Early NZ Rallies

[Ross]

BMCBOY and others, both Rallies are familiar, remember the first Woodhill 72 or 73, and was suggested that I enter in my 850cc bog standard apart from 4.5 inch rims Mini " as the regulations weren't set ' so now is your chance ', well didn't, did Marshalling instead, do recall in one the early one's Wayne and Sue Parkin in an Escort did roll [ think near the crossroads ], people rushed down Wayne got out and was asked how was he ? " OK mate " , then they thought where is Sue, - still in the full harness upside down in the car in the ditch. The first Maramarua, offered to help ACC with marshalling and got the job, behind " tail end charlie " again in the BS 850cc Mini, to collect signs etc and drive most of the stages at moderate speed of course, seeing the Mini above REG FB 9024, think the 850 was FB 6046 so a 1965 or 66 one. wonderful times.

I have only just discovered The Roaring Season web site and forums.
I was particularly interested to see the comments relating to the Shell Triple hundred Rally as I was the Clerk of Course for this event.
The Triple Hundred was the first European style, closed road, special stage rally run in the South Island at a club level and marked the start of the transition from Trials to Rallies for many competitors.

Most of the organisers of the event, including myself, were members of UMC with the event being underwritten by Canterbury Car Club. (They had some money, unlike the bunch of students & graduates who made up UMC!)

Although the weather was not kind on the day, the event was a great success which was a testiment to the fantastic team of enthusiasts who helped with the organisation, planning & running of the rally.

I have lived in Australia since 1974 and have unfortunately lost touch with virtually everyone from that wonderful era of UMC.

Ross Hudson

[Carlo]

I have only just discovered The Roaring Season web site and forums.
I was particularly interested to see the comments relating to the Shell Triple hundred Rally as I was the Clerk of Course for this event.
The Triple Hundred was the first European style, closed road, special stage rally run in the South Island at a club level and marked the start of the transition from Trials to Rallies for many competitors.

Most of the organisers of the event, including myself, were members of UMC with the event being underwritten by Canterbury Car Club. (They had some money, unlike the bunch of students & graduates who made up UMC!)

Although the weather was not kind on the day, the event was a great success which was a testiment to the fantastic team of enthusiasts who helped with the organisation, planning & running of the rally.

I have lived in Australia since 1974 and have unfortunately lost touch with virtually everyone from that wonderful era of UMC.

Ross Hudson

Hi Ross, great to know that you are still about, I still keep in regular contact and friendship with many of the names on the entry list of that special event. Some of us are still competing today.
I will pass the word of your continuing existence amongst them.

Best wishes

Carl

[Jeff]

Hi all , This may be a bit of a tall request but - can anybody help me out with a dvd or video copy of the televised 1979 Tectyl rallysprint at Pokeno on the Bombay Hills in South Auckland.
Myself ( and Bob Couch ) would dearly love a copy.
Thanks

[GPM Motorsport]

The first time I saw GG42 and GG43 was at the final meeting at Bay Park in 95'. Both cars were racing there. At the time I was told that there were originally 3 cars and that Chris Cowan (at the time a member of Levin Car Club) owned the 3rd car GG41 and that it had been badly damaged when it went off the edge at Mangahoe Dam many years before. I was told that it was still sitting in either Chris Cowan's or Chris Clarke's garage waiting till it was worth rebuilding. How true that was and/or where it is now, I don't know. I keep meaning to ask Chris Clark about it.

There were three, GG41, GG42 and GG43. Colin Taylor drove GG42 with K Foulkes, Graham Carter and Grahame Brownlie shared the driving of GG42, and Ian Pinkerton drove GG43 with me reading the notes.

I used to know where they all went when the oil crisis over the 1973/74 summer looked like ending rallying, but have forgotten...

And they were fast - if not 100% reliable

Edit: Great movie, Carlo. Have just watched it right through. Don't remember seeing it at the time, though I must have. I arranged the NZBC sponsorship for the Toyota team

[Carlo]

For those who wish to relive and enjoy the days of the rallying past, the 2014 epay Silver Fern Rally starts in Picton 8th November and finishes 3600km and 50+ special stages a week later in Central Otago.

Time to start getting your toys ready for a week of pure magic.

[Carlo]

Just a few photos that came to hand recently

[Carlo]

[Jeff]

Great photo's Carlo ! Thanks for posting them.
Are they all taken on the "73 Heatway ?

[escorthvn]

Thanks Carl for posting the pics of the Woolmark car. Can we copy and keep them for our own file?

cheers Pete
from sunny Whangarei

[Carlo]

Thanks Carl for posting the pics of the Woolmark car. Can we copy and keep them for our own file?

cheers Pete
from sunny Whangarei

I think there photos were part of a set that one could purchase following the event Pete but I have no idea who the photographer was. They came into my hands via the son of a good old boy who is no longer with us.

[Allan]

The FIAT 125 is probably Trevor Tapper and the car became the model for the FIAT 125T. It was a South African model called a "Scorpion".

[Jeff]

Some of dad's photo's from the Heatway Rally in 72 or 73

[BMCBOY]

I've been going through a bunch of these lately and thought it would bring back a few memories.

[BMCBOY]

[BMCBOY]

[BMCBOY]

[seaqnmac27]

The Mark Parsons Torana is the ex-Coppins Bathurst car

[BMCBOY]

The Mark Parsons Torana is the ex-Coppins Bathurst car[/QUOTE]



Yes even those days it was a pretty valuable car to be rallying on those roads.
Mark was soon seen in a BDA Escort for the next season and was very quick.

[BMCBOY]

[BMCBOY]