The Rennmax name was applied to a series of
open wheel racing cars
An open-wheel single-seater (often known as formula car) is a car with the wheels outside the car's main body, and usually having only one seat. Open-wheel cars contrast with street cars, sports cars, stock cars, and touring cars, which have thei ...
and
sports racing cars
Sports car racing is a form of motorsport road racing which utilises sports cars that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built prototypes or grand tourers based on road-going models. Broadly speaking, sports car racing is o ...
constructed by Rennmax Engineering in
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
, Australia between 1962 and 1978.
[Tony Davis, The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, pages 402-403] 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.[Graham Howard, The Rennmax Story]
Retrieved from www.rennmax.com on 5 August 2010 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 Cooper
Cooper, Cooper's, Coopers and similar may refer to:
* Cooper (profession), a maker of wooden casks and other staved vessels
Arts and entertainment
* Cooper (producers), alias of Dutch producers Klubbheads
* Cooper (video game character), in ...
, including a 2.2-litre Coventry Climax
Coventry Climax was a British forklift truck, fire pump, racing, and other specialty engine manufacturer.
History
Pre WW1
The company was started in 1903 as Lee Stroyer, but two years later, following the departure of Stroyer, it was reloca ...
engine.[
]
Rennmax BN1
The Rennmax BN1 was a single seater racing car incorporating concepts from the Lotus 20
Lotus 20 was a Formula Junior car built by Lotus for the 1961 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 wit ...
& 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 disc brakes all round, a top link and the 'rubber donut' to the rear ...
designs.[Rennmax BN1 on OldRacingCars.com]
Retrieved 5 August 2010 At least 6 examples were built circa 1962–1964.[
]
Rennmax Vee
The Rennmax Vee was a Formula Vee
Formula Vee (Formula Fau Vee in Brazil and Germany) or Formula Volkswagen is a popular open wheel, single-seater junior motor racing formula, with relatively low costs in comparison to Formula Ford.
On the international stage, Niki Lauda, E ...
racing car produced in series for Greg Cusack and Bruce Burr.[Rennmax on OldRacingCars.com]
Retrieved 5 August 2010 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
Sports car racing is a form of motorsport road racing which utilises sports cars that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built prototypes or grand tourers based on road-going models. Broadly speaking, sports car racing is o ...
built for Alec Mildren in 1965.[ It was constructed in the style of the ]Lotus 23
The Lotus 23 was designed by Colin Chapman as a small-displacement sports racing car. Nominally a two-seater, it was purpose-built for FIA Group 4 racing in 1962–1963. Unlike its predecessors Lotus 15 and 17, the engine was mounted amidshi ...
, utilised various components from a Cooper T51
The Cooper T51 was a Formula One and Formula Two racing car designed by Owen Maddock 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 ...
and was powered by a 2.9-litre Maserati Type 61 engine.[
]
Lotus 23 replica
A series of replica Lotus 23
The Lotus 23 was designed by Colin Chapman as a small-displacement sports racing car. Nominally a two-seater, it was purpose-built for FIA Group 4 racing in 1962–1963. Unlike its predecessors Lotus 15 and 17, the engine was mounted amidshi ...
sports racing cars were constructed[ in the mid 1960s.][
]
Matich SR3
The Matich SR3 The Matich name was applied to a series of sports racing cars and open wheel racing cars produced in Australia between 1967 and 1974 under the direction of Sydney-based racing driver and engineer Frank Matich.The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, ...
sports racing cars were constructed by Rennmax Engineering for Frank Matich
Frank Matich (25 January 193511 May 2015) was an Australian racing car driver. A highly successful motor racing competitor in the 1960s and 1970s, Matich built his own range of Matich sports cars and open wheel cars, mainly to support his ow ...
.[ Bob Britton then accompanied Matich to the United States when he competed in the 1967 Can-Am season.][
]
Rennmax BN2
The Rennmax BN2 was a one-off single seater model, based on the Brabham BT14 and built for Max Stewart
Malcolm Clarke Stewart (14 March 1935 – 19 March 1977) was an Australian racing driver. He was known as the "Jolly Green Giant" for his disposition and height.
Stewart was born in Orange, New South Wales. He began his motorsport career ...
in February 1968.[Rennmax BN2 on OldRacingCars.com]
Retrieved 5 August 2010 It used a 1.5-litre Ford
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Company
* Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* Ford F ...
twin cam engine.[
]
Mildren (Waggott)
The Mildren, based on the Brabham BT23, was produced for Alec Mildren in 1968.[Rennmax BN3 on OldRacingCars.com]
Retrieved 5 August 2010 Initially power by a 1.6 Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. () is an Italian luxury car manufacturer and a subsidiary of Stellantis. The company was founded on 24 June 1910, in Milan, Italy. "Alfa" is an acronym of its founding name, "Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili." ...
engine, it later used a Waggott Waggott Engineering was an Australian automotive engineering company which gained fame for the engines which it produced for motor sport applications from the 1950s through to the 1970s.
The company had its origins in a machine shop opened in 1948 b ...
powerplant.[
Racing as the Mildren Waggott, the car was used by ]Max Stewart
Malcolm Clarke Stewart (14 March 1935 – 19 March 1977) was an Australian racing driver. He was known as the "Jolly Green Giant" for his disposition and height.
Stewart was born in Orange, New South Wales. He began his motorsport career ...
to win the 1969 Australian Formula 2 Championship
The 1969 Australian Formula 2 Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to racing cars complying with Australian Formula 2. The title, which was the third Australian Formula 2 Championship,Records, Titles and Award ...
, the 1970 Australian Formula 2 Championship
The 1970 Australian Formula 2 Championship was an Australian motor racing title for drivers of racing cars complying with Australian Formula 2 regulations. The title, which was recognised by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as the fo ...
and the 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.Conditions for Australian Titles, 1971 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 79-83 It was the fi ...
.
Rennmax BN3
The Rennmax BN3 was an open wheeler design derived from the Brabham BT23-based Mildren.[ Five examples were built between 1968 and 1971.][
{{Clear
]
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
Australian Formula 2, sometimes abbreviated to AF2 or ANF2, is a "wings and slicks" formula racing category in Australia. The category is one of Australia's oldest, dating back to 1964. The current format of AF2 was introduced in 1978. Brian Shea ...
car of 1974. (see Rennmax BN6 (Formula 2) below)
Rennmax Repco
The Rennmax Repco was a one off sports racing car
Sports car racing is a form of motorsport road racing which utilises sports cars that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built prototypes or grand tourers based on road-going models. Broadly speaking, sports car racing is o ...
built in 1972 for Lionel Ayers and powered by a 5-litre Repco V8
Repco is an Australian automotive engineering/retailer company. Its name is an abbreviation of Replacement Parts Company and was for many years known for reconditioning engines and for specialized manufacturing, for which they gained a high ...
engine.[
]
Rennmax BN6 (Formula 2)
The Rennmax BN6 was a one off prototype of the BN7 Australian Formula 2
Australian Formula 2, sometimes abbreviated to AF2 or ANF2, is a "wings and slicks" formula racing category in Australia. The category is one of Australia's oldest, dating back to 1964. The current format of AF2 was introduced in 1978. Brian Shea ...
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
Australian Formula 2, sometimes abbreviated to AF2 or ANF2, is a "wings and slicks" formula racing category in Australia. The category is one of Australia's oldest, dating back to 1964. The current format of AF2 was introduced in 1978. Brian Shea ...
car of 1974, four of which were built.[
]
Rennmax Vee (2nd series)
A second Formula Vee
Formula Vee (Formula Fau Vee in Brazil and Germany) or Formula Volkswagen is a popular open wheel, single-seater junior motor racing formula, with relatively low costs in comparison to Formula Ford.
On the international stage, Niki Lauda, E ...
design was released in 1975.[ Fourteen examples were built.Formula Vee: Rennmax Engineering, Australia]
Retrieved 5 August 2010
References
Australian racecar constructors