Early O.S.C.A saloons, 1971-75 era, any pics out there b/w or colour?

I've always been a bit fascinated with the early era of O.S.C.A. Living in Auckland we didn't really see much of it but it all sounded pretty exciting down south. I remember on one occasion in early 1973, there was a sort of O.S.C.A. tour to the north, with several meetings. By the time they got to Pukekohe there had been several mechanical casualties, but I clearly remember Paul Kirk's yellow Viva with red wheels?, (really liked that car and it went well) and 3.5 Buick V8 motor, Blair Paton and Ron McPhail in there respective blue and black twin cam Escorts, plus Peter Kocis in his Torana, also possibly Grant Aitken in his 1450 Mini and Pat Pascoe's light weight ex McRae Twin Cam powered A40. I remember Kocis and Jim Richards in the Sidchrome Imp had a coming together shortly after the start with the Imp launched through the fence. I'd be really keen to sight some pictures of the early years of OSCA, in the pits on the track wherever, particularly from down south if anyone has any gems stowed away!

THere was a pretty good effort here in Auckland to get a North Island sub branch of OSCA going at that time ,it had a lot of support and looked like it would grow,the early rounds down at Levin especially attracted quite good entries.The first fuel crises helped bring about its demise .I amongst others were building new cars for it ,but the future uncertainty of the sport in general with the fuel crises ,suspension of race meetings etc caused a change in direction for a lot of people , myself included at this time .That original Auckland committee consisted of myself ,Greg Lancaster ,Rex Findlay and Adrian Walmsley ,it was a pity that circumstances changed ,There was also a Wellington sub branch

Was the Bellis Cortina an OSCA car?

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Originally Posted by bob homewood

THere was a pretty good effort here in Auckland to get a North Island sub branch of OSCA going at that time ,it had a lot of support and looked like it would grow,the early rounds down at Levin especially attracted quite good entries.The first fuel crises helped bring about its demise .I amongst others were building new cars for it ,but the future uncertainty of the sport in general with the fuel crises ,suspension of race meetings etc caused a change in direction for a lot of people , myself included at this time .That original Auckland committee consisted of myself ,Greg Lancaster ,Rex Findlay and Adrian Walmsley ,it was a pity that circumstances changed ,There was also a Wellington sub branch

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What sort of car were you building for it Bob?

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Originally Posted by faminz

Was the Bellis Cortina an OSCA car?

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Yep, certainly was, this is the car built for OSCA by Clyde Collins. Bellis had these box flares fitted, they were done by Robin Officer, taken from the molds he also used on the PDL Mustang I, Jenner Camaro, and Nazer Victor.

Great shot of the Bellis, Collins Cortina. I wonder if there are any similar colour pics of the likes of the Alex Dickie Victor Chev and Anglia Chev, Trevor Crowe Corolla Chev, Jim McComb Mk1 Cortina Mustang, Paul Kirk Viva Buick V8, the Sylvester Monaro's or the Kevin Haig Mustang etc. These and many others would be great to see

http://i53.tinypic.com/2h7j487.jpg

Here is a current photo of the Dickie Victor Chev. Tony Mann now has this car.
Cheers Mike

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Originally Posted by Steve Holmes

What sort of car were you building for it Bob?

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I had the ex Metropolitan Cranes Escort that Dave Silcock and Peter Sundberg raced,which I was putting a modified F85 Olds engine in ,as I said it was unfortunate with the fuel crises drama coming along as it was the only time in my life I have ever had decent sponsorship,the fuel crises put paid to that and changed my plans

Wow, that was a cool little car Bob. Was that the twin-cam Escort Silcock replaced his Jaguar with? What a phenomenal car it would have been with the Olds motor. Do you know what became of it?

Yes that is right ,but it was the first Harrington Escort from memory before that ,when I parted with it it went to Grant Aitken,then onto Ross Cameron .It was my intention when I returned from Greymouth to build up that car ,but it didn't happen quite as quick as I planned as I got involved with Don McMillan helping build up the replacent Escort for Pete Sundberg,(the Spears one ) that is on the photo's here and I was involved with 3 or 4 people racing XU1's which were pretty popular at that time ,also I worked in a Tuning business and dynoed a lot of other cars that were racing at that time I can remember a lot of 15/16 hour days around that time.I guess I have a few more stories that will unfold in time

I hope you'll keep the stories coming Bob, they're always fascinating. Would love to see a thread on your Escort sports sedan.

Do you know where the Harrington/Silcock etc Escort is now? Actually, I should post this question on the Lost Race Cars thread, as there are a few others from that period I'm curious about too.

Talking of the Wellington Osca movement at that time ,perhaps David can fill us in on it,from memory was it I think Dick Cook who was biulding up a car around the McBegg sports car or something similar

Can't help much, I'm afraid Bob
I only remember Dick Cook in a BDA Escort at that time

http://i54.tinypic.com/fk7ejs.jpg http://i56.tinypic.com/29xfccl.jpg

Here is a re-carnation of the Spinner Black Camaro

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With young Homewood in No77 :)

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Originally Posted by David McKinney

With young Homewood in No77 :)

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Modestly yes ! Peter Kocis was just in front, gone out of the photo Dick Young is in the other Torana,I think that is the Triang following me Murray Soames is in the Lotus Cortina ,he went on to build a Escort with all the Lotus
Cortina components in it,this Escort was later brought by Bryce Platt ,developed more and became his Championship
winning car.Murray was another of the founding members of that early Auckland OSCA chapter,I think he also looked
hard at that time at the Olds F85 option

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Originally Posted by bob homewood

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Cool photo Bob. Was that a genuine XU-1? They were highly successful in Castrol GTX production racing.

Here are a couple Clyde Collins sent me, of his Mustang Cortina, now sadly long gone.

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Helping Dennis Marwood along with a little love tap.....

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That Cortina looks stunning and I remember it being around, but I don't think I ever saw it race. What colour was it painted - I seem to remember an orange. What happened to the car in the end ?

It was powder blue originally, then red/orange. As with all Clydes cars it was a great looking car. It later went to Bruce Bellis, who had a mega-motor built for it (will grab the details and post later) and ended up with Steve Vigurs who raced it for a while then used most of the mechanicals to build his Mitsubishi Celeste OSCA racer. The Cortina body went to the crusher. Don Elvy confirmed that for me.

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Originally Posted by Steve Holmes

Cool photo Bob. Was that a genuine XU-1? They were highly successful in Castrol GTX production racing.

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Steve, That was my good friend Rod McCallums car ,it was the last of the 186 XU! cars ,but it could more than hold its own with the 202 cars,Rod raced it in the GTX seies that year and he was good enough to give it to me to drive in those first North Island OSCA races,we also drove it together in The Glenvale 100 ,that car now resides in Queensland,owned and raced by a ex-pat kiwi

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Originally Posted by bob homewood

Modestly yes ! Peter Kocis was just in front, gone out of the photo Dick Young is in the other Torana,I think that is the Triang following me Murray Soames is in the Lotus Cortina ,he went on to build a Escort with all the Lotus
Cortina components in it,this Escort was later brought by Bryce Platt ,developed more and became his Championship
winning car.Murray was another of the founding members of that early Auckland OSCA chapter,I think he also looked
hard at that time at the Olds F85 option

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Attachment 545

This car IIRC was built up using a new shell from Ford [ The one they sent out from UK for local assy jig checking]. Motor was stroked 325 ci Ford that originated from the Red Dawson Mustang, when Clyde changed to the chev engine this motor [ the ford] was then sold to Frank Ryan for the Capri that he had built up in Invercargill by Bryan Taylor. Guy in pic with Clyde is Marty Westrynk, car was sold to Bellis, John Beattie, then Steve Vigurs

Thats great info Jac.

Hi all. The RW Fuller in the shot of the Levin program was responsible later for the V8 Escort driven by Roger Brader which features in another thread. Bob your memory is truly fantastic. Don't you love the prize money available,$10 for 4th place, probably a weeks wages then. Roger Brader has a car yard in Masterton, a nice guy. Wayne Fuller has retired to Omokoroa, he was a pharmicist in Masterton, hence the Mennen sponsorship on the V8 Escort. His cars were always beautifully presented.

Well spotted Beowulf. I spoke to both Wayne Fuller and Roger Brader about this car. Where is Omakoroa? Wayne didn't seem overly interested in talking about it for some reason, but Roger was and still is very enthusiastic about the car. The Escort listed in the entry list is the same one later fitted with the Chevy. I'm still trying to find out what happened to it.

Hi Steve congratulations on the site. Omakoroa is in Tauranga, (probably my spelling differs from the correct version, and this is Maori language week!) If you talked to Wayne recently he may have been a little distracted as his rented out house in Masterton was in a fire recently.Wayne was a hard charger and very competitive, he and Roger had some big offs when they were running a rally Escort. Not the same car.

Thanks Beowulf. I think it was probably early last year when I called him. I assumed he was still in the Wairarapa, but I think from memory I phoned his mobile number. I have sent Roger Brader a link to this site, would be great if he came on board.

OT - Wayne Fuller married my sister's best friend from school. I think she was Miss Wairarapa at the time (Mrs F, not my sister :))

He was also known as Fred

Hay Jac, you're wrong about Marty, he worked for two garages in Sydenham, (possibly more) after he and Clyde split, then he wowked for me, (about 21 years ago), then for a car sales in Yauldhurst road. I dunno wot's happened to him since then, though.
PK.

Murray built and raced the one I have Bob, saw Murray about 20 years ago when I had the car stored in Whangaparoa and he recognized it and I lost contact with him after I shifted north. I may do some research with friends down there and try and make contact with him.

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Originally Posted by bob homewood

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Can someone please post more info re OSCA revival in November it could help with travel plans thanks

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Originally Posted by Steve Holmes

It was powder blue originally, then red/orange. As with all Clydes cars it was a great looking car. It later went to Bruce Bellis, who had a mega-motor built for it (will grab the details and post later) and ended up with Steve Vigurs who raced it for a while then used most of the mechanicals to build his Mitsubishi Celeste OSCA racer. The Cortina body went to the crusher. Don Elvy confirmed that for me.

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:pSticking my neck in the nose !!!!!!!!......True or False ????:p

Mr Bellis, Ex Police deptment, proprietor/owner, 'Coachman Steak House', owner of the Ex Clyde Collins OSCA/Cortina, part-time 'Boy' racer, ordered a ,as quoted;.."A mega Motor Built"...from a Sydney/Australia engine supplier/builder, in those times you could send a motor out of the country of New Zealand for 'reconditioning',re-importing the then 'rebuilt' item did not incur the heavy import duty//Tax a 'new' motor would,so our 'Boy racer,(a paid up member of the Christchurch 'Party People', Great Fridaynights!!) exported some old ,read 'Junk' engine with the required Number stamped in place..........well the rebuilt engine arrived and was installed, but the 'Australian' end didnt pick-up the 'dud at the Sydney Docks...some Custom's officer poking around ask's the question....'whats with this piece of Shite"????...checks the 'Con-note',does some research I'm guessing, only to find the same motor/number was exported back to NZ some week's/months before...........I seem to remember that the Cortina may have been impounded!!!!!!!......the engine removed ........Our Paul Kirk should remember in more detail, he was at some of those Friday Night parties......all the Car yards personal got together after the 9oclock close of bussiness,somebody always had a party going or out to the 'Russley' or the 'White Heron' for late drinks,the line up of American Muscle Cars was something else, could be up to twenty 'Left Hand Drive' cars linning the street............Just the Best Times....when 'SEX' was safe and 'Sky Diving' was DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!!!!.......................regards thunder427/MJ:cool::cool::cool:

Myles, Yes you are pretty close to the money on that one,I thought about that one ,when the car first started getting discussed on here ,Peter Molloy ? was it might be able to perhaps enlarge on that one,yeh what was the name of that other watering hole where the Osca boys used to meet up and drink ,something or other Tavern

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Originally Posted by thunder427

:pSticking my neck in the nose !!!!!!!!......True or False ????:p

Mr Bellis, Ex Police deptment, proprietor/owner, 'Coachman Steak House', owner of the Ex Clyde Collins OSCA/Cortina, part-time 'Boy' racer, ordered a ,as quoted;.."A mega Motor Built"...from a Sydney/Australia engine supplier/builder, in those times you could send a motor out of the country of New Zealand for 'reconditioning',re-importing the then 'rebuilt' item did not incur the heavy import duty//Tax a 'new' motor would,so our 'Boy racer,(a paid up member of the Christchurch 'Party People', Great Fridaynights!!) exported some old ,read 'Junk' engine with the required Number stamped in place..........well the rebuilt engine arrived and was installed, but the 'Australian' end didnt pick-up the 'dud at the Sydney Docks...some Custom's officer poking around ask's the question....'whats with this piece of Shite"????...checks the 'Con-note',does some research I'm guessing, only to find the same motor/number was exported back to NZ some week's/months before...........I seem to remember that the Cortina may have been impounded!!!!!!!......the engine removed ........Our Paul Kirk should remember in more detail, he was at some of those Friday Night parties......all the Car yards personal got together after the 9oclock close of bussiness,somebody always had a party going or out to the 'Russley' or the 'White Heron' for late drinks,the line up of American Muscle Cars was something else, could be up to twenty 'Left Hand Drive' cars linning the street............Just the Best Times....when 'SEX' was safe and 'Sky Diving' was DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!!!!.......................regards thunder427/MJ:cool::cool::cool:

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Yeah, Thunder, I did get seriously involved with the ex-Bellis Molloy Weslake 32 valve Chev engine, but it was after the customs went around to his workshop and siezed it. It went to auction as a Holden Racing engine, and was bought by Roy Granger who installed it in a speedway supersaloon and suffered much frustration and expense, then sold it to another speedway competitor on the west coast (probably Greymouth). He later reposesed it (because he didn't get paid for it), and asked me if I was interested in putting it together for him. Like a silly buggar (I liked a chalange) I said "Yes".
Well, there's a long, and some may say, interesting story to be told and if anybody's interested I'll put pen to paper (so to speak), and tell that story another day!
PK.

Hey Paul it would be neat to hear more of the Weslake Chevy.
I remember it being for sale...the engine...years ago.
From memory it had been in a jet boat?
It is still in NZ somewhere, I remember reading about it in the NZHRM a year or 2 ago.
A grouse looking engine!!!

Rodney

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Originally Posted by thunder427

:pSticking my neck in the nose !!!!!!!!......True or False ????:p

Mr Bellis, Ex Police deptment, proprietor/owner, 'Coachman Steak House', owner of the Ex Clyde Collins OSCA/Cortina, part-time 'Boy' racer, ordered a ,as quoted;.."A mega Motor Built"...from a Sydney/Australia engine supplier/builder, in those times you could send a motor out of the country of New Zealand for 'reconditioning',re-importing the then 'rebuilt' item did not incur the heavy import duty//Tax a 'new' motor would,so our 'Boy racer,(a paid up member of the Christchurch 'Party People', Great Fridaynights!!) exported some old ,read 'Junk' engine with the required Number stamped in place..........well the rebuilt engine arrived and was installed, but the 'Australian' end didnt pick-up the 'dud at the Sydney Docks...some Custom's officer poking around ask's the question....'whats with this piece of Shite"????...checks the 'Con-note',does some research I'm guessing, only to find the same motor/number was exported back to NZ some week's/months before...........I seem to remember that the Cortina may have been impounded!!!!!!!......the engine removed ........Our Paul Kirk should remember in more detail, he was at some of those Friday Night parties......all the Car yards personal got together after the 9oclock close of bussiness,somebody always had a party going or out to the 'Russley' or the 'White Heron' for late drinks,the line up of American Muscle Cars was something else, could be up to twenty 'Left Hand Drive' cars linning the street............Just the Best Times....when 'SEX' was safe and 'Sky Diving' was DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!!!!.......................regards thunder427/MJ:cool::cool::cool:

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Yeah, Thunder, I did get seriously involved with the ex-Bellis Molloy Weslake 32 valve Chev engine, but it was after the customs went around to his workshop and siezed it. It went to auction as a Holden Racing engine, and was bought by Roy Granger who installed it in a speedway supersaloon and suffered much frustration and expense, then sold it to another speedway competitor on the west coast (probably Greymouth). He later reposesed it (because he didn't get paid for it), and asked me if I was interested in putting it together for him. Like a silly buggar (I liked a chalange) I said "Yes".
Well, there's a long, and some may say, interesting story to be told and if anybody's interested I'll put pen to paper (so to speak), and tell that story another day!
PK.

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Originally Posted by nzboss

Hey Paul it would be neat to hear more of the Weslake Chevy.
I remember it being for sale...the engine...years ago.
From memory it had been in a jet boat?
It is still in NZ somewhere, I remember reading about it in the NZHRM a year or 2 ago.
A grouse looking engine!!!

Rodney

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Yeah Boss, after Roy finished here and went to Oz one of the jetsprint guys bought it and stuck it in a short hull, but he barely used it due to work commitments, another jetsprinter bought it for the same purpose but they couldn't use the torque of it (mainly because technology in the jet units was not advanced enough to efficiently harness 650 ft/lb, and hull design was not helping either), so it was purchased by somebody who I understand used it as a lounge ornament/furnature! That was probably 20 years ago so who knows what's happened to it now? I can follow that up, actually, as I do WoFs for his son.
PK.

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Originally Posted by thunder427

:pSticking my neck in the nose !!!!!!!!......True or False ????:p

Mr Bellis, Ex Police deptment, proprietor/owner, 'Coachman Steak House', owner of the Ex Clyde Collins OSCA/Cortina, part-time 'Boy' racer, ordered a ,as quoted;.."A mega Motor Built"...from a Sydney/Australia engine supplier/builder, in those times you could send a motor out of the country of New Zealand for 'reconditioning',re-importing the then 'rebuilt' item did not incur the heavy import duty//Tax a 'new' motor would,so our 'Boy racer,(a paid up member of the Christchurch 'Party People', Great Fridaynights!!) exported some old ,read 'Junk' engine with the required Number stamped in place..........well the rebuilt engine arrived and was installed, but the 'Australian' end didnt pick-up the 'dud at the Sydney Docks...some Custom's officer poking around ask's the question....'whats with this piece of Shite"????...checks the 'Con-note',does some research I'm guessing, only to find the same motor/number was exported back to NZ some week's/months before...........I seem to remember that the Cortina may have been impounded!!!!!!!......the engine removed ........Our Paul Kirk should remember in more detail, he was at some of those Friday Night parties......all the Car yards personal got together after the 9oclock close of bussiness,somebody always had a party going or out to the 'Russley' or the 'White Heron' for late drinks,the line up of American Muscle Cars was something else, could be up to twenty 'Left Hand Drive' cars linning the street............Just the Best Times....when 'SEX' was safe and 'Sky Diving' was DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!!!!.......................regards thunder427/MJ:cool::cool::cool:

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Yeah, Thunder, I did get seriously involved with the ex-Bellis Molloy Weslake 32 valve Chev engine, but it was after the customs went around to his workshop and siezed it. It went to auction as a Holden Racing engine, and was bought by Roy Granger who installed it in a speedway supersaloon and suffered much frustration and expense, then sold it to another speedway competitor on the west coast (probably Greymouth). He later reposesed it (because he didn't get paid for it), and asked me if I was interested in putting it together for him. Like a silly buggar (I liked a chalange) I said "Yes".
Well, there's a long, and some may say, interesting story to be told and if anybody's interested I'll put pen to paper (so to speak), and tell that story another day!
PK.