The original car at the start of this thread at a Wings and Wheels event at Pukekohe. Year unknown.
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q.../imgb004-2.jpg
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The original car at the start of this thread at a Wings and Wheels event at Pukekohe. Year unknown.
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q.../imgb004-2.jpg
As it was as the Offenhauser Special with Ford Flathead power when in the care of Graeme Harvey. Here driven in an Auckland Hot Rod Club hillclimb by Peter Howarth.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...e-mailview.jpg
Yes, yes it most certainly should.
I hope it still has two authentic features which assisted greatly with its successes, i.e. a piece of wires on the dash/scuttle to fasten the gear lever into second and strings on each spark plug tying on the lead. George's efforts looked rough as, but a good look revealed a lot of careful detailed preparation.
Here you go Trevor: http://www.theroaringseason.com/show...cars-and-boats
Here is an article I wrote for a magazine. As the mag did not even offer me a copy (I was asked to pay for a subscription) I believe I am allowed to publish this here!
It relates to the original post. Photos of its' evolution to follow.
Is this the race car with the longest continuous racing history in the country? If not it certainly must be very close!
Built originally in the premises of Jackson Engineering by John McMillan it was intended to be the prototype for a production series. It was constructed with what can be described as two ladder frames separated by not a great amount.
It originally had a straight front axle, V8 onto a Morris M series gearbox with a chain drive to the left hand side and then a shaft back to the very offset back axle. This allowed a very low seating position – to the point where contemporary photos show the drivers head being little above the Austin 7 special drivers. In this form the “Jackson Special” was winner of the first NZ Grand Prix on March 18, 1950 at Ohakea, whether considered as luck or well judged.
The car passed into the hands of Halsey Logan of the Nelson district. He made extensive use of the car. It was used at the Tahunanui Beach Races, Richmond track and anything else going. By 1952 it had gained independent front suspension based around Morris Oxford components with torsion bars and multiple telescopic shock absorbers. Before its sale to George Palmer over the winter of ’52 the car had also gained a more conventional drive line with V8 Mercury torque tube and back axle. It ran with Edelbrock heads and 4 twin choke carburettors. Most race results and there are plenty) call it the “Jackson Special” others the “Logan Special”!
In George’s hands it became the “Palmer Special” and gained a new nose cone, Ardun OHV cylinder head conversion, and sparkling gold paint job. In this form it finished 8th in the 1954 New Zealand International Grand Prix and 3rd New Zealand resident. He also won the Beach Racing Championships.
By 1956 it was in the hands of Lionel Bulcraig – a Kawakawa car dealer and for the first time in its life became the “Northland Special”.
Lionel had trouble qualifying for the ’56 NZIGP until it was fitted with the first ever set of “Jolly Wide Wheels”. He then readily qualified. This was when current owner Fred first saw and fell in love with the car at the Whangarei Winter Show!
Another new name – the “Roo Special” after a group of Australians bought the car and it was repainted white with brown numbers and a large brown kangaroo painted on it.
Now it passed into the hands of Bill Thomasen who fitted Offenhauser heads and it became the “Offenhauser Special”. This was 1959 and in this form he was to finish 2nd in the sprint race at Ardmore.
The next recorded owners – remember race cars had to be registered – were Cotter Motors, and then Branch Car Sales who sold it to Neville Gray in October 1962.
By August of 1964 it was in the hands of Johnnie Windleburn. The motor found its way into a V8 coupe, the coupe motor in the single-seater. The next owner was Ken McClennan who replaced the Mercury motor in 1970 with the Jaguar 3.4.
November 1971 was when Fred Courtney discovered the car and bought it as a “cheap car to go hill climbing”. At this stage he was unaware of what the car was. His first event saw him going through a fence – by the next event it also had protection at the windscreen area. One of the first clues to its’ identity was the extreme cut away on the right hand side. This was about the time that he realised he now owned the car he had seen years before.
Since Fred acquired the car he has lost count of the events he has competed in. Given that it is now 39 years with around 6+ each year!!
So, that’s the history – the car itself.
Chassis – twin ladder frame
Front Suspension – twin wishbone, torsion bars, twin shocks, drum brakes
Rear Suspension – beam rear quarter elliptics behind the axle, one telescopic, one lever shock per side
Engine – Mark 7 Jaguar, 2 x 2” SU, straight port head, standard cams.
Gearbox – Mercury V8
What, to the writer, is part of the appeal of this is its condition – as used! Patina by the truckload.
Should the car be “restored”? In my opinion, absolutely not. It has been in its’ current form for more of its life than any other form. What era could it possibly be taken into?
If you want to see a man and machine in harmony – watch these two anytime, racing or standing still check out Fred Courtney and the Northland Special.
Oldfart, excellent effort, and a really good read! Thanks for posting. You noted the car was fitted with a set of rare Ardun heads. Could these have been the same heads used on the GeeCeeEss? There were very few sets in NZ, in fact less than 200 were ever produced.
Yes, good story OF
It was the 1955 GP that Palmer finished in that position though, not the 1954
Also, it was driven regularly by Grahame Harvey between Thomasen and the next lot of Northlanders, presumably when owned by one of the motor companies
Thomasen painted it white with red trimmings, and it was then all red in Harvey's hands (and subsequently)
I knew of Grahame Harvey, but the OWNERSHIP details were taken from the original certificate of ownership which Fred still has, and as I was unable to identify the year(s) for sure I elected to leave his custody out. The deadline was rapidly approaching and better to leave it out than get it wrong!
I now have a lot more period programmes than I had when I wrote the above.
Opened the door to back room on inside of my garage and found something under what appears to be the missus storage shed for all sorts. I knew I had a car somewhere so I better shift the rest of crap and see whats there.
Shifted some more crap and now I remember what it is. I better start stripping and putting it all back together so we can have some fun.
That poor guy looks like he has been in storage too long!
Ol number 64
Thanks Rod makes my workshop look neat,
Thats her Rog. You still got a toy tucked away.
I better get me arse into gear and do some work on her i suppose. yea Angria its only a storage room but a mess alright. Shifted stuff and found all sorts of bits and pieces. Gotta move the broken rally car so i can get that one out and swap places.
Pleased to see you still have it. How much is required to get it to fire a shot?
Oh and the answer is yes i still have it. The Cook finds it handy for stacking the Y fronts, and other laundry on.
Now that thing used to start down the grid a bit at baypark. yet, and with all the heavy hitters taking up the first half of the grid, you would charge though, and be must have been around sixth place going into the sweeper for the first time.
I think that happened a few times
fantastic!!!!!!!!!!
Good to hear you still have your car Roger. Its a neat car, be good to see you out again having a run. yes it did used to nip past a couple before first sweeper done that occasionally, one start at Baypark was best, once 12 to 2nd out of sweeper and then horse power (bloody V8s) took over, all good fun back then though. Car was stripped back to metal in 92 and repainted and has sat in room since (under cover as you can see). it really needs another strip and paint in and out, diff been tidied upand brakes were refreshed but will need look at again and engine is still in plastic bag (rebuilt 89) but been turned over. So Dry Sump, rewire, new tank, pump, pipeing etc, new seat (got all new instruments etc) new wheels & tyres, windows (plastic) and Lotto and we are there.
Bloody hell, Rod, that looks great!
Attachment 4255
64 taupo 1988
Pretty sure i have some somewhere slidding around at baypark:)
88 same meet. A couple more from Taupo, yes it is facing the wrong way but it soon came back around and on we went with out loosing a spot (lucky) Slicks and rain, good fun. front spoiler has special angle for the hairpin. It did not like clipping that inside kerb.
This was the last time i raced her. Liked the white and blue better i think. Will just leave it white now. If you have any other photos Roger email them to me if you can Ta.
Rod,
if this is the x Platt car please put it back in Fountain stereo colours !
cheers
Nigel
Funny you should mention that Nigel as it was discussed and thats what may happen. Any photos of Bryces Fountain paint would be appreciated.
Roger, notice the round wheel marks on both doors, that was from its 2nd last demon start, RX7 right hand and V8 Viva left in first race and we chopped the broken bit of right hand back flare and ran 100mph tape around it for next run.
Flares all been tidied up. Looked at dry sump system. Doing bits.
Dropped into see a friend today, and the brothers were just playing around putting bits together. Their mother is so happy to have them home again. Amazing whats going on in little sheds, garages around the place.
There is a couple of classics parked away in there behind the empties. They reckon mum likes a beer after dinner.
Rod, Please keep the photos coming - especially of the Escort - you've made my week :)
Hi Rod, this is your garage isnt it, are you planning on getting back into it again? So thats why you didnt come round-a better offer. Great stuff, especially your Escort.
Might see you this weekend John if you are home.
There you are Habu, before it was painted the ugly red & orange.
Hi Roddy, always at home, just call.If Dale can find me here, you will..Love looking at the action pix of your Escort powering out of the corners.
Bob, wish I had known about your t/c fetish (Post #20) . Gave away a t/c head with cams and valves to a young guy who was just starting out so you missed out on giving it a good home. Motor came from a a racing boat in Dunedin belonging to a chap Kane and the garage was Brian Middlemass's - now perhaps we should start a thread as his Jaguars were legendary and you will remember he co owned the Queenstown Motor Museum. Before he died of cancer he had an XK120 (correct Dave Silcock?) with lots of modern bits in it. He had just fitted an XJ o/d box to it and wanted me to go for a squirt and hold something - think it was a petrol pressure gauage. Off we went along the straight at the base of Coronet Peak and as most will know 'Middle' was a vigorous peddler so we were doing 100mph before we entered the straight. I know the speedo was showing 150mph with the o/d 'in' as the corner at the end was coming up. I remember him saying 'this will bed those new pads in'. He worked on the 4CLT that Rob Boult later owned and did some work on my BCM. - but I digress again as the t/c boat motor as was told to me came from an important NZ racing car and cost a lot of money - I have no recollection what its history was but it is now in Wellington on an escort rebuild.
Real reason for this reply is can anyone tell me what this motor is. I am dislexic when it comes to two wheels and their motors even tho I own two of the earliest racers in NZ in the Moore Kiefts complete with Vincents. It will be obvious to most so make and approx year please.
Attachment 10201
Just in case you are bored with all of this have a look at this YouTube (acknowledgement) clip that features a 180hp Vincent. Even Dave Silcocks 'Jilly' didn't have this much even tho it used to sail past me with Dave's knuckles dragging on the ground as he hung on round the corners.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQIhq...yer_detailpage
Chris, That would be Gary Kane. I will think of the name of his boats later.
Hi Chris. The motor is a long stroke Manx Norton, looks like it is in a Cooper. Thats a brave man on the Vincent, in my and Allan Bramwell's experience those motors spend more time blown up than running. Although they seem all right in a bike. Mine had about 120 BHP Man it was a blast to drive! I was a mate of Middle's,as we all knew him, from my teenage vintage car days, and yes his 120 was the first one I owned .
Cheers Dave.
PS Dave Mills could find virtue in any car no matter how bad it was, this was a cause of great amusement among the Dunedin boys.
Quite right and was it 'Miss something' . Did it have a lightening bolt and were they called 'Cracker Jacks'? I used to follow the boats as my father Darcy had several. Sit at the back and motor up front. He converted one into a harbour boat and we had a seat in front of the motor and used to go out on the harbour most weekends from the jetty on Portobello road with the big crane. I have some 16mm film of races in the harbour Basin. During the early Dunedin Wharf circuit we used to boat across the harbour and climb up the ladders and sit on the cranes to see the cars. That's what started it all for me! Chris.
Ps wasn't "O'Kane" was it.
Tell me about it - He still thought Hillman Hunters were the best car in the world and I helped with his estate which included disposing of a Marina Ute that he had RESTORED. But he had some taste in his Fiat coupes which he loved. There are lots of stories including how he lost his money in Thailand, his many wives, driving across America and how for many years he would ring A and B's or Repco in town and ask them to put the parts 'on the bus' to Macandrew Bay even tho the bus had not run for many years. He was in wonder how that man in the yellow van used to come all the way down the Bay to collect the parcel from the local store bus drop-off and drive it the 100m to Dave's garage - great service! As you know Dave M was easily distracted and would talk to anyone. One day at the WN street races I was under the car holding an overflow tank with a few minutes to go to line up and Dave was on top to do it up. Next thing was "gidday Jim good to see ya again - you remember Chris down there from last year - have to say ya doing a great job keeping this race in WN." ME: "For Christ's sake Dave stop yapping to whoever it is and do the ....... bracket up". With Dave still engaged in conversation I came out from under the car to look up to the Prime Minister and say "good to see you again Mr Bolger"......That was our Dave!
Thanks for the steer on the motor - Regards Chris R
Dropped in to a friend up north the other day, he has this (Monaro) sitting in shed, sat there for about 17 years. Engine has been freshened. Runs it, Has no urgency to use it at moment. Straight and original. Used to tow the Capri around with it.
Makes you wonder just how many different cars are sitting snoozing in garages around the country.