Old Speedway Photos

[Steve Holmes]

Great stuff guys, thanks

[Rod Grimwood]

Look at the 'Safety' fence. The bike track was great, Remember years later watching Pentti Arikkila in Chevette go all the way around sideways for about 4 laps with back of car about 3ft from top and fence. Back in 70s midgets used to hang arse right up on banking (the brave few) Butterworth, Shaw, Tracey, Tripp, Kenyon loved it. Was also a easy lay down for the mad bike boys when things went wrong (often)

#253 the bottom photo bloke 2nd from left looks very much like Paul Fahey, interesting to check.

[fullnoise68]

That`s your mate Peter Botma in No 44 stockcar on its side Rod.....

[TonyG]

That`s your mate Peter Botma in No 44 stockcar on its side Rod.....

Looks like Ray Chatfield stuck under him.

Next photo I am not sure on spinning car but #22 is Anthony "Dutchie" Wijdeven from Pukekohe.

[fullnoise68]

That`s me in #76 Tony, it was the ex Bruce Harris/ Ray Chatfield car. Both the top photos were from a `probables/possibles' Auckland teams race. Peter Botma was a flag racer, so I needed to `educate ' him. He hurt his wrist so they got him out of the car ....... Dutchie, who runs Brian Roberts Towing in Pukekohe - which I have on my HMC Camaro - is spinning Gary Eaton. This would have been approx. `85/`86. I damaged two vertabraes in my back in this car during an Auckland vs Gisborne teams race, so I sold it and built the Escort with the Chev in it for Sports Sedans.
The other stockcar photo is Graham Mitchell #10 and Tony Neal #100, both Pall Mall Team members and both cars built by our then next door neighbour in his garage, the late Eddie Sutherland.

[Rod Grimwood]

Last I heard Botma was back down Waiuku way. He's a hard case bugger. When he was up here he had a bloody big Ducati only one in country in those days, and a helicopter. Pretty good engineer.

[TonyG]

That`s me in #76 Tony, it was the ex Bruce Harris/ Ray Chatfield car. Both the top photos were from a `probables/possibles' Auckland teams race. Peter Botma was a flag racer, so I needed to `educate ' him. He hurt his wrist so they got him out of the car ....... Dutchie, who runs Brian Roberts Towing in Pukekohe - which I have on my HMC Camaro - is spinning Gary Eaton. This would have been approx. `85/`86. I damaged two vertabraes in my back in this car during an Auckland vs Gisborne teams race, so I sold it and built the Escort with the Chev in it for Sports Sedans.
The other stockcar photo is Graham Mitchell #10 and Tony Neal #100, both Pall Mall Team members and both cars built by our then next door neighbour in his garage, the late Eddie Sutherland.

Cool. So right car, wrong driver at time lol. So you bought this car -


Haven't seen Dutchie since I left NZ. he has been at Brian Roberts since he left school. I think it has been his only job.
You would know this bloke well then Steve - had a lot of laughs with him!


Dutchie in Red/White hat in back ground

[fullnoise68]

Yeah Tony, that's when Ray Chatfield had it prior to me buying it. I`ve known Dutchie for many years and since buying that business in the late `90s he has built it into a multi truck successful operation. The Waikaraka Park pits look a lot different now compared to when you took these photos .....

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks again to Steve Elliott for these amazing images:

[Steve Holmes]

[Roger Dowding]

A photo I have just posted on a new Thread, seems to fit here too !!.


The car was raced by Jack Boot at a cinder track in Huntly in the 1940's It apparently handled very badly, and only did one or two meetings. Photo from Eddie Dowding's collection which I now have some of.

[Steve Holmes]

Time to kick this awesome thread back into life once more. First up is a great shot of Australian Peter Crick's Monaro, when it visited New Zealand.

[Steve Holmes]

American driver Gene Welch, and his incredible 2nd gen Camaro, which was really a Sprintcar with shortened Camaro body draped over the top.

[John McKechnie]

steve- June 1970 Hot Rod mag also has a pic of him in action, I will scan and post it here.
At least you and I know its a Monaro, unlike the writer of the article

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks John, and yes, not sure how they came to the conclusion Crocks Monaro was a Kingswood!

[Oldfart]

Post #267, the purple car in the background, Holden was run by Jim Watson, on a shoestring, but showed up every night. Really nice guy, who also sailed landyachts with the Auckland club. My wife was one of the lap scoring team at Waikaraka for a few years. Thankless task!

[John McKechnie]

Attachment 31243
Steve- here we go mate.- copyright New Zealand Hot Rod magazine
In keeping with my Monaro theme, can you please post #272 on my Team Cambridge Monaro thread
Later on I will put in some details of the racing with 3 Aussies who came over.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks John, nice couple of pics there. That Monaro must have been a burn-out or similar to have ended up on the speedway. Looks like its a GTS too!

[Steve Holmes]

Some great American muscle here. Must have been mind-blowing for punters to see such exotic cars being pounded around Kiwi bullring ovals.

[John McKechnie]

I am sure I saw MacConnachies Mustang on trademe many, many years ago, I dont know how may dirt track Mustangs Sports roofs there were.
Does anyone know of its existence or whereabouts ?