Birranawas the name of two motor racing organisations, both associated with South Australian racing driver and engineer Malcolm Ramsay. From 1971 to 1978 Birrana constructed a series of successful open-wheel racing cars under the Birrana name. It also constructed aHolden Kingswood HQfor Ramsay to compete inGroup C Improved Production Touring Carsracing.
Ramsay brought the Birrana name back to motor racing in the 1990s running a series ofReynard MotorsportbuiltFormula 3000chassis in theAustralian Drivers' Championship.Birrana came to dominate the championship winning titles withJason Bright,Paul Stokell,Rick KellyandSimon Willsas well as givingMark Webberhis first racing experience of wings and slicks open-wheeler racing. As Formula Holden started to wither, Birrana moved into V8 Supercar with Wills. Ramsay reduced his involvement as the team morphed intoTeam Dynamik.Today Ramsay continues the Birrana name as a mechanical engineering firm servicing the mining industry.
Racing cars
editEarly designs
editBirrana Formula Ford
editThe first Birrana was aFormula Fordbuilt by Tony Alcock in 1971 forJohn Goss.[1]Alcock was a designer builder who had previously worked forElfin Sports CarsinAdelaideand forBrabham,Cosworth,McLarenandCooper.[1]"Birrana" is an Australian aboriginal word meaning "throwing stick".[2]
Birrana 272
editThe Birrana 272 was amonocoqueAustralian Formula 2car,[1]constructed by Alcock inAdelaideforSouth Australianracing driver Malcolm Ramsay.[2]The 272 won theAustralian Formula 2class on its debut at theSandownround of the1972 Australian Drivers' Championshipin April.[1]It was later sold toPeter Brock,[1]and subsequently won the opening round of the1973 Australian Formula 2 Championshipin the hands ofLeo Geoghegan.[3]
Birrana Racing Cars Pty Ltd
editBirrana Racing Cars Pty Ltd was formed later in 1972 by Alcock and Ramsay and construction of racing cars was undertaken in a former service station in suburbanAdelaide.[2]The company would go on to sell a total of 16 cars.[1]
Birrana F72
editThe first car sold by Birrana Racing Cars was aFormula Ford,[2]the F72 produced in 1972 for Steven Drewhurst ofMelbourne.[1]
Birrana 273
editThe 273 was anAustralian Formula 2car.[1]Leo Geogheganused a factory team 273 to win the1973 Australian Formula 2 Championshipfrom Enno Busselman in a 273 entered by Bob & Marj Brown.[3]Graeme Crawford also drove a 273 to win the1976 Australian Formula 2 Championship.[1]
Peter Brockalso drove an ex-Leo Geoghegan Birrana 273 during the 1973 Australian F2 Championship, finishing second atOran Parkand sixth atAmaroo,while also winning a number of non-championship races. Brock ran the Birrana under the "Team Brock" banner and the car used aFordengine, and later aHartengine. Brock'sHolden Dealer TeamBossHarry Firthclaimed that he let Brock race the Birrana to get formula cars out of his system.
Birrana F73
editThe F73 was aFormula Forddesign.[1]Richard Carter drove an F73 to victory in the1976 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series.[4]
Birrana 274
editThe 274 was the company's newAustralian Formula 2car for 1974 with Malcolm Ramsay announcing plans to build an initial batch of six cars.[5]A 274 was used byLeo Geogheganto win the1974 Australian Formula 2 Championshipfrom Bob Muir in a 273.[6]Geoff Brabhamtook a 274 to victory in the1975 Australian Formula 2 Championship.[1]
Birrana 374
editThe 374 was anAustralian Formula 3car.[7]
Birrana Racing Cars Pty Ltd was closed in 1974.[2]Bob and Marj Brown took two Birrana 273s and Tony Alcock[8]toEnglandto compete in the 1975Formula Atlanticseries. Later, Tony Alcock joinedGraham Hill'sEmbassy RacingFormula Oneteam.[1]Later that year he was killed in a plane crash which also took the lives of Hill and four other Embassy Racing team members.[1] There were three 374’s made by the team all that were very successful on track
Birrana S74
editThe S74 was a speedcar built to run at the Adelaide International Raceway half-mile bitumen oval. It utilised a mid-engined configuration.
Birrana A78
editThe Birrana A78 was built by Malcolm Ramsay using 273 and 274 components for Ramsay to contest Rothmans Series events inMalaysiain 1978.[1]Ramsay finished second in thePenang Grand Prixand theSelangor Grand Prixand third inMalaysian Grand Prixand was leading the series when it was cancelled.[1]The A78, which was the last model to carry the Birrana name, was later sold to John Holmes of Queensland as were all Birrana patterns, jigs and dies.[1]
References
edit- ^abcdefghijklmnopPedr Davis, The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, page 46
- ^abcdeBarry Frost, Austin 7 Club SA 50 Years, Chapter 5Retrieved from austin7clubsa.au on 10 April 2011
- ^abAustralian Competition Yearbook, 1974 Edition, pages 78-97
- ^Australian Competition Yearbook, 1977 Edition, pages 128-131
- ^Peter Oliver, Pit Talk, Official Programme, Adelaide International Raceway, 7 October 1973, page 5.
- ^Australian Competition Yearbook, 1975 Edition, pages 84-101
- ^Birrana 374 at motorsportarchiveRetrieved 9 April 2010
- ^John Player (British) Formula Atlantic Series Race - Mallory Park[permanent dead link]Retrieved from oldracingcars on 10 April 2011
