Ralt RT 5 - Page 2 - 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum

**John Turner** · 10 Oct 2006, 23:15

Adam/Chris, have we lost you both or are you still thinking about!

Chris Townsend · 11 Oct 2006, 07:27

Sorry John, just about to move house and still trying to finish a book!
Hope to get around to RT5 [and RT4] in a few weeks

Chris

**John Turner** · 11 Oct 2006, 07:47

No, I'm sorry Chris; I should have realised that you have a life outside Ten Tenths

Hope the move goes well, and look forward to post when you are ready!

Chris Townsend · 15 Oct 2006, 09:57

Before posting what I know on RT5 I wondered if there are people out there who can help with gaps in the information. There are a few chassis where I don't know first user or owner, only that the car was sold via Ralt's American agent, Brian Robertson.

193 delivered to Psachie Racing 16 June 1980
195 delivered to Psachie Racing 22 Aug 1980
One of these two has to be the car run late 1980 by Roger Penske Jr

362 delivered to Robertson 14 Jan 83
363 delivered to Robertson 1 Feb 83
364 delivered to Roberston 31 Jan 83
365 delivered to Robertson 3 Feb 83
366 delivered to Robertson 6 Feb 83
419 delivered to Robertson some point in 83
421 delivered to Robertson some point in 83
423 delivered to Robertson some point in 83
436 delivered to Robertson October 83

447 delivered to Robertson 5 Jan 84
458 delivered to Robertson 26 Jan 84

Any owners or observers?

Chris

Bob Micheletti · 2 Nov 2006, 06:33

I have car #5-201 with all logbooks starting with 9-18-1980. Logbooks are #80-032. I was told this car was run by Pete Halsmer/Arciero the end of 80 and all of 81. I believe this coincides with his switch from an RT-1 to an RT-5. In 82 when Michael Andretti joined Arcero supposedly he drove this car until his 82 arrived. The car was teched at 9 pro races in 82 but may have been a back up car at the later races. It was then sold to Ted Prappas/Mike Curb who ran it in a few races in 83-84. After that it became a West Coast regional car. Any info to back up this story would be greatly appreciated. I can list all of the dates and tracks in the logbooks if that is of any interest to anyone.

I am about to do a full restoration and race it in Vintage races on the West Coast.

Bob Micheletti
SoCal

Chris Townsend · 2 Nov 2006, 09:51

Bob

I think that everything you say about the history of 201 is right and can be verified, or at least inferred, from other contemporary sources and the build record. The only thing I'd add is that Mike Follmer ran this car at Long Beach in 85, and the press says it was still owned by Arceiro, so I'm not sure about the deal with Ted Prappas and Mike Curb, though I'm sure Prappas ran it. See On Track 13 May 85 p. 28. Along with the Andretti/Luyendijk/Cobb car yours must be one of the most historic of RT5s

Bob Micheletti · 2 Nov 2006, 22:06

Thanks for the quick response and great news Chris. I have been collecting magazines and programs from the early 80’s to learn more about the history of this car. I am also trying to find some good color photos so I can dress the car in the livery of it’s former glory days. There is no entry in the logbook for Long Beach in 85 but that of course doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. The logbooks are consistent up to 84 then become sporadic picking up again as a club car in 87. What magazines had good coverage of Super Vee racing in those days? I have found many of the programs from the races it ran but there is not much info or pictures in them. They are of course dominated by the primary event for the weekend.

Every “silver lining has a cloud” … The Ralt tag is no longer on the car. The story I got was that Dennis Firestone damaged the tub in a testing run in 84. Marc Bahner did the repair and it has his tag. I haven’t taken it apart yet so I don’t have a cell number. Where is the Arch Motors number located? (in case that part was not replaced)

Regards,
Bob Micheletti

Chris Townsend · 2 Nov 2006, 22:15

Bob

If it's any help H93543 was the original gearbox, and JM27174 the fuel cell. The AM number would have been on the tub.
If you have FSV programmes from the 80s [or indeed Atlantic, though they didn't run together often, and Formula SCCA] I'd really appreciate scans or copies of the entry lists.

The best mag for coverage of FSV in the 80s by far is On Track.

Chris

allenbrown · 3 Nov 2006, 13:39

And there's a mass of On Tracks on ebay at the moment.

Bob Micheletti · 5 Dec 2006, 05:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Townsend

Bob

I think that everything you say about the history of 201 is right and can be verified, or at least inferred, from other contemporary sources and the build record. The only thing I'd add is that Mike Follmer ran this car at Long Beach in 85, and the press says it was still owned by Arceiro, so I'm not sure about the deal with Ted Prappas and Mike Curb, though I'm sure Prappas ran it. See On Track 13 May 85 p. 28. Along with the Andretti/Luyendijk/Cobb car yours must be one of the most historic of RT5s

Chris,

Thanks for the copies from On Track. That is defiantly the best coverage I have seen. The car Mike Follmer drove in 85 would have been the 1982 car driven by Michael Andretti to the 82 championship. I believe he received this car mid season (QUOTE from Derek Harling? see Micheal Edick's car 5-196 on David Fleshers SV register; "RT5-342 delivered in August 1982 to 'Robertson/Andretti'. Since Michael won the US SV championship title that year presumably this was a replacement car."). My car 5-201 (1980) I believe was used in the races, by Michael, up to the delivery of his 82 car "342". The On Track article you sent me (May 13, 85 P28) says "Mike Follmer'e gritty drive into 14th place marked the final race of the distinguished career of the Arciero Racing's '82 Ralt, the car that Michael Andretti drove to the 1982 Bosch/VW title. Following Long Beach the car was to be taken back to the Arciero shop where it will be repainted in it’s '82 colors and put on permanent display in the Arciero offices." Arciero has an RT-5 in the showroom of his winery near Paso Robles California. I will check the chassis plate the next time I go by there but I suspect it is 342. I have seen the car and it has a plaque describing it as the Andretti car but I never thought to check the plate. Now I need to find the On Track's from 1982. If any one can help I would be deeply indebted and happy to pay for the copies and postage.

Sorry for another loooooooong post,

Bob Micheletti
1980 RT-5 201
1966 Diva Vlakre

Chris Townsend · 5 Dec 2006, 21:38

Bob

I think you may be right about the Follmer car not being yours, but I don't think it's 342. The OT report suggests to me that Arciero still own the car and just bring it out for Follmer to run. This can't then be 342 because that car goes to Witt Racing for Price Cobb and then to Arie Luyendijk.
this car then for sale by Richard Haskell OT 31.3.86 p. 77 "the 83 prototype driven by Andretti at Phoenix then Cobb and Luyendijk"

I think this one is yours: for sale OT 29.4.85 p. 69 81 RT5 ex Andretti/Prappas updated to 83 spec by RPM Motorsports.

So far as I can see Andretti uses the following
1981 late season: John Paul Racing, either 230 or 243
1982 Arciero: began with 201, then replaced by 342

Chris

Bob Micheletti · 6 Dec 2006, 04:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Townsend

Bob

I think this one is yours: for sale OT 29.4.85 p. 69 81 RT5 ex Andretti/Prappas updated to 83 spec by RPM Motorsports.

Chris

I don't think so. My car has the 80 rear suspension (plate over the gearbox) the 81 doesn't have that. Also my logbooks start in 80. That ad was probably 230 or 243 John Paul car that Andretti drove in 81. We need to check the entry lists from 81 to see if Andretti was driving an 81 model.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Townsend

Bob

So far as I can see Andretti uses the following
1981 late season: John Paul Racing, either 230 or 243
1982 Arciero: began with 201, then replaced by 342

Chris

I think this is what I was saying. Where did you get the 82 info? If the entry lists from the beginning of 82 list Andretti in an 80 model then I think that was my car, 201 which was replaced as you say with 342. Now I need to go to Arciero and look at the chassis plate on the car in the showroom. I have a friend that lives near there. I will try to get him to check it and will report back.

This is great fun!

Bob

**John Turner** · 19 Dec 2006, 08:57

Ok, we're getting too many 'sticky' threads, so I'm unsticking this one. I'm sure Chris will rescue it, when he is ready!

Bob Micheletti · 2 Jan 2007, 05:44

Update on the car in the Arciero showroom...

My friend went by the Arciero winery in Paso Robles California to check the chassis plate on the RT-5 that is sitting in the showroom with a placard describing it as "The Michael Andretti car". The number is RT5-402. This puts another twist in the puzzle!

Bob Micheletti
RT5-201

Chris Townsend · 2 Jan 2007, 14:20

Bob

As you are probably aware by now, Michael Andretti drove all ground effect Ralts delivered to North America whether FSV or Atlantic...

This is described in Ralt records as an 83 car delivered 19 March 83 to Penske. Michael Andretti only drove Long Beach SV in 83 [IIRC] spending rest of year in Atlantic. His Long Beach car was probably 390, sold after the race to Hank Chapman, and then on to Ben Gustafsson/Graham Scott.

Happy new year
Chris