4 Attachment(s)
Dunedin Street Races - Festival 1962
A couple of images from Dunedin.
Copy of a track map with some notes and the programme - can't read the date on the programme. notes by Graeme Staples.
Can confirm that the track was as used in 1959 and 1960.
There are even notes about the gradients on part of the circuit.
Have found several version of the tracks used over the period 1954 to the 1980's.
posted before but will group them in a new post.
Attachment 73530
Cars having fun at a corner - two going ahead, and two spinning around. Year not sure !! Late 1950's *** ??.
Just checked my notes ;
*** " Dunedin 1962 - Stan Prestige in the Ford V8, VW and Minor spin - Allan Dick archives. "
Hard to read the plates - which if 1962 will be the last of 5 yearly issue 1961 - 66 - actually finished in the 1965 -66 licencing year. Black Numbers on a Yellow Plate..
The corner is, I presume " Service Station Corner " where Wilkie Street meets King Edward Street.
Attachment 73531
Entry List for the Saloon Car Race - from Graham Woods archives.
Stan Prestige ran the two tone Ford V8 in 1961 as well.
1962 Entry List.
S Prestridge
Attachment 73875
1961 Saloon Car Entry List;
S Prestidge .. - different spelling -
Attachment 73876
Should put all the track maps - various versions of the circuit in one post.
5 Attachment(s)
Ryal Bush 1956 - Southland Centennial Races.
Ryal Bush 1956 - Southland Centennial Races.
The event entry list the Main Race ;
Attachment 73764
Cars at the start of the Centennial Race
The unusual bodied Connaught on the front row;
The Lesley Marr Connaught that came to NZ and raced at Ardmore and others tracks [ including here ] in 1956
Attachment 73765
Had this photo from Graham Woods archives.
Some interesting photos from this event;
Not even at the track, but were they going to ? or coming from ?
Car - Race #1 Aston Martin finished 2nd
Attachment 73766
Car - Race #3 The Peter Whitehead Ferrari finished 4th
Attachment 73767
Note that it has the roundels on both side of the nose - presume for left hand or right hand tracks depending on where the timekeepers were ??
Attachment 73768
1 Attachment(s)
Ryal Bush 1956 - Southland Centennial Races. and 1957 Southland International Race
Programme Covers for the two Ryal Bush events - these were recently acquired by a TRS member [ not me though ].
Attachment 73783
Would like to see the inside pages where no doubt there was some non - PC advertising ..!!!
Also note the price went up " sixpence " - whereas the Magazines mentioned on the NZTT thread only went up " half a sixpence "- just thinking !!
2 Attachment(s)
Paritutu 1965 .. An Island away from Dunedin..
A couple more John Larry Lawton images from Paritutu 1965.
A certain Holden features in both photos.
Notes " .. " by J L Lawton
Dave Simpson in his fast front but not yet Fastback " Anglia ahead of McPherson in the FJ Holden and Innes " in a Mini - presume Brian Innes.
Dave Simpson won all his races that day.
Attachment 73971
" McPherson Holden swerves to avoid R C Grace Mini."
Attachment 73972
6 Attachment(s)
Dunedin - the 1984 Street Races January 1984
The topic that started this thread - photos of the 1984 Races that I attended.
Among the cars that were racing - at Bethunes Gully Hill Climb on the Saturday, [ while the Sprints were on Fryatt St ],
and in the Saloon Races on the Sunday was Mark D, in his huge Pontiac Bonneville 1965 model 4 door Sedan. NZ Registration JA1965.
Mark still has the car and after 30- years in storage it is being progressively restored mechanically and bodywork, largely by Mark's son.
The car has attended a few car events in the last couple of months in the Christchurch area.
Here at the " JD's BOP Day " on Waitangi weekend - the Sunday.
JD - John De Lorean who was " an important figure in Pontiac in the 1960's ".
BOP - Buick Oldsmobile Pontiac group.
The events were double as on the Saturday the car was in a " Parade of Old Race Cars " at Ruapuna, and at the BOP day on the Sunday.
In the background of the photo one of JD's other Automotive ventures - probably more well known for all the wrong reasons.
Mark Dawbers photos.
Attachment 74238
The car at another event in January 2023.
Attachment 74239
The car before the rebuild / restoration began.
Attachment 74240
The car at Dunedin in 1984.
At Bethunes Gully Hill Climb
As an aside - Mark notes that events,
- " Hill Climbs have been held at Bethunes Gully, believe since the 1920's "
and that it is
" a very steep and narrow road with the added hazard of ' bovine guano ' ".
- seems a bit like Cosseys Farm Road of NSCC fame back in the 1960's to 1990's
Attachment 74243
At the Street Races on the Sunday
Attachment 74241
above photos - Mark Dawber archives.
My own photo of the car in 1984
Attachment 74242
5 Attachment(s)
Another South Island Track from the 1950's - McCormack's Bay, Christchurch
Another South Island Track from the 1950's, one I had not heard or read about.
McCormack's Bay, Christchurch in 1953.
The Roads are still there - the Main Straight was the " New " Causeway and the rest of the track the Original MCormacks Bay Road, around what is by then a Lagoon, so it was a Triangular shaped Track.
Organised by the " Motor Racing Club " who ran Wigram
Another Gem from Milan Fistonic - now to find a period Map ..
- " jellywrestler " Is this in your book ? - there is a connection as some Motorcycle engined cars. !!
Attachment 74315
Attachment 74316
Attachment 74317
Attachment 74318
The Results - many well known names Tutton, Shuter, Hoare, Green, Haig, Les Moore and one E Sprague
Attachment 74319
Hopefully Entry Lists /Programmes and a Map will emerge.
4 Attachment(s)
Timaru Road Race 1967 - the One and only
Another little known meeting to me - had seen one photo of the Sports and Racing car grid on South Island Motorsport
- [ SIM ] facebook page, and recently a photo from Allan Dick archives of the Begg Chev Sports Racing Car #153.
The SIM photo ;
Attachment 74383
The Classic Autonews Allan Dick photo
Attachment 74384
Map of the Track - from Graeme Staples Book on Motor Cycle racing Circuits of New Zealand - thanks " jellywrestler ".
Bit of the story in Graeme's notes on the map.
Attachment 74385
*** The Programme - The full Cover [ A copy now in my collection - May 2025 ]
Attachment 78186
6 Attachment(s)
Waimate 1962 The Saloon Car Race Event 3.
A couple of photos have emerged of the Race - Event 3
Have the entry list and results - courtesy of Graham Woods.
Looks like the first lap Mini 850 #7 Miles leads the Singer #5 Mills and the field of Minis, and a BMC 1500 Wolseley
At the corner by Waimate Electrical.
Attachment 74406
The same corner with Miles and Mills again..
Attachment 74407
The Entry List
Attachment 74408
The Results
Attachment 74409
The first photo appeared on the cover of the UK Publication " Autosport " weekly, on 23rd February 1962
Attachment 74410
Map of the Track.
Attachment 74411
1 Attachment(s)
George Begg Festival .. April 2023 ..
Photo for the Austin Healey thread, but, look what else is in the photo..!!!.
Attachment 74429
Is that the BCM in front of the Lycoming ??
3 Attachment(s)
Back to the 1960's Waimate 1960
A couple of the " Grand Prix " Cars - well one thinks it is a Sports Car too !!
Len Gilbert in the Cooper Bristol, complete with headlights Mudguards and a wide body at the back.
Attachment 74462
John(ny) Mansel in the Tec-Mec [ Maserati ].
Attachment 74463
Entry List for the 1960 " Waimate 50 " the feature race.
Attachment 74464
The Race was open to Racing and Sports Cars, including some NZ Specials ..
- the Stanton Brothers Corvette,
- the Ralph Watson Lycoming
and one of
- Hec Green RA's with a 2250cc motor.
3 Attachment(s)
Timaru 1967- the only Street Race in the Town.
1967 The Timaru Street races, exact date not known but must have been early in the year as the Prize Money was in Pounds Shillings and Pence - so pre 10th July.
** Event was 4th February 1967 - see Milan's note and copy of Programme Cover in post #345.
Described as .
" Timaru Trophy Road Race,
" N Z Gold Star Championship Race
" Timaru 4th Feb, 1967
" - Organised by the S. C. [ South Canterbury ] Car Club and held under the International Sporting Code of the F. I. A. and the National Competition Rules of the A. N. Z. C. C. Inc "
The NZ Specials and Racing Cars Start line - with the Begg Chev Sports car of Barry Keen
Others are Alan Rhodes 260M Zephyr, John Armstrong Cooper Bristol and Arthur Smith 120EN with a 1500cc motor.
in the Second row... Allan Dick archives
Attachment 74471
The Entry List.
Attachment 74472
Peter Leversedge in #77 which he still has ..
The Begg Chev was in the Sports Car Race too !! Tony Stanton archives - presume a relation of The Stanton Brothers
Attachment 74473
Note that the Stanton Corvette Motor is now larger than back in 1960 at 5.3 litres.
Had also noted that the Lycoming also grew during these times to over 5 litres as well, as noted at other events.
It was at the George Begg Festival recently .. another story to tell.
6 Attachment(s)
Waimate 1964 The Saloon Car Race Event 8.
The Entry List and a series of photos from Graham Woods archives.
The Big Race for Saloons at the Waimate "50 " event in 1964.
Entry List.
Attachment 74542
Ernie Sprague has a big ...ooops.. in the Mark 3 Zephyr.
a sequence of photos.
Attachment 74543
Attachment 74544
Attachment 74545
Attachment 74546
Attachment 74547
1 Attachment(s)
More South Island images to come
More South Island images to come - Renwick, Waimate, Dunedin, an event at Mosgiel and others.
Plus on a new thread, the story of a Lotus Seven, that was owned by Bob Blackburn, of Mistral fame in 1961 and is still around in 2023. Will be part of a Lotus Seven New Zealand story
This from Mosgiel, one of the Bennett Boys in the Morgan [ Cliff ], Bob Scott from Kaitangata in his Special [centre ] and Rob Christie in another Special
Attachment 74569
3 Attachment(s)
Dunedin and further South ..
Dunedin 1960 .. Harold Heasley Humber 80 [ HHH ] ahead of Ernie Sprague in the Mark II Zephyr, predecessor of the more famous Mark III,
Attachment 74574
Entry List for the Festival Race for Saloons and Sports Cars not entered in the " Main " Race ..
[ Heasley's car must have had only one piston working 390cc or got confused with the Goggomobil of B Blackburn 392cc !! ]
Attachment 74575
Going further South, the Southernmost track in the World.. - Teretonga.
1962 - The Start of the Feature Race,
Tony Shelley get the jump, literally on Stirling Moss, front wheel of his Cooper over Moss' rear wheel. Both cars continued.
In the picture left to right
Bruce Mclaren [ partly obscured ] #47 Cooper,
Stirling Moss Cooper #7
Tony Shelley Cooper #18
Jack Brabham Cooper #4
Lorenzo Bandini Cooper Maserati.
- images G Woods archives - notes [ edited ] by Allan Dick - who stated he had not seen the photo before.
Must find the entry list !!
Attachment 74576
4 Attachment(s)
Dunedin The Tracks - a couple more images
Dunedin - the track using the area around the wharf area including Fryatt St, where the 1/4 mile Sprints were also held.
1957.
Attachment 74581
Stated to be 1958 - appears to be the same as the 1957 Map - using the same roads.
Attachment 74582
Graeme Staples in his book has this as the 1958 Circuit, which includes Andersons Bay Road and is away from the wharf area
Attachment 74583
The Circuit in 1965 ..aligned to have the street names horizontal
It uses roads around the main Railway Lines
Attachment 74584
1 Attachment(s)
Dunedin Festival Street Races - 1950's - 1960's The Tracks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Milan Fistonic
Quote: Stated to be 1958 - appears to be the same as the 1957 Map - using the same roads.
The left-hand end of the circuit is quite different to the 1957 layout.
Milan, yes on having a better look, not helped with street names missing - a few roads not used.
I am now confused as the Graeme Staples Map for 1958 - which I have seen elsewhere actually uses a different part of the Dunedin City roads.
The Graeme Staples version was used in 1960, The Book [ below ] says used 1960 - 1962.
The " Racing Round the Houses " Book published in 1983 has 3 different Circuits on the back cover.
Attachment 74597
Circuits ;
1954 - 1956
1960 - 1962,
1965.
Next up some Track maps and Entry Lists from Renwick Street Races - 1960 - 1966.
1 Attachment(s)
Dunedin 1984 - the Video of the Event.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Roger Dowding
Guys, this is a small thread because, I got sidetracked with my Pukekohe shots - there are another 30 photos to come Saloons, Specials Gee Cee S etc and Vintage - the ERA, and 50's single seaters, must get back to it soon.
Post #10 - from 26th October 2015 at the early part of the Dunedin Story of the 1984, I made the above comment.
Recently posted on Facebook by Warner Collins is a video of the 1984 Event which includes the Bethunes Gully Hill Climb on the Saturday and the Races in Dunedin Central on the Sunday.
Can't get the link across, but do look for it.
Mark D who ran the HUGE Pontiac Bonneville 4 door Saloon /Sedan at both events features and sent me the details.
Mark is restoring the Bonneville at the moment and it has been to events recently - photos on this thread have been posted
Think the 1984 Video has been posted on South Island Motorsports page by Adrian Robertson too !!
Remember standing at some of the corners taking photos on the Race Day - Sunday as well as the Sprints in Fryatt Street on the Saturday.
Attachment 74773
4 Attachment(s)
Dunedin - the Street Races January 1984 - a bit more
The Weekend consisted of 3 Events, the Hill Climb at Bethunes Gully and the Sprints of Fryatt Street in the City on the Saturday.
Historic Street Races were held on the Sunday.
- [ The Event was what started this thread ]
A couple more photos of what was the " Biggest " Car at the event - in size and a rather large Motor too !!
The Entry List [ again ] for the Saloon Class Race ..
Attachment 74837
The Pontiac Bonneville of Mark Dawber at Bethunes Gully - this photo is from near the top of the climb.
Attachment 74834
The Pontiac in the Street Races on Sunday - being chased by a group of Mini's.
All images from Mark D's archives... the notation A Swain was a nickname..
Attachment 74835
The Pontiac being raced at a Vintage Car Club Grass Sprint - in late May 2023.
The car has been restored /repaired by Mark and his son.
Attachment 74836
