Thunder427 / Myles Johnson/ ex Christchurch/Melbounre based since 1970

[thunder427]

I'm a product of a father who was actively involved with motorsport,I,from the age of ten went to Aranui Speedway on most Saturday night's (Ronnie Moore,Barry Brigggs,Ivan Mauger).....Canterbury Car club Gymkhana's,Elismere grass track meetings,Wigram Trophy race each year,as he was involved with 'Lap scoring and Timing at the event,(lots of great memories,Sprauge in the MK3,Giff Tates big roll over in the Corvette powered Chev Coupe).....Scrambles on a wet Sunday......Wiamate 50 ..(first time I travelled at 100MPH in a BIG Dark Green Humber Supersnipe..(NB;Didnt seem that fast!!)....Dunedin 'round the House'.....sorta didnt miss much......got a Liscence (15 YRSold).......assisted with the 'clay drive' for the building of Ruaphuna Raceway.....drove to the opening of Levels Raceway/Timaru in a MK1 Zephyer Convertable with 3 other 'Great Pretenders' ...Z Car tripmeter clocked over, Timaru side of Ashburton, 999999...Click!! Back to Zero....sat on the side of the road at 4.am in the morning and had a beer,as you did!!!......was at the gate when they opened for business.....did all the other events Hillclimbs,Renwick,Club Rallye's,.....then I discovered the world of HOT RODDING still a 'Black Art' at that time, but it definately had me Attention.........Started 'Kustom Car Club Inc' in Christchurch,was actively involved with the formative years of NZHRA,Created and ran 'Autorama'; Rod and Custom shows in ChCh.........all this was pre 'Commercialisem'......Australia had a job going for an assistant to the Promotor of Calder Park/Melbourne ..seemed like a good move at the time......and the rest is History,as they say!!.................So pleased that Steve Has created this Great Forum ..Job well done!!!......I look forward to the Many 'flashbacks' to come........ sorry about the 'Longwinded' pre-amble/overview!!!!.............Welcome to everyone,'Kiwiboss' included, ......regards thunder427/MJ

[bob homewood]

Myles,
Welcome here mate ,great to catch up with you in yet another place ,yes I am sure there are some good stories wating there
Bob

[Steve Holmes]

Gidday Myles, its great to have you here. We'll all be looking forward to your contributions. I'm especially excited to learn more about your time with Bob Jane. Anything on his HQ Monaro would be great, its one of my all-time favourite race cars.

[Kiwiboss]

I wouldn't believe a word this guy say's!! LOL!! He was going to bring the BJ Camaro over for the McLaren then Amon Festivals an i never saw him!! but knowing Myles he probably was there walking around in his "Invisable" suit so no one could see him, LOL, LOL. Welcome onboard Myles!! hey? how do you spell "Melbourne" bloody Aussie Kiwi's!! LOL

I'll see you the Muscle Car Masters, Eastern Creek Myles!!

Dale Mathers

[thunder427]

I wouldn't believe a word this guy say's!! LOL!! He was going to bring the BJ Camaro over for the McLaren then Amon Festivals an i never saw him!! but knowing Myles he probably was there walking around in his "Invisable" suit so no one could see him, LOL, LOL. Welcome onboard Myles!! hey? how do you spell "Melbourne" bloody Aussie Kiwi's!! LOL

I'll see you the Muscle Car Masters, Eastern Creek Myles!!

Dale Mathers

....Dale, would you believe I spelt Melbourne that way just to see if anybody was 'Awake on that side of the ditch,how about I don't remember how to spell Melbounre,would you really buy a 'used Mustang' from this man!!!!!!!!!!?................much regards to you ,Myles from Nowhere!!

[thunder427]

....was filling away on a 'Calfornian Special' hood scoop today thinking about my intro being a bit of a 'ramble'...got to thinking I missed a few events,Cust/the Annual Motor Bike weekend held at the rural district of Cust in the South Island ,Solo's ,Sidecars/Outfits,Black bikes ,white or alloy fairings,Black Leathers,white helmets,my father knew some Farmer where we could sit over looking the track with that Picnic Hamper containing the regulation 'EGG & BACON' pie with a large bottle of RED cordial (always half warm/but wet!!)("your not drnking 'Coke Cola',will rot your bloody teeth!!")........then I remember how suspicious my mother was when we 'Rented' a house at 37 Kellys Rd,just happened to be the 'Back Leg' of the Maihrehu Road Race,My Fathers shares dropped somewhat when on 'Race Day' the front lawn was full of free loaders (PS; Friends of Dad's....."What people love ,don't know any of them!!!")......then there was Christmas each year at 'Tahunui Beach/Nelson for the Beach races (Frank Shuter/Bill Harris who only raced on Sunday as he was a practising Seventh Day Adventist,locals like Wynson Watson in a Healey,'Housey' Logan in a 'Palmbeach' Allard ) ...........then there was Saturday/Tram Road/Christchurch ,'Flying Kilo'/standing 1/4mile,with some 'guy' from Dunedin on a Streamline Motor bike,when this guy put a pass down my Father always dragged me back from the Fence........throw in the odd Airshow,Remote Control Planes,Teather Cars......and they talk about the 'Wacko' people were 'Brain washed'...........its been a great ride so far and far from over.......see you at Eastern Creek Dale.......regards Thunder427/MJ

NB;remember all these events where run before the 'Dollar' ruled the waves !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thunder427]

Gidday Myles, its great to have you here. We'll all be looking forward to your contributions. I'm especially excited to learn more about your time with Bob Jane. Anything on his HQ Monaro would be great, its one of my all-time favourite race cars.

Steve, PM a mailing address and I shall send you a great art/poster of the Monaro, the only time it was painted 'Yellow', for Sandown..around 1975/6
Bob had been in America on bussiness and the advertising department had decided that 'GO',was Yellow', the Monaro that weekend turned the First ever 100mph lap for a 'tintop'...I think Bob was trying to get it back to 'Race Shop' before to many people saw it........great for me as I was offered the job to put it ,the Monaro, back to Bob Jane Racing 'Orange'.....another story another time.......regards thunder427/MJ