Motor Racing pics - my early years, 1964-71 ; Pukekohe Racetrack ;by - Roger Dowdingl

[Milan Fistonic]

Entry list for the 1963 Wills 6-Hour Race.

75544

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks Milan,
I see the car was an Etoile, not an Aronde, and it is Don Simpkin, must correct that. John Windelburn put it was Vic Simpkin.

***
Don Simpkin used his middle name as he was known by the entry list was his first name, so he was known as Vic.

Interesting is that John W spells his name WindELburn, yet entries often had WindLEburn, he should know

Cheers Roger

[Milan Fistonic]

John Ward's co-driver in car No 2 was John Richards not Jim Richards.

[ERC]

Interesting is that John W spells his name WindELburn, yet entries often had WindLEburn, he should know

Back in the day, entry forms were hand written and someone had to type them up and send them to the printers, so there are often errors in older race programmes.

Nowadays, since computerisation, programmes are created by referring to a database where the drivers input their own details - and believe me, there are plenty of errors from drivers.

[Roger Dowding]

Photo was part of a story about the Brian Ax Austin A40 Farina, put together by Bruce Dyer [ SpGeti ].

This from 1964 - very busy at the Elbow - Lap One.

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Photographer and writer of the notes - not known.

[Roger Dowding]

The first appearance of the Mini - Cooper - driven by Bruce McLaren
Comment on the photo
" Well there is Buster Young, Colin Beanland ,Wally ,Harry Pierce, Pat "
Wally would be Wally Wilmott and Pat Patricia McLaren,

75717

The cars was quick and is seen leading Athol McBeath 3.8 Jaguar and Ernie Sprague Mk 3 Zephyr at Pukekohe in the Shell Book of New Zealand Motor Racing 1963 Edition. Photo by Euan Sarginson.

[Roger Dowding]

The Entry List was posted by Milan post #501
- the typed results from Mark Joblin archived have also been posted recently. - the page with this car reposted.

Here the only Chrysler in the Entry and at 3688 cc not quite as big as he Jaguars at 3781 cc.

Image and notes from Hawkes Bay paper - probably the " HB Photo News " as seems their style.

The Angus Hyslop / " Doc " Dick Langley car #3

75773.

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The HB photo notes say 5th Overall, yet the typed results say 2nd in Class and 4th Overall ?.
Which is correct ?.
Notes in the 1964 Programme on the 1963 Race do not mention the Valiant as the Jaguar of Tony Shelley and Ray Archibald won the over 3000 Class and the Race itself, Second place was the Ford Zodiac of Bob Franicevic [ later to be known as Robbie Francevic ] and Steve Borich.

[Oldfart]

Roger, the results sheet you have posted actually shows 6th overall (7th column) 4th on price index and 2nd in class. I never heard Robbie , with either surname variety, known as Bob!

[Roger Dowding]

Roger, the results sheet you have posted actually shows 6th overall (7th column) 4th on price index and 2nd in class. I never heard Robbie , with either surname variety, known as Bob!

Good reading - I didn't study the columns well enough - " Oldfart " and yes never Bob !
I met him back around 1999 in Onehunga when he brought a lad from up North [ actually a mid 50's Man who was almost illiterate ] who was working for his engineering shop to open a Bank Account, Robbie showed the " lad " great respect and was good to talk to him and help the " lad " ..

Cheers Roger

[Roger Dowding]

Laurie Brensell has a question ;
" Asking for a friend- does anyone know if this car still exists?
Carjam says the rego number is no longer registered but the car could have become a race car?
Photos are the Wills 6 hour race at Pukekohe "

The car #25 in the 1964 Race - there were two Datsun 1200 [ 1189 cc ] entered #24 and this one #25.
Entered by J Gardner Motors and driven by Roderick Rankin and Alex Stringer.
- The friend is Rod Rankin

In the 1963 Race Alex Stringer was in a Datsun 1200 with Ian Boyd - Entrant Wilton Motor Bodies.

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Was driven hard, looking at this photo - the Elbow ?

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[Allan]

Was that a 1200 or a Bluebird?

[Roger Dowding]

Was that a 1200 or a Bluebird?

The 1963 Entry described as a " Bluebird " and the photos from 1964 look like a Bluebird, with the 1189 cc Motor.
In 1964 cars #24 and #25 just described as " Datsun " " 1189 " capacity.

In 1965 the sole Datsun in the Wills was described as a Datsun Bluebird of 1290 capacity driven by Don and Sue Hadfield.

The Hadfield Datsun in the 1965 Wills Six Hour Race, through the Elbow with others - image Milan Fistonic

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I don't have entry list for 1966 - only the Supplementary Regulations in a booklet the same as the Programme in style.

I note in the 1967 Wills Six Hour that a Datsun Bluebird of 1299 cc was entered by Max Rae Ltd and driven by Bob Newson and Don Hadfield
The 1200 was later on I think **and the 1200SSS - the Dennis Marwood built version were in the early 1970's
** I arranged a 1200 as a rental in 1975 when my cousin visited from the UK.

A Datsun website says this of the 1200

" B110 - January 1970 Commonly known as the Datsun 1200, this was the second generation Sunny in Japan. "

Successor to the 1200 was more curvy " 120Y ".

" Datsun 120Y and Datsun B210 (in North America), the third generation (1973–1978) Sunny was extremely popular as it debuted during the 1973 "

[Roger Dowding]

More from other " Auckland " events - pre Pukekohe 1963 to 2023.

The New Zealand Motor Cup - was the premier Race from 1921 on raced at Muriwai on the Beach.
The New Zealand Grand Prix - was the main race at Ohakea in 1950 and then at Ardmore 1954 - 1962.

Some images 30 years apart - from first to last.
Muriwai 1931 - a Montage from the " Motor Cup " source not known.

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Some time - late 1940's - 1948 ? - Gordon Brown in his GBS and is that Laurie Powell behind in the Ford B4 - with a V8 ?. Photo from Gordon's archives - posted some years ago.

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30 years from the first image the 8th NZ " International " Grand Prix meeting 7th January 1961.

The Programme Cover - my own archives - thanks to Allan on TRS.

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Cars in the Saloon Car Race [ Saloons over 1500 cc ] - Race 9 a Handicap race over 8 laps - 16 miles.

The Jaguar Mk 2's - one of 3, [ can't read the race number ] - run by Ross Jensen, B Monk and Simon Taylor, with the Dodge of G Brown and the Ford Coupe - described as a " Ford Corvette " of I [ Red ] Dawson - archive of Classic AutoNews - Allan Dick

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The list of Entrants with the Handicaps and the handwritten results for places 1st to 5th - archive of Milan Fistonic.

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Who was " Elvis " in an Aston Martin ??.

W " Bill " Kelly in a Renault, Bill was Trevor Sheffield's good friend and co-driver in his Daimler SP250 " Dart " in the 1965 Gold Leaf Three Hour Challenge Race at Pukekohe in October 1965, they placed well, in 3rd, behind the two Morris Cooper S, of Mullins / Neilson and Hamlin / Charles and beat the Segedin / Simmons Mustang which was a close 4th.

[Roger Dowding]

The " Lawrence " Family of Racing Drivers is being featured at a meeting at Hampton Downs in March.
Steve Elliott - is seeking photos particularly of the Anglia - Race #44 to assist with a display at the meeting.

Some photos - posted before - grouped together.

The Team Drivers - a newspaper image.

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The Team cars at a Petrol Station in 1964.

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At Pukekohe with the Zephyr Corvette of Rod Coppins.

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A couple of Entry Lists
- one with the Anglia #44. from December 1964 ACC meeting.
A J Tony Lawrence

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Anglia #44 with G Graeme Lawrence 1964 but which meeting am unsure. ** see notes below

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Credits on the images - mainly Graham Woods.

*** Notes from Milan Fistonic regarding the Entry Lists and a bit of information.

" Pukekohe post no 514 the first entry list for Race 5 is from the Auckland Car Club meeting on December 12, 1964.

The other entry list is from the 1964 NZ GP meeting on January 11. It was won by Kerry Grant with Ernie Sprague second and Paul Fahey third. "

The GP meeting the first of the year and the ACC December meeting the last, the Anglia engine has grown in size to 1650 cc - or was it the same car - same Race #44.

Also note that a Bob Franicevic was racing in a Humber, it has been mentioned that he was never known as Bob - must have been on the Entry Form like that perhaps.

Any photos would be appreciated - PM me or post on here.

[Roger Dowding]

Photo by John Larry Lawton at the Auckland Car Club Meeting 10th December 1967,
Leading David Oxton in the Lola and John[ny] Riley in the Oldsmobile powered Sports Car - was it also a Lola ?, cannot recall.
- with others behind the start of the Allcomers Sports Car Race.

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Would have been at the meeting and was at the January 1968 Grand Prix meeting.

Here is the Buchanan Ferrari in the paddock area - my own photo.

75893

[Roger Dowding]

Two photos of the start of the same event at the Grand Prix Meeting.

First by Frank Fenwick - from the archives of Steve Elliott.
The big guys on the front row - with Frank Bryan in the Mustang. #26 beside Paul Fahey #104 front row
John Ward Lotus Cortina #121 beside Team Mate Rod Coppins Mustang #141.

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Second from Donn White who was standing not far away from Frank by the looks. Close to the fence as probably had a Press Pass !!

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Tony Lawrence in the Lotus Cortina with the Lotus Twincam motor 1598 cc - it replaced the Anglia the 1650cc pushrod engined car, mentioned in an earlier post.

The Entry List from Milan Fistonic. " borrowed " as was in the comments on the first photo.

75898

[Roger Dowding]

The first appearance of the Mini - Cooper - driven by Bruce McLaren
Comment on the photo
" Well there is Buster Young, Colin Beanland ,Wally ,Harry Pierce, Pat "
Wally would be Wally Wilmott and Pat Patricia McLaren,

75717

The cars was quick and is seen leading Athol McBeath 3.8 Jaguar and Ernie Sprague Mk 3 Zephyr at Pukekohe in the Shell Book of New Zealand Motor Racing 1963 Edition. Photo by Euan Sarginson.

More has come to light on the Bruce McLaren Cooper - as Bruce himself was at Cooper Works at the time, racing in Grand Prix and helped prepare the Mini which was modified - a 998 cc Motor taken out to 1098 cc and a few other mods besides.

Another photo - in monochrome.

75910

On track and leading the Jaguar and the Zephyr.

75912

Motorman article about the Cooper. Jack Inwood photo and a Number Plate on it.
Tells a bit about the modifications and Bruce's involvement.
Thanks to Chris Burles for the images. Photographers not stated

75911

[Roger Dowding]

Reading the detail in the article is this comment;

" There are a number of suspension modifications, including the removal of a complete leaf from the springing, considerably lowering the rear of the car. ".

For those of us who know Mini's, from the 1960's onwards, comment does not seem right.

It did prompt a response which was published in a later issue of " Motorman " - with Donn Anderson responding to the letter.

75914

" Round Rubber Things " - pre the Hydrolastic things.

Image from Milan Fistonic archives
- Milan is having problems with access to The Roaring Season at the moment and sent this to me.

Do not remember this as, from memory, didn't start buying " Motorman " until at least 1964 - while still at High School, I had a standing order with the bookshop across the road from Kelston Boys High School for the English magazine The " Autocar " a weekly and then " Motorman which was by then monthly.

[Roger Dowding]

Tony Growden was recently given a lot of photos from his older brothers archives, by his Sister in Law - the Brother having passed away.

The date from the 1965 - 66 season and there are later season 1966 - 67 and on.

Included in the photos is a T Sheffield in a Daimler SP 250 " Dart " that has featured here in the 1965 Gold Leaf 3 Hour Challenge Race at the Wills Six Hour Meeting and at other events.
Or so Tony Growden noted from what was on the photos.

### Edit Note.
I sent the photos to Trevor who appreciated the thought but it is not him as the car has the big stripes down the bonnet.
Unsure who it is - could be Roger Smith or the Oxtons, Steve [ father or a young ] David, will try to establish from other photos from events at the time.
The Gold Leaf Three Hour Challenge Race of October 1965 and others - Matamata 1964 or 1965.
Trevor did compete at Matamata, Roger Smith was there in his Austin Healey 100 in 1964, R Smith
S Oxton, and a W Bern raced Daimlers in the 1965 Matamata Sports Car Races at the meeting on 20th March 1965.

Here is the SP250 going under the Dunlop Bridge on the loop on the full track in 1965.
Even back then I don't think the " Public " were allowed to use the bridge.

75915

The SP250 being chased by Norris Miles in his Lotus Super Seven.

75916

Other SP250 Drivers at the time were ;
T D [ Trevor ? ] Pengelly
J Bowden - John Bowden partnered Roger Smith in the 1965 Gold Leaf 3 hour Challenge Race,
- alongside Trevor Sheffield and Bill Kelly in Trevor's SP and the Oxtons, father Steve and son David, as the 3rd of the Daimlers in that event
both feature at the ACC meeting in December 1966.

Have also found a B G Merrett in an Sp250 at the Dec 1964 ACC meeting, along with Trevor Sheffield and Steve Oxton.


More to come - just trying to get some of them in sequence, as Tony says he was only about 5 in this year 1965, and is seeking help in identifying meetings - most of the drivers are named on the photos which is great..

[Roger Dowding]

More from Tony Growden of his late brother, Keith Growden, photos - a mix of cars and events here;

The Gold Leaf Three Hour Challenge - the biggest and the smallest 600 cc versus 4700 cc

75931

Even bigger then the Fleetwood Mustang Alister McLeod from Martinborough in his 7 litre Pontiac, saw that car back in the day at Pukekohe in 1966.

75930

Johnny Riley in the Lotus Olds passing Gary Reed in his Austin Healey.
Understand the Oldsmobile motor went into his Anglia Olds later on.
Knew the Reed brothers, Gary and Brent, from my time in the AH Club of NZ, actually bought my 100 off them in 1982.

75932

The Morrari known as " The Monster " still on the Borrani Wire Wheels off the Ferrari. so 1965, again,

75933

The real " Monster " of the 1966 Season - the Custaxie in this image, ahead of Jack Nazer in the Anglia, through the Esses.

75934

[Roger Dowding]

Ardmore Airfield was the site of the New Zealand Grand Prix from 1954 to 1962, when the event moved to Pukekohe.
Auckland Car Club and Northern Sports Car Club used to run events at Ardmore called " Little Ardmore " in January February annually and when the Races at Ohakea Air Force Base and Airfield were cancelled because of Military requirements an additional event was run at Ardmore - the " Ardmore 50 ".

In 1983 an event was held at Pukekohe called the Ardmore - Pukekohe Reunion meeting.
- in January 1989 a real Reunion Meeting was again held at Ardmore.

Photos have been posted before but in response to my photos being put on Old New Zealand Motor Racing, Mike Courtney of Austin Seven and RA Vanguard fame -
[ he owned the RA Vanguard as bits in the 1980's as a running machine but not restored ]
posted these images.
The List of Entrants and Notes from the " Historic Racing and Sports Car Club, and a montage of photos that appeared in a Newspaper - not named.

The HRSCC list
Many great names on there, sadly some of them have gone to the Race Track in the Sky.

75939

The HRSCC notes

75940

The Montage of photos ;

75941

The Car Sticker from the meeting archive of Ross Hollings who was racing that day in his Mini-Cooper.

75942

One of my photos from the Day - the Sports Cars on the dummy grid - with the three Austin Healey entries a BN2 100 Mark Donaldson, who still has the car and two AN5 Sprites Steve Hill Red AN5, Anthony ' Tony' van de Water AH5L758, the white Sprite that he also still has. Have recently discovered that Tony's car was originally Left Hand Drive,

75943

[Roger Dowding]

Photos from a Wings and Wheels meeting at Pukekohe - remember attending one of them, main sponsor was an Auckland Radio Station.
This set of Sports Cars from one of the events.

The Peter Bruin restored Lotus X1, now with the Sharp / Ganley family - was Howdens car back in the 1960's with the Motordrome Team.

76158

The Dave Silcock XK120

76159

The Paton Ford Special, that was owned by Jim Short at one time, he had it at Ardmore in 1989 - the Reunion meeting.

76160

Facing the other way.

The Tony Herbert Ginetta, now in Europe with Richard Bauz.

76161

Buckler - the MGA powered Ian Hallet car

76162

Another photo of the Lotus XI

76163

The other cars feature are in the background of some of the photos, the Buckler and also another Buckler the Green / Yellow car that is now in Europe.

[Roger Dowding]

A photo that had apparently been lost for a while - a Mini hitting the Bank at Rothmans, people scurrying away from the edge of the track.
- All looks OK but look up high.
Distinct lack of fencing along Rothmans, just the men in White Coats - did that job myself with NSCC many times.

Photo from " Ethel de Aardvark " - correct name not known, but a friend of " JohnB " E de A - now lives in Australia.
Date of photo not confirmed 1966 is a guess
- * note from Milan Fistonic " November 1965 meeting at Pukekohe "

76197.

Lost a front myself back in 1967 in Titirangi, came a round a corner and the nose dropped as the wheel had torn away from the stud holes.
Early Mini wheels were known to have this issue.
They, the " 10 x 3.5 inch " with 5.20 x 10 tyres got replaced by later Mini wheels widened by Dave Jolly to " 10 X 5 " and had 5.90 x 10 Firestones fitted, as seen here.

76198

[Milan Fistonic]

Quote: Date of photo not confirmed 1966 is a guess

It was at the November 1965 meeting at Pukekohe.

The Motorman report of the incident.

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[Roger Dowding]

Quote: Date of photo not confirmed 1966 is a guess

It was at the November 1965 meeting at Pukekohe.

The Motorman report of the incident.

76199

Thanks Milan,
can detail the photo.

342,243 views, and growing, still not up with ERC at 2,066,652 .. and rapidly growing.

[Roger Dowding]

A series of photos have emerged - John Larry Lawton has been given Terry Baker photos from the 1971 - The October Winfield meeting.

Should go on the Baypark Story - but here is an example.

Jim Smith brought the car to NZ, not sure how many meetings he attended.
Rod Grimwood and Milan Fistonic both have images from Magazines of the time - Autonews etc

76793

[Roger Dowding]

What began as the " Wills Six Hour " Race - for Standard Production Saloons - in October 1963 Developed into two Races by 1965 with the Introduction of the " Gold Leaf Three Hour Challenge " Race for Modified [ Factory ] Saloons and Sports Cars in 1965. By 1967 the Challenge Race was " Wills Challenge Race ".

The Race became the Benson and Hedges 500 and continued into the 1980's as such.

A selection of photos from Kevin Lancaster of the 1971 race.
First 2 photos - first lap first corner - the Elbow / Stables.

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76886

Ralph Emson - Doug Bremner Triumph 2.5PI, pursued by another 2.5PI.

76887

Graeme Harvey - Don Davies 2.5PI at the hairpin.

76888

Barry Phillips Bruce McLean Ford Cortina 2000GT

76889

A couple of the " Big " cars ;
- Bruce Anderson Pat Smith Ford Falcon 500 and Tim Bailey Merv Neil Chrysler Valiant V8.

76890

[Roger Dowding]

A selection of programmes covering the early to mid years of Pukekohe 1963 to 2023.

1963 December Blue Cover and 1964 April Red Cover ACC Meetings - White cover is from 1960 - presume meeting was at Ardmore.

76893

Wills Six Hour meetings 1964 - 1967 - anticlockwise from bottom right 1964

76896

1966 ACC and NSCC National Meetings

76894

1967 ACC and NSCC

76895

1980's
- 1981 and 1985 Benson and Hedges Programmes and the 1986 New Zealand Grand Prix
- Only two makes of cars entered for the Grand Prix Race - Ralt RT4 [ 13 cars ] and Chevron B34 [ 2 ]. The GP had lost its status but had 5 drivers from the USA and one Private Entry from Australia.

76897

The Programmes came from Allan Cameron, Lloyd Gleeson, and Ross Cammick.

[Roger Dowding]

At the Elbow - 3 images, Photos two and three from the same Race, 1st Lap by the looks - the third believed to be the same meeting ACC April 1964 the Season Ending meeting for ACC, NSCC ran one in May.

76972

76973

76974

John Hatton in his Mark One Zephyr at the tail of the field.
John gave me the Progamme some years ago and in 2022 I got another copy from Lloyd Gleeson with the handwritten details.

Entry Lists for a three of the Saloon Car Races. with results

76975

These two Race pages were blank apart from the Race details and has handwritten names and numbers for the cars - have added the drivers names and cars to the original copies.

76976

The last Saloon Car Race for the day.

76977

[Roger Dowding]

Pukekohe in 1970 Dave Silcock in his Mark 2 Jaguar Saloon - lost he windscreen and kept racing ;

Three different images of the racing.

Photo by Kevin Lancaster ;

77012

from a magazine article - Rod Grimwood archives. edit - just checked.

77013

From Allan Dick Autonews a 1970 Edition - photo was across the pages, so a join in the middle.

77014

[Roger Dowding]

Entry lists and " Official Report " of results as issued by the Club running the event - all images from Milan Fistonic.

Entry Lists have notes on them ;
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The Results - the NZ International Grand Prix meeting January 1973.

77071

1974 at the NZIGP meeting

Correction from Milan
[ The 1974 NZIGP was held at Wigram.

The Pukekohe event was called the Peter Stuyvesant $100,000 Championship Air New Zealand International Race. ] details on the Results List too !! my oops.

77072

The Results.

77073

1975 - at the NSCC National Meeting in March [ posted on NSCC thread - belong here to keep together ].

77074

The Results.

77075

In each case as the " Official Report " there are the Race Incidents noted as well as fastest lap and Placings.

Notes - newspaper article on the 1975 event to follow

[Roger Dowding]

" newspaper [ Magazine ] article on the 1975 event to follow ".

77076

The Entry List - First Division Race 3 of the day [ again ] ;

77077

Austin A40 Farina pair and the Anglia - would have been " Old " cars by then - even though repowered.

[Milan Fistonic]

Quote: 1974 at the NZIGP meeting.

The 1974 NZIGP was held at Wigram.

The Pukekohe event was called the Peter Stuyvesant $100,000 Championship Air New Zealand International Race.

[Roger Dowding]

Milan, thanks will correct saw the " Peter Stuyvesant " details but had forgotten, would have been there but .. 50 years ago.
Cheers
Roger