Favourite 3-wheelers No.56

This is a Reliant. Must be a fore-runner of the Robin.

The Bend West Circuit Clubman Nationals 2019

This is what the West circuit looks like.    Clubbie Nationals last weekend.

Babe.

Adelaide Rally.

The Adelaide-built Brabham BT62 will be seen at the Adelaide Rally this December. The 700hp supercar will be viewable at both the Gouger Street Party on Friday December 6th and will hit Rundle Road at Full Noise in a dynamic new addition to the rally for 2019 named The East End Finale. Here spectators can view the car traversing the specially created 500m long course on Rundle Road before seeing it up close along with just-released vehicles from manufacturers such as McLaren, Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Lamborghini. Rundle Road was historically used as part of the original Adelaide Grand Prix Circuit. Over 250 cars taking part in the Adelaide Rally will take to the course over 3 hours at the free event which commences at 2:30pm. All cars will be on display in the East End until 9:00pm.

Bolwell photo bombing.

A red Nagari among the Canstels.

And a familiar blue Mk.7 at the start of the Run to the Eagle.

I usually plan to get to the Eagle destination every second year when they head North but this time I had to stay home and wait for the arrival of a plumber who didn't turn up anyway. There were some very nice cars on the run.

What else happened on the weekend? Well, Corina got a new car for a start.

And then there was the Brooksfield Dragway Reunion.

Kapunda - Week 103

The army comes to town.

Favourite 3-wheelers No.55.

Years ago when I worked at the Motor Vehicles Dept. the Morgan 3-wheeler was registered as a motorbike and sidecar. You can see why I guess.

Getting serious.

Brabham Automotive customers now have three variants of BT62 to choose from:

• Ultimate Track Car
• Competition spec
• Road Compliant Conversion

Production remains limited to just 70 vehicles - irrespective of variant - with all cars available in either 'Celebration' or 'Signature' liveries. All variants including the Competition specification vehicles are available in either left or right-hand drive. Competition specification vehicles are fully upgradeable to either Ultimate Track Car or Road Compliant specifications at any time.

The Competition specification is stripped back and ready for racing. It is lighter than the full-specification Ultimate Track version, with a Celebration or bespoke wrap rather than exterior paint and exposed interior carbon with no interior trim. The Competition specification is delivered without a passenger seat or an Initial Spares Pack (although they can be included as optioned extras), both of which are standard with the Ultimate Track version. This results in the BT62 Competition being available for £750,000 (plus tax).

Most importantly, the Brabham BT62 Competition spec features all the performance of the Ultimate Track version.

It has the same lightweight, FIA compliant carbon-chromoly safety cell with integrated roll cage. It retains all the performance of the Brabham 5.4 litre, naturally aspirated V8 engine delivering 700hp mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox. Advanced aerodynamics provide an outstanding 1200kg of downforce. Completing the performance package are Brabham's carbon-on-carbon brakes, which, coupled with motorsport ABS and traction control, provide unrivalled on-track stopping power and control.

The BT62 Competition specification also retains Brabham's centre-locking wheels, pneumatic jacking system, competition-ready gauge display and lightweight, removable, multi-function steering wheel.

Jason Plato, driving the Brabham BT62 recently for the new series of the TV program, Fifth Gear, said "This is driving in its absolute purest form, which is not surprising given the family heritage behind this amazing creation ... it's a very serious car but it's very user-friendly and confidence inspiring. It's epic, actually."

The Brabham BT62 Competition specification will be used for the company's endurance racing debut at Brands Hatch on November 9-10. The BT62 Competition spec will take part in both qualifying sessions (one day, one night) and the two-hour race 'Into The Night' that ends the 2019 Britcar Endurance Championship season.

The first BT62 Competition deliveries are in early 2020, in time for the northern hemisphere racing season.

More on Pellandini via Maximum Mini.

Reader delves into Pellandini history

Some time ago I was sent a lovely photograph of a Pellandini at an Adelaide drag strip in the mid-1970s (see it here). Not much more of that particular picture was known to me at the time. But that has now been cleared up by Rob Spurling who got in touch and sent over an abundancy of Pellandini pictures and informations. Rob wrote:

"I am sending you my history of Mini Based Pellandini Cars as I know it from what I have been told by people here in South Australia. When I saw that a guy on your blog had owned what he said was number 3 and that he ordered it in lime green I was very intrigued. I was always told that Dennis Cross had car #3 featured in the first Sports Car World article. You will see that its colour was lime green. My youngest brother Chris, bought it from Dennis, then sold it to me and our middle brother, Andrew. Later on we sold it to Max Kinsmore. This car was destroyed later on in an earthmover yard incident after Max had rebuilt it and painted it red. As my 'history' says, Max also converted a coupe into an open top car for Angela Lines before it went out of South Australia. He then tracked down and bought two more and rebuilt them. These were the ones that were for sale recently."

"Also on your blog there was a picture of me driving in Street Drags at Adelaide International Raceway in the Dennis Cross car. It was so quick off the line that the official photographer told me he had trouble catching it on camera. I only got two runs: a practice and the real thing where I was way out in front of some giant Chevy that thundered past me when I broke the gear lever off in second! Cheers, Rob."

Thank you very much for getting in touch and sharing all your stuff Rob. Below is just a small selection of the car that Rob owned at one time. There is more to follow.

Rob at the wheel of the Pellandini 'RXV-797' in 1976. Almost too quick for the official photographer!

Picture Sharp Photography via Rob Spurling

At the 'Hot Bricks' display of the Modified Minis Car Club in Adelaide somewhere in the 1970s

Picture Rob Spurling

Initially owned by Dennis Cross, Rob's brother Chris became the next owner before Rob and his other brother Andrew had it

Picture Rob Spurling

Rob wrote "The off-line remote linkage gear-change brought around the left side of the engine into the central tunnel was a constant niggle to get right but worked well with minimal movement when it was operational"

Picture Rob Spurling

This car was Cooper 'S' powered with 45 DCOE Weber carburettor and was tested by Barry Cartwright of Sports Car World magazine when it was new in 1973

Picture Rob Spurling

The size of the Pellandini is only visualized well when it is parked next to another car such as a Nissan Cherry, not a big car to modern standards... Picture taken 22 december 1984

Picture Rob Spurling

Seen for sale here. RXV-797 eventually survived a fire and was rebuilt but was later accidentally destroyed when crushed in an earthmoving business work-yard

Picture Rob Spurling

I hope Allison sees this. Here is a post from Wednesday, July26, 2017.

Allison is trying to track down her dad, Dennis's, old Pellandini, the green one, and placed an ad on Gumtree.

As there were only 7 of them, I think we would have a good chance of tracking it down. 5 of them are in SA, one is in a wrecking yard in Sydney and one went to Brisbane. I'm pretty sure there was only one green one, in fact, they were all different colours. I'll chase up all the leads I have but if anyone has any information please let me know.

Ahead of his time.

Pete Garvin's April 1st design of a mid-engined Nagari, many years ago was a prediction to things to come?

No worries about accommodation.

I'll just stretch out in the back of me ute.

Not impossible.

But it does appear that someone has a job in front of him.

It does mean that yet another Buchanan will eventually join the ranks. I wish the builder well. It would be nice to follow its progress.