OLD FORMULA VEE RACING

[Russ Cunningham]

WOULD BE NICE TO SEE SOME PICS AND TALES OF THE EARLY DAYS OF FVEE.

SURE THEY WERE ANNOYING BLOODY THINGS TO THE PURISTS BUT THEY PROVIDED CLOSE RACING.

[Oldfart]

Would be even nicer for some of us to find a really old one to use for classsic sport!

[Russ Cunningham]

Get in touch and I'll put you on to a very early one.

[Grant Ellwood]

Russ, do you know what happened to the two old Vees that Oz Larry Small (I think) owned, Walter York ran one and I had the other (slower) one. At a Bay Park met Larry bought just one set of new tyres, Walter got the fronts and I got the rears. In that race Walter had the crash which badly injured his left leg (then I got the other tyres).

[Russ Cunningham]

Russ, do you know what happened to the two old Vees that Oz Larry Small (I think) owned, Walter York ran one and I had the other (slower) one. At a Bay Park met Larry bought just one set of new tyres, Walter got the fronts and I got the rears. In that race Walter had the crash which badly injured his left leg (then I got the other tyres).

I don't recall, Grant, but then again you are somewhat older than me. I was probably at primary school when you raced vees.

What a cunning way to get your hands on the new front tyres - punt poor old Walter off. I'll phone Walter - he may recall where the cars went.

[Grant Ellwood]

Actually Russ we are about the same vintage I but started racing Vees at age nine.
And I didn't punt Walter off though I did add some voddy to his pre-race coffee.

[stubuchanan]

This was probably the first Vee race to be run at Pukekohe, at the Northern Sports Car Club meeting on 9 November 1968.

http://s6.postimage.org/m83mb8ghd/Puke_NSCC_9_Nov_68006.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

I could name them all from the programme and the grid order noted at the time - several of the "usual suspects" Munro Hetterscheid Allen etc.. . However, some folk may want to play "spot the driver".

NSCC also had a Formula Vee race at their March 1969 meeting but I don't recall many others at National Meetings there. Perhaps they looked too slow going down the back straight!

Stu

[Oldfart]

#53 Roy King and he still has the cup!
A photo of the finish would be a good one!

[kiwi285]

Have just come across this website that has reference to the Valour FV cars.

http://valourff.blogspot.com/

[Oldfart]

Get in touch and I'll put you on to a very early one.
PM sent

[John H]

Baypark..1972? Hatton, Jones, Gough and Hodge I think...5329

[rf84]

Anyone else spotted the old Vee for sale on Trademe? Listing #693079175. Says Munro or McQueen but could also be Valour? Any suggestions as to what it might be?

[Powder]

Anyone else spotted the old Vee for sale on Trademe? Listing #693079175.

It looks like Oldfart is on to it. ;)

[Oldfart]

Do the names Pierre Phillips or Chuck Schaftall driving Vees mean anything?

[RGM]

A lot of the older Vee's where broken up to build newer cars as they evolved.There is a 1968 Vee in a workshop in Pukekohe with a known history.my son started out in it in 1990 it was a very tired twisty thing to drive but once we stiffened it(no smart comments please Russ] it was a great learner car.I have tried to buy it over the 9 years or so but to no avail it is all there and the motor still runs.

[BMCBOY]

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[BMCBOY]

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[morley faulkner]

HI I now have the Wainwright FV supposed to be one of the first ever built in NZ . Was it on that grid or do you have any infomation on it. Cheers.

[Roger Dowding]

Recently saw a request for information on the McQueen Formula Vee, and remembered I had a couple of photos of it and others at a Club Circuit meeting back in 1968.
[ These have been posted on the Pukekohe thread ]
- here in a mixed grid with some Sports cars U2's etc.

McQueen at the front - a young me looking at the transmission and my two mates standing beside - photo by the 4th guy that was in our group.

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In a group with others.

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[Milan Fistonic]

HI I now have the Wainwright FV supposed to be one of the first ever built in NZ . Was it on that grid or do you have any infomation on it. Cheers.

Yes it was entered for that race on 9 November 1968.

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This is the Motorman report of the race.
Taranaki man R. King led the 12-car Formula Vee race which opened the programme. For the entire eight laps he fought a close tussle with local boy Eric Wainwright, but managed to win by a tenth of a second. R. Allen and George Hetterscheid scrapped out third spot, but in a close final lap battle it was Barry Munro who came in fourth from Ivan Berry and Allen, the three Vees crossing the line almost side by side.

1. R. King 12m 28.4s
2. E. Wainwright 12m 28.5s
3. G. Hetterscheid 12m 38.4s
4. B. Munro 12m 36.4s

It was also entered in this race at Pukekohe on 8 March 1969.

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[Oldfart]

Roy King told me that at season end he sold the car, just as he had raced it, the new owner immediately made changes. Roy used the money to head overseas. Now he's back in Taranaki, as many will know, and amongst other things a collector of micro cars.

[Allan]

As I recall when the Vees were racing a lot of people went to the toilet, the bar or to find food. I stayed as has been said they may have been slow but their entertainment value was at some meetings the best there was.