Not sure of the date - could be 1959 or 1960
Attachment 58280
Printable View
Not sure of the date - could be 1959 or 1960
Attachment 58280
I have the same cutting. It was Sunday, December 13 1959, the day after Bruce McLaren won the United States Grand Prix at Sebring. Not really the day after, due to the time difference, only about 7 or 8 hours later.Quote:
Originally Posted by Milan Fistonic
Brother and I were there - there was also an Auckland Car Club meeting at Ardmore the previous day, but the family car wasn't always available for motor race jaunts, so I missed that one.
Stu Buchanan
[QUOTE=Milan Fistonic;68162]Not sure of the date - could be 1959 or 1960
QUOTE]
I have the same cutting. It was Sunday, December 13 1959, the day after Bruce McLaren won the United States Grand Prix at Sebring. Not really the day after, due to the time difference, only about 7 or 8 hours later.
Brother and I were there - there was also an Auckland Car Club meeting at Ardmore the previous day, but family car wasn't always available for motor race trips, so we missed that one.
Stu Buchanan
Another piece of NSCC History from Milan Fistonic -[ not sure if posted here already- don't think so !! ]
*** correction see post #196 = my bad Milan..
Article from NZ Herald on the Monday January 18th 1960
Some stalwarts of NSCC there Phil Ornstein, Ken Sager and some of those names became more famous ; I Dawson, A Woolf, D Marwood et al ..
I would imagine that Trevor Sheffield was there, on the day.
Attachment 58364
NSCC meeting at the Ardmore Club Circuit in 1960
Attachment 58367
Thanks to Milan Fistonic for this piece from the " 8 O'CLOCK " the Saturday night Sports Paper - published by the Auckland Star .. remember my Dad rushing off to get it from the local dairy firstly in Herne Bay - when it was early and when we moved to New Lynn, was well after 8 O'Clock.
Some great names here at an event at Ardmore .. I didn't realise until recently that both ACC and NSCC ran events at Ardmore - that it wasn't just the Grand Prix venue ..
Attachment 58453
More from Milan Fistonic, posted on Old New Zealand Motor Racing - Fb page . I am " borrowing " your stuff again, Thanks
" https://www.facebook.com/groups/4293...81897/?fref=nf "
Article from the newspaper 16 January 1960 - could be date of the event.
Too Young to know !! well was 12 and already into Cars in a big way. Looking at and having Dinky Toys, Matchbox Toys.
Did meet Jim Sager, Kens Dad in 1967 at the Edendale School Hall at an NSCC meeting and film evening - well before the Mt Richmond Clubrooms.
Attachment 58480
Attachment 58479
Those are rare photos of the Mermaid which Graeme Meekings had!
Reposting these articles and photos from " Club Torque " of the first Hill Climb at Cosseys Farm, Drury with a photo of " Tomato " one of the cars that achieved FTD .. at 1.minute 1.2 [ 61.2 seconds ] see that later on [ later events ] Ross Hollings in Mini-Max did 54 seconds at some stage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
Here is " Tomato " - with Alan Boyle and a few trophies !!.
Attachment 58860
The FTD times were in directly proportion to the amount off cow dung on the staring pad (concrete cowshed entrance) and whether it was dry or wet. Comparison between meetings are highly suspect. I recall on one occasion waiting for what appeared to be hours trying to get traction when driving my 1275 Mini Cooper. Shit of a day for FWD. LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
Thanks Trevor, remember it well, start uphill, in the Cow Dung then onto the loose metal .. first time for me was in an 850cc Mini in 1971 - next a Mark 3 Sprite '75-76 , then a Triumph GT6 76 - 78, and finally the Triumph TR4A 1978 and in the 1979/80 " Bardahl " series ..Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor Sheffield
The Track ; posted before - showing the " Cow Dung " start, those sharp turns and there was a big " yump " by the gate near the top. Photo from a Newspaper article, which I still have - it has yellowed over the years [ 1967 - 2018 ].
Attachment 58865
As I recall, one of. the Cossey family owned a Riley Brooklands replica and I think later an E type, but was seldom seen within the car club fraternity. He did not compete in the hillclimb except for maybe once.
At the time I was no longer part of the NSCC committee so was not in contact with the Cosseys and this aspect always intrigued me. I had the feeling of a Woolf in sheep's clothing hiding from view.
Have found [ located ! ] a couple more photos of the Bugley - and a bit more of its History.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
" .The car is / was known as the " Bugley " - Bugatti chassis cut down and the Riley engine, the man sitting in the car at the time is my Late Uncle Jack Boot, and the car in the race is being driven by Ron Roycroft who drove it for Jack Boot the car was with the Roycrofts both A J and Ron for a while.-previously belonging to Arthur Dexter. known as the Bugatti-Riley or Riley-Bugatti Midget, depending on whose info you read.. some of this from my Uncle Eddie Dowding, Jack Brother-in-law, Ed passed away early this years aged 98 . Jack passed away in the later 1940's around 46/47. I believe.. There is mention of the car in the Graham Vercoe Books, and also in Scott Thomson's Biography of Ron Roycroft. "
My Late Uncle Ed believed that Jack acquired the car " not later than 1943 " - note he wrote for me back in 1991.
Arthur Dexter had A J Roycroft build [ cut the down to a Midget ] the car in 1937. It was quite successful with both Dexter and Roycroft.
This is now found to be incorrect.
Arthur Dexter [ R A Dexter the son of R A Dexter ] built the car by cutting down a Bugatti T23 Chassis that was owned by A J Roycroft and raced by him at Muriwai - more to come on the cars History and the connection with Jack Boot then Morrie Proctor
Here two photos of the car at Huntly with Ron Roycroft driving, the other car is Ron Rutherford in the RGR Special another Midget - photographer unknown but the two car photo appears in Graham Vercoes Book.
The photos date from 1944 - 45 period.
Attachment 59034
Attachment 59035
Not only TRS members " Trevor S Ross H and Kevin H " and more - and a lot NSCC members too !!
From Milan Fistonic - posted on " Gentleman Jim Richards "Fb page .
Photos
the drivers
" Clockwise from top left. G22, Jim Boyd; B30, Jim Richards;E34, Shack Manon; H55, Arthur Hopkins; A10, Ted Dutch; H14, Peter Bruin. "
Attachment 59036
The results - entry list
Attachment 59037
Showing the photo again - It appears in Allan Dick's column [ pages ] in the latest Classic Driver magazine - his column is called " Burning a Grey Pipe ".
Notation with the photo [ quote ]
" Hennings Speedway in Auckland or is it Gloucester Park ? No indication which,but in the thirties and Ron Roycroft in the Riley Midget goes under one of the Sutherland Brothers who is very determined as he pumps up pressure in the fuel tank. The crowd is close ".
Allan has noted elsewhere, [ copied in notes below ] that he was unaware of car Club activity during the war - with #1, Northern Sports Car Club starting in 1942 and being formally recorded Officially as October 1943, and the racing at Huntly in 1944 and 1945. We all learn .. Sadly cannot ask people involved at that time as not many still with us.
The RGS is now owned by Mal Parsons and was originally Ron or Merv Sutherlands Car
Mal writes " Allan [ Dick ] I did some research & spent a couple of days in the Huntly library a year or 3 back & was able to read the local papers report on the AGM then the first meeting at the track. Merv Sutherland is the driver of 75. I acquired the photo off the previous owner in 2002 "
- The Bugley is as it appears was when Jack Boot owned it and Ron raced for him - the car was built originally by A J Roycroft for Arthur Dexter in 1937
*** - correction - Car was created by Arthur R A Dexter from the Bugatti T32 chassis of A J Roycroft that Dexter cut down and then fitted a Riley motor - there is a photo from Ron Roycroft collection in the book " Flat to the Boards " ( FttB ) by A R E " Dick Messenger [ the late Dick Messenger ] and Douglas E Wood - published in 1985 - Dick Messenger passed away in 1980 and Douglas Wood completed the book from his research # photo of the car when Arthur Dexter built it now attached Has Race #2 on it as in later photos
Attachment 70359
[ new information added 13th September 2021 ]
and looked a bit different then, compared with the photo taken in 1944.
There is a photo in either the Scott Thomson Roycroft book or one of Graham Vercoe's books, [ away from my archives today - will correct if required ] of the Bugley as Dexter had it in the late 1930's. ** photo from FttB above.
The cover of the FttB book thanks to " Hotrod1 " for the recently acquired copy
Attachment 70360
I believe that the photo is actually at Huntly where the Bugley often raced and probably 1944 at the earliest.
Jack Boot - according to his brother in law Eddie Dowding [ my late Uncle - they both were my Uncles actually married sisters ], Jack purchased the car no later than 1943 - a comment he wrote on a piece of paper that he put in my copy of the Graham Vercoe book [ It is still in there at the page with the Bugley details ].
Mal Parsons as noted now owns the Sutherland car and believes it is at Huntly in 1944 . Mal is a member of the Vintage Speedway Drivers Club.
Mal's comment when he posted the photo
" Bottom pic is taken at the Huntly speedway March 1944 (I think) I will add pic of it racing against the car i now own. Photographer unknown. " the below pic is the one Mal added ;
Allan Dick responded " l posted this photo somewhere recently . I thought it was Hennings Speedway and l thought the other car was one of the Sutherland brothers. I do not know who the photographer is either but l have had the photograph for a long time. It is the second time this week l have been surprised to learn there was motor racing activity in NZ during the war. "
Attachment 59117
2021 - now have a copy of the book, " Flat to the Boards " only took ten years from knowing about it in 2011.
Some more information - from Mal Parsons who now owns the restored car #75 the Sutherland car..Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
Huntly Speedway opened in 1944 as seen on this programme cover
The event run by the " Huntly Motor Racing Club " on 12th March 1944 - will try to find if Mal has the entries listings.
Attachment 59260
Mals car #75 in a group at the recent " Galaxy of Cars " in Auckland 2018
Attachment 59261
As an aside - When I sold my Austin Healey 100 - the 1953 BN1 in 1995 [ having purchased it in 1982 ] It went to one of the Elliott Boys, Lance Elliott a panelbeater of some note and restorer of a few Speedway Midgets.
Lance restored my Healey, but I have not seen the result.
As a result of being in contact with Mal Parsons I have found out that Lance passed away recently, as had his wife. Brother Roger Elliott a talented Motor Trimmer Upholsterer, ran a business in Newton beside Lance's Panelbeating workshop in Newton - From memory the two businesses were at the blind end of Abbey Street, of Gundry Street which Abbey St crossed..
Roger and Mal are still in contact. Am hoping to find out more of the #75 and other Midgets, and the whereabouts of " My ALEX the RED " the RED " LX 100 " ..
Seen here in Havelock North - outside the Motor Camp / Holiday Park that the AH Car Club of New Zealand held its Easter 1984 Rally, the car had been tidied up bodywise, but still on the 14inch Hotwire Mags and the " ID9783 " Registration that dated from 1977 when re-registered and put back on the road by Roy Cooney from Cooks Beach, Coromandel.
Attachment 59262
Side shot with my American Mate Wayne Brown in the car at the Gymkhana ..
Attachment 59263
This is a picture of Ron Sutherland in his midget from a Wheelspin magazine dated April 1953.
Attachment 59271
Attachment 59272
Milan, with your permission will pass that image and text on to Mal Parsons - the cars current owner.Quote:
Originally Posted by Milan Fistonic
Cheers and merry Christmas
Roger D.
Another item from Milan Fistonic - from ACC's " Bulletin " **
The first time the Club Circuit was used in October 1966 - when the track was added to by a section from the " Elbow / Stables " corner, just after the start, to the " Railway "corner - that section was run in reverse when club circuit was used.
The Northern Sports Car Club ran the first meeting in October - this is from the second meeting - the First by Auckland Car Club
[ correction ** I got my details confused ]
Cars BIG and small, from Mini's and Sprites to the huge Chevrolet Impala, and all sorts in between.
Attachment 59382
Attachment 59383
The 1967 New Zealand International Grand Prix used the the smaller circuit 1.75 miles - created when the link was completed. previously the now " Full " circuit was 2.2 miles.
I gave all my Blue covered magazines to be recycled in about 1984/85 - was a member from February 1967 until end of the 1979/80 Club year but never had this issue, as before my time.
NO Roger. it's not from NSCC's Club Torque. It's from the December 1966 Auckland Car Club Bulletin.
The Pukekohe Club Circuit was opened in 1966. NSCC held a meeting on October 22 and the Auckland Car Club's first use of the track was on November 12. The results and some photos from that day.
Sorry I didn't make it clear in my original post that it was the ACC meeting in November.
Milan, Thanks I picked that up from your post on Old New Zealand Motor Racing and have corrected - thanks always for your interesting Motorsport History information -Quote:
Originally Posted by Milan Fistonic
Cheers
Roger D.
This is the Motorman report of the first meeting held on the Club Circuit. It was run by the NSCC on October 22, 1966.
Attachment 59386
This is from the ACC Bulletin of July 1966 and shows that the NSCC financed the construction of the new stretch track to establish the Club Circuit. It must have been completed in good time as that first meeting was held a week before the suggested date of October 29.
Attachment 59387
A bit more information about Midget No 75 in Post 216.
This is from the first issue of a magazine called NZ No 1 in Speedway and dates from 1981.
Attachment 60182
Attachment 60183
Milan - Thanks, must pass that information on !!
Posted recently on the Ken H thread " Old Programmes, movies and memories from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies. " by IKE.
The comment is about some photos of mine from that event with details of cars and drivers - plus other information.
Here is the comments and the photos added-
" This is in reply to the post on ...PAGE 17 .... 30.08.2015 by Roger Dowding & 31.08.2015 By Milan Fistonic
The Meeting is from 1968
Pukekohe Club Circuit .....Sept 1st 1968 Northern Sports Car Club
Photo # 1 (top working down)
My old album, has part of a program listing
#61 as Brian Pellow--- Brabham
#4 is Graeme Morley----ex McRae U2
# ? Could be M Mc Donald ----Mini Minus Special or R Duirs MER
# 3 is Rob Allen .Spencer Allen Motors- Manurewa / Begg & Allen Manuewa ---- Almen Formula Vee
# 6 is Ivan Berry, No Number on the nose --- Ike Formula Vee
Photo #1,
Attachment 60892
Photo # 2
# 6 is Ivan Berry's Ike Vee ----This Vee was the 2nd in the country after Barry Munro. The Ike Vee was built in Australia in 1966
by the owner Ivan Berry. The car was a copy of an Elfin space frame chassis, The body was an a altered Elfin body also built by the owner. The car was raced in Victoria at various tracks before
being shipped to N.Z. mid 1967.
# 3 is Rob Alens Almen Vee.
Photo #2 - with myself kneeling behind the first car and my Mates standing beside Rog Allport and Ron Lucka.
Attachment 60893
Photo # 4 answer by Milan Fistonic
The photo of the advertisment "FORMULA V DEVELOPMENT" The photo used by Ken McQueen Motors in the Add was
taken by Jack Inwood for "Motorman Magazine" at a track test for an article published in the January 1968 issue of
Motorman... The photos used in the add is being driven by the Editor of Motorman Don Anderson.
Ken McQeen motors sponsored the "Ike Vee" for the 1967/68/69 season and used the chassis design as the basis for the subsequent
McQueen Vee. Ivan Berry was supplying the bodies, seats and windscreens for the McQueen Cars.
Photo #4 The McQeen Formula V - Advert.
Attachment 60894
Some other memories.......
Peter Bruin ...Bright yellow Cooper Vincent was always competing ..... Dark Blue overalls - Red Helmet!
Ken Flashman... Went on to drive a Formula Vee for Lynn Motors in a "Rebel Vee"...... Ken was unfortunate to damage his hand badly in the intake fan of the VW motor. "
These photos were posted also on the Pukekohe thread - and comments were added - must compare notes and add here.
Notes by Ross Hollings " AHH memories, Minimax on back of grid with Ken Flashman in the ex Peter Bruin Cooper Vincent.The U2 drivers name escapes me but will come when the brain electrodes join up!! [These comments relate to the dummy grid photo.] Have actually seen an 8mm film of this race,film exists in Australia with Doug Wentworth.
Just read other posts,Yes Graeme Morley ,should read before I type,did not realise i raced against it again when i had the Humber 80 Special.! " who went on to Race and Hill Climb the MiniMax
Thanks to IKE Ross Hollings and "Oldfart " Rhys for comments
With regards to the MER ; Rhys wrote this " The "Mini Special" looks very MER like to me, could also be Les Reisterer? He had the first one of several built by Matamata Engineering. "
I can now accurately date the photos.
Attachment 61086
Photo from a Motorman Magazine [ before I started to buy them - that was in 1964 ] - thanks to Graham Woods for his extensive archives.
Note added August 2022.
The Road used at Paparimu, in the Hunuas - I am unsure of - in that period -1963
The Club was using Ostrich Farm Road, Pukekohe in late 1961 - 11th October 1961 there was an event.
By February 1965 the road used by NSCC for Hill Climbs was Birdwood Road, Massey, which I understand was used in 1964 also.
Some photos from Milan Fistonic of Bob Homewood and Roy Harrington were from Birdwood Road Hill Climb in 1964 [ or 1965 ].
May find out more next weekend when i see people at the Anniversary Celebrations and go through some Club Torque magazines
as an aside, Bob Homewood - who also has a large archive, has some more information [ images and writings ] about the circuit at Seagrove - the area that was an airfield during World War Two - situated on the South side of the Manukau Harbour near Karaka.
It was used in 1948 - 49, and perhaps later !!.
Bob was a member of NSCC for many years, before I joined and after.
At certain times of the year the layout of Seagrove is quite visible from the air.
Milan Fistonic - posted these recently - a bit more of Motoring History, and would be a connection with NSCC ..
Would be mid/late ?? 1950's with Bruce in the Austin Seven, and Ralph Watson running the BSA Special, which is still around.
Names of drivers are on the photos - includes Phil Kerr, who was with McLaren - the Man and the Company !!
Attachment 61097
Attachment 61098
1951 - 56 Number Plates, in both photos - White on Black with a - , - comma symbol
Plates from the period 1940 - 41 last of the Annual Plates to 1961 -66 last of the 5 year plates
[ 1965 as permanent plates were introduced in 1964 and 1965 - depending on the vehicle Class ( Car Truck Bus Motorcycle Trailer etc ) .]
Attachment 73039
As I recall the Muriwai hill climb was an exclusive Auckland Car Club venue and was not used by the NSCC. Most competitors at that time belonged to both clubs and the fees were very moderate.
Our family owned a farm between Muriwai and Bethels in late 50s , early 60s.
I can remember bike scrambles and bent sprints on our roads
...Oaia Rd, Taipa Rd and Constable Rd
Comment by Kelvin Brown [ unsure if a relation ] posted on the Bucklers Fb page.
Gordon was a regular competitor in NSCC events in the 1940's / 50's.
" Our old friend Gordon Brown was interviewed on Radio NZ this morning a very positive person, he features in a book written on NZ centurions " Keepers of History " by Hollis. Gordon spoke of his life and automotive history including building cars and winning the first race with a Buckler in NZ. He was born in 1915 and on his 100th birthday drove some laps of the Hampton Downs track in a Lamborghini, still has licence but is considering giving up driving. An inspiration for us older folk eh ! ".
Had not heard of the book - must look that up ..
Believe Gordon never found his cars - a post from some 3 years ago !!
Attachment 61163
Moving this thread to the fore - as I have added more information to the first post - clarifying and correcting some details of dates names, places etc as I have found out more information.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
Some later posts have also been updated.
Enjoy !
Roger,
Would you please advise regarding this text which includes the word "infamous":-
Lawrie Powell [ the well known Ford V8 driver and later the infamous Starter at Pukekohe ]
On the basis of technique and knowledge, Lawrie was the one and only expert starter. He took the job very seriously and no one ever got the better of him. Controversial yes, but never infamous or unsporting. Sadly on many occasions celebrities and fools messed up an important duty.
Trevor the comment was intended with the highest respect for Lawrie, whom I knew casually when involved with NSCC in late 1960's [ 1967 ] though to the early 1980's ; By then I was more involved with the Classic Car movement.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor Sheffield
He was as you state he was an expert so perhaps the word " famous " would have been a better comment.
Obviously very well regarded as did ACC NSCC and NZIGP events over those many years.
Cheers
Roger
P.S. have edited the Original post to "famous "..
Brian Ferrabee who is an announcer at Lakeside and obviously a Car enthusiast found this Gem on the Lycoming.
Sports Car World February 1967 ;
Fits in with posts #131 and #132 on this thread the " Sport Car Talk " article.
The photo of Jim in action - Chamberlain Road Hill Climb - the Auckland Car Club venue for many years from the 1960's on..
Attachment 62784
Attachment 62785
The SCT 1984 Annual Magazine Cover
Attachment 62786
Perhaps the story needs to be together on a " Special " thread.. must see what has been posted.
I have this mag at my place
Unfortunately, the Daniel Tee article contains many inaccuracies particularly concerning the specifications relative to the Lycoming Special. This type of misinformation plagued the late Ralph Watson throughout his latter life.
However Jim Boyd, being the character that he was, is quite well covered. He was one of a kind.
A selection of photos on the NZ Skoda Rally Team. 1971 NZ Rally .. A rally with international Competitors - if not an actual International Rally
Extract from a History of the Silver Fern Rally
" https://silverfernrally.co.nz/history/ "
" A change of name in 1971 to the Heatway Rally saw New Zealand achieve some international status. There were 15 entries from outside NZ, and several local Dealer supported “manufacturer” teams. The NZ Motor Corporation had a team of Minis, with their lead driver Scot Andrew Cowan, while Todd Motors used Hillman Avengers, and there were plenty of Ford’s, Skoda’s and Holden’s. Australian pairing Bruce Hodgson and Mike Mitchell driving their MKII Lotus Cortina were the winners from Kiwi pairing Ralph Emson and Wayne Jones in a Holden Torana GTR-XU1. The event covered 3000km with 48 special stages, and ran from Auckland to Wellington over 6 days. "
Story from John Coker that was with the Colour photo's - A post on NZ Rallying History Facebook Page.
John Coker wrote
" Laurie Evans and Colin Waite are in the roof spotlight car. Team won the Manufacturer's prize on the 71 Heatway International, despite the orange car going 100 metres over a bank near Matawai and then rejoining under what we now know as Rally2 regulations. It was nick named the crumpled pumpkin! All three were pretty standard 110Ls with 50 horsepower, before the works built cars came for later years. "
A photo of the Team members from Kenneth Burnett ;
Attachment 64324
" Lots off stalwart NSCC members there. Colin Waite, Tom Grace, Graham Knight, Laurie Evans ".
Note by Rod Peat. Motorsport competitor, former Club Captain and later President Northern Sports Car Club, and Bus Driver.
Standing ; Colin Waite - 5th from left, Laurie Evans - Right - leaning on the Car
Sitting ; Tom Grace - 2nd from left, Graham Knight - Right.
A couple of others look familiar, but cannot remember the names. - will edit post as I find names.
" My late dad not in that shot but Grahame Boot team manager -"
Note by Alan Boot - never thought of it - maybe a connection to my Late Uncle Jack Boot - a founding member of the Club
I do remember the name Graham Boot, and knew Colin Waite, Laurie Evans, Tom Grace, Graham Knight and others from NSCC including Rod Peat and John Coker - Rod helped check a couple of my Car Trials including when I was co-plotter of the NSCC Castrol Trial in 1975.
One of the Cars had a huge off !!
Attachment 64325
But finished - amazingly :
Attachment 64326
Colour photos of the cars from John Coker - who was also an NSCC stalwart Trial and Rally Driver, and Skoda Rally Driver too !!.
The Team Cars ;
Attachment 64327
Attachment 64328
The middle car in the team photo became mine a bit after the rally. It was my only car, driving to school as a teacher, and everything else one did in a car! At least mine was one of the team cars, and that colour. It had a perspex shield over the lights which went quite soft if all the lights were turned on while not being driven. Known in the Huntly Car Club as "the Flying Dork", might have been me, might be the Skoda insignia.
I did 54 events, trials, gymkhanas, Kerepehi grasstrack etc and made an $8 profit.