Old Programmes, movies and memories from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies.

I found another box of "stuff" that I had dragged back from Kiwitahi to California and although some of it has been presented before I feel one can never get too much of the racing history from the 50s and 60s etc. Some of the old Ardmore programmes give a wonderful insight to who,what and where some of the drivers and cars came from.
I used to cut out pictures from the NZ Herald and Weekly News and put them in scrapbooks and I wanted to share some of that also and encourage anyone else to share what they may have "tucked away" from this era.
I remember well helping my Dad as he sheared the sheep and listening to the 1961 NZGP on the radio and cheering on Bruce McLaren as he got close to Jack Brabham but wily Jack would not let him pass. That is why I started with that race first in this thread. What a magnificent lineup of drivers.

1961 New Zealand Grand Prix at Ardmore.
The driver lineup could not get any better. We were very fortunate back then to see such a great field.
I think we just took it for granted that it would always be like this.
Note in the movie how well all the drivers got along with each other. Even John Cooper is having fun !
( I know this has been shown before but what beach area are they at ?)
(Also note Bruce McLaren is listed as from Great Britain. This was because he was to be an international driver and could not win the First New Zealander home prize again ! )

Attachment 27884

Attachment 27885

A wonderful movie of the 1961 NZGP plus Dunedin road races. (Note the crowd size !)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=RmaIdYmWmiA

Wow, what a lineup of drivers. Little wonder they drew such huge crowds.
I am wondering if there is any mention of a car I own, being entered in the sportscar races. Maybe 1958 or later.
White Jaguar XK150 FHC driven by Fred Crowther. Owner Bobby Wong.

Rex,
I am sorry I do not have a copy of the 1959 NZGP programme from Ardmore. I have the 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964 and 1969 Grand Prix programmes and I could not find your XK150 in any of those. It seems it was at the 1959 meet as you found out from Stu Buchanan.
"
("stubuchanan

05-24-2012, 10:44 AM

Bobby Wong was a top tennis player of the time - NZ under-19 champion in 1958 and under-17 champ in 1956. I think I remember him racing, maybe at Ardmore club circuit, but he must have been only 18 or 19 at the time. He entered the XK 150 for Crowther (?Frank) in the "Saloon Car" race at the 1959 GP meeting where Crowther was 3rd behind Archibald's XK150 and Gavin Quirk's 3.4 Jag.

Stu." )

So Rex, if anyone has the 1959 Ardmore programme out there it would neat to see your car on the entry list.
The 1959 programme cover would look like this ;
Attachment 27887

(Ken Hyndman)

Thanks Ken,
Apparently the car lost it's bonnet at a NSSC 1/4 mile sprint at Ardmore.
In an attempt to gain more power they tried to supercharge the engine, a Bill Sheilds worked
on the car. Bobby Wong sold it to Nado Dean July 1962.
BTW Bobby still lives in Auckland and I believe still plays the odd game of tennis.
Any more info on this car would be greatly appreciated.

Can someone tell me the beach / harbour that the drivers are enjoying themselves at in the movie, before the 1961 NZGP .

( Thanks, Ken Hyndman )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rex Bentham

Wow, what a lineup of drivers. Little wonder they drew such huge crowds.
I am wondering if there is any mention of a car I own, being entered in the sportscar races. Maybe 1958 or later.
White Jaguar XK150 FHC driven by Fred Crowther. Owner Bobby Wong.

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Hi Rex, Your car was entered in the 1959 Ardmore Saloon Car Race, not the Sports Car Race (just XK120's on that list).

Malcolm

Attachment 27888

Isn't that a classic list? (Post #7)

Malcolm,
Many thanks for that. Pure gold!!
Rhys,
Imagine getting even half that entry for Roycroft. Let it serve as an inspiration to anyone who has or
knows of any of those cars to get them ready for next year.
Just got to hang in there.

Rex

With double this year from 2014, hopefully, the impetus will be maintained. Interesting to see that it was a handicap race back then. Some interesting cars - Armstrong Siddeley and a Rover 90 for example, neither being known as front runners! Knock about a ton out of the Rover - would that be allowed Rhys?

Ray, read the last sentence in the header of the programme :)

1961 NZGP. Ardmore. January 7 th.
Some photos from my scrapbook. Thanks to the NZ Herald and Weekly News.
Start of the race.
Attachment 27919


Front row; Stirling Moss # 7, Bruce McLaren # 47, Jack Brabham # 4, Graham Hill, # 8,
Second row : Ron Flockhart # 3, Innes Ireland # 1, Roy Salvadori # 5, John Surtees # 2
Row 3 ; Dan Gurney (Not in picture) # 9, Denis Hulme # 20, Jim Clark # 6, Bib Stillwell
Row 4 ; visible is Arnold Glass # 10 and Angus Hyslop # 38
(Some great names in this lineup )

Attachment 27918

First corner photo. (College Corner ) 1961.
I liked this picture as it shows a talented driver,# 25 Joe Bonnier, he only lasted 1/2 a lap before his gearbox blew apart ! A week later Jo learned his father died back in Sweden and he went out and drove well and dedicated his win at Levin in honour of his father. (Ironically when I first travelled to Europe in June 1972, we landed in San Francisco and the newspaper headline was that Jo Bonnier had died while driving in the 1972 LeMans 24 hour race.)
It also shows how narrow the tires are and also the complete lack of roll bars.
Brave men indeed !

Attachment 27920

Compare that to a modern day Grand Prix first corner photo ! ( 2014)

(Ken Hyndman )

Stirling Moss at Ardmore in 1961. Lotus 18 (Chassis 376 ) Note the complete lack of roll bar and blunt styling.

Attachment 27925

Stirling Moss at Ardmore in 1962. Lotus 21 (Chassis 935 ) Note the much improved styling and roll bar. A major improvement in 12 months.

Attachment 27926

(Photo thanks to Bruce McLaren Trust 2003)

Dad had stopped the shearing and we were glued to the radio. Bruce McLaren was in the lead of the 1961 NZGP !
Attachment 27930

But it was not to last as Jack Brabham passed him and held him off for a close finish.
Attachment 27931

These photos bring back fond memories of time with my father as he did not live too much longer.
He died way too young.

( Ken Hyndman )

Ardmore. 1961. After the NZGP has finished. I think this is the last time that Brabham and McLaren finished 1st & 2nd in a major race together for the same team. Note in the background the amazing Lycoming Special that just kept going and going !

Attachment 27933

John Cooper proudly marches his "men" across the track after the race along with Denis Hulme and Tony Shelly.

Attachment 27934

(Photos from Weekly News )
Ken Hyndman's scrapbook.

Denis Hulme had a good battle with Scotch driver, Ron Flockhart during this NZGP and they became good friends after that. When Denis saw my Four Square pamphlet he mentioned this friendship as he signed it. This was at Laguna Seca in August 1992. Just a few weeks before Denis died at Bathurst.
Ron Flockhart had stayed at the Hulmes during the 1962 international series before he went to Australia and was also flying a P51 Mustang to try win the fastest flight for a prop driven plane from Sydney to London. Unfortunately he lost his life when the Mustang crashed in stormy weather near Kallista, Victoria,Australia in April 1962.

Attachment 27935

(Also note Bruce McLaren is listed as from Great Britain. This was because he was to be an international driver and could not win the First New Zealander home prize again ! )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by khyndart in CA

Denis Hulme had a good battle with Scotch driver, Ron Flockhart during this NZGP and they became good friends after that. When Denis saw my Four Square pamphlet he mentioned this friendship as he signed it. This was at Laguna Seca in August 1992. Just a few weeks before Denis died at Bathurst.
Ron Flockhart had stayed at the Hulmes during the 1962 international series before he went to Australia and was also flying a P51 Mustang to try win the fastest flight for a prop driven plane from Sydney to London. Unfortunately he lost his life when the Mustang crashed in stormy weather near Kallista, Victoria,Australia in April 1962.

Attachment 27935

(Also note Bruce McLaren is listed as from Great Britain. This was because he was to be an international driver and could not win the First New Zealander home prize again ! )

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Thank you Ken damn great photos , I never saw that race circuit was too young & lived in the SI........ hope you all good over there mate .. Kind regards Grant

Grant, I really appreciate your input. I kept entering memories from 1961 and no one entered any comments so to get a reply from you gives me a boost. (I thought you had given up on me !)
I have a special programme coming next from 1958 and I need you to work along with me on this one. OK ?
Cheers Ken.

Here is a map of the original Ardmore circuit. ( 2.0 mile lap )

Attachment 27952

Will do what I can brother ........but please know I do not have much history around that year as I was young =4 yrs old ........Nope I did not give up on you Ken you & a few others put photos up I have never ever seen before of past time as a kid Johnny Mansell was always in my mind it is just fantastic .... by the way I would like to find photos for family link of Gary he did 4 Bathursts & the cars were very cool in the mid 80s , Gary said he never had any of those so would be great if some one could drag them off the net I am not that good in that dept also a Wellington race he did with Greame Croz in one of the Nissan turbos, he did lots more racing than me , one of him & Dick Johnston in the telsar at Puke would be an other good one to add might be asking for too much but no harm in asking ...... Ken, Autumn setting in lovely time of year in Tauranga, we got to the beach a few times over at the mount just love the warm salt water my girls yell out "come back dad: I go way out lol ...ok we keep in touch mate ...... Grant .......

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Grant Sprague

Will do what I can brother ........but please know I do not have much history around that year as I was young =4 yrs old ........Nope I did not give up on you Ken you & a few others put photos up I have never ever seen before of past time as a kid Johnny Mansell was always in my mind it is just fantastic .... by the way I would like to find photos for family link of Gary he did 4 Bathursts & the cars were very cool in the mid 80s , Gary said he never had any of those so would be great if some one could drag them off the net I am not that good in that dept also a Wellington race he did with Greame Croz in one of the Nissan turbos, he did lots more racing than me , one of him & Dick Johnston in the telsar at Puke would be an other good one to add might be asking for too much but no harm in asking ...... Ken, Autumn setting in lovely time of year in Tauranga, we got to the beach a few times over at the mount just love the warm salt water my girls yell out "come back dad: I go way out lol ...ok we keep in touch mate ...... Grant .......

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Ken, hell we love this stuff mate, don't stop, we may not always have a reply to you but what you present we can't get enough of, cheers & carry on

Keep them coming Ken because that is what this forum is all about.

Now going back to Ardmore in 1958. Grand Prix programme.
This has some interesting items in it.

Attachment 27972


One of the first races was for Saloon Cars. Here is the entry list and you will note some interesting names, including; P.L. Kerr (Phil Kerr of McLaren Racing) in a D.K.W., John Histed in a Goggomobil, Jim Boyd and a certain Mr. F.E.(Ernie) Sprague in # 20, a Renault Dauphine !

Attachment 27981





Attachment 27984


It is hard to imagine Ernie howling around Ardmore in a Renault Dauphine at 9.35 am before going out in his Maserati 4 CLT for the Grand Prix heats later in the morning !

Grant, was this the tow car when you all came up from the S.I. ?
Thought you may have all stopped off for some fishing on the way. This looks like Omokoroa perhaps !

Attachment 27983


Attachment 27976


( Ken Hyndman )

Hi Ken , I never knew Dad raced a Renault ....... I did however know he did a rally in one , Dad was a Renault franchise holder as there were not a lot of franchisers to be had in those days so he grabbed it with open arms ,,, I am not sure where you got that photo from ....I do not remember it at all , this could have been a promo photo ??? I see Harold Heasley in the saloon car list , he and Dad were very good mates, I use to stay with Harold when Mum & Dad did their trips to Fiji he lived in Rangiora he sort of adopted me as a son he never had & built wooden garages out of nail boxes for me.. Before he past away he built my daughters a beautiful dolls house , a great man also a bit off track never mind lol

The Fiat Abarth if correct for 1957 was a very early Abarth if it was a 600. Came into production in 1954 but Abarth got his hands on it a little latter. Good stuff Ken.

Sorry Grant, I did not explain but I just got some pictures from Google pics and put them in regarding the Dauphine !
It seems you could enter whatever you had, take the hub caps off, paint a number on the door and go out and have fun. It could not have been much of an entry fee when you see the amount of the prize money ! (Especially the motor cycle riders !)



(Ken )

;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by khyndart in CA

Sorry Grant, I did not explain but I just got some pictures from Google pics and put them in regarding the Dauphine !
It seems you could enter whatever you had, take the hub caps off, paint a number on the door and go out and have fun. It could not have been much of an entry fee when you see the amount of the prize money ! (Especially the motor cycle riders !)

Attachment 27985:D

(Ken )

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Grant Sprague

;)

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oops this did not come through in the last post.

Attachment 27986
Attachment 27987

Ernie Sprague in his Maserati 4CLT at Wigram in 1958.
Number 32 is the same number he used earlier at Ardmore where he retired after 71 laps with engine problems. Imagine driving this soon after climbing out of a Renault Dauphine !

Attachment 27988

(Photo thanks to "Classic Racers' book by Eoin Young )

Jan 11th. 1958. Here is a list of entrants for the Fifth New Zealand International Grand Prix.

Attachment 27989

Thank you Ken ...... once again I have never seen this before .... I might say it is personally very very special ......to me ...

the first race meeting I attended

Note that Bernie Ecclestone is the entrant for the 2 driver Connaught team. Sadly, Stuart Lewis-Evans was to lose his life later in the year at the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix. Bernie almost quit from racing back then but here he is still at it to this day. Is the first instance of Ecclestone and Brabham names together here in this programme ?












(Ken Hyndman )

Here are some of the types of cars that competed that day in 1958. What great changes would take place in Grand Prix cars over the next few years.

Attachment 27990


(Ken Hyndman )

Used to go to a few sunday events, but they would not start till 12' oclock or 1 o'clock not sure if this was only in the country though

It was a rough time for the Connaught team and Bernie Ecclestone.

If you go to this web site you will get an idea of what it was like on the Connaught team.
(Imagine 2 race cars for a stamp collection ! )

https://books.google.com/books?id=7F...NAUGHT&f=false




( Ken Hyndman )

At this 1958 Grand Prix at Ardmore it was the first time the highly successful " Driver to Europe Scheme " was awarded.
It was won by Bruce McLaren who narrowly beat out Phil Kerr. What wonderful foresight the organizers had and what a great step it was for Bruce. If you can read this you will see they had made arrangements with the Cooper Car Co. for the winner to go there and be employed by that factory. They must have had a crystal ball in 1957 to know that Cooper would the best team to progress through in the next few years. We will be forever grateful for those organizers for setting these drivers on their way to greatness...well done. (I did not know that Argentina had done a similar scheme for Juan Fangio in 1948 )

( Ken Hyndman ...you will need good eyes to read this but it was the best I can do at this time )




Attachment 27997

Amazing Ken , I did not know Phil Kerr even raced a car prior to reading yr info...let alone racing against Bruce etc .... I do know of the close connection though with the then trio..... & some other things that happened later ............By the way I met up with Wally Wilmott in Christchurch [ Ruapuna] a few weeks back, the main man as mechanic for them those many years ago . As you might know Wally was a Timaru boy ....... just an amazing man with so much to say about that time ............

Yes, Phil Kerr was one of the main reasons that the McLaren Team remained such a strong team after Bruce died.
Here is a brief biography from "Grand Prix .com "

PEOPLE: PHIL KERR

Name: Phil Kerr
Nationality: New Zealand



Born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1934, Phil Kerr first met Bruce McLaren at a hillclimb event in 1951 both were racing Austin Sevens. While racing Kerr also studied accountancy and business management and when he left college he joined the New Zealand Forest Service before moving to work for a small engineering business in Auckland. This handled the sale of Buckler cars in New Zealand and Kerr was soon racing these and at the same time moved up through the ranks to become the secretary of the Auckland Car Club - the biggest automobile club in New Zealand - and a member of the board of the New Zealand International Grand Prix Association. In 1958 he was one of the names put forward to be New Zealand's Driver to Europe but was beaten to the prize by McLaren. In Europe McLaren mentioned to Jack Brabham that Kerr might be the man to run the Australian's businesses and in 1959 Kerr moved to England to help Jack establish a headquarters in Chessington. This consisted of a petrol station and offices but in the years that followed expanded into a big racing car manufacturing business in the earlly 1960s. One of Kerr's major contributions was to bring Denny Hulme to Brabham's attention and he managed Hulme's career until Denny won the World Championship in 1967. The pair then moved to McLaren where Kerr became joint managing-director with McLaren. After McLaren was killed in 1970 Kerr played an important role in holding the team together and he continued to be a major player at McLaren in the early 1970s, although he was edged out of the team to run the semi-works Yardley operation in 1974 after Marlboro came in as the team's chief backer. At the end of that year Yardley withdrew and Hulme retired and Kerr decided to head back to New Zealand, where he established and developed the McLaren Group of companies, initially as a specialist automotive engineering frim but more recently as a business consultancy, project management and IT firm.

Ken I found this very interesting .........not one to read a lot re motor racing history in great detail & volumes as we use to eat & sleep & dream it ... a bit like car sales yards now I never walk onto one you get over it ............but find your stories plus others here very interesting easy reads.. thank you .. grant