Believe you to be right. Think he had a modified hard top later (black in colour). Raced against him in both a few times at Puke club curcuit.Originally Posted by GeebeeNZ
It had bigger wheels, but looks like he has reverted to standard for wet.
Believe you to be right. Think he had a modified hard top later (black in colour). Raced against him in both a few times at Puke club curcuit.
It had bigger wheels, but looks like he has reverted to standard for wet.
The Prescott programme here lists this as a Lotus 23, but it looks like the Coldwell GT to me - sans gullwing doors for better visibility maybe - or better ventilation on a steaming English early summer's day...?
One of my favourite cars of the period. Journalist Tom Leake's Aston Martin DB4GT
And now for something completely different... An NSCC (Northern Sports Car Club, not Nottingham Sports Car Club this time) Sprint at Span farm. They turned down my 1300cc Riley Elf as it was still in primer, so I never did get to run it. Chevron with a slight hiccup. Not sure of the exact date, but mid 1980s.
I am not a rally follower but picture opportunities abound, even if you are there as a stage marshal. Again, not sure of the date.
Note to AMCO - please come back. I really miss your posts... Don't let one dozy poster put you off.
Last edited by ERC; 11-23-2012 at 02:26 AM.
Silver sports (Chevron) with smoke and tell tale flame under it, looks like the Henderson sprint around the industrial years back (was that span farm) and RX3 is definately Woodhill but who not sure.
Shame about primer being such a safety thing, unreal for a sprint meeting. Thats what we all put up with back then.
Last edited by Rod Grimwood; 11-23-2012 at 07:41 PM.
Note to AMCO - please come back. I really miss your posts... Don't let one dozy poster put you off.[/QUOTE]
+ 1 from me.
+ 1 from me.[/QUOTE]
+2
+2[/QUOTE]
+3
I am reviewing the situation........meantime you Guys, you had better get this thread back on track, otherwise we will get our ears chewed.
Missed your stories and comments, thought that son of yours had sold you off somewhere as a valuable relic
Welcome back
Nope, no ear chewing, I'd like to see you back too Gerald.
Well, it's nice to feel welcome. Clearly my writing style does not suit everyone, but that would be a tall ask on a forum such as this with such a wide diversity of interests and skills.
Of course I am just a fraud on here, as although my title says...'Billy Bigtime', my motoracing experience is zilch compared to some of the illustrious names on here. So I am just bumbling along telling stupid stories that I'm sure dont interest motoring historians, but may bring a smile to the faces of lesser mortals.
OK, enough of the bullshit. I will return to the printed page with details of a little project that I have been doing for last couple of months, but will appear on a more suitable thread, but here is a peep.
In response to a request by Jim Barclay, I have rescued the Austin 850 Mini that Denny Hulme purchased new in England in 1960 when he and George Lawton were there on the Driver to Europe program. The car had been sitting in a barn near TePuke since 1989, and was, as you can imagine in a rather sorry state.
Anyway, I will get some pictures together of the rescue mission, and more details about the car in another thread.
Woohoo! Welcome back... I wasn't around in NZ pre 1983 so stories of cars and personalities from an earlier time, particularly when well written, are appreciated. OK, I'll get the thread back on track...
Last edited by ERC; 11-23-2012 at 09:50 PM.
Although the programme always used to state the driver's name as "Spotty Smith", the real name was Tony Banccroft. TVR at Prescott again. I'd have to say that the annual Bugatti/Ferrari owner's club hillclimb is a must attend event that tends to get overlooked these days, with the obvious emphasis on Goodwood.
7 litre Skoda anyone? As mentioned before, the UK special saloons rules insisted on engine and gearbox in the original location and Skoda's proved an ideal base. Cadwell again - another UK venue well worth a visit, though Lincolnshire doesn't attract many NZ tourists. Pity really, as the (fresh) fish chips and mushy peas at the sea front at Skegness, are to die for! Four pounds 55p when we called in June - say $10?
Curborough again and another of those less well known cars, the Landar. They also made rather nice Mini engined sports racers, but I don't think they produced many single seaters.
Another "little brother" to my car. The Costin Amigo. I believe there might even be one in NZ? Please tell me my memory isn't playing tricks.
No caption really required as to car or track...
Last edited by ERC; 11-23-2012 at 09:51 PM.
Must admit the "Billy Bigtime" with my name would be better as "Enthusiast" or "Part Time"
welcome back Gerald.
Love that Skoda, what a beast, nice shot of the Skyline at Puke, think if you visit John Windleburn at North Shore Automatic's you may see it parked in young Shanes corner.
Last edited by Rod Grimwood; 11-23-2012 at 09:40 PM.
Not keen on the Billy Bigtime moniker either... I think that the Skoda's engine may have been in his previous 'loon, a Capri. George "Welly" Potter - I think. (Another missing race programme...)
Silverstone 1973, F1 meeting.
I only managed the Richard Seaman Trophy races at Oulton Park the once, and it appears that maybe dust correction should have been applied when this negative was scanned... Big old cars with even bigger engines may not be the fastest round a race track, but the spectacle is more important than the speed - in my book anyway.
April 1979 at Donington and the local super saloon hero, Mick Hill, in his latest Skoda. I think Mick's creations, from his first Jaguar engined Ford Anglia, through Capris, VW and Skodas, were all worth watching - and he wasn't too bad on the Scalextric either... (More of that anon)
Geordie driver, French car, Chelsea Hillclimb. Obviously not an old scanned slide or negative, but a favourite pic anyway.
Another digital pic. Monaco 2012 and another brave Brit effort - Alta. (I must publish Dad's Alta pic.)
Last edited by ERC; 11-24-2012 at 09:43 PM.
Another from the forests but as yet, undated.
French Blue, Italian Red - Goodwood Festival 2004. I never did manage to get close enough to the track to get a decent action pic, even with a Press pass, but there are just so many decent cars around, that even if you can't get to the revival race meeting, the Festival is still well worth a visit. A (sold out) crowd limit of 150,000 over the three days, for a hillclimb, rather puts the Aussie V8 crowd numbers into perspective. Incidentally, ladies are allowed at Goodwood...
Paul Madeley's rare race winning Nerus Silhouette at Hampton Downs. They only built 4 - and this one is now for sale.
Without a doubt, one of the most impressive specials I have ever seen. The McNair Riley Moth - 2011 Chelsea again. The concept and execution of this car is just stunning. How can you compare watching a Falcodore to this?
Last edited by ERC; 11-24-2012 at 09:40 PM.
Patsy Burt's McLaren was a regular on the hillclimb scene. Shelsey Walsh.
The late Ashley Cleave's 1937 Morris Special. According to a recent UK magazine, this car is now being restored. Prescott. PS: Now in touch with the new owner (Dec 2018)
This Bentley Special was owned and raced by Alec Rivers-Fletcher, probably better known as the PRO for BRM. Probably less well known is that his next door neighbour at one stage, was the car mad British comic, the late Sir Norman Wisdom, who made an unscheduled appearance in one of Alec's home movies! Alec was a regular presenter of slide shows to car clubs and I remember well, my father taking me to Mansfield to see one. Outside was his modified Mk2 Jaguar, louvred bonnet, woodrim wheeel etc. Picture taken in the paddock of the Prescott Hillclimb.
Not a hillclimb, (this time) but the Cadwell 'mountain' was a great feature of this track, often called the UK's mini Nurburgring. Pre '57 races were very popular with Morris Minors and Austin A35's doing battle with Mk1 Jaguars and Ford Zepyhrs, with able support from MG Magnettes, Standard Ensigns and even a P4 Rover. With the proliferation of older cars in NZ, its a pity that the same didn't take off here. NZ Pre 65's are racers, whereas the UK pre 57's were very much road cars.
Last edited by ERC; 03-05-2019 at 09:31 AM.
Love the TVR Griffith.Although the programme always used to state the driver's name as "Spotty Smith", the real name was Tony Banccroft. TVR at Prescott again. I'd have to say that the annual Bugatti/Ferrari owner's club hillclimb is a must attend event that tends to get overlooked these days, with the obvious emphasis on Goodwood.
7 litre Skoda anyone? As mentioned before, the UK special saloons rules insisted on engine and gearbox in the original location and Skoda's proved an ideal base. Cadwell again - another UK venue well worth a visit, though Lincolnshire doesn't attract many NZ tourists. Pity really, as the (fresh) fish chips and mushy peas at the sea front at Skegness, are to die for! Four pounds 55p when we called in June - say $10?
Re the Skoda, what sort of suspension/brakes etc would have been used on this car? I know many of these cars were built using single seater components, often from cars that were a couple of years old, so they could be picked up on the cheap and scavenged. Fantastic little car. Does it still exist?
Loving these pics Ray. How did the Aston perform? Was this powered by the same V8 motor used in 1967 in the Lola T70 coupes?Silverstone 1973, F1 meeting.
I only managed the Richard Seaman Trophy races at Oulton Park the once, and it appears that maybe dust correction should have been applied when this negative was scanned... Big old cars with even bigger engines may not be the fastest round a race track, but the spectacle is more important than the speed - in my book anyway.
April 1979 at Donington and the local super saloon hero, Mick Hill, in his latest Skoda. I think Mick's creations, from his first Jaguar engined Ford Anglia, through Capris, VW and Skodas, were all worth watching - and he wasn't too bad on the Scalextric either... (More of that anon)
Mick Hill raced some fascinating Special Saloons. Several of his cars are featured here: http://www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder....menusaloon.htm
I think that the Aston was built for Le Mans (by Robin Hamilton?) - maybe John Dennehy can fill in some details? Picture taken at the same time as the Decadanet, as per earlier pics, so maybe Howard also has recollections?
Incidentally, the first automatic I ever drove was the boss's DBS Aston Vantage, returning from Leeds after its first 3000 mile service. I have never forgotten that thrill of accelerating briskly from 100mph to 120mph - until the fuel gauge headed towards empty at an equally brisk rate and I didn't have much cash with me for fuel. Running a 998cc Mini Cooper at the time, that was a different beast altogether, but I soon adapted.
When it comes to the technical aspects of the super saloons, or indeed, any car, I am the wrong person to ask.
Last edited by ERC; 09-09-2015 at 06:40 AM.
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