Thread: RAEMUS Rover

During the build of the blue car, the old Mob Siding workshops in Seymour were closed down and everything moved out to Pucka. After that they had a lack of storage space for the race equipment, so rather than scrap her, Dad organised to donate RAEMUS to the RAEME museum in Bandiana. After that we lost 'contact' with her. That would've been late 1990, early 1991.

thanks heaps Jase....any chance you have the chassis number for the bean counters on here

Originally Posted by weeds

thanks heaps Jase....any chance you have the chassis number for the bean counters on here

Sorry I don't know but Dad might. He still has a lot of the old paperwork and stuff at his place. I remember a photo from RAEMUS first race in 1979 when she was still pretty standard. She even still wore Army number plates. If I can dig that out it should give you an ARN to start with.

I know that photo album is at Dads place somewhere. We were talking about this the other day and he thinks he also have the original CAMS logbook, which may also help.

Hi Jason,

I was just looking up info on Reamus Rover and come across this post.
My father "Peter George Davey" along with a guy name John built the first Reamus. My name is Patrick John Davey and im your age probably went to school with you as I went to school in Seymour. My father along with John raced it till they handed it over to the apprentices as a learning tool. We lost all the pictures of it years ago to fire. Have you got anymor pictures.

Patrick

Originally Posted by jase218

After the disappointment of the first race, it was decided that RAEMUS could do with a freshen up. Between Nov 87 and Jul 88, Dad and his best mate - and as much help an 11 year old kid can be - working after hours and weekends stripped RAEMUS down to the chassis rails and started again.

The rear suspension was redesigned, with multiple shocks on each wheel. The officials at the BAV 100 picked up that RAEMUS din't comply with a few current rules around roll cages, seats and harness mounts, so these were all updated. The driveline and running gear was overhauled, all the usual stuff. I remember a new engine was built from 179HP block as the original was bored to far. I think this happened late in the piece and there was bit of a mad rush to have it done.

RAEMUS debut was to be the 1988 Bridgestone International at Kempsey NSW. In those days, this was the pinnacle event in Australia and the biggest off road race in the southern hemisphere.

RAEMUS was unveiled about a week beforehand at a function attended by the sponsors gathered from the local area, the local newspaper and all the family and friends. She looked immaculate and hopes were high.

Unfortunately not long after the start the gearstick snapped. Whilst repairing that it was noticed that newly redesigned rear suspension was a failure and had ripped the upper mounts from the rails, so it was decided to retire.

From there it was back to BAV 100 at Seymour in October. Here was probably the highpoint of RAEMUS career with victory in Class 8 for Modified 4x4. From there it was onto the final round of the Victorian Off Road Championship at Avalon in November. After a fantastic wheel to wheel battle with the similar Army Reserve car (more on this later), RAEMUS came second in Class 8 with the ARes guys taking the win.

Missing the first half of the season probably cost us the Victorian Off Road Championship for Class 8 in 1988, so it was a pretty good year.

I've got a bit of info on her.
I believe she's at Amberley at the moment, and undergoing a resto.
We (UV4x4) donated a set of HID lights, and a few other bits late last year.

I'll find the details and post em up tomorrow.
They're looking for support and assistance to get her up to scratch again.

Ladies & Gents,

I'm the current RAEMUS ROVER team manager for the refreshed team. I was made aware of this forum today and would like to bring everyone up to date. The car is in it's final stages of a rebuild to enable it to comply with current CAMs standards, we have gained some tremendous support from sponsors and have just entered Finke Desert Rally, please look for us on their website.
We have slightly altered from the original operational method for RAEMUS of the 70's and 80's. We only operate in after hours, use no Army supplied anything, rely soley on sponsors, gifts and skull duggery. The principle operation of the team is two fold. One, to provide a platform for training tradesman, the second to provide a platform for raising awareness and fund raising for injured veterans. Please if you can help us to support wounded and injured veterans please do so. This story of the re-newed RAEMUS is long and detailed, maybe later I'll cover that.
The old chassis ( had to be replaced due to significant corrosion ) had no chassis number left on it, sorry bean counters. The replacement chassis is a LWB 1961 model, numbers to follow soon. The team has scored a Rover V8 engine, that's now fitted. All other components are of the original RAEMUS, apart from those we had to replace to comply with CAMS. We have had some great support from the likes of ENZED Brisbane, Mack Trucks Australia, RSL QLD and Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific, but we still need more to make this great car continue for years to come. If you know someone who can help please help us.
On another issue the RAEME corps is in final stages of assembling the corps history coffee table book, I would like to get as much history of this car. Please send as much as you can to me as soon as you can. I would love to have names and stories but time is very very limited.
I drove the car way back in 1985 for a short time and now it's time for the next generation to move RAEMUS forward, please get behind the team and look for us on Facebook ( spelt remus on facebook ). I would like to insert a current photo but need guidance on how to do this, ( tried but failed )

Ian

Ian, thanks for the update.......

43rd Fitter

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