Those are great shots Mark, thank you very much for posting. I was talking to the owner of the Torana yesterday at Hampton Downs.
He is going for a faithful period correct restoration. It could well make an appearance before too long.
Bruce.
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Those are great shots Mark, thank you very much for posting. I was talking to the owner of the Torana yesterday at Hampton Downs.
He is going for a faithful period correct restoration. It could well make an appearance before too long.
Bruce.
I`d have to say I was rapt to be part of the Rod Coppins celebrations over the weekend. For Toni, Rods daughter, it was an extremely emotional time, given her age at the time of both Rods racing, and his passing, and for Rods sister Lynn to fly over from Perth to attend this event was in her words `a trip down memory lane'. I`d like to thank Steve Holmes for the excellent posters, decals, etc and Dale for organising what was a pretty special occassion for the Coppins family. Doing skids in the Camaro is a real blast , but seeing the smiles and comaradire of all the `oldies' did it for me....
Well said Steve. It was an honour to be able to be part of the Coppins commemorations. Without exception everyone always has only good things to say about Rod. His family bear out the fact that he was a real nice guys as they display the same qualities. It was so nice to talk with Gary, Lynn and their children, and grandchildren, not to mention Toni and her daughter Ashlie. And thanks to all the HMC and Aust T/A guys who entered into the spirit with the decals and being enthusiastic about the memories. Though Rod raced in Australia often I don't think he was as well known there.
Bruce.
I managed to dig up a few old photos last week
Attachment 15244
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The thing that attracted my attention in the Lycoming/TecMec/D type photo is the protetive clothing worn by all the drivers.
Great photos BMCboy, especially the one of Rod himself.
The last Torana shot is incredible. Thanks for posting.
Bruce.
[QUOTE=BMCBOY;23298]I managed to dig up a few old photos last week
The photo of Jim and Rod>>>>>>>>>>>>
........." Hey Rod, How many Aspro's can you have and still drive"!!!!!! looks like Jim's Got the tooth Ache thing going!......................regards thunder427/MJ:cool:
Great to see Rod's Torana at the NZFMR yesterday. Rod and Jim Richards placed 3rd at Bathurst in that car.
Being harrassed by Don Halliday, Bay Park, 1969
I think that's Johnny Riley (Car Sales writing on front guard), at the Puke hairpin.
I thought 141 was Rod's number...
Rod has had many numbers for example in 1969-1970 he had 59, 73, 1 (Monaro), and 41 (Camaro).
If you check the pix 141 was for 1970-1971 season and later.
John Riley had 141 several times tilll he took 222
Attachment 15477
Dawson and Riley Mustangs at the NZGP, 1970.
Thanks for that - I had a feeling it could have been, but the number threw me...
That's right Steve, it was green and in the Aussie spec with blanked off indicators, and ducted front valance. This is the car as it appeared in Australia. It has the brake ducts where the indicators go. Rowan "Chuck" Harman (AussieMonza) arranged the sponsorship .
http://i47.tinypic.com/b3pegi.jpg
Bruce.
Riley used 227 when he was running the the Lotus sports.
http://s6.postimage.org/gvhhnrlrl/Ru...eria_Riley.jpg
Seen here with Coppins Mustang in paddock at 1969 GP, Pukekohe.
http://s6.postimage.org/md3c7kgdt/Pu...ins_Feb_64.jpg
And Coppins used 141 at least as early as February 1964!
Stu
Thanks Stu, the Chev Coupe in your bottom photo was later sold to my father in law Barry Pointon - less motor and box, as the Chev V8 from the coupe, originally from the TecMec, went into Rods Zephyr. After Barry raced it, and heavily modified it, he sold it to Ron Sylvester who ran it for many years, and Grant Sylvester still has it today.
Attachment 15669
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A pity this pic is on 2 different quality's of paper, as it is a great photo of the man.
Attachment 15673
Good photos Markec, I think from memory Rods Charger in the top photo was owned by Huttons, as they wanted to try and establish the IRDs involvement and limitations of advertising on a company car while motor racing. The PDL Stewart family were another pioneer in this domain.
Mark, what track is this? It looks like Bay Park, but I'm having trouble identifying the HQ Holden in the background. It looks like the F5000 powered Kingswood Malcolm Ramsay raced in the 1972 Australian Touring Car Championship, the final year of Improved Production rules. Did this car ever race in NZ?
Yes Steve it is HQ of Ramsey from Australia, and it's Bay Park.
Sorry Steve, no caption for the photo, it would seem Rod is correct with Bay Park. Autonews had a bad habit of not dateing their issue's back then, there is also no story of the round at Bay Park in the issue, all I can tell you is that is is the 72 / 73 season.It was the November issue.
Thanks Mark and Rod. Thats great! I didn't realise Malcolm had raced his HQ in NZ. It was one of the top machines in the 1972 ATCC. Ran a fuel-injected F5000 motor in a well built package. How did he go against the Kiwi cars at Bay Park?
These photos were taken perhaps after Rod had sold the car as the number is now changed and
driver has a full faced helmet
Attachment 15685
Attachment 15686
This is when Robin Tanner ran the car.
The number 25 is Tanners at the 1975 Grand Prix meeting, colour burnt orange
Although not a race car, my Torana was once owned by Rod Coppins, so I reckon that's quite a neat talking point with mates.
Hey Scott, was it owned by Rod personally, or by Rod Coppins Motors or Coppins and Coley Motors?
Great photos guys, thanks Mark, Stu and Ross.
Right or wrong, I have always thought of 141 as being Rod's number. I know he used other numbers, and others used 141.