Rod Coppins

[Bruce302]

I would like to start a thread that consolidate the thoughts, memories and photographs of the popular and successful amateur racer from the 60's and 70's.

Rod ran a diverse range of cars from a Tec-Mec with Chevrolet V8 power, a 38 Chev coupe, Ford Zephyr with Chev V8 power, Ford Mustang, Chev Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Holden Torana, Chrysler Charger and more, both here in NZ and Australia. Rod also reached the podium with his good friend Jim Richards at the big Bathurst race in the L/34 Torana.

To kick of the pic side, here is a pic supplied by Steve Elliott (fullnoise68) of Rod's Pontiac Firebird, taken I believe very soon after it came to Rod in early 1972.

There are many more to follow, and I hope we can have a thread for each of the deserving people who made racing so popular in the periods we each remember best.

http://i49.tinypic.com/1ftevq.jpg

Bruce.

[fullnoise68]

Bruce, as I said to you today, other than all the ones I have collected myself, many of the photos I have were given to me by a family friend Frank Renwick, who died some 12 years ago. Others were given to me by Peter Hanna, and some of these are likely to be either Jack Inwood, Terry Marshall, etc.
I have asked Bruce to post these photos on the basis of sharing them for everyones enjoyment, and not to ruffle anyones feathers. if anyone requires credit for this thread, or any of the others that Bruce is going to post on Red Dawson, John Riley, etc, please acknowledge them as being your photos.

[Bruce302]

This pic is Rod in The #41 Cambridge Camaro circa Sept/Oct 1970

http://i49.tinypic.com/20ky1x.jpg

[John McKechnie]

Steve E- great photos you have supplied to be posted. A very loud thanks for giving these to us .Look forward to seeing pics that havent been posted before.

[Bruce302]

Here is a pic of the Camaro Rod ran in the Glenvale 100, a stock '67 SS, that became the McConnochie Bros dirt track car after it was wrecked in a road accident.
That's Rod at the back supervising the refueling. Can anyone name any of the guys standing next to the car ?

http://i48.tinypic.com/2vsrkes.jpg

[fullnoise68]

Bruce, the guy in the light coloured jersey in line with the aerial, maybe Colin Giltrap, to his right, looking in the same direction, is my father, and the young kid standing in the `pit garage,' entrance, well he`s gunna race one of these cars very soon....

[Bruce302]

Well spotted Steve.
One more of the 67 Camaro as used in the Glenvale 100. It appears to have 396 badges on the front fenders.

http://i47.tinypic.com/2qvrw3o.jpg

[John McKechnie]

Would this be Bryan Innes driving stint? Look at those pram wheels, when was the last time you ever saw a Camaro on such skinny wheels?

[OCTARD-USA]

Outstanding photos! Thanks for allowing these to be seen, Steve. Thanks for scanning and posting, Bruce.

-Chad

[Bruce302]

It looks very much like Rod from the stance, but I'd like to hear from someone that was there. The wheels look to be 6" rallye wheels, pure production car I believe.

Chad, my pleasure. There will be more to follow.

Bruce.


Would this be Bryan Innes driving stint? Look at those pram wheels, when was the last time you ever saw a Camaro on such skinny wheels?

[stubuchanan]

Rod raced the infamous TecMec in sports car and single-seater form in 1961/62 and 1962/63 seasons. Seen here with Malcolm Gill (Lycoming Special) and Simon Taylor(Jaguar D) at the start of the sports car race at the 1962 NZGP meeting at Ardmore. Question : what happened next... or maybe what didn't..

http://s6.postimage.org/tbcjm9981/Coppins_Tec_Mec_Maserati.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Stu

[Kiwiboss]

Well spotted Steve.
One more of the 67 Camaro as used in the Glenvale 100. It appears to have 396 badges on the front fenders.

http://i47.tinypic.com/2qvrw3o.jpg

Whats dates are we talking here Bruce302? this pic looks to be Baypark, which opened Nov 67. Just luv the skinny wheels and the "Nose up" stance, you know he's got the hammer down!!

For those reading this post, this Camaro represents the very reason why we started HMC with its applied rules, the fact is that this vehicle is in full road going trim, lights, bumpers, mirrors, etc and went straight to the race track, how they got raced in New Zealand. A true Muscle car been raced and very historic, and this is what created the legendry drivers such as Rod Coppins. Without a doubt a great picture.

Dale M

[stubuchanan]

Rod raced the infamous TecMec in sports car and single-seater form in 1961/62 and 1962/63 seasons. Seen here with Malcolm Gill (Lycoming Special) and Simon Taylor(Jaguar D) at the start of the sports car race at the 1962 NZGP meeting at Ardmore. Question : what happened next... or maybe what didn't..

http://s6.postimage.org/tbcjm9981/Coppins_Tec_Mec_Maserati.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Stu

Oops! To much haste. Ex motorcyclist Forrest Cardon, not Malcolm Gill, but Gill was the entrant of the Lycoming.
Other driver to right is veteran Ron Roycroft who was driving the Avery Bros HWM-Thunderbird(?) that day.

Stu

[John McKechnie]

Dale-date was July 11/12,and if you get motorman-sept 1970 you will see the full write up . Coppins/Innes got third. So was not a new car at the time as this is a 68 ?

[fullnoise68]

John, that is Rod driving. Apparently Bryan Innes didn`t do a lot of laps during the race. You comment on the skinny tyres, well that adds to the calibre of Rod as a driver. He was the fastest qualifier, and finished third behind two Falcon GTs, only because they miscalculated the fuel mileage with the Camaro. In reference to Stus posting of the Tec Mec, when Rod had his accident in that car , he tragically killed a track marshall,who was also a close friend of both Rods and my fathers, a guy named Dan Peoples.After this, Rod had a break from racing, before Garth Souness talked him into building a `good allcomer' and the Corvette engine out of the Tec Mec, went into the Chev Coupe before it powered the famous Mk2 Zephyr/ Corvette.
Regarding the comments I made the other day about `era knowledge', Dan Peoples brother Sam was actually competing at the same meeting when Dan was killed, racing an Austin A30. I didn`t know this, but Bob Homewood told me of this being the case. Thanks Bob.

[Bruce302]

I only have a scan of the program cover, but indeed there was a Glenvale 100 on July 12 1970.

http://i50.tinypic.com/34zc3s2.jpg

[Bruce302]

Stu, What an excellent photo. I was hoping for a good shot of the Tec Mec, but this just amazing. Rod would have been in his early 20's (21-23) at this time.
Thank you very much.

Bruce.


Oops! To much haste. Ex motorcyclist Forrest Cardon, not Malcolm Gill, but Gill was the entrant of the Lycoming.
Other driver to right is veteran Ron Roycroft who was driving the Avery Bros HWM-Thunderbird(?) that day.

Stu

[fullnoise68]

That`s right Bruce, he would have been in his early 20`s with the Tec Mec. Rod was only 43 when the bloody cancer got him in 1983, making it 30 years ago next year. He would have been 73 years old next year, if he was still with us......

[kiwi285]

I would like to start a thread that consolidate the thoughts, memories and photographs of the popular and successful amateur racer from the 60's and 70's.

Rod ran a diverse range of cars from a Tec-Mec with Chevrolet V8 power, a 38 Chev coupe, Ford Zephyr with Chev V8 power, Ford Mustang, Chev Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Holden Torana, Chrysler Charger and more, both here in NZ and Australia. Rod also reached the podium with his good friend Jim Richards at the big Bathurst race in the L/34 Torana.

To kick of the pic side, here is a pic supplied by Steve Elliott (fullnoise68) of Rod's Pontiac Firebird, taken I believe very soon after it came to Rod in early 1972.

There are many more to follow, and I hope we can have a thread for each of the deserving people who made racing so popular in the periods we each remember best.

http://i49.tinypic.com/1ftevq.jpg

Bruce.

Hi Bruce,

I thoroughly agree with your start here. It would be great to start a thread on our hero's from the past and it will allow everybody to post comments, thoughts and photos. We will then have a living potted history all in one place for all to reminisce about and add to.

[jim short]

At the Ardmore reunion at Puke 1983 Rod raced his V8Mk2 replica against Paul Fahey Lotus Cortina { I have some vidio of the two of them racing together ,the old Mk 2 getting away on the straight Paul right behind around Champion}.I met him for the first time when he gave me a fan belt ,a spare he had in his Jaguar as my Jaguar had thrown its one on the last lap chasing Ray Archibalds Jaguar,the only time I ever overdrove it by my standards,Ray also gave me one as well suprising they were all different sizes,.I was shocked to hear not long after he had died as no way did it show he was ill.I quess he made his name when passed Bob Jane on the back straight first lap.The headlines read he reached 170MPH !!!1!

[stubuchanan]

Stu, What an excellent photo. I was hoping for a good shot of the Tec Mec, but this just amazing. Rod would have been in his early 20's (21-23) at this time.
Thank you very much.

Bruce.

Here is an almost identical shot. Neither Cardon's Lycoming nor Coppins' TecMec got off the line and Simon Taylor was an easy winner.

http://s6.postimage.org/ho0bs4vsh/Cardon_Coppins_Non_Start_Ardmore_SC_1962.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Some time ago I posted 2 other TecMec photos on another thread, don't recall which, but I will post them again here for the record. Soon.

Stu

[stubuchanan]

On practice day Ardmore 1962. Scan of old enlargement done on improvised enlarger 50 years ago. Original or negative either lost or somewhere under brother's house in Australia.

http://s6.postimage.org/cc3l6zy0h/Rosier_Ferrari_on_2504.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Single-seater body at the fateful March 1963 Pukekohe meeting. Incidentally, a St John Ambulance bloke was killed at the same time as Peoples. I forget his name but they do a thankless job mostly and deverve recognition.

http://s6.postimage.org/ug6lrmvox/Tec_Mec_Maserati_250_F.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Stu

[fullnoise68]

Yes Stu, my father thought two were killed but was unsure, and I didn`t want to post it on here and get shot down. It is a shame when those that are at race meetings to help you are taken in such a tragic way.

[Bruce302]

Stu, thanks for those Tec Mec pics. It was a neat looking car, I hope more images surface. Thanks.

Back to another kindly supplied by Steve, again in the ever popular Cambridge Camaro with just a touch of oppo. March 1970 Bay Park it would seem.
http://i49.tinypic.com/ie47df.jpg

Bruce.

[fullnoise68]

While Graeme Addis was renowned for his wheel widening skills, my father was pretty good at it too. He widened the wheels on Rods Zephyr Corvette to fit one of the very first sets of ` Firestone Wide Oval' tyres in NZ, several of John Wards cars, John Rileys Traco Olds Anglia,etc, and also these ones on the Camaro. These rims were originally a set of the `skinnys' off the previous Glenvale Camaro.

[John McKechnie]

Bruce-that is Terry Allens blue Camaro behind him.

[fullnoise68]

No John, Terry Allens Camaro was white at this meeting. If Bruce scans the grid photo from this meeting, you`ll see who was there.

[John McKechnie]

First time Terry Allen came here car was blue March 29,1970 (Rod was 41 then), second time car was white- Castrol colours Dec 28 1970 (Rod was 141 then) I was there and saw Brillo both times.
In motorman mag May 1970, it even shows a pic of Terrys blue car with damage to the right front bonnet after this incident..So the oppo shown is from a whack from behind, well caught on camera.

[fullnoise68]

John, if you had started your previous post, ` In Motorman mag.... instead of asking a question, you would have explained yourself. One of my photos that Bruce has got clearly shows on a sign in the windscreen that the white Terry Allen Camaro was racing on Dec 28th, and in another photo of the grid line up, there he is. My old photo albums, two of which Bruce is using some photos from on this thread, are not all year specific, even though Terry Allen obviously raced in NZ twice in 1970. If you know something, post it, as Stu did regarding the St Johns guy.

[rogered]

On practice day Ardmore 1962. Scan of old enlargement done on improvised enlarger 50 years ago. Original or negative either lost or somewhere under brother's house in Australia.

http://s6.postimage.org/cc3l6zy0h/Rosier_Ferrari_on_2504.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Single-seater body at the fateful March 1963 Pukekohe meeting. Incidentally, a St John Ambulance bloke was killed at the same time as Peoples. I forget his name but they do a thankless job mostly and deverve recognition.

http://s6.postimage.org/ug6lrmvox/Tec_Mec_Maserati_250_F.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Stu
Just thinking aloud here, but did coppins swap the "250F" body off and replace it with the sports car version, then swap it back to "250F" for 1963??

[rogered]

You can almost "hear and smell" that photo bruce






:o
Stu, thanks for those Tec Mec pics. It was a neat looking car, I hope more images surface. Thanks.

Back to another kindly supplied by Steve, again in the ever popular Cambridge Camaro with just a touch of oppo.
http://i49.tinypic.com/ie47df.jpg

Bruce.

[John McKechnie]

Great pics of the TEC- never seen them before.

[stubuchanan]

Just thinking aloud here, but did coppins swap the "250F" body off and replace it with the sports car version, then swap it back to "250F" for 1963??

I presume it was Coppins who fitted the central-seat sports car body. This body was on Roycroft's 4.5 V12 Ferrari when it first arrived in 1956 and was then replaced by a 1952 Indianapolis-style body built by John Morrell. Coppins ran it at the main meetings in summer of 1962-63, put it backwards into a wall at the very wet Dunedin meeting, but had it sufficiently straightened out to run at Waimate the next week. Perhaps there was no great advantage in his running it as a sports car, or the body wasn't worth fixing properly.

There was a thread a while back on the TecMec or Mansel's driving of it; perhaps a "search" might find it?
Or our member from London might remember.

Stu

[Bruce302]

I'll get the next batch scanned this weekend Steve. Some very good material.


No John, Terry Allens Camaro was white at this meeting. If Bruce scans the grid photo from this meeting, you`ll see who was there.

[David McKinney]

Just thinking aloud here, but did coppins swap the "250F" body off and replace it with the sports car version, then swap it back to "250F" for 1963??
Yes. Mansel raced the Tec-Mec with red single-seater bodywork. Coppins raced it the following season with the Ferrari sportscar bodywork until his Dunedin accident, as Stu says. He then ran it with the red single-seater body at Ohakea and Levin at the end of that (1961/62) season.
The following season the car was grey with touches of red

[Bruce302]

Before we carry on with the cars, here is a less happy interlude. This is Rod's headstone showing the picture of his Firebird. A fitting memorial for a very popular racer who was taken to soon. I won't make the location public for obvious reasons.
Photos again from Steve Elliott.
http://i45.tinypic.com/4jamv5.jpg

and a close up of the Firebird image.
http://i46.tinypic.com/sn01uh.jpg

[Bruce302]

Absolutely right Roger. There are lots of photos of Rod and he always seemed to keep it on the straight and narrow, which is why the tail shot out is neat.
I have been told that others were "induced" to give Rod a tap and a hurry along from time to time, just to liven up the show. This could be one of those times.
Bruce.


You can almost "hear and smell" that photo bruce






:o

[Bruce302]

Here is a pic of the Terry Allen Camaro promoting the end of year meeting at Bay Park.

http://i48.tinypic.com/2ibf337.jpg

and Terry Allen followed by Bryan Thomson at Bay Park. (Steve Elliott supplied photos)

http://i48.tinypic.com/111l8ir.jpg

[Bruce302]

Bay Park, Dec 1970 grid, Rod is on row two in the Cambridge Camaro. Up front is Joe Chamberlain, Paul Fahey, then Bryan Thomson next to Rod, back to Terry Allen and Johnny Riley, then Clyde Collins in the Falcon.
Good size crowd, all standing in anticipation of some serious action. (Steve Elliott supplied photo)

http://i47.tinypic.com/oqx4rc.jpg

[bob homewood]

We probably don't need to dwell on this one and its not the sort of thing I believe in posting ,but this is from that day at Pukekohe



14497

[fullnoise68]

Bay Park, Dec 1970 grid, Rod is on row two in the Cambridge Camaro. Up front is Joe Chamberlain, Paul Fahey, then Bryan Thomson next to Rod, back to Terry Allen and Johnny Riley, then Clyde Collins in the Falcon.
Good size crowd, all standing in anticipation of some serious action. (Steve Elliott supplied photo)

http://i47.tinypic.com/oqx4rc.jpg

Dale, I think the Mustangs are about to get their arses kicked! Man I`m looking forward to the Denny Hulme Festival!

[fullnoise68]

[QUOTE=Bruce302;21925]Here is a pic of the Terry Allen Camaro promoting the end of year meeting at Bay Park.

http://i48.tinypic.com/2ibf337.jpg

and Terry Allen followed by Bryan Thomson at Bay Park. (Steve Elliott supplied photos)


In reference to my comments at the start of this thread regarding posting some of the photos from my collection. The bottom Terry Allan/ Bryan Thomson photo is obviously a cropped version of the same photo on the NZ Historic Muscle Cars homepage, so is likely of credit to a professional photographer of this era. Again, I apologise on the basis of sharing them for everyones enjoyment.

[Bruce302]

A very tragic event Bob, and I understand the reluctance to display such images, but they are a part of the fabric that is the history of motorsport. It could have been cause for a young racer such as Rod to leave the sport.

Bruce.


We probably don't need to dwell on this one and its not the sort of thing I believe in posting ,but this is from that day at Pukekohe



14497

[bob homewood]

Some one may well correct me ,but I think that is possibly Rod standing there in the white helmet ,I do remember however that day he got a ride back in the Lawrence Lola to the pits in the aftermath



A very tragic event Bob, and I understand the reluctance to display such images, but they are a part of the fabric that is the history of motorsport. It could have been cause for a young racer such as Rod to leave the sport.

Bruce.

[Kiwiboss]

I found this picture of a Camaro dirt track racer, its a 67 or 8 by the looks and looks to be at the Bay Park infeild dirt track, was this the Coppins Camaro? All i can read on the roof is "Prestige Panelbeaters"

Dale M

[fullnoise68]

Dale, when the McConnachie Bros built the damaged Glenvale Camaro into a speedway saloon, they made it right hand drive. If you emailed this photo to Tony Cardwell, he`d probably know whose car this is. I`d say it`s the same era, and possibly a guy from down south. Maybe 1974 with having the Commonwealth Games logo on the side.

[Milan Fistonic]

Here's something different. A couple of Unofficial Result sheets showing Rod had a successful day at Pukekohe on March 11, 1973.

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14531

14532

[Bruce302]

Rod had the Firebird pretty much sorted by this time. He has had it for a year and it was at it's best, both mechanically and cosmetically. The season culminated with Rod winning the NZ Saloon Car Championship.
Thanks Milan.


Here's something different. A couple of Unofficial Result sheets showing Rod had a successful day at Pukekohe on March 11, 1973.




14532

[Rod Grimwood]

Would this be Bryan Innes driving stint? Look at those pram wheels, when was the last time you ever saw a Camaro on such skinny wheels?

Reference to #7 Those pram wheels have state of the art 'Aquajets' John, this was ground breaking stuff.

[John McKechnie]

Rod-absolutely ground breaking.He was the only one on them and set the fastest time. When you look at the width of the tyres on his car sliding, they do look like pram wheels. Ahh, the joys of standard production racing.

[Rod Grimwood]

Been into the scrapbbook again, (wish i had kept these in the books i cut them from way back then)

The 1st is from a mag. and next 3 are from the Glen (Jigger) Jones Collection. Thats Glen with Rod.

Have a few from back then will sort and post.

I like the first.

[Rod Grimwood]

Think these may be from Auto-Action or Motorman got all types clippings

[fullnoise68]

Rod, they are good photos of Glen with Rod and Pam Coppins. When you look back and think how many people who were involved in motorsport of all types that have sadly been taken by different forms of cancer over the years, such as Rod and Glen, Bruce McLean, Red Dawson, Barry Butterworth, Bruce Drinkrow, even Peter Hanna, and more recently Jason Richards, and there are many more, maybe it`s a coincidence, or maybe a combination of fumes, tension, anxiety, etc that triggers it off. I`m no doctor, but I`ve often thought about it.

[Rod Grimwood]

Steve, I think we may think that way because we know all these top people through our motorsport conections, but tennis players, golfers, fishermen etc have all unfortunately fallen to this horrible disease. Technology today and tomorrow is making huge steps at last to counter act this and we can only hope. As you say all way too young and with so much to offer.

[Kiwiboss]

I spoke with Ken Bailey today, Ken lives in Tauranga and i worked with him for a couple of years in the early 80's, he said he'd crewed for Rod back in the Zepyhr/Corvette days and did in fact buy this vehicle from Rod and continued to race it a few times, he said Rod also drove while under his ownership, he then sold it to a Chinese guy in Wellington and never saw it again. I have invited Ken to come to the Denny Hulme Festival as im sure he'll have a few good "Rod Coppins" stories to tell, he was chuffed i'd asked.

The other guy that always had a few good stories about Rod and really spoke highly of him was that character "Cedric Price" from Matamata.

Dale M

[stubuchanan]

From Practice Day NZGP 1965 :

http://s6.postimage.org/5ezrjm60h/Coppins_Zephyr_Corvette_65.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

What came first? These pipes look brand-new, heat marks from welds visible. By Matamata (top picture in Rod's post #51) they were painted white. Then the chromed pipes and fancy air intake in post #52.

Stu

[fullnoise68]

Stu, apparently the `optimum' length for each pipe was 30 inches, so with the bends being different radius',etc, this is how the staggered height came about where each pipe finished at that length. The `prototype' pipes in your photo were too small diameter and too long, even though the car went well with them. The chrome pipes and the bonnet scoop were the brainchild of Keith McGregor, who incidently ran one of my father in law Barry Pointons' workshops and did a lot of work on Barrys' Chev V8 Coupe which was also raced previously by Rod Coppins ( Barry bought the coupe less motor/box, as the Tec Mec engine which was in the Chev Coupe went into the Zephyr). Keith and his brother John started Heat Treatments Ltd, and Keith is a well known ex Hydroplane, Flatbottom racer, and as Rod told my father in law at the time, `shit Barry, she goes now!'

[Steve Emson]

Agreed, I also have wondered about it. I will always remember standing at Turners car auctions when a gentleman came up to me for a friendly chat. I did not recognize him at all. It was Rod. He looked totally different as seems to happen with cancer. Very sad, i always thought of Rod as a kind of good looking movie star guy. It did have an impact on me, terrible business..............
Rod, they are good photos of Glen with Rod and Pam Coppins. When you look back and think how many people who were involved in motorsport of all types that have sadly been taken by different forms of cancer over the years, such as Rod and Glen, Bruce McLean, Red Dawson, Barry Butterworth, Bruce Drinkrow, even Peter Hanna, and more recently Jason Richards, and there are many more, maybe it`s a coincidence, or maybe a combination of fumes, tension, anxiety, etc that triggers it off. I`m no doctor, but I`ve often thought about it.

[Steve Holmes]

Here is a pic of the Camaro Rod ran in the Glenvale 100, a stock '67 SS, that became the McConnochie Bros dirt track car after it was wrecked in a road accident.
That's Rod at the back supervising the refueling. Can anyone name any of the guys standing next to the car ?

http://i48.tinypic.com/2vsrkes.jpg

Amazing that this is the same car!

14553

[Steve Holmes]

These are by Steve Twist.

14555

14556

14554

[Steve Holmes]

This is the front cover of Allan Dicks NZ Motorsport annual for 1966.

14557

[Steve Holmes]

Stu, thanks for those Tec Mec pics. It was a neat looking car, I hope more images surface. Thanks.

Back to another kindly supplied by Steve, again in the ever popular Cambridge Camaro with just a touch of oppo. March 1970 Bay Park it would seem.
http://i49.tinypic.com/ie47df.jpg

Bruce.

Fantastic photo! This is from the Easter 1970 event and thats Terry Allan in the big block Camaro just in behind Rod. Terry visited Bay Park three times, the latter two times when the car was painted in Castrol colours. This particular event was its most successful.

Note how crossed up Rod is here. I suspect Allan has given him a helping hand. The below Motorman magazine article shows the Aussie Camaro later that same day with the nose creased from where he'd hit the Cambridge car.

14558

[Steve Holmes]

This is Rod in the ex-Pete Geoghegan Mustang being chased by Robbie Francevic in the mighty 7 litre Fairlane at Pukekohe, in 1968. Rod didn't enjoy a lot of success with the Mustang, which wasn't as well developed as the similar Fahey Mustang. John Riley later confirmed this in an NZ Hot Rod magazine interview, as he owned both cars.

Photo is by Steve Twist.

14559

[Steve Holmes]

Bay Park, Dec 1970 grid, Rod is on row two in the Cambridge Camaro. Up front is Joe Chamberlain, Paul Fahey, then Bryan Thomson next to Rod, back to Terry Allen and Johnny Riley, then Clyde Collins in the Falcon.
Good size crowd, all standing in anticipation of some serious action. (Steve Elliott supplied photo)

http://i47.tinypic.com/oqx4rc.jpg

What a brilliant photo, and just imagine the noise! Fahey won all three races this day. Note at the rear of the photo is Jim Palmer in the Brian Foley Porsche.

[Bruce302]

This pic is Rod in the Zephyr Corvette, (reportedly fuel injected) at Renwick 1966.
If I understand correctly, the engine in the zephyr was out of the Tec-Mec, which was repowered with a Corvette engine from one of the Team Camoradi cars that was wrecked before it took the start at Le Mans in 1960. That being the case, was it Rochester Fuel injection ? Reportedly it was Bob Wallace that liberated the Corvette engine and gearbox, before giving the remains of the car to a Gendarme.

http://i45.tinypic.com/1607deb.jpg

[tonttu]

Great photo, it looks as though Rod is looking down to his mirror. So who is it crossed up behind him?

[Bruce302]

This is Rod and John Ward, winners of the Wills 6 Hours, 1966. Their 3.8 Jaguar did 172 laps, an average of just over 62 mph. Source The Shell Book Of NZ Motor Racing, by Peter Greenslade and Euan Sarginson, provided by Steve Elliott.

http://i48.tinypic.com/ou9pnm.jpg

Bruce.

[Steve Holmes]

I spoke with Ken Bailey today, Ken lives in Tauranga and i worked with him for a couple of years in the early 80's, he said he'd crewed for Rod back in the Zepyhr/Corvette days and did in fact buy this vehicle from Rod and continued to race it a few times, he said Rod also drove while under his ownership, he then sold it to a Chinese guy in Wellington and never saw it again. I have invited Ken to come to the Denny Hulme Festival as im sure he'll have a few good "Rod Coppins" stories to tell, he was chuffed i'd asked.

The other guy that always had a few good stories about Rod and really spoke highly of him was that character "Cedric Price" from Matamata.

Dale M

Dale, this is a very rare shot of Ken in the ex-Coppins Zephyr at Levin during the 1967 season. Photo is by Steve Twist.

14572

[Rod Grimwood]

This is the front cover of Allan Dicks NZ Motorsport annual for 1966.

14557

Ah, new it was from mag i had cut up, wish i had kept them.

[Rod Grimwood]

This pic is Rod in the Zephyr Corvette, (reportedly fuel injected) at Renwick 1966.
If I understand correctly, the engine in the zephyr was out of the Tec-Mec, which was repowered with a Corvette engine from one of the Team Camoradi cars that was wrecked before it took the start at Le Mans in 1960. That being the case, was it Rochester Fuel injection ? Reportedly it was Bob Wallace that liberated the Corvette engine and gearbox, before giving the remains of the car to a Gendarme.

http://i45.tinypic.com/1607deb.jpg

Got same photo in my scrapbook.
I got hand written bit about it being fuel injected when the bonnet scoop went on. (with photo as per previous post from magazine cover)

[Rod Grimwood]

Couple more from scrapbook bit faded etc.

[Kiwiboss]

Couple more from scrapbook bit faded etc.

Two great pictures Rod, those "All Comer" days just looks Cccccrazy, can see why MSNZ changed the format the following season!! i guess its the Doyle Anglia with stacks though its bonnet? and i was told that the scoop on the Zephyr was a requirement when Rod went to Fuel Injection for clearance, and American Hilborn unit i believe, i have seen an under bonnet picture showing this somewhere?

Steve H, was Kens name listed in the programme for you to know its him? at least we can ask him next month.

Dale M

[stubuchanan]

Ah, new it was from mag i had cut up, wish i had kept them.

Page 35 from Allan Dick Yearbook :

http://s6.postimage.org/5s5bf88hd/Coppins_Zeph_Corv_Intake_66002.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Stu

[Kwaussie]

This is the front cover of Allan Dicks NZ Motorsport annual for 1966.

14557
Alan Dick must have reversed this photo when in production - two clues.
But a neat photo never the less.

[GD66]

Steve H, was Kens name listed in the programme for you to know its him? at least we can ask him next month.
Dale M


The Fountain, David McKinney, did the original id when this pic was originally published in the Steve Twist Collection, Dale, and that's good enough for me. Get Bails to come on here and join in, or show us a couple of his pics.


Patrick, the steering wheel and the short pipes on the wrong side were the first visuals that popped up, I remember picking the wheel when the mag was new as well !

Regards GD

[45DCOE]

Dale, this is a very rare shot of Ken in the ex-Coppins Zephyr at Levin during the 1967 season. Photo is by Steve Twist.

14572

The "Chinese Guy" from Wellington was probably my brother who owned a service station. The car ended up there but was not brought by him. One of his workers brought the rolling shell from Graham Anderson (Mantel Motors who raced ex Kocis Torana) for $1.50 who used it painted orange in I think the first OSCA race in Levin. Gilbert Mallia of stock car fame expressed an interest to convert to saloon on for Te Marua. Remember him crawling around underneath talking about "mounts for Jag Gearbox". Remember the strut towers poking thru the bonnet. Not sure if jag gearbox was fitted at some stage, there is an article in an old Motorman that may confirm this. Do not know what happened to the roller after that. Elcoyote use to hang around the service station -he might know more.

[mac]

Hi Guys, I see a lot of talk going on about the Zephyr Corvette and would like to clear a few things up. I'm Colin Macbeth and both myself and Keith McLure purchased the car from Rod Coppins. We owned and raced the car for a few years. My friend Ken Bailey drove the car at Pukekohe and Keith and I just bummed around in it at Sprint meetings. Ken and myself did all the work on the car which entailed a lot of work due to rule changes at the time. The Corvette engine in the car tossed a rod at one of the Pukekohe meetings at which time Ken withdrew from our programme. I managed to pick up a new Corvette block and completed the car again. At this stage I was talking to Rod and he said he would love to drive the car again, which he did at a few meetings. Unfortunately had another engine failure and at this time I also decided to give up and the car was then sold to Spinner Black who told me he used the engine in his speed boat and as the body was fairly well knackered I believe it was scrapped. If anyone would like to discuss exactly what components the car had in it etc feel free to contact me Ph 07 8666766.
Cheers, Colin

[Shano]

Alan Dick must have reversed this photo when in production - two clues.
But a neat photo never the less.

In the old days there were hard and fast unwritten rules about the way photos faced. You never had vehicles or boats facing into the spine of the magazine, always outwards. Same for people's faces on the cover. However when people were inside a publication they were to face the spine.

It was deemed more important to follow these rules than such accuracy as having the wheel on the right side of the car.

And so it was (or at least that's what I had beaten into me by the grumpy old sub editors).

[Kiwiboss]

Hi Guys, I see a lot of talk going on about the Zephyr Corvette and would like to clear a few things up. I'm Colin Macbeth and both myself and Keith McLure purchased the car from Rod Coppins. We owned and raced the car for a few years. My friend Ken Bailey drove the car at Pukekohe and Keith and I just bummed around in it at Sprint meetings. Ken and myself did all the work on the car which entailed a lot of work due to rule changes at the time. The Corvette engine in the car tossed a rod at one of the Pukekohe meetings at which time Ken withdrew from our programme. I managed to pick up a new Corvette block and completed the car again. At this stage I was talking to Rod and he said he would love to drive the car again, which he did at a few meetings. Unfortunately had another engine failure and at this time I also decided to give up and the car was then sold to Spinner Black who told me he used the engine in his speed boat and as the body was fairly well knackered I believe it was scrapped. If anyone would like to discuss exactly what components the car had in it etc feel free to contact me Ph 07 8666766.
Cheers, Colin

Hi Colin, nothing like posting on the Roaring Season “half-truths from past memories” to get the correct answers, LOL

Make sure you come along to the Festival Colin, this is why I PH Ken as you guys are the ones that where around when this history was happening. Also the first weekend thanks to Steve Elliot(fullnoise68) we will have Rods daughter Toni Coppins in the HMC marque to talk about her legendry father, im sure she’d like to meet all of you guys. Its 30 years in June since Rod passed and he is now a motor sport icon, and remember Rod was twice NZ Saloon Car Champion so he did make it to the top of NZ motor racing, and Bruce Thompson will have “the” Pontiac on display.

And a few of us would like to meet you guys as well.

Dale M

[fullnoise68]

When Rod first got the car off Pete Geoghegan, it was still in Australia, and upon first driving it Rod thought he`d been sold a `pup'. He then questioned Pete - at the same track - who promptly jumped in the car, did a few laps relevant to the lap times when he owned it, got out and told Rod `drive it harder'. It was never as well developed as the second Geoghegan Mustang, but still was a good car. Fortunately Rod saw the light and got into a Chev.........

[Steve Holmes]

Hi Steve, here is what John Riley said in a 1971 interview about the two Mustangs. He still owned the Fahey Mustang at this time, but had raced the Geoghegan/Coppins Mustang in the 1968/69 season:

"Its (the ex-Fahey Mustang) a nice car to drive, far better handling than Rods (the ex-Geoghegan Mustang). It goes through a corner so much quicker it isn't even funny. I used to wonder how two comparable cars (Rods and Pauls) could be so far apart on the track. Paul was always so much quicker. In the early stages when Rod first bought that car I thought it must have been Rod himself, but since I've driven the two cars myself..... The difference in unbelievable. The Fahey car had wider wheels, and probably a lot more work done on the suspension. The motor was better also. The Coppins motor had a very early model roller cam which used to make a beautiful exhaust note but it never had the same torque or power as the Fahey car. I like driving Faheys car however. Its a good car".

[Steve Emson]

Thanks Steve. I also was told the story of the hand over of the car. It was first hand information. It is good to read what John Riley said. I have always had a driver ranking in my head, formed from watching drivers, rather than the cars since i was old enough to go to the track with Dad. To my way of thinking some drivers did well simply because they had the best equipment available. Some of the fields we saw in racing, were made up of people who could afford to race. Some of the drivers had real ability, many are overrated and remembered as being better than they may have been. Its like rich kids buying drives in Europe. Are they actually the best most talented kids in the world?. We may never know. I am NOT saying anything here about any driver in particular. Rod's poorer performance than expected in this car, is now explained by John's comments.

[Steve Holmes]

Yep, I agree 100% Steve. To me thats always been the biggest criticism I have of motorsport. Unlike almost every other sport, talent alone is not enough to achieve success. Deep pockets and/or strong sponsor backing are essential. So much talent has never been fully realised over the years because of a lack of funds.

[Bruce302]

This is an article by Rob Wilson in the autoNEWS May 25th 1970, it gives a good impression of who Rod was as a person and as a racer.
I will post the pages individually.

http://i47.tinypic.com/2dvjx2t.jpg

[Bruce302]

http://i46.tinypic.com/jjy5o5.jpg

[Bruce302]

http://i46.tinypic.com/mijj2x.jpg

[Bruce302]

http://i46.tinypic.com/30agmtc.jpg

[Bruce302]

http://i48.tinypic.com/14t4iv4.jpg

[Bruce302]

http://i48.tinypic.com/124bsjo.jpg

[Steve Emson]

Interesting read, thanks for posting.

[GD66]

Yes, a well-thought out writeup. I agree that there was a perception for a while that he wasn't quite on the pace, and that incident at Lakeside when Geoghegan drove the car and set hot lap times didn't help. But I felt he continued to grow in confidence and skill, and as I said to an old sparring partner the other day when discussing it, I can't recall Coppins blowing up or crashing, so there's a key to chasing a championship right there.

[fullnoise68]

That`s a good article Bruce, you must have quite a bit of info on Rod!

[Bruce302]

Indeed, I bet you wish yours was half as good.

The above article was supplied by Steve Elliott, from his private , but substantial collection.


That`s a good article Bruce, you must have quite a bit of info on Rod!

[J42E48]

Great thread for a great driver.

Be great to see some photos of his time in the Chargers - an E38, an E49, and perhaps even a brief stint in a VJ E48.

[Bruce302]

OK, here is one I found in the Steve Elliott collection. Hot Rod Coppins, with sponsorship from the NZ Hot Rod Magazine among others. Rod had some great success in these Chargers in production class racing.
Does anyone know where this car is now ?

http://i48.tinypic.com/2ihuyx2.jpg

[J42E48]

Awesome photo Bruce, haven't seen that one before. I can confirm that E49 is alive and has been very well cared for.

I have a couple of this car so will post up.

[J42E48]

Sorry I cannot credit the photographer as I dont know who it was. Got these ones of the E49 from off the web. It may also be after Rod's time with this car?

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z379/BigTankE48/IMG_000721.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z379/BigTankE48/RT391.jpg

[J42E48]

Heres a couple of the E38 he raced. Unsure of a date for these two or who was drving on this day but the car looks pretty fresh at what looks like a time trial / hill climb?

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z379/BigTankE48/527a.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z379/BigTankE48/527b.jpg

[Milan Fistonic]

Car number 27 is Paul Hammond from Taihape competing in the 1975 Glenvale 200 Trophy Race. Bay Park August 3, 1975.

[Jac Mac]

The RH Rear Tyre on #27 in post #97 looks like its about to take early ' Retirement ', pun intended....

[John McKechnie]

Milan-you are correct on the Glenvale 200 at Bay Park. Would that be Graeme Crawford behind him in the XU1?
Also I am sure that John Scott-we have come across this name many time before-told me in the 70s that he owned Coppins E38 for a while.
He never would have raced it on the track though.

[Rod Grimwood]

The RH Rear Tyre on #27 in post #97 looks like its about to take early ' Retirement ', pun intended....

yea noticed that Jac, a bit like the bank account after xmas 'deflated'
must have good sidewall, as thats what it is running on.

[Milan Fistonic]

Milan-you are correct on the Glenvale 200 at Bay Park. Would that be Graeme Crawford behind him in the XU1?
Also I am sure that John Scott-we have come across this name many time before-told me in the 70s that he owned Coppins E38 for a while.
He never would have raced it on the track though.

On my computer it's a bit hard to see the number of the XU1 but it looks like 12. If so, the drivers were Jack Drummond and Bryan Bate in Drummond's car.

If the number is 2 it would be Wayne Wilkinson.

Coppins was entered in the L34 for this race.

[Bruce302]

Time for some fresh pics.

Here is Rod in the Zephyr in it's early guise. Read the specs on his race placings. Pretty impressive stuff. And anyone who drives a Zephyr, any Zephyr, at 170 mph, has some serious nuts.

http://i50.tinypic.com/2wolke1.jpg

[Bruce302]

While not strictly Rod Coppins, it is his car in the hands of the new owners, Colin MacBeth and Keith McLure. I don't know the venue but it looks like a timed run or hill climb, the upper shot is after meeting a strainer post.
Photo courtesy Colin Macbeth via Steve Elliott.

http://i45.tinypic.com/oeud.jpg

[seaqnmac27]

Time for some fresh pics.

Here is Rod in the Zephyr in it's early guise. Read the specs on his race placings. Pretty impressive stuff. And anyone who drives a Zephyr, any Zephyr, at 170 mph, has some serious nuts.

http://i50.tinypic.com/2wolke1.jpg

I am sorry but should that not read, IS seriously nuts as well?

[Bruce302]

And one more from Colin Macbeth and Steve Elliott.

Neat wheel reinforcing evident on the front wheels, and the "no trailer required" A frame towing device.

http://i49.tinypic.com/2rf7fjc.jpg

[fullnoise68]

And one more from Colin Macbeth and Steve Elliott.

Neat wheel reinforcing evident on the front wheels, and the "no trailer required" A frame towing device.

http://i49.tinypic.com/2rf7fjc.jpg

Bruce, you`ll notice the exhausts are no longer out the bonnet in this photo. Colin had to change the car considerably to meet the `new' rules - nothing has changed in NZ motorsport!!!- and I know when the easiest, and most famous option was to go out through the bonnet, Colin reckons it was a `prick' of a job getting the exhausts back underneath.

[Frosty5]

Bruce, as I said to you today, other than all the ones I have collected myself, many of the photos I have were given to me by a family friend Frank Renwick, who died some 12 years ago. Others were given to me by Peter Hanna, and some of these are likely to be either Jack Inwood, Terry Marshall, etc.
I have asked Bruce to post these photos on the basis of sharing them for everyones enjoyment, and not to ruffle anyones feathers. if anyone requires credit for this thread, or any of the others that Bruce is going to post on Red Dawson, John Riley, etc, please acknowledge them as being your photos.

Hi Steve, the name you mention - Frank Renwick - not a common name, however I served my time (not porridge either!)with a chap with the same name. He lived in Onehunga for many years and had a relationship with a lot of the old Epsom and Glouster Park stock car guys. He drove a Ford twin Spinner, loved his grog and was a real rough diamond. Are we talking about the same guy?

[fullnoise68]

Yes that`s him. His nickname was `Hoss' and he was the king of the acetelene bomb! Frank worked for Refrigeration Engineering in Penrose for many years and I wouldn`t say he was a rough diamond, but he was a real character! Send me an email to vmt@xtra.co.nz if you like.

[mac]

Hi Guys, I was timed at a flying sprint meeting at Taupo at 158 mph. Pretty hairy as pine trees were only a few feet from the track and the car wasn't exactly aerodynamic. I think i was sort of relieved when the clutch packed up. When they changed the rules we had to fit the exhausts down into large collector boxes so as not to change the tuned lengths. Ken Bailey was a real good mechanic but we had a prick of a job. The extra strengthening on the front wheels was done as the drivers side rim collapsed at the very end of the back straight at Pukekohe. Ken was driving, thats him with the dark shirt having a fag to calm his nerves. This meeting was a reverse course, the powers thought it might be a good idea to have a race meeting reverse direction. The photo with the hockey stick was at a Mount Maunganui sprint and the guy wasn't keen to stand too close to the car as it did a fair bit of snaking up the course.
Colin

[Frosty5]

Yes that`s him. His nickname was `Hoss' and he was the king of the acetelene bomb! Frank worked for Refrigeration Engineering in Penrose for many years and I wouldn`t say he was a rough diamond, but he was a real character! Send me an email to vmt@xtra.co.nz if you like.

Well, its a bloody small world isnt it. Yes I remember the acetylene bombs very well having been on the receiving end many times. As a cheeky apprentice I thought his nickname should be Barney Rubble, only called him that once, bad call!!!!!As apprentices we were always the subject of pranks by tradesmen having been on the receiving end of many of them, he also bolted my toolbox to a workbench. Come end of week I was in a rush to leave work for a weekend at Puke and just about broke my arm as I slid past the bench and grabbed the box, I carried onto the floor but the toolbox stayed on the bench, talk about Mr Bean!!. All that aside I had a lot of time for him, certainly taught me a lot but also kept my feet firmly on the ground. He assisted me in building my first stock car in 1968 which I raced at Waikaraka Park with, shall we say limited success but a truckload of fun.

[Frosty5]

Hi Steve, have sent you a PM

[fullnoise68]

Well, its a bloody small world isnt it. Yes I remember the acetylene bombs very well having been on the receiving end many times. As a cheeky apprentice I thought his nickname should be Barney Rubble, only called him that once, bad call!!!!!As apprentices we were always the subject of pranks by tradesmen having been on the receiving end of many of them, he also bolted my toolbox to a workbench. Come end of week I was in a rush to leave work for a weekend at Puke and just about broke my arm as I slid past the bench and grabbed the box, I carried onto the floor but the toolbox stayed on the bench, talk about Mr Bean!!. All that aside I had a lot of time for him, certainly taught me a lot but also kept my feet firmly on the ground. He assisted me in building my first stock car in 1968 which I raced at Waikaraka Park with, shall we say limited success but a truckload of fun.

Without diverting too much away from this thread topic, but something that is relevant to it, the grid photo taken amongst the crowd at Baypark posted earlier on by Bruce302 was taken by Frank. I reckon it`s a bloody good photo. After getting them printed, Frank got that photo enlarged to in his words - `the size of the Saturday Herald' so in those days it would have a been pretty expensive exercise. Frank did this so he didn`t have to look at all the other `crap' on the lunchroom wall. One of the then pommy bosses promptly tore the big photo off the wall, unbeknown to him that Frank had got the big boss' permission. Well that poms life became quite stressful, what with his car grille being chained to a culvert grate for when he reversed out of his carpark, acetylene bombs under his bedroom window at all hours, etc. A lot of guys on here knew the late Noel Goodwin as a real prankster as well. I knew Noel pretty well too, but Frank Renwick was relentless in getting even......

[Steve Holmes]

And one more from Colin Macbeth and Steve Elliott.

Neat wheel reinforcing evident on the front wheels, and the "no trailer required" A frame towing device.

http://i49.tinypic.com/2rf7fjc.jpg

Wow, what a fantastic photo! Thanks for sharing this Mac.

[Bruce302]

From the Motor Year Book 1967, Incorporating Motorsport '67. another great Jack Inwood shot.

http://i46.tinypic.com/1znsd4z.jpg

[fullnoise68]

This pic is Rod in The #41 Cambridge Camaro circa Sept/Oct 1970

http://i49.tinypic.com/20ky1x.jpg

If #41 Camaro goes half as good this weekend as Rods one did all those years ago, I`ll be stoked!

[markec]

Rod in Australia with the Firebird, I don't think Bruce will be upset with this second posting of the picture.
14972

[markec]

15016
15017
15018
15019

[markec]

15020
15021

[Bruce302]

Those are great shots Mark, thank you very much for posting. I was talking to the owner of the Torana yesterday at Hampton Downs.
He is going for a faithful period correct restoration. It could well make an appearance before too long.

Bruce.

[fullnoise68]

I`d have to say I was rapt to be part of the Rod Coppins celebrations over the weekend. For Toni, Rods daughter, it was an extremely emotional time, given her age at the time of both Rods racing, and his passing, and for Rods sister Lynn to fly over from Perth to attend this event was in her words `a trip down memory lane'. I`d like to thank Steve Holmes for the excellent posters, decals, etc and Dale for organising what was a pretty special occassion for the Coppins family. Doing skids in the Camaro is a real blast , but seeing the smiles and comaradire of all the `oldies' did it for me....

[Bruce302]

Well said Steve. It was an honour to be able to be part of the Coppins commemorations. Without exception everyone always has only good things to say about Rod. His family bear out the fact that he was a real nice guys as they display the same qualities. It was so nice to talk with Gary, Lynn and their children, and grandchildren, not to mention Toni and her daughter Ashlie. And thanks to all the HMC and Aust T/A guys who entered into the spirit with the decals and being enthusiastic about the memories. Though Rod raced in Australia often I don't think he was as well known there.

Bruce.

[Steve Holmes]

I`d have to say I was rapt to be part of the Rod Coppins celebrations over the weekend. For Toni, Rods daughter, it was an extremely emotional time, given her age at the time of both Rods racing, and his passing, and for Rods sister Lynn to fly over from Perth to attend this event was in her words `a trip down memory lane'. I`d like to thank Steve Holmes for the excellent posters, decals, etc and Dale for organising what was a pretty special occassion for the Coppins family. Doing skids in the Camaro is a real blast , but seeing the smiles and comaradire of all the `oldies' did it for me....

Well said Steve, I couldn't agree more. The whole Coppins family in attendance were really blown away by the level of respect the racing fraternity has for Rod. It was nice to have been present for this.

[Steve Holmes]

Those are great shots Mark, thank you very much for posting. I was talking to the owner of the Torana yesterday at Hampton Downs.
He is going for a faithful period correct restoration. It could well make an appearance before too long.

Bruce.

He sent me photos of it a few years ago and it is impressive, right down to the Southern Comfort decals faithfully replicated. Would have been nice to have seen it there on the weekend.

[BMCBOY]

I managed to dig up a few old photos last week
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15246

15243

15245

15247

[Allan]

The thing that attracted my attention in the Lycoming/TecMec/D type photo is the protetive clothing worn by all the drivers.

[Bruce302]

Great photos BMCboy, especially the one of Rod himself.
The last Torana shot is incredible. Thanks for posting.

Bruce.

[thunder427]

[QUOTE=BMCBOY;23298]I managed to dig up a few old photos last week

The photo of Jim and Rod>>>>>>>>>>>>
........." Hey Rod, How many Aspro's can you have and still drive"!!!!!! looks like Jim's Got the tooth Ache thing going!......................regards thunder427/MJ:cool:

[Bruce302]

Great to see Rod's Torana at the NZFMR yesterday. Rod and Jim Richards placed 3rd at Bathurst in that car.

[TonyG]

Great to see Rod's Torana at the NZFMR yesterday. Rod and Jim Richards placed 3rd at Bathurst in that car.

Anyone get any shots of it?

[markec]

15399
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15401

[markec]

15402

[SPman]

Being harrassed by Don Halliday, Bay Park, 1969

[GD66]

I think that's Johnny Riley (Car Sales writing on front guard), at the Puke hairpin.

[SPman]

I thought 141 was Rod's number...

[John McKechnie]

Rod has had many numbers for example in 1969-1970 he had 59, 73, 1 (Monaro), and 41 (Camaro).
If you check the pix 141 was for 1970-1971 season and later.
John Riley had 141 several times tilll he took 222

[GD66]

15477

Dawson and Riley Mustangs at the NZGP, 1970.

[SPman]

Thanks for that - I had a feeling it could have been, but the number threw me...

[Steve Holmes]

Being harrassed by Don Halliday, Bay Park, 1969

Hey Jon, you have some amazing photos! Thanks heaps for sharing them.

[Steve Holmes]

I managed to dig up a few old photos last week
15244

15246

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15247

Wow, these are fantastic! Thanks Ross.

Hey Bruce, the second photo, would this be when the Firebird was green?

[Bruce302]

That's right Steve, it was green and in the Aussie spec with blanked off indicators, and ducted front valance. This is the car as it appeared in Australia. It has the brake ducts where the indicators go. Rowan "Chuck" Harman (AussieMonza) arranged the sponsorship .

http://i47.tinypic.com/b3pegi.jpg
Bruce.




Wow, these are fantastic! Thanks Ross.

Hey Bruce, the second photo, would this be when the Firebird was green?

[SPman]

Hey Jon, you have some amazing photos! Thanks heaps for sharing them.
Lot's of amazing photos on here, Steve. Just glad I can add my two bob's worth......

[stubuchanan]

Rod has had many numbers for example in 1969-1970 he had 59, 73, 1 (Monaro), and 41 (Camaro).
If you check the pix 141 was for 1970-1971 season and later.
John Riley had 141 several times tilll he took 222

Riley used 227 when he was running the the Lotus sports.

http://s6.postimage.org/gvhhnrlrl/Rural_1969_GP_Scuderia_Riley.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/8d81jff8t/full/)

Seen here with Coppins Mustang in paddock at 1969 GP, Pukekohe.

http://s6.postimage.org/md3c7kgdt/Puk_Coppins_Feb_64.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/5pbu52lm5/full/)

And Coppins used 141 at least as early as February 1964!

Stu

[fullnoise68]

Thanks Stu, the Chev Coupe in your bottom photo was later sold to my father in law Barry Pointon - less motor and box, as the Chev V8 from the coupe, originally from the TecMec, went into Rods Zephyr. After Barry raced it, and heavily modified it, he sold it to Ron Sylvester who ran it for many years, and Grant Sylvester still has it today.

[markec]

15669

15670

15671

15672
A pity this pic is on 2 different quality's of paper, as it is a great photo of the man.
15673

[fullnoise68]

Good photos Markec, I think from memory Rods Charger in the top photo was owned by Huttons, as they wanted to try and establish the IRDs involvement and limitations of advertising on a company car while motor racing. The PDL Stewart family were another pioneer in this domain.

[Steve Holmes]

A pity this pic is on 2 different quality's of paper, as it is a great photo of the man.
15673

Mark, what track is this? It looks like Bay Park, but I'm having trouble identifying the HQ Holden in the background. It looks like the F5000 powered Kingswood Malcolm Ramsay raced in the 1972 Australian Touring Car Championship, the final year of Improved Production rules. Did this car ever race in NZ?

[Steve Holmes]

http://s6.postimage.org/md3c7kgdt/Puk_Coppins_Feb_64.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/5pbu52lm5/full/)

And Coppins used 141 at least as early as February 1964!

Stu

Wow! This photo is really cool!

[Rod Grimwood]

Yes Steve it is HQ of Ramsey from Australia, and it's Bay Park.

[markec]

Sorry Steve, no caption for the photo, it would seem Rod is correct with Bay Park. Autonews had a bad habit of not dateing their issue's back then, there is also no story of the round at Bay Park in the issue, all I can tell you is that is is the 72 / 73 season.It was the November issue.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Mark and Rod. Thats great! I didn't realise Malcolm had raced his HQ in NZ. It was one of the top machines in the 1972 ATCC. Ran a fuel-injected F5000 motor in a well built package. How did he go against the Kiwi cars at Bay Park?

[fullnoise68]

Wow! This photo is really cool!

Steve, if you think the photo is cool, what about the T shirt Rods racing in!

[BMCBOY]

These photos were taken perhaps after Rod had sold the car as the number is now changed and
driver has a full faced helmet

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[fullnoise68]

This is when Robin Tanner ran the car.

[John McKechnie]

The number 25 is Tanners at the 1975 Grand Prix meeting, colour burnt orange

[Kudu]

Although not a race car, my Torana was once owned by Rod Coppins, so I reckon that's quite a neat talking point with mates.

[fullnoise68]

Hey Scott, was it owned by Rod personally, or by Rod Coppins Motors or Coppins and Coley Motors?

[Bruce302]

Great photos guys, thanks Mark, Stu and Ross.

Right or wrong, I have always thought of 141 as being Rod's number. I know he used other numbers, and others used 141.

[Rod Grimwood]

Thanks Stu, the Chev Coupe in your bottom photo was later sold to my father in law Barry Pointon - less motor and box, as the Chev V8 from the coupe, originally from the TecMec, went into Rods Zephyr. After Barry raced it, and heavily modified it, he sold it to Ron Sylvester who ran it for many years, and Grant Sylvester still has it today.


This must have been not long after Ron got the Coupe, looking at the paint work which became more silver with red guards. This was and still is a neat beast.

[fullnoise68]

Excellent photos Rod. When Barry had built it to this stage, prior to selling it to Ron who continued developing it, Bob Ferabend, brother of stockcar legend Sam Ferabend, had hand fabricated an aluminium bonnet, bootlid and door skins to try to loose some weight. Keith MacGregor built a pretty strong 327 Chev engine, coupled to a Super Snipe 4spd gearbox.He also adapted Wolseley 6/110 discs/calipers all round with two brake cylinders to help stop it. Just prior to selling the coupe, both Barry and Rod Coppins ran the car at a meeting at Puke where it was timed at 144 mph at the 200 yard braking point on the back straight.

[Steve Holmes]

Good stuff guys, I love these pre-war coupes! Just a quick question, one of the racing annuals from 1966 said Ron destroyed his Chevy coupe during the 1966 season when he rolled it, and that he replaced it with another. Was this actually the case, or did he rebuild it? Or was the car he bought off Berry the replacement for it?

[Rod Grimwood]

Coupe in new colours. Believe at some stage it caught fire in the carbs, and Ron fitted extinguishers to rear in case of repeat. Have a look at back shot.

[Kudu]

Hey Scott, was it owned by Rod personally, or by Rod Coppins Motors or Coppins and Coley Motors?

Hi there,
No i was not lucky enough to have it owned by Rod personally, so its not an ex racer. It just went through the hands of Rod Coppins Motors. (....as many hundereds of cars out there did I am sure) Its just neat to have even a little link though.

[Kiwiboss]

Steve Elliott, Bruce Thompson with Rods only daughter Toni Coppins receiving there "Rod Coppins Award" trophys at the DH Festival.

Photos by Warwick Clayton

[fullnoise68]

Hi there,
No i was not lucky enough to have it owned by Rod personally, so its not an ex racer. It just went through the hands of Rod Coppins Motors. (....as many hundereds of cars out there did I am sure) Its just neat to have even a little link though.

Hi Scott, if you email me your details to vmt@xtra.co.nz, I`ll send you an original Rod Coppins Motors rear window decal for your Torana.

[Bruce302]

I used to go to Rod's car yard and "test drive" the hot cars. I probably wrung the neck of that Torana at some time.

[John McKechnie]

Bruce-Did you wring the neck off your purchase or did others do that before you?

[markec]

15845

[markec]

15846

[Bruce302]

Yes I did John, Even got chased by a cop down Chinamans Hill who finally caught me at that little gas station in Kingsland. He wasn't happy.
Bruce.


Bruce-Did you wring the neck off your purchase or did others do that before you?

[Bruce302]

Thanks Mark, He achieved a lot in his time racing, and made many good friends.


15845

[John McKechnie]

Understand aforementioned cop was pissed off with you because-
1-brakes on these cars non existent and took you a long time to slow down and stop
2-only caught you because you stopped to let a little old lady cross the road.
3-He was on one of those little 2 stroke shitboxes, that would make anyone unhappy.
4-He would rather have been driving this car with his siren on.
5-you had hit top speed and was slowing down and didnt even know he was there-happened to me once
6-your own reasons................
7-he probably sat there all the time outside Rods Car sales catching test pilots and missed getting you all the other times.
8-you only stopped at the gas station to fill up, not for him
Hey this is fun-anyone else want to add.

[fullnoise68]

Not bad for someone that`s `flat out' this week!

[Bruce302]

#8, as you know there is very little gas in the tank on used car yards, I needed more for an extended drive, but I did buy the car.

Bruce.

8-you only stopped at the gas station to fill up, not for him

[John McKechnie]

Thats the reason for stopping , BUT-why were you nabbed??????????????
and.........why was the cop pissed-did he want to buy the car instead???????????

[Bruce302]

Too fast down Chinamans Hill...........He didn't want to see me in his patch ever again.


Thats the reason for stopping , BUT-why were you nabbed??????????????
and.........why was the cop pissed-did he want to buy the car instead???????????

[stubuchanan]

Steve, if you think the photo is cool, what about the T shirt Rods racing in!

That was part of the James Dean image from the 1950's -

"You know he always got an extra pack of cigarettes,

Rolled up in his T-shirt sleeve"

It was considered very cool when I was a teenager.

Stu

[markec]

15866
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[macpac]

Not bad for someone that`s `flat out' this week!

Does anyone know if Jandals is still around?

[Bruce302]

Yes he is, working out West still. I have called on him a couple of times.

Bruce.


Does anyone know if Jandals is still around?

[fullnoise68]

He most definitely is, I spent about an hour talking to him at the Denny Hulme Festival a couple of weeks ago.

[macpac]

Yes he is, working out West still. I have called on him a couple of times.

Bruce.

Thanks for that info Bruce. If you see him again would you mind saying Hi to him from Steve McLean (Bruce McLean's son) for me. Living in Aus now so a bit hard from here.

[macpac]

He most definitely is, I spent about an hour talking to him at the Denny Hulme Festival a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks fullnoise. As have asked Bruce 302, if you see him again would you mind saying Hi to him for me Steve McLean (Bruce's son). Living in Aus now so a bit hard from here. I am trying to picture your father inlaw Barry Pointons face but can't for the life of me. Sorry but age seems to bring on plenty of senior moments these days.

[macpac]

Rod and my dad were good mates as well as competing against each other. Every time I think of Rod and all of the race meetings I was taken to by dad, I remember Jandals was always there as large as life.

Steve McLean

[fullnoise68]

Hi Steve, I am planning on taking my HMC Camaro, along with a few other grey haired hoons and their HMC cars, to run at Lakeside and Queensland Raceway in June and July. Barry met back up with Jim Richards at the Denny Hulme Festival after 30 years, and Jim will be at the Shannons meeting we`ll be racing at over there, so I`m hoping Barry will come with us to that event, and you may get to see him there.

[macpac]

Hi Steve, I am planning on taking my HMC Camaro, along with a few other grey haired hoons and their HMC cars, to run at Lakeside and Queensland Raceway in June and July. Barry met back up with Jim Richards at the Denny Hulme Festival after 30 years, and Jim will be at the Shannons meeting we`ll be racing at over there, so I`m hoping Barry will come with us to that event, and you may get to see him there.

Thanks fullnoise. Sorry don't mean to get off topic here on Rod's thread but that would be great. I am building a 72 Z28 Camaro for the Trans Am class myself but unfortunately doubt it will be running by then. I will be at all of the meetings though so will definately meet you and Barry if he can make it. Which Camaro is yours?

[fullnoise68]

The red `68 Camaro #41.

[David McKinney]

I believe so

[macpac]

The red `68 Camaro #41.

Thanks fullnoise. Look forward to meeting you.

[fullnoise68]

Thanks fullnoise. Look forward to meeting you.

Steve, check out my Historic Muscle Car post #613, to take you to a photo of Barry.

[macpac]

Steve, check out my Historic Muscle Car post #613, to take you to a photo of Barry.

Cheers will do. You guy's will love Lakeside. Great Track.

[Bruce302]

This is Rod, and Dennis Marwood behind him, at Adelaide in 1972.

http://i49.tinypic.com/3095uew.jpg

[Bruce302]

This is a pic taken in '72 used in an article about the upcoming race meeting in '73 (by which time the car had been painted white)
These clippings were kindly provided my Chris Meaden.

http://i46.tinypic.com/2eujuqh.jpg

[markec]

16528

[markec]

16566

[Bruce302]

Those are great photos Mark, thank you very much. Competition at Bathurst has always been very stout, and for Rod and Jim to place third overall was a fantastic result.

[Bruce302]

I don't think I have posted this before, This is Rod in the Firebird, Calder Park, Aust 1973, the car is green as per an earlier pic.

http://i49.tinypic.com/25imdrm.jpg

[markec]

16771
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[Kiwiboss]

Three more from the Steve Elliot Via Lynn Coppins collection.

[fullnoise68]

These are three photos from a bunch of photos that Lynn Coppins, Rods sister, lent to me so I could scan them while she was here, between the two Festival weekends in January. Lynn lives in Perth, and came over to be with the rest of her family for Rods tribute and told me she throughly enjoyed herself over the two weekends, and was rapt at what the HMC group had done to honour Rod. The first photo is Rod with some silverware from his efforts in the Zephyr Corvette. The second photo is at Lakeside when Rod bought and ran the ex Ian `Big Pete' Geoghegan Mustang, prior to bringing it back to NZ. The bottom photo is of Rod washing an XK Jag outside the Coppins family home in Alfriston, just east of Manurewa.

[Steve Holmes]

That Lakeside shot is fantastic!

[TonyG]

Here is another shot from the 1967 ATCC race at Lakeside of Rod Coppins, Paul Fahey, Brian Michelmore, John French at Hungry corner bery kindly sent to me by John Stanley yesterday. Hopefully John will join us all here and share some more of his fantastic shots.


17294

[John McKechnie]

Would that black car-number 4 -in the background be Norm Beechey in his Chevvy Nova?

[TonyG]

Would that black car-number 4 -in the background be Norm Beechey in his Chevvy Nova?

Hi John , it sure is.
From Wikipedia - Results
Race results:
Position Driver No. Car Laps
1 Ian Geoghegan 1 Ford Mustang GTA 50
2 Brian Foley 8 Morris Cooper S 50
3 Peter Manton 2 Morris Cooper S 50
4 Kevin Bartlett 5 Alfa Romeo GTA 50
5 Greg Cusack 7 Ford Mustang 49
6 Jim McKeown 3 Ford Lotus Cortina 47
7 Rod Coppins 10 Ford Mustang 47
8 John French 26 Morris Cooper S 47
DNF Norm Beechey 4 Chevrolet Nova 40
DNF Brian Michelmore Ford Lotus Cortina 29
DNF Terry Allan Chevrolet Camaro
DNF Paul Fahey Ford Mustang
DNF Bob Jane 6 Ford Mustang 2

[John McKechnie]

Hi Tony- thanks for that.
How hard is it to find these old race results in Wikipedia?
You make it look easy. I have had no luck trying to find the Mercury 1000 results from early 70s
Terry Allen came over here in his Blue big block Camaro in April (?)1970.
This cant be the same Camaro- did he have another one 3 years earlier.

[Steve Holmes]

Yes its the same Camaro John, he raced it from 1967 to 1971. Its the first road racing Camaro in Australasia.

I think the reason the above race is on Wiki is because it was the 1967 ATCC, back when the championship was just a single race. So it was a pretty significant race. Beechey in the Nova was actually heading for the win until a rear tyre blew and threw him into the wall.

[Steve Holmes]

Here is another shot from the 1967 ATCC race at Lakeside of Rod Coppins, Paul Fahey, Brian Michelmore, John French at Hungry corner bery kindly sent to me by John Stanley yesterday. Hopefully John will join us all here and share some more of his fantastic shots.


17294

What an amazing photo Tony! Thanks for posting it here, and thanks to John for sharing it.

[Milan Fistonic]

Here's the grid and the result of the 1967 ATCC.


17313

[fullnoise68]

Bringing it forward 46 years, being part of a 25 car, all V8 big banger grid, at the same track, it going to be quite an occassion.

[Steve Holmes]

Here's the grid and the result of the 1967 ATCC.


17313

This is awesome Milan! Its the first time I've seen the qualifying times from this event. It would seem, based on this, and a couple of earlier ATCC events I've researched, that when the ATCC was held as a single race, rather than a series, the field was limited to just 20 cars, made up of the fastest from each class?

[Milan Fistonic]

This is awesome Milan! Its the first time I've seen the qualifying times from this event. It would seem, based on this, and a couple of earlier ATCC events I've researched, that when the ATCC was held as a single race, rather than a series, the field was limited to just 20 cars, made up of the fastest from each class?


The report is rather confusing as it states: "The race programme set up three heats for the Title contenders and a 50-lap (75-mile) final for the fastest selected twenty."

Only two 6-lap heats are detailed in the report. The first was won by Brian Foley from Peter Manton and John French, all in Cooper S Minis. Other drivers mentioned were; Stewart, Rout, Jack Humphreys, McGregor and Warnes all in Minis and Bill Tatham in a Cortina.

The second heat was won by Beechy from Geoghegan and McKeown. Terry Allan removed his Camaro from the grid when it was discovered that the tyres were rubbing on the guards.

Other starters were: Kevin Bartlett, Bob Jane, Michelmore, Coppins, Cusack and the Holdens of Reilly, Clough, Thomas, Kropp and Goss.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Milan, actually I'd have thought there would be about four or five classes, so I don't really understand how there can even be just three heats. Maybe some were combined.

[Bruce302]

Here is the Team Cambridge Monaro, Pukekohe Saturday 7th December 1969 according to the file notes.
photos copyright The Bruce McLaren Trust.

http://i43.tinypic.com/2zsz3wl.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2i09mx2.jpg

[Bruce302]

From the cover of AutoNews July 1970, Rod Coppins and Brian Innes shared this 1967 SS 396 Camaro in the Glenvale 100 at Bay Park Raceway in July 1970. It was maroon in colour and backed by Consolidated Dye, a company that Spencer "Spinner" Black had an interest in. The car had 4 wheel disc brakes and these were later transferred to the Coppins Team Cambridge 67 SS Camaro. Unfortunately the reports don't tell if it was 325, 350 or the special high performance 375 horsepower version. The number plate DE 5124 is one number off the Spinner Black Monaro that also became a Team Cambridge car.

http://i40.tinypic.com/2ic09rs.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

Its funny, I saw a photo of this Camaro in Motorman when I was a kid, and all my life I just assumed it was a black car! Never ever considered it was anything else.

[John McKechnie]

Steve- I have this front grid in colour and will get Bruce to post it.
It was a Grady Thomson in his Monaro, but it shows the whole grid in colour

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks John, I'd love to see that.

[Bruce302]

The front of the Camaro sits quite high, almost what you would expect if a small block (350 for example) replaced a big block (396)


http://i39.tinypic.com/svmm2g.jpg

[John McKechnie]

Pic #219 is copyright of The Bruce McLaren trust.

[Kiwiboss]

The front of the Camaro sits quite high, almost what you would expect if a small block (350 for example) replaced a big block (396)


http://i39.tinypic.com/svmm2g.jpg

Bruce, John, thats a very cool picture!! whats its time line, very late 60's maybe? and taken at Bay Park as well.

Luv the 3 dune buggys in the back ground and is that another yellow Monaro behind the people standing on the grid behind the red/orange Monaro?

Dale M

[Bruce302]

Dale, this was July 12 th 1970, the Glenvale 100 for production cars. The beach buggies look like they were used for parade laps. Someone who was there will know.

[Bruce302]

Brian Scobie and Charlie McIndoe both ran Monaros, That's Grady Thomson in a bronze HT 350 and Jim Palmer in the Sebring orange HT 350 on the front row with Innes/Coppins Camaro.

[Oldfart]

Jim Palmer also ran a pale yellow/lemon Monaro too. He had a photo on the wall of his sale room of him coming over Rothmans at Pukekohe with a Jag alongside, Buchanan I think. Not a bad photo if I do say so myself!

[Frosty5]

The front of the Camaro sits quite high, almost what you would expect if a small block (350 for example) replaced a big block (396)


http://i39.tinypic.com/svmm2g.jpg

Note the strap keeping the bonnet down on the orange Monaro. Just "Hol-den together"!!!!!!

[seaqnmac27]

[QUOTE=Bruce302;31404]The front of the Camaro sits quite high, almost what you would expect if a small block (350 for example) replaced a big block (396)


http://i39.tinypic.com/svmm2g.jpg[/QUOTE

So the Palmer Monaro is the one that ends up in Steve Dymands hands. As is shown in this shot posted by Dale in the Mystery NZ racing photos thread.

19872

[John McKechnie]

Isnt it funny, the number plates absolutely give it away- well spotted. Glad I got this pic and posted it .

[Steve Holmes]

The front of the Camaro sits quite high, almost what you would expect if a small block (350 for example) replaced a big block (396)


http://i39.tinypic.com/svmm2g.jpg

Wow! What an awesome photo! Thanks guys.

[Bruce302]

That would have been an earlier HK 327 I believe.


Jim Palmer also ran a pale yellow/lemon Monaro too. He had a photo on the wall of his sale room of him coming over Rothmans at Pukekohe with a Jag alongside, Buchanan I think. Not a bad photo if I do say so myself!

[Steve Holmes]

This is by Ian Peak. Coppins is pictured in a drag race off the line with Red Dawson and Paul Fahey.

20000

[John McKechnie]

The front of the Camaro sits quite high, almost what you would expect if a small block (350 for example) replaced a big block (396)


http://i39.tinypic.com/svmm2g.jpg
Have just read Classic Car number 215 December 2008- article says that Spinner had imported a 1969 Camaro with a 6489cc (396 ci) top of the range, factory performance optioned motor in it, and was to be used in Standard Production races. Car was later sold to Australia according to my information source.

[Bruce302]

This is a cover of the Shell 100 saloon car race held at Levin Sept 16th 1972. Rod and his good friend Robin Tanner bought matching E 49 Chargers. Rod of course was very successful in production races.
This comes courtesy or markec (Mark Coultard)

http://i42.tinypic.com/2uzxez5.jpg

[Michael Clark]

I was discussing Rod just today - recalling it was 1983 that he died. The question came up - how old was he when he passed away?

[Bruce302]

Rod was born in '39, and was just 43 when he passed away.

Bruce.

[fullnoise68]

I was discussing Rod just today - recalling it was 1983 that he died. The question came up - how old was he when he passed away?

Rod was 43 years old when he died Michael, there are a couple of photos of his headstone earlier on in this thread.

[fullnoise68]

Sorry Bruce, we must have been answering at the same time!

[Steve Holmes]

Awesome shot here by Bill Pottinger, which Bill sent me after I posted the short article on Robbie Francevic's 427 Fairlane last week. This is at the Loop at Teretonga, in early 1968. Paul Fahey and Frank Bryan have just shot past in their Mustangs. Here Rod Coppins in the ex-Pete Geoghegan Mustang leads John Ward, Barry Phillips, Francevic in the big Fairlane, and Tony Lawrence (brother of Graeme).

20880

[fullnoise68]

Awesome shot here by Bill Pottinger, which Bill sent me after I posted the short article on Robbie Francevic's 427 Fairlane last week. This is at the Loop at Teretonga, in early 1968. Paul Fahey and Frank Bryan have just shot past in their Mustangs. Here Rod Coppins in the ex-Pete Geoghegan Mustang leads John Ward, Barry Phillips, Francevic in the big Fairlane, and Tony Lawrence (brother of Graeme).

20880

Steve, this must have been one of the last times John Ward raced this Cortina in NZ as he lost his life in it at Catalina Park in Katoomba NSW when him and Rod took both cars over to Aussie to race.

[Steve Holmes]

Yes absolutely right Steve.

[e49tonye49]

24245
Great thread for a great driver.

Be great to see some photos of his time in the Chargers - an E38, an E49, and perhaps even a brief stint in a VJ E48.

Found this old photo of Rod Coppins in his E38. Probably Pukekohe i think.

[Bryan]

24245

Found this old photo of Rod Coppins in his E38. Probably Pukekohe i think.
What's with the Hardie Ferodo 500 sticker - was this an ex-Bathurst car? And, if so, which one?

[John H]

What's with the Hardie Ferodo 500 sticker - was this an ex-Bathurst car? And, if so, which one?

I have a photo somewhere showing Rod Coppins racing a Formula Vee. He came in about 6-7- and like most 'top drivers', found how difficult they are to drive. 1973 Baypark I think. To his credit he gave it his best shot unlike a lot of others who just didn't proceed.

[rt6pack]

What's with the Hardie Ferodo 500 sticker - was this an ex-Bathurst car? And, if so, which one?

No it never ran at Bathurst, It is the third of 3 E38s ordered by Todd Motors to run as "Todd Team" The first 2 E38s went to Leo Leonard and Graeme Lawrence, Rod's one was delayed at the factory and didn't arrive in NZ until December 1971 (it is actually the second to last big tank E38 built).
As far as I can tell Rod ran the E38 in 3 meetings at Puke, twice at Baypark and once in Levin plus he used it to win the Gisborne Car Club Hillclimb in April 1972. He sold the car in July 72 and received the E49 in August

[Bryan]

Gisborne Photo News April 19, 1972 (http://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/issue/GPN214_19720419/fig-GPN214_19720419_045c.html)24253

[Bryan]

A list of stories from the Gisborne Photo News mentioning Rod Coppins can be found here (http://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/search/results?type=section&text=coppins).

[fullnoise68]

Thanks for posting the link Bryan, is it possible to buy a CD in pdf format or similar of those articles if that is an archive type library?

[Bryan]

Thanks for posting the link Bryan, is it possible to buy a CD in pdf format or similar of those articles if that is an archive type library?

Photo collection at Tairawhiti Museum/H B Williams Memorial Library, Gisborne District Council, contact and order details here (http://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/about.html)

[fullnoise68]

Thanks for that.

[bry3500]

Gisborne Photo News

[bry3500]

Gisborne Photo News