Photos: The Peter Mellor Collection - Part 3

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We've had huge interest in Parts 1 and 2 of the Peter Mellor Collection of historic Australian motor racing photos. Part 1 focused on Touring Cars. Part 2 was Sports Cars. Part 3 is Single Seaters.

Once again, these photos are Queensland based, predominantly at Lakeside. And once again, they are just stunning! All of them are in colour, and capture the cars both on the track and in the pits, along with several of the drivers. Many of these are from Tasman Series races, so international viewers will recognise most of the faces and cars. There is surely nothing better than the contrast created by mixing period state of the art race cars, with basic, grassy pit areas, that these images provide. They tell the story of an era when even the pinnacle of the sport still retained at least some ties with its grass-roots.

My thanks again to Pete for allowing these great images to be shared here.

OK, lets kick this thing off with this great shot of Jack Brabham, in his Brabham BT7A, sans partial bodywork, at Lakeside in 1964. This is the Tasman Series event, which Jack won. I assume this shot is from an early practice session.

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Another shot of Jack.

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Frank Matich enters the track, again, sans lower bodywork, in his Brabham.

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Graham Hill and the 4wd Ferguson.

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Nice shot of a chilled-out looking Bruce McLaren.

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The beginning of another great series of photos.

So far a combination of the February 17, 1963 Lakeside International 'Gold Star' meeting (Surtees Lola & Hill's Ferguson). The others are from the February 23, 1964 Lakeside International meeting. Which was round 7 of the inaugural New Zealand & Australian Tasman Cup.

Stephen

Thanks for this Stephen.

Stunning shot here of Jim Clark in the Lotus. This is probably from 1965, I'm guessing.

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Here is another shot of Hill with the 4wd Ferguson, this time at speed.

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Superb shot this one, just look at the clarity! Remember, this is 50 years old. Climax motor, possibly in the back of Bib Stillwell's Brabham.

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Jean-Pierre Jarier modelled the colours on his helmet on those of his hero Jim Clark. Except Jumper's helmet was green and white instead of dark blue and white.

In that beautiful shot, you can almost understand how he thought green not blue.

Jack Brabham looking thoughtful. I wonder what he is thinking? Note how battered his helmet looks.

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Another shot of Clark. These are amazing!

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OK, if I had to guess, I'd say this was Greg Cusack. What event is this though? His car has been given #1.

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Mechanics tinker with the 4wd Ferguson, while Hill wanders around behind the car, suited up and waiting to jump in.

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Does anyone want to ID whose car this is?

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My best guess is that this is Bob Holden's Lynx Peugeot in it's 1962 form.

It's listed in the February 9-11, 1962 Lakeside International programme with Bob's famous #13 and I suspect this is the partially visible number on this car.

Stephen

Definitely Peugeot 403 based engine. I love these creations!

Not a bad guess Stephen. I reckon that is Bob with the striped shirt. Looks like an elevator boot on his right foot. Who put the blower on it and when? There is a shot of Bob sitting in the car at Catalina amongst the Bruce Wells photos.
Dale.

Thanks you guys, fantastic!

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Originally Posted by Dale Harvey

Not a bad guess Stephen. I reckon that is Bob with the striped shirt. Looks like an elevator boot on his right foot. Who put the blower on it and when? There is a shot of Bob sitting in the car at Catalina amongst the Bruce Wells photos.
Dale.

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Dale,

There's a 3 page feature on the Lynx Peugeot in SCW's first 'Australian Motor Racing Annual' - this being the one that covers the 1964 Tasman, etc. Potentially it exists in one of the monthly SCW issues also.

Basically it says Bob rebuilt it to the later supercharged, sleeved to under 1500cc, Peugeot 404 (instead of the 403) engine format. "Dissatisfied with the car's output and performance, Holden decided to rebuild it from the tyres up and fit a supercharged engine for more torque and reliability."

Happy to scan for anyone interested - just pm an email address.

Stephen

Frank Matich in the Brabham at Lakeside, likely from 1964.

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Notice there is also a photo of Jack Brabham with side pods not on. Wonder why they ran like this or was it practice.

They'd just be practice photos Rod, although I'd be interested to know why they chose to circulate with some of the bodywork missing.

driver cooling I understand. also used at monaco by Stirling Moss.

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Originally Posted by 928

driver cooling I understand. also used at monaco by Stirling Moss.

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I recall seeing Stirling Moss do the same thing at Warwick Farm I think a Lotus 18

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Originally Posted by Steve Holmes

Frank Matich enters the track, again, sans lower bodywork, in his Brabham.

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Matichs helmet would have been immaculate wasn't he the local agent for Bell helmets and advertised "'If you have a ten dollar head buy a ten dollar helmet'"

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Originally Posted by Greg Ghost

Matichs helmet would have been immaculate wasn't he the local agent for Bell helmets and advertised "'If you have a ten dollar head buy a ten dollar helmet'"

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That remark was aimed at Steve Haritos, who made Eldorado helmets at the time.

That was a stock advertising jingle from Bell USA for years.

There was a bit more to it than that.
http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/in.../itemId/955630

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s162616.htm

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Originally Posted by Greg Ghost

"'If you have a ten dollar head buy a ten dollar helmet'"

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I love that!

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I had a chance to speak to Bob Holden about the Lynx-Peugeot shown in post #17 of this thread at Sandown Historics yesterday.

Basically it was a very long time, and hundreds of races ago for Bob. Also, a lot of cars ago for this near 81 yo to recall exactly. But eventually I coaxed some info out of him regarding the Lynx. He said that the chap in the beige clothing is Dick Brown, who helped Bob out during that period. There was also mention of Phil Chilcott, who helped Bob build the car. Bob also mentioned of himself recently being reminded upon seeing a photo, how at a 'Tasman' meeting at Sandown, Bruce McLaren asked Bob "Where did you get this car?" Bob telling him, "We built it." With Bruce then saying "This car is on the drawing board at Coopers." Bob then mentioned how Bruce then showed a keen interest in the car and even had a drive of the Lynx at one stage. Now Bob wasn't able to be specific on dates, just that it was a Tasman meeting. But my best guess is that it was either 1962 or 1963, which is before the Tasman offically started in 1964. But one thing drivers and mechanics of this era are all quite happy to refer to pre-Tasman 'International' events as Tasman regardless.

Stephen

To complete the jingle :
'If you have a ten dollar head buy a ten dollar helmet
If your head is worth more, buy a Bell.'