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View Full Version : Photos: The Bruce Wells Collection - Oran Park - Part 4



Steve Holmes
11-01-2012, 08:40 PM
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This is the final chapter of the Bruce Wells Collection from Oran Park. I have to say, I've had an absolute blast working through these Oran Park photos. For much of the 1960s, Oran Park was a small club circuit, which operated in the shadows of the high profile NSW tracks like Warwick Farm and Bathurst. And as such, it tended to attract the budget racers, the weekend warriors who were out to have a bit of fun with their home-built specials. These Oran Park chapters have shown a side of Australian motorsport history that is largely forgotten, as many of these cars and drivers flew under the radar, and rarely made media reports.

Oran Park was the home of Sports Sedan racing, which, by the early 1970s, was the biggest thing in Australian motorsport. And many of the photos in these chapters show the early evolution of Sports Racing Closed cars, which went on to become Sports Sedan racing. This was where it all began. But Oran Park wasn't just about modified sedan cars, the number of amazing, budget built specials that have appeared among these chapters have been just as fascinating.

Oran Park is gone now, and it hosted V8 Supercar rounds right to the end, but to me, this charismatic race track has always been all about the cars and drivers seen here in these photos, the grass-roots racers who helped make it what it was.

Steve Holmes
11-01-2012, 08:43 PM
The photos in this chapter are from two events, held in November 1965, and May 1967.

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Steve Holmes
11-01-2012, 08:45 PM
I assume the Mini Cooper and Cortina at the bottom of that last post are again John Harvey and George Garth, as seen in earlier chapters?

Steve Holmes
11-01-2012, 08:49 PM
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Dale Harvey
11-01-2012, 08:52 PM
Well said Steve, I agree, especially the last paragraph. That is Leon Pedzik in the Chev exiting Energol onto the straight.

Dale.

Dale Harvey
11-01-2012, 08:56 PM
Yes, John Harvey and George Garth. What a great shot. And the Porsche #76 would be Bill Hall. It had the engine turned around (amidship) and was supercharged.

Dale.

Steve Holmes
11-01-2012, 08:56 PM
Wow, you're quick out of the blocks this morning Dale! Fantastic. Thanks for the ID on the Pedzik 55 Chevy, I was wondering how quickly someone would correctly call this one.

Steve Holmes
11-03-2012, 03:15 AM
OK, time for the next batch:

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Steve Holmes
11-03-2012, 03:23 AM
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Rod Grimwood
11-03-2012, 11:12 PM
Those Morry Minors look staunch.

Steve Holmes
11-05-2012, 03:06 AM
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Steve Holmes
11-05-2012, 03:07 AM
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Steve Holmes
11-05-2012, 03:18 AM
Last two photos from 1965. Moving on next to 1967.

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Steve Holmes
11-06-2012, 04:10 AM
Alrighty, 1967. These are from a May 1967 event.

The John Leffler Mini appears a couple of times, can anyone ID the EH Holden Leffler is harassing?

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Steve Holmes
11-06-2012, 04:39 AM
I believ the Lotus Cortina is that of Chris Brauer, who later had the big Lakeside shunt in the ex-Jane Mustang.

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Dale Harvey
11-06-2012, 09:26 PM
I think the EH is driven by Tony Patch. Ex Warren Weldon car.

Dale.

Rod Grimwood
11-07-2012, 12:13 AM
Notice the 3 strips (normally masking tape) on the back of the Chev in photo 1. Remember we all went through this for first 3 club meetings being observed before full licence. Also a message to big boy's "I am new, give me room". That was here but obviously same in Aussie.
Also note the left rear losing a bit of its tread depth. wouldn't you love that car now.

Steve Holmes
11-07-2012, 12:47 AM
Hey thats well spotted Rod! Interesting the Chevy is right hand drive. Were these cars sold new in Aus?

Steve Holmes
11-07-2012, 12:47 AM
I think the EH is driven by Tony Patch. Ex Warren Weldon car.

Dale.

Thanks Dale, brilliant.

Steve Holmes
11-07-2012, 01:34 AM
Counting down towards the finish here guys.

I really love that Don Holland Cooper S. Got to see it in the flesh last season with owner Fred Sayers. Really neat little car.

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Steve Holmes
11-07-2012, 01:36 AM
Last ones. This amazing shot of these two Mini's is absolutely superb!

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Steve Holmes
11-07-2012, 01:38 AM
Next chapter for The Bruce Wells Collection is a very brief visit to the 1964 Silverdale Hillclimb.

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Mick
12-24-2012, 02:07 PM
Honda S600....Noel Riley?

Mick
12-24-2012, 02:08 PM
Healey....Ross Bond?