The Bruce Wells Collection - Hume Weir

[Steve Holmes]

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I've been really looking forward to posting this next batch of photos from the incredible Bruce Wells collection, simply because these are all from the charismatic little Hume Weir circuit near Albury. This neat little track has a downhill start/finish straight that leads to a right hand kink, followed by a tight right hand hairpin. Later in the lap, the track runs alongside itself in either direction, passing through a dug-out in a hill over which is a overpass. You can see this section in the opening photo above.

John Goss once described the first part of the lap in the 1976 book Evan Greens World Of Motorsport, heading through through the first kink and into the tight right hand hairpin as this: "The start at Hume Weir is slightly downhill. At the end of the straight there's a kink to the right and then downhill again into an absolute hairpin amongst trees. I can remember seeing drivers go out of my vision to the left and next lap around, they've been parked way out in the trees and I've wondered how they've got among so many trees without knocking their car to pieces. Remarkable parking".

This Hume Weir section shows action from both 1962, and 1964, kicking off first with 1962, at a meeting from December that year.

[Steve Holmes]

Kicking things off, I'm working on a combination of Bruce's photo names, and my own research, so if anyone can just in here and add more detail, please feel free to do so. The first shot is simply titled Morgan-Vanguard. The Allard Cadillac in the second shot I believe to be the J Skipper car. Can anyone help with this? The third shot is of the Holden powered Faux Pas of B Stilo. The fourth photo featuring the MG is of Ken Salmon, and last up is the Valliant of Ern Abbott, which I believe is the same car Abbott steered to 2nd place in the 1963 ATCC, behind Bob Janes Jag.

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[Steve Holmes]

There are just eight shots from the 1962 event. Here are the last three. First up is Don Algie in the Falcon. Don was quite a keen Studebaker driver at this time also, tackling the Armstrong 500 on a couple of occasions in Studebakers. Next up is the opening shot showing, I believe, the FX Holdens of Bill Jane, and Norm Beechey, sweeping beneath the overpass. On the left side of the photo you can see where the track heads in the opposite direction. Last up is Bob Janes Jaguar.

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[Steve Holmes]

OK, I'm scratching my head a bit here. This is from a September 1964 event. I can't seem to find any info on these vehicles and drivers. Any help would be appreciated. Ellis, where are you?

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

I'm trying to figure out who is driving the Lotus Cortina in the first two shots in this post. I'd guess its Bob Janes Cortina, but Bob himself is pictured elsewhere at this meeting driving his Jag. Any clues?

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

OK, final two shots from this chapter. The very last of these once again showing off the dramatic landscape of the Hume Weir circuit. Note the spectators perched on the edge of the cliff on either side of the track, with little preventing them from plummeting down onto the track. Very cool.

Next up, we're off to Bathurst!

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[Rod Grimwood]

May be Jane in Both cars, helmet is dark colour in both and head angle similar. May be in different races.

[Rod Grimwood]

Post #5 picture 4 has twin rear wings as in other thread Molina Monza, same car ?

[Rod Grimwood]

should pay more attention, the Molina Monza has higher rear wings and longer bonnet area. Pays to look twice.

[Steve Holmes]

Post #5 picture 4 has twin rear wings as in other thread Molina Monza, same car ?

Thanks Rod, it looks a bit like a modified Lotus 11, and possibly repowered, judging by the carbs sticking through the hood.

[Steve Holmes]

May be Jane in Both cars, helmet is dark colour in both and head angle similar. May be in different races.

Yeah you might be right. I think the Cortina was intended as the replacement for the Jag, and he raced it in the later part of 1964 and early '65 before his first Mustang arrived. But he did sometimes loan his cars out too.

[Rod Grimwood]

Wish he would loan one to me, maybe the Camaro now.

[bry3500]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL4iHeDNGr4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvMOFFlg3lw&feature=related

[Steve Holmes]

Ellis, our resident Humpy Holden anorak, has ID'd the #43 FX Holden pictured in a couple of shots above as being that of Norm Gown. Thanks Ellis!

[Ellis]

A few more for you Steve...
#9 / 15J JA Peebles
#5 / 72 B Shore
#4 / 43 Norm Gown
#5 / 56 Barry Murphy
#8 / 12 M Cock
#4 / 59 Bruce McPhee (Mini)

#7 / 10 Cortina. This may be G Russell tho it certainly looks like the Jane car

Info courtesy of parkey at Wodonga

[Steve Holmes]

Fantastic! Thanks Ellis for that. Yes the Cortina does look like the Jane car. He did replace the Jag with a Cortina. Perhaps this is one of its early outings? I think the Cortina was later fitted with side stripes along the bottom too, but early on I think it only had the stripes running down the centre.

[thunder427]

Fantastic! Thanks Ellis for that. Yes the Cortina does look like the Jane car. He did replace the Jag with a Cortina. Perhaps this is one of its early outings? I think the Cortina was later fitted with side stripes along the bottom too, but early on I think it only had the stripes running down the centre.

....Spoke to BJ the other day with reference to Hume Weir circuit,and if he did double 'Duties' in the Jag and the 'Lotus Cortina.....the basic answer was, 'Yes'!!!.....the discussion went something like this Quote;" Bob, did you drive the Jag and the 'little' Lotus Cortina at the Weir on the same day those years ago"???..... Quote; "whats with you Bloody 'Kiwi's, you always put Bloody 'Wee' in front of everything, must be the Pommy influence in your lot"!!!....I explained that we had our own identity and more correctly we should be recognized for whom we really are....'South Pacific Pom's!!!!!!......Bob also explained that he at that time owned 1/2 of the Hume Weir complex......also they used the track time to set up the Cortina as in those days you couldn't easily 'Hire' a track for development time.....basically the motivation behind the purchase of Calder Park Raceway in 1970...by the way Calder Park turns the big 'Five-o' next year ......watch for the ' party update!!!!.....regards thunder427/MJ

[Steve Holmes]

You da man Myles! Thanks for clarifying that. Makes sense to go straight to the source, just as well we have you here.

[105angria]

Anglia at hume weir

[John Medley]

Wonderful pics of a wonderful place to race.
I can identify several racing cars: Bob Minogue in the Sidney Rudge
#39 is an Elfin Aero
#114 is a Lynx
Lotus 18/??/ Lynx

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks again John, this is great stuff! Stay tuned, there are plenty more you can help with!

[Kevin Bartlett]

Meddles. I believe the Lynx is my FJ BMC car and is the only pic I've seen from that
visit to the weir. Has it been stated as to the date? KB

[Steve Holmes]

Hi there KB, good to see you posting on here. Bruce has labelled all the 1964 pics as AL-9-64; being Albury, and September (I assume)-1964. I'll try and confirm that with him.

[John Medley]

Hi Kevin
Have just revisited here since the large glitch, to find your post.
I have no Hume Weir records of that period. Now that you say it I can see that it is you in the car -- but I have no recollection of that Lynx in that livery. What colour was it then?
Hope you like the pic of Bob Minogue in the Sidney. Nearly fifty years on he was with his bike at Goodwood last year

[bry3500]

June 1972

[Steve Holmes]

Damn, thats cool!

[Rookie]

According the Mini experience magazine http://bmcexperience.com.au/issue-27/ray-molloy.html the Ray Molloy mini held the mini lap record at Hume Weir upon the tracks closure. Would there be any way to verify this via records, and whom would have the records?

Steve

[Oldfart]

June 1972

Wonder what they look like now!

[bry3500]

no details

[bry3500]

no details....

[bry3500]

more pics..

[AMCO72]

Post 33.. between the Bugatti on the grass and the Minis........that is one sharp looking car. Is it a Volvo?

[nigel watts]

Post 33.. between the Bugatti on the grass and the Minis........that is one sharp looking car. Is it a Volvo?

It looks pretty sharp alright & it certainly has that Volvo look about it.

[Steve Holmes]

Bry, these are great! They surely deserve their own thread?

[Steve Holmes]

Post 33.. between the Bugatti on the grass and the Minis........that is one sharp looking car. Is it a Volvo?

Could be that of Jerry Lister, he raced a similar looking Volvo in the early 70s.

[bry3500]

sure Steve..i just don't know who took the original pics...they came courtesy of John Low. I'll email him for some details
Could be that of Jerry Lister, he raced a similar looking Volvo in the early 70s.

[bry3500]

Pics courtesy John Low

[bry3500]

Prod Sports and Bolwells

[bry3500]

Bolwells

[Dale Harvey]

I can identify some of these cars. In post #32 the last photo is Brian Potts (Torana). Post #33 2nd photo could be Phil Lucas in the ex Jerry Lister Volvo. Post #34 1st photo is Steve Land (Torana) 2nd photo is Brian Potts (Torana).

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for filling in those details Dale. Out of interest, what engines would those Bolwells have been running?

[Dale Harvey]

Thanks for filling in those details Dale. Out of interest, what engines would those Bolwells have been running?
The car #32 is a Bolwell MK7 and should have a six cylinder Holden and the car #35 is a Bolwell Nagari and should have a 302 Ford.

Dale.

[Ellis]

A bit OT but IDs car
Jane Lotus Cortina at Longford 1965

Led Moffat till last lap from memory or at least late in race at Longford and mechanical failure put Moffat #25 Loscoretina in 1st place

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/CCI08062012_00014.jpg
Pic courtesy Bob Mc Laughlin Tas

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Ellis, great photo! Just out of interest, where did Moffat sought his Lotus Cortina from? Was it the same car he raced in the US, or was is a local Australian car?

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by bry3500
http://www.theroaringseason.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7966&stc=1&d=1335580368

Alan Newton in the Elfin 400 that started life as Matich's 'Traco Olds'... bad body by Fred Gibson who renamed it the 'R & T Chev'.

http://www.theroaringseason.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7967&stc=1&d=1335580375

I'm pretty sure this is Peter Warren in a Lotus 23 replica.

http://www.theroaringseason.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7968&stc=1&d=1335580383

And this one is the Gissing Holden with Alan Gissing driving... if it's 1975 as I think all these are. Otherwise it's Ken Walters.

Probably Easter or June 1975

[jim short]

There was a real nice Bowell Nagari??{oldfart will correct} at the Leadfoot ,had a ford V8.

[Steve Holmes]

Probably Easter or June 1975

Thanks Ray. By the way, great to see you here!

[zombie289]

Thanks Ellis, great photo! Just out of interest, where did Moffat sought his Lotus Cortina from? Was it the same car he raced in the US, or was is a local Australian car?

All Moffats Lotus Cortinas were sourced from the USA, first were Ex Team Lotus Cars that were shipped over to the USA for the Marlboro 12 hour races in 64 and 65. He then inherited the Alan Mann racing Cortinas that ran the Trans Am in 1966.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Pauly. How many of those ended up in Aus? Was it just the one car?

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by thunder427
.....Bob also explained that he at that time owned 1/2 of the Hume Weir complex......also they used the track time to set up the Cortina as in those days you couldn't easily 'Hire' a track for development time.....basically the motivation behind the purchase of Calder Park Raceway in 1970...by the way Calder Park turns the big 'Five-o' next year ......watch for the ' party update!!!!.....regards thunder427/MJ

While I wouldn't say it's simply not true, I didn't think Bob had any interest in Hume Weir until '70 or '71...

[Ray Bell]

Three more identified:

http://www.theroaringseason.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8005&stc=1&d=1335592835

Rex Colliver, Lotus 47, sold to Tim Trevor the following year (1976), it could be either but I think it's Colliver.

http://www.theroaringseason.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7979&stc=1&d=1335580562

Ken Hastings in the VW powered by BDG.

http://www.theroaringseason.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7973&stc=1&d=1335580547

Compare this pic:

http://imageshack.us/a/img255/9162/0313frrcnjan77saunders.jpg

This pic, the Walters (Gissing Holden) pic, the Elfin 300 pic:

http://www.theroaringseason.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7969&stc=1&d=1335580390

...as well as the Potts, Land, Lucas etc pics seem to be from the Boxing Day meeting of 1976. The RCN report shows that all were there. All but the Lotus 47, pretty much. Robbie Rowland in the Healey is too, Peter Hopwood sold him that car towards the end of 1975.

[zombie289]

Thanks Pauly. How many of those ended up in Aus? Was it just the one car?

Steve I would say at least three of them. The #2 Pre-Airflow car that ran at the Sandown 6hr, then the Airflow "black bumper" car, then the red/maroon ex-AMR car that ran the halibrand kidney bean wheels.

[Ron Simmonds]

The Mini number 22 in a couple of the shots is a young Alan Jones,yes the very same that went on to win a world championship.
Cheers Simmo

[Ron Simmonds]

The Mini No 22, is a young Alan Jones, yes the very same that went on to win a World Championship.

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, Ron, that is fantastic! Thanks so much for posting.

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[W154]

Good to see some photos of Prod Sports Cars, the forgotten class of Australian motor racing !!
At post 40 the Lotus and the Heally have been identified, car 69 is Dick Smith in the ex Trevethan MGB.
At post 41, Paul Trevethan MGBGTV8 leads Doug Seath in the Mk 7 Bolwell. Dick Smith MGB trying to get past the Datsun 260Z of Peter Tobin, Robbie Rowlands Austin Heally leads Dick Smith MGB out of Scrubb Corner, Doug Seath and Paul trevethan hard at it again, Doug Seath Bolwell Mk 7, DS finally gets the upper hand on the Trevethan MGBGTV8 which was having it's first racing run.
Post 42, the first 3 photos are the Chris Clearihan Bolwell Nagari, which was later horrifically destroyed at a Hume Weir meet when it end over ended on the "back straight", photo 4 is Doug Seath again and last photo Bolwell Nagari of John Latham .
No doubt about it bry3500 loves the Bolwells!

[Steve Holmes]

W154, fantastic! Thank you for filling in the gaps here.

[kennycooper]

Hi,

I am looking for history on a MG Holden TC raced by Rod Cooper as it appeared in the Boxing Day Hume Weir event in 1964 -The car was in the handicap event at least

Are there any shots of this car or knowledge of Rod Cooper racing an MG Holden TC in Victoria in 1964 - 1965?

[darren]

Excellent photos!! What a great little track!! I tried to find it on google maps, all I could find was some bitumen in someones backyard. Was that the track??

[seaqnmac27]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biJzOEm7yNA

[seaqnmac27]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcIdRjvKY3E