Photos: The Gary Clarke Collection - Part 1

[Steve Holmes]

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OK, I've been holding onto this collection of images for a couple of months now, trying to find the time to post them. Many need resizing, and I was also wanting to research them, to provide captions where possible. But I finally came to the conclusion I might not find the time to achieve this any time soon, and that there are members on this forum far more knowledgeable than I, so I should just post them as they are, and let you guys fill in the gaps.

Although this is called the Gary Clarke Collection, these photos weren't actually taken by Gary. They were taken by friends and colleagues who wanted him to scan and share them, and so there are several people involved. The images are exactly as I got them from Gary. You'll note his name is etched into each one. This is because he was sharing them on his Facebook page, but found people kept taking them and posting them elsewhere without any credit, so hence why they're now all branded.

Most of the pics are from the 1960s and '70s, and there is a lot of really cool middle and lower tier and grass-roots stuff in here, which we all love! The images appear to be mostly centred around New South Wales (Warwick Farm, Hume Weir, Amaroo Park etc), although you'll no doubt spot a few that aren't.

There are approx 300 pics in all, so I'll be splitting them over several parts.

Anyway, I'll just post them, you guys can fill in the gaps. Enjoy, and thanks in advance.

[Steve Holmes]

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More to follow.....

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[librules]

There's a lot of gold in there. Fantastic variety. It will take a while to absorb it all.

[Shane Bowden]

Great photos. The #75 humpy Holden is Allen Borella of Harp Junction Garage ahead of Pat Crea in the VW.

Regards Shane

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks guys, glad you're enjoying them.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Roger Dowding]

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Don't let Alan Boyle see the Torana / Viva, looks wilder than his Coca Cola one

[Steve Holmes]

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[Grant Ellwood]

Top pic - is that the Peter Brock Holden powered A30?

[GD66]

Indeed, sponsored by the Diamond Valley Speed Shop.

[Dale Harvey]

And followed by Barry Seton in a GTR Torana.
Dale.

[khyndart in CA]

Would that top pic be at Oran Park ?
I took this photo of the Barry Seton GTR Torana at Oran Park. May 17 1970.

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(Ken Hyndman )

[Dale Harvey]

Yes it is Oran Park. The cars are heading into "Robin Orlando". The other photos in that post are at Warwick Farm and Hume Weir.

Dale.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Terry S]

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Is the driver of that MIni #30 Ross Ambrose, Marcus's father?

[Steve Holmes]

Yes it is Terry. He eventually went on to establish Van Diemen race cars with Ralph Firman, not long after this photo was taken when he'd moved to the UK.

[Terry S]

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I am trying to identify the driver of the #66 Escort

The Mk 1 Escort with forest flares is one of my favourite race cars. I have really liked the recent pictures on various threads here of the NZ Escorts in Historic racing particularly the white John Willment car and the red NZ Freighters car.

There were very few Escorts like this racing in OZ in this period. I think it may be BILL FANNING, but not sure about the number style for the period.

[Steve Holmes]

Yes its Bill Fanning.

[Dale Harvey]

From memory I think Fanning's Escort had a four valve engine.
Dale.

[Terry S]

From memory I think Fanning's Escort had a four valve engine.
Dale.

Yes Dale it did end up with a four valve engine, but first its earlier life.

It was built in 1971 as a normal Twin Cam two valve engine to run in the Improved Production class, the main touring car class in Australia at the time. He then decided for 1972 to run as a Sports Sedan which allowed much more modifications.

He purchased and installed the 1860cc four valve Waggott engine that Max Stewart had run in his Rennmax.
Over Easter 1972 he won the main sedan car support races to both the Singapore and Malaysian Grand Prixes.
It is not clear what happened to the car after that. One story was that it was sold in SE Asia.
Fanning seemed to retire after that.

[Steve Holmes]

Its certainly a pretty car.

[Terry S]

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In this shot of the Baskerville grid, I believe on the left of shot in Robin Pare in Don Elliott's ex Thomson Camaro.

Who is in the Mustang in the centre. Could it be Calvert, although colour doesn't look right?

[Ellis]

Tony Calvert in the Mustang is correct
If you go to the Perry Drury pics on here you will find other pics of it.

John Zeigler is in Yellow XU1

[Terry S]

Tony Calvert in the Mustang is correct
If you go to the Perry Drury pics on here you will find other pics of it.

John Zeigler is in Yellow XU1

Ellis, I thought Calvert retained the Fred Gibson colours of dark blue with two wide white stripes over the top when he raced it.
This is from a vague memory of seeing him in those colours in some photos.

[Ellis]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/Pare%20Camaro%20Calvert%20Mustang%20Bville_zps4o4dtcrl.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/Pare%20Camaro%20Calvert%20Mustang%20Bville_zps4o4dtcrl.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/Pare%20Camaro%20Calvert%20Must_zpsc2shsajs.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/Pare%20Camaro%20Calvert%20Must_zpsc2shsajs.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/17_zpsnu04ao9r.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/17_zpsnu04ao9r.jpg.html)

[Terry S]

Ellis, I thought Calvert retained the Fred Gibson colours of dark blue with two wide white stripes over the top when he raced it.
This is from a vague memory of seeing him in those colours in some photos.

Ellis, I eventually found the photos I was thinking of. They are on a site called "old race photos", you may have heard of it.

Three of the photos are:
http://www.oldracephotos.com/shop/product3211#1602HCalv70
http://www.oldracephotos.com/shop/product2543#1615HMust70
http://www.oldracephotos.com/shop/product3196#1599HMust70

They show the dark colour with the two wide white stripes.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Terry S]

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What is light blue #95 car, and who is driver?

Doesn't look familiar at all.

[Oldfart]

Looks very like a Herald coupe with the bum cut off, but I too am fascinated to know more.

[Terry S]

Looks very like a Herald coupe with the bum cut off, but I too am fascinated to know more.

That's what I initially thought too, but surely would be too extreme even for Sports Sedans.

That Wayne Rogerson going past In S/S Falcon

[seaqnmac27]

Looks a little like an MG Midget

[bry3500]

Looks very like a Herald coupe with the bum cut off, but I too am fascinated to know more.

Could be john Mole's Herald Sports Sedan

[khyndart in CA]

Could be john Mole's Herald Sports Sedan
Bryce,
I saw this quote in a Autosport forum and it seems to match your input.
"Ray Bell

Posted 26 February 2007 - 10:17

Quote
Originally posted by Bondy
In the late 70s maybe early 80s there was a indecently quick Triumph Herald Sports Sedan running at Winton. It was blue iirc, guys name was John Mole.....

I think that had a Datsun 2000 sports car engine... "


(Ken Hyndman )

[Dale Harvey]

What is light blue #95 car, and who is driver?

Doesn't look familiar at all.

I believe this to be the meeting on 2-5-1971 and if that's correct the Driver of car 95 is Steven McGuire and the car is listed as a Triumph Herald.
Dale.

[Roger Dowding]

What is light blue #95 car, and who is driver?

Doesn't look familiar at all.

Herald hardtop, and the windscreen all look right, even the bonnet and front guards, probably shortened the chassis, unusual but good..back in NZ in the late 1970's a Healey guy with a Sprite cut down a Herald Coupe roof to fit as a hardtop,it looked good too!!.

trust Ken H to find some detail, must be a quiet day at Moss Motors, then I realised it is Easter so time off Ken H .. thanks for the information..

[kiwi285]

The shots taken at the end of the main straight at Warwick Farm brought back some great memories. Didn't get to see much of the rest of the circuit.

[Terry S]

I believe this to be the meeting on 2-5-1971 and if that's correct the Driver of car 95 is Steven McGuire and the car is listed as a Triumph Herald.
Dale.

Dale, I believe you are correct.

If one goes into autopics.com.au and search "McGuire" there is one photo that comes up. From this front on view the car could best be described, I believe, as "agricultural". The doors and front spoiler look like they are just hanging on.

in the May 71 WF programme it is described as a "Triumph Herald". In the September 71 WF programme it is described as "Triumph Herald-Datsun", somewhat unusual. In both cases its capacity is 1,595 cc. I still can't recall seeing it at either meeting.

[Oldfart]

Thanks Terry. Yes the front "bit" is just hanging in there, perhaps it's more the bonnet than the doors.
BUT, he is out there "doing it" while a good number of the rest of us were just watchers wishing we were racers. I admire this sort of thing and the ingenuity which wentt with it on a shoestring budget probably

[Ray Bell]

Regarding the Herald, 'agricultural' would be a very apt description from my recall...

Steve McGuire was the son of a publican as I recall, he later had a Mawer Clubman into which he stuffed a 1600cc version of that PUSHROD Datsun engine. This was the Fairlady engine, but the same base engine saw use in such things as utilities and the Homer van. To my way of thinking he was so keen on these engines that this would have been what was in the cut-off Herald.

From the conversation I had with him in 1972 I'd not be surprised if his 1600cc entries were backed by a 2.2-litre car.

Nice to see a pic of Phil Ward's Escort up there. Also Dave Price's ex-Muir S4 on a previous page (before it went to Terry Allan), it's worth mentioning the car behind Phil Lucas' Volvo V8 above is John Bourke from Gosford.

There's a couple of shots, too, of Bruce Cary's Capri V8, the Grace Bros car. Bruce, of course, was later to go to Ralt and stayed in England a long time as a kind of right hand man for Ron Tauranac. His final assignment was to spanner the F3 car of Barton Mawer, but this Capri brought him a lot of grief despite reasonable funding from Grace Bros.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes

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The Peter Woodward Lotus Elan, ex-Niel Allen. Next pic is Jim McKeown at the end of Hume Straight, Warwick Farm, then there's the start of what was probably a Holdens-only race at Winton.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
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Keith Holland's M10 entering Creek Corner; Peter Woodward's Lotus 47 at Hume Weir; Michael Stillwell's Escort in the pits at Hume Weir with Nick Petrilli's Phase 3 in the background.

[Ray Bell]

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Peter Larner narrowly ahead of John Smith. This would have been the first year of the single-cam 1600cc F2, Larner has modified his F3 Elfin 700 with that extra wing, Smith is in the Galloway later written off by Andrew Miedecke in New Zealand.

[Ray Bell]

Regarding the Herald, 'agricultural' would be a very apt description from my recall...

Steve McGuire was the son of a publican as I recall, he later had a Mawer Clubman into which he stuffed a 1600cc version of that PUSHROD Datsun engine. This was the Fairlady engine, but the same base engine saw use in such things as utilities and the Homer van. To my way of thinking he was so keen on these engines that this would have been what was in the cut-off Herald.

From the conversation I had with him in 1972 I'd not be surprised if his 1600cc entries were backed by a 2.2-litre car.

Nice to see a pic of Phil Ward's Escort up there. Also Dave Price's ex-Muir S4 on a previous page (before it went to Terry Allan), it's worth mentioning the car behind Phil Lucas' Volvo V8 above is John Bourke from Gosford.

There's a couple of shots, too, of Bruce Cary's Capri V8, the Grace Bros car. Bruce, of course, was later to go to Ralt and stayed in England a long time as a kind of right hand man for Ron Tauranac. His final assignment was to spanner the F3 car of Barton Mawer, but this Capri brought him a lot of grief despite reasonable funding from Grace Bros.

[Terry S]

Regarding the Herald, 'agricultural' would be a very apt description from my recall...

Steve McGuire was the son of a publican as I recall, he later had a Mawer Clubman into which he stuffed a 1600cc version of that PUSHROD Datsun engine. This was the Fairlady engine, but the same base engine saw use in such things as utilities and the Homer van. To my way of thinking he was so keen on these engines that this would have been what was in the cut-off Herald.

From the conversation I had with him in 1972 I'd not be surprised if his 1600cc entries were backed by a 2.2-litre car.

Nice to see a pic of Phil Ward's Escort up there. Also Dave Price's ex-Muir S4 on a previous page (before it went to Terry Allan),

Ray, just a little confused, which EH are you saying is Dave Price (ex Muir). Is it the one in post #3, #8 or #45

[Ray Bell]

Post eight... second picture...

In the pits at Winton wearing No. 69.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
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Peter Williamson's Celica at Amaroo

Bob Holden's Escort at Creek Corner

Well known Falcons follow Bob Morris with Allan Grice sandwiched at Amaroo

Unknown Holden at Hume Weir, I feel sure.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
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Probably Jim McKeown and Moffat at Oran Park

Bryan Thomson's ex-Beechey Mustang at Hume Weir

Probably Niel Allen heading the Elfin 400-Chev into Creek

Unknown Minis and Anglia

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
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Dr Iain Corness in the MGB at the Farm, unknown Morgan

Peter Woodward's Lotus 47 at Hume Weir

Unknown damaged Holden

Murray Carter at Hume Weir ahead of Ross Woodbridge

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
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Moffat at a wet Farm, practice day I'd say

Denis O'Brien leading Allan Moffat, can't tell if it's Hume Weir or Winton

Corolla unknown

James Smith and his Rover before Camel sponsorship

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
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Grice spins in front of Bond at Amaroo

Peter Woodward's unique Elfin 350 in the pits... Hume Weir?

Barry Bassingthwaite's LHD Spridget at the Farm

Ross Woodbridge and his Torana

[Kenz]

Moffat at a wet Farm, practice day I'd say

Denis O'Brien leading Allan Moffat, can't tell if it's Hume Weir or Winton

Corolla unknown

James Smith and his Rover before Camel sponsorship

The "unknown" Corolla is none other than Leonard Teale, of 'Homicide' and other stage and screen fame.

[Ray Bell]

The thought occurred to me that it might be the TV star, but I never saw him in it and it was therefore, to me, 'unknown'.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for filling in these details guys, much appreciated.

[Steve Holmes]

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[John McKechnie]

This is how cars like #85- Falcon ended up-

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/specialist-cars/other/auction-1108775569.htm

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
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Pat Crea (or Darrylin Hewitt?) leading John Leffler at Oran Park

Pete Geoghegan in the esses at the Farm

Denis O'Brien was quite a star in his GTHO, based in Wagga, the crew looks as rag-tag as he was in every apparent way but his driving.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
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Frank Matich in the M10B at Creek Corner

Allan Moffat in the FoMoCo Escort

An early shot of Pete Geoghegan from the spectator area at Homestead Corner.

No idea about the blown Torana.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
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That kid would be in his sixties now, probably retired! Bob Jane's second Mustang alongside the Elfin 400 with the team's Dodge-towed pantech in the background. Is it at Warwick Farm? Sandown?

The Tony Roberts GT HO after it vaulted the fence at Bathurst and went for a roll down the mountain.

Moffat in the Mustang approaching Creek Corner.

Fred Gibson in the Elfin 400, when renamed 'R & T Chev', between Suttons and the Dogleg at Oran Park

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
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Some old stuff here I'd struggle with, mainly because of the lesser-known Victorian content.

However, the Lotus 15 is the car which brought Bevan Gibson to notice, starting its Australian life in the hands of Derek Jolly. It ran well at Le Mans prior to this with Graham Hill on board, this pic is when Paul Gibson was just starting out in the wake of Bevan's untimely death. The car had a 'queerbox' and sometimes wore out its crownwheels, these were too expensive for cinema-operator Hoot Gibson to replace through Lotus spares (ZF made them exclusively for Lotus) and so Vauxhall crownwheels were lapped in running with grinding paste on the lathe overnight to suit. The gearchange was always dicky with this car, but when Bevan Gibson took it to England he was able to set it up properly with a hacked-up unit alongside and found some spacers in the wrong place. Nigel Mansell promised Grant he'd pay for a new body for the car if he won the World Championship the year Bevan was his personal mechanic... he didn't win.

The Cortina seems vaguely familiar, but I couldn't say who it is. It certainly looks like a quiet practice day as it rounds Homestead Corner.

[Terry S]

It is a coincidence that the Falcon photos in posts 82 and 85 are so close together, because they are in fact the very same car......

The Roberts rolled car was rebuilt by O'Brien to be his race car.

[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes

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I should know whose Camaro it is following Leffler but I can't bring it to mind... sorry...

Presumably Moffat having a lose into the Causeway?

Bob Jane Monaro in the esses

Pete Geoghegan lining up for the run to Polo Corner

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
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Not sure where the Beechey Nova pic was taken, nor what car is alongside.

An EH with the Denis O'Brien signage.

Pat Crea's VW back to front. This was a pretty quick car.

The Barry Sharp/Jack Brabham Ford Falcon Sports Sedan alongside his former car, Bruce Taylor's Jaguar 302.

[Steve Holmes]

I should know whose Camaro it is following Leffler but I can't bring it to mind... sorry...

Presumably Moffat having a lose into the Causeway?

Bob Jane Monaro in the esses

Pete Geoghegan lining up for the run to Polo Corner

Thanks Ray, the Camaro is Frank Gardner in the SCA Freight car he had raced in the BSCC and in Europe. The car remained in Australia until just a few years ago.

[Steve Holmes]

Not sure where the Beechey Nova pic was taken, nor what car is alongside.

An EH with the Denis O'Brien signage.

Pat Crea's VW back to front. This was a pretty quick car.

The Barry Sharp/Jack Brabham Ford Falcon Sports Sedan alongside his former car, Bruce Taylor's Jaguar 302.

Car alongside Beechey's Nova looks like it could be Bob Jane's second Mustang?

[Steve Holmes]

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[Ray Bell]

First one is Bob Beasley in his short term with the Lotus 47...

Third one should be the late Neville Bridges' CIG Torana.

I think the Torana pulling off to the side at Amaroo is Gary Cooke, but I'm not sure.

[Dale Harvey]

No, the third one is not Neville's Torana. More likely Geoff Leeds.
Dale.

[librules]

First one is Bob Beasley in his short term with the Lotus 47...

Third one should be the late Neville Bridges' CIG Torana.

I think the Torana pulling off to the side at Amaroo is Gary Cooke, but I'm not sure.

I'd plump for the 4-door A9X being Charlie O'Brien

[Ray Bell]

Yes, that's more likely that Gary Cooke...

[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

Last post for Part 1.

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[Ray Bell]

Not enough time...

Third pic in the first lot is Frank Matich making the F5000 debut (September '69?)

Third in the second lot is Alton Boddenberg in the AP6. Next is Teddy Pilette in the McLaren with (it looks like) Max Stewart on his tail.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks as always Ray.

[aussiemonza]

Yes Dale it did end up with a four valve engine, but first its earlier life.

It was built in 1971 as a normal Twin Cam two valve engine to run in the Improved Production class, the main touring car class in Australia at the time. He then decided for 1972 to run as a Sports Sedan which allowed much more modifications.

He purchased and installed the 1860cc four valve Waggott engine that Max Stewart had run in his Rennmax.
Over Easter 1972 he won the main sedan car support races to both the Singapore and Malaysian Grand Prixes.
It is not clear what happened to the car after that. One story was that it was sold in SE Asia.
Fanning seemed to retire after that.

Garry Rogers purchased the Fanning car with the Waggott engine in bits.