NZ Castrol GTX Racing in the 70's

[Steve Emson]

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This is possibly 1974-75. The Castrol GTX series was in 3 classes. I was in the small class which was Fiat 128's and a couple of 127's, The middle class was Fiat 124 coupes and the big class was mainly V8's. we had good fields in those days and very good crowd attendance. This photo was taken at Wigram when I took this car down to race the local gun, which was one of the Sprague boys.
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This is my Dad, Ralph Emson in the Fiat 124 coupe
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This will be 1975-76. I was again in the small class with Dennis Marwood and Bob Homewood. this is the GP meeting at Puke, top of Rothmans for the young chickens that never saw the infamous chicanes.
9213
This photo, possibly 1973. My first race car and I was still at school. I think this was still called Castrol GTX racing, however I can't remember....................must be old of something.

[Steve Emson]

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I thought this might also be of interest to some people because it has the master himself, 'JR' in it. GT Falcon, Emson 128 and Smirthwaite/ Willis Fiat 128.

[Steve Emson]

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Another pic of Dad's 124 coupe, this time at Baypark

[Bruce Blacklock]

Steve, great pics of you and Ralph. I recall driving the Fiat 124 back to Auckland after a Bay Park meeting in my capacity as a Tech Officer for post event scrutineering. Nice car and good to see these production car pics.

[Rod Grimwood]

This guy raced with you guys back then, Robin Irving. Those 124s were pretty quick little cars and at one stage there was a big field of them. Remember most would go from 2 wheel right, 2 wheel left to 2 wheel right at the chicane on top of hill (Rothmans in those days) think photos some where.

[Steve Holmes]

Great pics guys. This series was really a big success, and went through several incarnations with quite major rule changes, but it provided some incredible racing, and was really no-holds barred. It only actually ran for about 7 years.

[Grant Sprague]

Steve , Thanks for pics etc , this might have been sent as reply once or twice , trying to find my way around in here [roaring season] beaut pics ???? all looks very familiar can smell the trye smoke & brakes from here , I will dig out some pics , & copy not sure how to send the pics at this point , if it was trade me not a prob.... lol. meant to ask you are you living back in NZ ?? or are you over the ditch .... Thanks

[Habu]

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Not sure if this shot is relevant - I dont know anything about it, apart from who the driver was. I know its a Fiat 125, did these ever run in any of the Castrol GTX series in the early 70s? Am enjoying the 3 wheeling pictures Steve, keep them coming.

[John McKechnie]

Be interesting to see what the price of petrol was then.
1969-Sprague/Cottle?

[Habu]

Be interesting to see what the price of petrol was then.
1969-Sprague/Cottle?

Cheap I'll bet! Photo was taken outside the garage sponsoring the Fiat - Manukau Rd in Pukekohe. My parents owned this service station at the time, and also owned the "Europa" one on the other side of town coming in from Paerata.

[Grant Sprague]

Got some 3 wheeling 128 pics coming to morrow think i know where they are , as for the Sprague / Cottle 125 Im sure Barry & Gary had a light cream colour car I will did it up &add to pics later .......this is stiring the juices could spell danger

[Steve Emson]

Dad raced a Fiat 125 in a GTX series against Paul Curin and co in escort GT's. I think Bob Homewood drove this car also??.
Does anyone remember the competitors in these photo's?
These were great times to race in, lots and lots of laughs and good times!1623016231

[Grant Sprague]

Steve , this looks like Bay Park , & the NI boys in 128's . I came up once in our SI car I really only remember you & a guy that had blond hair I think his fiat was white, I have a pic of bay park i will drag out & a few more &post here within a day or two , the only other NI circut we did was levin only to go home on a tow rope I think we manged about half a race with a continuing over heating problem that shold never of happened , Aso remember you & Johnny Wolf & I meeting one night in timaru & drinking lots of beer , strange nothing has changed in that department during the racing seasons ha ha

[Milan Fistonic]

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This is the entry list for the Grand Final of the 1975-76 GTX Championship held at Manfeild on 22 February 1976.

Tulloch won the race from Coppins, Neilson, Drummond, Marwood, Hiscock and Baker. Steve Emson went out with a blown head gasket on lap 11.

Neilson won the Championship from Marwood and Emson while the class winners were McKee, Neilson and Marwood.

This was the meeting that Rob Lester decided to run half the races in a clockwise direction and the other half anti-clockwise.

[GeebeeNZ]

Those Fiats were great cars in their day. I owned a 124 coupe , 125, 2 128 sedans, a 128 wagon, club raced a 128 coupe. Sadly the rust bug has destroyed most of them and good ones are now very rare.

[Grant Sprague]

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Be interesting to see what the price of petrol was then.
1969-Sprague/Cottle?

Gary at Levin in 125 [the cottle owned car , merv owned it & Gary & Barry drove it B&H ]

[Steve Holmes]

Wow! Thats one hell of a power-slide!

[Grant Sprague]

LOL , you should have been with him after the event down the main street of Levin . I think Gary was about 21 there , him & fat jack [Johnny Mac's dad ] use to really play up , as we all did I guess could tell you a few stories , when the time is right . Must dig up our other fiat 128 pics for Steve to see , time seems to flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy byyyyyyyyye Cheers Grant

[SPman]

That was Gary's normal cornering line. wasn't it?

[Steve Emson]

Great shot! I loved that track, it was my favorite. Dads friends were also my crew when we went away. Many great stories of those times. That particular shot of Gary reminds me of that corner. It was one of the only corners on any of the tracks, in my opinion that you could flick the car sideways and have it all crossed up and NOT affect the lap time.

I was reminded recently while at the Waimate 50 that the flag marshalls always got ready to run away on that corner when certain drivers arrived at it!

[Grant Sprague]

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I thought this might also be of interest to some people because it has the master himself, 'JR' in it. GT Falcon, Emson 128 and Smirthwaite/ Willis Fiat 128.Here is a good pik of Jim ....must have been NI GTX race as Steve E in the action [Puke ?? [not sure] OOpppps sorry guys I see this is Jim in the XAGT Falcon & not the HO sorry about that ..but great shot of him & Steve

[Linz]

2528825289

I have a monaro that was raced in the Castrol GTX series 1972.
I have had a few members look for some pictures of the Monaro racing.
This Thread could be the right one hopefully some members have some photo's of the Monaro.
Its a 1969 HT Monaro GTS 350, Raced by Bill Minty.
Denis Hamill owned the monaro next not sure if he raced it or not.
Have attached some photo's I have
Cheers
Lindsay

[Alan Campbell]

Here's a couple of pics of Bill's first HT 350, (prior to the Daytona Bronze example) pictured at Levin, 1970? or 71?. Myself and brother Ian on the right.
(Photo at top is a projected slide I photographed with my phone hence the rippled stripe)

[Steve Holmes]

Wow these are outstanding images Alan! Thanks for posting.

[Linz]

Here are some pictures of what Bill Mintys HT 350 GTS Monaro looks like now. Colour has changed from Daytona Bronze to Red.
Bill Mintys name is the second on the Ownership Papers.
Original Number plate is DM 1713. the plate is with the car but not regestered on it.
W434124341343414ould like to see any other pictures of this Monaro if any are out there.

[John McKechnie]

Linz- great to see you still enjoying this beauty- I can still see it in my mind going round the track- unfortunately cant download this image for you.
Peter Hannahs collection from BayPark may have it, also Bruce McLaren Trust would definitely have it.
Found mine there, but need your time to go through a LOT of images.

[Linz]

Thanks John
Are the Peter Hannahs collection and Bruce McLaren Trust images on this site or somewhere else.

Thanks
Lindsay

[John McKechnie]

BMT- someone must go there to physically go through each page of each folder...............
Bosskiwi knows about Peter Hannah pix

[Linz]

Thanks John
I see what you mean sounds like a big job
will leave it for a while i am at the other end of the country.
The long term plan is to repaint the Monaro Daytona Bronze and display it with pictures of it racing.
Will have to save up some money first.

[Linz]

Here's a couple of pics of Bill's first HT 350, (prior to the Daytona Bronze example) pictured at Levin, 1970? or 71?. Myself and brother Ian on the right.
(Photo at top is a projected slide I photographed with my phone hence the rippled stripe)

Hi Alan
Nice pictures of the HT. Do you have any pictures of Bill's Daytona Bronze HT 350
Cheers
Lindsay

[Ross]

43760GTX series was great fun.
I competed in the 1973/74 SI series in an amazingly quick Datsun 1200.
Also took it to Pukekohe for the January meeting. Those chicanes certainly sorted the brave from the not so brave,

[Milan Fistonic]

43760GTX series was great fun.
I competed in the 1973/74 SI series in an amazingly quick Datsun 1200.
Also took it to Pukekohe for the January meeting. Those chicanes certainly sorted the brave from the not so brave,

This is the entry list for your race at Pukekohe in 1974 complete with practice times and result.

43761

[Ross]

Thanks for the program and results Milan.
The little 12oo's couldn't match it with the 1600's on Pukekohe's long straights.
Things were much more even on the tighter SI tracks like Ruapuna & Levels.
Ross

[Steve Emson]

I think it was this round and especially looking at the results, one competitor showed me under their bonnet and the Datsun had twin carburettors!!!!

They changed the rules and allowed the bigger valve head, lower diff ratio and wider wheels. Not everyone had this stuff of course. Just another stuff up of a good series by MANZ.43772