Rennmax
Encyclopedia
The Rennmax name was applied to a series of open wheel racing cars and sports racing cars constructed by Rennmax Engineering in Sydney
, Australia between 1962 and 1978. Rennmax Engineering was established by Bob Britton in 1961, its name derived from the German word "Renn", meaning race and the abbreviation "max", for maximum.
, including a 2.2 litre Coventry Climax
engine.
& Lotus 22
designs. At least 6 examples were built circa 1962-1964.
racing car produced in series for Greg Cusack and Bruce Burr. Nine cars were built during 1965-66. The cars were originally referred to as CBs but each example was later renamed to "Rennmax".
, utilised various components from a Cooper T51
and was powered by a 2.9 litre Maserati Type 61 engine.
sports racing cars were constructed in the mid 1960s.
. Bob Britton then accompanied Matich to the United States when he competed in the 1967 Can-Am season
.
in February 1968. It used a 1.5 litre Ford twin cam engine.
engine, it later used a Waggott powerplant.
Racing as the Mildren Waggott, the car was used by Max Stewart
to win the 1969 Australian Formula 2 Championship, the 1970 Australian Formula 2 Championship
and the 1971 Australian Drivers' Championship
.
design was released in 1975. Fourteen examples were built.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia between 1962 and 1978. Rennmax Engineering was established by Bob Britton in 1961, its name derived from the German word "Renn", meaning race and the abbreviation "max", for maximum.
Models
Although Rennmax cars are often referred to by model designations such as BN2, BN3 etc., Britton claimed that the origins of these were unknown to him and in practice he did not even stamp chassis numbers on his creations. The following list utilises these unofficial model designations and also includes models which were built by Rennmax Engineering but raced under names other than Rennmax.Rennmax Climax
The first Rennmax chassis, built for Noel Hall in 1962, utilised numerous components from Hall's CooperCooper Car Company
The Cooper Car Company was founded in 1946 by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper. Together with John's boyhood friend, Eric Brandon, they began by building racing cars in Charles' small garage in Surbiton, Surrey, England in 1946...
, including a 2.2 litre Coventry Climax
Coventry Climax
Coventry Climax was a British forklift truck, fire pump, and speciality engine manufacturer.-History:The company was started in 1903 as Lee Stroyer, but two years later, following the departure of Stroyer, it was relocated to Paynes Lane, Coventry, and renamed to Coventry-Simplex by H...
engine.
Rennmax BN1
The Rennmax BN1 was a single seater racing car incorporating concepts from the Lotus 20Lotus 20
Lotus 20 was a Formula Junior car built by Lotus for the 1962 season as a successor to the Lotus 18.The chassis was a spaceframe, clothed in fibreglass bodywork. It had front double wishbone suspension, but the rear had a lower wishbone with the driveshaft being fixed length and therefore used as...
& Lotus 22
Lotus 22
The Lotus 22 was a racing car built by Lotus cars in 1962, and a total of 77 cars were built. It was developed from the 1962 Lotus 20, with the major differences that it had disk brakes all round, had a top link to the rear suspension, and had a dry sump engine that was canted over to lower the...
designs. At least 6 examples were built circa 1962-1964.
Rennmax Vee
The Rennmax Vee was a Formula VeeFormula Vee
Formula Vee is a popular open wheel, single seater junior motor racing formula, with relatively low costs in comparison to Formula Ford or Formula BMW....
racing car produced in series for Greg Cusack and Bruce Burr. Nine cars were built during 1965-66. The cars were originally referred to as CBs but each example was later renamed to "Rennmax".
Mildren Maserati
The Mildren Maserati was a sports racing car built for Alec Mildren in 1965. It was constructed in the style of the Lotus 23Lotus 23
The Lotus 23 was designed by Colin Chapman as a small-displacement sports racing car. Nominally a two-seater , it was a purpose-built for racing with a driver alone. The 23 used a wider version of the Lotus 20 space frame, with the same suspension, clothed in a fibreglass body...
, utilised various components from a Cooper T51
Cooper T51
The Cooper T51 was a Formula One and Formula Two racing car designed and built by the Cooper Car Company for the 1959 Formula One season. The T51 earned a significant place in motor racing history when Jack Brabham drove the car to become the first driver to win the championship with a rear-engined...
and was powered by a 2.9 litre Maserati Type 61 engine.
Lotus 23 replica
A series of replica Lotus 23Lotus 23
The Lotus 23 was designed by Colin Chapman as a small-displacement sports racing car. Nominally a two-seater , it was a purpose-built for racing with a driver alone. The 23 used a wider version of the Lotus 20 space frame, with the same suspension, clothed in a fibreglass body...
sports racing cars were constructed in the mid 1960s.
Matich SR3
The Matich SR3 sports racing cars were constructed by Rennmax Engineering for Frank MatichFrank Matich
Frank Matich, born 1935, was an Australian racing car driver. A highly successful motor racing competitor in the 1960s and 70s, Matich built his own range of Matich sports cars and open wheel cars, mainly to support his own career, but some cars found success with other drivers...
. Bob Britton then accompanied Matich to the United States when he competed in the 1967 Can-Am season
1967 Can-Am season
The 1967 Canadian-American Challenge Cup season was the second season of the Can-Am auto racing series. It involved FIA Group 7 racing cars running two-hour sprint events. It began September 3, 1967 and ended November 12, 1967 after six rounds.-Schedule:...
.
Rennmax BN2
The Rennmax BN2 was a one-off single seater model, based on the Brabham BT14 and built for Max StewartMax Stewart
Malcolm Clarke Stewart was an Australian racecar driver....
in February 1968. It used a 1.5 litre Ford twin cam engine.
Mildren (Waggott)
The Mildren, based on the Brabham BT23, was produced for Alec Mildren in 1968. Initially power by a 1.6 Alfa RomeoAlfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
engine, it later used a Waggott powerplant.
Racing as the Mildren Waggott, the car was used by Max Stewart
Max Stewart
Malcolm Clarke Stewart was an Australian racecar driver....
to win the 1969 Australian Formula 2 Championship, the 1970 Australian Formula 2 Championship
1970 Australian Formula 2 Championship
The 1970 Australian Formula 2 Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of racing cars complying with Australian Formula 2 regulations. The title, which was the fourth Australian Formula 2 Championship, was decided over a single 40 lap, 60 mile race, staged at the Lakeside...
and the 1971 Australian Drivers' Championship
1971 Australian Drivers' Championship
The 1971 Australian Drivers’ Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to Australian Formula 1 and Australian Formula 2 racing cars...
.
Rennmax BN3
The Rennmax BN3 was an open wheeler design derived from the Brabham BT23-based Mildren. Five examples were built between 1968 to 1971.Rennmax BN6 (Sports racing car)
A Rennmax sports racing car, powered by a 2 litre BMW engine, was built in 1970 for Doug Macarthur. A second chassis was built the following year for Ray Hanger who also commissioned another example in 1982. This model has been referred to as the Rennmax BN6 although this designation has also been applied to an Australian Formula 2 car of 1974. (see Rennmax BN6 (Formula 2) below)Rennmax Repco
The Rennmax Repco was a one off sports racing car built for Lionel Ayers and powered by a 5 litre Repco V8 engine.Rennmax BN6 (Formula 2)
The Rennmax BN6 was a one off prototype of the BN7 Australian Formula 2 car of 1974. The BN6 designation has also been applied to the 1970-71 Rennmax sports racing car. (see Rennmax BN6 (Sports racing car) above).Rennmax BN7
The Rennmax BN7 was an Australian Formula 2 car of 1974, four of which were built.Rennmax Vee (2nd series)
A second Formula VeeFormula Vee
Formula Vee is a popular open wheel, single seater junior motor racing formula, with relatively low costs in comparison to Formula Ford or Formula BMW....
design was released in 1975. Fourteen examples were built.