Austin-Healey’s and the Austin Healey Car Club of NZ and Others

update May 2016 .
As can be seen this thread has developed into the
" Austin-Healey’s and the Austin Healey Car Club of NZ and Others ", as better represents the content and have many more Healey related photos.
Appreciate the input from others
. Any contributions, copies of brochures, photos of Healey's or Healey related, are most welcome.. thanks for any contributions ..

The Le Mans Relay Races 1982 83 and on :
I am trying to gather information on these events held in February 1982 and 1983 [ I competed in 1983 ], the events were organised by Jaguar Drivers, initially - from what I have learn't and then Porsche Club.

Does anyone have results from particularly the 1982 and 1983 events.

I have approached the Jaguar Drivers Club and they have a VHS tape of the 1983 event, which I am hopefully getting on DVD at some stage, via the JDC. regret to say that did not happen

Any information would be appreciated, Private message me and I will give my E-mail address.

Attachment 29814


copy of the program attached
Roger

Have edited the Post to now include the Austin Healey Car Club Maioro Road, Otaua, Hillclimbs of the 1982 - 1990 with photos from 1985, 1988 and some other years.
They were held near Waiuku in Franklin County, one of the most supportive Councils for motor racing, with Pukekohe Race Track and numerous Hillclimbs and Rally Stages being run there.

Attachment 62281

The thread includes other Healey Cars as well Pre Austin Healey - hence the note
- " covers Healeys in general ### 47 "

Please Note ; This thread is not an Official " Austin Healey Car Club of New Zealand " publication - but my own story - however much information does come from AHCCNZ sources - with thanks to Mark Donaldson - founder, First President in 1972 and now the current President. Mark has a huge archive on things Austin Healey and just Healey..

Sure i did a couple of those,once in a Scimitar and again in my 998 Mini Cooper,seem to remember you had to do a "Dummy" plug change,and wasent an armband involved. Seem to remember the 240Z guys with Japanese headbands "Banzai"or Kamakaze on them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ross Hollings

Sure i did a couple of those,once in a Scimitar and again in my 998 Mini Cooper,seem to remember you had to do a "Dummy" plug change,and wasent an armband involved. Seem to remember the 240Z guys with Japanese headbands "Banzai"or Kamakaze on them.

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Ross, yes dummy plug change, wheel change and top up oil, the Z Guys were entered [ two teams of four ] in 1983, too .. and there was a Team of 4 Scimitars that year

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Paul Wilkinson

I wonder if the JDC would mind if you put it on Youtube? I can see Dad's name on the Scimitar team and I'm sure he'd love to watch it for old times' sake.

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Paul, Hi,
Waiting to hear about the " Video ", currently in VHS format, I have asked to have it put on DVD, and will then try to post to TRS
as a U-tube item, no idea how long it will be.

One of the photos I have ;

Attachment 29833

By any chance would your father Keith, have any information on it, an old magazine.. see he was car 211, I was car 73, they put each team at increments of ten, first team had car one, second team car 11 - Eleven, 22 four car teams in all. there are some great names in the entries

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Paul Wilkinson

If he does have any pictures it's likely to be just him and a couple of mates leaning on his car. He doesn't really have any pictures of back then. I'll ask though.....

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Looked at your posts and just behind the Healeys is a Lotus Seven, - Steel Bros type, the car in yellow.. would have been one of three, later models,
No #185, 1978 Bob Harmon, # 223 1977 Rowan Shatgy, or # 225 1980 Murray Walker, the only other seven was a 1961 model of Dennis Ganley # 181
.

The Program and Entrants.
Le Mans Classic Relay Race 1983 - Pukekohe - Saturday, February 26th, 1983, Organised by Jaguar Drivers Club NZ.

Attachment 29838

Attachment 29839

Attachment 29840

Attachment 29841

Hope you can read the names, had an issue resizing the program -

Scenes from the Austin Healey Car Club pits.

Frank Karl and that " Purple " 3000 both needing refuelling ??
Attachment 29842

Barry Moon the two tone 100 and Ross Osborne with his 100/6 the changeover.
Attachment 29843

Another shot of the same two
Attachment 29844

Some more ;
Myself in my 1955 100.

Attachment 29845

Ross Osborne - a pit stop [ not the changeover ]
The lady in the " white " overalls is Phil Ganley, was married to Dennis Ganley [ Howdens brother ] of the famous Ganley racing family, Dennis and Howdens father was a serious competitor in the 1950's

Attachment 29846

Cameron Mackay 3000 in the helmet, with Phil and another Healey Club lady
myself - yellow T shirt and Adrian Rhodens assisting in the pit stop - Adrian and Phil both ran Bugeye's in the event.
Attachment 29847

and more ;

Tay Urlwin in the 100 M Spec.
Attachment 29848

Team Manager Lyle Chambers talking to Tay
Attachment 29849

Ross Osborne 100 Six - The photographer John Dowding provided our support vehicle to Ford Falcon Van from his employer at the time - he was the sales and delivery Boy..
Attachment 29850

Adrian Rhodens Yellow Bugeye at the back ..

Wheel change - Frank Karl's Purple Healey - well known in classic racing circles in the 80's.

Attachment 29851

The Team - a lot of them at the finish, Beers out already.

Attachment 29852

The above photos, all by John Dowding, who provide the Ford Falcon service transport too !!.
Thanks John.
PS John is the son of Eddie Dowding from Northern Sports Car Club - the early years thread.

Interesting! As I arrived in NZ January 1983, this was one of the first events I ever attended in NZ. I was at a small meeting today and no less than three of those in that entry list were there - and had he not been at Laguna Seca, there would have been 4.

The sad thing is that as many of these older cars have increased in value, it is now too risky to race them - notwithstanding rules regarding roll cages etc.

Part of a golden age when they could round up so many Morgans, Austin Healeys and Daimler SP250s.

When TACCOC took over the Le Mans, I remember Marsden Robinson's hilarious team manager's meeting. At that meeting, we were miffed that our team of MG's all had steel wheels and 4 wheel nuts whereas the other MG team had wire wheels and could do the compulsory pit stop and wheel change so much quicker! Lots of fun though.

Frank Karl's Healey has been green for a few years now and we had some great dices at the McLaren Festival, somewhere near the tail end of the Sports GT grid.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ross Hollings

Sure i did a couple of those,once in a Scimitar and again in my 998 Mini Cooper,seem to remember you had to do a "Dummy" plug change,and wasent an armband involved. Seem to remember the 240Z guys with Japanese headbands "Banzai"or Kamakaze on them.

---

the armband change with myself fitting the band to Barry Moon's arm. Barry was a serious peddler of a Mark two Escort in the 1970's

Attachment 29896

Rodger-Barry Moon has just retired from his Upholstery business.
His red MK2 Escort he sold to the Golden Card sponsored racer Hilly Hill, who runs it at Historic meetings

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Paul Wilkinson

It's interesting isn't it, many of those cars were only 15 or so years old. What I assume is my car was only 5 years old and was in the TACCOC team. We seem to have fixed a certain date in our head as to what constitutes a classic. The same meeting today should, by rights, be made up of cars from around the year 2000 with some from as recently as 2010.

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Good point and one that is lost with some campaigners of older machinery. When I said we'd allow in 1996 MGF's and equivalents, some people were appalled, claiming we'd be overrun with 'modern' cars. We haven't been, but at least our numbers are holding up well, though the proportion of slightly newer classics increases each year.

You can't wander the scrapyards and breakers now to keep genuinely old cars on the road at a reasonable cost.

If we don't move forward, we die. What the H & C Commission have never fully addressed, is not what constitutes a classic, but what constitutes a thoroughbred. So having a set of 'T & C' rules that doesn't actually cover Thoroughbreds at all, is something that needs addressing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John McKechnie

Rodger-Barry Moon has just retired from his Upholstery business.
His red MK2 Escort he sold to the Golden Card sponsored racer Hilly Hill, who runs it at Historic meetings

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John, Thanks for the info, didn't realise his Escort was still around, I had heard that Barry retired, He tried to sell the business to Cameron McKay who is one of the Red Healeys in this thread, Cameron was a near neighbour of mine in late 70's and a friend, Barry was/is a great Guy, we travelled together to a Healey Club National Rally meeting at Masterton in 1987, in his 3000 at the time, as my Hundred 4 car # 73 in the thread was unreliable.
I sold my Healey in 1995 to Lance Elliott and Panelbeater of some note, who has restored many of the Historic Midget cars. I understand my Healey was restored too!!, It needed it, was unoriginal in a number of places, Front Brakes and Suspension in particular were from an Austin A50 Cambridge, had bigger brakes on the back than the front.. scary !!

Didn't Lance Elliott race Minis? He resprayed my Allegro Equipe that got scuffed during the shipping to NZ.

Barry Moon raced in the ERC Series with his Escort and as is often the case, I got him to recover some household upholstery. Last saw him at the January Festival.

Frank Karl retired from Air NZ earlier this year and I think the Healey was being refreshed by RaceFX when I last called in.

I think Rob Douglas still owns his Daimler SP250.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ERC

Interesting! As I arrived in NZ January 1983, this was one of the first events I ever attended in NZ. I was at a small meeting today and no less than three of those in that entry list were there - and had he not been at Laguna Seca, there would have been 4.

The sad thing is that as many of these older cars have increased in value, it is now too risky to race them - notwithstanding rules regarding roll cages etc.

Part of a golden age when they could round up so many Morgans, Austin Healeys and Daimler SP250s.

When TACCOC took over the Le Mans, I remember Marsden Robinson's hilarious team manager's meeting. At that meeting, we were miffed that our team of MG's all had steel wheels and 4 wheel nuts whereas the other MG team had wire wheels and could do the compulsory pit stop and wheel change so much quicker! Lots of fun though.

Frank Karl's Healey has been green for a few years now and we had some great dices at the McLaren Festival, somewhere near the tail end of the Sports GT grid.

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ERC, I know what you mean, my 100/4 # 73 had been modified and ran Hotwire Mag wheels, 4 stud, so the same slow wheel change. for the Plug change we all had fitted under the bonnet a bracket that had a " Spark Plug " in a threaded mounting, so you didn't break a plug on the car. Rules are a guideline, i am sure.. use of lower case i. OK. ..

Frank's Healey, ran at Ohakea Reunion, was there, way back when, thinking 1982 !, he at one time ran a F5000, that was a recreation by Race R/X, Andy Culpin.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roger Dowding

Frank's Healey, ran at Ohakea Reunion, was there, way back when, thinking 1981, he at one time ran a F5000, that was a recreation by Race R/X, Andy Culpin.

---

The RFX5000.

In 1982 the Austin Healey Car Club of New Zealand, organised its first Hill Climb, the event at Otaua, which the club ran annually until 1990. the MG Car Club took over the event and I am unsure if it still runs.
Reg Whittaker a local Waiuku guy, initial R O W, was known in the AHCC as " Reg of Waiuku ", was a local school teacher and had lived in the area all of his life, he knew the locals and was able to get consent from those effected by the event.
After each run the road was opened so locals could come and go from their properties, then closed for the next run.
The local Tavern provide the Scrutineering area in the car park, as before opening time 7;30 a.m on, and was the site of the prizegiving and story telling.

I have photos from several years of the event, some undated, and was involved as competitor in 1983, Marshall most other years and organiser of permits Road Closure etc for the last few years, 1988 - 1990. R O W was always helping, as did his brother Bruce and the members of the AHCC including Ross Cammick.

Was going to start a new thread, but thought as It is AHCC related would start here.
just a few shots to begin - years unknown.

Healey in front is the Clerk of Course car - Peter Nelligan who now lives in Wellington NZ and he and Diane still have the car [ update Nov 2019 ]
Attachment 31800

On the road by the start
Attachment 31801

A beautiful Lotus -*** the Eleven X1 - rebuilt / restored by Peter Bruin - car is ex the Ganley family Father Jim, sons Howden and Dennis who also ran a Jarvie bodied Ford 10 Special .. the car now back with the Ganley family in its 1960's Ganley livery
Attachment 31802

Whose is it, What is it ??
Attachment 31803

John Wigston's single seater is a well known car - comments required.
Attachment 31804

There are some 70-100 photos to follow as I get them sorted.

These may a bit smaller than TRS can take - may have to upsize just like Macca's !!

Roger, the Otaua Hill Climb is alive and well, and has been for at least the last 15 years I've been a member of the MGCC. The MGCC ( Auckland ) still organise and run it, in fact the 2015 edition was run just a couple of weeks ago.

I think that is Peter Bruin's 11. RIP Pete

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JAFA

Roger, the Otaua Hill Climb is alive and well, and has been for at least the last 15 years I've been a member of the MGCC. The MGCC ( Auckland ) still organise and run it, in fact the 2015 edition was run just a couple of weeks ago.

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JAFA, that is great to hear, we the AHCCNZ, passed on all our files on the Hill Climb when MGCC asked to take it over, we were too small to run it after a while and from memory the Club committee was changing and became based in Wellington with only a regional rep in Auckland, Les Meggett, who was Clerk of the Course for a number of the years, the latter ones 1986 - 1990, I think.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Oldfart

I think that is Peter Bruin's 11. RIP Pete

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I think so too, but no notes on the Picture, saw Pete run this when first rebuilt at the Concourse in Te Atatu at a bent sprint.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Oldfart

I think that is Peter Bruin's 11. RIP Pete

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probably him with his back to the camera wearing yardley overalls

[Lotus Eleven photo]Peter in picture on right hand side,[back to camera]wearing his Peter Revson's Yardley overalls.As to be expected of Peter,another work of art.

These are from the 1988 event.
As mentioned the Otaua Tavern Car Park was the venue for documentation and scrutineering, and issue of one day Racing licences for casual competitors - this was done through TACCOC as AHCCNZ was not MANZ affiliated then.

Scrutineering;
Attachment 31832

Venue for the Prizegiving, just across that car park
Our President at the time Brad Chibnall with the cap on by the door
Attachment 31833

My Healey 100, that ran at the Le Mans relay race in 1983
Not sure if I was tired and getting out of the sun or the car needed work.
Was a Flag Marshall that day at a point near the end of the run.
Ran the car here in 1983, no pictures though.
Attachment 31834

Spectator cars Richard Leaper by the Lotus [ his ] Lyle Chambers by the MGB, [ Richard's mothers ] and a Hillman Hunter wagon for support.
Attachment 31835

Healeys of the spectators and Marshalls
Attachment 31836

some of the crowd, including BMC BOY he has probably never seen this photo, as a Photographer you don't get to " shoot " yourself - cheers Ross,
Attachment 31837

To follow action on the Hill and more background shots.
The Hill started downhill, which was great for older cars where uphill clutch starts could be damaging, the there was a sharp left, which you had to decide where it was and start to turn otherwise you would run wide and have to slow down, then a big sweeping curve, through a wiggly section a couple more curve to the finish, and a short run-off.
cars then had to wait and the whole field would return while the road was open to the residents and public. The residents were great, some of the public not so co-operative though.

cheers
Roger

A Healey Sprite to start the set;
Attachment 31842

Lotus Cortina
Attachment 31843

Lotus Cortina again
Attachment 31844

Alfa Guilia [ 105 ] for Spgeti and friends, cheers Bruce.
Attachment 31845

Sports Cars a Lotus Seven s4, Steel Bros. !!
Attachment 31846

and a TVR Vixen !!.
Attachment 31847
coming up, Jaguars, A Lancia, the Alfa 105 and some Germans, a BMW and a Porsche.

I will have a look at my old club membership list and see if I can identify the owner of the 105. Cheers

Jaguars , one brave soul in an XK140.

Attachment 31848

Attachment 31849

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spgeti

I will have a look at my old club membership list and see if I can identify the owner of the 105. Cheers

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Ivan Cranch, 69 1750 GTV

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spgeti

Ivan Cranch, 69 1750 GTV

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Thanks Spgeti ; Ivan may remember what year(s) he competed. I recoginise the name.
Bruce look at the next few pics the 105 is there again from the front - No Rego plate, no bumpers .

Attachment 31850

the view from the back again - repeated as meant to comment - the two people sitting by the fence are Bruce and Yvonne Whittaker, Bruce is Reg's brother and a Waiuku local too !!. We had them sit there for the first few years until a MANZ Steward, after there was an off near the finish suggested they get behind the fence.
Also note in top right corner the white sign that was the Stop sign to confirm you had crossed the finish line where the chequered flag is and the AHCCNZ sign.

Attachment 31852

Attachment 31851

The Germans, well a couple of them.

Attachment 31853

Attachment 31854

Interesting Roger as the grill is a GTV2000. The tail lights are GTV1750 on the first photo.

Roger, somewhat difficult to ask Ivan himself, sadly passed away, but family may remember.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Oldfart

Roger, somewhat difficult to ask Ivan himself, sadly passed away, but family may remember.

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Oldfart, thanks for the note, hopefully his car is still around and being used well.

some of the cars that have featured already are here, so the ones I marked 1986, may be 1985 - these set has the Kodak stamp on the back Mar 85, and a leaflet advertising Kodak VHS and Beta tapes.. now that is a memory ..!!.

An interesting group of Sports Cars.
Lotii and BSA..

Lotus 11
Attachment 31862
and close up
Attachment 31863

Ralph Watsons BSA Special.
Attachment 31864
and again
Attachment 31865

More Lotii ..
Attachment 31866

More Lotii, the second Seven was supposed to be in the first set.

Attachment 31867

Ford Cortinas- powered by Lotus or was it " Lotus powered by Ford ".
Attachment 31868

Attachment 31869

Rob Whitehouse amazing Lancia Stratos - believe left NZ a few years later for the UK.
Attachment 31870

and the Stratos again
Attachment 31871

Another E-type
Attachment 31872

To follow, Healey's big and small, Daimler SP250's, Marcos, Morgan, Buckler, Sunbeam and a Triumph TR, from the 1985 shots, then we will move to 1988 again

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JAFA

Roger, the Otaua Hill Climb is alive and well, and has been for at least the last 15 years I've been a member of the MGCC. The MGCC ( Auckland ) still organise and run it, in fact the 2015 edition was run just a couple of weeks ago.

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Must mention the " Eligibilty " of the vehicles that could compete, it was based around Classic Sports as the Healeys were, and allowed saloons of Classic status but a very important part of the acceptance was a clause that said,
" any vehicle acceptable to the organisers "
, hence vintage " the BSA " and single seaters that were not road registered, John Wigstons car and a couple of others that did compete.
Was a big event to organise for a club that was largely social and not into competitive events, they ran Gymkhana's in the early days with kids as passengers, a bit like Vintage Clubs did, then a few got the racing / competing bug and moved into those events, the Hill Climb the Le mans relay races etc..

Not sure what the rules are these days.

It's largely club / race / Targa cars and road cars, with a few rally cars now and then. Thames Valley Car Club usually have a few members in attendance, at least they did when I was around to see it. Not sure if you could put a single seater in it these days.

I'll enter it again one day when I finish working over the ditch.

A much modified 3000, think it is Frank Karls purple one in another iteration, small windscreen and has the side vents and those big hotwire type wheels.

Attachment 31880

getting closer
Attachment 31881

Up close
Attachment 31882

same colour but smaller " I shrunk the Healey !! "
Attachment 31883

another Sprite - this may have been at the Classic Le Mans races at Pukekohe but on the same film " mar 85 ".
Cameron Mackay and a hidden Team Healey guy working on the wheel.
Attachment 31884

Three shots of Daimler SP250's , and a TR5, [ I think - cut the tail off, bad panning ].

Attachment 31904

Attachment 31905

change of colour
Attachment 31906

and the TR - they did share some mechanicals I believe .. steering rack, suspension or ??.
Attachment 31907