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1499 Replies and 1,595,233 views - now 1501 Posts.
Thanks TRS people for following the Austin Healey Story on here;.
No recent photos so here is one that hasn't been seen before. A painting by Rich Massie, member for many years of the AH Club of Oregon. It is in the possession of Paul Rogers, whom I met in 1982 on the big Healey trip.
It is autographed by Geoffrey Healey, - signed in 1986 - who made a number of visits to AH Clubs in the USA, especially West Coast meetings, plus of course the Big One.
" 30th Anniversary of the Austin Healey " at Snowmass, Colorado - which features a lot on this thread.
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Sebring 1962: 3-Hour race - AH Mk.II Sprites - 9254WD 9251WD 9252WD 9253WD
Sebring 1962: 3-Hour race ;
Notes and photos - archives Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird.
" Sebring 1962: 3-Hour race. The drivers line up for the 'Le Mans' type start. Nearest the camera we have Stirling Moss, with Steve McQueen, Innes Ireland and Pedro Rodriguez behind in line astern.
Their respective alloy-bodied Mk.II Sprites - 9254WD, 9251WD, 9252WD and 9253WD sit waiting opposite. "
The start photo;
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The Sprite 9251WD 2nd in line was driven by Steve McQueen.
a few photos;
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a poor image with another of the team Sprites beside.
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The Sprite 9252WD [ the Innes Ireland car at Sebring ] was sold later and is here in 1964 driven by John Fenwick at a Hill Climb - believed to be Great Auclam.
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- another J Whitehouse-Bird archive image.
The Three Hour race was for smaller Sports Cars - under 1500cc I understand [ to be confirmed ] and was held ahead of the 12 Hour Race - known as the Florida 12 Hour Grand Prix of Endurance - for Sports Cars.
More to come on the background of these cars - especially 9252WD.
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Ex-works Healey, alloy-bodied, Mk.II Sprite - 9252WD.
Notes and photos from Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird.
" Privateer John Fenwick competing at the 1964 and 1965 Western-Super-Mare speed trials, in the ex-works Healey, alloy-bodied, Mk.II Sprite - 9252WD.
Sadly, not much is known about John Fenwick, or the circumstances surrounding his purchase of 9252WD.
- Healeys were usually quite choosy as to who purchased their cars.
The last known recorded 'sighting' of John driving 9252WD, was on 23rd July 1966, at the 5th Valance Hill Climb, organised by the Sevenoaks & District Motor Club. Thereafter, the Sprite, seemingly, disappears without a trace, until a few parts (one alloy door, a pair of adjustable rear shocks, a LSD, and the 1,098 c.c. XSP engine from 1963), inexplicably surface during the 1990s. "
The 1964 Sprints - at Western, must be a bit like the Brighton Speed Trials on the waterfront Concourse.
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1965 on the startline.
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Family connection with " Western-Super-Mare " my Dad came from there in 1929, to New Zealand.
Next up another of the Sebring Team cars - 9254WD at Nurburgring in 1963.
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Nurburgring 1000km Race 1963 - Mk.II Sprite - 9254 WD
9254WD
" Nurburgring 1000 Km. race 1963: The Donald Healey Motor Co Ltd enter the alloy-bodied Mk.II Sprite - 9254WD - with drivers Clive Baker and Christabel Carlisle.
Christabel later spoke of her drive:
“There was immense relief at having completed each lap safely, and seeing friendly faces as one watched for the pit signal. Another fleeting glimpse of them as one drove past again at the back of the pits, then out on one’s own again for the next fourteen miles.
There were awful ‘moments’ when I thought I had had it, but there were also the rewarding instances when I passed other cars. Somehow it had never entered my head that so small a car as a Sprite could pass anything in a big International race like this, but as I sailed past the odd Porsche or Jaguar I really felt immensely proud of the little Sprite, whose oil pressure and water temperature were as steady as a rock, and whose engine note never faltered.”
At the end, 9254WD finished second in class, and more impressively, seventeenth overall. The only cars ahead of them were seven Ferraris, four Porsches, a Lotus Elite, a Renault Alpine, two Dick Jacobs M.G. Midget coupes and an E-type Jaguar. "
- script from Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird, photos from his vast archives - posted on the " Sebring Sprite " Facebook group - worth a visit / look.
The photos;
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In the pits
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On track -who is driving ?
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Christabel Carlisle - a very capable driver, according to Clive Baker.
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Came across this image again - where the story starts with the 1962 Sebring Races the 3 hour for the Sprite Team of 4 and the 12 hour for the Big Healey 3000 cars.
All the cars on a Transporter. the plate 54FAC was part of the Team including 57FAC and others
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DHMC and BMC had quite a history at Sebring going back to the early 1950's - 1954 on and the 100S major effort in 1955, along with 100M and just 100 models.
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Nurburgring 1000km Race 1963 - Mk.II Sprite - 9254 WD
Nurburgring 1000km Race 1963 - Mk.II Sprite - 9254WD.
Another photo - Johnathan Whitehouse-Bird archives.
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Hopefully more will emerge !
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Austin Healey Club of British Columbia - based in Vancouver BC Canada
Came across these photos from Brian Coulter a BC Club Member since the 1970's.
It was the first photo, so I asked the question was Nell Holdstock there
- [ later Nell Donaldson - who came to live in NZ in the mid 1980's ].
The Club is officially The " Austin Healey Owners Association of British Columbia " - AHOABC.
Photo of the group on a trip to Vancouver Island - late 1970's as noted in the caption.
NKD743 a 100 Six at left - car features later in the thread - posts #1510 and #1511
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The answer was yes - and this photo.
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The Austin Healey 3000 is the Tri-carb model - produced only in 1961 - 62 before the reverted again to twin SU carburetors.
I have a couple of photos of the car in the USA / Canada in the 1980's [ the 1982 trip ] and several in New Zealand since.
Nell brought the car to New Zealand around 1984 / 85 ** - First Registered in NZ 28 September 1984 - and it has stayed here since.
" LU9368
Plate Type: Standard
Origin: NZ New
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: New
NZ First Registration: 28-Sep-1984 "
I last saw it at Tauranga in late March 2023 during the " 50th Anniversary of the Austin Healey Club of New Zealand Grand Tour ".
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A view from the rear is appropriate as have several photos taken like that. this 14 Sept 1982.
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Brian Coulter photos West Coast Meetings - Oregon Washington and British Columbia
From a recent post. #1506
" Came across these photos from Brian Coulter a BC Club Member since the 1970's.
It was the first photo, so I asked the question was Nell Holdstock there
- [ later Nell Donaldson - who came to live in NZ in the mid 1980's ].
Photo of the group on a trip to Vancouver Island - late 1970's as noted in the caption. "
Contacted Bran Coulter who had posted some more photos from the Vancouver Island trip and also sent me photos of meeting(s) at Eugene, Oregon and also some entitled West Coast Meet.
Brian has a 1962 AH 3000 Tri-carb that has been in the family a long time - unsure whether the car is in the photos but a Dennis Coulter is.
The AH Clubs in Oregon State, Washington State and British Columbia attended the " West Coast Meets " as they called them going back into the 1970's
Will gradually publish to 20 or so photos I have acquired.
For the moment, a photo of Donald Healey at a " West Coast Meet " - with a Lady - the Lady I do not know who ?
The location the photo note says " Van Isl " - so presume at a Vancouver island event in the late 1970's
The 3000 has a California plate
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As more details come to hand - people in the photos, owners of cars etc will add to the comments.
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AH Clubs Oregon State, Washington State and British Columbia " West Coast Meet "
AH Clubs Oregon State, Washington State and British Columbia " West Coast Meet ".
More photos from the Vancouver Island event; - photos Brian Coulter produced in his " Valhalla Images " name.
Brian was there with his father Dennis Coulter who is seen the earlier photo [ post #1506 ] of the two Healeys and people when they set off.
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The Concours line up all the noses -some bonnets up. 100 Six NKD743 first in line
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The cars at a Beach
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Gathered near a Tavern - Schooner Restaurant ? Healey people like food and beer / wine - fuel for the people. The 100M on the right owned by a Glen Cooper, the two tone 100 appears in the next photo.
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A 100 -
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More to come as I gather details on the cars and people.
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Plate NKD743 - Healey 100 Six at the Vancouver gathering
NKD743 a British Columbia plate - Austin Healey 100 Six at the Vancouver gathering.
The 100 Six featured in the concours lineup - first car in the second photo - previous post.
Car had an incident and required a bit of work at the event - a sequence of photos from Brian Coulter.
- damage to the rear " fender " door and rear wheel
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Presume the owner beside the car
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Working on the damage to the rear wheel
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Austin Healey Club T Shirts 1976 1984 1990.
Richard H Mayor from Portland Oregon has a T Shirt from the 1979 " West Coast Meet " held in Bend Oregon.
Reminded me of others shirts I have seen and owned.
the 1979 Shirt.
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The 1984 shirt from when the Austin Healey Club of Oregon came to New Zealand for the AHCCNZ Rally at Napier / Hastings at Easter as well as going the AH Club events in Australia. - Bryan Harris still has his shirt - his photo [ mine long gone.
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The Austin Healey Clubs T Shirt for the Conclave '90, 1990 at Blackhawk Farms, with a Race Meeting and gathering.
T Shirt in my possession, a gift from the late Rene Cades [ RIP ], who went to the event - we were in the USA and stayed with her for few weeks and looked after her dog for the few days she was away at the event.
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The T Shirt got worn in 2016 at the AH Club of Queensland Concours at Scarborough when we lived on Bribie Island, QLD. hardly worn since.
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Other AH Club shirts I gave to the AH Club in NZ in 2008 as moving to Australia - then we later came back in 2017, should have kept them.
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The Austin Healey Car Club of New Zealand - the 1980's T Shirt
Photo from the " 30th Anniversary of the Austin Healey " meeting at Snowmass, Colorado in July 1982.
Most of the Kiwi contingent that were at Snowmass - photo by Hans Nohr.
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Photo posted before with the names - from the Commemorative Book published after the event and sent to participants.
The T Shirt was Yellow. as seen in this Bernie Huynen [ RIP ] photo, from Snowmass.
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Frank Karl - back on, Ross Cammick and Mark Donaldson.
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Healey people Donald Mitchell Healey and Geoffrey Healey.
A couple more photos from the " West Coast Meets " in the late 1970's.
Geoffrey Healey beside the Richard H Mayor AH 3000, from Richard Mayor archives at the Bend Oregon meeting in 1979.
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Donald Healey with Nell Holdstock, who was a member of AHOABC - and its President for a time late 1970's early 1980's, before she came to live in New Zealand in 1984.
Unsure of the meeting but around 1979 [ Bend ] or 1980 at another City in the Pacific Northwest.
Photo appears on the AHOABC Facebook page - will inquire as the the photographer and the location.
Have established it was a bit later - the Meeting at Whistler BC in 1986 organised by the AHOABC, by that time Nell Holdstock was living in New Zealand
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Donald Healey among some people no AH cars at a " West Coast Meet " - noted as being at Eugene Oregon by photographer Brian Coulter
- presume the same event as an earlier photo posted. Late 1970's.
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Random " BIG " Healey photos.
3 photos not related apart from them being of Austin Healey 3000's in different guises.
Stirling Moss in a 3000 that he track tested along with an MGA for a BMC dealership in the USA.
Photo from a magazine - 1960.
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A 3000 with custom stripe and unusual over-rider set up. Illinois USA number plate.
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A Modsport style car - a " replica " of the John Gott car of the 1970's. Was used mainly in Hill Climbs. Ex Peter Griffith UK.
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All photos borrowed - no photographers noted
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AH 100 - the 1954 Seabrook Fowlds Dealer Team at Ardmore GP meeting
January 1954 - the First New Zealand Grand Prix held at Ardmore - an event called the NZGP had been run earlier at Ohakea in 1951.
The event competed for the New Zealnd Motor Cup - which had been raced for on Muriwai Beach since the 1920's
" 1954 Seabrook Fowlds Dealer Team at Ardmore GP meeting ".
Seabrook Fowlds imported - entered **3 Austin Healey 100 cars for Ardmore that year -
Ross Jensen #16
David Crozier #17
Keith Roper #18.
** Note ; As noted previously by Milan Fistonic the cars were entered as follows;
" #16 was entered by Seabrook Fowlds Ltd.
#17 was entered by David Crozier Ltd.
#18 was entered by Magnus Motors Ltd." ;
The Jensen car went to the McLaren family in later years and was raced by Les " Pop " McLaren in the GP meeting in 1955 and later on by Bruce McLaren - that car is now restored and in the South Island - photos have appeared on here before.
A selection of images from Ardmore - 1954 the GP meeting.
The Programme Cover - Graham Woods archives.
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The Austin Healey Team - a version from a magazine.
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The photo [ a better copy ].
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The trio on track.
Photo from the 1955 Ardmore Programme which has half a dozen photos of the 1954 event.
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Ross Jensen on track in #16. Photo from AH archives - collection Rainer Jordan.
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The Austin Healey Team featured in the results - as seen in this - the 1954 main results as published in the 1955 Programme - copy in my collection - gift from John Climo.
Ross Jensen 7th in the Grand Prix, and 1st in the REDeX Handicap Race, Keith Roper came 4th in the REDeX.
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Don Tilsley of " Singford " fame and Laurie Powell owner of the Ford B4 V8 Roadster in the winners lists they were both well known drivers and good mates as well.
Looking for the full 1954 Ardmore Programme and any newspaper articles and photos.
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AH 100 Healey - Corvette - the Arthur Kennard repowered 100
Arthur Kennard bought the Austin Healey 100 [ 4 ] off Geoff Mardon a Motorcycle Racer who had been in the UK and owned the 100 from new.
- In 1955 the car came to New Zealand with Geoff Mardon and was later sold by Geoff to Arthur Kennard who raced for a couple of seasons before re-powering it with a 283 ci Chevrolet " Corvette " V8, and fitting Aston Martin Disc Brakes.
Adrienne Doyle, Arthur Kennards daughter recently posted some photos of Arthur cars Racing in the 1950's.
He raced the RA111 [ Fiat powered originally then Chevrolet powered and later Lycoming powered - which " Oldfart " Rhys Nolan knows a lot about.
Arthur also raced an RM series Riley Saloon - early / mid 1950's.
The Kennard cars.
RA111. location and date not known but would be mid 1950's - in the 1954 - 56 period - appears to be when Chevrolet powered with the bonnet bulge - note from " Rhys Nolan ".
Car was originally built by Hec Green for Des Wild in 1952 and was 4 cylinder Fiat powered
The Lycoming motor was fitted by Duncan Rutherford around 1957.
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Riley RM series Saloon.
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The Austin " Healey - Corvette ".
The Corvette Motor was fitted in 1957 and the car has its 1956 - 61 issue number plates.
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The 100 - 4 162 ci / now - 8 of 283 ci is running the original 48 spoke wire wheels with an engine of 4640cc - original 2660cc. BMC however still continued with the 48 spoke wheels right up to and including the Mark 2 3000 1961 - 62 model.
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Austin Healey 100 [ 4 ] must be the plate says so.
Another Brian Coulter photo - AH Club of British Columbia photo - from the Vancouver Island meeting. late 1970's.
The Plate is issued by Washington State, USA so a visitor. BC Plates were White numbers on Blue at the time.
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Remember this car from Medford Oregon in 1982
- Earl Gingerich RIP with his car and a " Healey " number plate " 55 BN1 ".
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Understand the car is with Earls family these days. I remember it was immaculate.
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BMC Competitions Dept - Works Rally Cars some 1960's images
BMC Works Rally Team Austin Healey 3000 with Morris Commercial BMC works Rally Support Van - arch not known.
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BMC Works Rally Team Austin Healey 3000 with BMC Mini Cooper S - on a Rally - Monte Carlo ? - [ to be checked out ] in the snow - Colour image. BMC archives - photog not known.
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The same photo in " monochrome " was posted recently on an AH page as as well.
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One of the XJB plated cars the Morley Brothers XJB876, they - BMC - used plate series XJB870 to XJB879 for the various Austin Healey cars at the time.
This is from the 1961 RAC Rally
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