March 30th 2002 Pukekohe Remi. (If you run your mouse over the pics, it should start with the date: 202 = 2002, 192 = 1992, followed by the month and day = 202_0330 anything beyond that is usually a film negative number or sequence number or another filing number.)
Last edited by ERC; 07-12-2018 at 09:14 AM.
Whilst Rob had a run out in the Ginetta, Tony ran his Elan.
Is this Sadler still in NZ? Haven't seen it out for a fair time.
Another Formula Ford I need to identify!
Back to September 2002
Tony Robert in the BIG McLaren
Then things went to custard. Nose to tail into the Pukekohe hairpin, obviously every one hard on the brakes, coming down from over 110mph (or almost 120mph in my case!) but someone (in a red MGB sports) lost it on the exit, so there was a nose to tail crunch, which didn't exactly help my fibreglass bodywork as I hit Dave Mallin's steel bodied MGB.
Some scary work with a hacksaw
...and duct tape. Murray thinks it amazing, whilst Rex offers up a silent prayer.
A somewhat lopsided result which not for the last time, demanded some serious fibreglass work on the front end. The next time involved avoiding that Triumph (I think it was that one) which was merrily spinning on its roof, on the racing line, in the middle of what was by then, the John Deere mountain. But that is another story.
The MG Midget (Stuart Clumpas) is still around and of course, Rod Hemmings is still running the TVR.
Last edited by ERC; 07-12-2018 at 09:54 PM.
That (I assume) stub-axle failure happened right by where I was spectating. Geez it all happened quickly! I was particularly upset about your car, having known it from the days of Richard's ownership….
Not as upset as I was Paul! Split second decision. Hit an inverted spinning car and risk injuring the driver, or brake whilst cornering on the limit and spin into the concrete... On a permanent circuit, there should always be some wiggle room, which is why several drivers now refuse to race at Pukekohe.
It's more upsetting when no one was at fault and you smash both ends of your car - and you can't just nip down to Pick a part - and no one has any body moulds... Ironically, Andy Culpin had approached me a matter of days earlier, asking if he could take some moulds off the car as he had a six litre Chevvy engine and wanted to build a Marcos chassis/body. Little did we know then that he'd buy the ex UK LM500.
Last edited by ERC; 07-13-2018 at 09:11 PM.
Hi Ray, I see the Sadler has just been listed on Race-Cars.com.
Last edited by Spgeti; 07-15-2018 at 05:41 AM.
Once again, I had no idea it was NZ made. Thanks Andrew. I thought it was Canadian!
September 2002. Greg Sutton has a whoopsie.
In the days when JT was better known for driving rather than talking. Start of an ERC handicap race, but in the days when it was sponsored by Leisuretime Spa and Pool Covers (Geoff Bonham) and Tracer Interiors (Greg Bellingham). Derek Prior calling the shots for Brian Skudder (with flag) and CoC Stan Edwards.
Not the sharpest of Photographs but Mr Metford knows the driver of the green Escort...
John Sampson's Capri with Mike John's Vauxhall. Pity we seem to have lost some of the British variety we used to have.
Last edited by ERC; 07-15-2018 at 09:13 PM.
I often think back to "the good old days" and wonder where all these cars are now.
- 147 Peter Barnard Escort 1600 ( was neck and neck with my brother back then early 2000's, but we've kept developing his car, had a good test day yesterday and found some good improvements) .
-John Tomlin's Triumph 2.5PI
-107 Murrey Baber MG BGT V8 - wouldn't mind getting my hands on that one
-131 Dark Blue Triumph TR6
-Clive Taylor's MG Midget - indecently quick
Sold to other shores? Sitting in sheds slowly deteriorating?
As far as I know, Clive still has the Midget. JT still has the TRiumph.
Others include John Honore's Ferrari - gone overseas
Bernie's Broadspeed Replica I think went south, as did 'Pickle' which is the ex Glen Thompson MGB.
Car 275 (Red MGB sports, is the V8 now owned and raced by Grant Kern as 739.
Rob Mostern still owns the XJ6 Jaguar #23, and as stated earlier, I think Greg Bellingham still has the XJS.
Mike John may or may not still have the Viva (he sold the Mk 2 Jag to Peter Sundberg).
I haven't seen the TRiumph #131 for a while.
No idea what happened to Murray Baber's MG BV8.
I think Greg Sutton still has #52 Datsun Z.
The other red MGB sports (ex Bainbridge) is now owned by Glen Thompson and may be back.
The centre orangy red Datsun Z is now with Earl Cruickshank.
No idea what happened to Malcolm Brown's silver Datsun Z - could be Roman's?
Green TR4 was driven by Paul Reynolds, but not sure whether he owned it or not.
Car #40, Geoff Bonham's MGB is back with me... again. The Marcos is still with me but what with the MGB, the Magnette and an MGF, something really needs to go!
Most complete and roadworthy is the MGF, followed by the still unfinished, but road legal Magnette.
The MGB is undergoing some light TLC at the moment to get it back to road legal. The Marcos needs TLC too.
Last edited by ERC; 07-16-2018 at 09:21 AM.
Shall I stir up the pot? Hmmm, MSA (Motorsport Asociation in UK) has just DOWNSIZED the main hoop tube for roll cages!
Jeez! If MSNZ follows suit, I will have lost the use of my left hand for nothing and a reversal to common sense will upset me even more!
For those not in the know, the builder of my roll cage (and myself), in a 60 year old, steel bodied car didn't submit the paperwork to get the roll cage finally signed off in time, even though built to a MSNZ design and prior permission had been granted to go ahead and paint it.
The rules changed from 38mm to 40mm for the main hoop (which is what Oldfart is referring to) and MSNZ demanded an engineer's report for what they then deemed a 'free form cage' and no amount of pleading would appease them. They wanted it removed. Safety equipment removed. Get that!
The MSNZ test requirements were so excessive that the cage needed a load of extra bars and even their own cages wouldn't have passed the same test. At this point, the car had already been painted and trimmed.
With advice from a respected scrutineer, I then embarked on a cunning plan to hide the front part of the cage, as if it could not be seen, then it did not exist, as it did not impinge on the driver/front passenger area.
Whilst squirming around fitting a roof lining, I severely damaged my spine which killed the nerves to my left hand. Just to rub salt into the wounds, LVVTA demanded the cage be left in place and passed it. By the way, this is a modified road car, not a race car...
Oldfart's son, an engineer, and Dave Silcock (of Jaguar fame), amongst several others, were adamant that the rules were ridiculous but MSNZ wouldn't budge. The test for a free form cage took no account of the bodyshell it was attached to, so whether fitted to a Centurion tank or a fibreglass bodied car, the test was the same.
So effectively, I now carry a permanent disability and my retirement ambition of learning several Scott Joplin rags on the piano was shattered, not to mention the difficulty of even the most basic of two handed maintenance tasks.
Rant over and no apologies if people were already aware of this saga.
Last edited by ERC; 07-17-2018 at 02:12 AM.
Derek's immaculate triple carbed MGC.
Remember that until HRC got stuck in, there weren't too many F5000's out on track.
Last edited by ERC; 07-16-2018 at 09:24 PM.
I think Kenny Smith is talking to Brendon Hartley...
Nottingham City Police used Triumph Dolomite Sprints when they retired their Standards.
Rex has sold the Lotus. Now with a new owner who was giving a run at HD last month.
A bit different, but we were the merchandisers for Rally NZ and when based in the foyer of Sky City, had a ball, meeting enthusiasts - particularly the regulars from New Caledonia. During our factory move, the week or so before, I had my left big toe crushed under the hydraulic ramp of our removal truck, when a 14 year old pressed the down button as I was lifting off a sewing machine...
Last edited by ERC; 07-18-2018 at 09:04 PM.
Taupo 2003, March 1st - in the days when it was just the short club circuit.
As a break, just for Roger, who will steal them of course... Apologies if any have been posted previously, as I didn't always keep track of what had been posted to TRS.
1990 - Western Springs
2014 - St John Horsfall Aston Martin Meeting at Donington
I sneaked into the hospitality suites to take these, otherwise, viewing was dreadful, stuck behind the wire. A massive thank you to the very kind ladies who were doing the catering.
Last edited by ERC; 07-20-2018 at 02:07 AM.
WOW, never seen that shot of my little Bugeye,just fresh from restoration.Remember going to that,why did I ever sell it.!! Cannot believe it was 28 years ago ! Ross H