Programs, movies and memories. (USA version )

[Roger Dowding]

Mainly English, with a couple of Anglo-Americans, Italians and a German for good measure.
Interesting lots of Yellow cars, Belgium's International racing colour
as always a " A-Healey " in there, just a little one.



Europeans - unsure what the yellow car is possibility Italian


Cobra's versus the Europeans.. Ferrari


another Cobra versus a Porsche .. close running


still close


Next ; American Iron and a mix of Sports Saloon and Grand Prix.

Thanks Ken H, they didn't seem to fit in my Laguna Seca thread, and from a later trip to the USA.

[Roger Dowding]

American iron, a Bellisimo Italiano, a Topolino of sorts a Frenchie and a mix of sports cars.





a beautiful Alfa Romeo


These are a favourite of mine Fiat Abarth, with the spare in the front bumper and the open engine cover. NSU did it too with the 1000 racer the open engine cover.


Talbot Lago, I think .. or is it Lago Talbot ..


Special versus Lister versus Lotus - Lister out wide

[Roger Dowding]

The Lister, a little Italian single seater, and a Healey.



in the pits.




dashboard / cockpit of the Monoposto, above




My thanks to Wayne Brown, John Wilson and others from the Oregon Healey Club, stayed with various members of the club and even had the use of a Healey 3000, did 2000 miles in around 2 weeks, and even borrowed a riverside cottage / bach for a night.. a great trip second only [ for the car stuff ] to my trip in 1982 with BMC BOY and others..

[Roger Dowding]

Found a couple more pictures from the day - they appeared in the Austin Healey Club New Zealand's magazine -
" Healey - Torque ", in early 1989 and were still attached to the draft sheets for the magazine, which were returned to me some time later
Richard " Dick on Wheels " Mayor was indeed there in a very stripped down Healey, no headlights, screen, only a rollbar for protection, not a cage.



Getting to the track that day was a mission, Wayne Browns Healey 3000, ran out of fuel, fortunately we were travelling with others and a friend in the Aston Martin [ I think a guy called John Lowsley, from Vancouver, Washington - the twin city to Portland over the border - helped by pumping fuel from his carbs into a beer can - several times, to get the Healey going again, we got to the track, obviously and all was well.
here is the scene as it happened.



As mentioned as well as the hospitality of the Oregon Healey people, there was also the loan of a car, here is that Healey at the rear, with an NZ number plate on the front, and the Oregon plate on the rear. We never got stopped and I guess the funny accents, of foreigners, and in an old car, we would probably have been OK.
The car in front is the Wayne and Sylvia Brown 3000 that broke down, the John Wilson [ rear car ] was a barn find in Arizona, which John had purchased to restore, but was such a good runner, just used it.

[khyndart in CA]

It is a sad day here in the US knowing that Glenn Frey of the "Eagles" has died.
I remember arriving here for the first time in June 1972 and the big hit that month was "Take it easy."
So many of us have cranked up the radio and driven along to the sounds of the "Eagles "
R.I.P. Glenn, thanks for the music. It never gets too old to my ears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeDU...ICQgoUEwmWqTs1








(Ken Hyndman. It makes me appreciate the good things in life as Glenn was only 3 weeks older than me.
John & Grant, I have to get that lap of Hampton Downs off my "bucket list." )

[khyndart in CA]

]While you are all enjoying the sights and sounds from Hampton Downs etc. do not forget about some of us who are stuck over here and the best we can enjoy is racing like this. I think the only rules are that you have to clean up your own mess and be off the track by the time the "big boys" arrive. Some of these photos are from the "Infineon Raceway" north of San Francisco.

BMW 528e versus a Mini Moke / Caterpiller 416F Front Loader

My parents would have enjoyed this Super Snipe S/wagon.

1979 Ford LTD Wagon. If you arrive late you can just drive out onto the track and take your luggage off later !

Being an International event the French had to be included !


(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

So this is what happens when you do not have rules and regulations when racing in the States !








(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

Seems like all the beautifully prepared Muscle Cars went Down Under and this is what we are left with !


Kenwood truck built to scale.


Mazda MX-6 as an Asian Carp


My favorite Austin Mini Moke.


They may not be pretty but everyone sure has a lot of fun.

(Ken Hyndman )

[Steve Holmes]

Hi Ken, did you get the email I sent you a few days ago? Not sure if I have your correct address, but would you mind emailing me at: theroaringseason@gmail.com

[Roger Dowding]

It is a sad day here in the US knowing that Glenn Frey of the "Eagles" has died.
I remember arriving here for the first time in June 1972 and the big hit that month was "Take it easy."
So many of us have cranked up the radio and driven along to the sounds of the "Eagles "
R.I.P. Glenn, thanks for the music. It never gets too old to my ears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeDU...ICQgoUEwmWqTs1








(Ken Hyndman. It makes me appreciate the good things in life as Glenn was only 3 weeks older than me.
John & Grant, I have to get that lap of Hampton Downs off my "bucket list." )

Ken , love the lyrics, never did get to Winslow, been to Flagstaff Durango and other places on Route 66 .. and the age thing is a worry .. a lot of us are around these guys age, Frey, Bowie .. et al,

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
It must be time to go through that "Bucket List" and "Take It Easy"..
I may never get to that stage as there always seems to be another project on the horizon.
Oh well I have been blessed in many ways.
You take care of yourself,
Cheers,
Ken

[Grant Sprague]

Hi Ken ..... very interest photos thank you , damn hot here in Tga a great summer .. I went to Hampton Downs with some friends during the 2nd weekend , I got a good ribbing for not having the escort there , due to a soon to be rebuilt cyl head & bits coming from esslinger or burtons , trying to get a 1600 high compression head was the main issue ..... It will happen when it all falls into place period.....

[Oldfart]

Personally the strange cars in posts #86 to #88 are much more appealing than a grid full of the same cars differing only in their sponsorship logos.

[rf84]

Totally agree Rhys. For me, one of the most memorable "races" was at Manfeild in late '70's. Can't remember exact year but it was in the days of Formula Pacific and race day was rained out and rescheduled for the Monday. Monday was Wellington Anniversary Day which was fine for Wellingtonians but for anyone else it was back to work. Anyhow, some of the F Ford competitors/mechanics 'organised' a tow car race. At the appointed time of 2 o'clock dozens of spectators poured out of the Manawatu Car Clubs rooms, drinks in hand and stood on the track at Higgins. The one that really sticks out was a Mark 3 Cortina wagon with a roof rack piled high with Formula Ford spare wheels. They managed a few laps before officials parked tow trucks and other vehicles across the track to stop it.
Thanks for reviving fond memories Ken.

[khyndart in CA]

Rhys and Noel,
Perhaps NZ is ready for having some unadulterated fun at the track.
No car worth more than $ 1000.00, having the prize money given in $ 1.00 notes etc.
Here is a US site that has fun around the country.

https://www.24hoursoflemons.com/

Here is a LeMon version of flying down the back straight !





( Ken Hyndman )

[Oldfart]

You are right Ken, but would our authorities see it that way.
Once upon a time NZ looked at the US as being over-regulated and litigious. Now I think the US could look over here and say the same.

[Jac Mac]

Yep, and then some plonkers would want to organise a series for them and require a COD to start down that road of pricing it out of existence...

[seaqnmac27]

These lads certainly seem to have fun

https://www.youtube.com/user/24hoursoflemons

[khyndart in CA]

I noted in the latest Sports Car Club of America magazine an article about the racing career of John Morton which included driving and winning in a Datsun 510 in the early 70s.
This brought back memories to me of first seeing two Datsun 1600s driven at speed around the roads of Tatuanui near Morrinsville by Brian Innes and Dennis Marwood as they prepared for the 1968 B&H race at Pukekohe. They drove at night (to avoid the law ! )and our elite rugby team, the Kereone Senior Reserve was practicing at the Tatuanui School under the lights and being the halfback I had to learn the tricky signals of "one pass to the right and two pass to the left" from the scrum. ( I had a great first five who never dropped any of my passes !). Anyway we could hear the Datsuns approaching and we would all run over to the fence to watch Brian and Dennis speed by which really annoyed our coach. ( A good memory. ) Those Datsuns really opened a lot of eyes at Pukekohe in Oct. 1968.



(Steve Twist photo of # 21 Datsun 1600 at Pukekohe. 1968


(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

John Morton drove a Datsun 510 in the 1971 and 1972 SCCA 2.5 Challenge Series which ran their races at the same day and track as the Trans- Am races. The under 2.0 litre limit on engine size had been raised in 1971 to 2.5 litre with the SCCA hoping it would lure more manufacturers back to the series as the Trans_Am fields were diminishing due to the lack of factory supported teams. They hoped that Chevrolet would race a 2287 cc Vega or BMW a 2500 sedan, even Triumph with a 2.5 P.I. As it turned out not a single car raced in the 2.5 Challenge Series that could not have raced under the 2.0 litre rules.
John's car was entered by Pete Brock as part of a two car team known as the BRE Team. (Brock Racing Enterprises) They were 2-door sedans with 1622 cc engines with twin Solex carbs. They had 5-speed transmissions from the 240 Z plus all the other modifications to the engine, body and suspension tricks that the SCCA would allow. This gave them about 175 BHP with a redline of 9000 rpm.
John had a winning season with great competition from Horst Kwech in a Alfa Romeo GTV.

The Class of the 1971 2.5 Challenge Series. L To R.
Don Pike. (BMW 2002 ) Horst Kwech (Alfa Romeo GTV) and John Morton (Datsun 510 ) (SCI Archives photo )


The races were exciting with large fields. John Morton leading at Mid-Ohio. (Dave Arnold photo )

I know this has an earlier thread on TRS but that was 3 years ago and I hope you can once again get to enjoy this movie starring John Morton in his Datsun 510 number 46 during the 1971 2.5 Challenge Series. ("Against All Odds ")







(Ken Hyndman )