Photos: The Bruce Wells Collection - Warwick Farm - Part 3

[Steve Holmes]

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A slightly lower-key chapter is this one, what with being book-ended by photo collections from the 1965 (http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?997-The-Bruce-Wells-Collection-Warwick-Farm-Part-2) and 1966 Tasman Series events (1966 to follow soon), but the photos from this chapter, taken at two Warwick Farm events in late 1965, as always, provide a fantastic insight into the domestic Australian racing scene at this time.

This chapter is relatively short. The first section contains just six photos, and is from the practice session at a July 1965 event. The second section is from December 1965.

As always, help with identifying some drivers is always appreciated, so please jump in if you can help.

Here is the Bruce Wells Collection, from Warwick Farm, Part 3.

[Steve Holmes]

Kicking this off here are the first two road racing Mustangs in Australia, those of Norm Beechey and Bob Jane. Note that the right rear wheel on Jane's car is slightly up off the ground!

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[Steve Holmes]

Beechey again, this time carving around the outside of a Lotus Cortina. I've checked through countless Lotus Cortina photos from this period, but am struggling to ID this driver.

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[Steve Holmes]

Might need our resident humpy Holden expert Ellis to help with this hard-leaning FJ and determined pilot.

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[Steve Holmes]

Bob Jane was also running his beautiful lightweight E Type with hard lid attached.

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[Dale Harvey]

The first shot is Peter Manton and John Harvey.

Dale.

[Greg Mackie]

Bit of a guess....Lotus Cortina behind Beechey [#3] could be John Uren.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Greg, unfortunately so little of the car is visible its hard to know for sure.

[Steve Holmes]

The first shot is Peter Manton and John Harvey.

Dale.

Thats right Dale, I've got another great shot of the Manton/Harvey battle from this event coming up.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, next shot, Bruce has nicely captured Bob Jane's ill-fated Mustang which ended its short career at Catalina Park in November 1965, just a couple of months after this photo was taken.

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[Steve Holmes]

Last photo from this event, and its Norm Beechey in his famous Mustang that won the 1965 ATCC. Note the car is fitted with 5-spoke racing wheels here. For the first few months it ran, including the ATCC, it had solid steel wheels. The 5-spokes would have provided a huge improvement in brake cooling.

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[Steve Holmes]

This next event is from December 1965. Kicking things off here Spencer Martin in the Scuderia Veloce Ferrari, just picking up the inside front wheel.

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[Steve Holmes]

Another wonderful shot, of Greg Cusack hustling along in the Lotus 23.

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[hilstwist]

I realise this has probably been discussed before but is this the same ferrari that Andrew Buchanan raced?

[Oldfart]

yes

[Steve Holmes]

I know Kevin Bartlett drove both Alfa Giulia and GTA's for Alec Mildren, so which one is he driving here? I'd take a punt and say he is in the Giulia, as he tended to wear a light coloured silver helmet at this time and the driver of the GTA appears to be wearing a darker coloured lid. The Lotus Cortina in the first shot appears to be Max Volkers. Who is driving the Cooper S?

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[Cooper997]

Great site Steve. The Bruce Wells photos are brilliant and cover many great cars...

The #7 Lotus Cortina lurking behind Beechey's #4 Mustang in post #3 should be Bill Orr's example.

The #15 Cooper S in post #16 should be Phil Barnes metallic purple example.

As far as the Alfa's, they should be Italian works Alfa driver, Roberto Bussinello in the #8 GTA and KB in the #47 Ti Super.

Worth noting is that the July 18th 1965 Warwick Farm race meeting took place of August 8th. Torrential rain causing cancellation for the former date. While the later date was already designated for an AARC Club Members meeting.

Stephen

[Steve Holmes]

Oh, wow, Stephen that is fantastic! Thanks for posting these details. Its great to fill in the gaps. Re Bussinello, did he bring his own car out or was this locally prepared?

Given your Username, you'll no doubt enjoy these amazing shots of the battling John Harvey and Peter Mantons Cooper S's. Love the attitude on these cars.

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[Cooper997]

Steve, the Alfas were the resident Mildren cars, that KB normally got to play with. Bussinello was out to drive the GTA in the Sandown 6 hour, held on November 21, 1965. While Frank Gardner & KB took the race-winning honors in the Ti Super that day. It was that cars' second 6 hour win.

Yes nothing like a limited slip to get the front wheels smoking on a Cooper S. Harvey was the new kid on the block, normally it would be Manton & Foley fighting it out like those great Wells photos depict.

Mini Coopers and Cooper racing cars are my main interest.

Stephen

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Stephen, Mildren also had a right hand drive GTA didn't they?

[Cooper997]

I'm only aware of one GTA. But the likes of Paul Newby on TNF, or a friend of mine, Barry Edmunds love their Alfas. I'll see if Barry can share some wisdom. I've already made him aware of the photos.

Stephen

[Steve Holmes]

I was just making an assumption this was a Mildren car, as its being driven by Frank Gardner. But maybe its not?

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[Cooper997]

Steve, that will be the Mildren car. It must have been converted sometime in late 1966. KB is shown running it in LHD form at the July 17, 1966 Warwick Farm meeting report in 9/66 Racing Car News.
I can't see any listing of the GTA in the September 18, 1966 WF meeting. But KB was entered in something even more exotic that meeting - Mildren's TZ2.
In the December 4, 1966 Warwick Farm programme the car is entered with both Gardner and KB down as possible driver. That should be the meeting that photo was taken, as the 1/67 RCN report mentions Gardner as the driver.

Stephen

[Steve Holmes]

Is this the car that was at the Phillip Island Classic last month Stephen? I wonder why they converted it to rhd?

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[Cooper997]

I'm hoping Barry will be along soon to fill in the blanks... But I suspect it could be.

If I'm on the right path Foley ended up with the car after Mildren's team had finished with it. May have been the car that ended up in Western Australia and ran a rotary late in its racing life. Then came back to Victoria in earlyish 1990s.

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, OK, I had no idea the Mildren Alfa became the Foley Alfa from 1971. Was certainly much developed by this stage. Was this the same car which was fitted with a V8 and run as a Sports Sedan by Foley in 1972? These are pics I grabbed off Autopics:

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[Cooper997]

Really need to have the Alfa gurus to chime in here...

Maybe it was that one I was thinking about. But that's a lightweight GTAM I think. The Alfa V8 came from a Mildren Brabham. If memory serves correct Paul Hamilton had the Brabham chassis reunited with the Alfa V8 for Spencer Martin to drive at the first Eastern Creek Tasman Revival in December 2006.

[Spgeti]

The earlier photo is a Stepfront, 1964 to 1967 GTA and the later a 1750/2000, 1967 to 1974 wide body Gtam. Didn't Foley bring his Alfa out here in GTA form and then V8 form. Autodelta modified many of the early cars to wide body as well. The Gtams were made by Autodelta, where as the GTA were made by Alfa.

[Dale Harvey]

Really need to have the Alfa gurus to chime in here...

Maybe it was that one I was thinking about. But that's a lightweight GTAM I think. The Alfa V8 came from a Mildren Brabham. If memory serves correct Paul Hamilton had the Brabham chassis reunited with the Alfa V8 for Spencer Martin to drive at the first Eastern Creek Tasman Revival in December 2006.


If my memory serves me correctly, Foley's car was a GTAM brought out here to run as a touring car. So, I think a different car to the Mildren one. Then later it was fitted with the V8 to run as a sports sedan.
The Brabham Alfa you mention is owned by Paul Moxham not Paul Hamilton.

Dale.

[Steve Holmes]

This is fantastic info guys, many thanks.

[Cooper997]

Thanks for the clarifications and name correction, Spgeti & Dale.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, some oddballs and a few unknowns in this lot. Can anyone help here to ID these drivers? VW Beetle is sitting remarkably flat through the corner chasing the Renault.

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[Dale Harvey]

The Valiant driver would be Alton Boddenberg and the HD Holden could be Herb Taylor.
Dale.

[Cooper997]

If these are meant to be the Dec 65 WF meeting then the #43 Renault R8 should be R Edgerton & the #65 VW is R Groves. The race being event 5 'Touring Car Race (Improved Production - Division 2).

As Dale mentions, from the same race the #50 HD Holden X2 is entered by Herb Taylor. But the driver could be Herb or J Hall. I'm struggling to get a decent grab on the other numbers. There's only one Val listed in the entry list and it is as Dale mentions, the Alton Boddenberg #59 example. The Renault R8 Gordini could be the #63 Sentinel Motors entry for P Donnelly.

[Steve Holmes]

This is really great, thanks you guys.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Cooper997]

The Wolseley 6/80 is #58 Barnard Auto Spares/Barry Sharp entry.

The Cooper S is #37 Killara Motor Garage/Bob Holden entry. The EH I think is #53, so that should be the Esso Servicecentre, Waterloo/R Wilkinson entry.

[Steve Holmes]

Brilliant! Many thanks, this is so great to have the blanks filled in.

Re Barry Sharp, is this the same Barry Sharp that raced a series of wild early V8 Sports Sedans in the late '60s and early '70s? Including V8 MkII Zephyr, Holden FE, Jaguar etc?

[Steve Holmes]

Here are a couple more shots of the furious Holden Cooper S and Wilkinson EH battle, as above:

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[Dale Harvey]

Yes, the same Barry Sharp. That's Malcolm Bailey in the Zephyr behind the two Bobs.

Dale.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Dale.

[Steve Holmes]

Thats not Kevin Bartlett in the Lotus is it? Looks like it could be #21 on the hood, though hard to say.

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[Cooper997]

On the assumption these are still Dec 65 shots...

The Super Seven is listed as follows in Event #4 'Clubman & Special Category Racing Car Race' - #21 Total (West Ryde) S/Stn/J Tuxford Lotus Super 7 Ford 1475 Blue. I'll leave it to someone else to identity the rollbar from the following car though! Unless you have another angle Steve.

The other photo shows what is possibly Event 7 'Sports Car Race - Division 2' #5 Ian Hindmarsh Motors entry for either Ian or K Walters Hunter 179, ahead of #53 Trevor Meehan in the Mini Din.

[Steve Holmes]

Awesome! This is really great stuff, thanks for posting.

[Steve Holmes]

Here are the next ones:

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[Greg Ghost]

The leading car is TVR Grantura that Kevin Bartlett sometimes drove for the TVR distributor Peter Owen it was also driven byGraham Wood using his own crossflow B series engine from his own MGB it was later sold back to the UK where it is raced in Historic events

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Greg, yes absolutely spot on.

[Oldfart]

Steve, can these be posted on a Renault website to identify the R8 Gordini drivers?

[Steve Holmes]

Here are the Edgerton Renault and the Valiant again. Note the position of Edgertons head, stuck well outside the window of the Gordini.

How are the Cooper S drivers?

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[Steve Holmes]

Steve, can these be posted on a Renault website to identify the R8 Gordini drivers?

Yep, for sure Rhys. Stephen (Cooper997) has been able to ID most of them but any extra help would be great.

[Dale Harvey]

The leading car is TVR Grantura that Kevin Bartlett sometimes drove for the TVR distributor Peter Owen it was also driven byGraham Wood using his own crossflow B series engine from his own MGB it was later sold back to the UK where it is raced in Historic events
Greg,
If you are refering to the second photo in post #42, Cooper997 has correctly identified the lead car as a Hunter Holden. I will grant you it does look a little like a TVR, but, it isn't.

Dale.

[Cooper997]

Steve, the latest shot in post 49 with the R8 Gordini & 2 Minis must be the first event of that Dec 65 Warwick Farm meeting.
Event 1 'Touring Car Race (Series Production) - 5 laps.
#44 is the Sentinel Motors/ P Donnelly Renault R8 Gordini (the Edgerton car wasn't a Gordini)
#36 is down as the Barrie Broomhall Motors entry for B Rout (Qld) Morris Cooper S in blue.
The best I can work out for the other Mini is that it's #40 N Kearsley Morris Cooper S. Given the shade in this b&w photo, I'd say it's a Toga White body with either Royal Red or Burgundy Red roof. Both Cooper S being less than 2 months old when this photo was taken.

The post 45 shots, should be from the same Event 1, with the aforementioned #36 Rout Cooper S with #16 Renno Motors/D Frazer R8 Gordini & #7 Bill Orr Lotus Cortina.
The next shot with 2 Morris Coopers (they aren't S types) & the standard R8 should be also from Event 1,
#26 D J Toshock (in a rare in Australia) 998cc Morris Cooper in Grey.
Taking a major guess based on the shade of the Morris Cooper in the background, I'd say it is #29 R Phillips 997cc example. Being either Cherry or Tartan Red with likely white roof.
The Renault R8 should be the #43 Edgerton example in grey again.

Stephen

[Oldfart]

I agree with Cooper re the second in post #45 the R8 is not a Gordini, headlight size is the clue, the G having bigger lights, and of course later having the 4 light front.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks guys, great info! Its amazing to be able to assemble all the pieces to make the full story.

[Steve Holmes]

Here are the final two photos for this chapter, finishing off as we started, with Norm Beechey in his Mustang.

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[Dale Harvey]

Malcolm Bailey in the Zephyr followed by, I think, Bob Holden.

Dale.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks again Dale.

[prn31]

I'm only aware of one GTA. But the likes of Paul Newby on TNF, or a friend of mine, Barry Edmunds love their Alfas. I'll see if Barry can share some wisdom. I've already made him aware of the photos.

Stephen

My first post here.

There were two Mildren GTAs, both white.

The first was the LHD car raced by Bussinello, which was later written off in Western Australia. According to Alleggerita the chassis number is not known as the firewall did not survive, and thus it is known as Mildren No.1.

The second Mildren GTA was RHD, as raced by Bartlett, then sold to John French and on to Brian Foley who raced it with a later front and a special 1.9 "bitsa" Autodelta engine in Chesterfield colours as a sports sedan. Foley had a big accident in the car at Oran Park in 73, which effectively ended his and the car's career. This car was restored in Western Australia in Chesterfield colours and then returned to the east (NSW) where a collector spent a lot of money restoring it back to original Mildren spec.

Not to be confused with the Foley 1750 GTAM, an original Autodelta car that Foley bought into the country in 1971, and raced with the Tasman V8 2.5 engine into 1972. That car also made its way west (like all collectable Alfas seem to do) and is now back in Victoria being restored to original condition complete with its original slide-injected Autodelta 2.0 engine.

The Foley GTA/GTAM cars are often mistaken for each other. I hope that this clears things up.:)

Paul

[Cooper997]

Thanks for clearing that up Paul.

But did the LHD 'Mildren No 1' go West at the time of the RHD car becoming available or some time later?

Stephen

[Steve Holmes]

My first post here.

There were two Mildren GTAs, both white.

The first was the LHD car raced by Bussinello, which was later written off in Western Australia. According to Alleggerita the chassis number is not known as the firewall did not survive, and thus it is known as Mildren No.1.

The second Mildren GTA was RHD, as raced by Bartlett, then sold to John French and on to Brian Foley who raced it with a later front and a special 1.9 "bitsa" Autodelta engine in Chesterfield colours as a sports sedan. Foley had a big accident in the car at Oran Park in 73, which effectively ended his and the car's career. This car was restored in Western Australia in Chesterfield colours and then returned to the east (NSW) where a collector spent a lot of money restoring it back to original Mildren spec.

Not to be confused with the Foley 1750 GTAM, an original Autodelta car that Foley bought into the country in 1971, and raced with the Tasman V8 2.5 engine into 1972. That car also made its way west (like all collectable Alfas seem to do) and is now back in Victoria being restored to original condition complete with its original slide-injected Autodelta 2.0 engine.

The Foley GTA/GTAM cars are often mistaken for each other. I hope that this clears things up.:)

Paul

Wow, great first post! Thanks for this info, just fantastic. I always assumed the Foley Alfa with the V8 was his Improved Tourer turned into a Sports Sedan. Thanks for clarifying this.

[prn31]

Thanks for clearing that up Paul.

But did the LHD 'Mildren No 1' go West at the time of the RHD car becoming available or some time later?

Stephen

I've checked Alleggerita and Mildren No.1 came to Australia in November 65 and was sold to Gordon Stephenson in October 1966. Overtime the GTA was turned into a sports sedan (probably how it lost its firewall) and then suffered a major accident. Not sure if the wreck survives.

The RHD GTA, chassis no. 762561 (I think!) arrived in Australia in August 1966 to replace the LHD GTA. Not sure of the rationale, though the LHD GTA's major races were at Sandown (6 Hour) and Bathurst (66 ATCC) which were both anti-clockwise, whereas the RHD GTA's major races were at Warwick Farm and Lakeside (67 ATCC) which were clockwise circuits.

[Robert Bailey]

great read this post.
Where would one find out about the dealer team cars Foley ran?

[Cooper997]

I've checked Alleggerita and Mildren No.1 came to Australia in November 65 and was sold to Gordon Stephenson in October 1966. Overtime the GTA was turned into a sports sedan (probably how it lost its firewall) and then suffered a major accident. Not sure if the wreck survives.

The RHD GTA, chassis no. 762561 (I think!) arrived in Australia in August 1966 to replace the LHD GTA. Not sure of the rationale, though the LHD GTA's major races were at Sandown (6 Hour) and Bathurst (66 ATCC) which were both anti-clockwise, whereas the RHD GTA's major races were at Warwick Farm and Lakeside (67 ATCC) which were clockwise circuits.

Thanks Paul. Certainly no great gap in the LHD GTA going West then. I wonder whether it went there just like some of the Neptune cars going West or to Tassie for events then getting sold there. Essentially meaning the Neptune/Tridents/ Shell drivers didn't have to race against their old cars.

Stephen

[prn31]

great read this post.
Where would one find out about the dealer team cars Foley ran?

The Foley dealer team cars are pretty easy.

Tim Schenken wrote off the original John French GTV at Bathurst 75 when it broke a wheel at McPhillamy Park.

Gordon Rich wrote off the LHD Autodelta GTV at Forest Elbow in practice for the 77 Bathurst race.

The Bell/Leggatt Bathurst 77 class winning car (the orignal Christine Cole/Gibson Chesterfield car from 73) almost met its end in a Targa Tasmania crash by its current owner who lives in Melbourne. It is currently being restored to its 77 Bathurst livery up here in NSW.

[prn31]

Thanks Paul. Certainly no great gap in the LHD GTA going West then. I wonder whether it went there just like some of the Neptune cars going West or to Tassie for events then getting sold there. Essentially meaning the Neptune/Tridents/ Shell drivers didn't have to race against their old cars.

Stephen

Not sure about the theory. Remember the second Mildren car went to John French who could certainly steer. Though by that time Mildrens were busy with Alfa V8 engined single seaters and GTV production cars and had moved away from exotica like GTAs and the TZs (1 and 2).

They seem to like their exotic Alfa Romeos in the West. There are a few Italian/Australians out there as well as a couple of serious collectors.

Paul

[Robert Bailey]

The remaining Foley car,I bought that of Jeff H in about 1982 and sold to Tim B who in turn sold it to his brother Chris.
had some nice features like,
the tacho on the lhs dash pad.
Close ratio gearbox I bought in West Aust.
had only ever raced from day one,no heater or sound deading.
large brakes on the front
Auto delta panhard rod
Even when I had it ..every panel had been hit but there was no rust.
fast little car,Hugh and Vin did an engine for me,coming back from an Alfa national rally in South A.,I blew off a Montreal in a straight line near Robb and saw on the flat just on 130mph,which i think was the speed Bell had it doing on Conrod in '77.
I ran it with a set of gold Simmons 15x8 all round as the wheels with it were worn out .

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes

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I'm pretty sure I worked out earlier that this was Bruce Taylor...

Malcolm Bailey's car was blue (very pale blue, however) but a check of the Catalina/Wells thread will enable a check of the number plate, and that should settle it.

[Dale Harvey]

I'm pretty sure I worked out earlier that this was Bruce Taylor...

Malcolm Bailey's car was blue (very pale blue, however) but a check of the Catalina/Wells thread will enable a check of the number plate, and that should settle it.

Ray, that is Malcolm Bailey 5/12/65. The car was blue with a white roof. I think Bruce Taylor's car was yellow.
Dale.

[Ray Bell]

I didn't check, but I did on the Catalina thread...

That's why I referred to it. Taylor's car was cream IIRC.

I'm still looking for pictures of Bailey's fantastic transporter!