1950 Trimax Monocoque F3
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Formula 3
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Serial Number: tbd
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Alvin "Spike" Rhiando was a Canadian who tried his hand at most types of low cost Auto racing, including midget cars and speedway riding. He is remembered as one of the best known of the early 500 racers, especially after he won the support race for the 1948 British GP in a Cooper-JAP. During the 1949 season he created the Trimax, aptly named because it was designed to have the ability to take the three sizes of engine, 500cc, 750, 1100cc.
It had a bath tub like monocoque chassis constructed from Dural sheeting and had bag tanks contained in the side members, very much like the Lotus 25, and suspension was derived from Porsche lines with trailing arms at the front and swing axles at the rear, but sprung by adjustable 'Metalisk' bonded rubber units. The steering system was reminiscent of the days of the cyclecar with chains and cables moving a central pivot from where there came dual track rods, and while its hydraulic front brakes were functional enough, at the rear a single (drum) brake operated on the transmission.
It was a very large car, that sported pretty cast alloy wheels but was much too heavy to be truly competitive. Consiquently Rhiando soon after drifted out of racing.
