Photo Of Molly & Ernie at Timaru home with good mate Mike Hill he is the guy that helped with the SCANZ car , this was a trip to levels one of many trips home .. xmas meeting early 90,s
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Photo Of Molly & Ernie at Timaru home with good mate Mike Hill he is the guy that helped with the SCANZ car , this was a trip to levels one of many trips home .. xmas meeting early 90,s
I love this photo! Whose is the beautiful looking '69 Firebird? Is that Brian Crosbie?Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwi285
Steve that is Brian in the firebird ..... to the right is Leo the car they had just won the B&H in .......beaut photo .. Hey Steve Mike & I would like to add some piks never seen here you have them down there , when you get time we would love to re group them & ad a few more ..... Thank mate Grant
Great photo, never seen that one before.
Just had a look at Teretonga 25 and the only race date for the front trio was 31/10/70.
Times for grid positions....
L. Leonard 1.22.1
E. Sprague 1.22.5
B. Crosbie 1.22.6
J. Kennedy 1.23.6
R. Empson 1.25.1
I think that R. Homewood Cortina GTE is two behind Ralph Empson!
Any one notice the rear of the VIP bonnet:cool: lol
Here are some more of Grants photos.
http://i60.tinypic.com/bhhcur.jpg
Grant and Alby off the grid at Pukekohe And a trick cylinder head from the Anglia.
http://i60.tinypic.com/34ysqyc.jpg
Mk I Cortina at Levels
http://i61.tinypic.com/2r7xa1u.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/2zj9iqr.jpg
opps Did not mean to put the one of Kylie & I here as it was a few photos thrown at my good friend Mike as we were in a race [Mans Cave] last week & past them to Mike in a rush &asked PLEASE put these on the link rush rush rush [That's me ]..but guess its ok ......Kylie Is my beautiful wife so this was taken a about 150 years ago ..pretty then & still pretty ........ as for the other piks we will pick through them later ............... ANY questions are welcome NO BIGGY
Leo used to run a 1500 Crusader, is that him next to the Cortina?
Grant, I tried to pm you a number of times a couple of months back but your post box was always full, your lady Kylie looked after my brother Clive's funeral in Tauranga in July. She's a ripper, very genuine and couldn't have been more helpful, even drove the hearse (a Ford as well!). Our family was very grateful for her work, please pass on our thanks.
Grant, was that semi-down draught Weber set-up (post 127) made in NZ? Looks great!
Thank guys...... firstly..... Yes that is Leo next to Ernie ...on far side I think Ron McPhail........ the red mk one was bought as a burnt out wreck Dad & his mates turned it into a race car....... soon sold it then came the fast back Anglia.........GD66 sorry about post box I need to learn how to empty it.........my e mail grantsprague@Kinect.co.nz...feel free to make contact mate .. as for my Darling wife yes Kylie is very well respected in Tauranga & is a great asset to the place she works for, but getting tired of it as very draining emotionally......not only is she a fantastic funeral director she is a great mum & wife... I will pass that on thank you GD66...... Grant E that cylinder head was bought off our great mate [Mr FORD] Grant Fitzpatrick......[a meaty head] Kevin Bann [now part owner kelford cams] built that head , it was hard to keep together with little leaks here & there but when it worked it was good , I reverted back to normal head after a few races
Kinect with a small k........... kinect :confused:
Theres that little 'trick' again GrantQuote:
Originally Posted by Grant Sprague
Ha ha Rod [hope u ok bro ??] as for the air pressure release .... Bruce Mc cut holes in front of bonnet, Ernie [& a few Auckland boys] lifted the rear of bonnet :cool:.....I love physics.... Dad,s fathe,s his name was Newton Sprague thats another story ..but a good one
Ha ha Rod [hope u ok bro ??] as for the air pressure release .... Bruce Mc cut holes in front of bonnet, Ernie [& a few Auckland boys] lifted the rear of bonnet :cool:
Will get there Grant. Snuck onto computor for quick look at Roaringseason, looks like a bit to read and catch up on.
Now 'Newton', that starts to explain a few things cobber.
Also giggle at 'tent' at Bay Park.
Here are a few more photos from Grant's photo album.
A young Grant with Mk II Escort taken at Teretonga in February 1981
http://i57.tinypic.com/1zeci1t.jpg
Teaming up with Aaron Harris at Pukekohe in November 1999
http://i58.tinypic.com/x29a4m.jpg
A couple more taken at Pukekohe in Nov 99
http://i58.tinypic.com/wsjn6f.jpg
Another shot of that great Mustang at the NZ Trans Tasman 1999
http://i62.tinypic.com/2le48dc.jpg
Thank you Mike for adding these, Aaron Harris {BMW} is a good young man & was good to team up with him as we were same build & weight, he had just won the mazda series & his Dad Rex & him got this car [ex Craig Baird] off Lyall what they did not know was the shocks were screwed up to hard & was a damn hand full through the right hander [turn one ]it would skip out to the grass one photo here does not show it that well but two wheel in the air an other with four with air under them I will see if I can locate it , had the shocks been tuned more I recon we would have had an easier drive , I tested the car at manfield the car was good through flat turns & no bumps my job was to co drive & not get involved in set up made that easy for me as left that to Aaron & Rex , we entered the car at Puke under my sponsors name Supply Services ......was a big field , I think by memory we finished 5th or 6th out right no match for Craig & Jas in the later newer spec BMWs half way through the race it rained hard only to catch out the quicker v 8s.....which helped us up the leader board..we had this car booked to do the 2000cc 2500cc class at bathurst [not the big bathurst race] the organizer pulled the pin with a month to go........
The pre 65 Mustang was a gem of a car I was blessed to have had the full package ...it did not start out that way though , hard work like most of you know get you results , it was a mid field car pretty basic from the SI I bought it after I was prodded in the neck from Tim Prentice [supply services] to up my anti promised by support..we rebuilt the car to make it work better re stopping , turning ,weight horse power etc etc BUT ... I felt bad after we blew up our first new roller engine at manfeild while leading race two all of a sudden I thought s....t now what ..most of you have been there done that but in those days a good 289 with pre historic rules mods to get hp cost between 25 & 40k.was ridiculous .. with the Mallory metal used to do an internal crank balance etc could have bought a steel crank , solving issues the v8s were having [not to mention the feeble 289 block [casting ].. we were reving the poor little thing to 7800 in all gears .to get speed & lap times needed for champion ships & keep sponsors happy .....but the block & cranks were not up to speed , NOW they have seen the light and use different cranks & blocks .......in the day I ran[ the then committee] were not interested in listening ...to the problem thank god for the mustangs etc to day they run different blocks & cranks .a bit late at waking up.......the car after a few years went back to the south island ..........
Here are some more photos from the Sprague family albums
Grant and Albi in close formation at Manfield
http://i61.tinypic.com/2ywzq1f.jpg
Ernie in the Mk III replica at Levels 1988
http://i57.tinypic.com/ae4711.jpg
Ernie in the original Mk III with Kerry Grant at Levin
http://i57.tinypic.com/23udicg.jpg
Ray Archibald, Ernie and Ian Dow (?) at Ruapuna
http://i58.tinypic.com/28bemmf.jpg
Ernie and Ray hard at it - hairpin Ruapuna
http://i61.tinypic.com/rwnq82.jpg
Ernie at Teretonga 1967
http://i59.tinypic.com/ors5c0.jpg
Thank you Mike.... you can see the early developement of the rep MK3 with a big lean on .......I am sure the car is in the north island , does any one know of its where abouts please.... I think it would be great to see it at H D in Jan
Hi Grant, It is in the ownership of Keith Tunnicliffe here in Feilding. Not sure of his plans but I can wander down to his favourite watering hole on Friday night and ask if he is planning to go to HD. Cheers, Bruce
Thank you Bruce ........ Dale was wanting a few of us with connections to a bit of history on old prominent cars [they dont need to be driven just displayed is ok ] & some history of family to do a bit of a draw card to connect this with the public ....... I will keep you posted thank again ... Grant
I will have a chat with him on Friday night and come back to you Grant. That sounds like a good idea of Dale's.....anything to interest the punters and display history is good for the cause. Cheers..
Here are a couple more photos. I have some more to scan yet.
Ernie and Leo at Levels.
http://i58.tinypic.com/6h4awl.jpg
Erne in the 4 CLT at Wigram
http://i58.tinypic.com/24pcvq1.jpg
Thank you Mike ........... these old racing cars [2 of Ernies the P3 & 4CLT] are now worth muilty Millions ........ some one asked Dad , "how do you feel knowing what you had are worth a fortune" Dad,s reply with a grin said; "if you keep looking back you get a sore neck".....[dont live in the past ]....good message in this ...... for a wise man to ponder .......in my view these are just cars [THINGS] just enjoy the ride & have fun .......no roof racks or tow balls on the hearse :D
.
Some more for the collection.
Grant hill climbing the Anglia
http://i58.tinypic.com/23tp8p4.jpg
Grant in his Escort Sports
http://i61.tinypic.com/2prg4g2.jpg
Jamie, Grant and Lester at Taupo 1987
http://i62.tinypic.com/mt2tfs.jpg
Gary in a Fiat 125T at Levin - really got some attitude going
http://i61.tinypic.com/kbqhzl.jpg
Ernie and Gary with the Mk IV Zodiac - race winners
http://i60.tinypic.com/24vtpxu.jpg
The Anglia was at a south island hill climb my car was called the road runner.....had alloy panels for this climb , I was 17 & just bought new webbers off Dennis Marwood , the car was a little rocket.. [well seemed like it lol]
Escort Sport series........started off MMmmm a learning curve.......but learnt quick as the guys in front were more street wise ....soon got my s..t to gether
& joined the ranks they called this series the $10,000 stock car series.....if you did not give a hit back you were doomed ..I was not doomed lol
Scanz .... following the master of sports cars...Jamie the man
Gary doing what he does best ........I think this was a long distance race at Levin teamed with Barry Cottle & won this race ..in those days with [nz homolagted] cars it was pretty big time was part of the B&H series
Dad & big Brother at Puke .........with a grin ..was not easy fronting up to the big boys like Giltrap etc ..Ernie was never phased .......money is an illusion [maya] ?? but it helps to balance the package ....... I often recall people saying oh "they win because they have more money" lol , I thought geeeeee wake up........the tall poppy word became a house hold name & the green eyed monster was looking up lol :rolleyes:
Love that pic of the Zephyr at Levin Grant! Looks like a Jack Inwood job.? I have a large photo of it at Levin on my den wall.I'm sure the same race and and about the same place on the track, as the same dent on the rear panel is there.I have also always wondered if the car had the same gear set up as the road car ie steering column or floor change.The engine must have been modified somewhat too?
A few more photos.
Molly modelling the latest Citroen
http://i57.tinypic.com/1r6rki.jpg
Grant after a session behind the wheel.
http://i61.tinypic.com/2hp7yc1.jpg
The Saker Tull built by Bruce Turnbull
http://i60.tinypic.com/9h3uhf.jpg
Pre-65 field at Taupo
http://i57.tinypic.com/1z8329.jpg
Grant being hounded by Dean Perkins at Taupo
http://i58.tinypic.com/2iben9e.jpg
Grant and Albi in close formation at Taupo
http://i59.tinypic.com/27y8w1i.jpg
Hilstwist.....I would say the steering in those days were hit & miss....more of a hit ...heavy oil in shocks cut down springs & double sway bars .. I was only 10 here re this pik , Jack's photo is very sharp a very clean one at that ....... if you look close Kerrie had a little over steer ...the Hillman way back is going side ways as it is entering this corner .... Ernie,s car has got the right attitude like 100% for those days .....as for the steering ... I recall very basic .......but floor change jag gear box 4 speed floor change I recall engine had plenty of hp for it,s day
some more from the albums
Grant leading Angus at Wellington
http://i60.tinypic.com/2dj2fzo.jpg
Grant hill climbing the XU-1 at Craigmore
http://i57.tinypic.com/5uehrr.jpg
Grant in the XU-1
http://i57.tinypic.com/14cqzpx.jpg
Racing the Fiat in the GTX Championship 1974
http://i61.tinypic.com/2dua3c4.jpg
Another shot of the Fiat
http://i58.tinypic.com/2iboiky.jpg
These were great little cars ....Steve Emson being the North Island man me the South ....only probs were the odd head gasket [over heating] or syncros due to fast changing ....... nothing has really changed ..same rules still apply ............the trick was to have lose seat belts ....move over the other side [automatic corner weights]....I see some piks of Steve leaning same way lol
If you you did not lean over the other side....the car would fall over as mine did & Steve,s just about did.........:rolleyes:
Designed for right hand tracks Grant, be good at Manfield, Puke, gee amazing how many left hand track when you get into them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grant Sprague
Probably being driven not quite as designed :cool:
Attachment 26816I guess you mean these photos.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grant Sprague
I think it is fair to say that you and me Grant were the two quickest drivers in these cars. With all the lap records we held between us that kind of backs that up.
I put that down to our extremely quick fathers we both hung around as kids. Monkey see monkey do!
Oh,................we never had any head gasket problems, you must have planned the s&^% out of yours
Ha Ha!
yet some more photos
Gary in an E49 Charger
http://i57.tinypic.com/106hk0p.jpg
Gary in the Twincam Escort
http://i59.tinypic.com/14iq0av.jpg
Gary in the Matich workshop
http://i60.tinypic.com/30bp53s.jpg
Grants eulogy to Ernie
http://i60.tinypic.com/nozh1f.jpg
A couple of Ernie's great cars
http://i58.tinypic.com/xdtw83.jpg
lol Steve.... I do recall an issue of over heating at Teretonga.......... a head gasket was replaced & off to Levin we went ....only to find out after we practiced & raced [dnf,s] Ernie was not happy , the temp gauge went off the dial only to find out it was a radiator , that's probably the reason ....ummmm did you blow a head gasket at Manfeild ....might have been the Datsun 1600 but did read that some where hehehheheeh....... was over at the mount last week what did I see parked out side a wrecking yard on display A FIAT128 lol , I thought of you right away....they look so pre historic but yes we extracted the best out of them they just reved & never really broke .....golden years eh Steve..............., I have a couple of friends in historic muscle cars trying to entice me back in ,me like you had support from friends etc those have now moved on so would find it very testing to find the time to do it properly not to mention finding the other support $$ the only way to do it is to do it properly ....
I read that somewhere also, however do not remember it. It would have been a Datsun 1200 coupe which was 1300cc and racing against Dennis Marwood who had a 120Y. Those were very quick cars, you would have enjoyed them. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Regards to all,
Steve