Photos: The Ross Cammick Collection - Part 1

[Steve Holmes]

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You'll all know who Ross Cammick is. He is the brilliant Kiwi motorsport photographer whose photos have graced this website throughout various threads.

I felt it was time Ross' images were brought together into the one thread, to celebrate for what they are. These are stunning, high-impact shots, capturing a golden era in New Zealand motorsport.

Ross started motorsport photography in 1973, and continued until the mid-1980s, as he was spending a lot of time overseas.

Ross kindly gathered up many of the photos already on this site, and added a few more, and put them on a memory stick for me. They're not in any particular order, rather broken loosely into folders, such as Rally, Formula Pacific, Circuit Racing, B&H, Bikes etc. So they won't be displayed in any particular order, other than how they sit in their folders.

I should add, there are a lot of them! I'll be breaking this stunning collection into multiple parts. This is Part 1. I hope you enjoy it.

[Steve Holmes]

Kicking things off here, and we have the amazing Holden Monaro Sports Sedan of Barry Algie, in its early guise before the box flares were added to the rear.

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[Steve Holmes]

Graeme Addis Charger Sports Sedan.

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[Steve Holmes]

ShellSport action, with Grant Aitken leading Reg Cook.

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[Steve Holmes]

Ian Algie's wild Alfetta Sports Sedan in its early guise, leading George Shewiery in the ex-Jim Richards Mustang.

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

Now leading John Osborne's Camaro.

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[Steve Holmes]

Radical rearward seating position of the Algie Monaro.

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[Steve Holmes]

The Alfetta again in its later, more familiar guise now with front spoiler and rear wing, and painted red.

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[Steve Holmes]

The Anderson brothers Pinepac Falcon passing an unidentified road going Commodore.

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[Steve Holmes]

Tim Bailey in the Dino Ferrari.

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[Steve Holmes]

This is Graham Baker in the ex-Brent Bullivant V8 Capri leading Wayne Huxford's similar machine at Bay Park.

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[Steve Holmes]

Robert Bartley's V8 MkIII Cortina.

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[Steve Holmes]

I'm not completely sure what I'm looking at here. Is it a ShellSport field?

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[Steve Holmes]

Reg Cook's Datsun Cherry.

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[Steve Holmes]

Bryce Platt's ShellSport Escort.

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[dekon]

I'm not completely sure what I'm looking at here. Is it a ShellSport field?

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?Imp, Schick Datsun, mark petch or Reg cook, nz freighters mini, Rex hart,?
mini, coppertone mini, Jeff Hancock but where !??!

[spinner32]

I suspect that the Imp is Bill Leckie. I remember that it was very quick

[dekon]

I suspect that the Imp is Bill Leckie. I remember that it was very quick

Yes Bill Leckie Imp/ford, went on a boat cruise a few years back and Bill Leckie was the captain, had a bit of a chat about car racing, also nz freighters mini might be barry phillips

[GD66]

?Imp, Schick Datsun, mark petch or Reg cook, nz freighters mini, Rex hart,?
mini, coppertone mini, Jeff Hancock but where !??!



That's halfway through Rothmans, turn 1 at Bay Park. The shot of Bartley's Cortina above is at the exit of Rothmans.

The Cherry and the Escort are turning into Beach Hairpin at the end of Bay Park's back straight.

And the two Capris are exiting onto Bay Park's front straight.

[seaqnmac27]

I'm not completely sure what I'm looking at here. Is it a ShellSport field?

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Its, 1975, Leckie, Cook, Philips Not sure who the #6 Mini I would be guessing, maybe Robert Lee?? is then Hancock.

[Milan Fistonic]

I'm not completely sure what I'm looking at here. Is it a ShellSport field?

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I reckon it's this race from the December 29 1974 meeting and the drivers are Leckie, Cook, Phillips, Lee and Hancock.

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Leckie won from Phillips. Cook stopped when the Sunny bent a valve.

[BMCBOY]

[QUOTE=Milan Fistonic;58511]I reckon it's this race from the December 29 1974 meeting and the drivers are Leckie, Cook, Phillips, Lee and Hancock.

Correct Milan - my negatives confirm that date. Its the same meeting where this happened .....


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[John McKechnie]

1973-Noel Goodwin used to run a similar sign on his XUI- Goodie wants a sponsor

[Milan Fistonic]

[QUOTE=Milan Fistonic;58511]I reckon it's this race from the December 29 1974 meeting and the drivers are Leckie, Cook, Phillips, Lee and Hancock.

Correct Milan - my negatives confirm that date. Its the same meeting where this happened .....


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Hard to figure out how it went from your photo to this from Dennis Green.

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[Milan Fistonic]

This is how Robin Curtis saw the incident.

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[BMCBOY]

[Hard to figure out it went from your photo to this from Dennis Green.] - I agree!

Looks as if he has found a sponsor too Milan - perhaps this was a different incident?

[Steve Holmes]

Great stuff guys, this is awesome. So essentially the photo in Post #14 isn't from a ShellSport race, rather a class battle. It was the gaggle of Minis that had me confused. I don't recall too many of those in the ShellSport series.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, a couple of SCANZ Sports Car pics. First up is, I believe, Rhubarb 2. Can anyone confirm this? And who is driving? Tino Korzelius?

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[Steve Holmes]

This, I believe, is Morrie Hogan. Underneath the one-off bodywork is a Mallock U2.

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[Milan Fistonic]

We know for certain that the Dennis Green photo of Cook and Phillips off the track is from the December 29 1974 because it is published in the Motoraction report of that meeting.


The COOKY WANTS A SPONSOR shot in post 23 shows a different car to that in post 14. It has a white front spoiler whereas the car behind Leckie in post 14 is black below the bumper line. It also has a non-white front left corner of the bonnet

[Milan Fistonic]

Found it! The COOKY WANTS A SPONSOR CAR was run at the November 27 1974 Bay Park meeting in the 0-1300cc BNSW races. The spin happened at the first corner of heat one.

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[Steve Holmes]

Thanks folks for identifying Bill Leckie in the Imp in the earlier post. You've created a nice segue into this post, which is Bill's next car, his V8 Ford Capri. This was the Capri in its early guise, before it was fitted with the aggressive box-flares and painted white with Sleepyhead sponsorship.

Bill used a bunch of Formula 5000 parts when building the Capri, including the motor which was then reduced to fit the 4.2 litre engine size for his class.

This car appeared on our Lost Race Cars thread. I did once phone Bill about the car, to try and find out what happened to it. It would seem it almost certainly is gone.

Chasing Bill is Bryan Blackberry in the neat Frist Escort. Can anyone remember drinking Frist?

Does the Escort still exist?

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[Steve Holmes]

I believe this is early 1980 (or December 1979), someone here can confirm or deny? This is the Holden Dealer Team Torana A9X raced by Peter Brock in 1979. Is this the car that won Bathurst by 6 laps?

Anyway, in New Zealand it raced as a Sports Sedan, as did the similar car of Garry Rogers. I believe both cars ran Bay Park, Pukekohe, and Manfeild, but that Brock ran once or twice before Jim Richards stepped in.

Chasing the Torana is Wayne Huxford's Capri, in its early guise, which is still my favourite. Maybe I'm getting confused, but didn't Wayne power the Capri with the Morand Chevy F5000 powerplant from David Oxton's old Begg FM5?

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[Steve Holmes]

From the same event, and now the A9X is being pursued by Graeme Whincup's Chevy Monza Sports Sedan. Graeme is the Uncle of Jamie Whincup.

I can't recall why, but for some reason Jim Richards drove the Monza at a couple of the NZ events. I assume Whincup did too. Maybe someone here with the event programs can confirm who drove what and where?

Does the Monza still exist in some form? This would have to be one of the first Australian built Monza Sports Sedans.

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[Milan Fistonic]

Peter Brock drove the Torana at Bay Park and then Jim Richards drove it at Pukekohe and Manfeild. Whincup drove his Monza in the first race, then Richards took over for the other two. Garry Rogers was also competing in a Torana.

Brock must have gone home after Bay Park as Jim Richards took over the MHDT Torana for Pukekohe and Manfeild.

The MHDT car was the actual 1979 Bathurst car that I saw winning by six laps.

Three races were run at Bay Park - the first two as Handicaps and the third as a reverse grid.

Race 1 - John Haszard RX3, Huxford, Platt, Brock. Rogers 8th, Whincup 9th.

Race 2 - Richards, Brock, Huxford, Rogers

Race 3 - Richards, Brock, Huxford, Rogers.

Two races at Pukekohe - both handicaps.

Race 1 - Richards, Rogers, Trevor McLean, John Dymand, Whincup

Race 2 - Richards. Rogers, Whincup.

Two handicap races at Manfeild with very small number of staters.

Race 1 - Whincup, Richards, Haszard, Rogers.

Race 2- Huxford, Richards, Haszard. Whicup spun and was unable to restart.

Bay Park was on 30 December 1979 and Pukekohe and Manfeild followed on the next two weklends.

[Allan]

The Bill Leckie Capri would be the one he was badly burnt in at Manfield. I think Jim Richards raced it at one point after that.

[Milan Fistonic]

The Bill Leckie Capri would be the one he was badly burnt in at Manfield. I think Jim Richards raced it at one point after that.


Yes he did.

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[Steve Holmes]

Peter Brock drove the Torana at Bay Park and then Jim Richards drove it at Pukekohe and Manfeild. Whincup drove his Monza in the first race, then Richards took over for the other two. Garry Rogers was also competing in a Torana.

Brock must have gone home after Bay Park as Jim Richards took over the MHDT Torana for Pukekohe and Manfeild.

The MHDT car was the actual 1979 Bathurst car that I saw winning by six laps.

Three races were run at Bay Park - the first two as Handicaps and the third as a reverse grid.

Race 1 - John Haszard RX3, Huxford, Platt, Brock. Rogers 8th, Whincup 9th.

Race 2 - Richards, Brock, Huxford, Rogers

Race 3 - Richards, Brock, Huxford, Rogers.

Two races at Pukekohe - both handicaps.

Race 1 - Richards, Rogers, Trevor McLean, John Dymand, Whincup

Race 2 - Richards. Rogers, Whincup.

Two handicap races at Manfeild with very small number of staters.

Race 1 - Whincup, Richards, Haszard, Rogers.

Race 2- Huxford, Richards, Haszard. Whicup spun and was unable to restart.

Bay Park was on 30 December 1979 and Pukekohe and Manfeild followed on the next two weklends.

Great stuff Milan, thanks you.

[Steve Holmes]

The Bill Leckie Capri would be the one he was badly burnt in at Manfield. I think Jim Richards raced it at one point after that.

Yes thats correct Allan. Bill did race the car again once he'd recovered, but MSNZ changed the rules at the end o the 1977 season, by outlawing all the big engined cars and introducing a 2 litre maximum engine size. So the Capri, like so many other cars, was suddenly worthless.

Some, such as PDL, Jack Nazer etc just mothballed their cars, but Bill elected to strip the Capri of its F5000 parts and traded the remains on a Bedford van.

[Steve Holmes]

Bryce Platt.

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[Steve Holmes]

Brent Bullivant was only 19 years old when he first began racing his self-built Capri V8. It was an impressive achievement, and the car had bags of potential. But Bullivant himself had no money, and always struggled.

This is the car during the 1977 season. It had evolved slightly since it first appeared a couple of years earlier. Bullivant built it with a Ford motor, but replaced this with a small block Chevy.

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[Steve Holmes]

Bullivant raced the Capri until 1979, following which it was sold to Graham Baker, I guess around 1980 or '81. Bullivant himself was maintaining Jim Richards' Falcon XC Sports Sedan by this stage.

Baker was a bloody good driver and had the funding to get the most out of the Capri. You can see the changes he'd made, notably in ride height and wheel width. He fitted the car with McLaren wheels, which I assume came off the PDL Mustang, as he'd previously raced this car for a short time during the 1980/81 OSCA season.

The modifications made to the previously attractive flares, whereby they've been cut away and had rudimentary extensions added weren't the most aesthetic improvement, but it sure did go well. In Baker's hands, this car was probably the fastest sedan in New Zealand, and proved quicker than the Capris of Wayne Huxford and Inky Tulloch on several occasions.

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[Steve Holmes]

This is the Paul Fahey ex-works Capri RS2600. But I think this might be when the car was owned by Cran Judge, and driven by Grant Walker?

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[Steve Holmes]

MkI Capri at Manfeild in 1975. Anyone know who this is?

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[Steve Holmes]

Baker again.....

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[Steve Holmes]

Bullivant again.

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[Milan Fistonic]

MkI Capri at Manfeild in 1975. Anyone know who this is?

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Roy Hiscock at the October 19 1975 meeting.

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[ERC]

Great photographs.

Are there any race programmes you HAVEN'T got Milan? I'm always amazed what you can come up with!

[Michael Clark]

And the speed of finding it!

[Steve Holmes]

You're a legend Milan! Thank you.

[Steve Holmes]

Heres a few of Reg Cooks saloon racers. First up, one of his Minis, pictured here battling the similar car of Rex Hart. Note the large diameter wheels on Cook's car.

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[Steve Holmes]

Pretty sure this photo of one of Cook's Datsuns is pre-ShellSport era, when he was competing in the 1300cc NZ Saloon Car Championship class.

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[Steve Holmes]

And this is from the ShellSport days. Does anyone know how many Datsuns Reg Cook built? I know there was a four door Bluebird that came later on, but there must have been at least three coupes of various models???

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[Rod Grimwood]

Could be Robbie in the Shick car above Steve, he had couple of drives, or Grant Aitken

[BMCBOY]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;58632]And this is from the ShellSport days. Does anyone know how many Datsuns Reg Cook built? I know there was a four door Bluebird that came later on, but there must have been at least three coupes of various models???]

Here's a couple of them together 1979

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[Steve Holmes]

Could be Robbie in the Shick car above Steve, he had couple of drives, or Grant Aitken

Good spotting on the helmet Rod.

[Steve Holmes]

A focus now on Rod Coppins, starting with this neat pit shot of Rod chilling out in the pits and smoking a cigarette with his good buddy Jim Richards.

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[Steve Holmes]

I love this car. Its SO tough, especially in its NZ guise with the wide wheels and flares, and this is a really neat angle Ross has caught it on. Anyone recognize what those rear wheels are? The Firebird is still painted white but is no longer wearing its PDL signage. Would this be early in the 1973/74 season?

Ross, by chance do you have any colour photos of the Firebird when it was painted green?

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[Steve Holmes]

Speaking of green paint, I'm pretty sure this is from the same season as the photo pictured above, and yes, the Firebird is now painted a funky bright lime green with Monaco Motors signage.

Neville Crichton was racing an HQ Monaro GTS in the Castrol GTX series this same season. The Monaro was factory Barbados Green, and was sponsored by Monaco Motors. I wonder if this was why Rod painted the Firebird this colour?

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[Bruce302]

The rear wheels, (15 x 14) and later the matching fronts (15 x 10) were made by Dave Wallace through his Span Mags business in Onehunga as far as I can find. Red Dawson had a set also. This pic would have been later in '73 after the PDL sponsorship ended.

Bruce.


I love this car. Its SO tough, especially in its NZ guise with the wide wheels and flares, and this is a really neat angle Ross has caught it on. Anyone recognize what those rear wheels are? The Firebird is still painted white but is no longer wearing its PDL signage. Would this be early in the 1973/74 season?

Ross, by chance do you have any colour photos of the Firebird when it was painted green?

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[Milan Fistonic]

I love this car. Its SO tough, especially in its NZ guise with the wide wheels and flares, and this is a really neat angle Ross has caught it on. Anyone recognize what those rear wheels are? The Firebird is still painted white but is no longer wearing its PDL signage. Would this be early in the 1973/74 season?

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In his report on the 1973 Labour Day Weekend meeting at Bay Park, Robin Curtis described the Coppins car as "his pure white Firebird."

[Milan Fistonic]

Speaking of green paint, I'm pretty sure this is from the same season as the photo pictured above, and yes, the Firebird is now painted a funky bright lime green with Monaco Motors signage.

Neville Crichton was racing an HQ Monaro GTS in the Castrol GTX series this same season. The Monaro was factory Barbados Green, and was sponsored by Monaco Motors. I wonder if this was why Rod painted the Firebird this colour?

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At the March 9, 1974 meeting at Pukekohe the Firebird was ".. now looking very smart in a new coat of green paint with Monaco Motors sign writing on it, as Rod now works there."

[Bruce302]

Not wanting to hijack the thread of Ross's great pics, but you asked about colour shots of it in green. This is from Australia 1974,

http://i65.tinypic.com/2d1oh9s.jpg

The wheels were borrowed locally as they had the 10" width rule and by then Rod was running 14's on the rear in NZ.

Bruce.

[Bruce302]

In talking with Robin Tanner, who was very good friends with Rod and used to sell a few cars for him, Rod was using some of the Monaco yard to place and sell his own cars, sub-letting part of the space.

I don't know if the green Monaco livery was after or before the Aust trip. The Calder pics were dated March '74.


At the March 9, 1974 meeting at Pukekohe the Firebird was ".. now looking very smart in a new coat of green paint with Monaco Motors sign writing on it, as Rod now works there."

[Milan Fistonic]

In talking with Robin Tanner, who was very good friends with Rod and used to sell a few cars for him, Rod was using some of the Monaco yard to place and sell his own cars, sub-letting part of the space.

I don't know if the green Monaco livery was after or before the Aust trip. The Calder pics were dated March '74.

On Autopics there are two photos of the Firebird at Calder dated 26th May 1974.

[Bruce302]

On Autopics there are two photos of the Firebird at Calder dated 26th May 1974.

Thanks Milan, That makes better sense. So it was Monaco green first then over to Australia and Motor Truck Finance/signcraft.

Bruce.

[GD66]

In his report on the 1973 Labour Day Weekend meeting at Bay Park, Robin Curtis described the Coppins car as "his pure white Firebird."

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[Steve Holmes]

A couple more for the Rod Coppins theme. This is the Firebird again, but now I believe its passed to Robin Tanner. Bruce?

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[Steve Holmes]

And the L34 Torana. Built as Group C car, Coppins and Jim Richards shared this car at Bathurst in both 1974 and '75. In '74 they drove to an impressive 3rd outright. This was the first time Richards had raced at Bathurst.

After its Australian adventures in 1974, it was shipped back to New Zealand and contested the Castrol GTX series against a barrage of Z28 Camaros.

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[Bruce302]

A couple more for the Rod Coppins theme. This is the Firebird again, but now I believe its passed to Robin Tanner. Bruce?

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Yes, That is Robin, he loved the car and didn't drive it too hard, he was afraid of blowing the good engine that would have cost more to rebuild than he had as short notice.

[BMCBOY]

One of my favorite photos of the Torana in the 1975 Series going through the Champion Chicane in the wet.

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[Steve Holmes]

Trevor Crowe and the first of his two epic Oldsmobile V8 powered Toyota Starlets.

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[Steve Holmes]

Ross has captioned this one "Curtis, Edgell, Platt". Would Curtis be motoring journalist Robin Curtis who passed away last year?

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[Steve Holmes]

Couple of shots here if Red Dawson's beautiful Kensington Carpets Camaro Z28. This would be its final season in this colour before a switch to red and white of Marlboro for the 1974/75 season. The gold was, in my opinion, much, much more attractive.

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[Steve Holmes]

And here is the mighty DeKon Monza. The car only ran Marlboro signage in its first season, although the red and white colours continued for the start of the 1976/77 season before Red had his Manfield shunt.

I assume the first photo is from the cars New Zealand debut at Bay Park Christmas meeting in late 1975, where Dawson ran off the track a couple of times. The car was pretty beat up by the end of this event.

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This is the Pukekohe hairpin.

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And this is a rare shot of the car with the diagonal white paint on the nose, which better represented the sponsor logo. I think it only appeared this way right at the end of the 1975/76 season?

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[tonttu]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;58718]Ross has captioned this one "Curtis, Edgell, Platt". Would Curtis be motoring journalist Robin Curtis who passed away last year?

Yes it is.

[Steve Holmes]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;58718]Ross has captioned this one "Curtis, Edgell, Platt". Would Curtis be motoring journalist Robin Curtis who passed away last year?

Yes it is.

Thank you.

[Steve Holmes]

A bit of a mix here. This is a neat shot.

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[Steve Holmes]

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[seaqnmac27]

A bit of a mix here. This is a neat shot.

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The Halliday, soon to be banned, Escort.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Sean. Why was it banned?

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

Does anyone know what happened to either of these Tom Donovan sports cars?

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[seaqnmac27]

Thanks Sean. Why was it banned?

I am sure someone else here will know more details, but here goes.

There were two Mk2 Escorts built up for the new Shellsport series, the Halliday one and the Bryan Hartley Zakspeed liveried one. Halliday first appeared in his at Bay Park in late October 77 at that race it needed about 500lb of ballast to make it legal, but it also made it a handful to drive, by its next appearance it was the correct weight, however it as well as the Hartley variant had squared flared guards and it ws these that eventually would make both illegal. i do not know what happened to either car.
The Hartley Escort at Manfield early 78
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[Lurker]

Thanks Sean. Why was it banned?

I am not sure that is was banned. I think this was the Escort that Don ran in Shellsport and then later switched to a Mk1 Twin Cam in order to be more competitive.

As always, I am willing to be corrected

[Oldfart]

The Donovan "Sprite" was bought by a fellow who now lives in New Plymouth, runs an EH in Enzed colours on occasion, he crashed very heavily in the Sprite, sorry, I can't remember his name right now, but I will have it for you soon. Good Holden for your book Steve!

[spinner32]

Does anyone know what happened to either of these Tom Donovan sports cars?

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The Typhoon is part of a collection in Christchurch. The current owner said that the track was so narrow and made the car so unstable it was scary to drive. So it just sits in his collection.

[seaqnmac27]

I am not sure that is was banned. I think this was the Escort that Don ran in Shellsport and then later switched to a Mk1 Twin Cam in order to be more competitive.

As always, I am willing to be corrected

Ok, so let me be clear, no they were not 'banned' From Feb 3 1977 Motor Action. The Halliday Escort was impacted by the same ruling

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[45DCOE]

I am sure someone else here will know more details, but here goes.

There were two Mk2 Escorts built up for the new Shellsport series, the Halliday one and the Bryan Hartley Zakspeed liveried one. Halliday first appeared in his at Bay Park in late October 77 at that race it needed about 500lb of ballast to make it legal, but it also made it a handful to drive, by its next appearance it was the correct weight, however it as well as the Hartley variant had squared flared guards and it ws these that eventually would make both illegal. i do not know what happened to either car.
The Hartley Escort at Manfield early 78
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The Hartley Escort ended up in a Wellington car yard for a while converted back to road car. Was fitted with a 1600 pushrod. Took if for a test ride, it certainly created plenty of attention.Do not know where it finally ended up.

[Oldfart]

Stewart Kidd was the fellow who had Tom's Sprite.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for all the great info everyone, on all these cars.

[Steve Holmes]

A bit of a mix here. This is a neat shot.

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The Escort I posted here looks very similar to the car(s) in this ad and photo. Note that the car in the ad is running a Cosworth GAA motor and was built for the 4.2 litre category of the NZ Saloon Car Championship.

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[seaqnmac27]

Definitely it Steve, note the reference to the Zakspeed guards

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Sean.

[Steve Holmes]

Anyone have info on this Escort?

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[seaqnmac27]

The Escort I posted here looks very similar to the car(s) in this ad and photo. Note that the car in the ad is running a Cosworth GAA motor and was built for the 4.2 litre category of the NZ Saloon Car Championship.

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Sorry Steve, I was in the process of replying to this when the tail end of Cyclone Debbie came through on Thursday afternoon, we have just got power back on, anyway...Here is the Halliday Escort on debut at Bay Park and part of the report on the race the issues it had.

It was also the debut of Ken Sager in the newly purchased Fristcort and Escort 108 is the ex Blair Paton Escort now in Mike Moores hands
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[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Sean, thats great info. Hope you got through the cyclone OK?

[Steve Holmes]

Further to the info posted above on the MkII Escort, I contacted Rob Halliday to get the story behind it. Here are his replies:

"The car was never banned, and they were not Zakspeed guards, in fact they were X-pac guards that you could buy thru Ford, or order an Escort with them factory fitted. We ran the MK2 escort in Shellsport, then Don purchased Ken Horburns MK1 Escort, and ran that with a short stroke 1600 twin cam. The GAA was our old engine, the car was owned by David Honore, who owned the car when we ran in Shellsport".

The above I put together from a couple of emails from Rob. So essentially, the Hallidays built the MkII for the new ShellSport 2 litre series, then Don bought the MkI and sold the MkII to David Honore. David also purchased the Coswoth GAA V6 the Hallidays had run in their Capri, hence the advert posted earlier.

Neat car, I wonder if it survived?

[seaqnmac27]

Thanks Sean, thats great info. Hope you got through the cyclone OK?


A lot better than many!

[seaqnmac27]

Anyone have info on this Escort?

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Lance Newton. Its a turboed 3.3L Holden powering it

[paul lancaster]

The no 1 car is the typhoon , ended up in dave morrisons hands for a number of years, dave ran a 2 litre ford engine in it, I remember tow starting it with a tractor across a paddock at maungati, we used to race around the tarseal loop around his house in it.it is now in the hands of steve donaldson in chch.

[paul lancaster]

Does anyone know what happened to either of these Tom Donovan sports cars?

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The bottom pic is the typhoon, which dave morrison bought off tom, and had it for a number of years, it ran a twincam in it, then dave fitted a 2litre ohc ford engine in it, I remember tw starting it behind a tractor across a paddock at daves maungati farm.we used to drive it around daves oval asphalt drive way that went around his house.steve donaldson from chch now owns it, amongst his collection.i dont think it has been on track for a few years, but when I last caught up with steve, it is all there ready to run.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Paul, great info!

[Steve Holmes]

Lance Newton. Its a turboed 3.3L Holden powering it

Brilliant, thanks Sean. Any other known history on this car? These MkI Escorts seem to have done the rounds with various owners.

[Steve Holmes]

Robin Tanner again in the Firebird.

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[Steve Holmes]

A couple shots of Paul Fahey in the RS2600 Group 2 Capri during its first season in NZ.

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[Steve Holmes]

Anyone know anything about this Cortina?

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[John McKechnie]

Robert Bartley had one in the 72-73 season.

[seaqnmac27]

Anyone know anything about this Cortina?

42931

By hovering over the photo it says Fat Cortina Puke 79 In April 80 there was a V8 Cortina racing at Bay Park driven by Mike McNally and the Clearview Motors Mini Kevin Masterson

[Milan Fistonic]

Could be this race at the April 1, 1979 meeting.

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Addis won the first race from Huxford with the positions reversed in the second. Fred Bailey was third in both races driving the Escort RS2000

[Steve Holmes]

Great stuff guys, thank you.

[Steve Holmes]

Formula Ford action now. These are awesome! Can anyone name names?

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

43093

[Milan Fistonic]

Posts 114 to 117 are from the March 7, 1976 meeting at Pukekohe.

43096

[Steve Holmes]

Great stuff, thanks Milan.

[Steve Holmes]

More FF action from the same event.

43129

[Steve Holmes]

43130

[Steve Holmes]

43131

[Steve Holmes]

43132

[Steve Holmes]

Aussie visitor Peter Fitzgerald in the Porsche 911. Did this car race anywhere other than Bay Park during its NZ visit?

43174

[Steve Holmes]

Does anyone know whose Escort this is? This car intrigues me. There was a MkI Escort built in the Wairarapa by Wayne Fuller, initially with an FVA motor from the Paul Fahey Alan Mann car, then it had a small block Chevy with cross ram intake fitted. Graham Berry did the fabrication work. It went like stink in a straight line but the handling was never fully sorted. It only ran for one season with the Chevy under Fullers ownership, with Masterton car dealer Roger Brader at the wheel. Then it was sold.

Its always fascinated me, and I wonder what happened to it. The car pictured here looks a lot like it, only with a new paint job. It was later raced by John Scott.

43175

[BMCBOY]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;59120]Aussie visitor Peter Fitzgerald in the Porsche 911. Did this car race anywhere other than Bay Park during its NZ visit?

To quote Jim Barclay in an article he sent me before the Porsche Festival:

Peter Fitzgerald (Aus) brought his Porsche 911 to the Bay Park ‘New Year’ meeting held on 28th December 1980. As the meeting progressed the car was seen to be smoking badly. Although the 911 was entered to race at Pukekohe in January 1981, a new crankshaft had not arrived in New Zealand in time for it to be fitted to the Porsche engine, so the Pukekohe entry was scratched.

Peter Fitzgerald was 3rd in the 1981 Australian Sports Car Championship behind winner, John Latham in his Porsche Turbo and Murray Bryden’s Lotus 7 S4. In 4th place was John Walker in the Magnum Wheels sponsored Porsche Turbo.

43179

[Allan]

Jim Palmer ran a Porsche at one stage. Where did that car come from?

[Rod Grimwood]

Steve, that is it just before John bought it. It had a stroked Chev and was converted for the 4.5 class. John Scott had Steve Millen do a couple of events in the Escort. Spent a couple of days at Puke trying to sort out the handling, and did changes to front set up and transfered a bit of weight to rear. it definately did handle better and as you say was quick in straight line. It had potential. Unfortunately it was never in the Leckie Capri league and a Capri was easier to convert with extra size etc. it was on sold to someone who raced it at Puke club meets for awhile and last i heard was it sat for ages and ended as a dirt track car.
Hopefully some one will have more info.

[GD66]

Jim Palmer ran a Porsche at one stage. Where did that car come from?

Jim Palmer bought Brian Foley's Chesterfield Porsche 911.
43188

43189

[Steve Holmes]

Steve, that is it just before John bought it. It had a stroked Chev and was converted for the 4.5 class. John Scott had Steve Millen do a couple of events in the Escort. Spent a couple of days at Puke trying to sort out the handling, and did changes to front set up and transfered a bit of weight to rear. it definately did handle better and as you say was quick in straight line. It had potential. Unfortunately it was never in the Leckie Capri league and a Capri was easier to convert with extra size etc. it was on sold to someone who raced it at Puke club meets for awhile and last i heard was it sat for ages and ended as a dirt track car.
Hopefully some one will have more info.

Thanks Rod, thats great info. I had a real interest in the car because it was built locally to where I live. I contacted Wayne Fuller and he told me he sold it to Warren Steel in the Hawkes Bay. As you say, it was fitted with a smaller Chevy engine to fit the 4.2 litre championship rules, but Steel had eyesight problems and failed his eyesight test for his racing licence. So he never got to race it, and sold it once more.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, couple shots now of the wild Graeme Addis Charger. The top photo is one of the cars earlier guises, where the motor was still in front of the driver. The second shot is its final guise, with rear engine, driver adjustable rear wing, ground effects etc.

43196

43197

[Steve Holmes]

Bryce Platt ShellSport Escort. This is a real pretty car. I like the kydney bean mags, which was something different to Milites, or BBS mesh-style wheels etc.

Does it still exist?

43201

[Steve Holmes]

Former Paul Fahey RS2600 Capri, now driven by Grant Walker.

43202

[Steve Holmes]

Pretty sure this Commodore was one of Trevor McLean's? The flares are cool. Does it still exist?

43203

[Steve Holmes]

There were a few teams during the '70s who built V8 powered Victors. The most successful was that of Jack Nazer.

This is another variant, the Greg Lancaster machine. Lancaster raced this car on a pretty tight budget at the time. This was before he made his wealth teaming up with Roger Bhatnager. It had at least one bad shunt, plus a fire, and I'm pretty sure it no longer exists.

43204

[John McKechnie]

Is this the same day he got the smack in the tail and the passenger side door pushed in-

http://www.wares.co.nz/articles/2016/september/21/greg-lancaster/
BTW- nice HK GTS Monaro behind it.

[Steve Holmes]

Neat shot here of Kevin Haig's Shelby Mustang, which was a sister car to the one raced by Red Dawson. This car is now part of the extensive Bowden collection in Queensland.

43634

[Steve Holmes]

Halliday Capri, time two.

43635

43636

[Steve Holmes]

ShellSport action.

43637

[Steve Holmes]

Rex Hart Escort. What a pretty car this is. Does it still exist?

43638

[Steve Holmes]

And again.

43639

[Steve Holmes]

Mini 7 action. I loved this class.

43640

[roadrace]

Car 20 is my car, Mk6 Titan but with side mtd radiators. I think started as an eric morgan car, then Ray willis ( car 83 in the following programme ) he broke his leg in it at Bay park. Bat park was the bogey for that car, I had my big one there flipping over Malcolm Webb. Larry Mulholland bought the remains. I think thats an Elden behind, maybe mark scott who went on to be part of Riley & Scott

[Grant Ellwood]

Car 20 is my car, Mk6 Titan but with side mtd radiators. I think started as an eric morgan car, then Ray willis ( car 83 in the following programme ) he broke his leg in it at Bay park. Bat park was the bogey for that car, I had my big one there flipping over Malcolm Webb. Larry Mulholland bought the remains. I think thats an Elden behind, maybe mark scott who went on to be part of Riley & Scott

I recall seeing a F.Ford cartwheeling down the main straight at Bay Park after touching wheels with another car, was that your incident?
I was amazed the driver wasn't badly injured.

[BMCBOY]

There was always plenty of action in the Formula Ford races over the years.

43690

43685

43686

43687

43688

43689

[Milan Fistonic]

Ross. This is the FF entry at the 7 April 1974 meeting at Pukekohe. Should help you identify some more of your shots.

43692

[Milan Fistonic]

Roos. This is the 6 December 1981 FF entry.

43693

[BMCBOY]

Brilliant thanks Milan - I have put them on file to upgrade my scans.

[Howard Wood]

Steve,

Is it possible to add these to the Formula Ford thread, assuming Ross is happy with that? These photos together with Milan's programs are pure gold.

Can you include the ones on page 6 (#113 to #123) too please?

It seems there is a range of years here, for example photo 3 on #145 is me in the WDF2 Palliser crossed up going into the top chicane at Pukekohe behind Brett Riley in his Titan so must be '73 - '74 season while the next shot down is Brett ahead of Grant Walker in the Begg JM1 and Titan cars they ran in '74 - '75.

[BMCBOY]

I went had had a quick look at this yesterday and took a few shots.

43795

43791

43793

43792

43796

43794

[BMCBOY]

43802

43799

43801

43797

43800

43798

[Steve Holmes]

OK, after somewhat of a break while I finish off my books, finally, here is a new update from Ross' stunning collection. Can someone ID?

43839

[Steve Holmes]

My favorite race car when I was a kid! Wayne Huxford's wicked Ford Capri. This was the cars original guise, which was the way I loved it most before it sprouted wings. It was powered by the fuel-injected Morand Chevrolet from the old David Oxton Begg FM5, back when you could pick up old F5000 motors for cheap.

43840

43841

43842

[Milan Fistonic]

OK, after somewhat of a break while I finish off my books, finally, here is a new update from Ross' stunning collection. Can someone ID?

43839


This is the entry list for the FF races at the April 1 1979 meeting at Pukekohe.

Mike Finch won both races in the Cuda IV with Malcolm Webb in the Lotus 69 second both times.

43848

[Jay]

ShellSport action, with Grant Aitken leading Reg Cook.

42529

AWESOME PHOTO !!

[Steve Holmes]

Neat close-up action shot of Ian Algie's amazing Alfetta.

43864

[Steve Holmes]

Bill Leckie in his Chev F5000 Capri in its early guise, from the 1976 season. This car was built to contest the 4.2 litre championship, but would eventually get fast enough to compete for outright race wins. Looks like Rex Hart just ahead.

43865

[Steve Holmes]

Jack Nazer's Victor Chevy. I assume this is either late in the 1976 season or early in the 1977 season. Its wearing the 1976 season colour scheme, but the NZ Freighters writing is gone.

43866

43867

[Steve Holmes]

Assuming this fits with Milan's programme posted above, possible Ian Capewell?

43868

[Steve Holmes]

More of the Bill Leckie Capri, again from the 1976 season, and then in its later 1977 guise, as it was best remembered.

The 1977 photos show Jim Richards at the wheel at Pukekohe following a mechanical failure with the Sidchrome Mustang at an earlier event. Bill was still suffering from the burns he'd received when the car caught fire at Manfield a few weeks earlier. The Capri had been repaired, Richards had no car, the rest is history. Richards actually broke the outright Saloon Car lap record at this event.

43869

43870

43871

[Steve Holmes]

Don Halliday and Jim Richards at Bay Park, 1975.

43884

[Steve Holmes]

Greg Lancaster's Victor Chevy in both earlier and later guise.

43885

43886

[Steve Holmes]

PDL Mustangs I and II in a couple of great action shots.

43887

43888

[Michael Clark]

Many years ago I wrote a piece in Classic Car about the Leo Leonard vs Allan Moffat battles at Bay Park in December 1975.

I interviewed Leo and it was a delight just to hear his modest description of what he had to do - and where to put the Mustang - in order to win. And he was a Moffat fan as well!

Great day at Bay Park. Ross, you're a legend.

[Steve Holmes]

Rod McElrea's wicked Cortina OSCA at Pukekohe. Originally built by our very own Jac Mac. Last I heard this car was being restored. Anyone know its progress?

44035

[Steve Holmes]

Trevor McLean and Charger E49.

44036

[Steve Holmes]

Dave McMillan?

44037

[Steve Holmes]

44038

[Steve Holmes]

Kevin McNamara in Paul Fahey's Castrol GTX Camaro. Last I heard this car was in Australia, and driven on the road.

44039

[Steve Holmes]

44040

[Steve Holmes]

Big banger action at Bay Park, 1974, with Graham Baker, Allan Moffat, Paul Fahey and Red Dawson doing battle.

44041

[Milan Fistonic]

Dave McMillan?

44037

Yes, Dave McMillan

[Milan Fistonic]

44038

Phil Myhre

[rogered]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;59891]Kevin McNamara in Paul Fahey's Castrol GTX Camaro. Last I heard this car was in Australia, and driven on the road.

44039[/QUOTE

About 25 years ago I brought a T10 gearbox from a bloke in TeAwamutu. He took it out of his camaro which he told me was ex Paul Fahey. Wonder if its this car??.

[Spgeti]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;59891]Kevin McNamara in Paul Fahey's Castrol GTX Camaro. Last I heard this car was in Australia, and driven on the road.

44039[/QUOTE

About 25 years ago I brought a T10 gearbox from a bloke in TeAwamutu. He took it out of his camaro which he told me was ex Paul Fahey. Wonder if its this car??.

It was Roger. Had the number plate MyZ/28 and was painted red with red stripes. I have know the car since 1979 and found it in New Plymouth after the guys in Te Awamutu sold it. Helped to restore it but sadly ended up over the ditch.

[rogered]

[QUOTE=rogered;59901]

It was Roger. Had the number plate MyZ/28 and was painted red with red stripes. I have know the car since 1979 and found it in New Plymouth after the guys in Te Awamutu sold it. Helped to restore it but sadly ended up over the ditch.

[rogered]

[QUOTE=Spgeti;59903]
Yip thats the one, cant recall his name but he had a wrecking business. I doubted his story initially, as I had Fahey as a ford man. But clearly he was correct. Cheers

[Spgeti]

Paul owned the car and McNamarra drove it for him. Sponsored by Union Travel. Somewhere here I have a copy of the ownership papers.
I talked to Paul about it at the Revival and they bought it in as parts and built one car out of it.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, now for some Chevy Monzas. First up is the car purchased by Allan Moffat in 1975 with which to tackle the Australian Sports Sedan Championship, which would begin in 1976. This is a DeKon Monza, built by the combination of Lee Dykstra and Horst Kwech, specifically for the All-American GT category created in the IMSA series. Up until the introduction of AAGT, IMSA had been dominated by Porsche and BMW, and IMSA boss John Bishop knew he needed US cars at the pointy end for the series to succeed. I believe this was is chassis 1005, or the fifth car built.

It caused controversy when it first raced in Australia, and Moffat only drove it in 1976 before Ford decided they wanted to support touring car racing once again, and as such, a Ford driver couldn't be seen in a Chevy, so the Monza was mothballed until Ford changed their mind once again about touring car racing at the end of the decade and Moffat began racing it again. Its now back in the US and has been restored, albeit with slightly incorrect bodywork.

This is the car as it raced in New Zealand, at Bay Park, in late 1975, on its way from the US to Australia. Note the wide wheels, as it raced in IMSA. Moffat would have to fit the car with the maximum 10 inch wide wheels in Australia.

44158

[Steve Holmes]

The Moffat Monza again. Moffat battled throughout the Bay Park event with Leo Leonard in the PDL Mustang. Leonard won all three heats, although that was mostly down to the incredible skills of Leonard himself, who managed to keep the faster Moffat at bay. The next time the pair faced off was at Wigram a few weeks later, and Moffat trounced the Mustang. The success of the Monza inspired the PDL team to build the PDL Mustang II.

44159

[Terry S]

OK, now for some Chevy Monzas. First up is the car purchased by Allan Moffat in 1975 with which to tackle the Australian Sports Sedan Championship, which would begin in 1976. This is a DeKon Monza, built by the combination of Lee Dykstra and Horst Kwech, specifically for the All-American GT category created in the IMSA series. Up until the introduction of AAGT, IMSA had been dominated by Porsche and BMW, and IMSA boss John Bishop knew he needed US cars at the pointy end for the series to succeed.



For interest as an aside, Pauline Moffat (Allan Moffat's first wife) is now married to the Lee Dykstra mentioned here.

They have lived in Indianapolis since 2005. For 11 years she has been Executive Director of the IndyFringe Festival.

[Steve Holmes]

Another Monza at Bay Park. This time its John Briggs, across from Australia. This is the Bay Park round of the Open Saloon series that took place at Bay Park, Pukekohe and Manfeild during 1978/79. This is another DeKon Monza, chassis 1001, the first DeKon Monza built. It was raced by the DeKon team initially in 1974, and was leading on debut when it collided with a lapped car. It was repaired and sold to Maurice Carter, a long-time Chevy racer, who repainted it from the white with red and blue stripes as raced by DeKon, to red with white stripes.

Carter raced the Monza throughout 1975, and crashed the car a coupe of times before eventually selling it to Kiwi racer Red Dawson. It made its NZ debut at the same Bay Park event as the Moffat Monza.

Following Dawson's violent crash in the car in 1976, it was repaired and sold to Australia. I can't remember if John Briggs was the owner, or just the driver. Either way, it returned to NZ for the 1978/79 Open Saloon series, and can be seen here leading Leo Leonard in PDL II.

The Monza actually returned to NZ many years later, by this stage owned by Jeff Barnes. It was part of a four car squad of Australian Sports Sedans that ran a hugely competitive Trans-Tasman challenge again four top NZ Sports Sedans. The other Aussie cars included Bryan Thomson (Jaguar XJS), as well as Des Wall and Kerry Bailey, both with Chevy powered Toyota Supras.

44184

[Steve Holmes]

Briggs again, this time at Pukekohe.

44185

[Steve Holmes]

OK, next batch of pics. First up is Ralph Mossman in his Chevy V8 powered Viva. Looks like the windscreen has been busted out. Does this car still exist?

44329

[Steve Holmes]

44330

[Steve Holmes]

Motorbikes at Pukekohe, 1979.

44331

[Rod Grimwood]

OK, next batch of pics. First up is Ralph Mossman in his Chevy V8 powered Viva. Looks like the windscreen has been busted out. Does this car still exist?

44329

Unfortunately not, Kind of thoughts of another for HSS maybe

[John McKechnie]

Grimmie- did Ralf run this against Aussies-Barnes/Walls/Thomson/Bailey when they were here ?
Or who were the Kiwis ?

[Steve Holmes]

Grimmie- did Ralf run this against Aussies-Barnes/Walls/Thomson/Bailey when they were here ?
Or who were the Kiwis ?

Hi John I think it was a later generation of NZ cars that raced the Aussies. I recall Kieran Wills in the Mazda RX8, Kayne Scott in the turbo Merker, Don Grindley in the Olds Cutlass, and one other, maybe Rodger Freeth in the Nissan 300ZX?

[seaqnmac27]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z70wUL3FJKA&t=32s


Grimmie- did Ralf run this against Aussies-Barnes/Walls/Thomson/Bailey when they were here ?
Or who were the Kiwis ?

[John McKechnie]

Great video- I was there up on the hill with my son-didnt think it was 1991, thought more 89?

[Milan Fistonic]

The NZ v Australia Tranzam Challenge was held in 1992. Two races were run at Manfeild, Bay Park and Pukekohe.

Manfeild
44598

Bay Park
44599

Pukekohe
44600

[Steve Holmes]

45125

45126

[Steve Holmes]

45127

[Steve Holmes]

45128

[Steve Holmes]

This Ford Consul Sports Sedan has been featured elsewhere on this site.

45431

[Steve Holmes]

John Osborne's Chevy V8 powered Capri OSCA racer at Pukekohe. This is the ex-Halliday car which later burnt to the ground.

45432

45433

[Steve Holmes]

Graham Baker versus Red Dawson at Bay Park.

45434

[Steve Holmes]

Leo Leonard trimming the infield grass at Pukekohe in PDL II.

45435

[Steve Holmes]

Peter Fitzgerald's Porsche at Bay Park. In Australia I believe it raced in the Sports Car championship, but in NZ it ran with the Sports Sedans.

45436

45437

[Steve Holmes]

Bryce Platt's Escort.

45876

[Steve Holmes]

This is neat. The engine bay from Rex Hart's Escort.

45877

[Rod Grimwood]

This Ford Consul Sports Sedan has been featured elsewhere on this site.

45431

Pretty sure this is Jenny Mossman when she raced the car, she was smooth and quick. Had Holden engine, and was red, blue and white

[tonttu]

Pretty sure this is Jenny Mossman when she raced the car, she was smooth and quick. Had Holden engine, and was red, blue and white

Except if you hover the curser over the photo Ross Cammick has dated it 1980 and it had been previously reported Jenny Mossman purchased it in 1984 from Keith Weir so maybe she actually got it much earlier or...?

[John McKechnie]

This from Jen- Historic Sports Sedan thread-#947

I bought the car fro Keith weir of Marton in 1984. It ran a 202 Holden with triple dellorto carbs and a four speed Vauxhall victor box. I sold it to phil Rudd (the drummer from ACDC ) in 1986 to purchase the bare space frame chassis with the vk commodore shell attached from Brett Willis

[Rod Grimwood]

Yea know the date but got a feeling it may not be right. Just looking at driver position etc. Keith was/is a little bit bigger. any way it is a neat photo and we are so lucky to have Ross share these.

[Milan Fistonic]

This Ford Consul Sports Sedan has been featured elsewhere on this site.

45431

Keith Weir (Destitute Racing) entered the Consul 315 at the April and October 1980 meetings at Bay Park.

[tonttu]

Yea know the date but got a feeling it may not be right. Just looking at driver position etc. Keith was/is a little bit bigger. any way it is a neat photo and we are so lucky to have Ross share these.

Rod you are so correct its is fantastic Ross shares these with us, it is appreciated Ross. I seem to recall a picture of the car with a large/high rear wing so does anyone know when the wing was on the car?

[John McKechnie]

tonttu-
http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?1373-Historic-Sport-Sedans/page46 #911

I can ask Jen when the wing went on, was on it when she had it.

[Steve Holmes]

Another shot of JR in the Leckie Capri.

46446

[Steve Holmes]

I love this one; Richards in his Falcon XC Sports Sedan being chased by John Briggs in the ex-Red Dawson DeKon Monza 1001.

46447

[Steve Holmes]

Richards in the Sidchrome Mustang versus Don Halliday in the Cosworth GAA Capri.

46448

[Steve Holmes]

A historic car nearing the end of a colourful racing career, the '69 Camaro originally built and raced by Joe Chamberlain, who contested SCCA A/Sedan regional events as well as a handful of Trans-Am races before the car ended up in NZ in late 1970, where Chamberlain raced against the best Kiwi machines. It remained in NZ after Chamberlain returned home, driven by Dennis Marwood, and later John Riley, as pictured here, before it ended up becoming a road car, with rollcage still intact!

46449

[John McKechnie]

And I have been told the story of when it left John Rileys and its life as a road going Camaro.
It would make scary late night reading in the book- Life After Racing,written by Stephen King featuring this Camaro , my Monaro, Bruces Firebird and others.....

[Steve Holmes]

And I have been told the story of when it left John Rileys and its life as a road going Camaro.
It would make scary late night reading in the book- Life After Racing,written by Stephen King featuring this Camaro , my Monaro, the Firebird and others.....

Yeah I'm sure you're right John. Its a wonder some of these cars survived.

[Steve Holmes]

Rod Coppins Firebird again, this time during its lime green phase. This car sure changed colour a lot: Was red/white/blue when it first arrived in NZ with Ron Grable, then went to Winfield gold, then white, then green, and red. Maybe another colour in there too? I wonder if they stripped off the old paint each time a new layer was added? Bruce?

46565

[Steve Holmes]

Couple of Toranas, albeit quite different from one another. Leading is Garry Rogers in his Group C A9X across from Australia, followed by Brian Friend in his ex-Roy Harrington Sports Sedan. The A9X is these days owned by TRS member Mark Fiddyment, while the Friend machine no longer exists.

46566

[Steve Holmes]

Another shot of Brian Friend.

46567

[Michael Clark]

Was it that car that ended up purple/white in a stripe pattern copied from the Lancia Gp 5 cars?

[Bruce302]

Not all the paint was stripped off between paint jobs. There was one more colour scheme, white with red stripes along the sides and carrying Trans Tours sponsorship from Australia, When Robing Tanner bought the car it was still in Aust and it ran at least the first race meeting back here (Bay Park) with Rod driving it. Then Robin painted it red.

Bruce.




Rod Coppins Firebird again, this time during its lime green phase. This car sure changed colour a lot: Was red/white/blue when it first arrived in NZ with Ron Grable, then went to Winfield gold, then white, then green, and red. Maybe another colour in there too? I wonder if they stripped off the old paint each time a new layer was added? Bruce?

46565

[seaqnmac27]

Was it that car that ended up purple/white in a stripe pattern copied from the Lancia Gp 5 cars?

Yes indeed it was Michael

[Steve Holmes]

Not all the paint was stripped off between paint jobs. There was one more colour scheme, white with red stripes along the sides and carrying Trans Tours sponsorship from Australia, When Robing Tanner bought the car it was still in Aust and it ran at least the first race meeting back here (Bay Park) with Rod driving it. Then Robin painted it red.

Bruce.

Thanks Bruce.

[Steve Holmes]

Time for some SCANZ Sports Car action:

46735

46736

[Steve Holmes]

46737

46738

[Steve Holmes]

46739

46740

[Steve Holmes]

Not sure if the Donovan machine (bottom pic) ran with SCANZ? Someone here will know.

46741

46742

[Steve Holmes]

46743

46744

[Steve Holmes]

Couple of shots of long-time racer George Shewiery in his Falcon Cobra and ex-Sidchrome Mustang:

46807

46808

[Steve Holmes]

47411

[Steve Holmes]

Boy was this ever a great series!

47412

[Steve Holmes]

Peter Sundberg I believe? Is this the ex-Fahey car?

47414

[Steve Holmes]

A couple of South Island OSCA legends; Inky Tulloch and Trevor Crowe.

47415

[seaqnmac27]

Does anyone know whose Escort this is? This car intrigues me. There was a MkI Escort built in the Wairarapa by Wayne Fuller, initially with an FVA motor from the Paul Fahey Alan Mann car, then it had a small block Chevy with cross ram intake fitted. Graham Berry did the fabrication work. It went like stink in a straight line but the handling was never fully sorted. It only ran for one season with the Chevy under Fullers ownership, with Masterton car dealer Roger Brader at the wheel. Then it was sold.

Its always fascinated me, and I wonder what happened to it. The car pictured here looks a lot like it, only with a new paint job. It was later raced by John Scott.

43175

This may help Steve

47417

[seaqnmac27]

This is much more clear

47418

[ERC]

Posts #230 & 231. When NZ made jeans?

I know nothing about the AMCO Jeans, but I was working for Bendon when they bought Izona. Bendon weren't then into sponsorship of any sort, even though they were making millions.

#229 - Sleepyhead bought out Sleepmaker not so long ago, which was then owned by Vita (Dunlop foam and furniture). From within their ranks we had two racers current on the classic scene. Years ago, the Vita (foam) name in the UK was synonymous with one of the fastest hillclimb Minis in the country.

Major sponsorship, or even minor sponsorship, in NZ motorsport, could prove the basis for a great book to add to Steve's impressive portfolio... (Hint hint. I'll only take a small commission off the royalties Steve.) Even though I am a relative newbie to NZ, many historic cars are known as much for their sponsorship as their manufacturers.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Sean, thats awesome! I do believe it was raced by Millen at some stage. Can't remember who told me that. Sponsor is Scotts Trucks & Diggers, so that would almost certainly be John Scott.

[Steve Holmes]

Couple of great shots of Grant Walker in the ex-Paul Fahey Capri RS2600. Much was expected of Walker in the 1976 season. He came in as reigning Formula Ford champion, and the Capri was the reigning Saloon Car champion. But by the 1976 season the V8 competition had moved on massively in the intervening 12 months.

47872

47873

[seaqnmac27]

Not sure if the Donovan machine (bottom pic) ran with SCANZ? Someone here will know.

46741

46742

Looking through programmes and reports Steve, yes. he did

[Michael Clark]

Going back to the Amco sponsored Escort.

I'm not saying it isn't Peter Sunberg but my recollection is that he typically raced with #130 and Spears sponsorship.

I associate Amco Jeans with Rod Collingwood - I may have even purchased Amco jeans because of their motor racing sponsorship. And somewhere in the deep recesses in the idea that the ex Fahey Escort ended up with Grant Aitken. Over to the saloon car experts!

[Milan Fistonic]

Going back to the Amco sponsored Escort.

I'm not saying it isn't Peter Sunberg but my recollection is that he typically raced with #130 and Spears sponsorship.

I associate Amco Jeans with Rod Collingwood - I may have even purchased Amco jeans because of their motor racing sponsorship. And somewhere in the deep recesses in the idea that the ex Fahey Escort ended up with Grant Aitken. Over to the saloon car experts!

Sundberg did race with number 40 in the 1973/74 season.

47888

[BMCBOY]

[QUOTE=Milan Fistonic;62387]Sundberg did race with number 40 in the 1973/74 season though according to this report from the Labour Day meeting at Bay Park it did still have Amco sponsorship. Perhaps the photo was from a later date after the deal with Amco ended.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, this is the Graeme Whincup Chevy Monza at Bay Park. Graeme is, of course, Jamie's uncle. The Monza would have been one of the very fastest sedans in Australasia when it raced in NZ during the 1979/80 season. Whincup drove the car himself, as did Jim Richards.

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[Steve Holmes]

One of my absolute favorite race cars from when I was a kid; the Brett Willis Commodore Chev. This car just had such a great look to it. Everything about it was just right. I was actually kind of disappointed when the Willis team replaced it with the Mazda.

This is its early guise before it sprouted a subtle rear spoiler. Note too the Australian made Mawer wheels which it wore for a time. I recall approx 10 years ago Paul Urquhart built an XA Falcon for the Central Muscle Cars class. He found an old Mawer wheel at the Windleburn's workshop, and had a set of four 17 inch Mawers built for his Falcon. I always wondered if the Mawer had come from the Willis Commodore. All those families are pretty close-knit.

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[John McKechnie]

Steve-He found an old Mawer wheel at the Windleburn's workshop

Mawer wheels were off Bunces Monaro from 1975- he got them from Aus himself.
Check the pix of the Monaro at the time.
And thats why they were sitting at Wendleburns workshop....just like the original wheel from the Monaro when Jim Carlyle had it.
NZ is a small close knit country - easy to find and trace things.

J

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks John, great info. So were the Mawer wheels from the Monaro the same ones used on the Willis Commodore?

[rogered]

Of course you are correct John. Funnily enough we borrowed those same wheels when building our car in 1985-86. Brett would still been using his at that time. Im guessing the Willis wheels may have gone onto the Mack workman commodore they they built it.

[John McKechnie]

Roger- and as Dennis Running owned that car,......then he will know were they went.
We can sit around at Taupo at the F5000 GP event between races and work it out.
So you borrowed these from the Wendleburns to set up your car?

[John McKechnie]

Thanks John, great info. So were the Mawer wheels from the Monaro the same ones used on the Willis Commodore?

Different set...unless info emerges to prove me wrong.
George got these new in 1975.
When did Willis car emerge?
Grimmie may know.

[rogered]

definitely a different set

[rogered]

Roger- and as Dennis Running owned that car,......then he will know were they went.
We can sit around at Taupo at the F5000 GP event between races and work it out.
So you borrowed these from the Wendleburns to set up your car?

Yip, remember the ass end of our car is out of their pontiac. Now if i recall, I have seen photo somewhere and i think the Pontiac had mawers on the front and big centerlines on the rear