Photos: The Bruce Wells Collection - The Drivers

[Steve Holmes]

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This is the final part in our long running and hugely popular Bruce Wells Collection of Australian motor racing images. The collection ran from 1962 through 1967, and included everything from low-key club events, hillclimbs and Bathurst, right through to the Tasman Series.

Bruce was living in New South Wales when he took these images, and many of them you will recognize from old magazines. He and his wife moved away from NSW in 1967, and hence the photos stopped.

This final part is a focus on the drivers. These are various portrait shots, from a time when racers wore open faced helmets and goggles, and there was a more relaxed environment in the pits. You'll see some of the images have been named, while some haven't. I can name most of those pictured, but not all, and am going to leave this one to you guys to ID.

My thanks once more goes to Bruce Wells, for sharing this beautiful collection of images from a golden era in the sport. I hope you all enjoy them.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

The 'tuner' with Brabham looks like Bob Atkin, but I'm pretty sure it's not...

Second pic is Kingsley Hibbard and his Rennmax BN1 Formula Junior.

Third is Greg Cusack sitting on the Lakeside Grid at the end of November, 1965. Spencer Martin in the 250LM is behind him alongside Frank Demuth's Lola. That was the ATT meeting, Greg was expecting to give Pete Geoghegan a hard time but didn't quite succeed that day.

Frank Matich in the Brabham BT7a is next, not at all sure about the two without helmets, then there's Leo Geoghegan in the Lotus 39 while it still had the Coventry-Climax engine. Like the Brabham photo and the Denny Hulme pic below it, this is on the grid at Warwick Farm in 1967.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Ray. Fantastic!

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

The last one is Geoff Sykes talking to Graham Hill in the Lotus 48 FVA (I think it was the 48) he ran at Warwick Farm in 1967...

[Frosty5]

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Ok guys just checking you all out. Relaxed as a bear can be

[Michael Clark]

Johnny Muller is the mechanic with Jack Brabham in #12.

Johnny worked with Pete Kerr at Roy Winklemann Racing when they ran F2 Brabhams for Jochen Rindt and Alan Rees - both were invariably near the front with Rindt being a frequent winner.

I think Johnny is still in Tauranga.

[khyndart in CA]

I remember visiting John Muller's kiwifruit property at Te Puna in 1990 with a youth group. He was very helpful but did not seem too interested about old motor racing days. He had moved on. Perhaps Grant S knows more about John who must have been an excellent race mechanic.
That first photo of Jack Brabham almost looks like Ron Tauranac at the engine area but I doubt that when I look closer.

[Ray Bell]

Definitely not Taurenac...

It looks, as I said, very much like Bob Atkin. Bob was the Chief Spanner (not to mention General Manager) at Scuderia Veloce, they were about to take over this particular Brabham-Repco for Greg Cusack.

[Steve Holmes]

This one also appears in the 1965 Lakeside TT thread of Bruce's collection, but it warrants being shown here also.

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

Ken Miles in the Cobra... what a jet!

And Leo Geoghegan in the Lotus 32 with twin-cam 1.5 engine.

I don't recall that chromed cap at the back, however!

[Steve Holmes]

Ken Miles in the Cobra... what a jet!

And Leo Geoghegan in the Lotus 32 with twin-cam 1.5 engine.

I don't recall that chromed cap at the back, however!

Thanks Ray.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

If the pics of Graham Hill and Frank Matich are from the same year it must be 1965...

Probably at Sandown, there was no Armco like that at Warwick Farm or Longford.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Oldfart]

These really are GOLD!

[Terry S]

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Stillwell and Gardner

Too easy

[Ray Bell]

I don't think that's Gardner...

[Terry S]

I don't think that's Gardner...

So we beg to differ....

By the way, who do you think it is

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Terry S]

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I think it's the same driver as in post 29 which would make it Frank Gardner, but Ray Bell disagrees....

[Ray Bell]

How do you know that, Terry?

[Terry S]

How do you know that, Terry?

Don't be obtuse Ray. That's all I'll say

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

Lex Davison in the first of that brace...

1964 or 1965 in his Brabham.

Rocky Tresise in the second, seated in the Cooper Bruce McLaren ran in the Internationals of 1963 and Davo ran in the rest of 1963.

[Steve Holmes]

My dad goes to the gym with this bloke.

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[Kwaussie]

Is your dad's gym bloke Kerry Grant?

[Ray Bell]

In the BT4 before it got painted black...

[Steve Holmes]

Is your dad's gym bloke Kerry Grant?

Yes indeed. They used to go to school together.

[Steve Holmes]

This one has been posted in another chapter of Bruce's photos, but is also suitable for this thread.

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[Terry S]

This one has been posted in another chapter of Bruce's photos, but is also suitable for this thread.

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Left to right: Max Stahl of RCN, Norm Beechey and his mechanic Claude Morton

[Kwaussie]

Yes indeed. They used to go to school together.

Wow that is great - now Steve you are in a perfect position to maybe get a few insights into his early races.
My hero ever since I saw him in his first A40, I and most likely many others were impressed by his great skills!

[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

Frank Gardner in the Mildren Maserati...

In the background is Ken Miles in the 427 Cobra, the other car partially visible is probably Greg Cusack's Lotus 23. This is on the grid for the heat prior to the Australian Tourist Trophy at Lakeside in November, 1965.

[Terry S]

Frank Gardner in the Mildren Maserati...

In the background is Ken Miles in the 427 Cobra, the other car partially visible is probably Greg Cusack's Lotus 23. This is on the grid for the heat prior to the Australian Tourist Trophy at Lakeside in November, 1965.

Ray, looks like the same driver as in posts #32 and 39, don't you think?

[Steve Holmes]

Frank Gardner in the Mildren Maserati...

In the background is Ken Miles in the 427 Cobra, the other car partially visible is probably Greg Cusack's Lotus 23. This is on the grid for the heat prior to the Australian Tourist Trophy at Lakeside in November, 1965.

Ray, whatever happened to the Mildren Maserati?

[Ray Bell]

It died in that very race...

At the end of the first lap the crank broke, bits escaping took out the gear linkage and Frank couldn't knock it out of gear so all the bits were still whirring around out of control and it all began at pretty much the fastest point on the circuit.

After Frank Matich's crash in the Lotus 19B in July (also at Lakeside) the Mildren Maserati was expected to walk away with the ATT, but it fell into Pete Geoghegan's lap for the second time.

Sold less the damaged Maserati engine to Ross Ambrose in Tasmania, he fitted a Climax (about a 2.2-litre as I recall) and raced it with success on the Apple Isle. Later it had an Olds or Buick engine fitted, I think an Oldsmobile, and it continued racing for some years. It's still out there somewhere.

For the greater part of its life it was known as a Rennmax, though the Wikipedia article on it states it was copied from a Lotus 19 chassis while in fact it was basically a Lotus 23 with a bigger engine bay, bigger brakes and a restyled body. It was, of course, a Bob Britton build and he had Mildren's 23 chassis on hand to copy.

[Terry S]

Ray, whatever happened to the Mildren Maserati?

A couple of things on this car:

Refer post # 2 of this thread:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/australia/165328-rennmax-traco-olds-sports-car-pre-1969-a.html

Also what appear to be last photos of the car

http://www.motorsportarchive.com/alec_mildren_rennmax_maserati.htm

Looks horrible doesn't it?

Last I saw of it was on the American Race Car Sales site possibly 5 years ago. It doesn't seem to have sold.

[Ray Bell]

It seems to me to have been seriously disfigured around the rear...

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks guys, this is great info.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Terry S]

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Too hard for me. I'll leave this one to Ray.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

A hard one to pick...

But it must be the Lotus FVA at Warwick Farm, 1967. Graham Hill broke the gearbox if I recall.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

Jack in his 1967 car...

For the life of me I can't pick the circuit. Did Bruce go to Longford?

[Steve Holmes]

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[Terry S]

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Roy Billington (Jack's chief mechanic) with Jack

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Terry.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

Jim Clark in the Lotus 33...

It looks very much like the Warwick Farm starting grid, 1967. Perhaps that's Mike Kable in the white shirt and tie.

[Steve Holmes]

Jim Clark in the Lotus 33...

It looks very much like the Warwick Farm starting grid, 1967. Perhaps that's Mike Kable in the white shirt and tie.

I posted this photo in one of the earlier threads from Bruce's collection.

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[Terry S]

I posted this photo in one of the earlier threads from Bruce's collection.

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This front of grid for the 32nd Australian Grand Prix.

On pole is Jackie Stewart in the 2 L BRM V8
In middle is Jim Clark in the 2.L Lotus 33 Climax V8
Closet is Graham Hill in the vey new 1.6L Lotus 48 Ford FVA

The white nose on second row is Leo Geoghegan's Lotus 39 Climax 4
Beside him is Jack Brabham in the Brabham Repco V8

What is strange is that the normally reliable Graham Howards History of the AGP book has for some reason a completely different grid to the above photo and that in RCN.

[Ray Bell]

I rather suspect that's a glitch in the typesetting, Terry...

Possibly mucked up by the formatting and then unnoticed by proofreaders trying to get the book out and published in time for the 51st Australian Grand Prix. Details like the lap times are correct, just most of the entries are lined up in the wrong spot.

Not Graham's doing at all. Which can't be said for the dog's breakfast he made of the 1949 grid 'explanation'.

[Ray Bell]

By the way, another driver in the last photo is Ian Geoghegan...

He's talking to his older brother, who has his helmet on and is standing next to the Lotus 39.

[khyndart in CA]

Feb. 19th. 1967. Warwick Farm.

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(Sergent.com info)

[Terry S]

Feb. 19th. 1967. Warwick Farm.

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(Sergent.com info)

Looking at it again, in the grid for the 1967 32nd AGP there are differences between that in Graham Howards book, RCN and Sergents as above.

For example RCN omits Martin, Scott and Champion.

Perhaps we may never know the true grid, and Sergent's may be the closet.

[Ray Bell]

Terry, you keep referring to the the book, The Official 50-Race History of the Australian Grand Prix, as Graham Howard's book.

It is true that the book was the brainchild of, and the dream of, Graham Howard. He laboured on it, he researched a great deal of it, he nurtured it. But it really looked like it would never happen if it remained his work alone.

To get the book published, Graham was ultimately to rely on Chevron Publications. But once that decision was made, it became necessary to meet deadlines and Graham couldn't meet those on his own.

Because of his knowledge of the Bathurst races, John Medley was called in to write the chapters on Bathurst AGPs of 1938 and 1947, and also the South Australian Centenary Grand Prix of 1936, renamed the 1937 Australian Grand Prix. Stewart Wilson took on the coverage of the easiest era, the races from 1970 to 1985. Easiest because of the great coverage of that era.

Slightly less easy was the task given to the irrepressible Des White, but he was present for most of the races between 1963 and 1969 - and wrote the original reports for RCN on two of them - and so he covered the period in question.

Graham himself had written up the races from 1948 to 1962. There is no question that his diligence in researching these races was superb, for many of them involved drivers no longer alive, people who had long since departed from any connections with the sport. Look at his background to some of the cars, for instance. The detail behind the Rex Law Regal Special is a good example.

So there were 15 races he covered himself, three by John Medley, 16 by Stewart Wilson and seven by Des White. Still there was a problem compiling it all in time and so I was asked to take on the task of covering the Phillip Island races. And I asked if I could also do the Lobethal race because of my fascination for that great circuit.

So you see it was a combined effort, even though Graham did the lion's share of the research of the early races and was thoroughly involved in the compilation of results and probably the selection of photos, and the captions on them. Without him it would not have happened at that time.

But to probably a greater extent, it would never have happened without Ray Berghouse and Tom Floyd, Chevron Publications. It is better referred to as the Chevron AGP book.

The issue at hand, the grid for the 1967 AGP, is a good example of a lack of Howard input. There is no way Graham would have allowed Spencer Martin to have been left off the outside of the third row of the grid. He would have known from the AMS report, if not from original result sheets, that Spencer did a time of 1:33.4 to push Chris Irwin's BRM back to the fourth row.

Des White possibly, if not a staffer from Chevron, seems to have only had the RCN-published grid to work from. And then, I suspect, the typesetting crew or software made a mess of the layout of it. And in the rush it didn't get the kind of attention needed in the proofreading.

You might ask why Bruce Sergent has been able to overcome this (though, unfortunately, without lap times) and I will suggest that it's Donn Anderson's fault. Motorman would not have been available to the crew doing the book, but to New Zealanders this publication would have been their first line of enquiry.

Just to elaborate on my suggestion that Graham 'would never have allowed' this to take place, I put forward his note on the 1949 AGP grid and a question mark hanging over it.


This grid is based on photographs taken before and moments after the start. The photographs unfortunately do not show the left-rear extreme of the grid. There is no doubt the race started with one position on the second row not filled. In the absence of information on practice times it is not possible to work out whether this position might have been filled by George Pearse's MG TB or by Charlie Whatmore's Studebaker, both of which had troubles in practice. Cars not accounted for on the grid are Whatmore, Pearse, Vic Johnson (MG TC) and H. McGuire (MG TC), and it would appear that all four started from the rear of the grid.

Just why anyone would suggest that a car which qualified on the second row would voluntarily start from the rear of the grid defeats me. And to suggest that they did so because they had problems in practice is strange too, for it begs the question, "How did they get a time for the second row, then?"

Those key words, "In the absence of information on practice times..." begin to weigh heavily in explanation of things. I understand that these records became the private possession of John Holmes and therefore nobody got to look at them in recent decades.

What Graham neglected to investigate was the prospect that a fairly fast car practised and didn't start the race. During my research into the event I found this car by a process of elimination. Fortunately there was an entry list published in the AGP book and of the 29 entries only one isn't in the results as either a finisher or a retirement.

This car is listed as the 'Wakeley Special' and when I spoke to the owner, Cyril Tritton, I learned that it was actually a Wolseley Special sporting a 3.4-litre engine from a 25-hp Wolseley. Cyril also explained that he was forbidden by his family to drive in the race and so he arranged for well-known pre-war driver John Pike to take over. This was important to him as he had promised the apprentice who'd worked unpaid overtime to help complete the car that he could be the riding mechanic. The apprentice was Chas Kelly.

Chas told me that they practised but the damage being done to the brand new bodywork by the schrapnel of the runways was too great to justify racing. But in practice they had matched the speed of Kleinig's car all the way down the straights, though they lost out dramatically under brakes.

I don't know if Graham had this entry list when he was doing his research. The amount of detail he had about other cars indicate he might not have.

[Terry S]

Ray I agree that many people helped write sections of the book.

The page at the back titled Credits show eight people involved. I think the photos are a little mixed, and besides Ray Bell's name they have someone smiling........

In future perhaps I should refer to as "Graham Howard er al".

On a lighter note, why was the very first AGP, the 1927 race, not included in this official book?

[khyndart in CA]

Here indeed is Bruce Sergent's description of the practice lap times for Warwick Farm. Feb. 1967.

"So the stage was set for the 32nd Australian Grand Prix, one of the feature races of the eight Tasman events. The scene was additionally complicated by the arrival of the new compound Dunlops, and by the entry of the prototype Lotus F2 chassis with the FVA 1.6 litre Cosworth-Ford, driven by Graham Hill. Another first Australian appearance at the Farm was Paul Bolton in the Rorstan Brabham, while Chris Irwin took over from Piers Courage as number 2 BRM man. Harvey got a new 1860cc engine for his Brabham, and was out to do some giant-killing. Cusack withdrew his Lotus from the rest of the series, having an interested buyer, while West Australian Don O'Sullivan scratched after failing to qualify the ex-Patterson Cooper-Climax, as at Lakeside. The 1.5's were Cook, Scott, McEwin, Mike Champion (Brabham-Ford) and Jack Hunnam (Elfin Mono Ford).

Stewart went straight onto new Dunlops, and set a shattering 1:30.8 in the unofficial Friday practice, well under Clark's two-year old record of 1:33.7. The Brabhams were still in trouble with the fuel injection system, and were not happy with the Goodyears, because they did not have wide enough rims to take the good 15 inch rubber and the wear rate on 13's was alarming.

The first official session on the Saturday started with a bang when Leo Geoghegan's front wheel unscrewed itself on the way down to Creek Corner and the Lotus coasted to an unharmed stop as the wheel and tyre bounced into the trees. Brabham had done another overnight engine change, and Firestone had fitted out Martin with their only spare set of R125 rubber. Bartlett and Harvey both used new compound Dunlops, but not the 007 type, which was available only in 15 inch size. Graham Hill spent a lot of time sorting out the handling of his new car.

The first session ended with Stewart the fastest on 1:31.1, then Clark 1:31.8, Hill a staggering 1:32.1, Hulme 1:32.8, Brabham 1:33.2, Martin 1:33.4, Irwin 1:33.6, Geoghegan 1:34.1, Harvey 1:34.3, Bartlett 1:35.4, Gardner 1:36.1, Bolton 1:37.2, Cook 1:39.6, Scott 1:39.8, McEwin 1:40.7, and Champion 1:50.1. Harvey was particularly impressive, while Bolton was troubled with clutch slip, oil leaks, and sorting suspensions.

In the second session Stewart equaled his 1:30.8 from Friday in the coolest possible manner, while Clark could not better 1:31.6 before he broke a roll bar, which he at first put down to trouble in the limited slip differential. Hill came down to 1:31.7 before breaking the crown wheel and pinion in the small HD4 Hewland gearbox. The Howard brothers loaned him a replacement for the race. Brabham finally climbed down to 1:32.4, Geoghegan to a tremendous 1:32.7, Gardner 1:33.2, Harvey 1:33.7, Bartlett 1:33.8, Irwin slower at 1:33.8, Hulme slower at 1:34.6, Bolton a commendable 1:35.0 and the 1.5 litre times greatly unchanged. Thus the Sunday 3-2-3 grid saw seven cars at or under the lap record, including one 1.6 litre and one 1.9 litre engine.

Brabham and Hulme had been at Oran Park, just a bit further down the road from Warwick Farm, all the Sunday morning trying to sort out their injection and handling worries , but they lost one serious rival on the warm-up lap when Harvey's Brabham chewed out a half-shaft."
( as per sergent.com.au. 1967 Tasman Series)


(Ken Hyndman )

[Ray Bell]

Thank you Ken, that confirms what I thought. Donn Anderson's report in Motorman (or possibly Peter Bakalor's report in Autosport) was way more complete than the Australian magazines had to offer. That rundown gives more information that we didn't have before than all the information we did have!

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Terry
Ray I agree that many people helped write sections of the book.

The page at the back titled Credits show eight people involved. I think the photos are a little mixed, and beside Ray Bell's name they have someone smiling........

In future perhaps I should refer to as "Graham Howard et al".

On a lighter note, why was the very first AGP, the 1927 race, not included in this official book?

The photographs are in fact reversed...

In the makeup of the plate for this page the type was on one film and the photos on another, these were put down back to front, so not only are the pics beside the wrong name in each case, but they are back to front.

The smiling face next to my name is Des White's while the smiling face next to Des White's name is mine.

As for the 1927 Australian Grand Prix, this was almost unknown. It seems that Bugatti people in Melbourne had knowledge over the decades but NSW people had all forgotten it. Barry Lake was the one who first mentioned it to me, he was asking me if I knew anything about it as if he knew very little (Barry was very cunning like this), I'd never heard of it before.

But all of that was revealed fifteen or more years after the Chevron AGP book appeared. I don't know if there is reference to this race in the update of the Chevron book done a few years ago. I also don't know if they corrected some of the glaring anomolies in the result panels.

[khyndart in CA]

Ray,
This site had some interesting reading about the 1927 event. Thanks to you and Terry for bringing this early racing to our attention.

https://primotipo.com/tag/1927-australian-grand-prix/

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Geoff Meredith aboard his Bugatti T30 at Goulburn during his victorious AGP meeting in 1927


(Ken Hyndman )

[Terry S]

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Just realised in post #15 there is a strange "thing" in front of Graham with tape around it.

Anyone know what it is?

[Ray Bell]

Maybe padding to help him fit into the car securely?

It would seem to be practice day, possibly the Friday. Did he first drive that car that day?

[Terry S]

Maybe padding to help him fit into the car securely?

It would seem to be practice day, possibly the Friday. Did he first drive that car that day?

I thought about padding initially, but Graham loooks very settled in his seat. Also the two pieces are strapped together, so an odd shape for padding.

Any other ideas?

[khyndart in CA]

Perhaps as the Lotus 48 was a prototype and Graham was quite tall by driver's standards at that time, those two foam pads were for protection of the elbows or knees etc. until a proper sized fitting could be made for him.



(Ken H )

[Terry S]

I don't know if there is reference to this race in the update of the Chevron book done a few years ago. I also don't know if they corrected some of the glaring anomolies in the result panels.

I only have the first version, which was released in 1986.

I see from the cover on a web site that the later version released in February 2015 is titled "Australian Grand Prix 80races, 1927 to 2014"

So it now covers the first 1927 AGP, although both versions are called the "Official history".

[Ray Bell]

Essentially, Terry, the 1927 race was not known about in the broader community until ten or fifteen years ago.

And those who did know about it weren't concerned about whether it was counted in the 'official list', or didn't feel that its 'three four lap heats and a final' format really counted as a genuine Grand Prix.

Some, it seems, had a vested interest in avoiding knowledge of the race too. It's said that Victorian Bugatti people, being closer to the Phillip Island origins, kept very quiet about Goulburn.

[Terry S]

It's intriguing that both editions are boldly titled the "OFFICIAL HISTORY".

Who gives them the right to carry such a title?

Is there a process, or do the publishers just take the title themselves?

[John McKechnie]

POTUS will tell you what is Official and what is Fake

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Terry S
It's intriguing that both editions are boldly titled the "OFFICIAL HISTORY".

Who gives them the right to carry such a title?

Is there a process, or do the publishers just take the title themselves?

They probably asked the CAMS if it was okay...

[Steve Holmes]

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[Terry S]

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The late Ken Miles in the Cobra 427

[khyndart in CA]

Looks like he is driving down into the Hyndman Quarry !
Where would this photo have been taken ?


( Ken H)

[Terry S]

Looks like he is driving down into the Hyndman Quarry !
Where would this photo have been taken ?
( Ken H)

Ken, I think it is at Lakeside, as that was his only Australian appearance.

On the starting grid.

[Steve Holmes]

Ken, I think it is at Lakeside, as that was his only Australian appearance.

On the starting grid.

Thats right Terry. Here are some of the other photos Bruce snapped at that event, which I posted in an earlier thread of his collection.

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[Terry S]

Thats right Terry. Here are some of the other photos Bruce snapped at that event, which I posted in an earlier thread of his collection.

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The Cobra looked so monstrous compared to the two Lotus 23's

[Ray Bell]

Such a shame the Mildren Maserati blew up in the first lap of its heat...

It would have eaten that race.

Mind you, Matich's crash a few months earlier put paid to the quickest car in the country.

[Steve Holmes]

Such a shame the Mildren Maserati blew up in the first lap of its heat...

It would have eaten that race.

Mind you, Matich's crash a few months earlier put paid to the quickest car in the country.

It was actually a slightly depleted field by the time of the race start because Ron Thorpe was also entered to race his small block Cobra, but I think from memory was ousted by officials. The car did practice, as Bruce grabbed this shot of it.

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[Terry S]

It was actually a slightly depleted field by the time of the race start because Ron Thorpe was also entered to race his small block Cobra, but I think from memory was ousted by officials. The car did practice, as Bruce grabbed this shot of it.

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Steve there is no mention at all of Ron Thorp in the RCN report on this meeting.

[Ray Bell]

Nor in the AMS report...

I can't find any mention of Thorp at a Lakeside meeting back over the previous year, either.

[Steve Holmes]

Steve there is no mention at all of Ron Thorp in the RCN report on this meeting.

I asked Dan Bowden about this when I was first going through Bruce's photos, as although there were photos of the Cobra at Lakeside, there was no mention of the car having raced. It was Dan who told me the car had been disqualified, as the detail on the Bowdens Own website mentions:

Nov 14th, Lakeside, DNS; Thorp travelled 1000km (620 Miles) North to Queensland for the Australian Tourist Trophy race, which was run at Lakeside International Raceway on Nov 14th. This was the event that Shelby sent over Ken Miles, Ron Butler and the factory 427 CSX 3002 to run in the race.

Thorp, who was very keen to race against the "works" Cobra, ran into trouble with some over zealous scrutineers who picked up that his wheels were ¼ of an inch proud of the guards. They offered Thorpe a solution of taping some wooden coat hangers to extend the guards. But Thorp gave them his thoughts on it and then went out and qualified the car. In the first race he was waiting on the starting grid when the chief scrutineer approached him and said it was ok for him to race with the guards as they were, but he would not be listed in the official results. He told them told them to shove it, drove off the grid, packed up the car and watched the race instead. He never raced at Lakeside Raceway again. this was the only tme that two Shelby Cobra's were on a track in Australia together.

[khyndart in CA]

This all makes for a jolly good read at this site.

http://www.bowdensown.com.au/collection/ron-thorps-1964-ac-shelby-cobra

(Ken H)

[John McKechnie]

Steve- is that definitely wheels or tyres ?

[Steve Holmes]

Steve- is that definitely wheels or tyres ?

My thoughts would be that it was the tyres John.

[Terry S]

Steve there is no mention at all of Ron Thorp in the RCN report on this meeting.

In this 1966 photo of the Cobra it appears to rear guards have been extended/flared compared with photo above.

Possibly as result of Lakeside incident

http://autopics.com.au/66406-thorpe-cobra-v8-warwick-farm-1966-photographer-lance-ruting/

[Dale Harvey]

Yes, they were extended when he put Halibrand wheels on it. They were of course wider.
Dale.

[Terry S]

Yes, they were extended when he put Halibrand wheels on it. They were of course wider.
Dale.

Dale, it seems to me the rear guard extensions may have been done in two stages.

There is the initial crude version, showing top as reasonably flat.

Then in December 1965 more fancy guards were fitted to cover the Halibrand wheels. These look more like those on the Cobra 427. There is a photo on the Bowden site linked above that shows there being fitted.

[Ray Bell]

I suspect nothing was done prior to the fitment of the Halibrands...

I phoned Ron today and discussed this with him. The story on the Bowden site is essentially correct (though they've got the meeting date wrong, it was a fortnight later than that), Ron watched as they used a plumbob to check the tyres were within the bodywork. Only about 3/16" of ballooning sidewall wasn't, all the tread was, Ron felt it was pretty lame of them, then to be told he could tape the wooden coathangers to the guards topped it all off. He ignored, them, practised, lined up on the grid and was then told he wouldn't be in the results so he parked the car.

Later he had a good alloy man put a slice of extra width into the rears so the Halibrands would fit the rear with a bit of stretching to the fronts.

As we talked about his time with the car, which began with the 1965 Warwick Farm International meeting, he reminded me of how much time he spent at hillclimbs.

He told me of driving the car to Melbourne (Ron was in Wollongong, just south of Sydney, at the time) for the Australian Hillclimb Championship at the new Lakeland course. He asked on his arrival what class he could run in, being told he could run as a Sports Racing car, as a Sports Car (production based) or as a Racing Car.

"Good," he said, "I'll run in all three!" After winning his class in each category, and getting three times as many runs as anyone else, he loaded their gear back into the boot and drove back to Wollongong.

[Ray Bell]

Just for the record...

http://s26.postimg.org/4qw9cs1fd/0315lakeside_ATTstartht2.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

I suspect nothing was done prior to the fitment of the Halibrands...

I phoned Ron today and discussed this with him. The story on the Bowden site is essentially correct (though they've got the meeting date wrong, it was a fortnight later than that), Ron watched as they used a plumbob to check the tyres were within the bodywork. Only about 3/16" of ballooning sidewall wasn't, all the tread was, Ron felt it was pretty lame of them, then to be told he could tape the wooden coathangers to the guards topped it all off. He ignored, them, practised, lined up on the grid and was then told he wouldn't be in the results so he parked the car.

Later he had a good alloy man put a slice of extra width into the rears so the Halibrands would fit the rear with a bit of stretching to the fronts.

As we talked about his time with the car, which began with the 1965 Warwick Farm International meeting, he reminded me of how much time he spent at hillclimbs.

He told me of driving the car to Melbourne (Ron was in Wollongong, just south of Sydney, at the time) for the Australian Hillclimb Championship at the new Lakeland course. He asked on his arrival what class he could run in, being told he could run as a Sports Racing car, as a Sports Car (production based) or as a Racing Car.

"Good," he said, "I'll run in all three!" After winning his class in each category, and getting three times as many runs as anyone else, he loaded their gear back into the boot and drove back to Wollongong.

Fantastic story Ray. Thanks for posting. This is Ron competing at another hillclimb in 1967. The wider wheels and extended wheel arches are visible here.

45596

[Ray Bell]

King Edward Park...

What a great setting that was, and the hospital patients looked down on it all.

[Terry S]

Just for the record...

http://s26.postimg.org/4qw9cs1fd/0315lakeside_ATTstartht2.jpg

Just for the record, this is heat 2 for the 1965 ATT.

Competitors are :
Pete Geoghegan......Lotus 23
Ken Miles......Cobra 427
Frank Gardner......Mildren Maserati
Greg Cusack......Lotus 23
Spencer Martin......Ferrari LM250
Glyn Scott......Lotus XV
Frank Demuth Lola Mk 1
Denis Geary......Lotus 23
and I think the last car is Bob Salter's Elfin Streamliner

[Ray Bell]

That's right, Frank Gardner's only race start in the Mildren Maserati...

I remember it just like yesterday. It has less than a lap of life to go at this point, though it did roll all the way to the Karussell after the crankshaft broke.

[Steve Holmes]

He sure looks young here.

46450

[Ray Bell]

He would have just turned 80 now...

That photo is from January or February 1963 when he was twenty five and a half.

[Steve Holmes]

46564

[Terry S]

46564

This is definitely Graham Hill. It is probably from 1963 Australian InternatIonal Series when he drove the 4WD Fergusson P99

[Steve Holmes]

46745

[SPman]

A young Jim Palmer.

[Steve Holmes]

46809

[Terry S]

46809

This is John Surtees in the Lola Climax at Lakeside Qld for the International race in 1963.

[Ray Bell]

Practice day...

And who's in the Cooper in the background? I don't think it's Amon but it looks like Scuderia Veloce colours. That is, the car previously run by David McKay.

[Steve Holmes]

47416

[Ray Bell]

And his team mate, Tony Maggs...

[khyndart in CA]

Practice day...

And who's in the Cooper in the background? I don't think it's Amon but it looks like Scuderia Veloce colours. That is, the car previously run by David McKay.

Ray,
That would indeed be a very young Chris Amon driving David McKay's Cooper T 53.

47435




(Ken H )

[Steve Holmes]

47871

[Ray Bell]

Tony Shelly... Lotus...

Are there any pics of John Youl at this meeting?

[Steve Holmes]

Tony Shelly... Lotus...

Are there any pics of John Youl at this meeting?

Sadly not Ray, thats the last from this event.

[Steve Holmes]

47977

[khyndart in CA]

Ken Miles at Lakeside in his 427 Cobra.

I would think this is the car that Ken drove at Lakeside but that visit is not mentioned in this detailed history of the “The Ken Miles Car”

https://shelbyamericancollection.org/cars/1964-usrrc-cobra-roadster-csx2431/

47981
Ken Miles at Riverside, California.

[Dale Harvey]

Looking at some photos I have from Lakeside, the car he drove there had much wider rear guards (fenders).
Dale.

[khyndart in CA]

Dale,
I also don't see the BRDC logos on the doors when Ken drove at Lakeside. Perhaps this was a loaner just for the one occasion because the one he drove at Riverside was a rocket in the day and seemed to handle better than the # 4 Cobra.

Ken

[Steve Holmes]

Ken Miles at Lakeside in his 427 Cobra.

I would think this is the car that Ken drove at Lakeside but that visit is not mentioned in this detailed history of the “The Ken Miles Car”

https://shelbyamericancollection.org/cars/1964-usrrc-cobra-roadster-csx2431/

47981
Ken Miles at Riverside, California.

This is a 289 small block Cobra. But the side pipes do give it the look of the big block racing Cobras. The car Miles drove at Lakeside was a 427 big block CSX3002. I believe its the only 427 that was raced by the Shelby team?

[Steve Holmes]

51343

[Terry S]

51343

Obviously Leo Geoghegan, then Bob Holden in the Lynx Peugeot

[Steve Holmes]

Obviously Leo Geoghegan, then Bob Holden in the Lynx Peugeot

Is this the same Bob Holden who raced touring cars for many years?

[Steve Holmes]

51457

[Terry S]

Is this the same Bob Holden who raced touring cars for many years?

Yes Steve, particularly Ford Escorts and Toyota Corollas.

Won Bathurst 500 in 1966 in Cooper S

Still racing, probably Australia’s longest going racer

[Terry S]

51457

Spencer Martin

[Terry S]

51457

Spencer Martin

[Steve Holmes]

Yes Steve, particularly Ford Escorts and Toyota Corollas.

Won Bathurst 500 in 1966 in Cooper S

Still racing, probably Australia’s longest going racer

Thanks Terry.

[Ray Bell]

Bob Holden's Lynx started out with a smaller and unsupercharged Peugeot engine, by the time it was done it was a 404 engine with air pump... sold on to Colin Bond who made a name for himself in hillclimbs with it.

Among the touring cars Bob drove were: Peugeot 403, Peugeot 203, Repco-Holden FE ex-Stan Jones, Repco-Holden FJ, Minis by the bucketload, a couple of outings in an S4 Holden, alcon GT HOs, BMWs, Escort twin cams, 2-litre Escorts, Corollas, I'm sure there were others.

In addition he raced the Lolita sports cars.

[Steve Holmes]

Bob Holden's Lynx started out with a smaller and unsupercharged Peugeot engine, by the time it was done it was a 404 engine with air pump... sold on to Colin Bond who made a name for himself in hillclimbs with it.

Among the touring cars Bob drove were: Peugeot 403, Peugeot 203, Repco-Holden FE ex-Stan Jones, Repco-Holden FJ, Minis by the bucketload, a couple of outings in an S4 Holden, alcon GT HOs, BMWs, Escort twin cams, 2-litre Escorts, Corollas, I'm sure there were others.

In addition he raced the Lolita sports cars.

Thanks Ray, great info.

[Steve Holmes]

51551

[Terry S]

51551

I leave the hard ones for Ray Bell

[Ray Bell]

You mean that it's 1966 and that Bruce Burr is back to camera beside Greg Cusack's Brabham twin-cam? And that it's at Warwick Farm before the start of the 1966 International 100?

Or is it that Jim's on pole and that Greg's on the outside of the second row, faster than all the Australian and New Zealand 2.5 drivers?

Or that Jim's driving suit now belongs to Max Stahl, but he hasn't seen it in over forty years because somebody stole it? Or that the mechanic in the coloured overalls (orange) is next to Jackie Stewart's car?

[Steve Holmes]

You mean that it's 1966 and that Bruce Burr is back to camera beside Greg Cusack's Brabham twin-cam? And that it's at Warwick Farm before the start of the 1966 International 100?

Or is it that Jim's on pole and that Greg's on the outside of the second row, faster than all the Australian and New Zealand 2.5 drivers?

Or that Jim's driving suit now belongs to Max Stahl, but he hasn't seen it in over forty years because somebody stole it? Or that the mechanic in the coloured overalls (orange) is next to Jackie Stewart's car?

Good answer.

[Steve Holmes]

51623

[Ray Bell]

On the extreme right is Chris Snowden, brother of Nigel and himself a good photographer.

With the glasses semi-obscured by Jim is Peter Bakalor, the Autosport writer covering these races.

[Steve Holmes]

51696

[Ray Bell]

I don't know the BRM mechanic with Graham Hill here, but I can tell you this is another Warwick Farm grid pic from 1966.

[Grant Ellwood]

I don't know the BRM mechanic with Graham Hill here, but I can tell you this is another Warwick Farm grid pic from 1966.

I'm pretty sure it is Tony Cleverley who worked for Rob Walker for most of his career. Besides Hill, he spannered for many other top drivers including Moss, Siffert, Bonnier.

[Roger Dowding]

I don't know the BRM mechanic with Graham Hill here, but I can tell you this is another Warwick Farm grid pic from 1966.

And Ray Bell " Cottees " a soft drink maker in Australia for a long time !!

[Ray Bell]

And cordials...

Actually, they were better known for the cordials than the soft drinks. You can still get their cordials, but not soft drinks. There are also jelly crystals, jams etc.

Apparently it all started with 'Passiona', which was based on passionfruit, I wonder if that's what Graham is holding? Possibly that second line reads 'Sparkling Passiona'?

[librules]

And cordials...

Actually, they were better known for the cordials than the soft drinks. You can still get their cordials, but not soft drinks. There are also jelly crystals, jams etc.

Apparently it all started with 'Passiona', which was based on passionfruit, I wonder if that's what Graham is holding? Possibly that second line reads 'Sparkling Passiona'?

Alas, no. The 2nd line is 'Sparkling Drink/s' , the 3rd is 'So Refreshing'

[Ray Bell]

I wonder if anyone will come up with their jingle?

[librules]

How's this?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXUMo6RR-QM

[Grant Sprague]

Great photos mate , thank you .

[Steve Holmes]

52261

[Ray Bell]

Ray Parsons...

[Steve Holmes]

52523

[Ray Bell]

Frankly I should know who the man with the cap (BRDC?) and the skinny AARC tie is but I've forgotten. It's 1966 again, I'm pretty sure, Stewart's first appearance at the Farm.

[Steve Holmes]

52701

[Ray Bell]

Leo makes a face in the 32, this would be the last time he raced it at the Farm I'd think.

Note that we see here the other end of the Girling sign that is in the background of the Stewart pic above.

[Steve Holmes]

53062

[Ray Bell]

The Lotus 23 (Chassis No 23-S-15) which was later sold to and updated by Greg Cusack...

This looks like Lakeside, but it could well be Lowood. At this stage the car had a pushrod 1500 motor. Pete was still a growing lad then.

[Steve Holmes]

Sadly, folks, this is the last photo in this chapter, which also means its the last photo in the incredible Bruce Wells Collection. Its taken around four years to post every photo from this amazing collection, and I can't thank Bruce enough for sharing his stunning images. I hope you all enjoyed them.

53396

[Ray Bell]

Sad indeed, Steve...

So many good pics in the collection. So many that restore memories of great times and great places and great races. So many, too, of people no longer with us, that's the really sad part.

As for this pic, I can't pick it at all. It appears to me it's not a driver, maybe a mechanic? And I can't identify the car either.

[Oldfart]

Sad indeed, Steve...

So many good pics in the collection. So many that restore memories of great times and great places and great races. So many, too, of people no longer with us, that's the really sad part.

As for this pic, I can't pick it at all. It appears to me it's not a driver, maybe a mechanic? And I can't identify the car either.

Climax engine? Well finished, note the chrome on water pipes, that's not much to help!

[Steve Holmes]

Sad indeed, Steve...

So many good pics in the collection. So many that restore memories of great times and great places and great races. So many, too, of people no longer with us, that's the really sad part.

As for this pic, I can't pick it at all. It appears to me it's not a driver, maybe a mechanic? And I can't identify the car either.

Thanks Ray, I'm glad you enjoyed them. And I agree with your sentiments.

Re the last photo, the caption just says "WF Inter Matich 2-65". So I assume that to mean its the Warwick Farm International, February 1965. Could it be Frank Matich's Brabham?

[Ray Bell]

It could be Matich's car...

I might just send the pic to Geoff Smedley and see what he says about it, he was the chief spanner on the car at that time.

That was the meeting he fitted a rev limiting rotor button to it so Frank couldn't rev it so hard...

[Terry S]

Sadly, folks, this is the last photo in this chapter, which also means its the last photo in the incredible Bruce Wells Collection. Its taken around four years to post every photo from this amazing collection, and I can't thank Bruce enough for sharing his stunning images. I hope you all enjoyed them.

53396

I believe it is Frank Matich.

[Ray Bell]

Yes, Geoff just confirmed that it is...

And he also advised that the 'chromed water pipes' were polished aluminium.

[Oldfart]

Matich cars were always immaculate! To get that finish on thee alloy must have meant they had a bit of spare time :)

[Ray Bell]

Geoff did comment that he recognised that the car was from his time with it...

Always immaculate in his presentation, the John Youl car, Matich's cars, the Howard and Sons cars and the team of cars he prepared in Singapore.

[Terry S]

Sadly, folks, this is the last photo in this chapter, which also means its the last photo in the incredible Bruce Wells Collection. Its taken around four years to post every photo from this amazing collection, and I can't thank Bruce enough for sharing his stunning images. I hope you all enjoyed them.

53396

A strange thing is he has a Shell “cap” on but this car was owned by Total Oil.

[Ray Bell]

Yes, he's clowning around...

That's why the face looks a bit strange. And the Shell logo was why I didn't plump for him right away.

[Terry S]

It is a great pity these Bruce Wells photos have come to an end. They are so fantastic

The photos from Warwick Farm, Catalina and Oran Park are so great to me because I was probably at most of those 60's meetings and brings back such memories.

On this thread there are a couple of unresolved matters:

who are the guys in posts 5 and 6?

In post #166 is the Geoghegan car at Lakeside or Lowood? I think it's Lakeside because I don't think Bruce Wells went to Lowood.

Thanks again Steve for posting this truly fantastic collection

[Terry S]

51623

I notice on Clark’s driving suit that he is called “Jimmy”.

This is very unusual as I don’t think I have ever heard him referred to as other than “Jim”

Seems very American.

[Ray Bell]

Terry, if it's any help I reckon 5 and possibly 6 were taken at Catalina Park.

And the more I look at the one of Pete in the 23 the more I'm convinced it's at Lowood.

[khyndart in CA]

I notice on Clark’s driving suit that he is called “Jimmy”.

This is very unusual as I don’t think I have ever heard him referred to as other than “Jim”

Seems very American.

Terry,
I think it was much more than "very American."
54138
Foreword from: Jim Clark. Portrait of a Great Driver
by Graham Gauld

(Ken Hyndman )

[Terry S]

Terry, if it's any help I reckon 5 and possibly 6 were taken at Catalina Park.

And the more I look at the one of Pete in the 23 the more I'm convinced it's at Lowood.

Ray, as I noted in post#179 I believe the photo of Geoghegan in the 23 is at Lakeside because I can’t see any other photos that Bruce Wells took at Lowood.

[John McKechnie]

I had this person and cars sent to me , is anything in this thread for these cars, or is it later-

"My old boss and friend Stuart Kostera raced the ex Frank Matich SR3 and Garrie Coopers MS7"

[Ray Bell]

53062

Terry, I can't think of anywhere at Lakeside where that scene could exist...

The competition cars in the background with people sitting down at the fence, ostensibly to watch the racing, the apparent direction of the car's travel all add up to a difficult scene to fit in with Lakeside.

[Dale Harvey]

I had this person and cars sent to me , is anything in this thread for these cars, or is it later-

"My old boss and friend Stuart Kostera raced the ex Frank Matich SR3 and Garrie Coopers MS7"

Stuart Kostera raced after the shots were taken. He was from Western Australia.
Dale.