Dunedin Street Races - revival meeting January 1984

[Roger Dowding]

Bry3500 thanks for the Dunedin 1986 Film Clip - Will watch it soon

[khyndart in CA]

I found this wonderful 1 hour documentary regarding the first NZ street races at Dunedin in 1953.
Hoping you enjoy it as much as I did.

67407


https://youtu.be/Tqei0rZ0p7Q






(Ken H)

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H and Bry3500 - how do you guys get the Film / Video / Youtube Clips to show like in the recent posts #251 and #253.
I seem just to get the link up not the preview of the Clip - Operator error ?- Old laptop [ a 2008 one ] ?? or ???.

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
I hope you can get the 1953 Dunedin Youtube to play. Just hit the arrow by Bob Gibson's nose and away you go.

:)

[jellywrestler]

so how often after 1984 were there events in Dunedin? One popped up on youtube this week, said to be 1986

[Milan Fistonic]

so how often after 1984 were there events in Dunedin? One popped up on youtube this week, said to be 1986

I replied to that the last time you asked on post 215.

I have programmes for meetings in 1992,1995, 1996 and 1998.

[Roger Dowding]

Roger,
I hope you can get the 1953 Dunedin Youtube to play. Just hit the arrow by Bob Gibson's nose and away you go.

:)
Yesterday !
Ken H,just watched the first part of the Clip - History of other events going back to the Beach Races and early South Island events too !! Thanks

Today
5th September 2020- watched the rest What a great piece of Motoring History in New Zealand.
Thanks again Ken H.

[jellywrestler]

so how often after 1984 were there events in Dunedin? One popped up on youtube this week, said to be 1986


I replied to that the last time you asked on post 215.

I have programmes for meetings in 1992,1995, 1996 and 1998.

Indeed you did, that accounts for four years post 1984, and this video is supposed to be 1986 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFKMRLJoBU. I have a 1984 1993, 1999 and 2000 program. The 2000 one states it is the 12th street race for classics on the Oval circuit. So if we add up the programs I have and the ones you have Milan there's still three missing years assuming 1984 was the first.
so we have proof it ran
1984

1986

1992
1993

1995
1996

1998
1999
2000


Can anyone help with other years please?


MORE CONFUSION---
the 1984 and 1986 meetings were on the wharf circuit, not the oval so not part of the twelve mentioned....

[Milan Fistonic]

The 1992 programme states that "...the Southern Festival of Speed, the event which has grown in just four years to become one of the largest and most spectacular on the motor racing calendar in New Zealand."

I have just located a "Coming Events Calendar" for early 1994 and it includes a Southern Festival of Speed at Dunedin on February 12-13.

[jellywrestler]

so the meeting this thread is about would have been a one off 'revival' meeting, then it grew into a festival like the old days.
thanks for looking that up Milan, it's certainaly a mission trying to sort this stuff out, particularly as i'm following bikes, and they may have come and gone...

[Milan Fistonic]

This is from the Speedsport report of the 1997 Southern Festival of Speed meeting at Dunedin.

67479

There were no bike races at the 1992, '95, '96, '98 meetings.

[Roger Dowding]

Speed limits and conversion from " English " to Metric = MpH to KpH
This from Kelvin Brown
" Had to check that, our NZ road metric change was in 1975. Of interest were the NZ open road speed changes we have had. 1962 from 50 to 55 mph, 1969 from 55 to 60 mph, 1973 from 60 to 50 mph or 80 kph. 1986 from 80 to 100 kph. "

This makes more sense now ; - and a bit more on the McLaughlin Healey
- These speeds are from 1963 - Thanks Kelvin Brown.
Would have been the inaugural " Pukekohe " New Zealand Grand Prix meeting.

67505

Keith Yeats in the Orchid in this part and the other McLaughlin / McLoughlin in a Sprite

67506

Will put the full list on the Pukekohe thread

[jellywrestler]

didnt we change to KM in 1974?

[Roger Dowding]

didnt we change to KM in 1974?

You could be right, I was just going by the comment above which mentions 1975 - and remember getting stickers with numbers for the km equivalent of the proposed KM equivalent speed limits to attach to the speedo on my first Mini back in the late 1960's.

[Roger Dowding]

Didn't get to July or August and will miss September too !!

A couple more photos from the June event - when UN7284 was allowed out for the first time in 12 months as road legal and mobile again.

Had mentioned using this thread a bit like ERC's just a mix of pics as don't want to start another thread.

Apologies if any posted before - will keep away from AH and Austin [Metro ] as know they have been seen.

67582
just posted on ERC's thread that Brazilian Jeep

67583
J for Japan and H for Humber - probably never seen together before.

A couple of random photo's both taken at Te Poi, near Matamata on a property in Rapurapu Road SH28 - this
" VANDUB " a Kombi camper belongs to a family friend who called in to see us in Omokoroa this week -[ in her modern - which was a pity ] I will see VANDUB when next in Auckland.
67584

VANDUB.
" Year: 1970
Make: VOLKSWAGEN
Model: KOMBI
Colour: Blue
Second Colour: White
Submodel: CAMPER
Body Style: Self Propelled Caravan
VIN: 7A8J40J1095073055
Plate: VANDUB
Engine No: 5545AD-378542
Chassis: 2272073055 "

Another Family friends vehicle an ex Tokyo Fire Department Toyota Dyna Fire Truck a 1990's model but when it arrived in NZ only had about 7000km on the clock, my friends Dad owns it and it lives in Matamata.

67585

The DYNA
" Year: 1997 (1996-09)
Make: TOYOTA
Model: DYNA
Colour: Red
Body Style: Flat Deck Truck
VIN: 7AT0H60EX18003572
Plate: LMJ637
Engine No: 3L-COVERED
Chassis: LY151-0003572
Vehicle Type: Goods Van/Truck/Utility
Seats: 6 "
Yes it does seat 6 - a double cab and still has all the clips on the back of the front seat for the firemen to stow their gear.

The owner sitting in the Drivers Seat - he loves his new Truck - his other vehicle is a Long wheel base Land Rover Defender also of 1990's vintage a Station Wagon version, and on the farm a SWB Landrover Pickup of around 1990 vintage - another Classic

Ken H, Kevin H and Rhys N will all know the area.

Cheers

[Roger Dowding]

The answer is there if you hover your cursor over the Photos.

The link was sent to me by Richard Armstrong, a Rally and Racing guy from Hamilton Car Club, now living in Tauranga.

Three well known cars, well - One very well known one well known and the third known for being unusual !!
One still exists and is in New Zealand the second still exists but not as seen here - the third ?

67853

67854

67855
details may a bit incorrect on this photo - all from Glen Kirk archives.
Will try to find if Glen has anymore.

[Roger Dowding]

Photo from Jim Bennett archives with his brother in the Morgan ;

Jim notes ;
" Nelson December 1960. Right to left. RA Zephyr Ron Rutherford hiding The RA Lycoming of Duncan Rutherford, Brian Mabey BCM ahead of Wally Darrell, Keith Roper V twin Cooper, Stewart Ransley Riley, Ivan Bennett Morgan ".
further comment from Graham Kyle - Morgan owner and racer back in the day
" Behind Ivan's Morgan was Bob Stewart in his V8 sports special, and the Austin A40 could be either Dennis Stanton or one of the Collins brothers. "

70060

Thread now covers South Island races and other events - rather than create a new Thread.

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of photos have come to light recently from Waimate in 1966.
This the Saloons with a very wide grid
Anglia left and right - others in the middle; Fowog, A40, Lotus Cortina.

70083

A photo from Dave Simpson's own archives - Dave's Fastback Anglia on the right with Fahey beside ;

70084

a version of the track - understand it did vary - this from the 1964 programme.

70085

[Roger Dowding]

Going through a book in my collection by NZ Classic Driver, a Special Edition from 2012 called "A Dashboard View ".
It had a collection of articles from the first 10 years of the Magazine ;

Included was an article on the Dunedin meetings and a small summary entitled " High and Lows " - winners and the bad events crashes and tragedy.

72841

Ron Roycroft raced at Dunedin in a variety of cars, The Alfa Romeo, The Bugatti [ Bugatti - Jaguar and the 41/2 litre Ferrari

Some of Rons own notes about Dunedin and other events in the 1950's - in his lists of events in the various cars - Rons own notes - as posted in the NZ Classic Driver Book.

Bugatti and Alfa Romeo

72842

Bugatti - Jaguar

72843

Ferrari 4.5 litre
- the " Pale Blue " car - ex French driver Louis Rosier, I understand [ as in need to check !! ]

72844

I note that Johnny Mansell who sadly was killed at Dunedin drove Rons car on at least one occasion

[Roger Dowding]

After the war Motor racing returned to the new Zealand Motoring scene.
Pre-war many courses were on Beaches,but there were a few " Speedway " circuits and others " Hennings "in Mangere Auckland and others.
Seagrove Airfield on the Manukau Harbour was a new course after the war and used from 1946/47 onwards.

In 1948 a 100 Mile race was proposed at Waimari in Canterbury using a set of roads in the district.
The proposal was declined by the police and so the Club and group involved finished up having a race at Wigram Airforce Base on the Airfield.

A plan of the track with details of the roads used and the direction of travel.
Thanks to Graham Woods for the image.

72880

A story from Wikipaedia - seems a bit inaccurate - see bold **.
" Wigram Airfield Circuit was a temporary motor racing circuit at Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch, New Zealand. The airfield is a former base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It is named after Sir Henry Wigram. The temporary circuit was 3.540 km (2.200 mi) with a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) main straight.[1] The first summer meetings held at Wigram Aerodrome in 1949 are considered the oldest motor races in New Zealand **.[2] The track hosted rounds of the annual Tasman Series from 1964 to 1975. For safety reasons, the last race at Wigram (for classic racers) was held in the year 2000.

Wigram also held the 1974 New Zealand Grand Prix which was won by Australian race driver John McCormack.

The Lady Wigram Trophy which was organized by the Canterbury Car Club had been raced at Wigram Aerodrome since 1949.[3] The race for the trophy has since moved to Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park.[1] "

[GregT]

My late father was one of the group who found that circuit - and worked the landowners round to approval. Then of course it was declined Police approval - despite, I was told, the "old pals act " being worked hard on senior Police.
He went on to become one of the founder members of the Motor Racing Club - which ran Wigram for many years. Not the Canterbury Car Club as above. Amalgamation came many years later.

[jellywrestler]

My late father was one of the group who found that circuit - and worked the landowners round to approval. Then of course it was declined Police approval - despite, I was told, the "old pals act " being worked hard on senior Police.
He went on to become one of the founder members of the Motor Racing Club - which ran Wigram for many years. Not the Canterbury Car Club as above. Amalgamation came many years later.

wow, was he a bike man too? Do you think this would have been a combined meeting, bikes and cars?

[GregT]

wow, was he a bike man too? Do you think this would have been a combined meeting, bikes and cars?

I don't recall any mention of bikes being included at that point. I'd have to look at the book which is the history of the Motor Racing Club to see when they first ran at Wigram. Unless someone on here has a copy.
And yes, of course he was a bike guy Spyda. A Grade at Monica Park speedway prewar. Scrute for first season of Aranui and chief lapscorer at Cust up to '61.
I understand that a large part of the "old pals act" being used on the senior police to get the circuit approved came from the old man having taught a lot of them to ride a motorcycle pre-war.

[Roger Dowding]

Going through some " Old " magazines, in this case one of the "Classic and SportsCar " that I did not pass on and came across an article by " New Zealand Classic Driver " Contributor and Book Reviewer Mark Holman.
The article appears in the May 1989 Issue Volume 8 Number 2. It covers both the Ardmore meeting in mid January and the Dunedin meeting " two weeks later ".

72900.

I had attended the Ardmore Meeting in 1989 and had previously been at Dunedin in 1984 - the story that started the thread. I saw the " Hanuman " ERA at the time 1984, both racing and in a Motor Cycle Showroom during the week prior to the event.
As noted a couple of famous cars had missed Ardmore because of shipping /unloading issues, but were at Dunedin.

As an aside - Photos from Lewis Townsend as processed by Ross Cammick - there are quite a number from Levin and other events. Myles Hicks apparently knows or knew Lewis and has other photos from Ohakea events too !! Which i hope we get to see..

Question ; Levin photos -must find an appropriate thread to show them ?. - Preferring to keep this thread for " South Island " events although have put some others on here.
Or maybe this thread should be " Dunedin and other Classic Events ".


PS Thanks to Milan Fistonic for identifying the Sports Car " Brian Watson's Missattor " behind the Rex Flowers Lotus 6 in one of the Lewis Townsend photos on the Austin Healey thread

[Roger Dowding]

Got a message from Mark Holman,regarding the article in C and SC May 1989.
as follows;

" Hello Roger
Thanks for your kind words and for the photos and recollections which brought back great memories of both race meetings. My first ever ‘big’ overseas magazine article too!

The Ardmore meeting, from memory, suffered from the non arrival of various cars from overseas (BRM V16 among them?) and it was very hot. I must have caught the train from Wellington up & back. It was well worth it anyway.
The Dunedin race meeting was brilliant; I just loved the circuit and the range of cars present. A couple of photos attached; there are more!
The Wigram Country Gents meetings from the late 80s were magical too.
Thanks again and kind regards
Mark H "
The non-arrival of various cars is mentioned in Mark's text in the article.

Mark also added three photos from Dunedin.

The ERA, being tailed by a Formula Ford ?

72911

The Nissan Prince " 2000 " GT - I put Nissan on the photo - Nissan took over the Prince Motor Company around that time. see plate details below - now added **.
Prince being followed by an Alfa Romeo Saloon...

72912

Stanton Corvette - being followed by another Single Seater - Formula Ford ?.
- Need to find a copy of the programme for the event.

72913

The Track was different to the 1984 Track apparently - the " Wharf Circuit ", used in 1984 and 1986 and is described as the " Oval Circuit " ....- now to find the details.

A bit of detail on the " Prince ".

" 1967
Make: NISSAN
Model: PRINCE
Colour: White
Body Style: Saloon
Plate: JH17
Engine No: G7158531
Chassis: 54111642
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car/Van
Seats: 5
CC rating: 1,988cc
Fuel Type: Petrol "

Plate details;

" JH17
Plate Type: Standard
Origin: NZ New
Used as: Exempt Class A (EA) vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: New
NZ First Registration: 15-Mar-1976
Cancellation Date Of Registration: 30-Oct-1995 ".

JH plates - were issued in 1980 according to information I have so the Mar 1976 dates seems - irregular.
- 1967 plate issue was EE to EL prefixes.
- 1976 plate issue was HO - IJ,

On checking the Carlos Neate Prince GT, which did come to New Zealand new but it was in 1965 had Registration prefix DV ..[ DV8717 ]

" 1965
Make: PRINCE
Model: SKYLINE
Colour: Cream
Submodel: GT
Body Style: Saloon
VIN: 7AT0EL03X21100486
Plate: DV8717
Engine No: COVERERED
Chassis: 54-100486
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car/Van
Seats: 5
CC rating: 1,998cc
Fuel Type: Petrol
Assembly Type: Imported Built-Up
Country of Origin: Japan "

Plates History

Plate Effective Date
DV8717 05-Aug-2021
DV8717 01-Jan-1965.

The Carlos Neate Prince GT at Dunedin - a different event. Crawford Street Sprints in 1967.

72914

[jellywrestler]

what programme do you want? got some Dunedin ones to sort today

[Roger Dowding]

what programme do you want? got some Dunedin ones to sort today

" jw " - sent you an Email, cheers, Roger

[Roger Dowding]

" Question ; Levin photos -must find an appropriate thread to show them ?. - Preferring to keep this thread for " South Island " events although have put some others on here.
Or maybe this thread should be " Dunedin and other Classic Events ".
Never got it renamed to Lost tracks etc.. but it now is ..

As noted in the First Post - Old Tracks and Old Events apart from Pukekohe will post on here "

A couple of photos from Lewis Townsend - the archive that Ross Cammick has been working on ..

Ohakea. 1961 The grid was wide not deep..

72940

Levin. 1960

72941

More to come on these - have information on many of the drivers and details of the Cars..

[Roger Dowding]

A collection of photos from Ohakea 1961 - from the Lewis Townsend collection - processed by Ross Cammick.

The entry list from the archives of Graham Woods - the Racing Cars Sports Cars and Specials.

72952

Some of the entrants cars ; The Racing Cars
Coopers of different styles and engines.

Climax - Tony Shelly
72948

Repco Holden - Jack Malcolm
72949

Bristol - A A ' Bert ' Grimshaw - Jones.
72950

A Special - The Normac. - Normac III.
Chevrolet 6 powered. built by the McCutcheon brothers - they made two Racings cars, Normac I and Normac III.
They all used the same Wayne Chevrolet Engine.
72951

Information on the cars from Bob Homewood Milan Fistonic Graham Kyle and others.

[Roger Dowding]

More of the Lewis Townsend photos.
In the Paddock

Tojeiro Jaguar of W R Gardiner ..
parked behind Ivy Stephenson Buckler #3, W S Donnelly Zephyr Special #19, another Sports Car - looks like a Mistral body is it the Missattor ? and G G Eder in #10 an Elva Ford.

72953

Ruddspeed 3000 - the Russell Leathers car that later went to the McLaughlin Brothers.

72954

Rod Coppins at speed in the XK120 ..

72955

The XK120 at Alfriston with Rod and family - friends - from the Coppins archives.

72956

MG TF - believed to be a Spectators Car.

72957

Saloons on track and Grid Field photos to come

[Roger Dowding]

Lewis Townsend archives.

Specials Saloons and others in the paddock.

72958

Saloons on the startline -quite a few Zephyrs
72959

Saloons in a line again - Zephyrs.
72960

Under the bonnet of one of the Zephyrs, Triple SU's and a Raymond Mays Head rumoured.

72961

On Track - something unusual a Peugeot 203.

72962

A Big Ford ' Customline '.. and a Chev Coupe.

72963

More Saloons to follow - On Track.

[Roger Dowding]

Lewis Townsend archives. some more

Kerry Grant in the A40, the Mini was driven by ... Cowie

72964

Humber 80 of M R Baigent - from Matamata

72965

Jaguar Mark 2 3.8 of Simon Taylor.

72966

Humber 80 Maurice Larsen and Wolseley 1500 of R L Salmon from Taupo
72967

Motorcycles are not in my area of knowledge.**

72968

** " Bikes are a BSA Gold Star foreground. Villiers powered DOT converted scrambler on the right. Triumph twin recognisable in the left background. "
Thanks to Greg T for the notes on the Bikes ..

Will move South for the next sets of the Lewis Townsend collection.

[GregT]

Bikes are a BSA Gold Star foreground. Villiers powered DOT converted scrambler on the right. Triumph twin recognisable in the left background.
The DOT's interesting - it's still got a 21 inch front wheel. Must have been fun finding a road/race tyre for that.

[Oldfart]

The Peugeot 203 was driven often by Brian Lawrence, brother of Graeme and son of Doug, sometimes used to tow the Lola sports to meetings, towbar removed, then raced and with towbar replaced the ensemble returned to Wanganui (with NO H)

[Milan Fistonic]

The Peugeot 203 was driven often by Brian Lawrence, brother of Graeme and son of Doug, sometimes used to tow the Lola sports to meetings, towbar removed, then raced and with towbar replaced the ensemble returned to Wanganui (with NO H)

The Peugeot was driven Tony Lawrence at that 1961 meeting. Doug was driving the Cooper Bobtail in the sports car races alongside Graeme in the Mistral-bodied TR2.

[Roger Dowding]

The Peugeot was driven Tony Lawrence at that 1961 meeting. Doug was driving the Cooper Bobtail in the sports car races alongside Graeme in the Mistral-bodied TR2.

Milan, thanks, I had written Tony Lawrence in the " name of the photo " but not in the post.

Do you have the Saloon Entry Lists or even List of Competitors for the event ?? ..//.. I only have Racing an Sports Cars - as posted earlier.

[Roger Dowding]

Bikes are a BSA Gold Star foreground. Villiers powered DOT converted scrambler on the right. Triumph twin recognisable in the left background.
The DOT's interesting - it's still got a 21 inch front wheel. Must have been fun finding a road/race tyre for that.

Thanks GregT - will add to the photo caption.
Cheers
Roger

[Roger Dowding]

More Lewis Townsend photos
- some of the same cars were at Ohakea later on - the 1961 meeting in previous posts.

Jim Palmer Lotus

72975

The Allan Freeman Talbot Lago.
on the trailer

72976

On the track chasing the field - Sports cars Lotus IX and racing cars

72977

Cooper - Another famous - well would be soon driver.

72978

Maserati 250F Len Gilbert at the wheel.

72979

Next set - Sports Cars and Saloons..

[Oldfart]

The Lawrence Peugeot, I should have said driven by almost all the family at some stage! I wrote an article for the Peugeot Club magazine about the car with input from Brian and Tony. At least I didn't say who was driving at that meeting :)

[Roger Dowding]

Lewis Townsend photos - from the same meeting.

Rex Flowers in the Lotus - is it a " 6 " or an early " 7 " with race number " 5 ".
***It is a Lotus Six ..
.. and as commented on another thread Car #24 is the Missattor.
- photo here to keep the set together.

72980

Vic Simkin in the Buckler 90 - Humber powered and with a Sunbeam gearbox - presume Rapier.

72981

Jaguar Mark 2, 3.8 of Simon Taylor - car was new and had only done 500 miles before this event.
The car and Simon were at the 1961 Ohakea event too !!.

72982

The Jaguar again - would assume that it is Simon Taylor standing with the car..
Other competitors Mark 2 Zephyr and Ford V8 behind the car.

72983

Something rather different with this Saloon
Alvis
The Alvis raced at Ardmore in 1962 ..

72984

Saloons on the Track to follow..

[Roger Dowding]

Lewis Townsend photos.

Zephyr at the front - Ivan Segedin.
72985

Mark 2 Zephyrs - there were a few and Rootes Group cars too - Hillman, Humber and Singer..

72986

An early Hillman - pre the Audax models " Humber 80 "was unique to New Zealand a Todd Motors badge engineered version of the Hillman Minx, not seen in the UK. an Audax Humber 80 in the photo too !!

72987

Entry list for one of the races at this meeting - Milan Fistonic archives

72988
Placings at the bottom- Ivan Segedin in #41 the winner,Fourth place not in the entry list.

Levin was a tight track - here a photo from a 1958 Programme [ 1.175 miles ]
- there were minor variations to the track over the years from the first meeting in 1956. Programme says " 1 MILE ".

72989

Map of the the track in 1964 - from a programme.
both images from Graham Woods.

72990

[jellywrestler]

There was a third version too, a more sweeping corner onto the front straight to make a higher front straight speed done ready for 1966.

[Milan Fistonic]

There was a third version too, a more sweeping corner onto the front straight to make a higher front straight speed done ready for 1966.

This one. From the November 1966 programme.

72997

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks to " jellywrestler " for the above images.
[ must reply to your message ].

The events were known as the Dunedin Festival Races and became part of the " Southern Festival of Speed "

Dunedin 1992 to 1997 and 2003 Programme Covers.

72998

72999

73000.

Thanks also to Milan for the 1966 Track Map of Levin.
I had been told there were three variations to the track and seeing the 3 images side by side you can see that.
Not major changes.
- Another of New Zealand's " Lost Tracks " with Pukekohe scheduled to join the category in April 2023.

[Milan Fistonic]

The Carlos Neate Prince GT at Ruapuna in 1966

73041

[Roger Dowding]

Mt [ the Mount ] Maunganui Street Races ran in late December 1962 [ 29th ] and 1963 [ the 28th ], using roads in what is now the heart of the Commercial Area around Hewletts Road - the main way into the Mount from Tauranga across the " new " bridge.

These photos from Graeme Kennish archives.
Jaguar of Alistair McBeath and Ernie Sprague in his Zephyr in pursuit.
The Zephyr without the Oil Cooler through the grille - that must have come later.
December 1962.

73262

Small capacity Saloons

73263
- Note by Milan Fistonic - when the photo was put on the " Mt Maunganui Not Baypark " thread
" The cars in the second photo are:

Kerry Grant - A40
Paul Fahey - VW
Morrie Hogan - Anglia
Neil Johns - Mini
Brian Ax - A40

They finished in the order Grant, Johns, Hogan, Murray Charles and AX. Fahey retired on lap 3. "

From the 1963 event an Anglia in the Haybales. J Murphy in #34.

73264.

Entries for the two events - originally posted by GD66 - the 1962 event and Milan the 1963 - on the Mt Maunganui Not Baypark thread started by " Oldfart " back in August 2014.

73265

73266

Results for a Mount event shown as 1964 - from Motorman, but would be the 28th December 1963 event - Graham Woods archives.
[ bringing it all together ].

73267

[Roger Dowding]

A bit more on the events -
This about the 1963 event.

From a Car Club magazine - Graham Woods archives;

73268

from Motorman - about the Stanton incident.

73269

Map of the Track - from Glen Ducey archives - presume that is GD66..

73270

Another photo from GD archives -Racing cars on the startline.

73271

Saloons at the start from GD archives. 1963

73272

Front row ; left #43 Kerry Grant Cortina GT, Ernie Sprague Mk 3 Zephyr Paul Fahey #108 Lotus Cortina

Bringing the information together..

[Roger Dowding]

1963 .. The Sports Car Races.

The starting grid with Frank Matich. pole Johnny Riley and the Jaguar

73273

The Entry list. Milan Fistonic archives

73274

Report in the Graham Vercoe Book with grid places and finishers of the Premier Race [ Ken H archives ].

73275

1963 the Saloons - Alan Boyle photos.
- posted elsewhere - now all together.

McBeath, Jones and Nazer
73276

Dancing at Hull Road corner ;
73277

Ford Dancing at the same corner - the front row of the grid posted earlier.. Sprague, Grant and Fahey..
73278

[Roger Dowding]

Not Dunedin City, not even Otago but perhaps the first racing in the South Island regions after the Second World War.
- Ohakea held events in 1949 1950 and Seagrove, and Muriwai Beach were being used for big meetings, not just Club events..

Te Pirita Airstrip, near Dunsandel, in Otago. 6th June 1949 - Was it " Kings " birthday weekend ?..

Big oops on my part Te Pirita is near Dunsandel, near the Rakaia River and close to Christchurch as noted by " Allan ", " jellywrestler " and " Greg T " !!
[ my apologies gentlemen - now suitably corrected.
I should have remembered I had commented on the place when "jellywrestler " was seeking information for his book on Motor Cycle Racing venues back in 2020.

Have also edited the photo titles in my archive to relate to Motor Racing in Canterbury - by attaching them to my " Wigram " file,
- not " Dunedin "

Advert in a magazine for the event - Graeme Staples archives.

73306

Results from the event from Milan Fistonic vast archives.

Some well known names in there Hec Green in his Wolseley, Don Ransley in a Riley. Pat Hoare in a Singer and Geoff Mardon on an A J S motorcycle - would be before he went to England. Les Moore in a 500cc Triumph motorcycle.
Les also went to the UK for motorcycle racing
Event was a combined Car and Motorcycle event.

part one
73307

part two
73308

Does anyone have any more information on this early Post War event?.
There was Beach Racing in Otago Southland at the time, I understand.

[Allan]

Te Pirita and Dunsandel are in Mid Canterbury nowhere near Dunedin.

[jellywrestler]

closer to Dunners than the earlier posts about Mt Maunganui and Ohakea. I think this thread morphed a wee while ago into more than just Dunedin.

[GregT]

Te Pirita was the start point for a very long and localised history in Central Canterbury. The Motor Racing Club and Canterbury Car Club are a large part of that. They deserve - and have - their own history.

[Roger Dowding]

closer to Dunners than the earlier posts about Mt Maunganui and Ohakea. I think this thread morphed a wee while ago into more than just Dunedin.

It did indeed Graeme as I didn't want to start another one to keep an eye on.. Now covers most events outside of Auckland,
Auckland events - Ardmore and others Whenuapai etc will put on the Pukekohe thread.
Just haven't got around to get TRS to amend the Title - covered in the first post though, which has been amended several times !!

Cheers
Roger

[Roger Dowding]

Te Pirita was the start point for a very long and localised history in Central Canterbury. The Motor Racing Club and Canterbury Car Club are a large part of that. They deserve - and have - their own history.

Greg T, Thanks for that - must do some research on the MRC and CCC ..
Do you have some information on Te Pirita .. I thought it was further South than Canterbury - off to Google now !!

Cheers

Roger

[Roger Dowding]

Should have gone to Spec-Savers.

Just word searched ' Te Pirita ' on this forum and found it mentioned by " jellywrestler " on a separate thread and in " Old Race Tracks." too - found my own post and this ;


Was near Christchurch and a long way from Dunedin - but at least I had it in the proper Island !!

73320

[GregT]

Until recently I lived in Hororata which is the nearest settlement of any size. Having known for years about Te Pirita being used I did ask one or two of the locals for any info. Not being a born and bred local myself. I'm told there's pretty much nothing left of what was the airfield. It was after all only a grass strip - like Wigram - but without Wigram's sealed perimeter track. That area is all relatively recent conversions to dairy. Within the last 20 years or so anyway. I suspect you'd be hard put to see any evidence even from the air by now.

I knew about it from listening to talk at home - the old man was a founder member of the Motor Racing Club.

[GregT]

Greg T, Thanks for that - must do some research on the MRC and CCC ..
Do you have some information on Te Pirita .. I thought it was further South than Canterbury - off to Google now !!

Cheers

Roger

There is a massive tome published on the history of the Motor Racing Club. Your local library may have a copy, Christchurch certainly does. They come up occasionally at swap meet stalls. Cheapest I''ve seen was $100 which is why I don't have a copy.

[Roger Dowding]

Te Pirita and Dunsandel are in Mid Canterbury nowhere near Dunedin.

Allan - missed your comment - post #299 now suitably corrected - Thanks for the information.
Cheers

Roger

[jellywrestler]

Greg T, Thanks for that - must do some research on the MRC and CCC ..
Do you have some information on Te Pirita .. I thought it was further South than Canterbury - off to Google now !!

Cheers

Roger

sounds like you need one of my books....

[jellywrestler]

Until recently I lived in Hororata which is the nearest settlement of any size. Having known for years about Te Pirita being used I did ask one or two of the locals for any info. Not being a born and bred local myself. I'm told there's pretty much nothing left of what was the airfield. It was after all only a grass strip - like Wigram - but without Wigram's sealed perimeter track. That area is all relatively recent conversions to dairy. Within the last 20 years or so anyway. I suspect you'd be hard put to see any evidence even from the air by now.

I knew about it from listening to talk at home - the old man was a founder member of the Motor Racing Club. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Te+Pirita,+Hororata+7783/@-43.6134545,171.9885226,1678m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x6d2de7b92ce06b6d:0x344f51e3b3267f98!8m2!3d-43.63434!4d171.893538
there is a slight trace on google maps, i flew over there recently and at that time of the year couldn't see anything at all, pretty cool feeling to see seagrove air base still clear as from a plane up north. I have become friends with a guy called Max Poole, he was a child on Seagrove shortly after the war, I took him out there recently and loved his guided tour of where everything was there too.

[jellywrestler]

Should have gone to Spec-Savers.

Just word searched ' Te Pirita ' on this forum and found it mentioned by " jellywrestler " on a separate thread and in " Old Race Tracks." too - found my own post and this ;


Was near Christchurch and a long way from Dunedin - but at least I had it in the proper Island !!

73320
quite a mission merging old aerial photos into modern maps, first is to get them both to the same direction then get the scales to match. This on was harder as the black and white is made of more than one aerial merged too, it's just a patience thing but no-one else could pinpoint the facility.

[jellywrestler]

Not Dunedin City, not even Otago but perhaps the first racing in the South Island regions after the Second World War.
- Ohakea held events in 1949 1950 and Seagrove, and Muriwai Beach were being used for big meetings, not just Club events..

Te Pirita Airstrip, near Dunsandel, in Otago. 6th June 1949 - Was it " Kings " birthday weekend ?..

Big oops on my part Te Pirita is near Dunsandel, near the Rakaia River and close to Christchurch as noted by " Allan ", " jellywrestler " and " Greg T " !!
[ my apologies gentlemen - now suitably corrected.
I should have remembered I had commented on the place when "jellywrestler " was seeking information for his book on Motor Cycle Racing venues back in 2020.

Have also edited the photo titles in my archive to relate to Motor Racing in Canterbury - by attaching them to my " Wigram " file,
- not " Dunedin "

Advert in a magazine for the event - Graeme Staples archives.

73306

Results from the event from Milan Fistonic vast archives.

Some well known names in there Hec Green in his Wolseley, Don Ransley in a Riley. Pat Hoare in a Singer and Geoff Mardon on an A J S motorcycle - would be before he went to England. Les Moore in a 500cc Triumph motorcycle.
Les also went to the UK for motorcycle racing
Event was a combined Car and Motorcycle event.

part one
73307

part two
73308

Does anyone have any more information on this early Post War event?.
There was Beach Racing in Otago Southland at the time, I understand.

that's actually the original programme fo the event, damn lucky to find that, it was in the Vintage Car Clubs archives. They have a lot of old programmes and initially had brushed this aside as a drag race type of event untill I googled the venue and found at the time it was new zealands biggest airfield. I returned the next week to the VCC archives and found the events were listed including laps so a proper race meeting as such. Andy Anderson the last surviving founder of the VCC went to the meeting, I need to track him down and see what his memories are of it. The brick structure that stored aviation fuel for this is still in the ground at bankside very close to SH1 and has been deemed of historical interest

[GregT]

You know Kevin Clarkson don't you Spyda. Chairman of Beaded Wheels editorial comittee. Used to race in CAMS and his son Brent still does occasionally. Kevin would I'm sure put you in touch with Andy anderson.

[Oldfart]

Slightly irrelevant, but I was taken to see Te Pirita airfield remains in 1970 when I was teaching at Dunsandel in 1970. Largest airfield? That's surprising. FWIW Dunsandel Rugby club played in the South Canterbury sub section, although most other areas defined the boundary as the Rakaia river.
I believe the local garage owner, Ivan Happer raced there.

[GregT]

Ivan quite probably did race there. He's long gone now, Happers honda is now run by a grandson.

[jellywrestler]

Slightly irrelevant, but I was taken to see Te Pirita airfield remains in 1970 when I was teaching at Dunsandel in 1970. Largest airfield? That's surprising. FWIW Dunsandel Rugby club played in the South Canterbury sub section, although most other areas defined the boundary as the Rakaia river.
I believe the local garage owner, Ivan Happer raced there.

I beleive when it was built it had the longest runways. It was far enough inshore to not be shelled by warships I would guess is why it was put there. Ivan was a good friend of mine, I've got his old King Dick V Twin.

[jellywrestler]

You know Kevin Clarkson don't you Spyda. Chairman of Beaded Wheels editorial comittee. Used to race in CAMS and his son Brent still does occasionally. Kevin would I'm sure put you in touch with Andy anderson.

yeah have to get onto it. It's not cheap to travel within nz anymore, my two rental car compaines have put their prices up, one tripled and the other quadrupled, flights are a lot deare, instead of getting a three day weekend for around $150 travel and car it's now many times more, gonna have to rethink moving around the country bugger it all.

[Oldfart]

I beleive when it was built it had the longest runways. It was far enough inshore to not be shelled by warships I would guess is why it was put there. Ivan was a good friend of mine, I've got his old King Dick V Twin.
I thought Waharoa was vastly bigger, at least judged by the planes that were there, and having walked both! Ivan vowed and declared he hadn't bought a car from me which he paid me money for! (And his daughter crashed my MGA when it was in for a WOF!)

[jellywrestler]

I thought Waharoa was vastly bigger, at least judged by the planes that were there, and having walked both! Ivan vowed and declared he hadn't bought a car from me which he paid me money for! (And his daughter crashed my MGA when it was in for a WOF!)

The airfield was constructed in record time using seconded civilian and New Zealand Armed Forces engineers. Three heavy earth compacted runways up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) long were laid in the prevailing wind directions of the region. The runway surfaces were laid with wattle tree seeds for strength while the base was designed to handle large numbers of US Boeing Flying Fortress and Consolidated Liberator bombers.[1]



where in waharoa was the airfield, i'll measure them and see what i can see

[Oldfart]

where in waharoa was the airfield, i'll measure them and see what i can see

Waharoa is still in the same place that it was when built during the war. Alongside SH27 Now showing on Google maps as Matamata Aerodrome. It has lost some length off both runways, the predominant one almost parallel to SH27 originally went as far south as Wardville Road, and the cross wind runway (shorter) went further west. It had the perforated metal strip, as used in the Pacific Islands under the surface as recently as the early 70s to my positive knowledge. The part at the southern end now not used was prohibited from being ploughed then in case it was needed again at the same time.
During the war US bombers were stationed there, I am unsure exactly which variety.

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of images from Dunedin.

Copy of a track map with some notes and the programme - can't read the date on the programme. notes by Graeme Staples.
Can confirm that the track was as used in 1959 and 1960.
There are even notes about the gradients on part of the circuit.

Have found several version of the tracks used over the period 1954 to the 1980's.
posted before but will group them in a new post.

73530

Cars having fun at a corner - two going ahead, and two spinning around. Year not sure !! Late 1950's *** ??.
Just checked my notes ;
*** " Dunedin 1962 - Stan Prestige in the Ford V8, VW and Minor spin - Allan Dick archives. "
Hard to read the plates - which if 1962 will be the last of 5 yearly issue 1961 - 66 - actually finished in the 1965 -66 licencing year. Black Numbers on a Yellow Plate..
The corner is, I presume " Service Station Corner " where Wilkie Street meets King Edward Street.

73531

Entry List for the Saloon Car Race - from Graham Woods archives.

Stan Prestige ran the two tone Ford V8 in 1961 as well.

1962 Entry List.
S Prestridge

73875

1961 Saloon Car Entry List;
S Prestidge .. - different spelling -

73876



Should put all the track maps - various versions of the circuit in one post.

[Roger Dowding]

In year order ;

The Track 1954.

73537

The 1959 track same as the the one posted in previous post.
This from the Otago Sports Car Club magazine.

73538

The track in 1961 - from the programme. with notes about the 1960 event.
The same as the 1959 track but the comments mention the Oval Circuit.
As seen in the details from the OSCC Magazine about the Track in 1959 - it ran around " the Oval " which was the cricket ground in Central Dunedin.

73541


The 1964 track. Proposal for an event in October.
The Festival Road Races were usually in January or February.

73539

The 1984 Track for " Revival " meeting.

73540

[Roger Dowding]

Ryal Bush 1956 - Southland Centennial Races.

The event entry list the Main Race ;

73764

Cars at the start of the Centennial Race

The unusual bodied Connaught on the front row;

73765

Had this photo from Graham Woods archives.

Some interesting photos from this event;
Not even at the track, but were they going to ? or coming from ?

Car - Race #1 Aston Martin finished 2nd

73766

Car - Race #3 The Peter Whitehead Ferrari finished 4th

73767

Note that it has the roundels on both side of the nose - presume for left hand or right hand tracks depending on where the timekeepers were ??
73768

[GregT]

There are other pics in that sequence which I've seen somewhere else - maybe TNF ? Pretty sure they're loading post race.

[Oldfart]

I had forgotten the days when if you wanted to road freight on a route served by the Railways you had to get , and pay for a permit!
A relative living in Wanganui (note carefully the spelling) had to get a permit, in person, to take his stockcar to race at Palmerston North, and apply every week. No season ticket available.

[Roger Dowding]

Programme Covers for the two Ryal Bush events - these were recently acquired by a TRS member [ not me though ].

73783

Would like to see the inside pages where no doubt there was some non - PC advertising ..!!!
Also note the price went up " sixpence " - whereas the Magazines mentioned on the NZTT thread only went up " half a sixpence "- just thinking !!

[Roger Dowding]

Added a couple of Entry Lists to post #321 above -Dunedin Festival Road Race -Saloon Car Race -for 1961 and 1962 - where Stan Prestidge ran his postwar Ford V8 Sedan. in two tone Orange and Grey. Car looks like around a 1948 model and has a 3600 cc Ford V8 - side valve motor.

Cover of the 1961 Programme Saturday January 28, 1961.

73877

[Roger Dowding]

A couple more John Larry Lawton images from Paritutu 1965.

A certain Holden features in both photos.
Notes " .. " by J L Lawton
Dave Simpson in his fast front but not yet Fastback " Anglia ahead of McPherson in the FJ Holden and Innes " in a Mini - presume Brian Innes.
Dave Simpson won all his races that day.

73971

" McPherson Holden swerves to avoid R C Grace Mini."

73972

[jellywrestler]

looks like Waka Kotahi prepared the corner in the last piccie

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of photos - one from Allan Dick archives of a line up of cars at a South Canterbury Car Club event around 1952.
Godfrey Paape, and his Austin A90 Atlantic, that had a few Austin Healey type mods amongst a group of Sports Cars and Midget style racers .. the cars in the background are interesting too a dark Vauxhall,- but what is the light coloured car in front of the group of saloons on the right ??

Photo was shared by Jonathon Paape one of Godfrey's sons recently.

74164

Also seen recently with a Dunedin connection is this photo of the main streets in Dunedin 1960's with a Mistral and Austin A40 Sports convertible a Triumph Herald and others..

The Mistral has a strong " Dunedin "connection as " Emslie and Flockton " took over the manufacture / kitset provision of Mistral cars, making both Chassis and Body from Weltex Plastics in Christchurch, the business of Bob Blackburn who raced Mistral's and other cars in the South Island in the late 1950's..

74165

The Booklet and Brochure issued by both Mistral manufacturers from the late 1950's - given to me by Lloyd Gleeson.
A VCC and Morgan guy I know..

74166

The image also includes an advert from " Microplas "in England who first created the Mistral body and was made in NZ under licence.

If any Mistral owners would like copies of the brochures, please let me know.

Cheers
Roger

[Roger Dowding]

The topic that started this thread - photos of the 1984 Races that I attended.

Among the cars that were racing - at Bethunes Gully Hill Climb on the Saturday, [ while the Sprints were on Fryatt St ],
and in the Saloon Races on the Sunday was Mark D, in his huge Pontiac Bonneville 1965 model 4 door Sedan. NZ Registration JA1965.

Mark still has the car and after 30- years in storage it is being progressively restored mechanically and bodywork, largely by Mark's son.

The car has attended a few car events in the last couple of months in the Christchurch area.

Here at the " JD's BOP Day " on Waitangi weekend - the Sunday.
JD - John De Lorean who was " an important figure in Pontiac in the 1960's ".
BOP - Buick Oldsmobile Pontiac group.
The events were double as on the Saturday the car was in a " Parade of Old Race Cars " at Ruapuna, and at the BOP day on the Sunday.

In the background of the photo one of JD's other Automotive ventures - probably more well known for all the wrong reasons.

Mark Dawbers photos.

74238

The car at another event in January 2023.

74239

The car before the rebuild / restoration began.

74240

The car at Dunedin in 1984.

At Bethunes Gully Hill Climb
As an aside - Mark notes that events,
- " Hill Climbs have been held at Bethunes Gully, believe since the 1920's "
and that it is
" a very steep and narrow road with the added hazard of ' bovine guano ' ".
- seems a bit like Cosseys Farm Road of NSCC fame back in the 1960's to 1990's

74243

At the Street Races on the Sunday

74241

above photos - Mark Dawber archives.

My own photo of the car in 1984

74242

[Roger Dowding]

Another South Island Track from the 1950's, one I had not heard or read about.
McCormack's Bay, Christchurch in 1953.

The Roads are still there - the Main Straight was the " New " Causeway and the rest of the track the Original MCormacks Bay Road, around what is by then a Lagoon, so it was a Triangular shaped Track.

Organised by the " Motor Racing Club " who ran Wigram

Another Gem from Milan Fistonic - now to find a period Map ..
- " jellywrestler " Is this in your book ? - there is a connection as some Motorcycle engined cars. !!

74315

74316

74317

74318

The Results - many well known names Tutton, Shuter, Hoare, Green, Haig, Les Moore and one E Sprague

74319

Hopefully Entry Lists /Programmes and a Map will emerge.

[GregT]

I knew they'd run a bent sprint and hillclimb prior to the first Lady Wigram over those roads. The hillclimb was on Maffey's road at the back of McCormack's bay. Story in the family is that the old man - Wally Thomas - had a guest drive in Hec Green's Wolseley special.
I'd never heard of this meeting. Pretty sure if you use Google maps what you see now is just as it was then. A childhood spent sailing on the estuary means familiarity with that area
Jack Cropp had his boat yard at the back of McCormacks bay. The 1956 Olympic gold winning Sharpie sailed by Mander and Cropp was built there. Peter Mander lived on the hill just west of McCormacks bay.

[Oldfart]

In post 332 the car driven by H O'Neill is what we now know as RA3, the "other Lycoming" in one of it's many engine swaps.

[Roger Dowding]

I knew they'd run a bent sprint and hillclimb prior to the first Lady Wigram over those roads. The hillclimb was on Maffey's road at the back of McCormack's bay. Story in the family is that the old man - Wally Thomas - had a guest drive in Hec Green's Wolseley special.
I'd never heard of this meeting. Pretty sure if you use Google maps what you see now is just as it was then. A childhood spent sailing on the estuary means familiarity with that area
Jack Cropp had his boat yard at the back of McCormacks bay. The 1956 Olympic gold winning Sharpie sailed by Mander and Cropp was built there. Peter Mander lived on the hill just west of McCormacks bay.

Greg T, Thanks for the details.
Understand now that it was the only meeting to use the roads ..had a quick look at Google Maps as had never heard of the event before.
Hope more comes out of the archives ..

Oldfart. thanks for your details too !! More for the History.

[GregT]

I also see Pat Hoare driving a Vauxhall Special. We'd now identify it as RA2 which of course morphed into the 260M Zephyr.

[Roger Dowding]

Another little known meeting to me - had seen one photo of the Sports and Racing car grid on South Island Motorsport
- [ SIM ] facebook page, and recently a photo from Allan Dick archives of the Begg Chev Sports Racing Car #153.

The SIM photo ;

74383

The Classic Autonews Allan Dick photo

74384

Map of the Track - from Graeme Staples Book on Motor Cycle racing Circuits of New Zealand - thanks " jellywrestler ".
Bit of the story in Graeme's notes on the map.

74385

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of photos have emerged of the Race - Event 3
Have the entry list and results - courtesy of Graham Woods.

Looks like the first lap Mini 850 #7 Miles leads the Singer #5 Mills and the field of Minis, and a BMC 1500 Wolseley
At the corner by Waimate Electrical.

74406

The same corner with Miles and Mills again..

74407

The Entry List

74408

The Results

74409

The first photo appeared on the cover of the UK Publication " Autosport " weekly, on 23rd February 1962

74410

Map of the Track.

74411

[Roger Dowding]

Photo for the Austin Healey thread, but, look what else is in the photo..!!!.

74429

Is that the BCM in front of the Lycoming ??

[Milan Fistonic]

74429

Is that the BCM in front of the Lycoming ??

Yes it is.

74430

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of the " Grand Prix " Cars - well one thinks it is a Sports Car too !!

Len Gilbert in the Cooper Bristol, complete with headlights Mudguards and a wide body at the back.

74462

John(ny) Mansel in the Tec-Mec [ Maserati ].

74463

Entry List for the 1960 " Waimate 50 " the feature race.

74464

The Race was open to Racing and Sports Cars, including some NZ Specials ..
- the Stanton Brothers Corvette,
- the Ralph Watson Lycoming
and one of
- Hec Green RA's with a 2250cc motor.

[Roger Dowding]

1967 The Timaru Street races, exact date not known but must have been early in the year as the Prize Money was in Pounds Shillings and Pence - so pre 10th July.
** Event was 4th February 1967 - see Milan's note and copy of Programme Cover in post #345.
Described as .
" Timaru Trophy Road Race,
" N Z Gold Star Championship Race
" Timaru 4th Feb, 1967
" - Organised by the S. C. [ South Canterbury ] Car Club and held under the International Sporting Code of the F. I. A. and the National Competition Rules of the A. N. Z. C. C. Inc "

The NZ Specials and Racing Cars Start line - with the Begg Chev Sports car of Barry Keen
Others are Alan Rhodes 260M Zephyr, John Armstrong Cooper Bristol and Arthur Smith 120EN with a 1500cc motor.
in the Second row... Allan Dick archives

74471

The Entry List.

74472

Peter Leversedge in #77 which he still has ..


The Begg Chev was in the Sports Car Race too !! Tony Stanton archives - presume a relation of The Stanton Brothers

74473

Note that the Stanton Corvette Motor is now larger than back in 1960 at 5.3 litres.
Had also noted that the Lycoming also grew during these times to over 5 litres as well, as noted at other events.

It was at the George Begg Festival recently .. another story to tell.

[Roger Dowding]

Dunedin 1961 the Grid for the Sports Car race.

Part of a series of photos taken from a Video of the event - archive Adrian Krzyzewski.

74504

More to come of the sequence from Dunedin 1961 plus many other photos from Adrian Krzyzewski.
In - on the Starting lineup are - Josh Tims AH 100S Cliff and Ivan Bennett in Morgans Bob Blackburn in the Lotus 7

Dunedin 1964, The Otago Sports Car Club Prizegiving and a montage of cars racing - Hill Climb at Hoopers Inlet.
Do not know the people.. archive Graham Woods from the OSCC Magazine ..

The cars.
#6 Ralph Harrison - Zephyr Mk1
#7 Ken McVie Mini
#8 John Armstrong Chevrolet

#-- Brian Middlemass Jaguar XK120
#11 Cliff Bennett - Morgan
#12 Jim Bennett - Furi 1
#13 Allan Dick - MG Ford

#-- Paddy Williams MG Midget

74505

Report on the Hoopers Inlet HillClimb - only 9 competitors. from the OSCC Magazine - G Woods archives.

74506

[Roger Dowding]

The Entry List and a series of photos from Graham Woods archives.

The Big Race for Saloons at the Waimate "50 " event in 1964.

Entry List.

74542

Ernie Sprague has a big ...ooops.. in the Mark 3 Zephyr.

a sequence of photos.

74543

74544

74545

74546

74547

[Milan Fistonic]

1967 The Timaru Street races, exact date not known but must have been early in the year as the Prize Money was in Pounds Shillings and Pence - so pre 10th July

74548

[Roger Dowding]

More South Island images to come - Renwick, Waimate, Dunedin, an event at Mosgiel and others.
Plus on a new thread, the story of a Lotus Seven, that was owned by Bob Blackburn, of Mistral fame in 1961 and is still around in 2023. Will be part of a Lotus Seven New Zealand story

This from Mosgiel, one of the Bennett Boys in the Morgan [ Cliff ], Bob Scott from Kaitangata in his Special [centre ] and Rob Christie in another Special

74569

[Roger Dowding]

Dunedin 1960 .. Harold Heasley Humber 80 [ HHH ] ahead of Ernie Sprague in the Mark II Zephyr, predecessor of the more famous Mark III,

74574

Entry List for the Festival Race for Saloons and Sports Cars not entered in the " Main " Race ..
[ Heasley's car must have had only one piston working 390cc or got confused with the Goggomobil of B Blackburn 392cc !! ]
74575

Going further South, the Southernmost track in the World.. - Teretonga.
1962 - The Start of the Feature Race,
Tony Shelley get the jump, literally on Stirling Moss, front wheel of his Cooper over Moss' rear wheel. Both cars continued.
In the picture left to right
Bruce Mclaren [ partly obscured ] #47 Cooper,
Stirling Moss Cooper #7
Tony Shelley Cooper #18
Jack Brabham Cooper #4
Lorenzo Bandini Cooper Maserati.

- images G Woods archives - notes [ edited ] by Allan Dick - who stated he had not seen the photo before.

Must find the entry list !!


74576

[Roger Dowding]

Dunedin - the track using the area around the wharf area including Fryatt St, where the 1/4 mile Sprints were also held.

1957.

74581

Stated to be 1958 - appears to be the same as the 1957 Map - using the same roads.

74582

Graeme Staples in his book has this as the 1958 Circuit, which includes Andersons Bay Road and is away from the wharf area

74583

The Circuit in 1965 ..aligned to have the street names horizontal
It uses roads around the main Railway Lines

74584

[Milan Fistonic]

Quote: Stated to be 1958 - appears to be the same as the 1957 Map - using the same roads.

The left-hand end of the circuit is quite different to the 1957 layout.

[Roger Dowding]

Quote: Stated to be 1958 - appears to be the same as the 1957 Map - using the same roads.

The left-hand end of the circuit is quite different to the 1957 layout.

Milan, yes on having a better look, not helped with street names missing - a few roads not used.

I am now confused as the Graeme Staples Map for 1958 - which I have seen elsewhere actually uses a different part of the Dunedin City roads.

The Graeme Staples version was used in 1960, The Book [ below ] says used 1960 - 1962.

The " Racing Round the Houses " Book published in 1983 has 3 different Circuits on the back cover.

74597

Circuits ;
1954 - 1956
1960 - 1962,
1965.

Next up some Track maps and Entry Lists from Renwick Street Races - 1960 - 1966.

[Trevor Sheffield]

Roger, your PM box is saying "Full" LOL Pleas email me. Cheers Trevor.

[jellywrestler]

Milan, yes on having a better look, not helped with street names missing - a few roads not used.

I am now confused as the Graeme Staples Map for 1958 - which I have seen elsewhere actually uses a different part of the Dunedin City roads.

The Graeme Staples version was used in 1960, The Book [ below ] says used 1960 - 1962.

The " Racing Round the Houses " Book published in 1983 has 3 different Circuits on the back cover.

. my book covers circuits where motorcycles raced, some like renwick for example had bikes in 1960 with cars then cars only in the other years, ditto with this dunners venue.

[Roger Dowding]

my book covers circuits where motorcycles raced, some like renwick for example had bikes in 1960 with cars then cars only in the other years, ditto with this dunners venue.

" Jw " thanks for clarifying that -would seem the Bikes used a track that was later used for the "Festival " Races which were for Cars and Bikes
- as my 1961 Programme shows that Event 1 was the Dunedin Festival Motorcycle Classic,Grid Start for Bikes up to 500cc.
That event again used the circuit in Graeme Staples " jw " map.

The 1961 Event was only Four events, Event 1 Bikes, Event II [two] for Sports Cars Event III the Festival Championship Road Race of 36 laps and the final Event IV for Saloons.

74624

74625

[Milan Fistonic]

I don't know if this 1992 programme cover and track map have been posted and I don't have time to search through 18 pages to find out.

74626

74627

[Roger Dowding]

Milan,

Re ; " I don't know if this 1992 programme cover and track map have been posted and I don't have time to search through 18 pages to find out. "
To my recollection - no, I have not seen that Cover or the Track map.
Yes 18 pages indeed.

Thank you - more for the archives on Dunedin.

Cheers

Roger

[jellywrestler]

I don't know if this 1992 programme cover and track map have been posted and I don't have time to search through 18 pages to find out.

74626

74627

got one of those programmes for sale if anyone wants one.

[Roger Dowding]

" SNAPSHOTS " from the 1961 Dunedin Festival Road Race event..

Bikes and Cars.

74770

Entry List for the Saloon Race Event IV.

74772

1962 and Pat Hoare - Ferrari has its nose out of shape..

74771

[Roger Dowding]

Guys, this is a small thread because, I got sidetracked with my Pukekohe shots - there are another 30 photos to come Saloons, Specials Gee Cee S etc and Vintage - the ERA, and 50's single seaters, must get back to it soon.

Post #10 - from 26th October 2015 at the early part of the Dunedin Story of the 1984, I made the above comment.

Recently posted on Facebook by Warner Collins is a video of the 1984 Event which includes the Bethunes Gully Hill Climb on the Saturday and the Races in Dunedin Central on the Sunday.

Can't get the link across, but do look for it.

Mark D who ran the HUGE Pontiac Bonneville 4 door Saloon /Sedan at both events features and sent me the details.
Mark is restoring the Bonneville at the moment and it has been to events recently - photos on this thread have been posted

Think the 1984 Video has been posted on South Island Motorsports page by Adrian Robertson too !!

Remember standing at some of the corners taking photos on the Race Day - Sunday as well as the Sprints in Fryatt Street on the Saturday.

74773

[Roger Dowding]

A certain Zephyr and a Jaguar [ Mark 3 at 2553 cc versus a Mark 2 at 3781 cc ]. The CC's won..

74811

The Entry List ..with notes - thanks to Milan Fistonic.

74812

[Roger Dowding]

The Weekend consisted of 3 Events, the Hill Climb at Bethunes Gully and the Sprints of Fryatt Street in the City on the Saturday.
Historic Street Races were held on the Sunday.
- [ The Event was what started this thread ]

A couple more photos of what was the " Biggest " Car at the event - in size and a rather large Motor too !!

The Entry List [ again ] for the Saloon Class Race ..

74837

The Pontiac Bonneville of Mark Dawber at Bethunes Gully - this photo is from near the top of the climb.

74834

The Pontiac in the Street Races on Sunday - being chased by a group of Mini's.
All images from Mark D's archives... the notation A Swain was a nickname..

74835

The Pontiac being raced at a Vintage Car Club Grass Sprint - in late May 2023.
The car has been restored /repaired by Mark and his son.

74836

[Roger Dowding]

A photo and an entry list ..

75111

Entry List for the Sports Specials and Racing Car Race - with two Austin Healey's running a 100 [ 4 cylinder 2660 cc ] and a 100 - Six [ 2639 cc The Maserati - supercharged, C - Type Jaguar and Cooper. are listed

75112

[Roger Dowding]

Renwick 1962 meeting.

The start of the " Renwick 50 " - Graham Woods archives - from a newspaper or Magazine

Angus Hyslop - Cooper - Climax 2.5 L, Morrie Stanton - Stanton Corvette - 4.9 L front row,
Tony Shelley - Lotus - Climax 2.5 L, behind with Barry Cottle in the Lola - Climax - 1098 cc - Sports Car.
Then other older Racing Cars 250F Maserati and the Ferrari of R H Smith 3.4 litre
Chris Amon in the Entry too !!
A typical Entry for the time an NZ Specials, Sports Cars and Racing Cars all in the same field.

75118

The Entry List - Graham Woods archives

75119

[Roger Dowding]

Posted a couple of photos of the Ex Bira ERA - the Blue one with yellow stripes [ yellow on the chassis ] on a facebook page and Allan Dick responded with the attached information.

" It is Romulus, the famous ex Bira ERA which came to NZ with it's proud and enthusiastic owner Bill Morris who drove the car like fury and had an awesome reputation in the UK. One of the Dunedin motor racing crew — Greg McKenzie — went to the UK in the late sixties or early seventies for his OE and ended up staying four or five years and became great mates with Morris. When Morris brought the ERA to NZ he stayed for the summer and competed in classic racing up and down the country. He stayed with Greg in Dunedin for several weeks when he did the southern races. Greg brought him to the pub every night and Bill became part of the Downtown Tavern "think tank" who met nightly to talk motor racing and solve the world's problems. Bill was great and easy company - no airs and graces. Sadly, his health went down and he died in 2018. " ***.

The photo - posted before under the Dunedin 1984 part of the thread when I first wrote it ..

75224

On the track

75225

Otago Daily Times photo of the ERA and the 260M - as in the above colour photo..

75226

** Have found out a bit more about the ERA .. It was one of several that were in the stable of Prince Chula of Siam and his brother Prince Bira used to race them .. more to come on this.

Details from John Newell ..about the ERA. this was a reply to Allan Dick's comment posted above

***
" actually the E.R.A. that Bill Morris brought out in 1984 is Hanuman II. Chassis R12B, and always a 1500cc engined car.
It was one of Prince Chula's White Mouse Garage E.R.A.s, and was raced by his cousin Prince B. Bira.
There were two other Siamese Prince owned cars. These are Remus (R5B), and Romulus (R2B).
I was priviledged to help Bill push start Hanuman II that year in Dunedin, as a teenager. It is a memory I won't forget!
When in the UK on my OE playing with Vintage racing cars for 6 years in the 90s, I got to know several E.R.A. owners, and worked on one of these cars.
R12B is actually now back in Thailand.
R2B spent most of its life there but is now back racing in the UK. "

An ERA was in Dunedin in 1989 as well.. an article by Mark Holman for Classic and Sports Car Magazine from the UK - who also writes for NZ Classic Driver.
This on Ardmore and Dunedin in 1989..

75243

[Milan Fistonic]

Bill Morris at Whenuapai in 1984

75227

75228

[Roger Dowding]

Not sure if posted before - went back over the thread recently. the images was scanned in 2019.

This was the centre-spread in the " Dunedin Midweek " - the Weekly published on the Wednesday following the event on 29th January 1984.

75239

Mark D posted a couple of photos recently from his own and also the Bramwell collection of cars at the events - including the Newell Vauxhall 30/98 having a slide on Bethune's Gully - the Hill Climb ..

75240

The 1930's Alta that was in the Entry Lists of the Pre-war vehicles - actually Vintage and up to 1954. It included Sports and Racing cars from the 1930's to 1954.
Behind the Honda tow car ..

75241

A crowd around the Alta with the Engine cover off - location not stated - from the archives of Mark Dawber.

75242

[bry3500]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu9EkZSO0Ds&t=192s&ab_channel=LaurieBrenssell

[Roger Dowding]

A story from Allan Dick of Autonews and now Classic Autonews.

" Dunedin 1962 and the last what were called the Oval Meetings because the circuit included the Oval sports ground — which isn't anything like Oval in shape!
It rained on and off and there were lots of spins, crashes and John Mansel died from injuries. It was a very unhappy meeting in a lot of ways.

This is the intersection of King Edward Street, Bridgeman Street and, Wilkie Road. It was a tricky, bumpy corner with lots of camber changes and a service station at each corner!

Here Stan Prestige [ S Prestridge in the Entry List as shown in post #368 below -thanks Milan Fistonic ] in his 1946 Ford takes the corner and chases after Peter Elsey in his pink and black VW while Ken Berry in his VW and an unknown Morris minor driver both spin. Photo taken, I think, by Bob Woodford who was one of thousands of spectators upon the railway embankment.

This was the corner where Rod Copppins spun the Tec Mec (as a sports car) and reversed it through the brick wall of the small flour mill to the right of the image and Chris Amon found the gap between the flour mill and the railway embankment with no damage to the Maserati. "

Note from Graham Woods " No.7 is W. Hayes from Invercargill " ...

Photo - posted before without all the detail.

75341

[Milan Fistonic]

The entry list for the 1962 Saloon Car Race.

75342

[Roger Dowding]

Saw this car at Dunedin in 1984 - the Street Races that started this thread..

Recently some photos have emerged of the car at the Lyttleton Street Races in the 1980's.
I need to research the actual date or dates. *** See note below in this post

The car has been rebuilt by Mark and his son in the last couple of years and has been to some VCC events around Christchurch.

Photos from both events ;

Lyttleton ..

This from a John Wards who took a number of photos at the event.

75360

Photo from H Dawber archives - his own photo I believe.

75361

Moving on around 40 years - the car had been off the road for around 30 years so since early 1990's.

The VCC Grasskhana event, raking up, and taking up, a lot of the track.
Mark Dawber's own photos.

75362

75363

75364

75365


The car showing some primer paint as was not finished at the time.
Have seen a number of photos of the rebuild - mainly of the bodywork.

The car was known as the " Aircraft Carrier " when Mark raced it in the 1980's

Have just found this on an early thread on TRS where there was a question about the Races.

There were three events
This about the first two - from Chris Read.

" The first meeting was SUNDAY 13 11 88 and was a very hot day which played havoc with cars on the grid without starters as the race was new and getting the races away was taking 5 minutes after formation. I cooked the motor! The Cooper Bristols of Jim Boult and Wayne Marsh were there I think and too fast for me. The BCM, ACE111 and 260M were evenly matched and we had great racing.
Times were 59 seconds. There is a great photo in the following weeks Press of Graeme Hamilton in the ACE and me in the BCM cutting the corner at the top under a verandah. Not sure if this meeting or the next but over the bridge the Stanton dropped its rear diff drive chain with me 1 foot behind and it sure made me pucker until I saw it lay itself on the ground and I passed over it and round the Stanton as it came to a stop.

THE SECOND MEETING WAS 12 11 89. It was a hot fine and sunny day. I was racing the BCM Special. Times were about 60 sec for the classic single seaters. Both the Coopers were absent. Russell Greer had the Stanton and once in front he was too wide to pass. I had pole but the Stanton got in front and stayed there. The ACE111 had broken its drive train so I had no one to play with except a bothersome anklebiting FF which was lots of fun. Getting the corner right onto the straight after the down hill bit gave you some straight speed to pass. I really enjoy street racing and this was all of that so it was a pity this was the last meeting. I think I was awarded the PDL trophy for best effort by a NZ built special. All I was trying to do was get past Russell.
A Porsche came to grief but not sure if that was why it did not happen next year. I think it was a matter of logistics. Great wee circuit and part of NZ history of street circuits. Chris Read "

" jellywrestler " states that there was a third event 11th November 1990 - Armistice Day WW1 Anniversary

[Roger Dowding]

Events were held at Ryal Bush, Southland in early 1956 and again in 1957, in February of that year.
This is before the opening of Teretonga, a dedicated Racing Track in November 1957.

A series of photos from the " Eric Rillstone Studio " have been shared by Graham Woods on Old New Zealand Motor Racing Facebook page - Graham mentions that he has discovered 24 photos from Ryal Bush mainly 1956 with some 1957 and also photos from Teretonga in later 1957, when the Track opened.

Cars in the Southland Centennial Race.
Note some cars also ran in the " Sports Car Race ",

The Entry list Lap Chart - posted before ;

75648

Grand Prix cars - Ferrari's

Peter Whitehead in the pits

75649

Whitehead on track

75650

Reg Parnell - in his Aston Martin ** - should have read the entry list and had a good look at the car.

75651

Ron Roycroft Bugatti - Jaguar leads Peter Whitehead followed by Frank Shuter in the Edelbrock Special

75652

Ron Roycroft in the Bug-Jag

75653

More action to come - the Sports Cars

[jellywrestler]

Events were held at Ryal Bush, Southland in early 1956 and again in 1957, in February of that year.
This is before the opening of Teretonga, a dedicated Racing Track in November 1957.

A series of photos from the " Eric Rillstone Studio " have been shared by Graham Woods on Old New Zealand Motor Racing Facebook page - Graham mentions that he has discovered 24 photos from Ryal Bush mainly 1956 with some 1957 and also photos from Teretonga in later 1957, when the Track opened.



there was another meeting in 1990 too

[Roger Dowding]

Ryal Bush 1956 - The Sports Cars - as noted some cars competed in the Sports Car Race and the Southland Centennial Race.

Entry List for the Sports Cars ;

75666

Mrs June Monk in her TR2 in the lead an Allard behind

75667

75668

Ray Archibald in the XK120 and Tom Killkelly MG Special

75669

HWM Jaguar - photo was posted with the note who is the driver ? #44
will be in the Entry List for one of the Races. F A O Tony Gaze in the Sports Car Race he had a Ferrari GP Car in the main race or is it John Horton in the main race, but he was #7 ..

75670

Tom Sulman in the Aston Martin DB3S

75671

[Roger Dowding]

Another from 1956 of Mrs June Monk leading a couple of others with a car off in the grass.
Titles were used for females back in these days.

75672

The NZ Road Race Championship - Entry List for the 1957 Event.

75673

Some of the Entrants on track.

A group with Tucker in the Ransley Riley [ RR 2 ].

75674

Reg Parnell and Peter Whitehead

75675

Jack Brabham in a Bobtail Cooper - Climax

75676

Horace Gould of Cooper Bristol fame in a Maserati 250F

75677


Some details on the photos including an error H Gould Maserati. not Ferrari
That is all for the moment.
Do have the Saloon Car Entry List for one years events but no images

[Roger Dowding]

" New Zealand Championship Road Race ". 1949 at Wigram RNZAF Base.

In the 1950 Programme for the same event it states
The event was "Run jointly by the Canterbury Car Club (Inc.) and the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand, - Held under the auspices and rules of the ' Association of New Zealand Car Clubs ' and Supplementary Regulations.".
The Association had been formed in 1948.

Entry List and Lap Chart for the " Main " Race. up to lap 21.

75763

The entrants on the startline from a Newspaper or Magazine of the Day.

75764

Notes on the Drivers.

75765


75766


75767


Other notes - unsure where from - a Club newsletter perhaps - not serious enough to be in the Programme.

75768

All from Graham Woods vast archives

[Roger Dowding]

A Tribute from Allan Dick - Classic Autonews

" VALE CHARLIE STANTON.
103 is a pretty fair age but that’s the milestone Charlie Stanton reached before he quietly slipped away earlier this week.
As the famous Stanton Brothers, Charlie was the thinker and the engineer, Morrie was the courage and the driving skills as well as also an engineer.
Charlie let Morrie do all of the public racing driving, he was content to create, to contemplate and take the proverbial back seat.
Together they ran a garage in Sydenham in Christchurch.
In the mid-sixties, Charlie went overseas and spent 1967 working for Jack Brabham on his Formula One team, building the engines for Denis Hulme to win the F1 title with.
Charlie served in the Middle East in WW2 fighting mainly in Italy, returned home in peacetime and bought a 1927 Speed Bentley.
The Christchurch-based brothers were early on the motor racing scene when they took a three wheel BSA sports car, gave it two wheels at the rear and then went racing.
That was followed by the legendary “Cropduster” with its rear-engined Gypsy Major aero engine and crudely styled body.
It had an impact on motor racing circuits, but they fitted a more aerodynamic modified Mistral body to set a NZ Land Speed record for cars at circa 174mph.
Importantly for Stanton tradition — it was chain driven.
Their next car was a mistake. It was the first Stanton Corvette — a front engined, V8 powered single seater that looked like an enlarged speedway midget or modified Indycar. It was a design that was outdated even before they began building it.
They realised it, scrapped it and built a chain driven, rear engined car with extraordinarily homely looks.
But it was fast and Morrie drove it bravely while Charlie continued to stand in the background watching.
In the mid sixties the Stanton Corvette was reconfigured as a sports car. The chassis had outriggers and a widened body and the centre steering was offset by chain drive to the new driving position.
At first it had a huge open maw of a mouth, but then it was given a streamlined nose.
Morrie had a serious accident at Waimate and retired from driving, his role being taken over by Geoff Mardon who was fantastically sucessful in the car — still called “the Stanton Corvette”.
The Stantons retired, the “Corvette” was sold to Jim Boyd, then John Monehan and it’s been in the ownership of Russell Greer for many years.
Charlie Stanton switched direction, designed, built and flew a glider which is in the wonderful Ashburton Aircraft Museum.
Morrie died several years back but Charlie lived in a retirement village in Nelson, for many years.
He has a street named after him in Christchurch. "

Saw the Stanton Corvette raced many times in the 1960's into the 1970's and Stanton Special - Cropduster at Dunedin in 1984.

My own photos of the two famous cars, built by the Stanton Brothers.

75816

75817

Borrowed this image - " Chaindrive " Tony Lucas " small tributes " to the Stanton Brothers.

75818

[Roger Dowding]

Spinner stated that the Lola he drove at Matamata was one that he got from Johnny Riley in a deal for a boat !
The car a (Lola Mk2 / Ford) was first brought into the country by John Histed so it could be ready for the 1962 NZGP at Ardmore meet.
The car was then sold to Ken Smith and then onto John Riley before reaching Spinner.

67352
Ken Smith about 1963 in the Lola that S. Black drove at Matamata in 1965.



(Ken H)

Just had another look at the Photo from Ken H.

behind the Lola is an Austin Healey 100S and hard left looks like the Graeme McRae special the Maserarri.
now to find out whose AH and which chassis number number plate the 1961 -64 series and looks like " 75.602 ".

[Milan Fistonic]

My thoughts on the photo posted by Ken H

76233

The way the cars are lined up looks like the Dummy Grid at Levin.

In the list of entrants at the January 1964 Levin meeting Ken Smith is listed as driving the Lola number 20. His father Morrie is also listed as driving the car with the number 120.

Strangely neither Ken or Morrie are listed in any of the races in the programme but there is a race with the Massarari (H. Crawford), an MGA number 31 (R.Grace) and an Austin Healey 2400 (G. [Grady] Thomson) which could fit in with the photo.

[ERC]

Strangely neither Ken or Morrie are listed in any of the races in the programme...
Having acted as entries secretary several times, Kenny Smith often wouldn't appear in the programme, as he rarely put an entry in on time. Maybe a trait he inherited?

It's not only very frustrating for race organisers who, in pre computer times, had to not only arrange for the programme to be printed, be that a stapled properly produced item or a photo-copied sheet, but also issue specific entry list check sheets for the scrutineer, time keepers and so on, but it also frustrates photographers and historians.

NZ is very bad for people not entering on time, be that race meetings, sports meetings, industry meetings, conferences awards dinners etc. If we'd canned race meetings where at the closing date, there were insufficient entries to make the meeting viable, we'd have cancelled over half - but we'd still be up for paying circuit hire fees.

[Roger Dowding]

My thoughts on the photo posted by Ken H

76233

The way the cars are lined up looks like the Dummy Grid at Levin.

In the list of entrants at the January 1964 Levin meeting Ken Smith is listed as driving the Lola number 20. His father Morrie is also listed as driving the car with the number 120.

Strangely neither Ken or Morrie are listed in any of the races in the programme but there is a race with the Massarari (H. Crawford), an MGA number 31 (R.Grace) and an Austin Healey 2400 (G. [Grady] Thomson) which could fit in with the photo.

Milan,

Thanks for the details and yes Grady Thomson did run a 100S at one time - not sure which car, probably AHS3601, that was originally Black and as the recreation AHS 3601R is again.
Need to check my notes and the AH thread.

[Milan Fistonic]

Strangely neither Ken or Morrie are listed in any of the races in the programme

But in this case they were included in the list of entrants at the meeting published in the programme.

I totally agree with your comments about late entries. Another gripe is result sheets that only give the driver's name and the time and/or placing without listing the type of car.

[Roger Dowding]

The second running of the NZ CRR at Dunedin in 1954,
1951 and 1952 was at Mairehau, near Christchurch. then in 1953 it went to Dunedin.

Notes on the Competitors Are in the programme, which Bruce Dyer sent to me many years ago, but these images are from Graham Woods

Cover from Bruce's copy

76265

The Notes;

76266

76267

76268

76269

Godfrey Paape in the Austin A90 " Atlantic " was also the chairman of the Organising Committee and an ANZCC member [ the President ] as well as a senior member [ the President ] of the organising Club the Otago Sports Car Club.
Page 2 and 3 of the programme with the list of Officials. A very Motor racing oriented guy.

ANZCC - the " Association of New Zealand Car Clubs " was started in 1947, the forerunner of Motorsport New Zealand, previously Motorsport Association of New Zealand MANZ,

image from the Bruce Dyer copy of the programme

76270

[Roger Dowding]

Bruce, I thought the Vagabond was an EI series Vauxhall Convertible 53-57 [ two door ] Holden also did a LI series 47 - 52 ?? Ragtop too !!

a 1953 Vagabond - P.S. - Vauxhall EI series was also built in Switzerland !! as a Van ..??

59354

The comment re the LI series - think they may have been coachbuilt - not by Holden ??
Could be the start of some other thoughts -
Not a Vagabond but the Australia only Vauxhall Caleche ..

59357

John Mck - could just imagine drifting an EI Ute .. a mate had an LIP, he was in Northern Sports car club, had wide rear wheels under grafted on Escort Mk 1 round flares, an inline Hurst shifter for the Vauxhall gearbox - took the tree of the column.. had twin carbs - went well in a straight line and sounded good 2262 cc of sheer power ..

April 2024 - Photos of the LIP of Dave Hotham, with the Escort Flares, and other mods, under the bonnet bigger carbs and a Hurst inline shifter on the gearbox.

76321

76322

[Roger Dowding]

Ken, he will be at Taupo, will make sure you two catch up again....we can ask him then. Sounds good ???

The above Written by John Mckecknie on the 11th January 2018 [ 01-11-2018 in US speak ].
Never got see Ken then or even at later events, but we did meet last year when Ken H was back in NZ, for his brothers funeral, sadly.
Interestingly my next door neighbour John Mitchinson [ not on TRS ] was in the same class as Ken's brother, also John, at Kiwitahi School around 1960.

[Roger Dowding]

A South Island Racer, a couple of photos from 1963.

Practice at Renwick 1963, with Andy Buchanan in the Brabham and Dennis Marwood Humber [ probably posted before ]

76357

The Renwick Saloon Car race Entry List.

76358

Teretonga - also believed to be 1963 - same 1961 - 64 plate " 683,012 " on the Chev, here with an Anglia.
archive Graham Woods who stated " not my picture ".

76359

[Roger Dowding]

A busy start - all 6 cylinder cars, Waimate 1964. Event 8 at 4;00 pm - photo Euan Sarginson. [ from Allan Dick -Terry Marshall archives ].
** The start of Heat Two the over two litre cars Race. - note from Milan Fistonic next post.
Heat one was " The Publicans Race " - for the under 2 litre cars.
Ron Sylvester Chev Coupe, J K Laney FJ Holden, Ernie Sprague Mk3 Zephyr, #5 Mk2 Zephyr John Armstrong, Ray Archibald and Ian Dow 4th - 1st in over 2000cc class Jaguar Mk2's, Mk2 Zephyr Norman Masters from Balclutha, Chev Coupe at back Doug Algie #41 Chev Coupe is P Gillum

76384

The Entry list.

76385

Details to be checked.
Did the under 2 litre class start a few seconds later. two separate heats ** notes Milan Fistonic,

Another photo - same race 1964 Heat Two - originally thought 1963 but the same cars as top photo. Chevs Holden Jags and Zephyrs.
* A better version of this photo has emerged - the full view with all the Zephyr visible.
Will attach it in a new post.

76386

This is the Race in which Ernie Sprague had the big off and finished behind the Haybales - photo posted before; Mk2 Zephyr John Armstrong Chev Coupe either Sylvester or Gillum - both two tone white over Q.. what colour, think Sylvester later used Red and Silver.

76387
.

[Milan Fistonic]

The Saloon Races at the 1964 Waimate meeting were run as two heats and a final. Heat 1 was the Waimate Publicans event for cars up to and including 2000cc while Heat 2 was the D.R. Filter race for cars 2001cc and over.

The first photo in post no 385 is the start of Heat 2. Ian Dow was the winner of that race followed by Norm Masters, Gillum and Armstrong.

76388

Heat 1 was won by Kerry Grant from Paul Fahey, Jim Mullins and Arthur Moffatt

76389

The result of the final shown above differs from other reports that have Moffatt fourth and Dow fifth followed by Lawrence, Brian Millett (Austin Cooper), Silvester and Armstrong.

76390

76391

[Roger Dowding]

Milan, Thanks for that, and also the note about the Fleetwood Mustang and the " One Lap ".
Your archives are great - have added the above images to my Waimate archive.

I have the " Waimate 50 " Book too - that Bruce Dyer " Spgeti " sent me when still living in Australia.
Need to read up again.

Makes more sense being two races. I did wonder about not seeing the smaller capacity cars.
Have noted on my post - and have changed details on the photo's in the / my archive.
Graham Woods has great stuff but sometimes details need to clarified/checked.

Cheers
Roger

[Roger Dowding]

Notes by Allan Dick - of AutoNews and Classic Autonews
" Front engined days. Start of the Renwick 50 and 62/63 season opener. Amon is waiting on his Scuderia Veloce Cooper to arrive, so he gives the 250F Maserati a run. Amon is just ahead of Eade in the ex Moss, Jensen, Mansel 250 and behind is the Lola FJ (with 1.5 Ford engine) of JCN (John) Histed. Race was won by Angus Hyslop in his 2.5 Cooper Climax and Amon was second. A bit of an opportunity here to see the differences between the two 250Fs — Amon's being the "BRM" modified car. "

76441

A newspaper photo of the same event. The same Race Barry Cottle Lola and the Stanton as well as another Racing car ahead of the Amon Maserati 250 Angus Hyslop in the Cooper Climax - Notes in the caption of the drivers.

76442

The entry list which shows Amon but not in the Maserati - as explained by Allan Dick.

The " Renwick 50 " - Renwick Road Races ..

76445

The " BRM modified car " - it was at Ardmore 1989 - the Reunion Meeting. my own photos.

76443

76444

[Roger Dowding]

John Windelburn took his Lotus South for the series of races in the South Island.
He was entered in the " Motor Racing Cup " - for Sports and Racing Cars and the " Sports Car Race ".
- Both events over 20 Laps - 42 Miles
Photo and details from Milan Fistonic.

I see that Fred Losee in his Austin Healey 100S and E [ Joss ] Tims in his AH 100 were competing too !.

The Lotus

76519

The Entry Lists
The Motor Racing Club Trophy Race - Scratch Race

76520

The Sports Car Race

76521

The Times Fastest Lap Times and Results.
John was 2nd Overall and 1st in Class in the Motor Racing Club Trophy Race
The event was for open cars not competing in the Main Race - the Lady Wigram Trophy.
- He was also 7th Overall and 2nd in Class in the Sports Car Race.

76522

76523

[Oldfart]

I have been having a look at the fastest lap times, it makes interesting reading. eg Johnnie Windelburn's time in the Sports Car race would have been fastest of all in the Championship race by1.8 seconds. For the entire race he would have been on the podium based on overall time. Seems a bit odd to me.

[Milan Fistonic]

I have been having a look at the fastest lap times, it makes interesting reading. eg Johnnie Windelburn's time in the Sports Car race would have been fastest of all in the Championship race by1.8 seconds. For the entire race he would have been on the podium based on overall time. Seems a bit odd to me.

In the MRC Championship race Windelburn started from the rear of the grid after problems in practice and still finished second. Judging by the photo maybe the weather had something to do with difference in times.

[Roger Dowding]

Timaru.
An article about Southern Motorsport by E S Young a Timaru lad - from Peter Preston archives
- Peter ran a Buckler for some years early 1960's., at Teretonga, Wigram and Waimate.

76657

Peter Preston at Teretonga

76658

The GMC powered Dragster of Gerald Hoare - from Jim Bennett archives, Jim was also GMC powered at one stage with a Wolseley 6/80 - with a lot more than 80 bhp, was it a 6 / 276 [ the Cubic Capacity in inches or what ? ]

The Dragster - it is still around and with John Paton's family in 2024.

76659

The GMC Wolseley 6/80 - make that a 6 / ???

76660

Good value for money at $700 - For Sale back in the 1960's
- [ 1967 onwards Decimal Currency - exact date not sure - Jim Bennett archives both images ]
Must check back on Jim's archives.

76661

Looking for more details on the GMC and images.

[Roger Dowding]

Post #385 and the Saloon Cars in the 1964 Waimate Races - a better quality photo - the photo is by Euan Sarginson.
Obviously before Ernie Sprague had the big Off..... !!.

76907

On another topic - another track in another time;
Ryal Bush, described as ; The " Rheims of the South " by Allan Dick of Autonews and NZ Classic Driver Magazines.
In the latest NZ CD Issue #115 September - October 2024, is an article about Ryal Bush of some 8 pages.
The Track was only used for two Events - in 1956 and 1957, by the Southland Car Club, prior to the establishemnt of Teretonga, which is still going.

Well worth a read, just got my copy today in Katikati, several of my local " Tauranga " bookshops did not have it.
A Mystery as to why.

76908

Programme covers from " jellywrestler " aka " Spyda " Graeme Staples, vast archive.

The New Circuit at Teretonga held its first meeting on 30th November 1957

76909

[Roger Dowding]

The most Westerly Race Circuit in North Island New Zealand, however most circuits in the South Island even Nelson [ Beach Races ] are further West, as would Ninety Mile Beach have been.
I digress.
John [ Larry ] Lawton has collected photos from his good friend the late Terry [ Steelo ] Baker, given to him by the family to share with the NZ Motorsport fraternity.

Here from Paritutu in 1966 * a series of images. - in colour. [ not 1965 - now corrected ]

Lance Elliott in the Mini. M E Carter in the A40 Farina.

76914

Looking at the mess of hay bales and the bent signpost, think there must have been an Off there already ?.

The Peter Bennett chopped Austin A40 Farina - this car is now in the USA - would be a really unique vehicle in their Historic Racing.

76915

Fastback Anglia's of Jack Nazer and Gary Huxford.

76916

an Anglia that didn't make the angled corners

76917

" Wild Bill " McPherson in his FJ Holden - have seen other photos of this car at Paritutu
- John Larry Lawton's own photos.

76918

That is all the Saloons ** - there is a selection of Sports and Racing Cars to follow.
** just found another one - and also a Photo on the start line with Kevin Greene Chev Coupe and a Ford Anglia Van raced by Malcolm Bouzaid .. more to come.

[Roger Dowding]

Programme Covers and an Advert.

1965 - The Programme - the first meeting ?

76919

1967 - The Programme - the last one ? copy in my collection thanks to Bruce Dyer.

76920

The Advert and Track Map - from Ken Hyndman archives.

76921

The Saloon Photo that was missed. Ron Horgan archives. Pat Horgan in the Viva

76922

[Roger Dowding]

More of the Terry [ Steelo ] Baker photos from John [ Larry ] Lawton.

Racing Cars. not named and no Programme.

76927

76928

76929

Sports Cars. The Lotus Seven appears in a couple.

76930

76931

A " U2 " in Blue Q ??.
76932















P S - just noticed I put 1965 in the earlier post but as the photos say it was 1966 .. oops.

[Roger Dowding]

These are the numbers the De Soto raced with. All at Pukekohe.

7/12/63 -143
22/2/64 - 148
4/4/64 - 148
7/11/64 - 151
12/12/64 - 112
27/2/65 - 174

It also raced at Matamata in 1964 with 61 and 1965 with 63.

Entry List from the December 1964 Auckland Car Club meeting; arch Graham Woods

77217

This is the Car. running Wire Wheels on the rear, not the twin wheels. - Photo Alan Boyle.

77218

Have found other photos with Race #112, and the car has the Alloy Wheels - are they " Dual "- and the Bonnet has a scoop on it
Both Terry " Steelo " Baker and John Larry Lawton who has been scanning the late Terry's photos have phots of the car - JLL noted as GP meeting but crowd looks small, and his photo has wires.

77219

John Larry Lawton photo on wires and the guards are original - so an earlier meeting than GP 1965.
77220

Lastly from Bruce Thompson archives - who noted it as Dual Wheels, - has the modified rear guards and the scoop and those strange exhaust pipes - did they actually work ??.

77221

[Milan Fistonic]

The Saloon Photo that was missed. Ron Horgan archives. Pat Horgan in the Viva
76922[/QUOTE]

That would be this race.

77222