The Mike Feisst Collection - Part 5

[Steve Holmes]

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Time for another addition to the Mike Feisst photographic collection. Again, this is another combination of of quite massively varying subjects, including road cars, the Australian Waltzing Matilda jet truck, and both New Zealand and Australian race cars, including F5000, rallying, and touring and saloon cars.

[Steve Holmes]

Kicking off with some NZ 0-1000cc Saloon cars.

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[Steve Holmes]

More junior tin-tops, plus Allan Boyles Coke Viva, which has recently been restored, A.J Foyts Midget, and Alan Hamilton at Sandown.

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[Steve Holmes]

Included here are Alan Mitchells BDA Escort, Paul Faheys FVA Escort entering the old Pukekohe dog leg, Andrew Miedecke's March Forumla Atlantic, and Baron Robertson. Can someone ID the Alfa? Andrew Miedecke went on to enjoy a successful single seater and touring car career during the late 70s and 80s, and now races a '69 Camaro in the Touring Car Masters series which supports the V8 Supercar championship.

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[Steve Holmes]

Here are Norm Beechey (Nova) and Pete Geoghegan (Mustang at Sandown, plus a massive field of bikes at Pukekohe. Also in this post are the F5000s of Americans Bill Simpson and Bobby Brown. Brown was a prominent amateur racer during this time, and also competed with some success in Can-Am.

I'd be interested to know if this is the same Bill Simpson who founded Simpson Performance Products, the company that produces, among other things, racing safety belts, helmets etc? Simpson did do quite a bit of racing during the '70s.

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[pallmall]

The same Bill Simpson.

[Steve Holmes]

Any info on the first shot in this post? Art McKee owns the silver Chevy Monza, having just imported it from the US. Roaring Season member aussiemonza now owns this car. Also in this batch is Bill Leckie's very successful Sleepyhead V8 Capri. I posted this car in the Lost race Cars thread, hoping to find out if anyone knows whether the car survived?

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[pallmall]

That first shot I believe is the Rothmans Cooper at MOTAT painted to look like a McLaren Tasman car.
Now thankfully running again and back in the Rothmans colours without the lettering.

[nzboss]

Was'nt the Sleepyhead Capri lost in a fire back in the day?
I seem to remember hearing that.
Neat photos!!
Rodney

[Steve Holmes]

That first shot I believe is the Rothmans Cooper at MOTAT painted to look like a McLaren Tasman car.
Now thankfully running again and back in the Rothmans colours without the lettering.

Thanks for that info Gavin.

[Steve Holmes]

Was'nt the Sleepyhead Capri lost in a fire back in the day?
I seem to remember hearing that.
Neat photos!!
Rodney

It was badly damaged at Manfeild and Leckie himself suffered burns, but it was rebuilt and back racing again only about a month later at Pukekohe with Jim Richards driving, where he broke the saloon car lap record. Leckie sold off the F5000 components after the '77 season, and sold the body with all the molds to a backyard junkyard owner in Papatoetoe in Auckland. The new owner said he was going to get it running again to race, but it was never seen again.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, Chris Amon Ferrari plus a trio of Clyde Collins images including the Mini Cooper and Falcon.

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[Steve Holmes]

Actually, come to think of it, I think the Mini Cooper is Robert Stewart, not Clyde Collins.

[Steve Holmes]

Mike labelled the first image here as being David McConnell. Also in this batch is another shot of the March 701 David Oxton ended up with after STP's Vince Granatelli bought his own Lotus 70 from under him to give to Chris Amon. The Escort TC is that of David Simpson, which is I assume the same David Simpson that won the 1966 NZ Saloon Car Championship. Next two shots are Dennis Marwood and Denny Hulme.

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[GD66]

I think #15 in the last post might be Paul Bolton in the Rorstan Brabham Climax.

[Rod Grimwood]

Did Collingwood run the Coppertone Alfa for a short while. It ended up in New Plymouth and raced in Sports Sedans in mid 80s with (I think name was like) Stefan Sebling or like that. Think his son has raced FF for couple of years and Toyota single seaters of late. Anyway it was a nice car and quick.

[thunder427]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;2448]Any info on the first shot in this post? Art McKee owns the silver Chevy Monza, having just imported it from the US. Roaring Season member aussiemonza now owns this car. Also in this batch is Bill Leckie's very successful Sleepyhead V8 Capri. I posted this car in the Lost race Cars thread, hoping to find out if anyone knows whether the car survived

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Steve,the Panelvan parked at the rear of Art's/Grant King,Monza belonged to one Richard Podmore/builder of Christchurch,a friend of Art's and Graeme Vautier /'Crown Motor Court',I'm sure they used the "PV' that year as a 'Tow Vehicle',come parts bin, I sprayed the 'Coloured Graphic's down the side at Greg Fitzgibbons Servo/Garage,409 Harewood Road,Christchurch, Fitz's garage was the place where we held the Kustom Car Club meetings for a number of years,strategically located, not far from, the Bishopdale (Pub!) Hotel (most meetings were over by 1/2 past/9!!!)...

I had flown home from Oz for Gregs wedding Oct 23/1974,My Birthday was Oct24/1974,so as you can appreciate the wedding went for two days....'I Think'?????.......Flew back to Oz in nov/1975.......Man!! that was a great Year!!!..I will wait till AMCO72 has run out of stories and I shall bring you up to date with that looooong 'Bourbon Party'........short side Bar,.....Fitz built a Show stopping Morris Minor with a 1600 Ford etc, but everyone will remember it had E.type Headlights 'custom' installed,was on the show scene ,known as 'VOLDKA and ORANGE....NZHRA 'Top Custom'..........durring 1974/75, Fitz finished his second 'Altered' drag racer....."we need a name', was Fitz's 'battle cry'...."something like 'Voldka',everybody remembered that name"!!!.....one evening I ventured around the Back of the workshop to, well!!, you know!!,I suddenly realised that I was confronted by 2/stacks, 6/bottles high,25 to 30 Bottles along the wall (nth & sth)..."Jeeez!!,4x6x25x 2stacks=300 Bourban Bottles!!!...I walked inside an announced to Fitz and the 'Motley' crew.."I've got a name for the drag car'!!!!!...."WHAT"!!!!!!!.......The 'BOURBAN BANDIT" and so it became!..............regards thunder427/MJ:cool::)

[bob homewood]

Did Collingwood run the Coppertone Alfa for a short while. It ended up in New Plymouth and raced in Sports Sedans in mid 80s with (I think name was like) Stefan Sebling or like that. Think his son has raced FF for couple of years and Toyota single seaters of late. Anyway it was a nice car and quick.

Geof Hancock ? was the driver of the Alfa when it was racing back in its Shellsport days
I think I have a photo somewhere from Baypark.I will see if I still have it

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for the info guys. Mike has captioned the images in this thread, but obviously there may be a few errors, as this was all from 40 years ago. Thanks to everyone for filling in the gaps.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, Derek Bell is driving the Tom Wheatcroft (of Donington Park) entered Brabham Cosworth, while #33 is Derrick Williams. Mike has captioned the RX3 as being Don Grindley. Can anyone help here? I thought with all the signwriting it might have been Rex Findlay. The final photo I don't think even David McKinney can help with!

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[Steve Holmes]

A mixed bag in this post, including a couple of dragsters, one of which I think might be Don Prudhome (any help here?), plus a VW wheelstander, and the Waltzing Matilda jet truck. What ever happened to this thing?

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[Greg Stokes]

The first dragster is the International powered one of Colin Drysdale, his dad built the Cadillac flathead V8 powered Hillbilly. The Hillbilly is still around but the one shown here is not. The Don Prudhomme dragster toured NZ and was on display at many gas stations and parts outlets throughout New Zealand. I have never heard if it ran or was even started up here though.

[Steve Holmes]

Hey thanks for that Greg. Can you help with the hot rods in the background of the first photo?

[Shano]

A mixed bag in this post, including a couple of dragsters, one of which I think might be Don Prudhome (any help here?), plus a VW wheelstander, and the Waltzing Matilda jet truck. What ever happened to this thing?


http://www.theroaringseason.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1758&d=1310423321





That VW wheely car was one of the star attractions at a car show held at Epsom Showgrounds - must have been in the 60s. The engine was set right back as a counterweight and you could pick the front up with one hand. That's how the guys turned it round at the end of its run because the front end was so light it would keep going straight on when the front wheels were turned.

It had rained all week so they built a track for it out of baulks of timber. It was all pretty Michael J Rodent.

I was disappointed with it and thought it was a bit of a rort.

Note the track though - the first stock car race I ever went to was on this track and I wondered if they were still running there, as it is obviously used as a speedway track in this photo.

I would have thought the stockers had moved to Waikaraka Park by then. Note the extensive safety fencing - I recall sitting down the front at the left hand end, having gone against my mother's wishes for my personal safety and sneaking away. A car rolled, came over the single rail wooden fence and landed right beside me.

Mum wouldn't take us to the Epsom track any more after that. The cars had to move from there because it wasn't safe/ They went to Gloucester Park in Onehunga (which my mother also refused to take us to because she said it was "too dirty." It was a former rubbish tip after all.)

The move to Waikaraka was a very good one.

I saw Waltzing Matilda perform at a motor race meeting at Calder in Melbourne. At least I'm pretty sure it was Waltzing Matilda, certainly rings a bell.

Lots of people were sitting on a dirt embankment at the end of the straight (the drag run was done in the opposite direction of the motor racing). When they stoked up the jet engine at the start the backwash just about blew everyone off the bank - there was paper and rubbish, programmes, hats, newspapers, chilly bins (of course they were eskies over there) and all sorts of stuff being blown everywhere. For the second run, the bank was empty. All very entertaining.

[thunder427]

A mixed bag in this post, including a couple of dragsters, one of which I think might be Don Prudhome (any help here?), plus a VW wheelstander, and the Waltzing Matilda jet truck. What ever happened to this thing?

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...there is a 'Fastback' Anglia' on a trailer with its back to us in the 'Hot Rod' show photo!!....regards thunder427/MJ:)

[Greg Stokes]

Hey thanks for that Greg. Can you help with the hot rods in the background of the first photo?

This is from the Waikato Hot Rod Show that was featured in the Feb/Mar 1968 issue of NZHRM (first new four color issue) however, none of the owners were identified in a similar pic from another angle. I do spot the Bill Perriton Crown Jewel in the background to the RH side

[Steve Holmes]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;2448]Any info on the first shot in this post? Art McKee owns the silver Chevy Monza, having just imported it from the US. Roaring Season member aussiemonza now owns this car. Also in this batch is Bill Leckie's very successful Sleepyhead V8 Capri. I posted this car in the Lost race Cars thread, hoping to find out if anyone knows whether the car survived

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Steve,the Panelvan parked at the rear of Art's/Grant King,Monza belonged to one Richard Podmore/builder of Christchurch,a friend of Art's and Graeme Vautier /'Crown Motor Court',I'm sure they used the "PV' that year as a 'Tow Vehicle',come parts bin, I sprayed the 'Coloured Graphic's down the side at Greg Fitzgibbons Servo/Garage,409 Harewood Road,Christchurch, Fitz's garage was the place where we held the Kustom Car Club meetings for a number of years,strategically located, not far from, the Bishopdale (Pub!) Hotel (most meetings were over by 1/2 past/9!!!)...

I had flown home from Oz for Gregs wedding Oct 23/1974,My Birthday was Oct24/1974,so as you can appreciate the wedding went for two days....'I Think'?????.......Flew back to Oz in nov/1975.......Man!! that was a great Year!!!..I will wait till AMCO72 has run out of stories and I shall bring you up to date with that looooong 'Bourbon Party'........short side Bar,.....Fitz built a Show stopping Morris Minor with a 1600 Ford etc, but everyone will remember it had E.type Headlights 'custom' installed,was on the show scene ,known as 'VOLDKA and ORANGE....NZHRA 'Top Custom'..........durring 1974/75, Fitz finished his second 'Altered' drag racer....."we need a name', was Fitz's 'battle cry'...."something like 'Voldka',everybody remembered that name"!!!.....one evening I ventured around the Back of the workshop to, well!!, you know!!,I suddenly realised that I was confronted by 2/stacks, 6/bottles high,25 to 30 Bottles along the wall (nth & sth)..."Jeeez!!,4x6x25x 2stacks=300 Bourban Bottles!!!...I walked inside an announced to Fitz and the 'Motley' crew.."I've got a name for the drag car'!!!!!...."WHAT"!!!!!!!.......The 'BOURBAN BANDIT" and so it became!..............regards thunder427/MJ:cool::)

Hey Myles, I don't thing AMCO72 will ever run out of stories, so you'd better start now! Do you have any pics of that panelvan? The '70s look is making a comeback you know. Kidney bean mags, lake pipes, embossed white writing on the tyres, etc,

Heres your Minor. Pretty wild little car for sure.

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[Steve Holmes]

This is from the Waikato Hot Rod Show that was featured in the Feb/Mar 1968 issue of NZHRM (first new four color issue) however, none of the owners were identified in a similar pic from another angle. I do spot the Bill Perriton Crown Jewel in the background to the RH side

Hey thanks for that info Greg.

[Steve Holmes]

That VW wheely car was one of the star attractions at a car show held at Epsom Showgrounds - must have been in the 60s. The engine was set right back as a counterweight and you could pick the front up with one hand. That's how the guys turned it round at the end of its run because the front end was so light it would keep going straight on when the front wheels were turned.

It had rained all week so they built a track for it out of baulks of timber. It was all pretty Michael J Rodent.

I was disappointed with it and thought it was a bit of a rort.

Note the track though - the first stock car race I ever went to was on this track and I wondered if they were still running there, as it is obviously used as a speedway track in this photo.

I would have thought the stockers had moved to Waikaraka Park by then. Note the extensive safety fencing - I recall sitting down the front at the left hand end, having gone against my mother's wishes for my personal safety and sneaking away. A car rolled, came over the single rail wooden fence and landed right beside me.

Mum wouldn't take us to the Epsom track any more after that. The cars had to move from there because it wasn't safe/ They went to Gloucester Park in Onehunga (which my mother also refused to take us to because she said it was "too dirty." It was a former rubbish tip after all.)

The move to Waikaraka was a very good one.

I saw Waltzing Matilda perform at a motor race meeting at Calder in Melbourne. At least I'm pretty sure it was Waltzing Matilda, certainly rings a bell.

Lots of people were sitting on a dirt embankment at the end of the straight (the drag run was done in the opposite direction of the motor racing). When they stoked up the jet engine at the start the backwash just about blew everyone off the bank - there was paper and rubbish, programmes, hats, newspapers, chilly bins (of course they were eskies over there) and all sorts of stuff being blown everywhere. For the second run, the bank was empty. All very entertaining.

Hey Shano, great story! What did they use to propel the wheely car? I never did get to see Waltzing Matilda in action, only as a display.

[Steve Holmes]

...there is a 'Fastback' Anglia' on a trailer with its back to us in the 'Hot Rod' show photo!!....regards thunder427/MJ:)

Thats probably this one.

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[Steve Holmes]

OK, moving right along.....

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[Steve Holmes]

The XRGT Falcon must have been near new. Would have been quite exiting to see one of these fresh off the assembly line.

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

By the way, nice timing on the last photo there Mike. A few seconds later and the girl in the tiny short shorts would have been out of shot!

[Steve Holmes]

This is the last batch for this part folks. Theres more to come from Mike's collection in a few days.

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[Howard Wood]

The second photo "Formula Pacific 1977" in post #35 must be later than 1977. The chicanes were still used in '77 and '78 and that looks suspiciously like a Ralt RT4 to me!

[pallmall]

Re the Epsom Showgrounds and the VW Wheelstander. Stockcars finished at the Epsom track in March 1959 for good. At the time of that show Waikaraka Park had been running for at least one season.

[thunder427]

[QUOTE=Greg Stokes;2507]This is from the Waikato Hot Rod Show that was featured in the Feb/Mar 1968 issue of NZHRM (first new four color issue) however, none of the owners were identified in a similar pic from another angle. I do spot the Bill Perriton Crown Jewel in the background to the RH side[/QUOTE ......the little 'red' pick-up that's parked at the rear of the Anglia on the trailer was built by the very talented 'Kite Bros' from Napier, they built some real clever conversion's,I believe they are now doing great work on the 'GoldCoast/Brisbane' Island these days........regards thunder427/MJ

[Rod Grimwood]

The girl in the white shorts looks a little different now, the Berlinetta Boxer was at that time one of 2 in southern hemisphere, it was owned by Ross Tebbs and he only sold it about 2 years ago (reckoned he would never sell it). This car sat in a air conditioned garage with a Phase 3 on one side and a L34 on the other, so it was not lonely. Ross has had some toys. Think I know the capri in back ground as well, nice car but the boot was small for chilly bins. Had a Mk11 hatch later and that was a bit easier to pack in the chilly bins (we ate alot)

[Shano]

Thanks for the timing on that Pall Mall. Shizen I feel like I'm getting old reading stuff like that.

Steve the VW ran a hot VW motor. When the front wheels were in the air it was steered by individual lever-operated brakes. It was pretty hairy, and good driving, to keep in on that track of boards during the run. It used to get going quite quickly over even that short distance.

[bob homewood]

Geof Hancock ? was the driver of the Alfa when it was racing back in its Shellsport days
I think I have a photo somewhere from Baypark.I will see if I still have it1859

[David McKinney]

I agree with whoever said Jeff Hancock for the Coppertone Alfa

And Steve, I'm sure the the RX3 would have been Rex Findlay's

[pallmall]

The show with the wheelstanding VW was the Lexington Motor Show, which was for the time a pretty big deal, using all the display halls at the Epsom Showgrounds. It was May 1969 and I think my hangover had gone by June!
The VW was bought over by George Stewart from Melbourne, it actually performed well considering a few mechanical issues and driving on the boards in the fairly constant drizzle.

And just on a timeline regarding stockcars, Waikaraka Park would have just completed its second season of racing, its coming up to season 44 at the end of this year!

[Bruce302]

I remember the wheelstanding VW, I saw them moving it around at less tahn walking pace and it needed someone to hold the front down it was so extremely weight biased to the rear.

Bruce.

[thunder427]

The XRGT Falcon must have been near new. Would have been quite exiting to see one of these fresh off the assembly line.

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..In America the Blue VW special is called a Stirling...In Australia they are called a Purvis Eureka.....Top lifts up and forward for entry,always wondered how you got out when its 'Upside Down' ????????????.................REGADS427/MJ:(

[timbo61]

With regards to the Waltzing Matilda jet truck, it was built by a guy by the name of Terry O'Hare and driven in Australia by country music singer Ray Kernaghan, father of current country music singer Lee Lernaghan.
It had its normal diesel motor plus out the back was a 6000lb thrust jet engine from a Canberra Bomber.
It broke the world record (at the time) for trucks at 176.2 mph, with one of the two timed runs recorded at 228mph.
Ray sold it in 1982 and it changed hands a few times before ending up in the hands of Ewan Stephens, a honey farmer in Tasmania in 1994.
Ewan has put as many original bits on the truck as he could find, and cannibalised other trucks for parts. I think the jet engine is long gone as he uses the truck to cart honey around.

[thunder427]

A mixed bag in this post, including a couple of dragsters, one of which I think might be Don Prudhome (any help here?), plus a VW wheelstander, and the Waltzing Matilda jet truck. What ever happened to this thing?

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...'Waltzing Matilda-Jet Truck'....Built in about 6weeks,was purchased from 'RECAR' by country/western star Ray Kernaghan,went on 'tour' with the traveling road show,Lee Kernaghan, Ray's son wrote a song....'Waltzing Matilda Queen of the tar'..it actually had a 'speed' run that averaged out to about 175mph,the Kernaghans sold it to my Friend Jimmy Johnson,that was one of the First people to hire with driver,wedding cars in the Form of Rolls Royce's,Bentley's,Jaguars,Benz.....Jimmy was a real old style Entrepreneur,used to buy Carpet from hotel 'renovations',cut it into size's and sell it in the Melbourne 'Trading Post' a weekly 2ndhand paper...they used to Queue up at his gate to buy!!...the Limo service hit a snag with a new 'bank manager' this caused Jimmy to re-think his investments,sold Waltzing' to some 'Tassie' interest....there are many 'Wild' stories about 'Waltzings' demise...the jet body and engine burried in a 40ft container to avoid the 'Repo'man.....( mostly 'urban' myth!!) but I believe the 'rig' is back on the road these days as a ....'Wait for it!!.......A Truck!!........Google, Waltzing Matilda Jet Truck.........the complete Kernaghan history is there........regards thunder427/MJ:p

NB, Last I heard From JJ, was he was buying up Melbourne Trams.......!!!!!?

[Rod Grimwood]

Ask Harvard Daniels, he put one on its roof in Riverhead rally sprint back in the good old days. His was Mazda rotary powered and went quite well. Apparently they had to guarantee that the rams for roof would hold car so they could get out, but when it became time it was the good old human lift her up job.
..In America the Blue VW special is called a Stirling...In Australia they are called a Purvis Eureka.....Top lifts up and forward for entry,always wondered how you got out when its 'Upside Down' ????????????.................REGADS427/MJ:(

[Chris Kitzen]

Ask Harvard Daniels, he put one on its roof in Riverhead rally sprint back in the good old days. His was Mazda rotary powered and went quite well. Apparently they had to guarantee that the rams for roof would hold car so they could get out, but when it became time it was the good old human lift her up job.

Funny you should mention that. I was looking at that crash the other day from a link posted on the NZ Hillclimb thread posted by seaqnmac27! Here it is again to save looking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCmPmqjhTQY&feature=related The link is to part 1 of the rallysprint but it may have been in part 2. Haven't had time to watch all the parts yet but it's good viewing.

[Shano]

The show with the wheelstanding VW was the Lexington Motor Show, which was for the time a pretty big deal, using all the display halls at the Epsom Showgrounds.
And just on a timeline regarding stockcars, Waikaraka Park would have just completed its second season of racing, its coming up to season 44 at the end of this year!

The display halls, if I remember, included a whole bunch of animal stalls that were used during the Easter show, which was then an A&P show as well. Plenty of well-groomed sheep and goats.

The move to Waikaraka gave the stock cars a home and for us, our weekly saturday night entertainment. They were mighty days with the likes of Sam Ferabend, Ray Wrecker Wright, Colin Webber, Alec Goryl and many other completely fearless drivers.

Does anyone remember the Aussie vs NZ "tests"? They were the most fun motor racing I have ever witnessed - two teams of three cars going at each other as hard as front-liners in a rugby test.

I remember in one test Sam Ferabend ended up with his back wheels hung on the top of the safety fencing and the car's nose on the ground. Despite being suspended in mid air he continued to try to get the car down, revving the snot out of it, exhaust headers glowing, blue smoke bellowing from the exhaust and steam pissing from the radiator cap. He was like a pitbull after a kitten.

Man we loved it. (Sam was my favourite - the guy had balls so big it's a wonder they fitted in the car.)

[Steve Holmes]

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Bob, thanks for filling in the gaps with the Alfa. Its a neat looking car. Do you know what happened to it? Whose is the Corolla next to it in your photo?

[bob homewood]

Bob, thanks for filling in the gaps with the Alfa. Its a neat looking car. Do you know what happened to it? Whose is the Corolla next to it in your photo?

Steve ,some one will correct me if I am wrong ,but I think that Alfa ended up as a Classic race car ,I am not really sure about that ,might get a answer on here .The Corolla was my car which I raced for two seasons ,the first in the GTX class which sadly they changed the rules after that first season,then I raced in the 0-1300 Shellsport class the next season,until they axed that class as well,that was one neat little car ,have a lot of good memories building and racing that car ,it was interesting as it was probably the first Toyota in nz built up for circuit racing ,all the others up to then were Rally cars,would have loved it if that 0-1300 class had gone on for another season

[Steve Holmes]

Hey thats great Bob, do you have any more photos of it? So it would obviously have been quite different when run in the GTX series?

[bob homewood]

Hey thats great Bob, do you have any more photos of it? So it would obviously have been quite different when run in the GTX series?

Steve here is one from Pukekohe ,which was the last time I ran in basically still GTX specs other that the small front spoiler ,I put that on for that meeting it was a toe in the water as to speak to see how it would stack up in the Shellsport Class1869

[bob homewood]

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[Steve Holmes]

What an absolute ripper Bob! Can you post some shots of it in ShellSport guise? Where is it now do you know?

[bob homewood]

What an absolute ripper Bob! Can you post some shots of it in ShellSport guise? Where is it now do you know?1871

Heres one of it the first day we tested it in its Shellsport guise ,we changed the rear shock/spring units straight after this photo was taken as the shock people had got the rear shocks completely wrong,so I went back to the ones we used the season before ,this was also before the sign writing went on .That car ended up going to the South Island and I belieive it was finally dumped

[Steve Holmes]

Fantastic little car Bob. Are the flares MkII Escort forest flares? Too bad more people didn't race these, they make great looking race cars.

[bob homewood]

Steve ,yes they were Escort flares that Paul Ingram modified to fit ,he did the panel work,Steve Carter painted it,bit hard to see in the photo but the colours sort of merged into each other ,was a great idea but touch ups after close racing incidents were not easy and there were a few of them along the way that season,was a interesting project as I said I was disapointed not to have had another season with it

[Rod Grimwood]

Steve Webbling was the name i was looking for with the Alfa after Hancock, he ran in sports sedans for a couple of seasons and then seemed to disapear until his son popped up in FF a few years back. i did hear that it had gone to someone who was using it in classics.

[Steve Holmes]

Steve ,yes they were Escort flares that Paul Ingram modified to fit ,he did the panel work,Steve Carter painted it,bit hard to see in the photo but the colours sort of merged into each other ,was a great idea but touch ups after close racing incidents were not easy and there were a few of them along the way that season,was a interesting project as I said I was disapointed not to have had another season with it

Bob, why didn't you get to run another season with it?

[bob homewood]

Bob, why didn't you get to run another season with it?

Steve the Rules changed again,it was the second time in two seasons that had happened to me ,I had enough ,I decided to go off and race in the SCANZ Sports car class ,at least the rules were stable there,also I always had a attraction to the Sports racing cars ,I had nearly gone and done it a couple of times before that season I made the change,I had nearly four seasons in that SCANZ class

[David McKinney]

Modesty prevents Bob saying that in those four seasons he won the championship once and was runner-up twice:)

[Steve Holmes]

So about which year were the rules changed Bob?

[bob homewood]

So about which year were the rules changed Bob?

Steve I have to think about the years there ,from memory I think it was at the end of the 1976 season,when they dropped the 0-1300 class and went with the 0-2000 rules,that class actually did enjoy a longer life span ,but sorry after two changes in two years I didn't want to gamble on the chance of it changing yet once again

[Rod Grimwood]

Steve, in those days the rules changed more than the weather. Please remember in those days if you had doors you were treated as if "you guy's only fill the programme". Funny 9 race day with 6 races having doors. Oh well it made us all more mature and a couple did go off and race cars without doors and then they got "who is this upstart, he should not be winning, he is new" Bought the best out in some. Was going to say "who is this little upstart" but we know.

[jim short]

Yes alfa was Steve Webling new plymouth

[Rod Grimwood]

Hello Jim, been a long time since between drinks, will have to catch up with you.

[Jizim]

Yep....Rex Findlay......cool guy with cool cars..... Regards, Tony Rutherford

[Jizim]

The girl in the white shorts looks a little different now, the Berlinetta Boxer was at that time one of 2 in southern hemisphere, it was owned by Ross Tebbs and he only sold it about 2 years ago (reckoned he would never sell it). This car sat in a air conditioned garage with a Phase 3 on one side and a L34 on the other, so it was not lonely. Ross has had some toys. Think I know the capri in back ground as well, nice car but the boot was small for chilly bins. Had a Mk11 hatch later and that was a bit easier to pack in the chilly bins (we ate alot) Right on both counts Rod. This is Ross Tebbs boxer that he just sold to a bloke that has put it into a museam. Ross has replaced this car with a brand new Aston Martin that was specially painted red for Ross. (they dont do red as any of their colours)....but they did this for Ross as well as flew him to the Monaco F1GP. The Capri was in fact the late Duffys wife's car. Duffy was tragically killed whilst .in the Matamata area. Ross owned an Angia Shellsport car that was driven by Colin Reed. This car had a tilt front and was the quickest Anglia of it time. That particular car was sold to Mr Harold Wooton Senior and he raced it with moderate success at the ripe old age of 84....Harold Snr son Harold Jnr was to go on to be President of the Sports Sedan Association (whilst I was secretary at the same time..) and race a lightweight RX3 Coupe....(ex Rex Findllay??) and it is Harold Jnr son Alister that is currently racing in the Toyota Racing Series and going well. A great racing family with true Kiwi values and respect.....Regards, Tony Rutherford.

[Jizim]

..In America the Blue VW special is called a Stirling...In Australia they are called a Purvis Eureka.....Top lifts up and forward for entry,always wondered how you got out when its 'Upside Down' ????????????.................REGADS427/MJ:( Purvis Eureka! I witnessed Havard Daniels rally sprint one of these death traps at Riverhead and he in fact rolled it and ended up on his roof. He could do not a thing about getting out of the car. The spectators had to lift it back onto its wheels before he could get out. (cant imagine what the scenerio would have been if fire was involved). This particular Rally sprint was won by a toss of a coin. The Mk 2 BDA Escort that won the event was in fact shared by Jim Richards and the owner Tony Teesdale. Teesdale put up a blistering time and then Jimmy did his bit....except Jimmy took out the timing gear on the finish line and they couldnt determine who won. (Teesdale won the toss......albeit TV coverage a fortnight later showed a frame by frame timing segment and it was Jimmy Richards who won by a bees dick!....Regards, Tony Rutherford.

[bigbanger]

1871

Heres one of it the first day we tested it in its Shellsport guise ,we changed the rear shock/spring units straight after this photo was taken as the shock people had got the rear shocks completely wrong,so I went back to the ones we used the season before ,this was also before the sign writing went on .That car ended up going to the South Island and I belieive it was finally dumped

Bob, your Corolla looks very much like the one Austin Prattley ran for many years (1980's) in SI OSCA.

[AMCO72]

Reading about 'Waltzing Matilda' the jet drag- truck, brings to mind an incident at a BayPark race meeting in the late 80's involving a drag truck giving demonstration runs, and also taking 'lucky' passengers for a ride. This machine was coming down the front straight, not going very fast, when the tilt cab...TILTED. Someone had not secured the cab catch properly!!!!! The machine ended up buried in the bank opposite the pits with it's engine revving and drive wheels churning, with the driver and 'lucky' passenger trapped inside. The driver was obviously unable to put the thing out of gear or stop the engine, as he would have been lying horizontal.After about a minute, with everyone watching in a state of shock, some fella from the pits, sprinted across the track ,and at considerable risk to himself, reached into the now exposed engine bay and managed to kill the motor. Eventually the driver and passenger were extracted, and this machine was dragged away. What a balls-up. Now I don't THINK it was 'Waltzing Matilda' but I could be wrong. I remember seeing this machine on display at Paramount tyres in Cambridge, but I'm sure it wasn't jet powered, but the colour was the same. There always seemed to be a bit of a mystery surrounding the Paramount display truck and where it went to after the BayPark 'incident'. All very hush-hush. I'm sure there is someone out there who can refresh my memory.

[AMCO72]

Was just scrolling through these pictures and note your comment on post 20. The last picture of the waggon and horses is taken from the top of the bank at Mystery Creek rallycross circuit in Hamilton. The Waggon etc belong....belonged to the Clydesdale Museum which is now defunct. Foggie competed very successfully here for a year or two with the first car he built.....a Mini [of course] called
'MINCER' [actually THE Mincer]. This type of circuit was I believe a great training ground for drivers and is a great shame that it does not exist anymore. With 3 or 4 different surfaces to contend with ,and a water splash, was quite tricky, and this is where he developed his 'tail-out' style of driving that he demonstrated at Pukekohe in the TKR Holden in the early part of this century. Not always the fastest way round a corner but got the crowd on it's feet!!!!! He figured if you were not up front with the fast boys, the least you could do for your sponsors was to be grabbing attention at the back. Another car he raced at the Rallycross circuit was one we called the 'Rusty Riley'.....for obvious reasons!! The car, a 1971 Riley 1300, had lived in England for the first 5 years of it's life, then bought to NZ by a proud owner, only to slowly get lighter and lighter as the rust, initiated from the salty roads in the UK, took hold. But hey, what a great way to get a light body on a race car!!!! I'm telling you, that thing went like stink and could more than match hot Datsuns and Escorts in the rough and tumble of that sport, much to the annoyance of their drivers. Have a great photo of it hounding a poor Datsun round the south curve after the water splash, heading for the jump. [Wish I had a scanner] Incidentally the engine from that car, which is almost Cooper 'S' spec. went into a successful race car. We got a lot of use and enjoyment from a $500 bomb.

[pallmall]

I knew somebody that bought a Riley 1300 out from the UK with them when they came here to live in the seventies, I wonder if it was the same car. The one I knew was from the North East, but picked up a lot of rust on its journey here as deck cargo.

[PhotoSmith]

[QUOTE=AMCO72;4997]......... Foggie competed very successfully here for a year or two with the first car he built.....a Mini [of course] called
'MINCER' [actually THE Mincer]. This type of circuit was I believe a great training ground for drivers and is a great shame that it does not exist anymore. With 3 or 4 different surfaces to contend with ,and a water splash, was quite tricky, and this is where he developed his 'tail-out' style of driving that he demonstrated at Pukekohe in the TKR Holden in the early part of this century.

Hi Gerald,

The Mincer, i Remember it, Fastest of the 1300 mini's at Rallycross, the were a few guys running 1426cc or bigger.
Not the best photo, but had it already scanned. This is the corner just before the water splash. As you said nice 'tail-out' style.

Cheers
Martin.

[AMCO72]

Pallmall.....this one was a muddy brown colour....original paint. People used to call them 'Kestrals' but the 1300 version was NOT a Kestral. I have never seen such rust on a car, ever. We knew about the engine spec on these. and made sure it had it's original motor installed. Later when we stripped it ready to get it ready for the race car we found that it was still standard crank and conrods with just 10 thou wear on the big ends. Could have almost left it as it was.......the speedo was showing 100,000 MILES.....amazing.

[AMCO72]

Actually neither of them were Kestrals........but.... KESTRELS... Afraid my spelling is not improving with age. After we had finished having fun with the old girl at rallycross, we removed the engine, and what was left GAVE to Glen Horn, the BMC wrecker that I talked about in Yards and Yarns. He didn't get much out of it. As you know...' Rust never Sleeps'. We were lucky to be able to tow it down to his yard without it collapsing into a pile of dust on the Queens Highway!!!

[pallmall]

I can't remember the colour of the one I knew, a few years ago! I do know it was different from what was sold here. I wouldn't have thought too many came here as private imports.

[AMCO72]

I cannot believe that there isn't some-one out there that remembers either the incident at Baypark or the Drag truck called 'Waltzing Matilda'. The more I think about it the more I am convinced that there was something fishy with the whole enterprise, especially after the Baypark balls-up. Unfortunately there are none of the Paramount tyres boys around now, so I cant ask them. OSH wasn't around in those days either, so they certainly didn't step in as I'm sure they would today. Maybe it was just packed up and sent back home to Australia. I dunno, one of lifes mysteries. Greg, your a bit of a Hot-Rod guru, do you know anything?

[Steve Holmes]

Gerald, posts #46 and 47 of this thread have the background and fate of Waltzing Matilda.

[Rod Grimwood]

Amco:- that Bandag Truck at Bay Park was bad enough but could have been a major if it was not for the qiuck thinking of Denny Hulme who found and turned off the diesel. We were right were it happenend, there was a young girl in the cab who had won a contest and the truck was doing big dognuts and lighting up the rears on the front straight when the cab shot forward of it catch's and smashed face first onto the track. This of course pulled the throttle on full and with the driver and girl looking straight at the track it bounded into the bank after useing the cab as a grader and filling the cab with dirt just sat there digging a big hole. We leapt over the fence and tried to grab the accelerater cable but couldn't move when Mr Hulme leapt in and cut of the diesel and stopped it. We grabbed the girl out and then jumped back over fence and went to the toilet. I think some one in the group got photos so will do some research.

[AMCO72]

Thanks for that Steve. If I had used my eyes I could have found it myself. But it explains one thing ,that they were 2 different machines. The Baypark truck was the Bandag truck. I was ALMOST sure they were different. They were both blue, but I think the Bandag truck was forward control, whereas 'Waltzing Matilda' had a bonnet. I think the Bandag truck just 'disappeared' after the 'incident'.

[coldrive]

I don't know what happened to that particular Bandag Bullet in the long term but only a week or so after the Baypark incident it had been repaired in Tauranga and did a lunchtime burnout demo in the carpark of the Otumoetai Trust Hotel. I'm pretty sure it was Shape and Spray which repaired the truck and then it continued on its NZ tour. I think there is a much more modern Bandag Bullet still doing burnout demos in Australia.

[bob homewood]

Actually neither of them were Kestrals........but.... KESTRELS... Afraid my spelling is not improving with age. After we had finished having fun with the old girl at rallycross, we removed the engine, and what was left GAVE to Glen Horn, the BMC wrecker that I talked about in Yards and Yarns. He didn't get much out of it. As you know...' Rust never Sleeps'. We were lucky to be able to tow it down to his yard without it collapsing into a pile of dust on the Queens Highway!!!

Gerald ,out of interest ,amongst the research I am doing on photographs etc of the Levin Rothmans 4 Hour race ,I was reminded that Rod Collingwood and Alan Boyle raced a Riley Kestrel Mk2 in the event,and finished second overall

[AMCO72]

Bob, they were quite a car. From the storey by Wayne Harris in Classic Driver. Rod Collingwood traded his Cooper in on a brand new Riley 1300 from Moller Motors. In Collingwoods opinion this was a vastly underated car....NZ assembled and only 72 built. Similar to the Fiat 125T...a NZ model only. A 5th outright in the Glenvale 100 at Baypark and 2nd in class to Frank Radisch's Escort 1300GT, certainly raised a few eyebrows. Things were to get better when Alan Boyle of Cocoa-Cola Viva fame, teamed up with Rod at Levin. Alan drove the first stint and worked his way through the Valiants and the Victors, and anyone who thought Baypark was a fluke was witnessing a remarkable little car. While in the outright lead, Boyle had a moment and spun at cabbage-tree, losing a full minute. The Riley came second outright behind Gary Sprague and Barry Cottle in the 125T. The last production race of the season saw a star entry at Pukekohe....the first 3 placings went to 125T's of Emson, Fahey, and Marwood, with Don Davies Victor in 4th and Collingwood in 5th ahead of Rick Rimmer in the Valiant V8!!!!!!! How good was that little car.....wonder where it is today. Let us know if you find any photos Bob.....I would be interested.

[Jac Mac]

John Metherell ran one in one of the early Heatway or Shell Silver Fern rallys as well IIRC

[Rod Grimwood]

John Metherell. Is that the same bloke who runs an Avenger in classic rallies now, he is pretty quick. Mind you if it is the same bloke, he had a suspect rooster in the navi seat a couple of years back. He must have scared him a bit as the navi is now peddling a Escort (pretty qiuck too).

[kiwi285]

I always thought the Fiat 125T was a great looking car and they seemed to do very well in their time. Are there any of these cars still racing in NZ ? I haven't seen one on track for years.

[Jac Mac]

John Metherell. Is that the same bloke who runs an Avenger in classic rallies now, he is pretty quick. Mind you if it is the same bloke, he had a suspect rooster in the navi seat a couple of years back. He must have scared him a bit as the navi is now peddling a Escort (pretty qiuck too).

Dont know what he runs these days, still farms just nth of Balclutha I think, also ran XU-1 & a TC Mk1 Escort amongst other vehicles, sorry, rally stuff isnt high on my radar these days, lost interest big time after I built & service crewed for Rob Gerrard in an Anglia in the early NI Shell silver fern, between dropping cigarette ash in the fuel churn while we were refueling, & parking the thing over a puddle late at night somewhere near Waiouru ( that doesnt look right?) @ below zero temps & asking me to check the clutch slave cyl adjustment I couldnt work out whether the CFW was trying to send me to hell or freeze me to death...

[David McKinney]

It's the XU1 I remember him for. I'm sure I knew his co-driver - was it John Reid?

[PhotoSmith]

Copies from the 2nd issue of NZ Speedsport, which did the preview
to the 21st Fern Rally in 1990.
Photo is from the Hanmer Spring Stage.

[Jac Mac]

It's the XU1 I remember him for. I'm sure I knew his co-driver - was it John Reid?

John Reid was Co-Driver in the Escort TC, think the XU-1 was after that so quite likely as Ian Dickson was no longer in Gore or 'down south' in that period, XU-1 came to grief on a sprint around 'old SH-1' around lake waihola IIRC

[Rod Grimwood]

The gentleman I was having a bit of humour about as navi was Carl Rabbidge as I am sure he was with John a couple of years back.

[Jac Mac]

Knowing that Carl has a very quick wit & is renowned in the S.I. at least for his sense of humour, I am not going to comment on your remarks above..:)

[Oldfart]

Thats probably this one.

1763

This was built by Tordoffs in Hamilton. It was for sale on Trade me last year.

[Jizim]

I cannot believe that there isn't some-one out there that remembers either the incident at Baypark or the Drag truck called 'Waltzing Matilda'. The more I think about it the more I am convinced that there was something fishy with the whole enterprise, especially after the Baypark balls-up. Unfortunately there are none of the Paramount tyres boys around now, so I cant ask them. OSH wasn't around in those days either, so they certainly didn't step in as I'm sure they would today. Maybe it was just packed up and sent back home to Australia. I dunno, one of lifes mysteries. Greg, your a bit of a Hot-Rod guru, do you know anything?

Isn't it amazing that this incident was seen by a few people and the have described it totally different to what actually happened. I too was standing by pit wall watching what unfolded. The guy driving the Bandag Truck had his 14 year old daughter with him. He had started to do a few spins for the crowd. The cab was actually clamped down but when the truck spun the chassis twisted and rocked the cab undone. The flat front just just fell forward onto it's nose. This "pulled" all the cables tight. The cables being the accelerator cable and gear shift cable. When the cab went forward the gearshift cable was pulled into reverse and the accelerator was pulled to full acceleration. The angle of the truck was so it was trying to climb into the grandstand opposite the pits but for the bank it was running up against. With a diesel you have to shut off the diesel supply. A bloke from the crowd in the stands jumped on to the back of the trucks engines and killed it...he was the sole hero. Me I was crapping myself because in the pits I had my Mazda Sports Sedan as well as my Toyota Group A car as this was the three hour Simpson Series weekend. Always wanted to run two separate cars at a meeting....you know something that haunted me for months after that truck incident...was the fact that when he first spun it and the front tilted down to the ground....only the Good Lord himself will know how lucky everyone was that the back was aiming at the bank. There would have been a very very major problem if it in fact had of been pointing in any other direction....(imagine full acceleration aiming at the pits in reverse. With all the Group A cars with petrol...oh shit !) Regards, Tony Rutherford.

[Rod Grimwood]

Tony, it was a girl who had won a competion to go for a ride, and 2 guys turned it off the main one being Denny Hulme who got to the Diesel pump wiring.
That was a real scary moment,(it seemed to go on forever).
Even the Fridge Club boys were getting ready to move. (well they moved a chilly bin)

[Michael Clark]

I chanced upon this site after googling 'Bandag Bandit' yesterday. For a start Howard wondered if the car coming over the hill in post 35 was a Ralt. I am 98% certain it is the Tullen sponsored Ralt RT4 which if correct would mean 1982.

The reason for my interest in the Bandag Bandit was because I was relaying the story of that potentially explosive incident to some friends and as I wrote the words, I started to doubt my memory given that the whole thing sounded so absurd when I put it down on paper. I began to wonder if my memory was playing tricks but then on discovering this old thread I see Rod's excellent summation of the situation is consistent with what I thought had happened.

I was watching it all unfold from about that point where the cars exited the pits and made a left onto the track. Rod's description of 'it seemed to go on forever' is spot on. I wonder when it was - if I think of who I was 'helping' at the time it was probably more likely to have been Phil Hellebrekers than Ian Algie, so my guess would be early 90s.

I hope Hanna and Pierce bought Denny dinner that night!