JUST ON MODELS
WINNER of Pete Geoghegan’s 1975 HJ Monaro (in #51 Classic Driver) is Robert Sherman, Tauranga
In this column I tend to research, and write a brief history of the actual car being modelled, along with details of the driver and events entered. After all, it’s always nice to know more about the 1:1 scale version of the model that is about to adorn your display cabinet.
However with this month’s feature model – Denny Hulme’s winning Brabham BT20 from the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix – it is difficult to add anything new to the volumes that have already been written about Denny and the BT20, by motoring scribes such as Eoin Young. So I won’t try!
Suffice it to say, the Ron Tauranac designed BT20 was a very capable race car, scoring seven podium finishes, and one win (Hulme’s Monaco win), in its first 10 entries. The Brabham Formula One team used the BT20 during both the 1966 and 1967 seasons. Our 1:43rd feature model from Spark is based upon the car as raced at Monaco in 1967, and in that year it helped win Brabham the ‘International Cup for F1 Manufacturers’, and the ‘World Championship of Drivers’ for Hulme. During the 1967 season, Brabham fielded the BT20 (in the first three rounds), the BT24, and the previous year’s BT19. Although not the fastest cars on the grid in 1967 (that honour going to the Lotus 49 with its brand new Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8) the Repco 3.0 V8 powered Brabhams were the most reliable – making them the tortoise to Lotus’s hare!
Between them, ‘The Bear’ and reigning World Champion Jack Brabham, scored 8 and 6 podium finishes respectively, with Hulme eventually beating team-owner Brabham to the Drivers Championship by 5 points, with Jim Clark (Lotus) a further 5 points back. Surprisingly, Denny was the first of only two drivers to ever win the Drivers Championship without achieving a single pole position in the season. Only Niki Lauda managed to repeat this feat in 1984.
Compared to images of Denny’s actual Monaco winning car, the overall look of Spark’s 1:43rd resin model appears perfect in every detail. Especially impressive is the fine engine and suspension detail; the accurate 4 into 1 exhausts; the tiny radiator tube running down the side of the body; the excellent paintwork; and the miniature driver, complete with Denny’s helmet design (although the little figurine doesn’t bear much resemblance to a 31 year old Hulme).
Spark must have a soft spot for Brabhams, as they have recently released seven different 1:43rd versions of the BT20, plus four BT24 and BT33 models. SPR Models already has five of these in stock, and expects the others early in the new year.
Our featured model, along with the rest of the Spark range, is available direct from the SPR Models online store, or from specialist hobby shops.
For more information about the Spark, Bizarre, TrueScale, Brumm or ARMCO ranges, phone John on 09-414 5959, or visit www.spr-models.co.nz