Circuit Cars racing on the Quarter Mile

[Howard Wood]

In the '70s the Dunedin Festival of Speed was a simple quarter mile drag on one of the streets in the industrial part of town.

The Formula Pacfic cars I drove were owned by former Dunedinite John Anderson. We always took full advantage of various workshop facilities etc being offered in Dunedin by his mates during the South Island leg of the series and one year as a "thank you" to some particularly helpful help we ran the car in the Festival particularly as all these facility owners were also the Festival organisers.

No doubt someone here will know, but I can't recall if it was the March or the Lyncar nor the year. I do recall lining up in the final with local OSCA driver Kevin Haig who was in a thumping great, ground shaking 7 litre Camaro which rather dwarfed the Pacific car alongside it.

I also can't recall the final result or any other details other than that the road was incredibly bumpy and just after the finish I ran over a man hole cover which tore the rear suspension bracket off the bottom of the Hewland gearbox which of course required more local help to repair.

[Rod Grimwood]

May have the answer to OSCA as i am certain i have heard of Thorpe years back think he raced a Monaro. Or is this Lynn Neilsons example

[woody]

Rod, This is Lyn Neilson's Zephyr Corvette. He ran this car for one season. Mechanical problems meant he hardly ever finished a race. Vogue Motors was owned by Barry Vuyk.

[Rod Grimwood]

Rod, This is Lyn Neilson's Zephyr Corvette. He ran this car for one season. Mechanical problems meant he hardly ever finished a race. Vogue Motors was owned by Barry Vuyk.

Thanks Woody, Did Thorpe race in OSCA at some stage.

[shellsport]

Thanks Woody, Did Thorpe race in OSCA at some stage.

I think he ran a OSCA Monaro in Sydenham Park signage around the same time as his altered which he he had over here for a standing and flying at Orwell Creek Rd , Ahaura and if I recall was named " Wynns Wynder " , however this would have been forty years ago .

[225sloper]

Ruapuna dragstrip again NZ Hot Rod Magazine Sept 73,no other info but this photo,could of been taken by Norman Lee

[Bruce302]

I was talking to Robin Tanner who had the Firebird after Coppins and he took that down the strip in the low 12's also.
It was running in E/gas. I may be able to scan the time slip.

Bruce.

[John McKechnie]

Bruce- was it a special event or were there other race cars also?
Also what is E/gas

[Bruce302]

I'm not sure of the exact rules, but you must know what a "gasser" is. It is probably the most advantageous class for Robin to enter at the time. It probably would have fit into Super Stock, or Pro Stock, but they were hot classes then too.

Bruce- was it a special event or were there other race cars also?
Also what is E/gas

[225sloper]

NZ Hot Rod Magazine Feb 74.Red Dawson takes his Camaro to Meremere drags runs low 12s makes it to the final and wins.

[225sloper]

NZ Hot Rod Magazine April 74.Reg Cook in the Mini at Meremere also has a good day making his way through the feild,not sure the final result of this.

[225sloper]

Ruapuna drags NZ Hot Rod Magazine May 74,no other info photos taken by Norman Lee

[John McKechnie]

Any one got pix of Graham Williams giving the Team Cambridge Camaro death at the drags Teretaunga 1970?
Graham was Rod Coppins mechanic, set fastest time. day before race meeting.

[zombie289]

Ruapuna drags NZ Hot Rod Magazine May 74,no other info photos taken by Norman Lee

What can you guys tell me about the Cortina in the background of the middle shot??...

[225sloper]

Only info i could get was guys name was Richard Moon and Cortina had a Ford 289 power

[zombie289]

Cool....

[John A]

In the '70s the Dunedin Festival of Speed was a simple quarter mile drag on one of the streets in the industrial part of town.

The Formula Pacfic cars I drove were owned by former Dunedinite John Anderson. We always took full advantage of various workshop facilities etc being offered in Dunedin by his mates during the South Island leg of the series and one year as a "thank you" to some particularly helpful help we ran the car in the Festival particularly as all these facility owners were also the Festival organisers.

No doubt someone here will know, but I can't recall if it was the March or the Lyncar nor the year. I do recall lining up in the final with local OSCA driver Kevin Haig who was in a thumping great, ground shaking 7 litre Camaro which rather dwarfed the Pacific car alongside it.

I also can't recall the final result or any other details other than that the road was incredibly bumpy and just after the finish I ran over a man hole cover which tore the rear suspension bracket off the bottom of the Hewland gearbox which of course required more local help to repair.

It was indeed the Lyncar on its second visit to NZ. We were running an engine borrowed from Reg Cook after blowing our only remaining engine. The jetting was way rich but we did manage to take fastest time of the day and yes the manhole cover about stuffed the tub and damaged the rear skid plate as I recall.

[225sloper]

Wow thats amazing a manhole cover all sorts of obstacles on the street.I went to a street drags in Wanganui over 20 years ago and a dog ran out in front of a motorbike near the finish line it was only share luck that the rider missed it.

[225sloper]

Meremere dragstrip Jack Nazer in the Victor as shown in NZ Hot Rod Magazine June 75 photo by Allan Porter.

[stubuchanan]

Only info i could get was guys name was Richard Moon and Cortina had a Ford 289 power

Sign on Cortina's door reads "Winter Garden Motors". Can't make out bottom line but doesn't look like Christchurch. ? Ring a bell anwhere around NZ??

Stu