The Peter Bruin Collection

[RogerH]

A few years back, the late great Peter Bruin gave me one of his photo albums as a start of a project to copy them electronically with the intent of recording them for posterity. Unfortunately Peter's untimely passing meant that only one of his many albums was copied.

Here are some of those photos.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/7200/82478076.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/14/82478076.jpg/)

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/6035/60877236.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/546/60877236.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8416/40196421.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/692/40196421.jpg/)

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4753/79554849.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/6/79554849.jpg/)

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/9483/91824075.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/502/91824075.jpg/)

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6032/22390309.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/21/22390309.jpg/)

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, Roger, these are stunning. I've seen one or two of them before, but didn't know who'd taken them. Thanks so much for posting them.

[RogerH]

Yes Steve, some of these I've posted on various threads before but I thought they should all be in one thread dedicated to the photographer - who was a lot more than just a photographer ..............

Here are a few more :

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/1132/42208766.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/36/42208766.jpg/)

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3114/40318300.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/40318300.jpg/)

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/8480/18200929.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/694/18200929.jpg/)

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1910/410lx.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/410lx.jpg/)

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/820/411vz.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/847/411vz.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/3391/413i.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/692/413i.jpg/)

[RogerH]

And some more :

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8866/414p.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/403/414p.jpg/)

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6632/415vx.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/528/415vx.jpg/)

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/115/416aa.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/683/416aa.jpg/)

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/9836/417a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/833/417a.jpg/)

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/1930/418f.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/684/418f.jpg/)

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/953/421a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/421a.jpg/)

[AMCO72]

Thats a cool looking dude in the Daimler, wonder who it is. And in fact, it looks like another one alongside.....hence the 'Ecurie Daimler' sticker. I'm sure it must be someone famous......look at the overalls.....DUNLOP. mmmmmmm.

[AMCO72]

At first I thought it was Jim Palmer, as the helmet has a similar stripe, but I dont think so. Was it a celeb race? Look at the prep on the Daimler.....very nice low screen, Triumph TR6 wheels. Our Man is adjusting his mirror for any eventuality.....it all says 'professional' to me. Another pic has the other Daimler, No 59, on wires but maybe a different race. Certainly the Triumph wheels set the car off......dont wheels make a HUGE difference to the look of a car.....just slightly wider and more aggressive, after the pathetic things that were on the SP250 originally. Could it be a candidate for Oldfarts racing poking its nose in on the picture with the 'streamlined' Holden, the mighty Citroen L15. Great pictures.....more please!!!!

[RogerH]

If it is who I think it is, he was in a Daimler team with his father and he subsequently progressed onto a very successful single seater career ......... and his son races in the BMW E30 series .........

[AMCO72]

Is this who, what and where??????

[RogerH]

Oops - wrong thread ;). Maybe I should have just said that it was a good photo of David Oxton in the Daimler.

[RogerH]

Some more Peter Bruin photos :

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/5261/422l.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/846/422l.jpg/)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/4826/bofpn.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/69/bofpn.jpg/)

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7389/file0202b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/13/file0202b.jpg/)

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3320/file0202a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/441/file0202a.jpg/)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3788/file0203.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/217/file0203.jpg/)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5742/file0208v.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/231/file0208v.jpg/)

[Steve Holmes]

These are bloody fantastic Roger.

[RogerH]

Some more Peter Bruin photos :




http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7389/file0202b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/13/file0202b.jpg/)



http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3788/file0203.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/217/file0203.jpg/)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5742/file0208v.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/231/file0208v.jpg/)

I have ended up having a connection with some of these cars - the Lola Mk2 (in the garage with the white stripe and #128 in the wet Puke race) was John Histed's car which raced in Europe in 1960 as car #3 of a quasi Lola works team run by Team Fitzwilliam Racing. In 2005 I was fortunate to find the team's #1 car in the loft of a private museum in the Black Forest in Germany and bought it out here and after a refurbishment it is now raced at most opportunities. John Histed was amazed that his team car ended up in Auckland 50 years after his had arrived and graciously presented me with all his spare parts that he had stored for well over 40 years.
The car in the last photo is the A40 Special driven by John Curtis. This car was originally built by my great uncle Des Herrick and as mentioned in other posts it was rebuilt by Bruce McLaren and was also Chris Amon's first race car. I got it back into family ownership a few years back and it is now running.

[RogerH]

Diverting a bit from the Peter Bruin thread (I will get back onto it) - here's a photo of my Lola Mk2 mentioned above :

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6320/fj383.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/72/fj383.jpg/)

[RogerH]

Some more of Peter's Photos :

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/4075/file0208a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/607/file0208a.jpg/)

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4508/file0208b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/5/file0208b.jpg/)

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/2081/file02091.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/695/file02091.jpg/)

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/8809/file02091a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/file02091a.jpg/)

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/7968/file02091b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/254/file02091b.jpg/)

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/2384/file0211.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/file0211.jpg/)

[RogerH]

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/9237/file0211b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/file0211b.jpg/)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/923/file0214d.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/716/file0214d.jpg/)

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6576/file0214a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/35/file0214a.jpg/)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6266/puke2.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/204/puke2.jpg/)

[Rod Grimwood]

Oops - wrong thread ;). Maybe I should have just said that it was a good photo of David Oxton in the Daimler.

I was going to throw that in, as David Oxton, Jim Murdoch, and a Roger Smith were all mates back then and all had Daimler Sp's (for another thread)

I had the fortune to get to know Peter Bruin pretty well over the years, He shared a workshop with Bill Shields for along time

[Steve Holmes]

Roger, do you know what became of the other albums Peter had?

[RogerH]

Roger, do you know what became of the other albums Peter had?

Yes, I know where they are and I'm hoping that in time they can be made available for scanning.

[Steve Holmes]

Thats good news Roger, as long as they're safe.

[pallmall]

Unfortunately a number of years ago boxes of Peter's slides taken when he was working with McLaren in the USA were stolen from the back of his vehicle. But, yes the rest of his photos are safe.

Maybe Roger, for those who may not know, could you write a little about Peter's other achievments?

[Rod Grimwood]

That would be an interesting article, as a lot of NZ motorsport history involved with Peter, for such a quite guy he did alot in all forms of motorsport.

[Steve Holmes]

Roger, the black MkI Zephyr that is pictured a couple of times, is this Spencer Black? Also, where was the photo of Coppins leaning over his Zephyr hood taken?

[RogerH]

Maybe Roger, for those who may not know, could you write a little about Peter's other achievments?

I'll try and get something together but I don't know detail of all of Peter's extensive motor sport involvement. Because he lived and worked locally we use to catch up in his workshop (he worked from home in later years) as he and I were interested in old Jaguars and he did some fabrication work on my race cars and some magnesium welding for me. His fabrication and welding was superb and even recently an old race mechanic was working on one of my cars and spotted a weld and said "only Peter Bruin could have done that". When he passed on, I bought a few trailer loads of tools, parts and race car jigs off his wife in order to essentially preserve the many jigs for old Cooper, Lotus, Brabham etc race cars.
From what I know Peter had a history with McLaren in both the UK and the US. He also built the first VW engined speedway midget which Barry Butterworth drove and Peter was very proud of this car and had a number of photos of it on his wall.
He was a very low key guy who did not boast about his achievements but he was recognised as one of the best fabricators around and he was sort out by overseas owners to do fabrication work on their cars. I recollect seeing him reconstruct 1960's single seater chassis that looked exactly like they were in period and one of his last jobs was rebuilding a McLaren CanAm monocoque.
He was a very clever guy.

[RogerH]

Roger, the black MkI Zephyr that is pictured a couple of times, is this Spencer Black? Also, where was the photo of Coppins leaning over his Zephyr hood taken?

I'm pretty sure the Mk1 Zephyr was the one owned by Ivan Cranch. It had a Jaguar motor set back in it so Ivan had to sit squashed to the side and changed gear almost behind himself. Peter and Ivan lived close by each other and I think Peter may have done some work for Ivan.

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/4189/418as.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/418as.jpg/)

I'm not 100% sure where the Rod Coppins photo was taken but at a guess it could be Matamata.

[Howard Wood]

In a sport with its fair share of "blow hards", Peter stood out as a quiet achiever and a genuinely nice bloke. Although he had a period career as a race mechanic he always said he preferred the welding torch to the spanner and his fabrication work was quite sublime.

Sorry but I can't help myself, the Mk 1 pictured is in fact a Consul, I would guess to be competetive amongst Lotus Cortinas etc the 4 cyl Consul motor would have been long gone.

[GeebeeNZ]

Thanks Howard. You just beat me to it. Yes Ivan Cranch's car was indeed a 4 cylinder Consul. I think they may have had a shorter bonnet to the 6 cyl Zephyr making the Jaguar implant even more of an achievment.

[RogerH]

Here is an example of a project Peter was involved with. The following explanation from Norm Holloway gives the background :

"Thought you might like to see the 'finished product'. Bruce Ellwood originally commissioned the alloy body which was based on the Ferarri 500 F2 car. John Hearne bought the project but was unhappy with the Alfa 105 series running gear which he considered to be 'out of period'. He aquired a couple of derelict Alfa 1900 doner cars and had Peter Bruin design and build a 'period' chassis. this included changing to transverse leaf springing and building up a De Dion rear end. Graeme Brayshaw sorted the engine (his workmanship was complimented on by the English tuners). Sadly for us, the car is now domiciled in the UK where John hopes to run it in hillclimbs. He has already been told that it will be accepted at both Shelsey Walsh and Prescott."

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/6483/hearnealfa.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/856/hearnealfa.jpg/)

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/1170/hearnealfaa.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/hearnealfaa.jpg/)

[bob homewood]

Thanks Howard. You just beat me to it. Yes Ivan Cranch's car was indeed a 4 cylinder Consul. I think they may have had a shorter bonnet to the 6 cyl Zephyr making the Jaguar implant even more of an achievment.

Yes the Consul had shorter front guards etc and there was a difference in the bulkhead area as well ,I remember that from some guy years ago who thought he could put the 6cyl Zephyr motor straight in

[bob homewood]

4095

David you can probably help with this one ,I have the same group photo from another source named "Shell Drivers " ,looking at those present and the badges on most of the overalls that would make sense to me why they were together for this photo shot

[David McKinney]

Yes, it was done for a Shell advertisement. I happened along at the time and have a similar photo - except that none of the drivers is looking at me :o

L-r: Ken Sager, Johnny Riley, Jim Palmer, Andrew Buchanan, Bryan Thomas, Kerry Grant

Taken at the November 1964 Pukekohe meeting, I think

[bob homewood]

Thanks David ,you have restored my faith in my memory a little bit

[Steve Holmes]

I'm pretty sure the Mk1 Zephyr was the one owned by Ivan Cranch. It had a Jaguar motor set back in it so Ivan had to sit squashed to the side and changed gear almost behind himself. Peter and Ivan lived close by each other and I think Peter may have done some work for Ivan.

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/4189/418as.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/418as.jpg/)

I'm not 100% sure where the Rod Coppins photo was taken but at a guess it could be Matamata.

Thanks Howard, yes I did wonder that when I was punching out that post, maybe it was a Consul. I'm one of those people who needs to see both models parked side by side to tell the difference.

[Steve Holmes]

Here is an example of a project Peter was involved with. The following explanation from Norm Holloway gives the background :

"Thought you might like to see the 'finished product'. Bruce Ellwood originally commissioned the alloy body which was based on the Ferarri 500 F2 car. John Hearne bought the project but was unhappy with the Alfa 105 series running gear which he considered to be 'out of period'. He aquired a couple of derelict Alfa 1900 doner cars and had Peter Bruin design and build a 'period' chassis. this included changing to transverse leaf springing and building up a De Dion rear end. Graeme Brayshaw sorted the engine (his workmanship was complimented on by the English tuners). Sadly for us, the car is now domiciled in the UK where John hopes to run it in hillclimbs. He has already been told that it will be accepted at both Shelsey Walsh and Prescott."

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/6483/hearnealfa.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/856/hearnealfa.jpg/)

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/1170/hearnealfaa.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/hearnealfaa.jpg/)

This is stunning! Would love to see some in-build shots if there are any available.

[BMCBOY]

I managed to get a few photos of Peter Bruin's Cooper at a National Meeting at Pukekohe
when they were using the Elbow and photographers could stand on top of the stables.
Great position to stand.
4102p

[Steve Holmes]

That is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[Rod Grimwood]

Steve, Peter made me some extractors for my Escort back in 86 when i was talking to him about the problems i was having getting anything the right size to fit, he said drop car down and i will do them in spare time. They are all separate pipes to length and twist down and around into slip on collector under firewall, still got them. The workmanship is unreal. He was a real gentleman. A clever one at that.

[Steve Holmes]

Is there anything better looking than a nicely crafted set of headers? Actually, don't answer that! I'd love to see some pics of those though Rod.

[BMCBOY]

I have found a few more pictures of Peter Bruin and his cars in my archives 4103
4104
4105
4106
4107
4108

[RogerH]

This is another car that Peter designed, built and raced - the Fiat Targa - does anyone of any period photos?

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/360/ws1002i05p6258.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/714/ws1002i05p6258.jpg/)



Photo from Groundsky

[David McKinney]

I suspect there might have been one in Motorman in period

[BMCBOY]

A few shots of Peter Bruins's replica Lotus 11. An absolutely beautiful job powered by a
converted Fire pump Climax and quite a good performer too
4228
4227
4226

[kiwi285]

What a great looking race car and a credit to its builder. Does the car still exist and if so is it still in NZ ?

[RogerH]

What a great looking race car and a credit to its builder. Does the car still exist and if so is it still in NZ ?

It went to Italy last year.

[John H]

5239
I had a one off race with the Targa Fiat...A National sports car race about 1974. I came in about 5-6th with the bigger 2 L.. rear engined cars ahead. The car was as Peter sold it but it was red rather than the original yellow. I think it was only 1340cc with nice side draft Webers..not twin cam but was a sweet little car to drive. After 3 years in F Vs any car felt good to me. I also gained a rather painfull burn on my right leg as some insulation seems to have fallen off near the engine.

[pallmall]

This is the first VW Midget that Peter built, driven by Barry and Max Butterworth, Brent Holden and others. Now in Australia, the car was restored by Peter's great mate John Stanley. Photographed at Brisbane 2006.
Peter built other midgets and TQs.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/Midgets%20two/PB1.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/Midgets%20two/PB2.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/Midgets%20two/PB3.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

5239
I had a one off race with the Targa Fiat...A National sports car race about 1974. I came in about 5-6th with the bigger 2 L.. rear engined cars ahead. The car was as Peter sold it but it was red rather than the original yellow. I think it was only 1340cc with nice side draft Webers..not twin cam but was a sweet little car to drive. After 3 years in F Vs any car felt good to me. I also gained a rather painfull burn on my right leg as some insulation seems to have fallen off near the engine.

John, thats a fantastic photo! Thanks for posting it.

[reebok]

348183481934820Peter Bruin made two Eleven replicas. I have the one he made for a friend. Since this photo was taken, the car is now on club registration, been mechanically refurbished, and is just about to have the bodywork refurbished. For the purists, I have changed the mirrors to period pieces.
This one is powered by a alfa giulietta engine.
I brought this car into Australia in 2000 for another gent, and took ownership myself last year.
Easily able to be driven daily. Since I live in the hills surrrounding Melbourne, my drive can involve country roads as well as highways.
Pics now added

[Roger Dowding]

Peter Bruin made two Eleven replicas. I have the one he made for a friend. Since this photo was taken, the car is now on club registration, been mechanically refurbished, and is just about to have the bodywork refurbished.
This one is powered by a alfa giulietta engine.
I brought this car into Australia in 2000 for another gent, and took ownership myself last year.
Easily able to be driven daily. Since I live in the hills surrrounding Melbourne, my drive can involve country roads as well as highways.
As soon as I work out how to add a pic.

reebok, look forward to the pic, here is another Lotus 11 replica, again Peter Bruin's work.
AHCCNZ Otaua Hillclimb mid 1980's, on the run ..
34790

in the pit area, " on the side of the road !! "
34791

P S was driven by Denis Ganley, who has seen the pictures..

[reebok]

Pics added

[John H]

John, thats a fantastic photo! Thanks for posting it.
Yes that one was taken by the great Jack Inwood.

[Rod Grimwood]

I am very lucky to still have the original special extractors that Peter built for my Escort, true pieces of art and engineering.

[John H]

Ross Cammick has come up with this photo from 1975 Puke To arrive !! :)

[BMCBOY]

Is this the one you want to post John. Puke chicane on Rothmans 1974

37079

[John H]

Thanks a lot Ross? . A great photo
Is this the one you want to post John. Puke chicane on Rothmans 1974

37079