Formula C Brabham 1968 to 1972.

[Ed Holly]

Does anyone remember 3 guys who raced a Brabham BT15 in Formula C in the years 1968 to 1972 I think in the North - West area..

They were Tom Watson, Jerry Wilson and Al Essig. Al had a terrible accident with the car at Lake Garnett in either the last race meeting there or one of the last. Al would have been very badly hurt and the car was extremely damaged.

Any leads as to these drivers competing or present whereabouts would be much appreciated and any photos/results etc of their car competing would be terrific as well..

regards ... Ed Holly ... Sydney Australia

[Charlie Schmidt]

Lake Garnett is in southeast Kansas.
I bought a trailer from Al about 25 years ago.
As of 5-6 years ago, I think he was still in the Kansas City area

[Bob L.]

Al Essig raced a GP Sprite for years out of KC, back in early/mid 70's. Didn't know about his FC experience. I attended Garnett a couple of times, 69 and 71 or 2, so would be after that time mentioned. Raced with Al much later than that.

They have been running a reunion/recreation at Garnett last few years, got snowed out this year...you can check with Garnett Tourist board to find future events. Supposed not the be a race, but creeping that way from what I hear... cool, but very dangerous place.

Last I heard Al was racing a S2, that was a long time back... Had a good visit with him at a race (Hallett...CVAR?) sometime since. No current contact info. Perhaps someone in KC area has. Maybe, Clancy Schmidt in Lawrence?....pm me for his contact info, if you want to try to follow up. Got to be in his 70's at min...

Bob L.

[David Locke]

.

[Bob L.]

There you go...

Perhaps a bit more info to a public forum than Al (any one) might like posted?

yep, it's out there, but.... A PM might have been more respectful? JMHO...

Okie

[Bill Johnson 42]

Al is still in Kansas City.

Great guy, raced S2 for quite a while then went the vintage/club Ford route. Haven't seen him out in a couple years though but I think he still has his club Ford.

Al had a bad crash at Garnett way back when and then an equally bad crash at Hallett in his S2 - he is the reason crush boxes were mandated in S2. At Hallett it took about 45 minutes to cut him out of the S2 and that was with the help of Wendell Miller. He was taken to the closest local hospital which at the time was a converted former elementary school in some small town in Oklahoma. He had multiple compound fractures in both feet and ankles. The clubs doctor, who at the time was in Kansas City, requested that he could be given enough pain killers for us to bring him back to KC, a six hour drive, in our motorhome for his surgery. The doctors at the elementary school/hospital didn't see any problem with that plan. Fortunately my wife who was a nurse at the time, explained to everyone what a f..ing crazy idea that was and that we would not do it. Subsequently Al was transported to Tulsa for surgery.

It took a while but Al fixed his car and was back racing a couple years later.

[David Locke]

There you go...

Perhaps a bit more info to a public forum than Al (any one) might like posted?

yep, it's out there, but.... A PM might have been more respectful? JMHO...

Okie

Whitepages.com is a "public forum" as well. Anyone on earth who has Internet access can get this information by simply plugging in the name Al Essig in the state of Kansas. I don't know if this "Alan C. Essig" is actually the person Ed is looking for, but I don't see it as disrespectful to make what information is available in one (very) public forum to someone who is looking for it in another (less) public forum. YMMV.

[Heel-and-toe]

There you go...

Perhaps a bit more info to a public forum than Al (any one) might like posted?

yep, it's out there, but.... A PM might have been more respectful? JMHO...

Okie

Gee, what a surprise, coming from a guy with "L." for a last name . . .

[Ed Holly]

Thank you to all who replied - I have now spoken to Al Essig ...

Would really appreciate any details at all for Tom Watson who was the first to race the car in the USA after it came over from Europe.

Regards

Ed