Photos: The Bruce Wells Collection - Warwick Farm - Part 3

[Steve Holmes]

A slightly lower-key chapter is this one, what with being book-ended by photo collections from the 1965 and 1966 Tasman Series events (1966 to follow soon), but the photos from this chapter, taken at two Warwick Farm events in late 1965, as always, provide a fantastic insight into the domestic Australian racing scene at this time.

This chapter is relatively short. The first section contains just six photos, and is from the practice session at a July 1965 event. The second section is from December 1965.

As always, help with identifying some drivers is always appreciated, so please jump in if you can help.

Here is the Bruce Wells Collection, from Warwick Farm, Part 3.

[Steve Holmes]

Kicking this off here are the first two road racing Mustangs in Australia, those of Norm Beechey and Bob Jane. Note that the right rear wheel on Jane's car is slightly up off the ground!

[Steve Holmes]

Beechey again, this time carving around the outside of a Lotus Cortina. I've checked through countless Lotus Cortina photos from this period, but am struggling to ID this driver.

[Steve Holmes]

Might need our resident humpy Holden expert Ellis to help with this hard-leaning FJ and determined pilot.

[Steve Holmes]

Bob Jane was also running his beautiful lightweight E Type with hard lid attached.

[Dale Harvey]

The first shot is Peter Manton and John Harvey.

Dale.

[Greg Mackie]

Bit of a guess....Lotus Cortina behind Beechey [#3] could be John Uren.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Greg, unfortunately so little of the car is visible its hard to know for sure.

[Steve Holmes]

The first shot is Peter Manton and John Harvey.

Dale.

Thats right Dale, I've got another great shot of the Manton/Harvey battle from this event coming up.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, next shot, Bruce has nicely captured Bob Jane's ill-fated Mustang which ended its short career at Catalina Park in November 1965, just a couple of months after this photo was taken.

[Steve Holmes]

Last photo from this event, and its Norm Beechey in his famous Mustang that won the 1965 ATCC. Note the car is fitted with 5-spoke racing wheels here. For the first few months it ran, including the ATCC, it had solid steel wheels. The 5-spokes would have provided a huge improvement in brake cooling.

[Steve Holmes]

This next event is from December 1965. Kicking things off here Spencer Martin in the Scuderia Veloce Ferrari, just picking up the inside front wheel.

[Steve Holmes]

Another wonderful shot, of Greg Cusack hustling along in the Lotus 23.

[hilstwist]

I realise this has probably been discussed before but is this the same ferrari that Andrew Buchanan raced?

[Oldfart]

yes

[Steve Holmes]

I know Kevin Bartlett drove both Alfa Giulia and GTA's for Alec Mildren, so which one is he driving here? I'd take a punt and say he is in the Giulia, as he tended to wear a light coloured silver helmet at this time and the driver of the GTA appears to be wearing a darker coloured lid. The Lotus Cortina in the first shot appears to be Max Volkers. Who is driving the Cooper S?

[Cooper997]

Great site Steve. The Bruce Wells photos are brilliant and cover many great cars...

The #7 Lotus Cortina lurking behind Beechey's #4 Mustang in post #3 should be Bill Orr's example.

The #15 Cooper S in post #16 should be Phil Barnes metallic purple example.

As far as the Alfa's, they should be Italian works Alfa driver, Roberto Bussinello in the #8 GTA and KB in the #47 Ti Super.

Worth noting is that the July 18th 1965 Warwick Farm race meeting took place of August 8th. Torrential rain causing cancellation for the former date. While the later date was already designated for an AARC Club Members meeting.

Stephen

[Steve Holmes]

Oh, wow, Stephen that is fantastic! Thanks for posting these details. Its great to fill in the gaps. Re Bussinello, did he bring his own car out or was this locally prepared?

Given your Username, you'll no doubt enjoy these amazing shots of the battling John Harvey and Peter Mantons Cooper S's. Love the attitude on these cars.

[Cooper997]

Steve, the Alfas were the resident Mildren cars, that KB normally got to play with. Bussinello was out to drive the GTA in the Sandown 6 hour, held on November 21, 1965. While Frank Gardner & KB took the race-winning honors in the Ti Super that day. It was that cars' second 6 hour win.

Yes nothing like a limited slip to get the front wheels smoking on a Cooper S. Harvey was the new kid on the block, normally it would be Manton & Foley fighting it out like those great Wells photos depict.

Mini Coopers and Cooper racing cars are my main interest.

Stephen

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Stephen, Mildren also had a right hand drive GTA didn't they?