Ardmore. Jan. 1962. The last New Zealand Grand Prix at this circuit.
Here is a silent YouTube clip of what it was like at Ardmore that day.
Perhaps the skinny tires of the day helped in the rain compared to the wide tires of today.
There were not many spins and most of the problems were caused by poor visibility and the drivers being soaked !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEmoya_LhG4
(Ken Hyndman )
Interesting program. Hugh Anderson was back a couple of years later demo'ing a works 125 Suzuki at the GP.
January 1963.
The NZ Grand Prix now moved from Ardmore, to a new circuit at Pukekohe ( "the hill of the koekohe, New Zealand's native mahogany tree).
The circuit was built for an amazingly low price of fifty thousand pounds!
If you look closely at this newspaper cutting of Bruce McLaren bursting through you will note the track is not built yet.
Attachment 28846
Attachment 28849
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7bmxjB_-Aw
A silent Youtube brief video of what the first race at Pukekohe looked like. Again note the crowd size.
(Ken Hyndman )
wooow Ken this is amazing , looking down on the then new circuit.... did not realise the follow through to railway was an after thought, now one other thing I am sure I was there with mum & Dad on opening yr 1963 ....... my understanding there was a good race when Bruce brought out his mini cooper [semi works....or works] & had a great race with a green mk 3 zepher , I heard a few stories ......... hey Ken did you know that Vern Jacobsons , is now leased out to Stadium Cars [jap importers] we are have a very mild autumn to date .....
A few slides from the 1961 GP.
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Is that Pat Hoare 246 Dino f1 the prettiest car ever ?????????
Grinder, fabulous photos taking me back!
I cant believe these photos!!! Yes it is Pat Hoare and I can still see that beautiful car sliding out of the clover leaf!!! What a classic. Brabham's car roped on a trailer that seems to be made out of 12 mil steel rod. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldfart
Grinder,
Thanks for sharing these fabulous photos. Some great drivers drove these cars.
# 1 Lotus was for Innes Ireland. # 6 Lotus was for Jim Clark. # 7 Lotus was for Stirling Moss.
# 8 BRM was for Graham Hill. # 9 BRM was for Dan Gurney.
# 25 Cooper was for Joakim Bonnier.
But Pat Hoare's Ferrari # 19 is the best looking of all in my opinion.
Wow these are so clear..great stuff.
( Ken Hyndman )
Brilliant photos !!!!! Never made it to Ardmore,wow fantastic.
Agreed....what such great photos ....never ever seen b 4 must be lots around we have never seen .......takes us back a bit Thank you for sharing these ...... Grant
Cheers,have some more from '61 & '66 GP,Dads candid shots as he wandered around the pits & paddock,certinally never been seen before,will endevour to scan them up over the weekend.
Thats me at Ardmore in the pram looking unimpressed by the whole thing.
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I seem to remember somewhere you said your shots were your Dads "candid shots". These are platinum (beyond gold!!!) We will forgive the couple which are reversed. Thanks so much for sharing.
Grinder,
These are just superb photos. Thanks for sharing them. I like the one with Jim Clark and Denny Hulme especially as it captures Clark where he is nervous off the track and was known to always pick at his fingernails (that is something I have in common with Jim !)
Your photos also capture the open atmosphere where everyone is friendly to each other. I think Jack Brabham loaned parts to Stirling Moss so he could go out and compete one year. The colour is just fantastic. I can't thank you enough. Please share any more that your Dad may have taken.
(Ken Hyndman )
You Kiwis blow me away. I've kept an eye on Ken's great efforts with this thread, but Gearbox Grinder you have added a brilliant new dimension.
Not only has your dad captured some great atmosphere of the 1961 NZ GP, he's also captured John Cooper during what was his only trip downunder during those successful Cooper years. He was the current F1 Constructors champion (2 years running) as he stood there that weekend in January 1961. That's John with left leg on the rear wheel of Jack Brabham's #4 Cooper T53. It's John in the most recent shot posted, complete with pipe.
Love the modern transportation used to tow the then F1 greats. Can you imagine the latest McLaren or Red Bull being towed by a Kia or suchlike.
I don't think its been mentioned but that's Arnold Glass' #10 Cooper Maserati T45 with the Vauxhall behind it.
I've passed the link to Mike Cooper, son of John. He will enjoy seeing them just like the rest of us.
Thank you for showing these Gearbox Grinder.
Stephen
Thank you all for the inputs and comments.
I think it is appropriate to watch this YouTube clip of the 1961 NZ Grand Prix once again. ( Thanks again Gearbox Grinder )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmaIdYmWmiA
( Ken Hyndman )
Roly mentioned to me that when Jim came out from Uk he [Jim] often gave fire proof overalls [left overs ] etc to some of the kiwis, as there was nothing at that time up to speed to help drivers in case of fire etc
Mike Cooper was a lad of about 6 when the 1961 NZ GP took place. He's responded to these great photos... "Amazing old pic of dad in NZ" He doesn't recall seeing any photos of his dad in NZ before.
Mike also commented about the Cooper on the trailer, "when you look at all the saloon cars in back ground , they make the Cooper look like something from the future." Hard to argue with the Austins, Vauxhall & Ford Zephyr shown.
Well done Gearbox Grinder for showing these photos
Stephen
Stephen,
I would be interested to know if Mike Cooper had seen the YouTube clip of the 1961 NZGP and his dad and others relaxing at the beach with drivers and friends before the racing. So different to what takes place today.
BTW. I have my own 1962 Austin Mini Cooper 997.
Although it now has a whopping A + 998 in it.
Attachment 28880
(Ken Hyndman )
Ken, very nice looking 997. Very hard to find one still with its 997 these days.
I've only just watched the 1961 film - a great find and some great footage. Although I'm not sure Mike will want to see his dad in his swimmers. Plus the old decree of the F1 lads "what happens in New Zealand, stays in New Zealand" (laughs). I will however pass on details to him.
Stephen
That was an interesting snippet on Mike ....Ken you have a pretty little cooper........do u remember the one Keith owned [blue] from that parts dept where you worked in Cameron Rd..... it has been restored [lovingly] by Hank Verryt a local car dealer in Tauranga , we are heading slowly into autumn ... still warm days seasons changing big time ...Grant
Grant,
I always appreciate your updates on the home front.
I do now remember that blue Cooper going up the hill past the Summit Garage at Otumoetai & Waihi roads when I worked there in 1990 with Steve O'Donohue. ( he was a good man..sure knew all about Formula Fords & Minis )
Ken H
Got all my fuel from Summit S/S when in Tauranga.
Yep well the s/ station is still there guys ...... Tauranga has grown so fast.........amazing how things change ..... I was told Timaru was a city b 4 Tauranga........... Timaru still only 32ooo approx..... you could add a 100, 000 plus now pop for Tauranga ....... I live out Pyes Pa way about 15k south ...... the new development re, school, shopping centres ,new sub divisions etc is quite exciting , I mentioned to Kylie we might sell up & move back into town [been in country about 15yrs]......we had a discussion & decided to stay put as the town is coming to us ....... country life is cool , native birds , trees etc open space ..ok I am off track lol
Ken,
Received word back from Mike Cooper last night about the 1961 NZ GP footage, part of which follows...
"Great piece of film. Seeing my dad in swimming trunks, lying on the beach, Ha.
It was great to watch , I sent it to my sister and she also loved it."
Mike also mentioned that his dad had a photo hanging at this home, when skiing in NZ.
So a great find Ken.
Stephen
Thanks Stephen,
I really appreciate you sending this to Mike and also onto his sister.
One never knows when an old scrapbook cutting, movie or photo etc.can revive a memory for someone out there.
Perhaps Mike will become a Roaring Season follower now and provide some of his own input.
Cheers,
Ken.
Jan 5 1963.
We got up early to pile into our 1960 Humber Hawk with dad at the wheel plus an uncle and the rest of us little urchins piled in the back on a hot summer day and headed off to Pukekohe.(No A/C back then !) Uncle George telling us how he was camped there before being shipped off to North Africa in WW 2. We arrived and parked over by the Loop Corner which was after the Elbow. (You will have to go to the archives to find those corners now ). We just stayed at the car and watched the racing. At the start of the Grand Prix I noticed how bright and shining were the wheels on Bruce McLaren's Cooper, which can seen in the Sergent photo. We were disappointed when he dropped out and then we cheered on Graham Hill in the Ferguson because we had a Fergie tractor at home. Graham's car came to a halt on the last lap and Angus Hyslop came in second. I think we were all disappointed in how the day turned out and it was a long haul home. ( That is my memory of the day ). John Surtees in a Lola had made it look too easy. It was not until years later when I was at Laguna Seca in 2007 and I met up with Peter Bryant that I found out more about the 1963 Pukekohe Grand Prix. (To be continued )
Attachment 28916
Bruce Sergent photo.
(L-R, John Surtees, Tony Maggs, Chris Amon,Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren,Tony Shelly and Graham Hill.
( Note Graham Hill on the right trying to get the 4WD Ferguson up to speed.
Also those bright wheels on the McLaren Cooper. Strange what one remembers from back then over
52 years ago !)
(Ken Hyndman )
Early Pukekohe,including the Fergusson and Bruce McLarens swimming spot in the creek.
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Grinder,
You have once again come through with some wonderful photos from that era. Thank you so much.
First photo is ; Denis Hulme's Brabham BT7A at Pukekohe 1964. Then a young looking Chis Amon. Then the #48 Cooper T70 driven by Tim Mayer which was to tragically crash in the last 1964 race in Tasmania, claiming Tim's life. Angus Hyslop Cooper T45. Jim Palmer with his Lotus 20. The 4WD Ferguson P99 driven by a relaxed Graham Hill at Pukekohe and at other races by Innes Ireland. The spot by the creek where Bruce McLaren tried another method of water cooling his CooperT79 in 1965 ! Bruce talking to Phil Hill at Pukekohe in 1965...this was not a good day for Bruce. Next photo is Bruce after winning the 1964 NZGP..this was a great day for Bruce. Then Frank Gardner at Pukekohe in 1965. Last photo is of Tony Maggs at Pukekohe in 1963.
Thanks again Grinder.
(Ken Hyndman )
Ken, I gave Mike the links, but I suspect because of his business interests he might be a bit short on spare time to visit TRS often. But you never know.Quote:
Originally Posted by khyndart in CA
Gearbox Grinder has excelled yet again with some brilliant photos. Ken you've done a great job identifying all of them. Just thinking that's more likely Jim Palmer's ex Hyslop #41 Cooper T53 in 1964.
Is the red Lotus on the trailer with Jim, the one used by Ken Sager?
Stephen
Stephen,
Yes, that would have been the ex Angus Hyslop T46 Cooper for Jim Palmer with # 41 on it.
Looking at the Tim Mayer Cooper you realize how little protection they had if anything went wrong !
The Jim Palmer Lotus 20 went on to Rex Flowers.
( Ken Hyndman )
(ken
Grinder ....... thank you ... beaut photos absolutely [hi ken]
Ken, despite what some books say, the Hyslop/Palmer Cooper was a T53
Michael and Stephen,
You are absolutely correct regarding the T53 Cooper. I should have done a better job with my homework.
Does that lower my grade for the year ?
(Ken H)
Let off with a stern warning but this time only.
Regards