Minis and Imps

[Shano]

Racing Minis have always provided excellent racing and a great spectacle. The under 1000cc class through the 60s and 70s was well subscribed with the fine little BMC creations - and a few Hillman Imps kept everyone honest.

Here are a few images from Pukekohe during the heyday of Mini saloon racing.

Peter Sharp
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/MiniPeterSharp.jpg


Reg Cook
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/MiniRegCook.jpg

Alan Boyle
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/MiniAlanBoyleCoke.jpg

Roy Harrington (lightning fast hand grenade, this one. Did it become the Sidchrome Imp?)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/HillmanImpHarrington.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/HillmanImp.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

Great idea Shano! This should be pretty popular. Whose is the #165 Imp?

[AMCO72]

OK.....we might get into this. Foggy, can you get A into G and write something then I may be able to reply!

[seaqnmac27]

ok so here are some for you

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[seaqnmac27]

Some more

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[seaqnmac27]

A few more

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[seaqnmac27]

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[Steve Holmes]

I LOVE Imps. They make great looking race cars when fitted with flared wheel arches and tiny fat Minilites. George Bevan fielded a few examples in the UK very successfully. I've no idea where I got this shot from, I seem to have collected quite a few over the years.

1333

[Shano]

Mary Carney
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/MaryCarneysMini.jpg

Greg Dervan
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/MiniGregDervan.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/MiniCooperSdriverunknown.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/MiniCockburndriver.jpg


It was called the Braemar Imp and the sponsorship was E Seay, which was an earthmoving company in South Auckland. I don;t know more than that.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/HillmanBraemarImp.jpg

[seaqnmac27]

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[seaqnmac27]

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And there were Riley Elfs too

[Shano]

Time for a story.

The NZ saloon car championship was decided by the driver with the greatest number of points over all the classes. Last race of the season, Rodger Anderson in his 1275 Mini Cooper and Spinner Black in his Camaro were tied.

They decided on a match race, one-on-one to decide the title. To this day it remains one of the most exciting spectacles I have ever seen. The Camaro blew past the Mini along the back straight at Puke, with the Mini diving past under brakes at the hairpin, the Camaro overtaking again down the pit straight and the Mini returning the favour around turn one.

The crowd was on its feet going nuts. Of course the Camaro should win, especially at Pukekohe, but the Mini was putting up a spirited defence and the crowd sensed an old-fashioned underdog-made-good moment.

Spinner Black won and next year Anderson trotted out the magnificent BMW 2002Ti Alpina.

[kiwi285]

I think these cars provided some of the most exciting racing around. How many times did the lead change in a single lap. I can remember two or three wide coming over Rothmans heading for the chequered flag and unless you were on the line it was a case of wait for the call. I loved Roy Harringtons bright yellow Imp and yes it was quick but seemed to suffer from mechanical gremlins too often.

[Shano]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/PukekoheMinisondummygrid.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/RodgerAndersonsMini.jpg

[RogerH]

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/9315/cb27.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/36/cb27.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8002/cb28.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/cb28.jpg/)

[Steve Holmes]

What is car #72 in your last post Roger?

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Shano]

Car 72 is Alan Woolfe's Triumph Vitesse - obviously it had a streamlined nose. I saw him swap it back to a normal road-going bonnet once, complete with lights, to drive home.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Shano, that one really had me beat.

[pallmall]

Some oldies I scanned from a friends collection, the slides were starting to gather moss! All good stuff though.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/KMcphotos2012750x511.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/KMcphotos2013750x510.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/McIvorscans2041750x547.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/McIvorscans2057750x497.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/McIvorscans2058750x488.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/McIvorscans2060750x473.jpg

[pallmall]

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/McIvorscans2069750x441.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/McIvorscans2077750x448.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/McIvorscans2078750x460.jpg


And from the McLaren Festival

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/273750x732.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/112750x433.jpg

[GD66]

Was the #165 Imp pedalled by a bloke called Peter Levett ?

The Jim Richards-driven Sidchrome Imp was not the Harrington Imp, it was originally raced in dull Imp red with a white roof, I think it was owned by Brian Patrick.

[Shano]

Peter Levett - yes it was.

[Shano]

Sorry to put this up twice in a day, but it deserves to be here as well. The first (a far as I know) outing of the Rod Collingwood Mini now owned by the Foggs - a terrific car then and it still is.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/MiniCollingwood.jpg

[David McKinney]

Wasn't the Levett Imp an ex-Alan Fraser team car from the UK?

[Rod Grimwood]

Love to know if that Mk3 ute in front of Graham Watsons mini is around still, what a neat wagon.

[nigel watts]

I took this shot at Pukekohe back in about 1967

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[GD66]

Wasn't the Levett Imp an ex-Alan Fraser team car from the UK?


Rings a big bell David, and that would certainly explain the blue paint job with the white cross on the roof.

PS The Aussie lightweight Minis of Holland, Leffler and Brown were at BayPark at Easter, 1968, and I think the Puke meeting was the weekend after.

[RogerH]

Car 72 is Alan Woolfe's Triumph Vitesse - obviously it had a streamlined nose. I saw him swap it back to a normal road-going bonnet once, complete with lights, to drive home.

From memory Alan drove it like this as an "allcomer" and then after a nose swap raced it at the same meeting as a production car with the standard nose.

[GD66]

I loved Roy Harringtons bright yellow Imp and yes it was quick but seemed to suffer from mechanical gremlins too often.



Chucking off the fanbelt and overheating more often than not, if I recall. Poor bugger. A crowd favourite all the same.;)

[thunder427]

I took this shot at Pukekohe back in about 1967

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........the PDL Minis, were beautifully presented for the time,seem to remember one 'Tripping' over and showing up next day with a vynal roof, they also had some real trick components,Roller Bearing 5 speed G/Boxes,which if you study the Book of 'Urban Myths", may have come from some 'Factory' Minis, that had been in the Country...that may have gone home with empty case's, Literally ..............Ring!!Ring!!!David,UK calling..???????????.............regards thunder427/MJ:p

[Shano]

This is the former Collingwoood Mini at this year's Hampton Downs Festival of Motor Racing, taken by the festival chairman Jim Barclay. The good-lookin' blokes are Rod Collingwood and forum member Amco72, aka Gerald Fogg. The car is a credit to all involved.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/NZFestivalofMotorRacing-Pukekohe22-31Jan10013.jpg

[nigel watts]

Oops

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[kiwi285]

I see at the top of this page a photos of Alan Boyles purple and white Mini. I presume that this was the colour scheme he was referring to. Does anyone have a contact address so that we can get him onto this site ??

[woody]

Phil Horrobin might have some info about Alan's mini?

[Shano]

Amco powerplant
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Amon%20Day/MiniAmcoenginebay.jpg

And lots of carburettion from a Broadspeed example.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Amon%20Day/MiniBroadspeedRengine.jpg

[nigel watts]

More from Hampton Downs

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[GD66]

I see at the top of this page a photos of Alan Boyles purple and white Mini. I presume that this was the colour scheme he was referring to.



That's actually an old slide in which the red colour has carked it. In reality, that car was Coke red and white. But I reckon he had his car purple before that, with gold numbers.

[nigel watts]

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[nigel watts]

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[AMCO72]

Yes, the two old rivals, the Jimmy Richards Imp and the Rod Collingwood mini still at-it after 40 years.!!!!

[Jac Mac]

Post #27, I think thats the Sichrome/ Brimar Imp in its 'old' colours behind the Mk3 Ute .........

[Shano]

Mini Sevens, circa 85/86. These guys have knock-em-down-in-the-trenches racing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/Mini%20Sevens/Mini7C.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/Mini%20Sevens/Mini7E.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/Mini%20Sevens/Mini7A.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Minis%20and%20Imps/Mini%20Sevens/Mini7B.jpg

[AMCO72]

The Cambridge liveried car No 86 in post 21 is Barry Phillips old car. It has recently been bought by Barrys' son Graeme and he intends to restore it to its former glory. The car sat in Wal Wymers' shed for about 40 years. It had lost bits over the years and was pretty scruffy but with Barrys input should be back to racing condition one day. At the moment Graeme is hunting down the necessary parts to complete the rebuild. Still has it's original body and was in fact the X Anderson championship car, so quite a bit of history with it.

[Lee Tracey]

My mini contribution; from 82 GP meeting
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/leetra/Puke%2082/IMG_0068.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/leetra/Puke%2082/IMG_0067.jpg

Cheers
Lee

[timbo61]

You don't see many Mini's racing in Australia these days,the ones racing are mainly in Historic Touring Car Racing.
There was a time when Mini's had their own Sports Sedan series, and there were many modified cars on the grid.
Most had the original Mini engine bored out to around 1400cc, one or two tried turbocharging, there may have been a rotary engine or two, and a few later day ones ran a Suzuki Swift GTI engine.

The ones with a big bonnet bulge ran a cross-flow head.
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4962/scn0043.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/21/scn0043.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2125/scn0041.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/scn0041.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1533/scn0039.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/scn0039.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/1463/scn0040.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/193/scn0040.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7689/scn0038.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/scn0038.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[Ellis]

Graham Ritter ran 2 Imps in Castrol colours. One was lwt version with Climax ? engine I think.

This is at Hume Weir in Dec 1966.....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/66-8.jpg

Jim Mckeown also ran a black one which Beechey drove sometimes.

This is at Calder in Aug 1966....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/vlcsnap-11267193.jpg

[kiwi285]

Hi Ellis,

In part 3 of the photo collection (Mike Feisst) there is a photo taken at Sandown Park in Feb 1967 showing the two Graeme Ritter Imps together.

[Steve Holmes]

timbo, those Minis are some real monsters! The front wheels are bigger than the rears. I bet they went like stink too.

Ellis, again those are awesome shots. I have a real soft spot for racing Imps. Those particular examples look fantastic. Did the McKeown car not have the team red and yellow stripes?

[Ellis]

Ellis, again those are awesome shots. I have a real soft spot for racing Imps. Those particular examples look fantastic. Did the McKeown car not have the team red and yellow stripes?[/QUOTE]

The McK Imp is a single frame shot from some 8mm Movie I took.
The other Neptune( Trident) cars at the time (Mantons Mini, McKeown's Lotus and Beechy's Nova ) were still Blue with the White stripes at this meeting. It was probably the Chevvy Novas 1st meeting as the front suspension collapsed or a wheel came adrift.
The Imp has a personalised JMK number plate

[Rod Grimwood]

The Climax motor used in alot of the Imps was the same unit used on Fire Brigade water pumps, and once this was discovered by some people, a lot of pumps were repowered and the original engines found real homes in cars. There are still some classic old pumps around with climax engines (not many). They were light and could be easily moved or carried around and had good grunt.

[pallmall]

The Hilman Imp production engine was based on a Coventry Climax engine design.

[Murray Maunder]

Hoping that someone is going to post a colour of the yellow peril Harrington #69 Imp. The car often led, even against the might of Barry Phillips Mini #86 but rarely saw a chequered flag. I can almost hear the groan of the crowd at Baypark as the Imp pulled off the track with steam emanating from it's rear.

On the road they also faired badly with overheating issues, usually I gather, due to poor maintenance, especially failing to add glycol "antifreeze" into the alloy/steel liner engine causing corrosion issues. They were incredibly lively little 875 with a slick shift and a tendency to roll their front swing arms under causing massive camber and wear issues - easily fixed by chopping the coils.

As I remember Harrington was the first to make an Imp competitive until the Sidchrome deal and Jimmy Richards. How great to see the Amco Mini of Rod Collingwood and the Sidchrome Imp together at Hampton Downs. Thanks Nigel, I have great memories of Imps, learnt to drive in one.

[Steve Holmes]

This is one of Mike Feisst's photos.

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[Steve Holmes]

........the PDL Minis, were beautifully presented for the time,seem to remember one 'Tripping' over and showing up next day with a vynal roof, they also had some real trick components,Roller Bearing 5 speed G/Boxes,which if you study the Book of 'Urban Myths", may have come from some 'Factory' Minis, that had been in the Country...that may have gone home with empty case's, Literally ..............Ring!!Ring!!!David,UK calling..???????????.............regards thunder427/MJ:p

Good memory young fella.

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[Shano]

If the saying is "photos or it didn't happen" - here is proof that the rollover incident certainly did happen. Good lensmanship there..

[Steve Holmes]

The two marshalls in the first shot look pretty relaxed about it all!

[Ellis]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMAG0087.jpg

Hume Weir...not sure what year
Ford V8 mid engined Imp
Harry Lefoe

Pics by Mark Bishop of Wodonga Vic

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMAG0012.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMAG0048.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMAG0011.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

Love the photo Ellis. That little car was a real monster. It was one of the Oran Park crowd of the late '60s that would eventually become known as Sports Sedans. I think they called them Sports Racing Closed, at the time? It looks like it would have been more suited to the drag strip in that shot!

[105angria]

spent some time trying to find this car last story was it rolled at Sandown and was tipped ,Ihave an email from one of the builders he said this produced more horsepower and had more torque than Moffs Mustang,

[Ellis]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMAG0092.jpg

Hume Weir
pic by Mark Bishop of Wodonga Vic

[Murray Maunder]

As I recall the PDL Minis (were there one each for Clyde and Robert?) rarely ventured north. I seem to vaguely remember Robert racing at Baypark on at least one occasion and like all the PDL cars was pretty nicely turned out. I particularly loved the Watson 103 car and Collingwood's AMCO car.

Thanks to Steve and Mike Feisst for refreshing my memory of yellow peril, my favourite underdog.

[Steve Holmes]

I just took a look through the Shell Racing Annual for the '68 season, and Robert Stewart actually finished runner-up spot in the 1001cc - 1300cc class behind championship winner Angus Hyslop, and he did seem to race at every round. He won four races, and dnf'd just once. Collins raced his PDL Mini in the 0-1000cc class, finishing 3rd, but he seems to have suffered a bit from unreliability in the latter half of the season.

[Murray Maunder]

Ah, the Shell Racing Annuals. My pocket money never extended that far, Motorman was my bible of the time. Shots of exotic locations like Waimate were a glint in my eye and 40 years later got to go there when the NZ Motocross finals were there in 2008, echoes from the past with those lovely old buildings in main street.

Your idea of books on this site is a good one. I have a collection of Automobile Year (inferior I know to Autocourse for racing) from 1957 - 74 which is a treasure trove for following the fortunes of McLaren, Hulme, Amon and Ganley in that incredible era of Gps, Sports Prototypes, CanAm and Indy. But I digress. Thanks for the background on the PDL Cooper Minis Steve.

[105angria]

sorry about the quality ,like to see this recreated

[pallmall]

The Mini raced everywhere, and often extremely modified. Here is the Dave Gilbertson version on the dirt at Palmerston North Speedway.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/DaveGilbertsonQuicke-mailview.jpg

And a few of my photos that were published in NZ Hot Rod.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/May1971002750x306.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/May1971002750x269.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/May1971001750x503.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/May1971001750x282.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/May1971001349x750.jpg

[Graeme Farr]

Gee what great photos. There was an interesting comment back a page or two about the PDL Mini gearboxes. I am fairly sure they had Colotti boxes from Italy. Also had Colotti pawl type LSD's which were a copy of the Jack Knight one I think. Robertson Stewart Snr reputedly picked up the gear when he was picking a Ferrari (275GT?) from the factory. Enzo was a friend of Colotti.

The gearboxes were a disaster - more problematic that the Jack Knight 5 speed used in Barry Phillips, Mary Carney and Peter Sharps 1000cc cars. PDL changed back to 4 speeds but kept the diffs which worked well. In fact when the Robert Stewart car was sold (in parts but with a new shell) the owner whos name escapes me, converted it to a road car and still used the diff.

If you look at the photos you can see the car was sometimes LHD. It had special rack with two pinions - and master cyl sets. It could be changed quite quickly for rh or lh tracks. Presumably the photo here is Bay Park as it is LHD. The Stewart car went south (Queenstown?) but seems to be lost now.

The Collins car (1000cc - Stewarts was 1300) survived a bit longer. Went to Palmerston North and maybe Wanganui then was sold to someone who rolled it at Bay Park. It was possibly reshelled but its after that it seems to have got lost too. Shame as they were great looking cars.

I also see some photos of Aussie Minis which came across - Brian Foley beat the PDL car so Stewart Snr bought his engine!

[Steve Holmes]

sorry about the quality ,like to see this recreated

Thanks Angria, thats a great article. Graham Howard always produces a top quality read.

[Steve Holmes]

The Mini raced everywhere, and often extremely modified. Here is the Dave Gilbertson version on the dirt at Palmerston North Speedway.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/DaveGilbertsonQuicke-mailview.jpg

And a few of my photos that were published in NZ Hot Rod.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/May1971002750x306.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/May1971002750x269.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/May1971001750x503.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/May1971001750x282.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/May1971001349x750.jpg

Gavin, the Dave Gilbertson Mini speedway car was restored a few years ago wasn't it? Amazing that it survived.

[Steve Holmes]

Gee what great photos. There was an interesting comment back a page or two about the PDL Mini gearboxes. I am fairly sure they had Colotti boxes from Italy. Also had Colotti pawl type LSD's which were a copy of the Jack Knight one I think. Robertson Stewart Snr reputedly picked up the gear when he was picking a Ferrari (275GT?) from the factory. Enzo was a friend of Colotti.

The gearboxes were a disaster - more problematic that the Jack Knight 5 speed used in Barry Phillips, Mary Carney and Peter Sharps 1000cc cars. PDL changed back to 4 speeds but kept the diffs which worked well. In fact when the Robert Stewart car was sold (in parts but with a new shell) the owner whos name escapes me, converted it to a road car and still used the diff.

If you look at the photos you can see the car was sometimes LHD. It had special rack with two pinions - and master cyl sets. It could be changed quite quickly for rh or lh tracks. Presumably the photo here is Bay Park as it is LHD. The Stewart car went south (Queenstown?) but seems to be lost now.

The Collins car (1000cc - Stewarts was 1300) survived a bit longer. Went to Palmerston North and maybe Wanganui then was sold to someone who rolled it at Bay Park. It was possibly reshelled but its after that it seems to have got lost too. Shame as they were great looking cars.

I also see some photos of Aussie Minis which came across - Brian Foley beat the PDL car so Stewart Snr bought his engine!

Graeme, excellent first post, some brilliant info in there. And interesting to know what happened to these cars after their PDL duties.

[pallmall]

The Gilbertson Mini, as restored, on display at the Palmerston North Speedway 75th Anniversary.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1b%20Minis%20and%20Imps/100_1403Quicke-mailview.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

That was a fast car Gavin, used to smoke the V8s, especially on a mushy surface.

[timbo61]

While you won't be able to beat Harry LeFoe's IMP, Ted Rakowski ran a very neat car in sports sedans for a few years. By memory, it was rotary powered.
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/699/scn0064.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/837/scn0064.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

The only Imp's you see these days are in Historic Touring Car racing.
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5728/scn0065.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/13/scn0065.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6696/scn0066.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/34/scn0066.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/1595/scn0067a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/651/scn0067a.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[Steve Holmes]

Hey Timbo, those are great, especially the Ted Rakowski version. What a little ripper! The Imp just looks sensational with fat little wheels and flared arches.

[105angria]

Guy in South Australia has an old rotary imp sports sedan wants a bit for it $20k plus

[Steve Holmes]

Is that the one posted above Angria?

[105angria]

Will do some research a slotcar friend of bri3500 knows the guy

[Lee Tracey]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/leetra/NZFMR/IMG_2127.jpg
Combining both themes :)
HD 2010

Cheers
Lee

[Lee Tracey]

Seeing as someone opened it up to Speedway minis
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/leetra/speedway/71Ozmini.jpg
From the 1971 Australian Saloon car Team that toured. Can no longer remember who this was.
Pic bought from Forest Lake Track photographer at the time.

Before there were Limited saloons in speedway Waikaraka rana class specifically for Minis.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/leetra/speedway/IMG_0038.jpg
The #12 Riley was my favourite at the time, Fred Someone (Gavin can you remember?)
Though not always successfully ;)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/leetra/speedway/IMG_0037.jpg

Cheers
Lee

[pallmall]

#12 Riley was Dave Strong and Fred Hansford.
Can't remember who the #6AU Mini was, will have to consult the files.

[Steve Holmes]

2770

2769

[Rod Grimwood]

Now that is an impressive grid, any of a dozen cars could win on the day. Good old Bay Park, look at the crowd and also the people in the pit area.

[Shano]

Hey Amco - check out that orange bonnet and flairs on row 2...

[AMCO72]

Yeh, Bay Park 1971. Jim Richards is there in the earlier colour scheme for the Sidchrome Imp. Reg Cook on pole. And yes look at the crowd....bet a few of them had a smile on their faces! A great grid though and close ,hard racing.

[Milan Fistonic]

This is the ex-Peter Levet driven by Mike Boyle at Chamberlain Road Hillclimb.
Mike rallied the Imp as well as using it in hillclimbs and club racing.


2771

[GD66]

Yeh, Bay Park 1971. Jim Richards is there in the earlier colour scheme for the Sidchrome Imp. Reg Cook on pole. And yes look at the crowd....bet a few of them had a smile on their faces! A great grid though and close ,hard racing.


Good call Amco, and Rod too... for all its shortcomings as a technical track, Bay Park was always a good theatre for racing as it was so easily-seen for most of the crowd. Could that be local flyer Peter Harris on the outside of the front row ?

[AMCO72]

Excuse me Mr. F. in Wellington.....could you please identify the grid for us. I'm sure you can.

[Shano]

Orange bonnet .... row two = Rod Collingwood. Do I see the Barry Phillips Team Cambridge Mini back in the mix - just to the right of the gap through the grid?

Milan - that Imp would have been a terrific car for club level racing.

[kiwi285]

Those cars always provided some great racing where ever they were.

[Steve Holmes]

Here is some great footage from Warwick Farm in 1968, in which the skill shown by the Mini Cooper drivers to hassle the Mustangs is really impressive.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyjxtl_pk4Y

Parts 2 and 3 can be viewed on the Warwick Farm Touring Car Race 1968 thread found here: http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?245-Warwick-Farm-Touring-Cars-1968

[kiwi285]

Here are a couple more photos for this thread.

http://i52.tinypic.com/2rqykd3.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/2heiq9x.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/2ltkeo9.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/5beigz.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/f1y13r.jpg

[Leo D]

A rare shot of Graham Ritter at the wheel of one of the ex works Castrol Imps..... Hume Weir. Graham tells me that he only recalls driving the car once in this configuration. It's the only picture Graham had ever seen of the car painted gold.

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/9312/53766347.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/53766347.jpg/)

[Leo D]

Harry LeFoe leading John Goss at Calder...

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/2931/10055624.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/710/10055624.jpg/)

[Steve Holmes]

Oh wow, these are beautiful! I love the Ritter version.

[Rod Grimwood]

AMCO72, Bloody bullies picking on your baby. I think it is Mr Phillips giving Mr Collingwood a telling off, now if that was an Aussie he would just say "it's a contact sport" and nothing would happen about it.

[Steve Holmes]

Thats a cool photo Rod!

[AMCO72]

Rod, I have a slightly different photo to that one, but it doesnt show the impact that your one does. That photo was taken at Baypark and amazingly was the ONLY time the car was damaged in it's 2 year history with Collingwood. Mr Phillips wasn't in the least bit apologetic, and Dave Panckhurst, Rods mechanic and builder of the car, and I had a 'chat' to Barry at the McLaren festival of speed, about that 'incident' but he KNEW NOTHING!!!!! Racing incident, yeh right. Could you do me a favour and F/W that photo to my Email address so I can copy it and put it in the 'history book'....... bentley6@xtra.co.nz
Thanks . Gerald.

[Steve Holmes]

Pretty amazing that was the cars only bash Gerald, especially considering those guys drove those things at 100% all day long.

[AMCO72]

Yep, sure is Steve, those guys gave, nor expected any quarter, and I would say 120% all day. It was fortunate that it was usually out the front, not tangled up in mid field where all the action usually is....[.see the NZ V8's!!!] Rod wrote me a long letter in 1985, describing their antics over the 2 seasons. Among other stuff he says....quote..... the 1971/72 season saw us winning first time out and also being victorious in 18 out of 20 championship heats, with one 2nd and one 3rd to our credit. We won every round on aggregate and scored a maximum of 90 points. The championship in those days could only be won in the open class ie. 4200-6000 cc so we could not be classified as saloon car champs, even though we scored 30 more points than Paul Fahey in 70/71 and 41 more than Rod Coppins in 71/72. That changed the following year but too late for us. The car was only damaged once in all it's racing with us....when Phillips put me into the fence at Baypark and only failed to finish one other race with a blown clutch [non championship race]. In total we won 58 races over 2 years, including heats and non championship races, never finished further back than 3rd and with two DNF's....unquote.....so fairly remarkable, but as I said somewhere else, it wasn't that the car was any faster than the others in the field, just that it finished races by being reliable, a tribute I think to Dave Panckhurst's engineering skills. Actually our chat with Barry was very amicable, like us all he has mellowed with age, and is great that his son, Graeme has purchased his Dads old car, and intends to restore it in the Cambridge colours that it was campaigned in all those years ago.

[bob homewood]

3536

Some where we were talking about Jim Richards ,Brian Patrick and Imps ,this is a photo of the Imp they shared in the 1969 Levin Rothmans 4 hour race,with it looks like Jim at the wheel pushing it along there

[Steve Holmes]

Harry LeFoe leading John Goss at Calder...

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/2931/10055624.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/710/10055624.jpg/)

That Goss Falcon I think must be his Sports Sedan, not his Group C car? Would that be right Greg? Wasn't this built up from an old group C car? I think Australian Muscle Car mag did a feature on this car many years ago. How terrifying would that LeFoe Imp be to drive!

[105angria]

Have been talking to the builders of the Imp re a replica they thought a reconstruction is possible as they have some drawings and good memories, a lot of info was lost in a fire. the comment was a bit of rengineering may make the car less dangerous as it lifted both its front wheels and they would not like to see anyone hurt! 400lb ft 500hp wonderful what a weapon

[Steve Holmes]

Where did the engine sit in relation to the rear wheels? Was it in front of them?

[105angria]

in front, look at the airbox engine cover ,Ellis has a great shot on page 3

[Steve Holmes]

God that must have been a handful! The air box looks like its inside the car? So did he have to race with the windows wound down?

[knutspeed]

Hey,
Can anyone provide some contact info on the people running the Sidchrome Imp? We running Imps in the same specs here on the other side of the sphere, and I find his wheels/tires very interesting.

http://www.shag.no/wp-content/uploads/et_temp/rudskogen_140810-1-407563_186x186.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

Hey,
Can anyone provide some contact info on the people running the Sidchrome Imp? We running Imps in the same specs here on the other side of the sphere, and I find his wheels/tires very interesting.

http://www.shag.no/wp-content/uploads/et_temp/rudskogen_140810-1-407563_186x186.jpg

Did you ever manage to get that contact info?

[Steve Holmes]

Heres one for Gerald.

4361

[AMCO72]

Thanks for that Steve. I have that magazine and have copied the relevant articles and pictures for the 'Album'. By the way, I have got Tony Manns' Email address that 'knutspeed' was asking for regarding the wheels on the Sidchrome Imp, but am a bit hesitant in giving out such details without his permission, and not knowing the identity of the person requesting the info.

[bob homewood]

4525
I am hoping Amco 72 ,can add to this one and maybe verify the date and the meeting

[AMCO72]

Bob, that infamous photo of Barry Phillips punting Rod into the fence at Bay-Park. Was at the Easter meeting in 1972, and was the only time the car was damaged in Rods ownership. There is another post of the incident on here showing the end result. This happened in the first heat, and Ross Johnson lent Rod his car for the second, and he finished 6th. I think he had the Championship wrapped up before this meeting.....at the march Pukekohe event, so the final rounds were academic, but Rod wanted to continue on his winning way. [Source....Donn Anderson. Motorman June 72]

[bob homewood]

Thanks Gerald ,I had April 2nd 1972 figured ,so thats a big help ,now has anyone got a copy of the Motorman or similar meeting write up and results

[bry3500]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq743jZ6L0Y&feature=related

[driftwood]

AMCO72
re sid chrome Imp owner email
Knutspeed is in norway races imps google him as knutspeed pleasant guy

I raced Imps i UK 87-90 in classic saloon pre 65 racing in UK won the 1200 class and 3rd overall in 89
I had the 875 single carb engine car had to be road legal with WOF couldn't use the 998 and twin carbs then not homologated till 66

my father raced Imps 75-85 ish in special salons first with steel shell car later a Maguire space frame
we had many versions of Imps and minis in the UK all from standard steel shells thru the roof chops semi fibreglass panels to space frame cars with 850 1 litre 1050/1200 Imp motors
Minis the same idea and later some BDA powered minis and Imps
we also had some Minis with Imp motor onto the mini gearbox

we also had mini traveller that raced first version was steel shell the 2nd version was a Maguire mini tube frame version
also when i say Imp we also used the stiletto coupe shape in later days for the space frame cars

[kiwi285]

Some photos from Ruapuna in early November

http://i39.tinypic.com/w1xxef.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/351acew.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/24nlawm.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/2qsuhrb.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/30ljux1.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/1zvzd4y.jpg

[kiwi285]

http://i39.tinypic.com/r0xe7r.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/72vaxx.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/23wpnqt.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/z8pea.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/72ang3.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2lw4nsj.jpg

[Habu]

Here are some Mini photos you guys may enjoy....

8277
PDL Mini

8278
Alan Boyle

8279
John French

8280
Allan Boyle and others

[lisian_1275]

Now your talkin', Real race cars, Mini's Mini's everywhere.
I'm not biased though.

Thanks

Ian

[tsillay]

8877

We put this one together in 1984 based on a 998 Hartwell engine and some internals from a CR box found in the basement. Still going strong.

[Habu]

Henry Grocock - Kettelwell Cooper S
9271
9272
9273

Roger Hood Mini
9274

[Steve Emson]

9280
Another kiwi Imp

[Habu]

Not sure who's, but its nice :)
9282

[rotorbladez]

Does anyone have any photos of Hugh Bagwells (Hawkes Bay) 1964 Mini Cooper S. Rego Number EN8145. It was subsequently owned and raced by Dave (Paddy) Brocklehurst (Wellington) then Jim Langebeer.(Christchurch) It was originally 1293cc then changed to 1000cc when Jim Langebeer owned it. (car #121) I saw a photo of the car (#112) on this thread when it was first owned by Paddy.

[GD66]

Not sure who's, but its nice :)
9282


Brian Patrick's Imp : you can see Brimar Imp II written on the door. Pretty sure this very car became the Sidchrome Imp pedalled wilfully by Jim Richards. ;)

[shellsport]

The Climax motor used in alot of the Imps was the same unit used on Fire Brigade water pumps, and once this was discovered by some people, a lot of pumps were repowered and the original engines found real homes in cars. There are still some classic old pumps around with climax engines (not many). They were light and could be easily moved or carried around and had good grunt.

I remember as a kid watching fire fighting demos with these pumps they had adistinct wail to them , probably pulling some heady numbers !

[David McKinney]

Brian Patrick's Imp : you can see Brimar Imp II written on the door. Pretty sure this very car became the Sidchrome Imp pedalled wilfully by Jim Richards. ;)
JR's first Imp races were certainly in Brian Patrick's car, though I'm not sure if the later Sidchrome car was the same one. If anyone can find a Sidchrome car showing reg. no. EU6376 we'll have the answer:)

[Rod Grimwood]

Found a old (very) scrapbook at mummy's. It has alot of cuttings etc from way back.

Mrs Carney in Arden Mini.
JR in Imp, This was the blue one and Rod Collingwood, Reg Cook minis

[Habu]

Brian Patrick's Imp : you can see Brimar Imp II written on the door. Pretty sure this very car became the Sidchrome Imp pedalled wilfully by Jim Richards. ;)

Thanks GD66 for the info - nice looking car as I previously mentioned, and obviously turned out to be quite a racecar.

[stubuchanan]

I found and scanned some B&W photos I took during practice at the Auckland Car Club 9 December 1967 meeting at Pukekohe. A time when advertising on saloons was in its infancy!

Jim Carney and Shack Manon

http://s6.postimage.org/kz2ndfrsh/Carney_Manon_detail.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Brian Pellow and Austin Pratley

http://s6.postimage.org/9b8liw2nl/Barney_Pellow_Austin_Pratley.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

A very plain-looking Harrington Imp

http://s6.postimage.org/eip39ltv5/Harrington_Imp.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Dave Jolly (Wide Wheels) 998 cc Riley Elf. Not strictly a Mini on the outside. Must have pulled off track in front of stand and took shortest route back when practice ended.

http://s6.postimage.org/8ghgj45f5/D_Jolly_hors_de_combat.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Stu

[Steve Holmes]

Awesome photos guys. How many of those original NZ racing Minis still survive? There seem to have been a lot of them that raced. Did they all end up in Mini 7's? You don't see many of the original cars in historics these days, makes you wonder what happened to them all?

[stubuchanan]

Of the 6 cars in my photos, one probably didn't last out the day. The 1293 Cooper S's of Austin Prattley and David Redpath tangled on the back straight on their first racing lap and Prattley's flipped several times before ending up on the railway track. I didn't see it from wherever I was, but my lap chart includes them on the grid, but they didn't come round on the first lap.

Likewise, I don't think Shack Manon's car would have seen out the 1960's either. It looked very second-hand after its celebrated underwater incident coming down off the Pukekohe hill and into the ditch which looked waist-deep in water.

Stu

[Shano]

This one you mean?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/benderboat/Nissan%20Mobil%20races/MiniShackManoninditch2.jpg

[stubuchanan]

That would be the one. I'm sure I was there but can't find any programme or photo or even Motorman article. When was it?

Stu

[Shano]

Sorry I don't have any further information about when it was, the closest I can work out is 68 but that is pretty much a guess. He spun and slid over the grass but the car tripped and he went into the drain with the car rolling and it hit roof first on the inside bank, creating the biggest splash I've ever seen.

I'd say Mr Manon did very well to get out of the car unharmed because it could easily have gone pear shaped, that one. He must have been extremely disorientated.

[Imp Wagon]

The Climax motor used in alot of the Imps was the same unit used on Fire Brigade water pumps, and once this was discovered by some people, a lot of pumps were repowered and the original engines found real homes in cars. There are still some classic old pumps around with climax engines (not many). They were light and could be easily moved or carried around and had good grunt.

In fact, the Hillman Imp production engine was based on the Coventry Climax FWMA 750cc and the Rootes group applied for permission to modify the design for their use. The mis-nomer that the Imp engine was a fire pump engine stemmed from the fact that all subsequent Coventry Climax race engines were loosely derived (but significantly redesigned) from the original fire pump engines.

[Imp Wagon]

97689769
The black and white image is of Bill Leckie's Imp-Ford at Ruapuna in 1975-ish, while the colour one is of me racing my old 998 Sunbeam Imp at Ruapuna in the 1982 OSCA series. Tony Mann now has this car.

[Ross Hollings]

Looks like Ralph Emson

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, I LOVE these! Whatever happened to the Leckie Imp? Your car is gorgeous! Is this the Sidchrome Imp later in its life? Or perhaps not, I thought I'd heard Tony has another Imp?

[Ross Hollings]

Loooks like Ralph Emson in the number 34 Imp

[John McKechnie]

Hi Guys, 2 important photos you need to put up for Minis.Well known Stuart Lush rolling his Mini on the first corner at Puke and it catching fire in mid 70s .Also Peter Batten in early 70s smacking his mini into the out side fence in front of the grand stand, absolutely destroyed it .Both happened right in front of me.
Peter B had new racing tyres , couldnt wait to use them.It was a wet day , he came down off the hill and started aquaplaning.Just a passenger after that.I was at Wally Wymers car sales in early 80s and he had the Herald photo on his wall.I could mention that I had a good photo of me- Mini Cooper S- coming second in a handicap race 1974 at Bay Park, all i had to do was get past Paul Currins Escort 1300 on the last straight to win.I went to the inside of the track to sneak through , but dropped my inside wheel off the edge of the track and spun around. Hero to zero.Good photo it was from Inders with all the usual suspects on my back bumper.Also got disqualified for exceeding my handicap.

[John McKechnie]

Actually if you want a real story on Minis here goes-in the early 70s a lot of Uni students had Cooper and Cooper S.We all used to do Hill climbs together.I knew a guy Alex Isbey- he would have been one of the best Mini drivers.He had a 998 Cooper , but could easily beat Coopers S on rallys and hill climbs. He decided to build a super Mini. Got a 1500 Maxi motor 5 speed. Modified it -big zephyr valves , webbers and got Hallidays to fit in on top of a mini subframe.Then got them to cut and join the driveshafts .Fitted a fibreglass clubman tilt front, 13 inch Victor wheel.Roll cage, painted it yellow.Went like hell.Unfortunately on the first rally, the rear subframe , which had some rust, broke and the car went over a bank and got written off.He bought the ex Colin Broadley Mini De Joux and was going to fit that as a real racer .Dont know what happened to it .Alex was unfortunaely taken from us in an accident on the Bombay Hills some years ago. Donald Webster was a true friend to him and may know where it all is.His name is not as well known as many, now, but he was a man of vision.

[Steve Emson]

Loooks like Ralph Emson in the number 34 Imp
Yes that is Dad. This photo possibly has some significance. Very early rallying. The number is what they used in trials. You were not suppose to be going quick. This looks like an early special stage. Dad is overseas so I can't ask him at the moment.

[Oldfart]

From Donald Webster mentioned above.
Alec Isbey. Quite a character and one you could love and hate at the same time. Went to school with him and had many exciting moments in his company, usually when he was driving a car. He had a natural talent for car control that you see only rarely in your lifetime.

We built the Mixi (Mini/Maxi) out of a Mini 850 that had been in an engine fire and Halliday Racing helped us put a Maxi 1500 in it with cable gear change. The 1750 has levers and wouldn't really fit. The cables came through the hole for the original magic wand. We put Mark 3 Zephyr inlet valves in it, a cam and headers. Alec and his co driver Ross Grant were in 8th position overall and on the final stage of the day with the 8 km or so run south into the forest headquarters to go when the rear subframe collapsed and the car went hurtling into the gorse bushes and down a long bank rolling several times. That would have been in the Maramarua Rally in 1975 or 1976. I was driving my R12 with 1565cc and twin 40 Webers in that rally and was waiting at the end of the last stage for him to come in. There was not much left in the way of bits so Alec cut all the body off and got a de joux body to put on the floorpan of it. I am sorry but I have no idea what happened to that car, whether it ever got finished or not

[John McKechnie]

Hi Oldfart.,that was a very quick update from Donald on Alex.Thanks for the input.Most reassuring that my memory from the early 70s is still accurate.I see that in Classic Car mag, Donald recentlyappears with a Renault Alpine GTA..A story on the Webster family and their contribution to Auckland motoring would be interesting.My Dad got his Ramblers and Renaults from them in the 60s--.Campbell Motors.Once again, we wonder what happened to this race car-the Alex Isbey Mini Cooper?

[Imp Wagon]

Wow, I LOVE these! Whatever happened to the Leckie Imp? Your car is gorgeous! Is this the Sidchrome Imp later in its life? Or perhaps not, I thought I'd heard Tony has another Imp?
Hi Steve, thanks for the compliment on my old Imp. It is not the Sidchrome car though. Tony Mann owns the Sidchrome Imp, My OSCA Imp, and I believe he has the remains of the old Roy Harrington car too. Don't know what happened to the Leckie Imp though.

[Oldfart]

Sorry John, your recent memory has put you crook. Donald has an A110 which I have co-driven on Targa for a few years. NOT a GTA.

[John McKechnie]

Very sorry about the model mix up. Does getting the Alpine part right count for anything?

[Imp Wagon]

Here is a shot of the two together at dunedin a few years back when Jim Richards actually drove the Sidchrome Imp again, while Tony Mann drove my old OSCA Imp.

9864

And here is one of a good friend of mine, John Homewood, 2 wheeling his famous Kent Messenger Imp at Snetterton in the late 70's

9865

And I hope you don't mind, as it is not a race Imp, but here is a shot of my daily driver for the last 20 years, my Hillman Imp Husky, one of only 61 surviving worldwide.

9866

[Oldfart]

4 out of 10!
As we have travelled 10's of 1000s of km and both have an interest in french cars a lot of stories have passed, but this is a mini and Imp thread!

[John McKechnie]

OK, message received and understood-keep solely to topic.. Steve Holmes will be posting a picture of my Mini De Joux from 1975 shortly. Over and out.

[225sloper]

This is the rotary powered mini of Ethan Coleman who races in NZGT98689869Here is the hillman imp subaru wrx powered which also races in NZGT driven by Reece Killingback98709871

[225sloper]

Driver climbed out and walked away,was a big hit98729873

[225sloper]

This is the 350 chevy powered mini drag car driven by Don Smith.photo taken NZ Nationals Meremere 201098749875

[kiwi285]

http://i48.tinypic.com/1r9340.jpg

Here is John McKechnie's photo of his De Joux Mini.

[Steve Holmes]

Here is a shot of the two together at dunedin a few years back when Jim Richards actually drove the Sidchrome Imp again, while Tony Mann drove my old OSCA Imp.

9864

And here is one of a good friend of mine, John Homewood, 2 wheeling his famous Kent Messenger Imp at Snetterton in the late 70's

9865

And I hope you don't mind, as it is not a race Imp, but here is a shot of my daily driver for the last 20 years, my Hillman Imp Husky, one of only 61 surviving worldwide.

9866

Wow, amazing photos! Thanks for posting these. I love the shot of the two Imps together, thats just amazing. Did you originally build that car or does it have history going further back?

That John Homewood Imp is incredible. Any idea what became of this car?

The Husky photo I love! I don't think I've ever seen one of these. I assume its been in NZ all its life, judging by the licence plate?

[Rod Grimwood]

That blue no.76 with Subaru is a quick bit of gear. Saw it at Hampton last year. real neat.

[Carlo]

Hmmm.. I am pretty sure that saw that Husky Imp cruising our patch a short while ago. I do recognise the photo background

[Imp Wagon]

Wow, amazing photos! Thanks for posting these. I love the shot of the two Imps together, thats just amazing. Did you originally build that car or does it have history going further back?

That John Homewood Imp is incredible. Any idea what became of this car?

The Husky photo I love! I don't think I've ever seen one of these. I assume its been in NZ all its life, judging by the licence plate?
Hi Steve, thanks for the positive feedback, and can I compliment you on the great effort you put in on this forum - fantastic!

I actually got the rolling shell from Graeme Clyde who had built it and raced it for a couple of seasons in OSCA in the seventies with a red and black colour scheme. I then added the group 2 arches, hand built the alloy doors, modified the rear suspension, painted it yellow and built my own 998 engine using some components that I purchased from George Bevan who's Imps won the BTCC 3 years in a row in the early seventies.
As for the Kent Messenger Imp, it was rolled heavily at Paddock bend at Brand's in 1975 when John hit some oil on the track and went off. He disposed of the remains in the pit on his farm and burnt it along with the other rubbish. When I visited him in 1978 I retrieved the only piece I could find left of it and still have it to this day.
Finally, you are right about the Husky, it is a 1968 model and was imported to NZ and first registered in 1969. I have owned it since 1989 and it has now covered 250,000 miles.

[Imp Wagon]

Hmmm.. I am pretty sure that saw that Husky Imp cruising our patch a short while ago. I do recognise the photo background
Lake Pukaki, Mt. Cook in the background, 2004 from memory.

[Oldfart]

To answer the question about the de Joux Mixi, believed to not have been finished, probably involved in a deal when Alec acquired the Renault 5 Turbo (mid engine rally car) from Chris Barnes.

[Steve Holmes]

Hi Steve, thanks for the positive feedback, and can I compliment you on the great effort you put in on this forum - fantastic!

I actually got the rolling shell from Graeme Clyde who had built it and raced it for a couple of seasons in OSCA in the seventies with a red and black colour scheme. I then added the group 2 arches, hand built the alloy doors, modified the rear suspension, painted it yellow and built my own 998 engine using some components that I purchased from George Bevan who's Imps won the BTCC 3 years in a row in the early seventies.
As for the Kent Messenger Imp, it was rolled heavily at Paddock bend at Brand's in 1975 when John hit some oil on the track and went off. He disposed of the remains in the pit on his farm and burnt it along with the other rubbish. When I visited him in 1978 I retrieved the only piece I could find left of it and still have it to this day.
Finally, you are right about the Husky, it is a 1968 model and was imported to NZ and first registered in 1969. I have owned it since 1989 and it has now covered 250,000 miles.

Wow, George Bevan components! His cars were hugely successful in the BTCC. How many years did you race the car for? Got any more photos?

[Imp Wagon]

Wow, George Bevan components! His cars were hugely successful in the BTCC. How many years did you race the car for? Got any more photos?
Hi Steve, I ran it for 2 seasons in the 0-2 litre class which was a bit of a mis-match but it still managed to turn a few heads. I have only a few photo's tucked away somewhere, but will try to find them. I did actually meet George Bevan when I picked up my bits from him in 1978 (George knew my friend John Homewood well and built his engines for him) and he kindly let me take a photo of him in his workshop. (see below.)

10018

[Steve Holmes]

Hey, great photo! Boy he really knew how to make one of those Imps run hard. And whats more, his cars were absolutely gorgeous!

So after you'd raced your car for two seasons, what happened to it then?

[Imp Wagon]

Hey, great photo! Boy he really knew how to make one of those Imps run hard. And whats more, his cars were absolutely gorgeous!

So after you'd raced your car for two seasons, what happened to it then?

I sold it to a friend of mine, Dave Rycroft, who did very little with it and then on sold it to Tony mann who has raced it at Wigram, Waimate, Dunedin and Ruapuna over the years. I am fairly certain he still has it.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for that info, its great to be able to join the dots on the histories of these cars. Did you race anything after you sold the car?

[Imp Wagon]

I did eventually import a Ginetta G15 into NZ in 2000. Most Ginettas were Ford powered but the G15 is Imp powered and has good performance due to it's low weight of 560 Kg. Mine is a 1973. I have competed at Hawkswood and Gebbies pass hillclimbs plus track days and the odd grasskhana, but nothing serious. I guess I can sneak a photo in this thread as it is Imp powered.

10090

[Steve Holmes]

Thats awesome! I bet its fun the drive.

There are some good OSCA threads on here:

http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?86-Early-O-S-C-A-saloons-1971-75-era-any-pics-out-there-b-w-or-colour

http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?445-New-Zealand-OSCA-Database-Histories-And-Whereabouts

http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?266-OSCA-40th-Reunion

[Imp Wagon]

Fantastic! Thanks for all the links. It certainly brings back a lot of very happy memories. I can almost smell the Avgas.......

[Imp Wagon]

Now here are a couple of photo's from the UK in the 1970's of an aluminium bodied, space-framed mini countryman built and raced by a guy called Ginger Marshall. It was actually powered by an Imp engine mated to a Mini 'box - ingenious! It was quicker than all the other BMC powered Minis and was a match for the Imps which by then were dominating the up to 1000cc categories.

10095

10096

The countryman was not quite as bonkers though as the 850cc 2 cylinder BDA powered Fiat 500 (Bambina) affectionately known as "Mighty Mouse" which was raced in the UK in the 70's by Peter Day. I saw it race at Brands in 1978 and it sounded like a 4 cylinder that was down on 2 cylinders, but it could fly!.

[Milan Fistonic]

Hi Guys, 2 important photos you need to put up for Minis.Well known Stuart Lush rolling his Mini on the first corner at Puke and it catching fire in mid 70s .Also Peter Batten in early 70s smacking his mini into the out side fence in front of the grand stand, absolutely destroyed it...

Ask and you will receive.


10100


10101

I'll have to dig out the newspaper page that had the photo of Peter Batten crashing.

[Steve Holmes]

Amazing sequence of photos Milan. What a mess! Is this the same Stuart Lush who now races historic F5000s?

[Steve Holmes]

Now here are a couple of photo's from the UK in the 1970's of an aluminium bodied, space-framed mini countryman built and raced by a guy called Ginger Marshall. It was actually powered by an Imp engine mated to a Mini 'box - ingenious! It was quicker than all the other BMC powered Minis and was a match for the Imps which by then were dominating the up to 1000cc categories.

10095

10096

The countryman was not quite as bonkers though as the 850cc 2 cylinder BDA powered Fiat 500 (Bambina) affectionately known as "Mighty Mouse" which was raced in the UK in the 70's by Peter Day. I saw it race at Brands in 1978 and it sounded like a 4 cylinder that was down on 2 cylinders, but it could fly!.

Wow! Those are wild! I love British Super Saloons, some of the wildest, most creative saloon cars raced in that series. Good to see many are now being restored and used again.

Re the Mini Countryman, why did they build a Countryman over a normal Mini? Also, why a Mini at all, why not an Imp?

[John McKechnie]

The same person, and the flames were scary.

[Imp Wagon]

Wow! Those are wild! I love British Super Saloons, some of the wildest, most creative saloon cars raced in that series. Good to see many are now being restored and used again.

Re the Mini Countryman, why did they build a Countryman over a normal Mini? Also, why a Mini at all, why not an Imp?

That's the Brits for you, anything to be a bit different!

[Milan Fistonic]

Here's the front page of the Auckland Star dated Monday October 15, 1973. It's become rather discoloured but you should be able to see the severity of the damage to Peter's car.

Note also that he shared the front page with the announcement of Jackie Stewart's retirement.

10150

10149

[Rod Grimwood]

Amazing sequence of photos Milan. What a mess! Is this the same Stuart Lush who now races historic F5000s?

Same person. Greg Thornton has apparently bought the F5000 (McRae) off him to replace his cars he lost in shed fire in England. 2x F5000 and 2x F1 apparently.

[John McKechnie]

Hi Milan,
Thats great adding off photos on the 2 incidents I mentioned.
Now, heres a biggy,-have you got the pic showing Jim Boyd at Baypark trying to slow down Barry Phillips Team Cambridge Mini by dropping it into low when he ran out of brakes-lot of wheel spinning and the fence................,once again, right in front of me.

[Ellis]

A bit of a handfull I would imagine...Wodonga car

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMG_0750.jpg

[John McKechnie]

Would I be correct in assuming thats a Chev in this-red rocker covers, dizzy at the back. AMCO72 would love the size of this radiator-solves all mini cooling problems. Great pic Ellis, where die you pick this up from? The J rail behind looks severely under powed next to it.

[Paul Wilkinson]

10152

[Paul Wilkinson]

Rover V8 transversely mounted in a Clubman without the firewall being cut!

http://reocities.com/MotorCity/factory/2760/images/viku/rover12.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

A bit of a handfull I would imagine...Wodonga car

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMG_0750.jpg

I'm nervous just looking at that thing! That is wild!

[Habu]

10181
Period mid/late 60's racing Mini engine bay

[driftwood]

Some info for you following Imp wagons posting
1 George Bevans Imps wont the BTCC 3 years on the trot with Bill McGovern 70 71 72 ( i think without checking!)
2 George built my fathers Imp engines 75-82 and many other local racer engines but he also had some German and Scandanavian customers too
3 John Homewood original used Ian Carter built engines he didnt use Bevan engines till 77/8 season when he was then running the Davrian floor pan Imp which he had specially built for 76 or 77 season
I know John had 2 steel shell Imps the 2nd car i was told was now in Ireland
4 Ginger Marshall used the Mini traveller chassis for the LWB over the Mini
His first car was steel shell with Mini A series circa 75/6
he later had a Space frame traveller mini built and he then fitted the Imp engine to the mini gearbox circa 78/9
This car later went Hillclimbing
His last car was a space frame Reliant Kitten shaped car and he then had his own alloy engine block cast up and Imp head fitted to it
He still retains the car but has recently been racing Clubmans sport racer

George Bevan died around 97 ish
Last year i was racing FFord at Brands and in Parc Ferme a bloke came up and spoke to me- It was Georges son Peter and he and his son had built a replica Gp 2 Imp and it has been running at a couple of demo events

[Imp Wagon]

Some info for you following Imp wagons posting
1 George Bevans Imps wont the BTCC 3 years on the trot with Bill McGovern 70 71 72 ( i think without checking!)
2 George built my fathers Imp engines 75-82 and many other local racer engines but he also had some German and Scandanavian customers too
3 John Homewood original used Ian Carter built engines he didnt use Bevan engines till 77/8 season when he was then running the Davrian floor pan Imp which he had specially built for 76 or 77 season
I know John had 2 steel shell Imps the 2nd car i was told was now in Ireland

Here is Johns second steel bodied Imp with a Rawlson fibreglass front. This car replaced the written-off Kent Messenger Imp
10207

And here is the Davrian based Imp which John nicknamed the "plastic pig"
10208

Here is a link to more information on the Imps forever site: http://www.imps4ever.info/racing/races/john-homewood.html

[driftwood]

I remember the Blue yellow Rawlson bodied car ( i was 10/11 yrs old)
Plastic pig was written off by the 3rd owner dicing with my father at Lydden in 1979

[Steve Holmes]

Here is Johns second steel bodied Imp with a Rawlson fibreglass front. This car replaced the written-off Kent Messenger Imp
10207

And here is the Davrian based Imp which John nicknamed the "plastic pig"
10208

Here is a link to more information on the Imps forever site: http://www.imps4ever.info/racing/races/john-homewood.html

Beautiful photos. Got any more?

[Steve Holmes]

Some info for you following Imp wagons posting
1 George Bevans Imps wont the BTCC 3 years on the trot with Bill McGovern 70 71 72 ( i think without checking!)
2 George built my fathers Imp engines 75-82 and many other local racer engines but he also had some German and Scandanavian customers too
3 John Homewood original used Ian Carter built engines he didnt use Bevan engines till 77/8 season when he was then running the Davrian floor pan Imp which he had specially built for 76 or 77 season
I know John had 2 steel shell Imps the 2nd car i was told was now in Ireland
4 Ginger Marshall used the Mini traveller chassis for the LWB over the Mini
His first car was steel shell with Mini A series circa 75/6
he later had a Space frame traveller mini built and he then fitted the Imp engine to the mini gearbox circa 78/9
This car later went Hillclimbing
His last car was a space frame Reliant Kitten shaped car and he then had his own alloy engine block cast up and Imp head fitted to it
He still retains the car but has recently been racing Clubmans sport racer

George Bevan died around 97 ish
Last year i was racing FFord at Brands and in Parc Ferme a bloke came up and spoke to me- It was Georges son Peter and he and his son had built a replica Gp 2 Imp and it has been running at a couple of demo events

Thanks for that info, now you've explained why the Traveller was used, it makes total sense!

Re the Ginger Marshall Reliant, I think I know the car you're referring to. Good to know its still about.

[Steve Holmes]

What happened to George Bevans Imps? Do any still survive?

[Imp Wagon]

Beautiful photos. Got any more?

I sure do, here are a few:
Plastic pig with it's transporter
10243
In this shot John is surveying some damage to the side of the Imp. This was inflicted by the Mini obscured behind the Imp. This mini was Peter Baldwins 1300 BDA powered version which had just been beaten by John's 998 Imp. Apparently, he was so annoyed, he punted John on the slowing-down lap!
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10246

And here is a 1973 shot of the old and new George Bevan imps, the one on the right is the triple championship winning car which was sold to Les Nash and the twin headlight car on the left is the replacement for it, which never enjoyed the same success. From memory it was destroyed in a crash during the season.
10245

[Imp Wagon]

What happened to George Bevans Imps? Do any still survive?

In theory the triple championship winning car survives somewhere, but no-one, including the Bevan family know where it might be, which is why the Bevan family built a "continuation" replica to commemorate the original hat-trick winning Imp. I believe it was sold recently to a collector in Scotland for a very significant amount of money. Continuation is the term given because it was built by the same family, even though George Bevan was already dead by then. It is a similar story with the original Fraser Imps, which went to Teneriffe and then seem to have disappeared into the mists of time - a pity really.

[KiWinUS]

I remember a real fast Mini at Ruapuna & Levels driven by Lin Neilson , anyone have pics or more info ? Mid 70,s maybe
Thanks
Cheers
Tony

[Steve Holmes]

I sure do, here are a few:
Plastic pig with it's transporter
10243
In this shot John is surveying some damage to the side of the Imp. This was inflicted by the Mini obscured behind the Imp. This mini was Peter Baldwins 1300 BDA powered version which had just been beaten by John's 998 Imp. Apparently, he was so annoyed, he punted John on the slowing-down lap!
10244

10246

And here is a 1973 shot of the old and new George Bevan imps, the one on the right is the triple championship winning car which was sold to Les Nash and the twin headlight car on the left is the replacement for it, which never enjoyed the same success. From memory it was destroyed in a crash during the season.
10245

These are just amazing! Each and every one. This period of British saloon car racing is completely fascinating to me.

The third photo down with the grid line-up, the white and blue Imp next to the Plastic Pig actually looks a little like Homewoods earlier Imp.

[Steve Holmes]

In theory the triple championship winning car survives somewhere, but no-one, including the Bevan family know where it might be, which is why the Bevan family built a "continuation" replica to commemorate the original hat-trick winning Imp. I believe it was sold recently to a collector in Scotland for a very significant amount of money. Continuation is the term given because it was built by the same family, even though George Bevan was already dead by then. It is a similar story with the original Fraser Imps, which went to Teneriffe and then seem to have disappeared into the mists of time - a pity really.

A shame the original championship winning car is away in hiding. Would be nice if it someday surfaced again. Of course, all these cars, no matter how significant, went through a period in later life where they were effectively worth little money, many were broken up to build new cars, some just scrapped.

[Steve Holmes]

Not sure where the heck I picked these up from, possibly Frank de Jongs excellent website.

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[Steve Holmes]

10250

[Ellis]

The 289 Lefoe Imp from Albury /Wodonga
I think I may have posted pics of this before ...but I like it.

Pic credit unknown
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/IMG_0755.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

Lafoe was possibly the worlds bravest man, building and driving that thing!

[Chris Read]

Has anyone thought of including Barry Vuyk's BDA Imp in this thread which he ran in Osca. I think it was a Stiletto. It was very neatly built car which went well but not for long in the Series before he sold it. I believe it went into Rally Cross and then downhill from there and may be around still. Any ideas or photos? Barry is still in Dunedin I think. I have the 5 speed gear set out of the Hewland trans axle in my garage somewhere.
Murray Cockburn lives in Queenstown and in his early Oamaru days he ran a mini - was it the Brink mini??
Still the same character he was.
Also for many years Brian Houston in Dunedin owned the London Sydney Marathon Mini in its original form as well as an important Rally Cross mini. Great historic cars. Chris Read-Arrowtown.

[Steve Holmes]

Chris, I'm sure there are photos somewhere on this site of the Vuck Imp. This damn place must be getting too big, I can't seem to find anything anymore! Ha ha ha.

[Chris Read]

Has anyone thought of including Barry Vuyk's BDA Imp in this thread which he ran in Osca. I think it was a Stiletto. It was very neatly built car which went well but not for long in the Series before he sold it. I believe it went into Rally Cross and then downhill from there and may be around still. Any ideas or photos? Barry is still in Dunedin I think. I have the 5 speed gear set out of the Hewland trans axle in my garage somewhere.
Murray Cockburn lives in Queenstown and in his early Oamaru days he ran a mini - was it the Brink mini??
Still the same character he was.
Also for many years Brian Houston in Dunedin owned the London Sydney Marathon Mini in its original form as well as an important Rally Cross mini. Great historic cars. Chris Read-Arrowtown.

SAD THAT YOU HAVE TO REPLY TO YOUR OWN POST BUT CAME ACROSS THIS WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE RORSTAN INFO AND SEEMS THAT THE STILETTO CAME TO A BOY RACER END. Chris Read
Posted by Graeme Farr #348 Lost Race Cars Thread:
When I bought the Mini off Sandy it was sitting under a hedge - I asked what ever happened to the ex Barry Vuyk Stilletto he had - and he pointed me to another hedge!. There is was all complete with rotary and even still had the cool Haliday wheels. A year or two later an Imp nut from Chch advertised looking for the car and I put him in touch with Sandy. But I think he just took out the Hewland and flogged it off and took the car to the dump. Sad end to a cool car.

[Steve Holmes]

Chris, is this the same car? Martin posted these on the Lost Race Car thread:

10640

10639

10641

10638

[Milan Fistonic]

Not sure if this Mini has been mentioned already, and with dial-up it takes too long to check, but it has to be one of the widest Minis ever raced.


10642

[Steve Holmes]

Woah! That really IS wide! If you took those flares off the wheels would be attached clean outside the bodywork. I wonder how they got them mounted so wide? Surely not spacers?

[Oldfart]

Britwell, the Hamilton boys!

[tmann]

Barry Vuyk stilletto was purchased by a guy in christchurch, I went to chch and looked at purchasing the car.

Got there, looked at it, took photo's, told the guy I'll get back to you in a couple of days, left it a week and by then he had taken it
to a scrap metal yard. I called the yard and it "was gone" too late!!!!

it is the car in photo's above as it looked the same,

tmann

[driftwood]

1 what is dial up? are you referring to the technology of internet access 10 years ago?
2 wel known phrase snooze you loose
throw in
he who hesitates is lost
every race car I have bought has been instant
IF i took the effort to go see the car I have either bought on spot OR called next day and put my offer on table
anything after that and i didnt want it or was not interested enough in it having seen it
I have bought many cars off fotos from hysterical FFords to Gp C cars

you pass this way once in your life and now a race car is dead for 2 reasons
1 a fkwit bought the car
2 you deliberated and you even went to see the car so why did you not move yer lips there n then- you obviously wanted it at the price advertised otherwise you would have stayed at home
I do not think I can forgive you for your actions unless you can ply with me leg of lamb supper followed by lots of beer/wine port whiskey and many story's of racing in NZ followed with photos
so be warned no leg of lamb no forgiveness:)

[car mad]

just spotted this on trade me ......now the big question can i make the link work lol
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/specialist-cars/competition-cars/auction-509854439.htm

[Oldfart]

just spotted this on trade me ......now the big question can i make the link work lol
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/specialist-cars/competition-cars/auction-509854439.htm

Yes, you made the link work.
That's a hell of a lot of car for the $

[Steve Holmes]

1 what is dial up? are you referring to the technology of internet access 10 years ago?
2 wel known phrase snooze you loose
throw in
he who hesitates is lost
every race car I have bought has been instant
IF i took the effort to go see the car I have either bought on spot OR called next day and put my offer on table
anything after that and i didnt want it or was not interested enough in it having seen it
I have bought many cars off fotos from hysterical FFords to Gp C cars

you pass this way once in your life and now a race car is dead for 2 reasons
1 a fkwit bought the car
2 you deliberated and you even went to see the car so why did you not move yer lips there n then- you obviously wanted it at the price advertised otherwise you would have stayed at home
I do not think I can forgive you for your actions unless you can ply with me leg of lamb supper followed by lots of beer/wine port whiskey and many story's of racing in NZ followed with photos
so be warned no leg of lamb no forgiveness:)

Well if he wasn't feeling bad before, he will now! Ha ha ha.

And yes, dial-up, long since gone in most 1st world countries, but still active in some 3rd world countries...........and NZ!

[Paul Wilkinson]

Has this wee beast got any history? Seem like a bit of a strange transplant...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/other/auction-509421895.htm

[Shano]

Man that thing would be a handful.

[Milan Fistonic]

This is what happens when the clutch in a Mini lets go at the end of the back straight at Pukekohe.

The bits smash their way out of the bell housing...

11827

...and on their way up through the bonnet...

11828

they clobber the master cylinder leaving you with no brakes and you leave the track at high speed...

11825

...and end up in the tyre barrier.

11826

[Steve Holmes]

Woah! I wonder where the pieces of high speed flying metal ended up?

[Paul Wilkinson]

I am certain that there is no cooler Mini currently for sale anywhere...


http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/specialist-cars/competition-cars/auction-509854439.htm


11839


1966 Broadspeed Mini
Only 26 ever built this is the only known racing Broadspeed Mini in the world.
A very unique car with lots of history.
The 1380cc motor produces 140 hp has done only 2 race meetings since a complete rebuild is fitted with an AKM 7 port crossflow cylinder head,forged pistons,lightweight conrods,steel maincaps,paddle clutch,4 speed dog box,limit slip diff,electric water pump and 2 oil coolers.
4 pot alloy calipers,vented discs and alloy drums,front and rear sway bars.
This is a very quick car and heaps of fun to drive.1min 19sec at Hampton Downs
1min 22sec Manfield.
Has a C.O.D. and complies to schedule K
for Classic racing.
More photos and info available

At $25k it's a bargain I reckon!

[Steve Holmes]

I was sent the following photos just recently by Colin Warrington. These days Colin races a '69 Camaro in the Queensland based Australian Trans-Am series, but, growing up in New Zealand, he raced a Mini in the 1,000cc class in NZ saloon car racing.

As a young bloke he was racing on a shoe-string budget, so tried to make up for his lack of funds by driving the wheels off his race car. Colin's Mini was painted white with a bright orange bonnet and bootlid. The car also had a vinyl top! If anyone on here has any old photos of this car, he'd love to see them, as he was always just behind the main guys in his class; Barry Phillips, Rod Collingwood, Rex Hart etc who grabbed all the magazine coverage. So he was rarely featured.

Here is Colin at his first event, in either 1968 or '69, trying hard and cocking the inside rear wheel:

17660

[Steve Holmes]

Here is the car a couple of years later, in 1971. Colin has picked up sponsorship from Boyle Motor Co. Note, because he had no money, he couldn't afford to buy the fibreglass bolt-on flares the other teams had, so welded on some flares instead, then ran the original trim pieces around the edges.

17661

17662

[Steve Holmes]

He may have struggled to get the magazine coverage of the guys in front of him, but he did get some media time for all the wrong reasons when, at Pukekohe, Roy Harringtons Imp blew its engine to pieces during practice at the NZIGP meeting, and Colin, following closely behind, slipped on the oil and slammed the bank heavily. Although the newspaper clipping said he was unhurt, in fact, he'd damaged his back.

This back injury has hampered him all his life, until, at Queensland Raceway in 2012, during an Australian Trans-Am race, he was shunted from behind by another car under brakes. The crash put Colin in hospital, and the Camaro required a complete rebuild. But, amazingly, the shunt had also realigned his back from the Pukekohe crash all those years ago, and for the first time in 42 years, he no longer suffers back pains!

17663

[John McKechnie]

Thanks for posting those images of our boy Colin.I took 2 years of motoring mags out to HD on the chance he would find something. As a no name driver there were too many minis then for any mention of him.

[kiwi285]

Here is the car a couple of years later, in 1971. Colin has picked up sponsorship from Boyle Motor Co. Note, because he had no money, he couldn't afford to buy the fibreglass bolt-on flares the other teams had, so welded on some flares instead, then ran the original trim pieces around the edges.

17661

17662

Was this the same Boyle Motor Co based in Cambridge. I seem to remember that they did sponsor someone racing a BMC product

[AMCO72]

Kiwi285....... the Boyle Motor Co.....BMC....became Rozema Motors, then Bowie-Keith Motors, and Bruce Bowie gave some sponsorship to Angus when he was racing the Mini......'MINCER'... at Mystery Creek in Hamilton, in the early 1990's, and also later when he got into Mini 7's.

I remember Bruce making a valid point, that although his company might be known in the Waikato, once Angus was racing outside his home turf, the name Bowie-Keith motors meant nothing, and so the sponsorship money did not create any feed back in the way of sales etc. A competitor really needed a nationally known brand name sponsor to be worth anything, and it was hard to get back then as Colin obviously found out.......and indeed it has always been hard to get.

So perhaps the firm, which had been a well known garage in Cambridge for decades, had a history of interest in Motorsport.....Model A's to Mini 7's....
The site is now occupied by Wrightsons.

[Impy1]

Hi all. Been lurking for a while and am amazed by the wealth of knowledge here!

Anyway, here is a pic of my father at Oran Park in his Imp. Thought it would fit right in this thread:)

Not a lot of info known about the car. I can tell you it was black with gold pinstripes. Oh, and his name is Geoff Birt.

Hope someone knows of him or the car...................

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/yenkoman440six/dad/P1050386.jpg (http://s879.photobucket.com/user/yenkoman440six/media/dad/P1050386.jpg.html)

[Ellis]

Neptune Racing's Jim McKeown raced a black one. Saw it at Calder. Beechey also had the odd drive of it.
Pic has been posted earlier in this thread...

A single frame shot from my 8mm movies at Calder pits
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/vlcsnap-11267193-1_zps6df61ba1.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/vlcsnap-11267193-1_zps6df61ba1.jpg.html)

[ERC]

#216 This is a Broadspeed REPLICA... Bernie Hines had a chopped "Minisprint" that he had raced in NZ but was initially denied a CoD. He then got hold of a set of rear body moulds (I believe from Australia) and built the Broadspeed replica shown. Quite why it was turned down initially is anyone's guess (I have my theories...). The original Mini Sprints were produced in the UK and sold new, through Stewart & Ardern, BMC dealers, so the car should have had a CoD in its original form.

We clocked it in Broadspeed form on radar at Pukekohe at 129mph a few years ago, the lowered roofline and deseaming aiding aerodynamics considerably.

Fantastic car and driven well and has now been sold (to Christchurch I believe), but it is important to differentiate between a replica and the genuine article.

These are the genuine article. Note the other Mini variants in the background, including my favourite - the yellow Unipower.

18678

18679

[Steve Holmes]

Hi all. Been lurking for a while and am amazed by the wealth of knowledge here!

Anyway, here is a pic of my father at Oran Park in his Imp. Thought it would fit right in this thread:)

Not a lot of info known about the car. I can tell you it was black with gold pinstripes. Oh, and his name is Geoff Birt.

Hope someone knows of him or the car...................

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/yenkoman440six/dad/P1050386.jpg (http://s879.photobucket.com/user/yenkoman440six/media/dad/P1050386.jpg.html)

Hey, great first post! Is this the Imp which appeared at the Mallala Easter Historic event earlier this year?

[Russ Cunningham]

#216 This is a Broadspeed REPLICA... Bernie Hines had a chopped "Minisprint" that he had raced in NZ but was initially denied a CoD. He then got hold of a set of rear body moulds (I believe from Australia) and built the Broadspeed replica shown. Quite why it was turned down initially is anyone's guess (I have my theories...). The original Mini Sprints were produced in the UK and sold new, through Stewart & Ardern, BMC dealers, so the car should have had a CoD in its original form.

We clocked it in Broadspeed form on radar at Pukekohe at 129mph a few years ago, the lowered roofline and deseaming aiding aerodynamics considerably.

Fantastic car and driven well and has now been sold (to Christchurch I believe), but it is important to differentiate between a replica and the genuine article.

These are the genuine article. Note the other Mini variants in the background, including my favourite - the yellow Unipower.

18678

18679

There was a genuine Broadspeed kicking round at one stage. I remember my father buying it to resell in the 60's. From memory he was less than impressed with it but I did score a Broadspeed badge that was in the glovebox. The car was burgundy back then. Who knows it may still be somewhere in NZ.

[ERC]

I think that the (metallic?) burgundy base with a silver roof was a Broadspeed colour combination and would have been my first choice had I gone ahead with doing a replica - which I did start, but using a Riley Elf as the base, as the rear overhang was the right length.

[Impy1]

Hey, great first post! Is this the Imp which appeared at the Mallala Easter Historic event earlier this year?


Hi Steve, thanks.:)

Not sure mate. Not really in touch with my dad at the moment to get his feedback. I will see what I can find out although I don't think this is the same car.

[BMCBOY]

18785

18787

18788

18789

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18790

[Habu]

18815

[BMCBOY]

18878

18879

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18881

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[Imp Wagon]

I've recently got back from a holiday in the UK and while there i caught up with my old friend and former saloon racer, John Homewood who used to race Imps in the 1000cc special saloon championships over there in the 1970's with a huge amount of success over the years, regularly beating many bigger engined cars including the 1300cc Minis (the BDA powered ones too) and in the process winning a lot of championships and set a heap of lap records. Famously in a wet qualifying session at Brands Hatch circa 1975, John put the little Imp in the middle of the front row between Gerry Marshall in baby Bertha and Nick Whiting in the FVA Escort and then proceeded to chase Marshall around the track for a few laps until the track dried and he eventually finished 3rd. John showed me a pile of old black and white photos so I took shots of a few of them on my camera and thought I would put a few up here.
Cheers, Simon.

This shot shows John in the Rawlson bodied Imp leading Ginger Marshalls alloy bodied, Imp-powered Mini countryman, circa 1976
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Here he is dicing with Jeff Ward's Imp and unknown Mini
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Circa 1972 on pole at Brands Hatch with Terry Attoe's Mini outside him. John won the Kent messenger championship from Attoe that year
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[Ellis]

In the late 60's well known Tassie and "Tas Motoring Hall of Famer" Geoff Smedley was contracted to PH Wong in Singapore to look after his team ( Newton Racing) of cars which included 3 Cooper S's. This was after Geoffs full time stints with John Youl and Total Team Matich.

Geoff changed the Cooper S 's to Cross Flow heads of basically his own design.....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/Snapshot2013-06-1808-44-32_zpse834391f.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/Snapshot2013-06-1808-44-32_zpse834391f.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/Snapshot2012-08-2010-49-58_zpsb73162b0.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/Snapshot2012-08-2010-49-58_zpsb73162b0.jpg.html)

[driftwood]

Impwagon
You have some incorrect info for the Thruxton chicane photo Your photo shows Homewood leading Jeff Ward in the Greatham ( space frame) Imp the Mini is I am sure 1300 cc car of Phil Winter the Mini countryman is not shown of Ginger Marshall this foto is around 75/6 as I am sure in 77 John had the Davrian based Imp running
The brands foto with Terry Attoe reminds me of my dad dragging me to watch him into paddock where he threw the min through the corner akin to an escort than a fwd understeering mini i think the foto is more 73/4 ish

[Steve Holmes]

Does anyone recognise this Imp currently for sale in the US on Ebay? Says on the ad it was built in New Zealand: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-Sunbeam-Imp-NZ-vuilt-Sunbeam-Imp-rally-race-car-/111187947502?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item19e3516fee#v4-40

[Steve Holmes]

You guys, the photos you have posted on here are just incredible! Keep them coming please.

[Oldfart]

Does anyone recognise this Imp currently for sale in the US on Ebay? Says on the ad it was built in New Zealand: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-Sunbeam-Imp-NZ-vuilt-Sunbeam-Imp-rally-race-car-/111187947502?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item19e3516fee#v4-40

I posted on this car in the "Lost Race Cars " thread Steve. RF responded.

[ROTATN]

Came across some pictures of my Dad & Uncles mini. From the first test drive down the acacia bay straight, to the strip down and rebuild, then the finished article.

I'm sure Dad (John) would get a lot out of the forum if he had more spare time and was more computer literate....

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[spinner32]

re the Vuyk Stiletto. Did it not start life as a Imp with 2 litre Cortina motor before being converted to Stiletto and BDA powered. It was the coolest car on the OSCA grid then. Rumour has it that one day a road Stiletto was seen in the pits at Timaru, and for some reason the Vuyk's car's roof was 1 1/2 inches lower than the road car, even though the OSCA rules said standard body!!!
My memory says that Jac Mac raced an Imp many moons ago with a push rod Ford in the boot. Perhaps Jac can enlighten us.

[Jac Mac]

Yes Im pretty sure Barry's car originally was a 2 litre SOHC Ford before the BDA, I cannot remember seeing the car race with a saloon roof though. Barry rang me to see what I thought about the idea of building one with the SOHC but I must have been having a MSI financial hiatus at that time as I never saw the cars early races, had a couple of brilliant tussles with Barry @ Wigram one year ( V8 Cortina vs Imp), my own Imp went to Gary Jenkins for a couple of years before it disappeared into the Brumby rust collection centre.

[Grant Ellwood]

Yes Im pretty sure Barry's car originally was a 2 litre SOHC Ford before the BDA, I cannot remember seeing the car race with a saloon roof though. Barry rang me to see what I thought about the idea of building one with the SOHC but I must have been having a MSI financial hiatus at that time as I never saw the cars early races, had a couple of brilliant tussles with Barry @ Wigram one year ( V8 Cortina vs Imp), my own Imp went to Gary Jenkins for a couple of years before it disappeared into the Brumby rust collection centre.

Might be having a senior moment but didn't the Vuyk Stilleto end up in Bryan Bates possession?
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[Jac Mac]

Might be having a senior moment but didn't the Vuyk Stilleto end up in Bryan Bates possession?
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Not sure, but a bit more info in posts #200 thru #204 on this thread.

[Paul Wilkinson]

Might be having a senior moment but didn't the Vuyk Stilleto end up in Bryan Bates possession?
.

Yes it did, with a rotary engine. Aparently it was parted out and scrapped by Impwerks some years ago. They used to advertise that they had some of the original bits and would build a replica if someone wanted....

[Paul Wilkinson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBjY3VdX5Oc

God bless Youtube - this is the best thing I've seen all week.

[Shano]

That thing's quick!

[Greg Mackie]

That Bathurst video is great.

There is an Imp behind me, I'm sure.....I could see it in the mirrors! Eastern Creek - South Circuit.

http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab172/happydaze8/Race%20cars/cf7fca72-d259-448c-b17f-c06a8b9a5f8c_zps369335a6.jpg (http://s861.photobucket.com/user/happydaze8/media/Race%20cars/cf7fca72-d259-448c-b17f-c06a8b9a5f8c_zps369335a6.jpg.html)

[Grant Ellwood]

That thing's quick!

Who is driving that Imp, Jim Richards, Kimi Raikkonen ?

[Oldfart]

Seemed like a fair few gear changes upwards through the box?

[Oldfart]

Who is driving that Imp, Jim Richards, Kimi Raikkonen ?

Well, one of them had history with Imps :)