Bay Park Final Event - Easter 1993

[Steve Holmes]

Was anyone here at this event? I'd love to see some photos if anyone has anything they wish to contribute? Another track lost to the housing spread.....

[Oldfart]

And to the noise Nazis.

[Grant Sprague]

Was there in Anglia number 2 pre 65 ... wrapped with the best time 1.07 . [pre 65 cars only]... after the meeting ... Was celebrating with the Porter family ... my Wife,s Auntie Robyn & Uncle Robin [trucks] was a cold night borrowed her fur coat lol she was not impressed & I did not care lol was a BIG night we slipped away before peeps got really out of control lol ???????????, great night , really miss the place , & Pete;s dry wit, but we move on ..

[John McKechnie]

Grant- Rob Brown and I were running our 65 Mustang Fastbacks that weekend also in pre 65- mine white, his red. We also ran in TACCOC .
There is a pic of them on another site, Will try and find it.
The Pine Pack team were there, Vern Reeves, XU-1, Terry Siddel 1970 Mustang Fastback, Dennis Marwood Alfa, Rick Cooper 65 black Mustang, also was a gold XT GT Falcon and the Segedins 65 Mustang.My log book still has Last BayPark Meeting entered in it.

[Grant Sprague]

Yep remember Ricks car [mustang sally] did not know him that well then but as time went on we had a bit in common re mustangs etc & a few beers we became good friends, have not seen him for a few yrs since he moved out of Tauranga , Rick became Mayor of Taupo........ Rob browns car was a cool hot rod remember it well but lacked horse power & brakes etc. John what I remember from a few friends you played around with us in that class but did not get serious as in competing all rounds but you drove very well & fast , what happened to yr car ..... hey been talking to Mike Feisst on net we old boys need to get to gether one day ..Yep know Vern &Dennis well I have bought a few side drafts off Marbles over the years ......... check out those old lap times ???? always great chatting with you John

[Kiwiboss]

Was it 93? i thought the very last event was 95? the super trucks doing burn outs as it didn't matter about ripping the track up!! unfortunately i wasn't at that meeting.

Dale M

[John McKechnie]

Yep remember Ricks car [mustang sally] did not know him that well then but as time went on we had a bit in common re mustangs etc & a few beers we became good friends, have not seen him for a few yrs since he moved out of Tauranga , Rick became Mayor of Taupo........ Rob browns car was a cool hot rod remember it well but lacked horse power & brakes etc. John what I remember from a few friends you played around with us in that class but did not get serious as in competing all rounds but you drove very well & fast , what happened to yr car ..... hey been talking to Mike Feisst on net we old boys need to get to gether one day ..Yep know Vern &Dennis well I have bought a few side drafts off Marbles over the years ......... check out those old lap times ???? always great chatting with you John

Grant-budget prohibited serious racing, but all I wanted to do was take my baby to the track and have fun- just like now.
Ricks Mustang Sally still lives as a racer in the Central Muscle Car, think it the blue one, Richard Gatwood (someone can correct me.).
Dale ended up with my Mustang, rebuilt it and had some fun of his own with it.
Dean Cameroon has owned it for 16 + years, still looks the same and featured in Classic Car mag recently
Can be seen on Who, what , when thread #348 Bay Park last meeting.

[Steve Holmes]

Was it 93? i thought the very last event was 95? the super trucks doing burn outs as it didn't matter about ripping the track up!! unfortunately i wasn't at that meeting.

Dale M

Actually I thought it was later than 93 too Dale, but I went through a book by Sandy Myhre and in it she said the last event was 1993 and that Pete Hanna died the following year.

[Grant Sprague]

Ok so that would be the mustang Dale took to Taupo....&.. gave it the good hot roding re tyres , brakes , engine ,diff, suspension etc etc etc , [Dale would remember this] I think Dale got a shock with the limited rules etc that we had to conform to .....Dale arrived at Taupo & got a wee shock as to how fast our cars were in comparison to his ...... no disrespect to Dale as we had been running for a long time .....prior ...all good fun eh Dale ... Hey what happened to Rob's car ?????? neat car neat guy use to do carbs etc ??

[John McKechnie]

225262252722524[QUOTE=Grant Sprague;
First pic- Terry Siddell 1970 Sports roof, Rob Browns blue Coupe .
Second pic-My Mustang after Ron McMillan put in cage, painted next day for $1000.
last pic- Rob Browns other-red fastback Mustang- yes, he raced both this weekend and my white fastback.

[John McKechnie]

Ok so that would be the mustang Dale took to Taupo....&.. gave it the good hot roding re tyres , brakes , engine ,diff, suspension etc etc etc , [Dale would remember this] I think Dale got a shock with the limited rules etc that we had to conform to .....Dale arrived at Taupo & got a wee shock as to how fast our cars were in comparison to his ...... no disrespect to Dale as we had been running for a long time .....prior ...all good fun eh Dale ... Hey what happened to Rob's car ?????? neat car neat guy use to do carbs etc ??

Grant- Rob still runs Carb Centre up here. Still get him to do my stuff, he is the Man.
The blue Coupe got stolen, stripped and was recovered. Dont know what happened after that.
Red Fastback he sold, but he has another one , all race trim. Sometimes shows up on Trade Me.
Terry Siddell told me Lou Wymer has his Mustang now.

[Kiwiboss]

Ok so that would be the mustang Dale took to Taupo....&.. gave it the good hot roding re tyres , brakes , engine ,diff, suspension etc etc etc , [Dale would remember this] I think Dale got a shock with the limited rules etc that we had to conform to .....Dale arrived at Taupo & got a wee shock as to how fast our cars were in comparison to his ...... no disrespect to Dale as we had been running for a long time .....prior ...all good fun eh Dale ... Hey what happened to Rob's car ?????? neat car neat guy use to do carbs etc ??

No Grant that wasn't me, i never raced pre 65! i ended up with Johns(McKechnie) Mustang in a deal with John Espagne and only raced it at Taupo club days and some Corvette track days but only ever at Taupo, i then ran it with Jim Crystals inter-marque classic group, me and Rayden Smith had some great battles, Lex Linkletter in his escort and Reece Killingback(AKA Mario) pacer valiant!! Jim hated the American V8's and the only reason he let me race the Mustang was it was still road legal and Raydens escort could beat me!! it had and engine i built for $800 and that continued to run for many years well after i sold it to Deano in which i traded a 67 Mustang road car he owned. That Mustang was the cheapest classic racing i ever done, it all went down hill from there money wise, hmmm the word SUCKER comes to mind.

Espagne purchased Robs red Mustang fastback and put Reece into it for racing, by that time i had finished my next mustang fastback, the blue one which i only raced 3 times before been sold to Hoffman and he still races it today!! by that time we started doing the MG Classic meetings(on this weekend) but Espagne didn't like racing the mustang himself and sold it to Dines McConnell here in TGA and bought a Porsche, the mustang now lives down Wellington way and shows up at the odd MG classic meeting, all cheap fun back then :)

Deano i reckon has had the biggest bang for buck than any of us wouldn't you agree John(McKechnie) and its still a cool car with lots of great NZ history

Dale M

[John McKechnie]

Dale- check the pic before the paint job, it had just come back from Ron McMillans cag work.
Would agree that Deano has THE one. Car still has the same rego, hood lining, cage etc and LSD.
Thats why i stopped running pre 65, Grant, LSD not allowed.
Rayden still loves that car because at Puke, there was a false start, lights stopped working, and I let my Mustang take the impact instead of his ex Richards, Neilson Escort when a crazy Alfa owner ignored the red light and drilled me.
Jim Crystal definitely was a Brits only supporter and I also was only accepted because I drove there and back- same as Rob.
Last year i offered to swap a commercial property and a 5 bedroom house in the centre of Eltham- 5 mins from his work- for my old car, but Deano also loves that car so much, he refused.
And thats how much I loved and still wanted it back.... then.

[Kiwiboss]

Actually I thought it was later than 93 too Dale, but I went through a book by Sandy Myhre and in it she said the last event was 1993 and that Pete Hanna died the following year.

I have Myhres book when it first come out too Steve and i remember thinking back then that those dates were wrong, i'd need to check but im sure someone here on TRR will know for sure but im positive it was Easter 1995 the last meeting, i missed this meeting as was up in the USA but was at the previous one, i'll have a paper clipping somewhere!! I was also at Pete Hanna's funeral as it was a big affair, i took along Deano's Mustang(owned it then) and put it on display along with several other race cars at Bay Court were the services were held, this was 1997 as i remember it was about 2 years after Baypark close that Peter passed, but can't remember the actual date!!

NOW Peter Hanna, a few great stories to be told there!!

Dale M

[Kiwiboss]

Grant- Rob still runs Carb Centre up here. Still get him to do my stuff, he is the Man.
The blue Coupe got stolen, stripped and was recovered. Dont know what happened after that.
Red Fastback he sold, but he has another one , all race trim. Sometimes shows up on Trade Me.
Terry Siddell told me Lou Wymer has his Mustang now.

The blue coupe is now the black one Bruce Dreadon races in Central Muscle cars, Rob sold it to Warren Dixon the wheel guy in Palmy and Dreadon bought it from him!! a cool car.

I wish someone would buy Robs current Fastback on TM for HMC, it only needs minor changes to comply and can't be built for anywhere the asking price!!

Dale M(AKA the NZ Mustang historian)

[Grant Sprague]

Yep under stand that Dale , you never did the Pre 65thing , so must have been the blue fast back you brought down that weekend [taupo] & ran in classics or similar , lt was a great looking car compared to our beaten up mustangs , but as the years rolled on they got tidier, well sort of heheh [re Dean ? ] do u mean perky ?? as he ran lamonts car against me , no fast back ?? might have wires crossed or names any way great convo as usual , good to catch a bit of history on Steve,s site .Grant

[John McKechnie]

look in Deanos log book, date is there.

[Grant Sprague]

Wooow John & he did not except the offer ???? ........ my head spins ..... Hey Re the LSD thing we got our car to hook up out of corners , [I don't want to go on about this] with an open diff 8" with the bar from chassis to diff housing on Right hand side [with right pitch] smoking two tyres from grid start & out of corners ....... [oh you must be CHEATING] GGrrrrrr......one of the few reasons I pact it in .. BUT loved the racing ........& great people regardless

[John McKechnie]

Hey Grant- coming to HD December 8th?

[Michael Clark]

I agree with Dale - I would have thought 1995 is more correct than 1993. I recall a very poignant photo of Peter Hanna sitting by the side of the track after the last race, chequered flag in hand, and head bowed - quite touching actually. Someone will have it and be able to post I'm sure.

[Grant Sprague]

Hey Grant- coming to HD December 8th? John are you guys racing that weekend ? if so what other classes .
As you can see I am out of touch with meeting & classes....... most weekends taken up with my family , now that the girls are up & running I am freeing up a bit more time to be able to get a bit more involved......

[John McKechnie]

Grant- it will be like the last meeting at BayPark- TACCOC.
Lovely period saloons, I definitely will be there with Smurf as Dale has got us in. Sunday 8th.
Anyone out there got more pics from the last meeting at BayPark ?-I dug out the last of mine from the dusty archives.
Since it was the very last meeting I even took 2 pics, must be others out there, cant blame Dale , he was out of the country.
I never met Peter Hanna, but one of my customers- now deceased- that bought the site informed me the seller told him that if the ground rent had been paid even a little bit more often, the track would have stayed

[Grant Sprague]

Grant- it will be like the last meeting at BayPark- TACCOC.
Lovely period saloons, I definitely will be there with Smurf as Dale has got us in. Sunday 8th.
Anyone out there got more pics from the last meeting at BayPark ?-I dug out the last of mine from the dusty archives.
Since it was the very last meeting I even took 2 pics, must be others out there, cant blame Dale , he was out of the country.
I never met Peter Hanna, but one of my customers- now deceased- that bought the site informed me the seller told him that if the ground rent had been paid even a little bit more often, the track would have stayed John thank you...... hey as for Bay Park there were all sorts of rumours floating around , I knew Pete quite well, a bit of a Jackel & Hyde , as we all know Peter was not well & probably had enough any way , one of his trick sayings [throat cancer ] we would all meet up at Tga CT Club on a thurs night he would say quote " just got back from doctors" they found some panty hose & ingrown pubic hair down my throat, & he would just burst out laughing , I knew how to handle him, as did most of his close buddies , he would always give us the key to bay park for private testing ...........but hey thats history as well . as for piks I sent one of anglia to Steve to add to links re last race there , pik taken on infield R/hander...... an other of Pete & I at Puke [having a few beers] before a pre 65 & GP meet in the puke local, Steve might post that one not sure......ok better do some work mate ....... Grant

[Grant Ellwood]

John thank you...... hey as for Bay Park there were all sorts of rumours floating around , I knew Pete quite well, a bit of a Jackel & Hyde , as we all know Peter was not well & probably had enough any way , one of his trick sayings [throat cancer ] we would all meet up at Tga CT Club on a thurs night he would say quote " just got back from doctors" they found some panty hose & ingrown pubic hair down my throat, & he would just burst out laughing , I knew how to handle him, as did most of his close buddies , he would always give us the key to bay park for private testing ...........but hey thats history as well . as for piks I sent one of anglia to Steve to add to links re last race there , pik taken on infield R/hander...... an other of Pete & I at Puke [having a few beers] before a pre 65 & GP meet in the puke local, Steve might post that one not sure......ok better do some work mate ....... Grant

Peter was a very generous guy although he and I didn't get off to a good start. My first race there in a FFord fell off the the sweeper and jumped the bank, unfortunately ran over several people. Peter was unimpressed (understatement), said if I wanted to F-g fly I should race a F-g Cessna. Later on, after I moved to Tauranga we became good friends and like Grant Sprague mentioned, often got to run testing for no charge.

[Russ Cunningham]

Peter was a very generous guy although he and I didn't get off to a good start. My first race there in a FFord fell off the the sweeper and jumped the bank, unfortunately ran over several people. Peter was unimpressed (understatement), said if I wanted to F-g fly I should race a F-g Cessna. Later on, after I moved to Tauranga we became good friends and like Grant Sprague mentioned, often got to run testing for no charge.

At last! I was one of "those people" you ran over. Talk about heartless! You didn't even visit me in hospital to give an explanation or apologise. You wouldn't know what it's like to spend your life with a prosthetic leg and a prosthetic dick. It's miserable! I still feel it's there but when I look all I can see is a piece of plastic fashioned from a used coke bottle.
If I ever find out where you live I'll poison you with Waikato draught.

[Grant Sprague]

Russ how could you give some one that stuff world war one & two plus mustard gas are over .... wiakato... & .. lion red a close 2nd ..there is a new life out there now new beers , try drowning him in bliss ..........

[woody]

Russ, Now I know why they call you "Coke Cunningham". I thought it was because you were a old hand dealer.

[Milan Fistonic]

Definitely Easter 1995. The programme is headed The Final Motor Race Meeting Before Circuit Closure.

Practice Day - Sat April 15 - Race Day Sunday April 16 1995.

There were races for Holden HQ, NZ Truck Championship, Mazda RX7, Pre-65 Saloons, Muscle & Classic Cars, SS2000 Saloons, BMC Intermarque Classic Cars, Formula Vee, Sports Sedans, Minis and Superkarts.

[RGM]

Agree it was Easter 1995 I ran my Triumph Vitesse in the classic class. Also raced Formula Vee there for a number of years and from memory it was good when it was fine but not so good when wet. The problem with racing at Baypark it was usually on the long weekends and Saturday night was always party night so I never got to go well on sunday unless the family came and had to go to bed early and sober. Lyall Zohs has a great yarn about one of our trips there.

[John McKechnie]

Milan- thanks for this posting. I do remember running pre65, Muscle and TACCOC Classics
I think I even remember talking to Dexter Dunlop who was running a RX-7.
Marwood was having dinner with us and I asked him what year he chased the Easter Bunny- didnt even twig what I was on about- sounds familiar.- so told him of the May 1971 Motorman racing article and how he was one of our heroes and one of the reasons we were racing our Mustangs.
And, no, we didnt go to Willow Park as they all did then.
Oh, yes, drove down to the airport to gas up, I think there were 8 of us.-Yes,sir we have 4 P-51Ds and they all need refueling...........
Just a thought- if Peter Hanna had charged for practices , there could have been more money to pay for the lease on the track

[George Sheweiry]

22551

It was definitely May 1995, I took my Blue/White trans am Mustang to run in Sports sedans and my pre 65 mustang to run in pre65s which was the last round for the series and I was in the lead for overall points and class with Derek Mitchell in 2nd spot. During practice for the sport Sedans I came out of the long left hander onto the straight and once I was able to get back on power it pulled the top center arm of the 3 link on the diff right off the chassis putting me out for the weekends Sports sedan races. Next thing I know there is Rick Cooper holding out $200 dollars in his hand and telling me go home tonight and get your Camaro and run it in the Muscle car race tomorrow. Well you didnt have to ask me twice, I was gone and I raced the car the next day in the handicap race and I just love handicap races as I had done so many at Baypark in Sports sedans and managed to win the Muscle car race on the Sunday. The last race of the day was a Handicap flying farewell and on the second to last lap I got into the lead and had Owen Evans German dust cart behind me and we both nailed it out of pit corner on the short straight to champion and the Camaro shimmered under hard braking and ran slightly wide, Evans tucked the Porsche in tight and as we both nailed it out of champion I could see the crowd serge forward to the fence and bugger me if the old girl didnt smoke his ass down the front straight till we got to the sweeper and boy did they like that, anyway he darted by as we turned in, the better brakes/suspension making its mark. Mean while in the pre 65 Mustang I won the first race on the Saturday and clinched the overall and class title for the season, but the Mustang had developed a bad steering to the left under braking and with the trip back to Auckland and everything else that was going on I didnt have time to fix it so I thought I will just have to be careful on braking. So on Sunday race 2, the last race for pre 65 I started off the back behind Derek Mitchell and we just went for it, we carved thru the field and on about lap 5 we caught up with Peter Butler in his EH holden as we got close to the braking area to pit corner, he was in the middle of the track and holding his line as Mitchell was on the left and I was on the right of the track, Mitchell went down his left and I hesitated long enough to make sure he had seen me and wasnt going to come across on me so I went to dive down the inside and across he came. Not being a person that likes to biff and bash I jumped hard on the brakes and it just turned hard left and put me straight into the tractor tire and boy she hit hard. I would have been better off not braking as hard and would have dated him and doubt if there would have been much damage to either of us but then I dont do that, so there we are. Anyway the consolation prize was that I broke the lap record in that race and lowered it to 65.26. and that record can never be broken. Pretty cool I thought.

[George Sheweiry]

This is the results of the meeting from the Auto Trader Magazine


22552

[Grant Sprague]

George I remember that well.....I think that was a year or two before the last meeting ....... as I would be running with you in little Anglia [yellow one ex todd & pollick car] the reason I say this I was in the hill stand watching yr big hit into the tyres.. felt very sorry for you & the beautiful mustang....... was a big big hit...... so what I am saying is I had been racing the last pre 65 race , unless you crashed the car prior the last race in an other class , ..at the end of the day it matters diddley squat, but good to have the facts..amazing how we don't forget lap times shows how dedicated we were ...... we got the 4 cyl class down to 67 an a few tenths lol.....was so cool ......hard to head off the v8,s....then I woke up & joined the v/8 brigade boys.... hey I might be wrong that date but did watch the tyre hit from the stands we all genuinely felt for you my friend ............. Grant... ps .... tried to read the news paper cutting above date but no date ?......our door panels use to shake when the big v/8s went past , great years great fun........enjoyed the bantering .....

[George Sheweiry]

Memorys are a funny thing alright Grant, but if you look at the result sheet just above where my lap time is circled you will see your name. No worrys mate I am quite partial to rum and cokes to!! lol

[Grant Sprague]

ha ha was waiting for the reply nononoononnoo I am not really a spirit drinker just good beer. not lion red or wiakato lol ,,, jokes aside was not sure that was the same meet ......... & does not really matter , was trying to work out how I watched the tyre hit ... but hey I might well be wrong .... did not drink beer between races lol ...waitiinnggggggggg lol

[car96]

I definitely remember that race when you took the tyre out as I won it on count back to the previous lap!, My one and only time to race at Baypark.

[Grant Sprague]

22551

It was definitely May 1995, I took my Blue/White trans am Mustang to run in Sports sedans and my pre 65 mustang to run in pre65s which was the last round for the series and I was in the lead for overall points and class with Derek Mitchell in 2nd spot. During practice for the sport Sedans I came out of the long left hander onto the straight and once I was able to get back on power it pulled the top center arm of the 3 link on the diff right off the chassis putting me out for the weekends Sports sedan races. Next thing I know there is Rick Cooper holding out $200 dollars in his hand and telling me go home tonight and get your Camaro and run it in the Muscle car race tomorrow. Well you didnt have to ask me twice, I was gone and I raced the car the next day in the handicap race and I just love handicap races as I had done so many at Baypark in Sports sedans and managed to win the Muscle car race on the Sunday. The last race of the day was a Handicap flying farewell and on the second to last lap I got into the lead and had Owen Evans German dust cart behind me and we both nailed it out of pit corner on the short straight to champion and the Camaro shimmered under hard braking and ran slightly wide, Evans tucked the Porsche in tight and as we both nailed it out of champion I could see the crowd serge forward to the fence and bugger me if the old girl didnt smoke his ass down the front straight till we got to the sweeper and boy did they like that, anyway he darted by as we turned in, the better brakes/suspension making its mark. Mean while in the pre 65 Mustang I won the first race on the Saturday and clinched the overall and class title for the season, but the Mustang had developed a bad steering to the left under braking and with the trip back to Auckland and everything else that was going on I didnt have time to fix it so I thought I will just have to be careful on braking. So on Sunday race 2, the last race for pre 65 I started off the back behind Derek Mitchell and we just went for it, we carved thru the field and on about lap 5 we caught up with Peter Butler in his EH holden as we got close to the braking area to pit corner, he was in the middle of the track and holding his line as Mitchell was on the left and I was on the right of the track, Mitchell went down his left and I hesitated long enough to make sure he had seen me and wasnt going to come across on me so I went to dive down the inside and across he came. Not being a person that likes to biff and bash I jumped hard on the brakes and it just turned hard left and put me straight into the tractor tire and boy she hit hard. I would have been better off not braking as hard and would have dated him and doubt if there would have been much damage to either of us but then I dont do that, so there we are. Anyway the consolation prize was that I broke the lap record in that race and lowered it to 65.26. and that record can never be broken. Pretty cool I thought. I love yr Z28 brings back memories , Ernie ended up with a gold one imported from USA I think the plan was for super car races, Gary had the privilage to use it as a road car , it got sold & years later I found it , was then painted blue [properly], I had some fun with it around the town [Tauranga] then sold it to a guy down Wellington , I remember had plenty of grunt , & a big tall 1st gear ...... a good old super car , Do you still own it George????not like me I seem to have fun & move them on ....

[George Sheweiry]

I love yr Z28 brings back memories , Ernie ended up with a gold one imported from USA I think the plan was for super car races, Gary had the privilage to use it as a road car , it got sold & years later I found it , was then painted blue [properly], I had some fun with it around the town [Tauranga] then sold it to a guy down Wellington , I remember had plenty of grunt , & a big tall 1st gear ...... a good old super car , Do you still own it George????not like me I seem to have fun & move them on ....


Yes, I still have the Zcar Grant and now and then run it in Production Muscle cars, still with all its interior and without a cage. You and your brothers were certainly lucky buggers having a guy like Ernie as your dad. My dad didnt like me racing and so I was left to do it myself, and of course building my own cars and the engines and panel/painting them etc was a real learning curve for an electrician especially with everything being so secretive. But always the high lite was going to Baypark where the "officials" were human.

[John McKechnie]

Bay Park officials were good to me at the last meeting- my brake light switch wasnt working.
The guy who checked my car, asked me if I had a replacement one , told him no.
He then said come back after scrutineering and he would help me out.
There was a trailbike near the office, said it was his, took the brake light switch off it and fitted it to the Mustang for me
I fitted back on the bike at the end of racing.
Dont know who he was, but was very kind, if he is reading this, -A big thumbs up.

[Grant Sprague]

John , this is the way it is supposed to be , as for Pete handing keys to gate for practice.. we all thought bay park was strong & took them with both hands like a circle of understanding people all pitching in .
George they are nice words , but not always as it seems....... my first race was in a fiat hr half hour production race , Ruapuna ,, the only thing Dad said [TRUE STORY] "see yr right foot it stays hard down" & that was it . Leo said to me the shortest way was the quickest I got confused thinking I must drive a round the in side of all corners .... lol a long story but did very well in first race found my own way around , but really George I am like you learnt my self , Gary was first of peaking order & Ernie was younger I have no problems at all with that we are a very close family as they did lots of B&H & Gary did 4 Bathursts, Ernie was an inspiration for sure a master mind & love him to bits, we had so much fun...... thanks for people like Kevin Ban , Grant Fitzpatrick , alby Collier, Roly Levis..&., supply sevices . other wise I would have been a spectator dreaming.
George I [we had dramas at Puke] really could not understand the silly things that went on like a bad energy thing when we arrived , lol, every one was out to be not happy & make yr day not happy , Pat was always good in documentation , always smiling loved that attitude , one or 3 others must have not had a good day lol , but respect them for being there regardless of their attitude , woow Ive gone on lol.....but always seemed same old same old walking on egg shells ........ could tell u more but lets move on some of them have ??

[Impala 65 SS]

This is our KM Bedford leading one of the last races,@ the pits hairpin in front of Jigger Jones & Rusty Hawker, all from Rotorua
22603

[beowulf]

Definitely Easter 1995. The programme is headed The Final Motor Race Meeting Before Circuit Closure.

Practice Day - Sat April 15 - Race Day Sunday April 16 1995.

There were races for Holden HQ, NZ Truck Championship, Mazda RX7, Pre-65 Saloons, Muscle & Classic Cars, SS2000 Saloons, BMC Intermarque Classic Cars, Formula Vee, Sports Sedans, Minis and Superkarts.

I raced at this meeting, a sad meeting although the writing had been on the wall for some time.
I shared my Cooper S with a friend, he raced it in the BMC class and I ran it in the modified Mini class.
We had a ball.
My claim to fame is starting the last race at Bay Park from pole. (It was reverse grid) And by shamelessly jumping the start led through the first corner before being swamped by the rest of the field.
Memories of Bay Park. The toilets, new standards of hygiene. The pampas fires, the wonderful summer meetings and spectating at the sweeper. Probably he track would not meet modern safety standards, but I would sooner race there the Puke.

[Rod Grimwood]

Now I will have to have any report on last meeting proof read by a solicitor before printing,
As mentioned by some one else it had its moments with toytoy fires, and people falling over chilly bins etc.
There was a very well known spot on the bank opposite the exit of the pits, and over the years it became very well set up with own tent and even a van with sober driver (only one there) to transport crew to meetings. If you happened to be religious, or from sheltered family life you tended to move to another area. This crew never missed a meeting (practice included) from day 1 of first meeting to the end of the last day of racing and were actually guests of Peters for drinkys after last meeting.
Used to stay with them on way to meetings and when we had finished they would graduate over to pits for get together, and if we had a car problem we would go over to bank and watch from there, great entertainment.
Will put other bits on as we get around to them.

[Grant Sprague]

Rod , I recall the putting up of tent [tents] on practice days [while not competing ] with very good friend , Alby Collier & ex Team mate in 4 cyl class & v/8,s I was lose & fancy free Woooooooooooow those days lol , I look back had sooooo much fun , I have a few piks of the partys on embankment ..... from there after the meetings some would head back to my place & have a spa party , Thank God they are all behind me what a learning curve , as the yrs went by we stay [Taupo] at the Sahara motel it had a big big spa we would arrive there on practice day [after practice lol ] & party up in the spa about 6 of us that continued for well over 15 yrs then go racing the next day lol lol, recall hoping into mustang to do first race only to open the wrong door [Left / Hand drive ] & looking down wearing my gum boots , I have grown up , & drum into my girls dont get into any car with an idiot ???????

[Rod Grimwood]

Both Bay Park and Taupo were great tents

[nigel watts]

Having a bit of a clean out the other day & I found these old images [as you do] of Baypark taken in the early 90's. You can clearly see the encroachment of housing into the 'noise zone'. 20 years later I still miss calling in to the track to see what was going on

23047

23048

[Grant Sprague]

John sorry , only just saw yr note........one day this year we will get to gether for a catch up .......

[Spgeti]

Would anyone have a copy of the program for this meeting ?. I have recently purchased a car that supposedly ran at this meeting and any information would be greatfully appreciated. Cheers, Bruce

[John McKechnie]

Would anyone have a copy of the program for this meeting ?. I have recently purchased a car that supposedly ran at this meeting and any information would be greatfully appreciated. Cheers, Bruce

Bruce- I ran in 3 classes .....pre-65, Classics and Muscle cars-at this last meeting, can I help you ?, Regards, John.

[Spgeti]

I have sent you a PM John....Cheers

[Growler]

I may have a copy. The last round was the year we did the first race of the new car.
I will check tonight.

[Spgeti]

Thanks Growler. I purchase a Riley Elf that was entered in Pre 65s but blew its engine in practise. Any info would help. Cheers, Bruce

[Milan Fistonic]

Thanks Growler. I purchase a Riley Elf that was entered in Pre 65s but blew its engine in practise. Any info would help. Cheers, Bruce

There are no Rileys entered in the pre-65 races but John Fitzpatrick had a 1330cc-engined example in the BMC Intermarque Classic Car races. It was numbered 17.

Angus Fogg entered his Elf in the Mini Challenge races as did Fitzpatrick.

[Spgeti]

Thanks Milan.....the search continues......hopefully I will come up with a name to which we can continue the search. Many thanks, Bruce

[Growler]

Thanks Growler. I purchase a Riley Elf that was entered in Pre 65s but blew its engine in practise. Any info would help. Cheers, Bruce
Found it! I have the Official programme along with the provisional lap-times for the SS2000 class.
What information are you after? It looks like there may have been 3 Elf's in the Bay Automotive Mini Challenge - Shane Buxton, Angus Fogg and John Fitzpatrick.

[Spgeti]

Thanks Growler. To date I have made contact with the last 2 owners of the car. I am awaiting for details from the previous owner to who I purchased the car from who he purchased the car off. From there I am hopeful that will identify the car and from there I will be able to trace its history further back if any.
I know it is not one of Angus's Elf's, but the other 2 you mention are of interest to me.
If I could have a photocopy of the programme or scan and send it to me would be fantastic.
I have a spec sheet and history of the car when sold by the original owner but no name attached to it. The car was also raced at the Telecom Classic Festival in Hamilton prior to this meeting and club racing.
My Email is bruced105@gmail.com
Many thanks to all of you guys for your assistance .
Cheers, Bruce D

[John McKechnie]

Bruce- you never know how long and interesting the piece of string is with this car. Its history could well go further back than just these 2 meetings.

[Spgeti]

You are so right John and as you know it takes time for info and photo's etc to come to light.

[Growler]

Thanks Growler. To date I have made contact with the last 2 owners of the car. I am awaiting for details from the previous owner to who I purchased the car from who he purchased the car off. From there I am hopeful that will identify the car and from there I will be able to trace its history further back if any.
I know it is not one of Angus's Elf's, but the other 2 you mention are of interest to me.
If I could have a photocopy of the programme or scan and send it to me would be fantastic.
I have a spec sheet and history of the car when sold by the original owner but no name attached to it. The car was also raced at the Telecom Classic Festival in Hamilton prior to this meeting and club racing.
My Email is bruced105@gmail.com
Many thanks to all of you guys for your assistance .
Cheers, Bruce D

Scans sent. Unfortunately these are in PDF format so cannot post the images here.

[Spgeti]

Thanks Larry, Shane Buxton's Elf is a Mk1 and the car I have is a 67 Mk3. Looks like john Fitzpatrick is my only hope. Cheers and many thanks, Bruce