The Garry Simkin Collection - Part 1

[Steve Holmes]

6340We have Mike Feisst (kiwi285) to thank for these photos appearing here. Garry Simkin, like so many keen young race goers, wasn’t a professional photographer. And like many others, Garry figured nobody would want to see his old photos, because he didn’t have the flash gear, and was just an amateur enthusiast. But in fact, the opposite is true. As he told me, "They were mostly taken on an old Voightlander camera and are obviously quite amateur, but may be of interest to others".

These photos are gold, and incredibly enjoyable to see. They tell a story, they capture in time a small slice of history. They capture the rudimentary safety standards of the period, the backgrounds, the grandstands, the flaggies, the sea of spectators lining the edges of the tracks. And fortunately for us, Mike Feisst was able to convince Garry that his old photos would be appreciated by us, which they are.

Garry has joined up as a member on The Roaring Season, so I’m hoping he’ll jump in adding captions to these photos. These days he lives in New South Wales, Australia, and his spare time is eaten up through his love of air-cooled powered racing machines (both cars and bikes), and his involvement with the Loose Fillings newsletter, which he prepares along with Graham Howard and Terry Wright.

You’ll see there are double-ups of many photos. In fact, most of the photos were doubled-up on Garrys cd. Without the luxury of a powerful zoom, many of the cars were some distance away, so he has later come back and cropped them to enlarge the cars. This has improved some of the photos, but others I prefer the originals, as they often tell the story of what is happening in the background, and to me, the background in these old shots can be as interesting as the stars on the track. Sometimes, however, I couldn’t make a decision on which to show, so have just shown both!

The photos are all from New Zealands three North Island tracks; Pukekohe, Bay Park, and Levin, during the period spanning 1969 (ish) - 1972. There are approx 200 in all, so I'll be splitting them over 3 parts.

Anyway, here it is, the Garry Simkin Collection - Part 1. Enjoy.

[Steve Holmes]

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[pallmall]

Great photos, that one of McRae on the grid is absolute magic.

[GD66]

A few gems in there ! Can't say I recall ever seeing the McRae twincam in Crown Lynn colours.

Presumably the #8 Cambridge Brabham is Graham Watson ?

Is #45 Dauntsey Teagle ?

And the driver of the Heron still has a bit to learn about aerodynamics...:)

[Steve Holmes]

Next batch guys.

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[Russ Cunningham]

Don't apologise for the quality. Just great to see them.

[Steve Holmes]

Yep, I agree Russ, these are gold.

[Lee Tracey]

Love that first shot of the #18 Cambridge car. Assume the McRaeTwin cam that GD refers to is the #36 car?

More! More!
Lee

[Steve Holmes]

Boy, these are going down a treat!

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[Steve Holmes]

This one gets its own post! Love your work, Garry. Note the guys in the background. "Racing? What racing!"

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[Rod Grimwood]

They would be looking at the 2 Mercury Cougars (cars) in the shot wouldn't they. Know that is something you do not see now, 1 a bird in a bikini at the races and 2 a Mercury Cougar. I wonder if this were the saying "Cougar" came from. This site is full of history.

And great photos, that is history.

[Shano]

Hey that's my mother!

[David McKinney]

A few gems in there ! Can't say I recall ever seeing the McRae twincam in Crown Lynn colours
The first one was red, the second black



Is #45 Dauntsey Teagle ?
I think it's the original Cuda of Jim Stone (though brother Ross also raced it)

[105angria]

thanks Steve ,Garry, allways something great daily ,the tasman Ferrari was the nits tits as a boy , thanks that may be the first time its appeared here, was Graham Lawerence the only one to drive this ?

[Steve Holmes]

OK, next instalment. This photo is just brilliant, Garry catches Ulf Norinder as he spins towards the inside fence entering the Pukekohe back straight. Note those standing on/near the fence diving for cover! I guess they thought this was a safe place to watch from.

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[Steve Holmes]

Hey that's my mother!

Ha ha ha ha ha. Er, you are kidding, right?

[pallmall]

The Norinder spin reminds me of the McBegg incident.
The McBegg spun a little earlier and hit the fence that the Norinder car is heading towards.

Great photos.

[Steve Holmes]

Did Norinder actually hit the fence, or did he stop short? He finished the 1970 NZIGP 6th, so made the end of the race.

[pallmall]

Did Norinder actually hit the fence, or did he stop short? He finished the 1970 NZIGP 6th, so made the end of the race.

Stopped a couple of inches away from the fence. He was well practiced at that sort of thing!

[rogered]

Just giggling at the marshall on the track side of the fence.
And the power poles
:)

[Rod Grimwood]

Didn't Amon drive the Dino first.

[kiwi285]

When I first saw the photos I was on the email to Garry asking for his permission to send them on to Steve. There are some great shots here and more to come. I will be interested when we come up with caption to all of the photos. Love the black twin cam McRae - I had never seen it in those colours.

Wonder if there are any more such photo collection out there just waiting to be found again.

[Steve Holmes]

Stopped a couple of inches away from the fence. He was well practiced at that sort of thing!

Thanks Gavin.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, next batch.

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Wasn't that Frank Matich McLaren just the most beautiful thing!

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[David McKinney]

Chris Amon 1969, Lawrence 1970 and 1971, then sold to Europe

[M10B]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;10568]Wasn't that Frank Matich McLaren just the most beautiful thing!

Still is..!!!

[Steve Holmes]

Yes, good point! It looks as stunning as ever now.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, so winding down this first part of the collection. Can someone tell me whose is the Lola #32?

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[Steve Holmes]

Our man Garry sure has an eye for the ladies.

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[Steve Holmes]

Final post. Nice portrait shots, chilling in the pits.

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Part 2 will follow. Thanks Garry for sharing these.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, so winding down this first part of the collection. Can someone tell me whose is the Lola #32?

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Actually, I might be able to answer my own question here. Is it Malcolm Guthrie?

[pallmall]

Yes

[Lee Tracey]

Who is sitting next to Matich in the photo above?
Which one is the Matich Mac?
Is the #26 Neil Allen?

Can we get get some more ID's, even for the ones you recognise as being easy? Just to help us younguns out.
More of the 'atmosphere' shots please ;) :D

Cheers
Lee

[Steve Holmes]

Sorry.....

The Matich McLaren is the metallic blue #10
Niel Allen is #26
Kevin Bartlett Mildren Chevrolet is #5
Graeme Lawrence #14 Ferrari
The white #25 Lotus is David Oxton. This is at Levin. This car was originally intended for George Follmer. The same car appears in at Pukekohe in pink STP colours. Its driven here by Chris Amon, after Vince Granatelli purchased it, following the disappointing showing of Amons March 701 (#2) at Levin. Oxton drove this car at Pukekohe, and Teretonga.
The Cambridge McLaren is Frank Radisich
The yellow #3 Surtees TS8 is Mike Eyerley

Hope I got that right?

[garry simkin]

Final post. Nice portrait shots, chilling in the pits.

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Part 2 will follow. Thanks Garry for sharing these.

The three guys in this shot from Levin are Bill Simpson, USA, Frank Matich and his mechanic Graham ''Lugsy''Adams, later to become known for his exploits in an XU1 Torana and a self built F5000 car. He called it GA 1 or similar, we preferred The Lugsamatic.Somwhere i have pics of it i must drag out.
Garry

[Shano]

Thanks for sharing these Garry, very enjoyable and great shots. The McRae McLaren on the grid is terrific.

[kiwi285]

Thanks once again Garry for allowing these to be posted here and that you have managed to get the posting of responses underway.

[garry simkin]

The orange sports car in post # 6 is Gary Deakin in the ex Baron Robertson Heron T/C Ford at College Rd, Pukehou, Hawkes Bay during the running of the Gold Star event held there in december 1969.The blue open wheeler is Ken Bleakleys Cooper Ford, he won the open wheel class at the same event.
The bearded gent to the left of frame in post # 11 with Graeme Lawrence and Derek Bell is a real photographer, Jack Inwood.
Garry.

[Steve Holmes]

Fantastic, thanks Garry. This thread has really been popular, has had over 1000 views in just 3 days!

[Lee Tracey]

Thanks Garry. I have enjoyed these, even moreso with some ids now, and certainly look forward to Steve posting the next batch.

Cheers
Lee

[John Medley]

Great pics, Garry: all the signs of a productively misspent youth!

[Steve Holmes]

Yes John, you're right about that!