B&W Photos 1968 - 1970; From Baypark to Amaroo Park by Ken Hyndman

I had the wonderful experience of growing up in the Morrinsville area at Kiwitahi at a time when so many had connections to motor racing.e.g. Spencer (Spinner ) Black went to Kiwitahi school with my sister, Bryan Innes's family brought property from my grandfather, Dennis Marwood married the sister of a neighboring farmer, a relative owned the Motordrome Service Station in Te Rapa, Terry Marshall was at Morrinsville College when I was there, John Paton (Paton & Black ) engines was a friend, Ross Greenville had a really sweet neice etc. etc. ( We were like a big family )
Anyway I took some photos that are not great quality but I wanted to share of that time...

Attachment 25748
Spinner Black's Lexington Team Camaro being prepared at the Baypark track at Mount Maunganui. NZ.
December 1968.

Attachment 25749

Attachment 25750

Not every town had a trailer with a Camaro on it sitting in the street ! ( Morrinsville 1969 )
note the high quality of trailer with such a precious load !

( Ken Hyndman)

Beautiful Ken .... a time warp for sure thanks mate

With the number 59 on the side, this could be when Terry Scott drove it at Baypark

Thank you John.
You reminded me that I had not mentioned Terry Scott was from Morrinsville also (sorry Terry )
Terry was a big help to Spinner and an excellent driver so Kayne Scott has good blood in his system.

Excuse my memory but is this a second Camaro from Spinner with the SS grille and no vent door window ?
I always thought he worked with one Camaro and one Monaro but then I seem to remember a burgundy Camaro
being driven through town on a trailer back then.

I used to go around after work to Spinner's and "hang out" and listen to stories and watch these guys at work
which was a great experience which helped me "in the door" in later years at other places around the world.
I really liked talking to Rod Coppins who was humble and friendly and so different to when he got out on the track.


(Ken Hyndman )

Ken- the same Camaro. Do you remember Alex- A.B.(anonominity) working on the car?
Alex told me the accident the Camaro had at Wigram , they took parts of the Burgundy one to finish repairing it- that explains the vent window.
The 4 wheel disc brakes from the Burgundy also went on this one also.
Burgundy Camaro was used at Glenvale 100 and is covered on other threads.
Did you ever see or photo the Monaro they were working on at this time?

Attachment 25751

John,
Thanks again for wonderful information.
I do not have any photos of the Monaro.
In fact I am pleased I dragged what old photos I did back here to California.
My dear mother would not throw any of my "stuff" away when I went overseas, bless her heart.
I left Morrinsville for Oz in Feb. 1970 so this thread is based on cheap old camera photos
from that time period. I hope they are clear enough to be seen.
Back then we had to send color film to Australia to be developed for 3 weeks before you could see what we had !
Therefore the B&W photos were the way for me to go.

Baypark. December 1968.
Great Australian drivers ; Norm Beechy and Leo Geoghegan discussing how to beat the Kiwis.

Attachment 25752

Attachment 25753

Norm Beechy's Chevy Nova in the paddock area.
I think that is Australian Brian Foley's 1293 Mini Cooper next to it.
(Could that be verified please. I know it was out here for the NZGP meet at Pukekohe a week later. )

(Ken Hyndman )

Baypark, December 1968.

Attachment 25754

Roly Levis talking with Leo Geoghegan.
Standing in front of Roly's Team Lexington Brabham BT 23 C / 7
This car was first owned by Frank Williams for Piers Courage to drive.
Word has it that it is in the vast collection of cars owned by Bobby Rahal in Ohio, USA.
If that is true it will be in superb condition.

(Ken Hyndman )

Looks like the John French car #66

http://s6.postimg.org/je5jipwtt/GP_69_09_J_French.jpg

Foley was #67 at Pukekohe GP meeting but I don't have a picture or even a set of results handy.

Signage on front corner looks the same as in your photo.

Stu

Richardson's "Pre Run Cars" great description

I found this quote from the "Cabbage Tree Media " site.
" Also in 1969 three Australian visitors came to Bay Park, one being Norm Beechey in his Chevy Nova and the other two being Brian Foley and John French in their Mini Cooper S ‘s. French scored a 5th in Allcomers Feature and a 1st in 1001-1300cc race. Foley did not feature in the results. The following weekend at Pukekohe for the NZIGP both cars fronted , Foley in a brand new hydrolastic 1293S and they finished 1st and 2nd but didn’t qualify for Gold Star points. In the Air NZ Open Capacity they came 2nd and 3rd in the same finishing order. Foley then travelled to Wigram gaining a 2nd in the Group 5 race."

So that is either the French or Foley Mini Cooper but it is Australian.

( Ken Hyndman )

I remember Aussie minis had quarter vent windows on the doors

And hidden door hinges.

From memory, wind up windows, quarter vents, hidden hinges and they were a wee bit heavier.

Looks like I worded that wrong !
What I meant was that the car was from Australia and driven by an Australian
and not about where it was built.
Sorry about that folks.

(Ken Hyndman )

And quick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Allan

And hidden door hinges.

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Nope, hidden door hinges only on UK Mk3 from 1969. Windup windows with external hinges on Australian Minis from 1965.

Quarterlights can be seen in this pic of the John French Mini Cooper S at Bathurst in 1966.

Attachment 25753

Norm Beechy's Chevy Nova in the paddock area.
I think that is Australian Brian Foley's 1293 Mini Cooper next to it.
(Could that be verified please. I know it was out here for the NZGP meet at Pukekohe a week later. )

(Ken Hyndman )[/QUOTE]

Yes that 2 on the door as a 26 does not look real secure and I think it is John French's Morris Cooper that was number 66
at Pukekohe.
I have attached the entry list for the Pukekohe Open Saloon Car race at the 1969 NZGP. Jan 4 1969.
There are some great names in this race.
(I hope it can be read )

Attachment 25755

( Ken Hyndman )

Re the Brabham in post #9 above.
Baron Robertson bought the car off Roly but had problems with the handling. He asked Roly to try and 'sort' it for him and Roly crashed it heavily into the barrier at the sweeper at Bay Park. The car was a virtual 'write-off' but, as often happens, it eventually became two cars. Parts were used to build a Formula Ford which was driven by Phil Harris who worked at "The Baron's" mower shop at the time. The car later went over Taranaki way (Hawera I think) and then to Tauranga (David Manton or Russ Cunningham?). It was then exported back to the UK where Martyn Smith restored it with an FVC and all the correct period parts. Phil Harris meantime had moved from Hastings to Ohio where he has a business very near Bobby Rahal's. Phil tells the story of how Bobby turned up at Phil's workshop one day and invited him to come outside to see his 'new toy'. Yep. It was Phil's old Formula Ford!!!!!
I seem to recollect Phil telling me that Bobby has sold the car.
Phil and Baron built another chassis which was fitted with all the bits from the original car and raced by Baron.
Last I heard it was hanging on the lounge wall of someone in Christchurch-word had it that person was Harry Holt.

Sorry Bryan, my mistake. The later model English Minis with wind up wndows and no quarter lights had hidden hinges and the Aussie ones stayed external.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Allan

Sorry Bryan, my mistake. The later model English Minis with wind up wndows and no quarter lights had hidden hinges and the Aussie ones stayed external.

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This was an Australian built 1966 Mini Cooper 1275S I owned from 1968 to 1970(then I got married!)

http://s6.postimg.org/6b9wzg6lt/1966_Aus_1275_S001.jpg


You can see the quarter-light and wind-up windows.
Also the twin fuel tanks/filler caps, which I think were only an Aust feature. They used to cause a bit of consternation at gas stations at times - "which one do I put it in?"

We didn't get to see Bryan's picture of the French Mini at Bathurst 1966 - maybe not the same car as in earlier posts.

Stu

Twin tanks were a feature on Cooper S in all countries- saw a blue one in Crimea in 2007 . Had twin tanks, sliding windows, was LHD, and.mph speedo.
Interesting Stu-yours has Mini, when the Poms had Austin in that written script. Morris were like Frenchs in block letters.

John French was driving a 1964 Morris Cooper S in the 1964 Australian Touring Car Championship and as the car at Baypark in 1968 has the "droopy" door handle, bumper over-riders and the big hinged rear side window it could be the same car. (At least on the outside !)

(Ken Hyndman )

The one I owned from 68 to 70 (I think from memory it was a 67 version) was English but it had only one tank which was a pain because if I kicked it along a bit I had to refuel every 200 miles. It also had a close ratio straight cut gearbox from new which made a horrendous noise until I fitted extra sound deadening to the flour. Strangely I also had to sell it to get married.

I have a (Genuine) 1962 Austin Cooper that had a 997 engine and now has a whopping 998 cc (1986 year ) engine and 4 speed syncro gearbox..
It has been a project car but it is now enjoying life. It is a LHD version that was built for the North American market in Feb. 1962.
It still has the original Lucas wiring harness ! Hey if it ain't broke (or burnt ) why fix it !

Attachment 25758
Attachment 25756
Attachment 25759

(Ken Hyndman )

Our family car was 1964 Austin Cooper S......English 1275S with only one tank....I thought that the twin tanks were an option on the early ones. Cheers, Bruce

Your 1964 Cooper S family car would be worth a "mint" over here now.
You are correct regarding the fuel tank as it was an option on the Cooper S models only and became standard fitment from January 1966.
I had enough trouble with my one tank when I had to change the left rear shock and all the tank fittings and straps were rusted etc !
The sender has never been accurate since, so the old marked bamboo stick is a most important tool. I don't leave home without it.

( Ken Hyndman )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John McKechnie

Twin tanks were a feature on Cooper S in all countries- saw a blue one in Crimea in 2007 . Had twin tanks, sliding windows, was LHD, and.mph speedo.
Interesting Stu-yours has Mini, when the Poms had Austin in that written script. Morris were like Frenchs in block letters.

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http://s6.postimg.org/rrftr4lf5/FD_4870003.jpg

My 66 Cooper must have been suffering from an identity crisis. As you can see, it had an 'Austin-Cooper' badge on the bonnet and 'Mini Cooper S' on the boot. As I recall it (45 years later), I bought it from an English chap who lived at Albany(NZ) and who was an Austin enthusiast, probably from an earlier time when the companies' made different cars from each other. Accordingly he put an 'Austin-Cooper S' badge in place of the Morris one. I had a feeling that Australian Cooper S cars were only branded Morris, but I could easily be very much mistaken. Some Coopers had block capitals on the boot rather than written script, were they English-built?

Stu

Ken-my Dad was an Ear , Nose and Throat Surgeon and in the 60s-80s used to go to California every 2 years for the latest conference.
When there, the other surgeons had Coopers to zoom around in, they could avoid the motorway traffic, drive on foot paths, easy to park etc. No one wanted to drive around in big long Caddys. When one of his friends came over to stay with us, he saw my 1967 Cooper S which I was racing 72-75 and he was rapt, even wanted to buy it. Coopers were common , a S was rare, he liked the twin tanks.

Back to Baypark. Dec. 1968.
This shows three of the US entries in the first Formula 5000 race in NZ. (Formula A in USA )
Closest car is the Sceptre HR 1 driven by Ron Grable. It has the number 8 bodywork on it but it raced and won as number 1.
Next to it is the Eisert 67 driven by Stew McMillen number 5 (This is the car that Dennis Marwood would drive for the Rorison Team in 1969.
The white car at the end is the LeGrand FA67 driven by Rex Ramsey.

Again note the work conditions, out in the sand and a few blocks of wood !

Attachment 25772

(Ken Hyndman )

The day after the racing my mate and I went down to the Mount and found the Grable car sitting in the local garage on the corner of Maunganui road and Salisbury. No one seemed to care as we poked around and then climbed in and dreamed of what it was like to be a race driver. This was about as close as I ever got to the real action !

Attachment 25773

Photo altered to hide my identity !

(Ken Hyndman )

October 1969.
Dennis Marwood now driving this Eisert 67 Formula 5000 car. This car began as an Indy car and raced twice at Indianapolis in 1967 and 1968. It was a mean looking machine and was nicknamed the " Fat One". This photo shows why !

Attachment 25774

Attachment 25775

Dennis Marwood was always friendly and ready to share his knowledge and experiences.

( That was due to his Morrinsville area upbringing no doubt ! )


( Ken Hyndman )

Gee Ken you have got some interesting stories ..re the Gable f5000 etc....plus plus...... hey as for Dennis....I have meet him a couple of times really nice down to earth guy I have bought a few carbs etc from him ...... they [racing drivers] are no different to u & I its all perception we are all brothers from an other mother .............

Any takers for what car in Team Cambridge colours is behind Dennis?-Andersons BMW maybe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stubuchanan

http://s6.postimg.org/rrftr4lf5/FD_4870003.jpg

My 66 Cooper must have been suffering from an identity crisis. As you can see, it had an 'Austin-Cooper' badge on the bonnet and 'Mini Cooper S' on the boot. As I recall it (45 years later), I bought it from an English chap who lived at Albany(NZ) and who was an Austin enthusiast, probably from an earlier time when the companies' made different cars from each other. Accordingly he put an 'Austin-Cooper S' badge in place of the Morris one. I had a feeling that Australian Cooper S cars were only branded Morris, but I could easily be very much mistaken. Some Coopers had block capitals on the boot rather than written script, were they English-built?

Stu

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its got a morris grill

Aussie cars had this grille, The Mini K , Aussie special with a 1100 in it also had this grille

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John McKechnie

Any takers for what car in Team Cambridge colours is behind Dennis?-Andersons BMW maybe

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Reckon so John, not many other cars had those horrid square windows...
Attachment 25776

Rodger Anderson did an outstanding job driving this car. It was always consistently quick and well prepared. They probably did not get much factory support back then as 10 years earlier BMW had almost closed down due to bankruptcy and the motorsport division would not be a priority during the recovery period.
This 1969 BMW 2002 Ti had a 2 litre engine with twin Solex PHH side-draft carburetors.
See my attached photo.
I guess it had an electric fan to cool as needed as I do not see a regular engine fan.

Attachment 25781

(Ken Hyndman )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Allan

Sorry Bryan, my mistake. The later model English Minis with wind up wndows and no quarter lights had hidden hinges and the Aussie ones stayed external.

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My first car was a 1968 Aussie Mini Deluxe. iirc they also got the remote gearchange on all models before the Poms did. Went quite well after I fitted a big-valve Cooper head that someone had ported and polished. Dynoed 58bhp at the wheels, kept up with Escort Sport 1600 around Ruapuna. :-)