Sponsors

Back in the day, when cigarette advertising and sponsorship were considered ok, there were some impressive sponsored teams put out under the Winfield, Cambridge and Lexington banners. Were there others? At the time they looked a million dollars in an essentially amateur sport.

The first two are probably better known, Lexington maybe less so. I think Spinner Black ran his Camaro in the white with maroon and gold trim but who else ran under that banner? I recall an Escort and maybe a Mini? Any single-seaters?

Grateful for anyone who can fill me in on the Lexington team and any anecdotes about these teams generally

David Oxton and Bert Hawthorne in single-seaters, and Jim Boyd in the Stanton. Dave Simpson in the Escort. Barry Phillips in the mini. The Lexington colours featured more of a blood red than a maroon, and looked very snappy indeed. They also gave away thousands of circular Lexington stickers with Oxton's Brabham featured that would turn up just about everywhere.

[QUOTE=Shoreboy57;29477]Back in the day, when cigarette advertising and sponsorship were considered ok, there were some impressive sponsored teams put out under the Winfield, Cambridge and Lexington banners. Were there others? At the time they looked a million dollars in an essentially amateur sport.

Shoreboy, if you ring Warren Black - Spinners brother - at Active 4x4 in Onehunga he can tell you the thought behind it. What basically took place was on Spinners behalf, Warren organised some sponsorship to lift the profile of the sport by spreading the name association through the different classes. You`re right, they did look a million dollars and look how many people remember the various cars today through the cigarette association. As promoters of Waikaraka Park, Warren, Spinner and Peter Cowan - known as Cowan and Black Promotions - did the same deal with what was the `Pall Mall Stockcar Team', which many people remember also. If you look at any form of business or promotion these guys have been in or still are involved in, it`s always the same..... professionally presented.

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Originally Posted by GD66

David Oxton and Bert Hawthorne in single-seaters, and Jim Boyd in the Stanton. Dave Simpson in the Escort. Barry Phillips in the mini. The Lexington colours featured more of a blood red than a maroon, and looked very snappy indeed. They also gave away thousands of circular Lexington stickers with Oxton's Brabham featured that would turn up just about everywhere.

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When you think about it that was a quality line-up, cars and drivers. Thanks GD66

Here are the ones I have photos of.

http://i39.tinypic.com/1puv10.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/65wcj4.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/2ntieip.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2nw3ak7.jpg

They certainly looked the business. I had forgotten Dave Simpson ran an Escort

Attachment 18684

Perhaps not quite as well presented as the circuit cars but they were an impressive outfit at the time.

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Originally Posted by Shoreboy57

They certainly looked the business. I had forgotten Dave Simpson ran an Escort

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And I had forgotten Roly wore Lexington colours, if only briefly. Pretty sure Simpson received the very first twin-cam Escort into NZ.

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Originally Posted by Shoreboy57

Attachment 18684

Perhaps not quite as well presented as the circuit cars but they were an impressive outfit at the time.

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Sam Ferabend, Graham Mitchell, next two someone else.

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Originally Posted by Shoreboy57

Attachment 18684

Perhaps not quite as well presented as the circuit cars but they were an impressive outfit at the time.

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At least someone found a good use for 1100 shells!

Yes, but theres only 3. Is the other Hillman or Stranded 10

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Originally Posted by John McKechnie

Sam Ferabend, Graham Mitchell, next two someone else.

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John, I`m not sure which glasses you had on when you looked at this photo - maybe some sandblasted ones. #91 is Vic Cook, #28 Laurie Hines, #26 Colin Brockliss, and #92 Graham Baker ( who these days runs Auckland Commercial Spares )
The original Pall Mall team was #3 Dave Greer, #6 Joel Wright, #10 Graham Mitchell, #16 Sam Ferabend.

Never said which team was from this picture. It is easy to see Vic Cooks name on his car.
Just testing peoples memory of original team .
Now they were real heavy hitters.

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Originally Posted by John McKechnie

Yes, but theres only 3. Is the other Hillman or Stranded 10

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looks more like a Goliath John....

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Originally Posted by John McKechnie

Sam Ferabend, Graham Mitchell, next two someone else.

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Really John?

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Originally Posted by Oldfart

At least someone found a good use for 1100 shells!

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Is it? or is it an Austin A30?

Yes seaqnmac27, it`s a cut down Austin A30 body on #91. Are you coming to either QR or Lakeside to watch us kiwis run our HMC cars over there?

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Originally Posted by GD66

Pretty sure Simpson received the very first twin-cam Escort into NZ.

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You might be right. My memory is that Jim Carney's (subsequently raced by Jim Richards) was out first

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Originally Posted by David McKinney

You might be right. My memory is that Jim Carney's (subsequently raced by Jim Richards) was out first

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Diplomat!

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Originally Posted by fullnoise68

Yes seaqnmac27, it`s a cut down Austin A30 body on #91. Are you coming to either QR or Lakeside to watch us kiwis run our HMC cars over there?

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I am hoping to get to Lakeside, as its just down the road. So I look forward to meeting you guys.

I would add, that I will spending the QR round watching Le Mans, as it will be one of my rare weekends at home at the moment. When are you lads going to the Bowdens, and can I join in ?

The Tuesday after Lakeside. Come and see Dale Mustang #23 or me Camaro #41 and we`ll sort it out.

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Originally Posted by John McKechnie

Sam Ferabend, Graham Mitchell, next two someone else.

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Dave Greer, Joel Wright

What about Gold Leaf Team Lotus? The first ever appearance of Lotus in these colours (red,white and gold) was at Levin in 1968?
Or the "Durex" (condom) sponsorship of the Surtees F1 team? The BBC refused to televise any races where Durex sponsored cars appeared!

I think it was Wigram 1968 for GLTL

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Originally Posted by rf84

Or the "Durex" (condom) sponsorship of the Surtees F1 team? The BBC refused to televise any races where Durex sponsored cars appeared!

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The small family cars!

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Originally Posted by Lurker

I think it was Wigram 1968 for GLTL

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Correct.
http://www.sergent.com.au/motor/tas68w.html

Maybe the problem with Durex sponsorship was that the signwriting was in French letters?

Shane Windleburn has Durex F5000 (also a young child)

Having been offline for a couple of days I see this thread has taken a life of its own, one of the great joys of the Roaring Season.

But to back up the bus as to who drove under the Lexington colours, it has been suggested (with some photos)
* Spinner Black (Camaro)
* Roly Levis
* Bert Hawthorne
* David Oxton - is that correct? I know he was in the Winfield team, both FF and F5000
* Jim Boyd (Stanton)
* Dave Simpson (Escort T/c)
* Barry Phillips (Mini)

Any more?

I recall Oxo's BT16 in Cambridge colours but can't remember it in Lexington livery.

I think the Gold Leaf colours on the Lotus 49 at Wigram in January 68 was the second time cigarette advertising had been seen on a racing car that month...

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Originally Posted by Michael Clark

I recall Oxo's BT16 in Cambridge colours but can't remember it in Lexington livery.

I think the Gold Leaf colours on the Lotus 49 at Wigram in January 68 was the second time cigarette advertising had been seen on a racing car that month...

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Thanks Michael, a very nice Segway in to two questions:

1 Can someone confirm which seasons the Lexington, Cambridge and Winfield teams ran? Were they just a season each? I was too young to smoke at the time, so of course they weren't targeting me. I'm thinking Cambridge was 69/70 and Winfield the season later?

2. So who ran in Cambridge colours?- I'll start the list with:
- Oxton (Brabham)
- Fahey (Mustang)
- Grady Thompson (Monaro)
- Jim Boyd (Lola T70)
- Barry Phillips (Mini)

Graham Watson drove a Brabham in Cambridge colours, also I have a recurring nagging feeling Oxton made a retrograde step and drove an Elfin 600 in Cambridge colours when Formula Ford was introduced.
I think you're spot-on with your estimates of what years the teams ran, Lexington would therefore have been 68-69.

2. So who ran in Cambridge colours?- I'll start the list with:
- Oxton (Brabham)
- Fahey (Mustang)
- Grady Thompson (Monaro)
- Jim Boyd (Lola T70)
- Barry Phillips (Mini)[/QUOTE]


Plus...
-Rod Coppins ( Camaro)
- Roger? Anderson (BMW)

[QUOTE=Shoreboy57;29579]

Can someone confirm which seasons the Lexington, Cambridge and Winfield teams ran? Were they just a season each? I was too young to smoke at the time, so of course they weren't targeting me. I'm thinking Cambridge was 69/70 and Winfield the season later?

Lexington was the year 68-69. I think the Team outlined already is largely correct though it was Rodger Anderson in the Mini. He finished equal first in the NZ Championship ( having won outright the previous year in the same car ) but lost on countback to Paul Fahey.

Cambridge must have run for two seasons 69-71 and featured a lot of cars and names. Others not yet mentioned I'm pretty sure would be Jim Murdoch, Bryan Faloon and Frank Radisich.

Also in a single seater for Cambridge Ken Smith.

Winfield was one season only 71-72. I think it's right to say David Oxton was in Lexington, if so he was the only driver in all three teams, Winfield being Coppins, Phillips and Oxton. The Mini of Phillips was in all three teams. I had read somewhere that the Coppins Camaro was ex Spinner Black but I'm not sure that's right but if so that car was also in each team before being replaced by the Pontiac.

Very professional teams even for those days and a fair amount of investment by Rothmans. 1973 -74 saw the NZ Freighters Team appear and the following as Brambles NZF, also very well run with some very well known names.

GPBK- absolutely 100% same car of Spencer Blacks Camaro , which was Lexington, was sold to Rod Coppins.
Barrys car was a MK1 for some seasons, but updated to MK2 taillamps , grille and back window for later Cambridge and Winfield season.
Other Cambridge drivers definitely were were- Frank Radisich- McLaren M10, Faloon, and Murdoch.
Also not forgetting that Jim Palmer and Terry Scott both drove the Team Cambidge Camaro early 69 season, and Rod Coppins drove the Monaro before he took over the Camaro.
Winfield was 71-72.
Cambridge was 69-70, 70-71.
Lexington 68-69
GD66 -Oxton did drive an Elfin (Superford ) in Formula C/FF . Motorman mentions this in reports ad results.

How could I forget ?Attachment 18725
And there are certainly pics of the Radisich M10 elsewhere on this forum...

Edit : the wings on the Faloon Brabham BT4 were dayglo yellow, quite a contrast with the fairly-straight Cambridge fag packet paint job on the car.
Was Kenny Smith's Cambridge car a Lotus 69 ?

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Originally Posted by John McKechnie

GPBK- absolutely 100% same car of Spencer Blacks Camaro , which was Lexington, was sold to Rod Coppins.
Barrys car was a MK1 for some seasons, but updated to MK2 taillamps , grille and back window for later Cambridge and Winfield season.
Other Cambridge drivers definitely were were- Frank Radisich- McLaren M10, Faloon, and Murdoch.
Also not forgetting that Jim Palmer and Terry Scott both drove the Team Cambidge Camaro early 69 season, and Rod Coppins drove the Monaro before he took over the Camaro.
Winfield was 71-72.
Cambridge was 69-70, 70-71.
Lexington 68-69
GD66 -Oxton did drive an Elfin (Superford ) in Formula C/FF . Motorman mentions this in reports ad results.

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Didn't Simpson have Lexington on Escort

Found this in a collection that was on facebook (amazing collection) hope we can be privy to more.

Definitely not Oxton in FF the hair gives it away. This is only photo I have seen of a line up and think it may have been on a practice day, notice the big saloons are missing, or gone.

Also the 58 Goldflash in background. That's a bit of me, love them cars. 272 of thumper.

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Originally Posted by Rod Grimwood

Didn't Simpson have Lexington on Escort

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As usual Rod, you memory is excellent, did you run against him at all in any cars?