ten Tenths forum Chassis History Archive, all 514 posts, and Allen Brown’s Old Racing Cars site, I believe I finally have the story.
The car in question is Brabham BT23-7.
Originally purchased in 1968 by Frank Williams for Piers Courage.
Then in late 1968 sold to Roly Levis, who raced it in 1968 Tasman Series, then at Singapore, Batu Tiga and Fuji in following months. Sold to Baron Robertson who raced it at Pukekohe in December 1970.
Levis then tested it for Robertson in practice for December’s Bay Park International, but crashed heavily when a tyre punctured at Rothmans Corner, effectively destroying the car.
Robertson then bought a new Brabham, BT23C – 17 to continue racing.
In the meantime BT23C – 7 was rebuilt by Phil Harris as a Formula Ford, and that is the car in the 1972 FF Championship race listed above, #112. Harris and Peter Haskett raced it in 72 to 74.
It was rebuilt to original specs in 1980’s, and then sold to UK in 1990. Then sold to US, including the well known Bobby Rahal. Last recorded sale to Ted Wentz in 2008.
Now I can rest.

[rf84]

According to some sources Brabham BT23 C/17 was sold to Jorge Cupeiro for the 1968 Argentinian Temporada Series and that subsequent owners were Xavier Perrot and Kurt Buess (both Switzerland). There was no mention of Baron owning it.
One source claimed Baron bought the replacement chassis off a company called "Race Frames" but I can find no record of this company on the ' Net. It may have been Arch Motors who built frames for Brabham BT 17 models and onwards.

[Terry S]

According to some sources Brabham BT23 C/17 was sold to Jorge Cupeiro for the 1968 Argentinian Temporada Series and that subsequent owners were Xavier Perrot and Kurt Buess (both Switzerland). There was no mention of Baron owning it.
One source claimed Baron bought the replacement chassis off a company called "Race Frames" but I can find no record of this company on the ' Net. It may have been Arch Motors who built frames for Brabham BT 17 models and onwards.

I saw the confusion over BT23C-17 in my research, but don't think it matters in long run as the NZ car was destroyed in a fire in 1978.

So important thing is there are not two of BT23C - 17 running around to confuse the market.

Interesting thing about the fire is I have seen it described both as in a garage, and in a nightclub.
What it was doing in a nightclub is anyone's guess........