Mini-Men can always be relied on to mix it with a will. Bill Bryce leading an eager bunch at Renwick.
All-Comers Neil Doyle and Jack Nazer kept patrons on their toes in a willing Wigram duel. Doyle favoured a big Corvette engine in his Anglia, while Nazer stuck to a Lotus twin-Cam unit, which proved to be more effective.
Roy Harringtons bug-eyed Imp just about to be overtaken by Jack Nazers Lotus Anglia at Timaru.
John Miller put all Renwick emergency services to the test when his Corvette-engined Dauphine bent a pole on the main straight.
Nazer was trying hard to get the better of Franicevic at Timaru, where the curcuit offered interesting pictures even if it was unkind to the machinery.
"Colour me Gone" was the message displayed on the stern of 'The Monster" as Franicevic disappeared in the massive Ford V8 and a cloud of dust.
Rain tyre on the Shelby Mustang gave Fahey an advatage over Franicevic when the skies opened at the GP meeting.
Warner Collins left his Lotus-engined Anglia at home to make good but short-lived impression at Wigram with similarly-powered, much modified Minor.
Last edited by Rod Grimwood; 10-13-2012 at 11:46 PM.
The pretty little drop-nosed, Lotus-powered, fundamentally Farina of Clyde Collins was quite an effective newcomer on the All-Comer scene.
Group 2 Touring car Champion Barry Phillips lifts an inside wheel in a characteristic Lotus-Cortina fashion at Timaru.
Fahey had a determined go in the mustang at Wigram but Franicevics winning run ran on. Here are the two in close formation with Neil Doyles Corvette-Anglia.
Better known as a racing commentator, mini driver Bill bryce got right in amonst the assorted Anglia derivatives at Timaru.
Last edited by Rod Grimwood; 10-13-2012 at 11:46 PM.
Nazer was second home in the Lotus-Angli at Levin. Fahey gave him a good run for it for a while but eventually the tired Mustang drifted back to 4th.
Quickest Mini and probably quickest Group 2 saloon was shared by angus Hyslop and Dick Langley. Former single seater champion Hyslop was runner-up in series.
Small all-comer were all thrillers at Pukekohe. Mullins in Farina A40 beat Bryces Mini (here in front) for second. Winner Hamlins cooper-Mini S well clear here.
Mini pack at Renwick: They are so economical in road space that it takes quite a number to fill a picture.
Sprightly newcomer to the Three-Hour Gold Leaf ghallenge at Pukekohe was the prince GT, seenhere with a mini its sights, in which Carlos Neate finished the season 4th in the Groups 2 Touring Car series.
Ernie Sprague and David Simpson in 3.8 Jaguar made a real race of it but failing brakes in latter stages of Wills 6 hour kept them back to second place.
Flooded track for the six-hour grind did not deter Sprague, who splashed to the front immediately. Archibald (no. 1) was content to pick a clear path.
3-Hour winning Mustang of Fahey/Palmer tops the Rothmans rise, marking it's swift progress with plumes of of silver spry from it's flying hooves.
Ray Stone oil checks the Mustang while Palmer impatiently waits to join the stampede.
Former 6-hour winners, Palmer and Fahey, galloped the Mustang past the post in the 3-hour Wills Challenge.
Kerry Grant, who shared this 1275 S Mini-Cooper with Brian Innes, made big effort to overhaul Mustang in last laps.
This after Fahey was using the gearbox rather than brakes in later part of race. The mini was catching at 6 seconds a lap but ran out of time and laps to catch them.
Ray Archibald congratulates tony Shelley after a bonnie drive that helped earn them their 2nd Wills 6-Hour win.
Motor racing fans are certainly tigers for punishment. But the sun must be about due to shine on the next Wills 6-Hour meeting. It must:
Note: I was in that lot and can remember when my dad said bugger this lets go about 8 o'clock i did agree and missed the end. It was wet, cold and miserable.
Grant and Lawrence were among the first to try out the new section at the opening Pukekohe Gold Star meeting.
Kerry Grant, seen leading Brownlie and rest of the Renwick field, set off after Marwood and caught him, setting a new lap recoed, but abandoned with gearbox bothers.
The Tasman cars were let off atfer the 1.5s in 1 and 1/2litre Pukekohe championship race. Here Marwood in Cooper-Climax is between the Grant and Dawson Brabhams.
Only purely nationl outing for Jim palmer was Timaru, where he took lead from the start but was forced out with broken gearbox when his grounded on bump.
In early stages at Renwick, Brownlie looked fine chasing Marwood and Grant.
Jim Boyd did not have much joy with 2.5 Brabham-Climax, although his Timaru duel with Dene Holliers 1.5 Lotus-Ford was one of the race highlights till both retired.
A spin on oil relegated Roly Levis to 3rd place at Renwick behind Dawson.
At the end of the first hectic lap at Timaru, Palmer led the way from Marwood and Levis.
Built by Southlander George Begg, this Group-7-style Chevvy-engined sports-racer, driven by Barry Keen, was an interesting newcomer that may well set a trend.
The vunerable XK120 Jaguar of David Silcock added nostalgic touch but was really no match for modern machines.
It was Geoff Mardon all the way in the Stanton-Corvette at Renwick. Buchanans Ferrari was second. Riley (lotus-Climax) dropped out after competitive drive.
OK. This the 1964 (2nd) edition. Sorry about being out of sequence but this was very kindly loaned by Barrie McBride along with the 1972 edition.
There is some amazing history in this.
This turns time back but we can manage that.
I am writing the captions as they are in the books.
PS If you can shift it back Steve, go for it.
Last edited by Rod Grimwood; 10-16-2012 at 08:32 AM.
The late Timmy Mayer, a fine racing driver and one of natures gentlemen, takes time out to talk with some young Maori enthusiasts at Levin (Timmy was killed after the Tasman Series)
The gapping air intake of the Tasman Formula Cooper-Climax, first to reach the checkered flag at pukekohe, Wigram and Teretonga.
Three New Zealand victories and eventually, the Tasman Championship gave Bruce McLaren his best 'down under' season. This gifted, wide-awake, young Aucklander already has an international reputation as a top-flight driver.
Abrilliant driver and technical man, former world champion Jack Brabham always manages to keep that Aussie smile going, although this season his impetuosity cost him good chances of success at pukekohe and Wigram.
Imperturbable Denis Hulme; his true worth as a racing motorist was only realized by most of his fellow New Zealanders after his record-breaking Levin victory with a year-old Repco-Brabham-Climax.
There is barely room to lie down and breathe in the Tasman Formula Cooper-Climax which is tailored to fit the driver.
Tasmanian grazier John Youl did much of the maintenance on his ex-Brabham Cooper-Climax. Consistant driving earned him some worth-while placings.
Not quite as slim as the Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd cars, Jack Brabham's Tasman Formula Repco-Brabham-Climax did not lack in power and was probably a better road-holder.
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