RIP Robin Tanner

TANNER, Robin Benjamin. Born May 26, 1942 of Taupiri Bay, Northland. A warrior in the face of cancer to the end on 31 December 2018. 75 years young, partner of Phyllis Wirori, father extraordinaire to Angela, Lisa and Yvonne. Grandfather to Dylan, Rachel, Jesse, Ben, Alex, Thomas and Cameron. Great grandfather to Richie. Respects can be made to Robin at the Taupiri Bay home on Wednesday 2nd January


Robin - 141 -was known for racing his 39 Ford Coupes 1 or 2 with Corvette engines he also purchased a few cars from Rod Coppins and raced those, including the now only remaining Pontiac Firebird factory team race car.

Robin was my inspiration to get into cars, without him I may not have been doing with cars what I do now.

Here is Robin drag racing the 39 ford Corvette. (check out the side draft webers)
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I got to know Robin very well over the last few years, he was everything from the bad boy of circuit racing to a true gentleman. I also met with his daughters and they loved looking over the Firebird that he ran in the mid 70's.

He is one of those people who I am really thankful to have known and had a positive influence in my life.

Farewell my friend.

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Sad to hear Bruce...……...RIP Robin Tanner.

Sad news. RIP Robin.

Lets have a few more of Robin and his cars.

Robin at Pukekohe GP meeting 1975.

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Bruce- I cant post pix so I have sent one of Robin with his car, please post when you receive it.A sad loss , though he has left us memories
of what he had a passion for.

This pic was used on the funeral service sheet, taken by Gerard Richards it shows Robin waiting on the pre grid with George Bunce's Monaro (previous the Team Cambridge car) at Pukekohe.

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Bruce and Paul,
I am sorry to hear of the loss of your friend Robin.
Bruce I know you will be able to add a good description of what is happening in this photo. Was it at the same meet at Pukekohe as the previous photo ?
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(Ken H)

This is one of my favorites and is featured in my upcoming book.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by khyndart in CA

Bruce and Paul,
I am sorry to hear of the loss of your friend Robin.
Bruce I know you will be able to add a good description of what is happening in this photo. Was it at the same meet at Pukekohe as the previous photo ?
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(Ken H)

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This was Bay Park, Ken, at the start of the race there was a stall ahead of Robin, someone behind got a flying start and hit Robin hard, a V8 Cortina I think he said which was a mess compared to the Firebird. This pic was given to me by Peter Hanna at the Bay Park office not long before he closed shop.

Here are some older shots of Robin Tanner with the 39 Ford Corvette Coupe.
Pretty sure this car was channeled and roof chopped.

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Photos by Allan Porter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Paul B

Here are some older shots of Robin Tanner with the 39 Ford Corvette Coupe.
Pretty sure this car was channeled and roof chopped.

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Photos by Allan Porter

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Absolutely, chopped and channeled and it had a Jaguar S type gear box, too bad it had Rams Horns exhaust manifolds and mediocre heads (not fuelies) The car is in the South Island now and will be restored. I think Robin bought the carbs and manifold off the Urqhuart brothers.

Here is another shot of Robin in the Edelbrock special.
I think this is the Coupe I remember Robin test driving up our street in Aeroview Drive in the circa 1966 or so. Man did that thing go and we would have been a blurr on the side of the street watching him go passed.

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Photo came from Bruce302 (not sure of origin)