5 Attachment(s)
Ardmore in the Pukekohe Era. The Classic Motor Races of 1989
Ardmore Airfield was the site of the New Zealand Grand Prix from 1954 to 1962, when the event moved to Pukekohe.
Auckland Car Club and Northern Sports Car Club used to run events at Ardmore called " Little Ardmore " in January February annually and when the Races at Ohakea Air Force Base and Airfield were cancelled because of Military requirements an additional event was run at Ardmore - the " Ardmore 50 ".
In 1983 an event was held at Pukekohe called the Ardmore - Pukekohe Reunion meeting.
- in January 1989 a real Reunion Meeting was again held at Ardmore.
Photos have been posted before but in response to my photos being put on Old New Zealand Motor Racing, Mike Courtney of Austin Seven and RA Vanguard fame -
[ he owned the RA Vanguard as bits in the 1980's as a running machine but not restored ]
posted these images.
The List of Entrants and Notes from the " Historic Racing and Sports Car Club, and a montage of photos that appeared in a Newspaper - not named.
The HRSCC list
Many great names on there, sadly some of them have gone to the Race Track in the Sky.
Attachment 75939
The HRSCC notes
Attachment 75940
The Montage of photos ;
Attachment 75941
The Car Sticker from the meeting archive of Ross Hollings who was racing that day in his Mini-Cooper.
Attachment 75942
One of my photos from the Day - the Sports Cars on the dummy grid - with the three Austin Healey entries a BN2 100 Mark Donaldson, who still has the car and two AN5 Sprites Steve Hill Red AN5, Anthony ' Tony' van de Water AH5L758, the white Sprite that he also still has. Have recently discovered that Tony's car was originally Left Hand Drive,
Attachment 75943
6 Attachment(s)
Pukekohe - A Wings and Wheels meeting 1980's - Tony Growden archive photos
Photos from a Wings and Wheels meeting at Pukekohe - remember attending one of them, main sponsor was an Auckland Radio Station.
This set of Sports Cars from one of the events.
The Peter Bruin restored Lotus X1, now with the Sharp / Ganley family - was Howdens car back in the 1960's with the Motordrome Team.
Attachment 76158
The Dave Silcock XK120
Attachment 76159
The Paton Ford Special, that was owned by Jim Short at one time, he had it at Ardmore in 1989 - the Reunion meeting.
Attachment 76160
Facing the other way.
The Tony Herbert Ginetta, now in Europe with Richard Bauz.
Attachment 76161
Buckler - the MGA powered Ian Hallet car
Attachment 76162
Another photo of the Lotus XI
Attachment 76163
The other cars feature are in the background of some of the photos, the Buckler and also another Buckler the Green / Yellow car that is now in Europe.
2 Attachment(s)
Rothmans - the Hill - you better move .. just thinking !!
A photo that had apparently been lost for a while - a Mini hitting the Bank at Rothmans, people scurrying away from the edge of the track.
- All looks OK but look up high.
Distinct lack of fencing along Rothmans, just the men in White Coats - did that job myself with NSCC many times.
Photo from " Ethel de Aardvark " - correct name not known, but a friend of " JohnB " E de A - now lives in Australia.
Date of photo not confirmed 1966 is a guess
- * note from Milan Fistonic " November 1965 meeting at Pukekohe "
Attachment 76197.
Lost a front myself back in 1967 in Titirangi, came a round a corner and the nose dropped as the wheel had torn away from the stud holes.
Early Mini wheels were known to have this issue.
They, the " 10 x 3.5 inch " with 5.20 x 10 tyres got replaced by later Mini wheels widened by Dave Jolly to " 10 X 5 " and had 5.90 x 10 Firestones fitted, as seen here.
Attachment 76198
1 Attachment(s)
Photos - not Pukekohe but Baypark
A series of photos have emerged - John Larry Lawton has been given Terry Baker photos from the 1971 - The October Winfield meeting.
Should go on the Baypark Story - but here is an example.
Jim Smith brought the car to NZ, not sure how many meetings he attended.
Rod Grimwood and Milan Fistonic both have images from Magazines of the time - Autonews etc
Attachment 76793
6 Attachment(s)
Benson and Hedges Race 1971
What began as the " Wills Six Hour " Race - for Standard Production Saloons - in October 1963 Developed into two Races by 1965 with the Introduction of the " Gold Leaf Three Hour Challenge " Race for Modified [ Factory ] Saloons and Sports Cars in 1965. By 1967 the Challenge Race was " Wills Challenge Race ".
The Race became the Benson and Hedges 500 and continued into the 1980's as such.
A selection of photos from Kevin Lancaster of the 1971 race.
First 2 photos - first lap first corner - the Elbow / Stables.
Attachment 76885
Attachment 76886
Ralph Emson - Doug Bremner Triumph 2.5PI, pursued by another 2.5PI.
Attachment 76887
Graeme Harvey - Don Davies 2.5PI at the hairpin.
Attachment 76888
Barry Phillips Bruce McLean Ford Cortina 2000GT
Attachment 76889
A couple of the " Big " cars ;
- Bruce Anderson Pat Smith Ford Falcon 500 and Tim Bailey Merv Neil Chrysler Valiant V8.
Attachment 76890
5 Attachment(s)
Pukekohe - Programmes 1963 to 1986.
A selection of programmes covering the early to mid years of Pukekohe 1963 to 2023.
1963 December Blue Cover and 1964 April Red Cover ACC Meetings - White cover is from 1960 - presume meeting was at Ardmore.
Attachment 76893
Wills Six Hour meetings 1964 - 1967 - anticlockwise from bottom right 1964
Attachment 76896
1966 ACC and NSCC National Meetings
Attachment 76894
1967 ACC and NSCC
Attachment 76895
1980's
- 1981 and 1985 Benson and Hedges Programmes and the 1986 New Zealand Grand Prix
- Only two makes of cars entered for the Grand Prix Race - Ralt RT4 [ 13 cars ] and Chevron B34 [ 2 ]. The GP had lost its status but had 5 drivers from the USA and one Private Entry from Australia.
Attachment 76897
The Programmes came from Allan Cameron, Lloyd Gleeson, and Ross Cammick.
6 Attachment(s)
Pukekohe 1964. at the Elbow
At the Elbow - 3 images, Photos two and three from the same Race, 1st Lap by the looks - the third believed to be the same meeting ACC April 1964 the Season Ending meeting for ACC, NSCC ran one in May.
Attachment 76972
Attachment 76973
Attachment 76974
John Hatton in his Mark One Zephyr at the tail of the field.
John gave me the Progamme some years ago and in 2022 I got another copy from Lloyd Gleeson with the handwritten details.
Entry Lists for a three of the Saloon Car Races. with results
Attachment 76975
These two Race pages were blank apart from the Race details and has handwritten names and numbers for the cars - have added the drivers names and cars to the original copies.
Attachment 76976
The last Saloon Car Race for the day.
Attachment 76977
3 Attachment(s)
Same Car Same Meeting Same issue - 1970.
Pukekohe in 1970 Dave Silcock in his Mark 2 Jaguar Saloon - lost he windscreen and kept racing ;
Three different images of the racing.
Photo by Kevin Lancaster ;
Attachment 77012
from a magazine article - Rod Grimwood archives. edit - just checked.
Attachment 77013
From Allan Dick Autonews a 1970 Edition - photo was across the pages, so a join in the middle.
Attachment 77014
6 Attachment(s)
Bank of New South Wales series - 1970's 3 events
Entry lists and " Official Report " of results as issued by the Club running the event - all images from Milan Fistonic.
Entry Lists have notes on them ;
Attachment 77070
The Results - the NZ International Grand Prix meeting January 1973.
Attachment 77071
1974 at the NZIGP meeting
Correction from Milan
[ The 1974 NZIGP was held at Wigram.
The Pukekohe event was called the Peter Stuyvesant $100,000 Championship Air New Zealand International Race. ] details on the Results List too !! my oops.
Attachment 77072
The Results.
Attachment 77073
1975 - at the NSCC National Meeting in March [ posted on NSCC thread - belong here to keep together ].
Attachment 77074
The Results.
Attachment 77075
In each case as the " Official Report " there are the Race Incidents noted as well as fastest lap and Placings.
Notes - newspaper article on the 1975 event to follow
2 Attachment(s)
BNSW series March 1975 - the report. Newspaper article on the 1975 event to follow
" newspaper [ Magazine ] article on the 1975 event to follow ".
Attachment 77076
The Entry List - First Division Race 3 of the day [ again ] ;
Attachment 77077
Austin A40 Farina pair and the Anglia - would have been " Old " cars by then - even though repowered.
3 Attachment(s)
Ardmore 1954 - before Pukekohe there was Ardmore 1954 - 62.
Notes from David Zeunart;
" Maybach Month : November 2024 : Day #3
A "Magnificent" photograph of a "Beaming & Tired BUT Jubilant" Stan Jones being congratulated after his fabulous win in the Charlie Dean / Repco Research Maybach Special racing car which had just won the Auckland International Grand Prix @ the Ardmore circuit in New Zealand on January 9th 1954 : 2nd place winner British racing driver Ken Wharton pictured here shaking hands with Stan : Next to Ken Wharton is Mr Phillip Seabrook : President of the Auckland International Grand Prix organisation : Lex Davison is next with Charlie Dean in overalls & Bib Stillwell with the Bolex movie camera in his hand : Without any doubt whatsoever this was the Maybach specials finest racing win beating the might of the fabulous B.R.M. P15 - 1496cc : V16 supercharged racing car of Ken Wharton plus also Peter Whiteheads Ferrari F1 - 125 : 1995cc : V12 whose clutch & flywheel collapsed on lap 15 of the 100 lap event forcing him to retire from the race : "
note words as on the post " Bolex - is probably Rolex ".
Attachment 77204
Photo courtesy of the Charlie Dean family archive : "Zeunert Motorsport Archive" "
The results;
Attachment 77205
More details are in the Graham Vercoe books on New Zealand Motor Racing, especially " The Golden Era of New Zealand Motor Racing " 14 cars finished another 10 were DNF's and more either did not start including a few that did not arrive..
Ardmore and Pukekohe Race programmes - missing from the image is the 1954 Programme.
Have the 1957, and 1960 - 61 and 62 issues, thanks to " Allan " on TRS..
Attachment 77206
6 Attachment(s)
Ardmore 1959 the Sixth New Zealand " International " Grand Prix.
A very International entry with drivers from the USA, England, Europe and Australia, plus of course our " Local Lads ".
A photo has emerged from Roger Herrick of the Maserati entries in the paddock at Ardmore.
#1 driver Joe Bonnier, Sweden
#5 one of the Temple Buell entries - driver Carroll Shelby, USA
next to that probably
#3 the other Temple Buell car of Harry Schell, France.
The Temple Buell cars were described as the Piccolo Maserati's because of their long shaped noses.
Other Maserati's were ;
#10 of Bib Stillwell, Australia in a 250 F
#12 of Giancarlo Scarlatti,
whilst the New Zealand entries were ;
#18 Ross Jensen Entrant and Driver in a 250F
#20 entered by Ross Jensen, driver not stated in the programme as ' tba ', a 250F.
#24 Gavin Quirk as Entrant and Driver, another 250F.
Attachment 77325
The Grand Prix had two Heat's of which the first 10 cars qualified for the Grand Prix.
The placings are on the image for each Heat.
- Milan Fistonic archives.
Attachment 77327
The Full Entry List from the Programme;
Attachment 77328
The Programme cover - another image borrowed as I do not have a copy.
Attachment 77329
The Sports Car field that day was also large and some cars were entered in the Grand Prix also including the Austin Healey 100S of Graeme Pierce and M Richards, which did not qualify -
- as noted elsewhere by Milan Fistonic [ on the Austin Healey thread ]
Attachment 77330
6 Attachment(s)
Ardmore 1959 - The Maserati group. and #24
Another photo from Roger Herrick archives; A much better photograph as the cars are not surrounded by spectators
The four 250F Maserati cars 2 long nose and two Piccolo nose style -
#1 Jo Bonnier, #5 and #3 the Temple Buell cars and #10 Bib Stillwell car.
Note the big headrest / shroud on the #5 car of Carroll Shelby. #3 Harry Schell from France.
Attachment 77367
The Gavin Quirk car #24 that later was with Chris Amon [ 1962 ] and later [ 1970's -1980s ] again fully restored. Chassis number 3509.
Interesting as was owned by the Owen Organisation - the guys behind BRM and has Dunlop Centre-lock wheels and Disc Brakes
another photo from Roger Herrick archives.
Attachment 77376
The car again with Gavin Quirk. Allan Dick archives.
Attachment 77377
Chris Amon had a bad crash at Dunedin in 1962. Here in practice - AD archives
Attachment 77378
The crash. AD archives
Attachment 77379
The restored car at Ardmore 1989 - posted before. my photo.
Attachment 77380
4 Attachment(s)
Ardmore 1962 - Saloon Car Race - Event 8
George Dixon in the 1938 Chevrolet Coupe - race number 141, the car later went to Rod Coppins and he used " 141 " as his race number, with the Chev and the later Zephyr Corvette.
A very mixed field with Chev Coupes, Ford V8 Coupes, a Dodge some Mk 2 Zephyrs, a couple of Jaguars, and a Studebaker Hawk - finally a 3 litre Alvis. The Alvis also raced at Levin and Ohakea in the 1960/61 - 61/62 seasons.
L Carter in the Studebaker, G Giblin in the Alvis, the Zephyrs included Brian Innes in the Motordrome Team car and Dennis Simons in the " Spinner Car Sales " entry.
From the Entry List for the Race - my own notes;
" Ardmore 1962 - Event 8 Saloon Car Scratch Race - over 1600cc class
- G Dixon #141 Chev L Carter #130 Studebaker 4220cc, G Giblin in the Alvis #142 - 2993cc - so a big Six by English standards, - 4 Zephyrs, A Beetham #137 J Hayes #143, B Innes Motordrome Team #144 and D [ Dennis ] Simmons in the Spinner Car Sales Zephyr #153, and two Jaguars plus a Dodge Special of A Jones #145. ".
Attachment 77820
Ardmore 1962 - The Programme [ thank to Allan on TRS for sending it to me. ]
Attachment 77821
** The Entry List for the above Race - most classes got only one race in the day, Saloons had one for the 1600cc and under then this one the Over 1600cc Race - Race 8, just before the Grand Prix.
Attachment 77853
1962 was the last Ardmore Grand Prix event, where Stirling Moss proved to be a " Master " in the rain that developed later in the day. Ken Hyndman archives - with an S Moss signature.
Attachment 77822
6 Attachment(s)
Pukekohe 1965, Grand Prix meeting - a few photos.
Was not there, these are from Allan Dick of " Autonews ", " NZ Classic Driver " publications, both of which he started.
.
The photos are from a young " Arthur Uden ", taken by a basic camera that took photos printed as 3 x 3 inch, had something similar at the time.
Details on the photos - will note on the thread too !!.
John[ny ] Riley
in the " paddock " by the Tote building - now long gone.
John[ny ] Riley the Lotus 18/21
Attachment 77975
Ross Baker in the Heron
Attachment 77976
Jim Palmer #41 - his Brabham
Attachment 77977
Bill Caldwell Lola Sports later owned by Barry Cottle.
Attachment 77978
K [ Keith ? ] Madgwick in a Mini Cooper
Attachment 77979
Ian Green with the Tojeiro that later went to Brent Hawes, - with Frank Cantwell before Ian I understand.
Attachment 77980
