NZ GTHO Phase 3's that raced in Production Series....

[Ellis]

I have an addiction....HO3's....and especially the race ones...sounds a bit bit like a HO's Anon meeting...:)

(I first seen the XW HO's at Bathurst in 1970 and its been ongoing since then.)

Having said that any pics or stories of these special cars that raced in NZ in their Series Prod mode .... like the Castrol GTX Series.... would be most welcome.


Regards
Ellis

[Haga]

Hi Ellis

Here are a couple of pics of Gary's (I gather he still owns it) P3. I am sure you can tell us more about it. A stunning car.

I sat in the ex Jim Richards P3 a couple of years ago and it is in great original condition. Both cars a credit to there owners.


http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss152/hagaxagt/P1010029-1.jpg (http://s571.photobucket.com/user/hagaxagt/media/P1010029-1.jpg.html)

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss152/hagaxagt/P1010032.jpg (http://s571.photobucket.com/user/hagaxagt/media/P1010032.jpg.html)

[mid-year]

The ex John Goss Ph3 was sold off to NZ after JG converted over to the XAGT Hardtop,does anyone have photos of this car?

Pete.

[Spgeti]

Yes, Gary still owns the HO.

[Ellis]

The ex John Goss Ph3 was sold off to NZ after JG converted over to the XAGT Hardtop,does anyone have photos of this car?

Pete.


Norris Miles (an NZer and McLeod employee at the time) bought the car at end of 72. Goss (McLeod) took delivery of XA coupe in Nov/Dec 72 but Goss didnt race it till late Feb / early March 73. Norris ran it (HO3) at Amaroo and rolled it after 3 laps. It was repaired and sent to NZ when Miles returned. It was raced at Bay Park in July 73 co driven by JR and Miles.
It was driven solo later in 73 by Norris at Pukekehoe where he qualified on pole in the dry but dnf in a wet race.

Norris is still about and living in Melb and has quite good recall of events re this car.

pic from JR Book

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMG_0976_zps3d5d72f2.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/IMG_0976_zps3d5d72f2.jpg.html)

[Steve Holmes]

Cool thread Ellis. Here are some of Jim Richards doing some private testing of the McMillen Ford Phase III at Bay Park. This is the car JR won the 1972 Castrol GTX Championship in. I have more from this test session if you're interested Ellis?

21716

21717

21715

[Ellis]

More, more ,more please ...too many is never enough


JR had this as his wedding car along with his Escort....Man of good taste

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/JRWeddingGTHO3_zps90872d95.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/JRWeddingGTHO3_zps90872d95.jpg.html)
from JR Book


Thanks Steve

[Ellis]

Cool thread Ellis. Here are some of Jim Richards doing some private testing of the McMillen Ford Phase III at Bay Park. This is the car JR won the 1972 Castrol GTX Championship in. I have more from this test session if you're interested Ellis?

21716

21717

21715

Steve
Just noticed it hasnt got any factory side stripes and it wasnt a delete options car so they must have removed them early in the piece and put their own version on front guards.
It was ordered without a radio
Only options were seat belts and 36 G Tank
I like the stripes on the side walls...soon would have rubbed them off.
It was also a Saddle Trim car one of 4 they made in Elec Blue / Saddle...all 4 still survive
7 with Black trim were also made

[Ellis]

Haga

Thanks for pics of Francevic car
Have you still got your XA ?

[Steve Holmes]

Steve
Just noticed it hasnt got any factory side stripes and it wasnt a delete options car so they must have removed them early in the piece and put their own version on front guards.
It was ordered without a radio
Only options were seat belts and 36 G Tank
I like the stripes on the side walls...soon would have rubbed them off.
It was also a Saddle Trim car one of 4 they made in Elec Blue / Saddle...all 4 still survive
7 with Black trim were also made

Wow, how do you know all this Ellis? I'm impressed. So looking at the options this car was ordered with, McMillan's imported it specifically to race?

[Steve Holmes]

Note the 12-slots against the pit wall in the third photo. I wonder if these were used during the testing session. I don't think it ever raced with them.

21718

21719

21720

[Ellis]

Wow, how do you know all this Ellis? I'm impressed. So looking at the options this car was ordered with, McMillan's imported it specifically to race?

Elec Blue and Saddle...one of the 4 ... its in the head...and one in my shed... and yes it would have most likely been ordered on the light side as far as options went.

I reckon they would have needed a few spare tyres /wheels
Thanks for extra pics

[Hart1598]

I think Tom Grace owns that car now, its in bits,

[mid-year]

I found a shot of Norris doing his slow roll at zero feet.

Pete21721

[Steve Holmes]

Couple more of the Team McMillan car.

21723

21722

[Steve Holmes]

These are Terry Marshall photos. First up in the Richard Brocklehurst car, which was white when it raced, but I believe it left the factory painted another colour? Was it green?

Also pictured is another shot of the Richards car, being chased by Robbie Francevic in his Phase III. The Francevic car was originally Yellow Ochre I believe.

21724

21725

[Ellis]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;34123]These are Terry Marshall photos. First up in the Richard Brocklehurst car, which was white when it raced, but I believe it left the factory painted another colour? Was it green?

The cars that supposedly went to NZ....ex factory
1 x Nugget Gold
1 x Jewel Green
2 x Yellow Ochre ( 1 Saddle Trim)
2 x Vermilion Fire
1 x Elec Blue (Saddle Trim )


Maybe others....
1 x Vermillion Fire
1 x Bronze Wine (Saddle Trim)

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Ellis, great work! Yes I think the Brocklehurst car must be the Jewel Green one in your list. I believe its been returned to this colour once again.

[Haga]

Haga

Thanks for pics of Francevic car
Have you still got your XA ?

Sure do.....our GT Nationals are a month or so away, so will get a decent run then.

[Haga]

I think Tom Grace owns that car now, its in bits,

The elec blue/saddle trim P3 (who the owner told me was ex JR) was in the lower South Island.

I know the location and owners name but will not publish them here on a public forum.

The car was in great original condition and was still being used. I would not think the owner (not Tom Grace) would sell it.

I am sure Jacmac probably knows whether it is still there, without quoting names/location?

[Haga]

Thanks Ellis, great work! Yes I think the Brocklehurst car must be the Jewel Green one in your list. I believe its been returned to this colour once again.

This car was featured in either NZ Driver or Classic Car magazine a year or so ago.

Was green...then white.....then green. Located in Nelson area. Another mint P3......lucky owners!!

[kiwi285]

Here are a couple of photos of racing Falcons from the late 60's

http://i40.tinypic.com/3168f2v.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2r4r9ed.jpg

[seaqnmac27]

Pukekohe January 1973

21758
Patrick Smith
21760
Someone may know the GTHO by its number plate FV6314 and sponsorship from Continental Car Services Ltd on the boot.
21761

[George Sheweiry]

If you look back to the Richards/ McMillan falcon you will see that it has the same number plate

[seaqnmac27]

Thanks George well spotted.

[Ellis]

The elec blue/saddle trim P3 (who the owner told me was ex JR) was in the lower South Island.

I know the location and owners name but will not publish them here on a public forum.

The car was in great original condition and was still being used. I would not think the owner (not Tom Grace) would sell it.

I am sure Jacmac probably knows whether it is still there, without quoting names/location?



Thanks Haga
Its alive and well with only approx 42K miles as of couple of years ago. I have spoken with or mainly emailed the owner on quite a few occasions over the past years. He has an interesting XU1 as well or did have last time I was in contact with him.

[John McKechnie]

Haga- that is a very good point about this being a public forum , and these cars are now private.

[Ellis]

Here are a couple of photos of racing Falcons from the late 60's


http://i44.tinypic.com/2r4r9ed.jpg

Clyde Collins PDL Falcon

[Ellis]

Many thanks to those who have posted so far.
and
Ditto the privacy (Haga and John) the owners of the cars deserve.

I /We dont need to know where exactly they are housed ...just their history
and see some old "happy snaps" of their glory days.

Its also great to see some pics of the cars at shows or doing demo laps whether
restored or in as raced condition with a few old battle scars or replacement bits/panels etc

Ellis

[Lurker]

Someone may know the GTHO by its number plate FV6314 and sponsorship from Continental Car Services Ltd on the boot.

Tim Bailey bought the car (straight from from McMillans I think) and raced it for a few meetings before selling it as a road car. The Torana parked behind it is the ex Roy Harrington XU1 owned by Ray Olenius at the time.

[Steve Holmes]

Clyde Collins PDL Falcon

Yes thats right. Not actually a GT-HO, or even a GT, but still a very interesting car.

[Steve Holmes]

The ex-Goss Phase III on the front cover of Motorman.

21767

[Steve Holmes]

Patrick Smith at Bay Park.

21770

[Ellis]

The ex-Goss Phase III on the front cover of Motorman.

21767


Thanks Steve..

Thats Bay Park in Jul 73 Glenvale 200
JR driving and co drove with owner Norris Miles.

Miles drove solo at Pukekehoe (B'd if I can spell that) a few weeks later that year...he had pole in the dry but race was wet and he dnf

John McK sent me a scan of that yesterday

[Ellis]

The least photographed seem to be ...

Bruce Anderson
Grady Thomson
Patrick Smith

Would that be because they raced them less or were lower profile ?

Did E Sprague run one or did he only run the Green HO2 ?

[Steve Holmes]

The most photographed ones seem to be those that raced in the 1972 Castrol GTX series, from what I can tell. There were several that raced, and they were all competitive. But by the time of the 1973 GTX series, the E49 Charger had been released, which seemed better suited to production racing on NZ circuits, and these cars pretty well cleaned up. Pretty sure the Patrick Smith car raced in the '73 season, but not '72. The Anderson car had only limited outings. I think the only regular from 1972 who also ran in '73 was Brocklehurst.

[John McKechnie]

In an article on Grady for the 1991 Nissan Mobil 500 Wellington street race -Grady will be racing a stock standard GTHO in the MVDI Classic Invitation race. Thats all I know of this car, it is Bronze with Gold stripes.I do know that there was 2 Bronze wine HO’s brought to new Zealand and the other one definitely went back to Australia, it had black stripes. There were a total of 18 Bronze Wine GTHO’s made.

[225sloper]

I have a early NZ Hot Rod Magazine 1972 were they do a road test in Francevic GTHO with the number plate FV7231,will put pics up soon

[seaqnmac27]

Pukekohe January 1973

21758



So who is in car 80?

[Steve Holmes]

Tim Bailey?

[bob homewood]

1973 NZIGP Falcon GTH0 , No 80 was Tim Bailey

[Ellis]

Thanks Bob for that confirmation

[Grant Sprague]

Ernie owned & raced a 1970...71 [green] phase 2 car was only raced in the south Island , not sure if any were in the NI at that point , I do remember it raced in SI GTX series & super car races only other I think was Jim Kennedy,s that was a GT SI car from Greymouth...... soon after that the ph 3 s came in ..........................

[John McKechnie]

Was that the one your brother hit the drums with the rear quarter at Wigram?
Imagine letting a teenager loose in a GTHO now.

[Ellis]

Ernie owned & raced a 1970...71 [green] phase 2 car was only raced in the south Island , not sure if any were in the NI at that point , I do remember it raced in SI GTX series & super car races only other I think was Jim Kennedy,s that was a GT SI car from Greymouth...... soon after that the ph 3 s came in ..........................

Thanks Grant

[Grant Sprague]

John , Wayne [age between Gary & I ] was given the opportunity, to race the car at Wigram I am guessing about 18yrs old , in those days the car felt like a rocket ship I had driven it to Ruapuna [it was my turn for a drive on main road] for Ernie to race I probably 15 or 16 he trusted us I took a mate with me but was given instructions not to take it over 4000 rpm as it was rebult [engine] after Teretonga Dad was funny like that mind you I have two old farm hoppers at home one manual one auto for the girls to practice in , any way back to the story the only time Wayne drove the car prior was in a fly 1/4 at longbeach just south of Ashburton 143 mph that was about it , Wayne complained about rear brake lock up but forged on , you might see piks of the car with phase 3 stripes on it , that was after the side was replaced , the 44 gallon drums hurt the car some pride, I think JR had brought his phase 3 down that weekend among others , hard to remember as I was driving my car back in Timaru E93a lol [PS] Leo had said to Ernie why would you put a boy in a mans car , the price was paid] saying that to day we would all jump at the chance , because they are old clunkers in standard form .

[John McKechnie]

Grant , this is a great anecdote - why would you put a boy in a mans car ? Ho, Ho, Ho....

[Ellis]

John , Wayne [age between Gary & I ] was given the opportunity, to race the car at Wigram I am guessing about 18yrs old , in those days the car felt like a rocket ship I had driven it to Ruapuna [it was my turn for a drive on main road] for Ernie to race I probably 15 or 16 he trusted us I took a mate with me but was given instructions not to take it over 4000 rpm as it was rebult [engine] after Teretonga Dad was funny like that mind you I have two old farm hoppers at home one manual one auto for the girls to practice in , any way back to the story the only time Wayne drove the car prior was in a fly 1/4 at longbeach just south of Ashburton 143 mph that was about it , Wayne complained about rear brake lock up but forged on , you might see piks of the car with phase 3 stripes on it , that was after the side was replaced , the 44 gallon drums hurt the car some pride, I think JR had brought his phase 3 down that weekend among others , hard to remember as I was driving my car back in Timaru E93a lol [PS] Leo had said to Ernie why would you put a boy in a mans car , the price was paid] saying that to day we would all jump at the chance , because they are old clunkers in standard form .



Great story Grant...Thanks for posting

[seaqnmac27]

Ernie owned & raced a 1970...71 [green] phase 2 car was only raced in the south Island , not sure if any were in the NI at that point , I do remember it raced in SI GTX series & super car races only other I think was Jim Kennedy,s that was a GT SI car from Greymouth...... soon after that the ph 3 s came in ..........................


I had a vague recollection of an image of Ernie in a Falcon from the late Kevin Thomsons photographs, however I was wrong it was Pat Monaghan, Ernie was in a Pacer sponsored by the Terminus Hotel. Unfortunately this was one collection that he had not let me copy and post here, this is the link to it, some great pics in here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/southspeed/sets/72157629217101298/

[mac]

Hi Guys, I owned Robbie Franicevics old GTHO Many years ago.The car colour was Yellow ochre (Karatane yellow). Had a lot of fun in this car and still kick myself for selling it, sold dit for $7,300. Quite willing to pay a little more to buy it back :). How I and my mates survived I don't know. The car had an electronic cut out at 7100 rpm which was 140 MPh and had it working many times. The local cops in Tokoroa never managed to nab me. Sure as hell wish it was still in my garage but it was a pity they painted it red.
Colin

[Ellis]

Colin

Thanks for your comments and recount of your ownership.
If it had the standard rev limiter it should have come in at 6150 but they were often disconnected and very unreliable.
Do you remember what colour trim the car had please.

Ellis

[John McKechnie]

Colin- get a South African XY Fairmont GT- exactly the same car, just not the name or badge.

[Grant Sprague]

I had a vague recollection of an image of Ernie in a Falcon from the late Kevin Thomsons photographs, however I was wrong it was Pat Monaghan, Ernie was in a Pacer sponsored by the Terminus Hotel. Unfortunately this was one collection that he had not let me copy and post here, this is the link to it, some great pics in here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/southspeed/sets/72157629217101298/Thanks seaqnmac for pik of the pacer & ho etc I might add I do remember the deal between Pat & Ernie , Ernie & Pete [pumpkin] went down to Gore to deliver the ho & came back with the Pacer , coming home to [Timaru] doing the usual 100 mph plus flat to the floor , in thie middle of the night raining !!!!! , I saw the Pacer in the morn with both sides completely dented the story goes as they were going through those S bends north of Wiamate, they found wondering across the road a mob of sheep .... bang , Ernie of Peter took the ear tags off some sheep [with ears???] as proof for ins ,a bit off the track any way Ernie wanted desperately to beat Pat at levels in the changed cars I think he did as the ho was a bitch for over steer & more suited for the pacer etc , could have been a good road trip story , later Pat sold the car to John Gillard , John runs the twin towers over at the Mount [ Tga]...

[Rod Grimwood]

Hey Grant, Ernie was good at cleaning up wild life he clipped on the road, remember a rabbit and his little mate at motel once on a trip to Bay Park in later years.

[Grant Sprague]

Ha ha ha , This was his usual act wasted nothing , he came from a very poor family as did mum ,Rod , I was racing SCANZ at Taupo Ernie was due up from Timaru to watch & was to meet my self & a few close mates at the motel , we all meet for a yarn , hot pool, & dinner & beers , ....Dad arrived .. he went to the car car brought out his trusty foxy [one of over a period of time] plus a fresh bunny road kill , he spread the news paper on the floor & the foxy got into the rabbit , the boys still talk about it lttle did they know it was normal for him to give the dog fresh rabbit better than most bought dog food , always thought out side the sqaure a bit off track this but worth a read , Roddy he was a hard task master but could not have gotten a better teacher great parents .

[Rod Grimwood]

Thats the one Grant, and repeated at BP. He was humour and great company.

[GTRXU1]

These are Terry Marshall photos. First up in the Richard Brocklehurst car, which was white when it raced, but I believe it left the factory painted another colour? Was it green?

Also pictured is another shot of the Richards car, being chased by Robbie Francevic in his Phase III. The Francevic car was originally Yellow Ochre I believe.

21724

21725

A painting from an original photo.

21943

[John McKechnie]

2205522056
This is a very young Bruce Anderson. He had been pedalling a MK 1V Zephyr and stepped up to the big game. This was a wet day at Puke, could be the same day Richards rodgered Brocklehurst.
Bruce had had a BIG spin and this photographer snapped part of the moment.
Note the roundel for the number looks jagged.
Thats because Anderson and Oleary were sawmillers and the roundal is painted to look like a circular saw.
This car is now fully restored and still lives in NZ., registration number is very clear.
Also note the car never ran a rear spoiler and petrol over flow down the rear quarter from its 1074 degree spin

This ones for Ellis and Rodgerd.

[mid-year]

The" K-Mart" petrol cap in lieu of the original GT cap was a sure fire way of inducing spillage down the rear quarter but the glue on the original 3M stripes would hold up well unlike the repro stripes today.

Pete.

[Steve Holmes]

This is the first time I've seen pics of the Anderson car.

[John McKechnie]

Steve H- Glad I done something for you for a change and made your day.
I know that Rodgerd has been waiting for me to post these.
I have quite a few pics from then and will start posting once I find a suitable thread

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks John, we have a Random Photos thread on here somewhere for anything you can't otherwise find a home for. Would be great to see more.

[Ellis]

2205522056
This is a very young Bruce Anderson. He had been pedalling a MK 1V Zephyr and stepped up to the big game. This was a wet day at Puke, could be the same day Richards rodgered Brocklehurst.
Bruce had had a BIG spin and this photographer snapped part of the moment.
Note the roundel for the number looks jagged.
Thats because Anderson and Oleary were sawmillers and the roundal is painted to look like a circular saw.
This car is now fully restored and still lives in NZ., registration number is very clear.
Also note the car never ran a rear spoiler and petrol over flow down the rear quarter from its 1074 degree spin

This ones for Ellis and Rodgerd.

John..
Thanks for Anderson pics...I only have ever seen one other pic of the car

[BMCBOY]

Here's a few great photos taken by Kevin Lancaster that will interest you

[Ellis]

Thanks BMCBoy...nice pics

[darren]

Excellent pics!!

[Phranc]

In a previous life I went with a client who was going to deal his tweaked purple XYGT on the ex Richards/Bowater? HO.
I was a pleasant summer’s day and we had driven the GT for a bit over an hour to find the lair of the HO.
Parked next to the HO was a metallic green “Bathurst” Monaro HG? Packing a 350 and with the roll bar correctly present under the pillar trims.
Onto the HO, it was a pale blue and had obviously been “driven”. On the plus side it seemed to have most of the correct HO bits (extra spring leaves, XA front suspension etc).
After examining the HO we went for an extensive “evaluation” drive.
The GT and the HO were fired up and nose to tail growled down the long gravel drive.
In the HO the suspension crashed and banged as we idled over the potholes. The well fed 351 proved to be surprisingly well mannered when driven in this manner. Just a mild shake from the air intake hinting that this engine would prefer to be turning a lot more revs.
In the GT the HO’s owner led us in convoy out into the nearby country side.
We had been pottering through the peaceful and largely deserted farmland for a time, I was listening for any untoward noises and generally evaluating the car, suddenly I heard the GT bark watched the rump squat and the nose lift as it roared out its challenge.
Game on; I smacked the top loader down a cog or 2 and let the Cleveland roar, 7000 or so through the gears as we launched off after the GT.
The road was typical of that area; straight narrow coarse chip with no centre line. Soon we had these 2 great cars side by side with well over 7000 showing on the HO’s fun indicator. We stayed in parallel for a distance just revelling in what was a very special motoring moment.
All too soon the country road ran out and I pulled back behind the GT. The speed bug was now satiated as we let the cars bluff aerodynamics wash off some of the speed. We motored slightly more sedately back to the lair of the HO only pausing to ensure the HO LSD was fully operational.
Yes side by side at that speed on a narrow road does focus ones attention. And as I relaxed shrugging my shoulders and realising how incongruous it seemed that the only spectators to our automotive indulgence was a hand full of disinterested sheep.
Even at the time it was apparent that this drive was something special and to be savoured and remembered.
By modern standards the HO is a hard riding and flocused implement but that is not the point, they were built to run and run long and hard. This they do superbly. Along the way and as an incidental bonus they provide a very special type of thrill.
The supercharged Boss I drove a few days ago was rapid but far more sanitary and uninvolving as it shook its IRS half to death when patching up the track.
If you have never dropped the clutch on a well fed 351 dialled on the required wrist or so of left lock to keep the beast on the road while banging it up through the gears you have missed a very special experience. On the other hand there is something very focusing about trying to stop a standard braked XY GT or HO from 150 or so when a car pulls out in front of you.

Yes I really miss driving those cars and I owe a heart felt thanks to those who provided the opportunity.
Cheers Guys; James Stewart

[Shano]

Fantastic story.

[John McKechnie]

22823
How about this for a wild ride- Bruce had had the car only for several days.
getting ready for the biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig 1070

[Rod Grimwood]

Thanks seaqnmac for pik of the pacer & ho etc I might add I do remember the deal between Pat & Ernie , Ernie & Pete [pumpkin] went down to Gore to deliver the ho & came back with the Pacer , coming home to [Timaru] doing the usual 100 mph plus flat to the floor , in thie middle of the night raining !!!!! , I saw the Pacer in the morn with both sides completely dented the story goes as they were going through those S bends north of Wiamate, they found wondering across the road a mob of sheep .... bang , Ernie of Peter took the ear tags off some sheep [with ears???] as proof for ins ,a bit off the track any way Ernie wanted desperately to beat Pat at levels in the changed cars I think he did as the ho was a bitch for over steer & more suited for the pacer etc , could have been a good road trip story , later Pat sold the car to John Gillard , John runs the twin towers over at the Mount [ Tga]...


Grant, talking with fella last night who was saying that years ago he had bought Ernie Spragues HO (green) and had run it at Bay Park and also dragged it against Bowater at MereMere back then. Can you remember who Pat sold it too.
Believe this guy as he has done a bit in old days but just wondering about history of car.

[Grant Sprague]

Grimmy , my understanding .... there was a guy in Tauranga [Not John Gillard] the guy was a car painter or a postman , he owned it & crashed it before I moved to Tga , & the car ended up in a garage for years in Auck, That is how the story went , Cedie might know more as he knew the foot steps of most of Ernie,s fords........ You do know it was put back to gether ??? Well the numbers are on the fire wall tag ???????????????? . Was on TV a couple yrs back claiming to be Ernies car .........

[Rod Grimwood]

Yea sounds all in place Grant. this guy owned Cedrics green 429 cobra jet and would have had HO before biff because he told me he sold it to Tauranga.

Will catch up soon Grant.

[RacerT]

Driving home from a Bay Park meeting in my 3.8 E Type, I went to pass Pat Smith in second gear on one of those slow Ngatea right angle corners that lead into a long straight. Pat looked over, saw it was an E type and floored it in second gear as well. There was a hell of a noise because he had side pipes. The two cars ran side by side through 2nd and 3rd (about 118mph), perfectly matchedd in acceleration, but when we got to 4th gear there was a one way bridge approaching and I had to tuck in behind him. We ran for many miles at high speed while being constantly being badgered by a car from behind. In the end I let him pass and then Pat did the same. It was an MGB - God now's what it was powered by, but he sure proved a point!

[Grant Sprague]

Driving home from a Bay Park meeting in my 3.8 E Type, I went to pass Pat Smith in second gear on one of those slow Ngatea right angle corners that lead into a long straight. Pat looked over, saw it was an E type and floored it in second gear as well. There was a hell of a noise because he had side pipes. The two cars ran side by side through 2nd and 3rd (about 118mph), perfectly matchedd in acceleration, but when we got to 4th gear there was a one way bridge approaching and I had to tuck in behind him. We ran for many miles at high speed while being constantly being badgered by a car from behind. In the end I let him pass and then Pat did the same. It was an MGB - God now's what it was powered by, but he sure proved a point! Racer T what year was this .... I know of a guy living in Tga an ex car salesman from Wellington he had a powerful V8 in either a midget or MGB , might be wrong though depending on the year ??

[ERC]

Could it have been Andy Lowe, red MGB V8?

[Grant Sprague]

Or Tony Edwards...... a maori chap nick named Benson

[RacerT]

Racer T what year was this .... I know of a guy living in Tga an ex car salesman from Wellington he had a powerful V8 in either a midget or MGB , might be wrong though depending on the year ??

Hi Grant. I would think around 1972, as I sold the E Type to Dave Silcock at about that time. Tony R

[Jizim]

Here's a few great photos taken by Kevin Lancaster that will interest you

Would love to know what meeting the top photo of Bruce Anderson was......could this have been at an Auck Car Club Spring meeting and could he have been chasing a very fast (non turbo at the time) green Mazda RX2? I remember looking in the mirror at Bruce totally sideways onto the back straight of Pukekohe ..... Great days in the 70's/80's.
Same day a Gold V8 Chrysler Charger (MacDonald?) blew his motor chasing me down the back straight.........then next run Racing Ray Williams blew his motor chasing me in his Shellsport Hillman Avenger? Hunter? (Rootes Group)........But Kev can you remember?? Kind Regards, Tony Rutherford.

[225sloper]

Not sure who took this photo,but its a good one. . Bruce Robertson GTHO24198

[Rod Grimwood]

Ruppie (Jizim-Tony), sounds like the space shuttle, one blew here and another blew there, or K-Rd on a Sat night.

[Jizim]

Ruppie (Jizim-Tony), sounds like the space shuttle, one blew here and another blew there, or K-Rd on a Sat night.

Yessss...or bit like Frank Matich top and tailing!! Ha ha ha .....Cheers, Tony R

[Jizim]

Ruppie (Jizim-Tony), sounds like the space shuttle, one blew here and another blew there, or K-Rd on a Sat night.

Yessss...or bit like Frank Matich top and tailing!! Ha ha ha .....Cheers, Tony R

[PDJ]

Not sure who took this photo,but its a good one. . Bruce Robertson GTHO24198
Just browsing the archives , had a chat with Bruce Robertson at Waikaraka clubrooms after a meeting a couple of years ago
about his 69 Mustang with Holman Moody 427 with webers etc. He said he swapped this Phase 3 for it and in hindsight it probably
wasn't a good swap. Great guy to chat with.

[Rod Grimwood]

Patrick Smith at Bay Park.

21770

The Smith HO sits in a workshop not too far from here. It is all in bits and has been for along time. The guy has completely stripped it all and put new bolts etc in and painted suspension etc so all new. Shell is painted also. He has owned it since I came up here (1990)