Photos: The Peter Mellor Collection - Part 1

[Steve Holmes]

19690

Another new collection of period motor racing photos, and another collection I'm really excited to share. This stuff is absolutely gold, and its a real privilege to be able to post it here. The Peter Mellor Collection is a largely Queensland based collection of photos dating back to the early 1960s. The photos were taken by Pete himself, as well as his cousin Ray Moore, and a close friend, who prefers to remain anonymous.

Pete has been a member of The Roaring Season for quite some time. You'll know him as 'mid-year'. He has posted some real gems on this site in amongst various threads, but now we've pinned him down to bring the collection together within one thread.

I actually don't know how many photos will be in this collection, as Pete has been drip-feeding them to me, and I suspect even he isn't sure, so we'll just run with it, and see where it takes us. But I can promise, there are some real gems in here.

So, anyway, here it is, the Peter Mellor Collection.

[Steve Holmes]

19691

The photo in the opening post, and the one posted here, show the famous, and feared, Neptune Racing Team (which went on to become the Tridents Racing Team) made up of l-r: Jim McKeown, Norm Beechey, and Peter Manton. The opening portion of this collection are photos of the Neptune team.

This photo was taken in 1964, and I suspect it could even be from the Australian Touring Car Championship race, which was held at Lakeside that year. The three drivers were each based in a different class (Manton in 1,001 - 1,300cc, McKeown in 1,301 - 2,000cc, and Beechey in Over 2,600cc), so the team had a representative battling for class honours. However, at this time, there was little to separate the different classes on performance, and indeed, the outright winner could come from any number of drivers in any class.

These two opening photos capture the excitement that surrounded this team. They were a force to be reckoned with, although in the 1964 ATCC, it was Pete Geoghegan in his Cortina GT who emerged victorious, although each of the Neptune team members played a significant role. Beechey looks great here, always the showman, playing 'mister cool'.

[Steve Holmes]

Jim McKeown was the first driver in Australia to race a Lotus Cortina. His was not a factory built racer, as many were, rather a road car converted for racing. But McKeown developed the car to such an extent, some even considered it to be the worlds fastest Lotus Cortina.

Here Jim and Manton hover around the Cortina's engine bay.

19692

[Steve Holmes]

High-tech refueling system on Norm's EH.

19793

[Steve Holmes]

Fantastic photo here of Jim McKeown's Lotus Cortina engine bay.

19794

[Steve Holmes]

Beechey, on left, is looking a little like Ed Roth with his Neptune hat on. That's Manton on the right. Who is the guy in the middle?

19795

[seaqnmac27]

The Manton Mini at the Lakeside Classic

19856

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Sean, neat photo of a neat car. And its driven well too!

[seaqnmac27]

Ex Manton Neptune Racing Mini in action

19863

19864

[Steve Holmes]

This photo had me confused, as this appears to be Jim McKeown, but I didn't recognise the car. Jim did race an FX Holden in the early '60s, before the formation of the Neptune team, but the rear quarters on this car don't look like Humpy Holden. I asked Pete if he could help, and here is his reply:

"Steve if memory serves me correctly this is the ancient Hillman raced by a fellow who,s name was Gillmeister (forgotten his christian name) which was a regular competitor at Lakeside in the early sixties. It does appear to be Mckeown but just what the connection was I can not say The old Hillman went fairly well and I can recall him using it as his daily driver as well!"

19898

[Steve Holmes]

I assume this is Beechey's EH engine bay.

19899

[Rod Grimwood]

Yep shes a Hillman, my 1st car was one and it had welded back doors, and same colour, went alright.

[mid-year]

The intrepid Hillman Minx pilot was John Gillmeister who raced the old Minx up to late September 1964 after which he went to England and competed in Formula Two and Three. John is now retired and enjoying life in Tasmania.

Regards Pete.

[Steve Holmes]

Brilliant info, thanks Pete.

[Steve Holmes]

These two photos are just fantastic! The Norm Beechey Car Sales transporter arrives at Lakeside, and immediately draws a crowd. This would have been a big deal at the time, a purpose built rig, towing three race cars, and painted up in the same colours. This is 1965, and Beechey has now replaced his EH Holden with this new Mustang. This was the first Mustang to race in Australiasia, and was an incredibly exciting new addition, even though many weren't convinced a Mustang could be a good racer at first. Note the Mustang is wearing its steel wheels, which were later replaced by 5-spoke American Racing type wheels, to be aid brake cooling. Beechey would go on to win the 1965 ATCC with this car.

19969

19968

[Steve Holmes]

Norm's Mustang again. Look at the size of the crowd it has managed to draw, and it hasn't even been rolled off the transporter yet!

20139

[Steve Holmes]

Pete, who are these blokes?

20171

[mid-year]

The guy in the Neptune blue outfit ( complete with Cobra patch ) was a team mechanic of unknown identity,the other fellows were most likely local helpers. it would be great to hear from Norm himself to fill in the details. This was nearly fifty years ago! no wonder I feel so old.

Regards Pete.

PS.......I believe Norm may have the first person to circuit-race a Mustang......anywhere!

[Michael Clark]

He certainly told me at Ruapuna circa 2002 that he was the first person to win a championship in one..

[Robert Bailey]

The guy in the Neptune blue outfit ( complete with Cobra patch ) was a team mechanic of unknown identity,the other fellows were most likely local helpers. it would be great to hear from Norm himself to fill in the details. This was nearly fifty years ago! no wonder I feel so old.

Regards Pete.

PS.......I believe Norm may have the first person to circuit-race a Mustang......anywhere!
That would be the late Claude Morton,who worked for Norm in those years,many years latter he was member of the VHRR and the tow truck driver at Winton raceway Benalla,a very nice always had a joke and a smile on his face.

[zombie289]

PS.......I believe Norm may have the first person to circuit-race a Mustang......anywhere!

Nope Alan Mann beat him to it in the 1st week of Jan 1965

[Rod Grimwood]

Nope Alan Mann beat him to it in the 1st week of Jan 1965

Interesting as believe Norm to be first, ok

[Steve Holmes]

Yes, that is interesting. There has always been talk that the Beechey Mustang was the first Mustang in the world to be circuit raced. But the Beechey car made its race debut in late January 1965, so was after the Alan Mann car.

[Steve Holmes]

That would be the late Claude Morton,who worked for Norm in those years,many years latter he was member of the VHRR and the tow truck driver at Winton raceway Benalla,a very nice always had a joke and a smile on his face.

Thanks for this Robert.

[Robert Bailey]

Do we have any current photos of Norms Mustang?

[Ellis]

These are from ebay when it was sold in 2008

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/P1100800_zps073aa15b.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/P1100800_zps073aa15b.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/P1100801_zps4c91fe0c.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/P1100801_zps4c91fe0c.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/P1100802_zps77806f81.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/P1100802_zps77806f81.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/P1100797_zps46949185.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/P1100797_zps46949185.jpg.html)

[Ellis]

Yes, that is interesting. There has always been talk that the Beechey Mustang was the first Mustang in the world to be circuit raced. But the Beechey car made its race debut in late January 1965, so was after the Alan Mann car.

Understood it to be the 1st Mustang in world to win a road race

[Robert Bailey]

I'm thinking that the current owners are restoring it in the style of 1965 ATCC figure.
I was keen to buy it at the time but the GFC and cancer kicked that on the head.

[Steve Holmes]

Robert, were you looking at buying it in 2008 when it went up for auction, or at an earlier time in its life?

[Steve Holmes]

These are from ebay when it was sold in 2008


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/P1100801_zps4c91fe0c.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/P1100801_zps4c91fe0c.jpg.html)



Interesting, I've never noticed before that the Mustang was converted to right hand drive at some stage. When did this happen?

[Robert Bailey]

Hi Steve....great forum,been reading it for about a year,it was on Ebay and a fellow Autosport forum member (275) put me onto it.
I had known about it for years via a guy that worked in CAMS in the historic area,who did the ex Niel Allen Shelby 'stang.
But thats another story.perhaps not for print.Same fellow built up in the '90s a copy of the blue ATCC car and palmed it off as Norms car,it still is in VIC from memory.

[Steve Holmes]

Oh wow, I hadn't realised a replica had been made and was being palmed off as the real thing. A bit like the Sidchrome Mustang look-a-like that was built in the US and sold as the real thing. For some reason they used a '70 Mustang to build it from!

20211

[Ellis]

This is the replica (pic source not known)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/3076085871_5ca8de6a40_zps9778f14b.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/3076085871_5ca8de6a40_zps9778f14b.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/3076923678_d3c1559422_o_zps2a18a4ab.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/3076923678_d3c1559422_o_zps2a18a4ab.jpg.html)

[Robert Bailey]

thats the car,it was well built under contract by a mate that did a '67 Stang I ran in historics.

I think at some stage ,Norm sent a letter out ..asking for his name to be removed or similar.

[zombie289]

In Alan Manns biography, He claims to have won a race at Brands hatch in the first week of January 1965. That race was actually a delayed Boxing day meeting... He was driving an ex TDF mustang and it was typical of Alan to race at that Boxing day meeting once a year...to keep his eye in...so to speak! I do have a copy of autosport somewhere in my archives that verifies this victory. Speaking of Norm Beechey though, does anyone have a pic of this car when it was still painted Gold??

[Robert Bailey]

When those 3 cars ran in the '64 TDF,did they not also have races during the tour?

[Rod Grimwood]

thats the car,it was well built under contract by a mate that did a '67 Stang I ran in historics.

I think at some stage ,Norm sent a letter out ..asking for his name to be removed or similar.


Found this photo, same car number plate. kind of recent looking cars in background
note it is left hook

[zombie289]

When those 3 cars ran in the '64 TDF,did they not also have races during the tour?

I believe that could have been possible Robert, as I have seen pics of the 1963 TDF cars going around the Monaco?? track....

[Rod Grimwood]

Ellis, can you blow up or scan the for sale notice, as sure it says 1st Mustang to win a race in the world. This is interesting as I am sure I read somewhere way back that was what happened.

Its a 1965 Mustang. Believe they were the first.

Did they make them in 63/64.

[Rod Grimwood]

Found this on Bob Jane site, must be when norm had just picked the car up, before transporter.
Good looking set up.

[Ellis]

Rod

Sign does say that as does a lot of other info on Beechey etc over the years.

First Mustangs were built in March 1964 and are referred to as 64 1/2 and Ford called them 65's.
USA used to/still does release the next years model mid the previous year.

Its a very early K code built Aug 3rd 64 in San Jose and was P = Prairie Bronze and had drum brakes all round ex factory , the fronts Beechey replaced with discs after 1 or 2 meetings.

This sign was on it at MCM at Eastern Crk a few years ago.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/P1100799_zps4e0450b4.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/P1100799_zps4e0450b4.jpg.html)

[Robert Bailey]

I reckon that is Golbourn on the Hume hwy

[Rod Grimwood]

Rod

Sign does say that as does a lot of other info on Beechey etc over the years.

First Mustangs were built in March 1964 and are referred to as 64 1/2 and Ford called them 65's.
USA used to/still does release the next years model mid the previous year.

Its a very early K code built Aug 3rd 64 in San Jose and was P = Prairie Bronze and had drum brakes all round ex factory , the fronts Beechey replaced with discs after 1 or 2 meetings.

This sign was on it at MCM at Eastern Crk a few years ago.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/P1100799_zps4e0450b4.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/P1100799_zps4e0450b4.jpg.html)


Thanks Ellis, yea after I had done thread I clicked about the 64 1/2. Remember reading an article about Norm going and getting it and the work he did to it as he progressed with it. Also have read more than once about it being first to win, so can only go by what you are informed of.

[Robert Bailey]

of note is the final axle ratio of 3.89 ,which even today is a favourite ratio even today with the 289's turning to well over 7,500 rpm.

[Ellis]

Most of the very early K Codes had 3.89 open diffs (Code 8) but as time passed 3.5 (Code 5) become the common ratio.

Later K Codes had code E which was 3.5 LSD as standard . H was optional 3.89 LSD as was a 4.11.
The K code had bigger carb, solid lifters, bigger main caps, bigger balancer, different headers, 9" diff,
CR toploader, twin piston calipers, lowered suspension, quicker steering 16.1 box, produced 271hp at 6K compared to USA A code engine of around 220hp.

Interesting that the USA A code engine was chosen by Ford Australia for the XR GT and called a K in Australia
Been nice if they had fitted the USA K Code.

It was the K code that Shelby used to build his cars from mainly giving them extractors and a head clean up to produce 300hp for the road going versions .
The R code Shelbys built specially to race had quite a few extra mods including front suspension pick up
point mods , weight saving stuff , and heaps of HP

K Codes are very collectable today and known as the poor mans Shelby.
I'm very poor but have one in the shed.

[mid-year]

20248Hi guys,Ray found this great shot of the start of the 1964 ATCC at Lakeside fearturing the Neptune Racing Team.

Pete

[Cooper997]

Great to see these brilliant period colour photos from Pete and Ray's collections. All full of great atmosphere. Please keep showing all us enthusiasts more.

It's all a very long time ago, but the missing Bob Jane Jaguar up the pointy end (or visible) made me double check this great photo though. I think this is the November 22, 1964 Lakeside visit for the Neptune Racing Team. They certainly started a 20 lap 'Sedan Trophy Race' in that order, with those numbers. Following should be Brian Muir in the red S4, Brian Foley red/black Cooper S and Bo Seton in the black Cortina GT. The Muir S4 obviously got a great start as he was next to Seton on the grid. While Foley was next to McKeown's Lotus Cortina. The L-C driver won.

Stephen

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, well spotted! I'm sure you could be right too, as it was Muir who led the field from the start in the '64 ATCC race, with Jane right behind. Unless its a prelim race?

Pete, beautiful photo! Thanks for posting it.

[mid-year]

Here,s Norm giving Muirs S4 a bit of a hurry up.
Pete.20252

[Oldfart]

I have just been reading the Alan Mann interviews with Wolfgang Kohrn. No quoting is permitted but it would be very interesting to substantiate the statements regarding the "Boxing Day Meeting" 1964, as previously stated which was held 2 weeks later where Alan Mann easily won his races with an ex Sofia Liege car.
Don't get me wrong, Norm was a real spectacle, but are we in the realm of "don't let the truth get in the road of a good story"?

[mid-year]

Norm cleared out and was looking good for a win at this stage.

Pete.20253

[Ellis]

Great pics Pete
Thanks for sharing

[Robert Bailey]

TDF Mustangs of Mann,were the 1st Mustangs to circuit race ....september 1964.

[Oldfart]

TDF Mustangs of Mann,were the 1st Mustangs to circuit race ....september 1964.

And with out any doubt won in Jan 65 (but not TDF as the winner was a Sofia Liege car which preceded the TDF)

[Robert Bailey]

Correct,have you had a chance to read the Alan Mann book "A life of chance" ?

The mustang content is well worth reading as is the chapter on the F3L sports car.

[Cooper997]

Wow, well spotted! I'm sure you could be right too, as it was Muir who led the field from the start in the '64 ATCC race, with Jane right behind. Unless its a prelim race?

Pete, beautiful photo! Thanks for posting it.

The #2 Manton Mini is one clue to the photo being the November 1964 meeting. For the July ATCC meeting he was #18, as shown in the 2 opening posts of this great thread. The November race was also run during overcast weather, lack of major shadows help indicate this to be the case.

The November meeting was also the debut meeting for some bloke named Johnson. I almost thought that beige early model humpy Holden sitting on the trailer in the background might have been Dick's, but I think the car in the photo is #37 and can't see the stripe across the front guards and bonnet.

Stephen

[Cooper997]

Fresh bitumen, put down just prior to the ATCC meeting indicate Pete's latest 2 photos are from the ATCC meeting. Beechey and Muir had the same numbers for both the July & November meetings.

Edit - looking again at the lighting, the Muir & Beechey photo is probably the ATCC. The single Beechey photo the November meeting.

Stephen

[mid-year]

Thanks for clearing that up Stephen, the memory gets a bit murky with the passing of the years.

Pete.

[Cooper997]

Pete, happy to help if I can work things out with enough clues. I'm just glad that this 'gold' of yours is able to be seen. There will always be someone keen enough to identify the participants/ dates when it's of interest to fellow enthusiasts.

Don't worry about the memory when these photos are 49 years old. Just as well you learnt to take such great photos as a five year old (laughs). I surprise myself when I look back at photos taken in more recent times and are reminded of various cars at a particular event.

Stephen

[mid-year]

Manton leading Foley out of the Karussel,Peter Mantons Cooper S was the Mini to beat in its day.

Pete.20292

[Steve Holmes]

Boy these two guys sure had some battles!

[Cooper997]

Pete, great photo of Manton and Foley at battle. They were certainly very competitive with each other during those days. This will be the July ATCC meeting, but quite likely the 10 lap Heat where the pair of them cleared out from the rest of the field.

What I'm interested to know was any of these great photos shown or published in period? Also, what are the earliest meeting that you photographed at?

Stephen

[mid-year]

Hi Stephen,I will post another similar shot at the same spot but I am almost sure this was during the actual ATCC but you may be able to comment with your excellent knowledge on this period.A lot of these were previously posted on a thread about the 1964 ATCC some time back on T.R.S. Steve will be starting a couple of new threads soon featuring some great shots of Lakeside around the same time period. All these were colour slides taken with a quality camera and thus Ray has painstakingly converted them to digital and at the same time has done some colour enhancement as after half a century a lot of them are starting to deteriorate.Prior to this most of our shots were done with a budget box brownie in black and white prints and are therefore not suitable for posting.
I believe we are all lucky to have such a good forum to share our photos and knowledge.

20297 Regards Pete.

PS Our photos have only been shown here.

[Cooper997]

Pete, because of my interest in Minis and Cooper racing cars I can often lay my hands on the period reports and sometimes race programmes to help ID things.

The latest photo is definitely a different time of the day at the very least, going by shadows. So not the same race as the Manton & Foley photo. But the 'lake' looks a bit greener and flaggies are different in this latest photo. So I wouldn't completely rule out November 1964.

Ray has obviously done a great job to convert all these colour slides, but don't be too dismissive of the box brownie shots. There's often some great nuggets to be found by enthusiasts/historians who weren't there taking the photo. Regardless of the quality. Afterall, as life often proves we are our own biggest critics. But those box brownie shots may be the only known photos of some competitors too.

Did you and Ray visit Lowood also?

Stephen

[Steve Holmes]

Another superb shot of the Beechey Mustang in 1965.

20334

[Steve Holmes]

This is a superb shot of the Lakeside pit and grandstand areas, near the front straight. Note the enclosed Geoghegan race car trailer in the foreground.

20335

[Steve Holmes]

I love this shot of Pete Geoghegan's Mustang in the pits, in its later guise with Castrol sponsorship. Note the nicely flared wheel arches, which appeared on the car later in its time with Geoghegan. Note also the beautiful megaphone exhaust dropping out behind the front wheel. All eight cylinders spent their used gases through this one pipe. This would be early 1967, before he switched to his new '67 model GTA for the ATCC.

Whose is the Mini alongside? Is it Don Holland?

20347

[Robert Bailey]

fantastic,i've scene it that close up in that format ,awesome.

[Ellis]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;32188]I love this shot of Pete Geoghegan's Mustang in the pits, in its later guise with Castrol sponsorship. Note the nicely flared wheel arches, which appeared on the car later in its time with Geoghegan. Note also the beautiful megaphone exhaust dropping out behind the front wheel. All eight cylinders spent their used gases through this one pipe. This would be early 1967, before he switched to his new '67 model GTA for the ATCC.

Whose is the Mini alongside? Is it Don Holland?


I took that pic in 1967 at Longford...Its Bob Holdens Lwt Mini

[Dale Harvey]

I think you will find there were two megaphones not one. Side by side. I am pretty sure Bo Seton made that system. It was a 180 degree system (similar to GT 40) with the primary pipes crossing at the back of the sump.
Dale.

[Robert Bailey]

in its mode there,what were the wheel widths?

[Steve Holmes]

I have a magazine article on this car when it was in Castrol livery, as pictured in 1967, and its driving me crazy that I can't find it. Pretty sure it was Wheels magazine. Anyway, the Mustang raced on 15" x 7" wheels from the time it first appeared in 1965, but I wonder if its actually got 8" wide wheels in 1967 in this picture, hence the flaring. His new '67 Mustang GTA which replaced this car mid-way through 1967 wore 15" x 8" wheels.

[Steve Holmes]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;32188]I love this shot of Pete Geoghegan's Mustang in the pits, in its later guise with Castrol sponsorship. Note the nicely flared wheel arches, which appeared on the car later in its time with Geoghegan. Note also the beautiful megaphone exhaust dropping out behind the front wheel. All eight cylinders spent their used gases through this one pipe. This would be early 1967, before he switched to his new '67 model GTA for the ATCC.

Whose is the Mini alongside? Is it Don Holland?


I took that pic in 1967 at Longford...Its Bob Holdens Lwt Mini

Thanks Ellis, its a beautiful photo. Do you recall what month this was taken?

[Ellis]

[QUOTE=Ellis;32196]

Thanks Ellis, its a beautiful photo. Do you recall what month this was taken?

March....Longford was Long weekend early in March


Bob Holden had 2 Mini's at the meeting , one normal one lightweight both in Castrol colours

[Steve Holmes]

This is an absolute gem! What better way to attract customers and sell more Neptune product than to have Peter Manton's Cooper S out on display!

20539

[mid-year]

This was the Service-Station site on the corner of Hamilton and Newman roads at Wavell Heights ( just around the corner from my parents house ) which is a northern Brisbane suburb,where the Neptune team would be based on their trips to Lakeside.They would typically arrive on a Friday and unload the cars for display on the fore-court for the enthusiats who came from miles away to get a first hand look.The Servo would stay open until late that night (trading had to cease at 6.00pm in those days) before the cars were locked away prior to taking them up to Lakeside early Saturday morning for scrutineering and practice. The team could also avail them selves of the workshop facilities for repairs etc. As a sign of the times that site is now a child minding centre and the Mobil opposition over the road is a medical centre(sigh),I took a shot from a similar position as a comparison but had to do it at 6.00am Sunday to simulate the much lighter traffic at that time

Pete.20551

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Pete, GREAT story! I love then-and-now photos, even though they're often a bit sad.

[Steve Holmes]

This is a beauty. This one is by Jeff Neild, and captures John Goss in his GT-HO Phase III spearing off the end of the Surfers Paradise front straight, in typical Phase III Series Production pose. Chasing is, I think, Fred Gibson in one of the factory Phase IIIs, judging by the yellow windscreen banner and spot-light covers (on Moffats sister car these were usually silver), while in behind is John French in the purple Bryan Burt Phase III.

20674

[Steve Holmes]

More GT-HO Phase III's. This is the car Des West raced in 1971 and '72 to Series Production rules. This photo was taken in 1972, but prior to Bathurst, as it still wears its factory 14" wheels (pre-Globe's). At Bathurst in 1971, West drove the car solo, and finished well down in 20th, after qualifying 12th, while in '72, again driving solo, he failed to reach the finish after qualifying 10th. Where is this car now?

20733

[Steve Holmes]

Des West again, just before the start of the Bathurst race, 1972. Note the car has sprouted a side exhaust here. Who is the bloke walking away from the car with the video camera? He is also pictured in the above photo.

20734

[Rod Grimwood]

Des West again, just before the start of the Bathurst race, 1972. Note the car has sprouted a side exhaust here. Who is the bloke walking away from the car with the video camera? He is also pictured in the above photo.

20734

Just at a guess and looking at the way he is dressed, the car owner or major sponsor, but that only answers part of the question.

[Ellis]

Des was 8th in class in 71 . The car was Yellow in 71 (Wright Ford) then same car repainted Blue for 72 and dnf due to clutch problems
72 was first year modified / side exhausts were permitted.

Car is still around and was still Blue a couple of years ago and in NSW

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for this info Ellis.

[Steve Holmes]

Really dramatic shot here of Denis O'Brien in the GT-HO Phase III and Norm Beechey in the Charger E38 scrapping over the same piece of tarmac at Calder in 1971.

20926

[Ellis]

Drifting is not a new sport is it........I'd give it 9's

May be later than 71 ?...looks to have Globes maybe..or 5 slotters painted silver ???.he ran his steel wheels painted yellow mostly.

Its the old Tony Roberts HO2 (White) that was wrecked in 70 on top of the mountain with upgraded sheetmetal etc

[mid-year]

Note the XW external rear vision mirror giving away the cars PH2 origins,I did see Moffat driving a similar car at Calder early 72 which would indicate even the factory updated previous seasons cars to the latest spec. This looked to be a PH3 with five slotters but on closer inspection had the XW interior and the XW rear view mirror.

Regards Pete.

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, great spotting guys! I had no idea this was the ex-Roberts Phase II. Amazing!

[Ellis]

Not sure what mag this came from

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/TonyRobertsXWFalconGTBathurst1970SCW197106P60_zps962fde48.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/TonyRobertsXWFalconGTBathurst1970SCW197106P60_zps962fde48.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/RobertsonTruckLap142_zps675c7dbf.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/RobertsonTruckLap142_zps675c7dbf.jpg.html)

I was at 70 Bathurst mainly on top of mountain, and just got glimpse of Roberts car as it rolled down the steep bank and ended up against a tree. I have a bit of 8mm movie of people going across the road and down to see it after the race ended.

[Oldfart]

That would definitely be one of those times where you had the time to know that "This is going to hurt".
What a stunning piece of "right place, right time" for the photographer.

[Ellis]

,
Note the XW external rear vision mirror giving away the cars PH2 origins,I did see Moffat driving a similar car at Calder early 72 which would indicate even the factory updated previous seasons cars to the latest spec. This looked to be a PH3 with five slotters but on closer inspection had the XW interior and the XW rear view mirror.

Regards Pete.


Probably ?? became the 8D that Fred rolled at Bathurst later in 72 which was ex McPhee HO2
HO3's were in short supply in 72 due to HO4 cancellation.
Gibson had use of 3 x "HO3's" over the period , 2 based Sydney and 1 Melbourne...he told me he thought only one of them was the genuine article (71 Road & Track Works car)...(Still survives as does his works H02)
The Works drivers were just that... He would be flown to Melb say, and told here is your car and at that time no one worried if it was a "Genuine" HO3 or HO2..if it looked like one , it must be one........

[Steve Holmes]

Not sure what mag this came from

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/TonyRobertsXWFalconGTBathurst1970SCW197106P60_zps962fde48.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/TonyRobertsXWFalconGTBathurst1970SCW197106P60_zps962fde48.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/RobertsonTruckLap142_zps675c7dbf.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/RobertsonTruckLap142_zps675c7dbf.jpg.html)

I was at 70 Bathurst mainly on top of mountain, and just got glimpse of Roberts car as it rolled down the steep bank and ended up against a tree. I have a bit of 8mm movie of people going across the road and down to see it after the race ended.

Wow, is he going over backwards? Looking at the damage, I'm amazed they chose to rebuild it. I would expect everything salvagable would be put in a new shell.

[mid-year]

I always said Phase2,s flew......now we have the proof!

Pete.

[Ellis]

Wow, is he going over backwards? Looking at the damage, I'm amazed they chose to rebuild it. I would expect everything salvagable would be put in a new shell.

May have only been able to reuse that drivers door with the mirror....lol

I'll have a look at my old 8mm stuff...there may be some single frame shots in that .

[mid-year]

Found this photo in an old copy of FORD by Stewart Wilson with an interesting pair of shots.The top car is obviously sporting the XW mirror and interior.Perhaps they had a pool of cars with the latest cars reserved for the major events and the updated previous year model for the local races?20983

Regards Pete.

[mid-year]

20991
Des West again, just before the start of the Bathurst race, 1972. Note the car has sprouted a side exhaust here. Who is the bloke walking away from the car with the video camera? He is also pictured in the above photo.

20734

The guy with the camera is Bruce Burr from the Burr and Daniel Performance Centre who owned and prepared the Goldpower sponsered PH3.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for this Pete.

[Steve Holmes]

Found this photo in an old copy of FORD by Stewart Wilson with an interesting pair of shots.The top car is obviously sporting the XW mirror and interior.Perhaps they had a pool of cars with the latest cars reserved for the major events and the updated previous year model for the local races?20983

Regards Pete.

Didn't one of Moffats Phase IIIs get written off?

[Ellis]

The old 65E (71 Bathurst car) did hit the wall at AIR in early 72.
1D (72 Bathurst car) replaced it as the main car after a coat of paint over its factory White,
a spray of the saddle hood lining (in situ) to black and a swap of the saddle interior to black.(ex 65E)
Ford still had the White car which was basically a test mule for the HO3's and is the lowest vin number (first) of the HO3's.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Ellis.

[dickwatts26]

Just at a guess and looking at the way he is dressed, the car owner or major sponsor, but that only answers part of the question.

I think you might find the well dressed gentleman could be Ash Marshall as he was ,I think, involved with the "Soapy Sales" franchise. It was some sort of pymarid selling scheme which were questionable at best.

[Terry S]

20991

The guy with the camera is Bruce Burr from the Burr and Daniel Performance Centre who owned and prepared the Goldpower sponsered PH3.

I don't think the guy with the camera in post#80 is Bruce Burr.

I think that is Bruce Burr leaning on the windscreen in post#79.

[seaqnmac27]

I will always stand to be corrected Terry, but they look like the same guy to me as well.

[Terry S]

I will always stand to be corrected Terry, but they look like the same guy to me as well.


Does it matter that their hair is parted on opposite sides?

[seaqnmac27]

I think we are looking at different people, both the gent walking away from the car and holding the camera and umbrella, and the guy in the blue suit leaning on the bonnet, are the same person. their hair is parted the same way

[Terry S]

I think we are looking at different people, both the gent walking away from the car and holding the camera and umbrella, and the guy in the blue suit leaning on the bonnet, are the same person. their hair is parted the same way

I will repeat my post #101: The guy with the camera in post #80 is NOT Bruce Burr.

Bruce Burr is the guy in post #79 leaning on the windscreen.

[Kenz]

I think you might find the well dressed gentleman could be Ash Marshall as he was ,I think, involved with the "Soapy Sales" franchise. It was some sort of pymarid selling scheme which were questionable at best.
Here's a pic of Ash in "Scorcher" late '68/early '69)36993.
Could be him, the nose looks similar, but the hair and sideburns are much more early 70's, and I'm not a forensic scientist.
Opinions, please.
Ken.

[Kenz]

This is an absolute gem! What better way to attract customers and sell more Neptune product than to have Peter Manton's Cooper S out on display!

20539


Hi Steve and Pete,
Further to this and Pete's following "now" photo and post #76, Pete, at least, will probably recall, that Neptune station became the Shell Wavell Heights site, and was used as the base for the BRM team with their P261's for the '66 and '67 Tasman rounds at Lakeside.
A mate of mine, who frequented the area in those years, more than once recounted his tale of driving westbound along Hamilton Rd one night during the BRM residency there, and seeing a small low shape with feeble, bouncing "headlights" approaching very fast from the opposite direction. He said he was shocked and delighted to find it was a P261 with a torch lashed to each top front wishbone.
Alas, he's dead now, so I can't grill him on the truth of his tale, but I would sure like to believe it was true and that those were, indeed, the days!

[dickwatts26]

I think you will find that the gentleman who is well dressed is Ash Marshall as he was ,I'm sure, involved with the Soapy Sales sponsorship shown on the spoiler. It was one of those infamous Pyramid Selling schemes around in those days. Dick Watts.

[Terry S]

I think you will find that the gentleman who is well dressed is Ash Marshall as he was ,I'm sure, involved with the Soapy Sales sponsorship shown on the spoiler. It was one of those infamous Pyramid Selling schemes around in those days. Dick Watts.

Is it just me that thinks posts # 100 and# 108 are remarkably similar?