By Cam Lucadou-Wells
It’s no exaggeration to say Tony Burrage’s unique open-air racer, the Rennmax 23B is a one-of-a-kind.
The stylish 52-year-old vehicle built by Sydney racing-car builder Bob Britton is the only one in Australia, according to Mr Burrage.
A long fan of historic racing, Mr Burrage, of Narre Warren North, chose the low-slung car to race during his retirement from mechanical engineering 18 years ago.
He doesn’t mind racing in the open air, though “when it’s raining, it’s not too bright”.
“It drives quite well when you learn how to handle it,” he says.
“You know any car built by Bob Britton will be a good one.”
Mr Burrage loved the car as a near exact copy of the alluring Lotus 23B shape – at a fraction of the price of a similar-vintage Lotus.
But it was in poor shape at the time.
The enthusiast has since tended to the car, making it mechanically sound and gleaming with a lick of British Racing Green paint.
Along the way, he was surprised to find out there are 29 subtly different tints of British Racing Green.
Though without a speedo, the car – with its rebuilt 1600-cc twin-cam rear-mounted engine – hits estimated speeds of up to 180 km/h on the track.
It however feels faster than that, being low to the ground – and particularly when he’s approached a corner too fast, Mr Burrage says.
The car is a great drive but not at the “sharp end” of his group M class – which includes open-air sports cars between 1961-’65 such as some pretty pacey Brabhams and Elfins.
Mr Burrage races it in historic racing meets about five times a year, including one of his favourite tracks at Winton.
He’ll be heading to the Historic Winton weekend with 400 riders and drivers and displays of 2000 historic vehicles on 27 and 28 May.
