Austin-Healey’s and the Austin Healey Car Club of NZ and Others

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks TRS people for following the Austin Healey Story on here;.

No recent photos so here is one that hasn't been seen before. A painting by Rich Massie, member for many years of the AH Club of Oregon. It is in the possession of Paul Rogers, whom I met in 1982 on the big Healey trip.
It is autographed by Geoffrey Healey, - signed in 1986 - who made a number of visits to AH Clubs in the USA, especially West Coast meetings, plus of course the Big One.
" 30th Anniversary of the Austin Healey " at Snowmass, Colorado - which features a lot on this thread.

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[Roger Dowding]

Sebring 1962: 3-Hour race ;
Notes and photos - archives Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird.
" Sebring 1962: 3-Hour race. The drivers line up for the 'Le Mans' type start. Nearest the camera we have Stirling Moss, with Steve McQueen, Innes Ireland and Pedro Rodriguez behind in line astern.

Their respective alloy-bodied Mk.II Sprites - 9254WD, 9251WD, 9252WD and 9253WD sit waiting opposite. "

The start photo;

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The Sprite 9251WD 2nd in line was driven by Steve McQueen.
a few photos;

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a poor image with another of the team Sprites beside.

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The Sprite 9252WD [ the Innes Ireland car at Sebring ] was sold later and is here in 1964 driven by John Fenwick at a Hill Climb - believed to be Great Auclam.

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- another J Whitehouse-Bird archive image.

The Three Hour race was for smaller Sports Cars - under 1500cc I understand [ to be confirmed ] and was held ahead of the 12 Hour Race - known as the Florida 12 Hour Grand Prix of Endurance - for Sports Cars.

More to come on the background of these cars - especially 9252WD.

[Roger Dowding]

Notes and photos from Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird.

" Privateer John Fenwick competing at the 1964 and 1965 Western-Super-Mare speed trials, in the ex-works Healey, alloy-bodied, Mk.II Sprite - 9252WD.

Sadly, not much is known about John Fenwick, or the circumstances surrounding his purchase of 9252WD.
- Healeys were usually quite choosy as to who purchased their cars.

The last known recorded 'sighting' of John driving 9252WD, was on 23rd July 1966, at the 5th Valance Hill Climb, organised by the Sevenoaks & District Motor Club. Thereafter, the Sprite, seemingly, disappears without a trace, until a few parts (one alloy door, a pair of adjustable rear shocks, a LSD, and the 1,098 c.c. XSP engine from 1963), inexplicably surface during the 1990s. "

The 1964 Sprints - at Western, must be a bit like the Brighton Speed Trials on the waterfront Concourse.

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1965 on the startline.

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Family connection with " Western-Super-Mare " my Dad came from there in 1929, to New Zealand.

Next up another of the Sebring Team cars - 9254WD at Nurburgring in 1963.

[Roger Dowding]

9254WD

" Nurburgring 1000 Km. race 1963: The Donald Healey Motor Co Ltd enter the alloy-bodied Mk.II Sprite - 9254WD - with drivers Clive Baker and Christabel Carlisle.

Christabel later spoke of her drive:

“There was immense relief at having completed each lap safely, and seeing friendly faces as one watched for the pit signal. Another fleeting glimpse of them as one drove past again at the back of the pits, then out on one’s own again for the next fourteen miles.
There were awful ‘moments’ when I thought I had had it, but there were also the rewarding instances when I passed other cars. Somehow it had never entered my head that so small a car as a Sprite could pass anything in a big International race like this, but as I sailed past the odd Porsche or Jaguar I really felt immensely proud of the little Sprite, whose oil pressure and water temperature were as steady as a rock, and whose engine note never faltered.”

At the end, 9254WD finished second in class, and more impressively, seventeenth overall. The only cars ahead of them were seven Ferraris, four Porsches, a Lotus Elite, a Renault Alpine, two Dick Jacobs M.G. Midget coupes and an E-type Jaguar. "

- script from Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird, photos from his vast archives - posted on the " Sebring Sprite " Facebook group - worth a visit / look.

The photos;

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In the pits

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On track -who is driving ?

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Christabel Carlisle - a very capable driver, according to Clive Baker.

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Came across this image again - where the story starts with the 1962 Sebring Races the 3 hour for the Sprite Team of 4 and the 12 hour for the Big Healey 3000 cars.

All the cars on a Transporter. the plate 54FAC was part of the Team including 57FAC and others

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DHMC and BMC had quite a history at Sebring going back to the early 1950's - 1954 on and the 100S major effort in 1955, along with 100M and just 100 models.

[Roger Dowding]

Nurburgring 1000km Race 1963 - Mk.II Sprite - 9254WD.

Another photo - Johnathan Whitehouse-Bird archives.

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Hopefully more will emerge !

[Roger Dowding]

Came across these photos from Brian Coulter a BC Club Member since the 1970's.

It was the first photo, so I asked the question was Nell Holdstock there
- [ later Nell Donaldson - who came to live in NZ in the mid 1980's ].

The Club is officially The " Austin Healey Owners Association of British Columbia " - AHOABC.

Photo of the group on a trip to Vancouver Island - late 1970's as noted in the caption.
NKD743 a 100 Six at left - car features later in the thread - posts #1510 and #1511

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The answer was yes - and this photo.

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The Austin Healey 3000 is the Tri-carb model - produced only in 1961 - 62 before the reverted again to twin SU carburetors.
I have a couple of photos of the car in the USA / Canada in the 1980's [ the 1982 trip ] and several in New Zealand since.

Nell brought the car to New Zealand around 1984 / 85 ** - First Registered in NZ 28 September 1984 - and it has stayed here since.

" LU9368
Plate Type: Standard
Origin: NZ New
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: New
NZ First Registration: 28-Sep-1984 "

I last saw it at Tauranga in late March 2023 during the " 50th Anniversary of the Austin Healey Club of New Zealand Grand Tour ".

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A view from the rear is appropriate as have several photos taken like that. this 14 Sept 1982.

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[ERC]

" Privateer John Fenwick competing at the 1964 and 1965 Western-Super-Mare speed trials, in the ex-works Healey, alloy-bodied, Mk.II Sprite - 9252WD.
The car alongside is Ashley Cleave in his Morris Special. That car still exists and in good hands.

[ERC]

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The other car is the Morris Special of Cornishman Ashley Cleave. The car still exists and is in good hands.

[Roger Dowding]

From a recent post. #1506
" Came across these photos from Brian Coulter a BC Club Member since the 1970's.
It was the first photo, so I asked the question was Nell Holdstock there
- [ later Nell Donaldson - who came to live in NZ in the mid 1980's ].

Photo of the group on a trip to Vancouver Island - late 1970's as noted in the caption. "

Contacted Bran Coulter who had posted some more photos from the Vancouver Island trip and also sent me photos of meeting(s) at Eugene, Oregon and also some entitled West Coast Meet.

Brian has a 1962 AH 3000 Tri-carb that has been in the family a long time - unsure whether the car is in the photos but a Dennis Coulter is.

The AH Clubs in Oregon State, Washington State and British Columbia attended the " West Coast Meets " as they called them going back into the 1970's

Will gradually publish to 20 or so photos I have acquired.

For the moment, a photo of Donald Healey at a " West Coast Meet " - with a Lady - the Lady I do not know who ?
The location the photo note says " Van Isl " - so presume at a Vancouver island event in the late 1970's
The 3000 has a California plate

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As more details come to hand - people in the photos, owners of cars etc will add to the comments.

[Roger Dowding]

AH Clubs Oregon State, Washington State and British Columbia " West Coast Meet ".

More photos from the Vancouver Island event; - photos Brian Coulter produced in his " Valhalla Images " name.

Brian was there with his father Dennis Coulter who is seen the earlier photo [ post #1506 ] of the two Healeys and people when they set off.

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The Concours line up all the noses -some bonnets up. 100 Six NKD743 first in line

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The cars at a Beach

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Gathered near a Tavern - Schooner Restaurant ? Healey people like food and beer / wine - fuel for the people. The 100M on the right owned by a Glen Cooper, the two tone 100 appears in the next photo.

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A 100 -

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More to come as I gather details on the cars and people.

[Roger Dowding]

NKD743 a British Columbia plate - Austin Healey 100 Six at the Vancouver gathering.

The 100 Six featured in the concours lineup - first car in the second photo - previous post.

Car had an incident and required a bit of work at the event - a sequence of photos from Brian Coulter.
- damage to the rear " fender " door and rear wheel

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Presume the owner beside the car

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Working on the damage to the rear wheel

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[Roger Dowding]

Richard H Mayor from Portland Oregon has a T Shirt from the 1979 " West Coast Meet " held in Bend Oregon.
Reminded me of others shirts I have seen and owned.

the 1979 Shirt.

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The 1984 shirt from when the Austin Healey Club of Oregon came to New Zealand for the AHCCNZ Rally at Napier / Hastings at Easter as well as going the AH Club events in Australia. - Bryan Harris still has his shirt - his photo [ mine long gone.

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The Austin Healey Clubs T Shirt for the Conclave '90, 1990 at Blackhawk Farms, with a Race Meeting and gathering.
T Shirt in my possession, a gift from the late Rene Cades [ RIP ], who went to the event - we were in the USA and stayed with her for few weeks and looked after her dog for the few days she was away at the event.

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The T Shirt got worn in 2016 at the AH Club of Queensland Concours at Scarborough when we lived on Bribie Island, QLD. hardly worn since.

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Other AH Club shirts I gave to the AH Club in NZ in 2008 as moving to Australia - then we later came back in 2017, should have kept them.