Photos: The Graeme Bennett Collection - Part 1

[rogered]

These photos show the complete field of race 1 at the April 7 1974 meeting at Pukekohe. That's right, just four cars.

As well as the three drivers mentioned by Steve there was a late entry from Sue Adams in a 3-litre Capri.

In practice Richards did a 1.28.2, Bennett a 1.31.3, Scott a 1.32.7 and Adams a 1.36.2.

Because of the shortage of entries the organisers reduce the race distance from 10 laps to six. Bennett's Charger retired early in the race with no oil pressure. Richards made a race of it by staying just ahead of Scott, both of them "throwing their cars through the corners in fine style". Sue Adams stalled at the start but did finish and collected the third place prize money of $40.

That charger is on grid 2 next to a GT falcon and in front of a 350 monaro.
Its not an E49 so that would seem a pretty good performance
so was it a v8 or a 265 auto???

[Milan Fistonic]

The programme has Bennett's car as a Chrysler Charger 770 of 4343cc.

[Steve Holmes]

0-1300cc action here, with the Mini's of Reg Cook and Rex Hart, plus Jim Stone's Escort. Note the wheel diameter on the Cook Mini.

[Steve Holmes]

[seaqnmac27]

Time for some OSCA/Sports Sedan action. In the early 1980s, when Sports Sedan racing was just getting off the ground and getting some momentum going, North Island event organisers regularly had South Island OSCA teams up to run, to both help boost car numbers, and create a good healthy dose of North/South rivalry.

This shot shows what was really the fastest racing sedan in NZ throughout the first half of the 1980s, Trevor Crowe's first Olds V8 powered Starlet. It was impressive how quick this car was.

Attachment 18090

Was looking through my collection of Motor Actions last week for the Bailey Escort, and I came across a picture of this car on its race debut in what in black and white looks like "virginal" white. when I have a moment, which I do have very little of at the moment I will scan and post it.

[Rod Grimwood]

seaqnmac27, is that with the maroon ACL Finance (i think) on it

[seaqnmac27]

Not sure Rod, but it is from early 1980 with no wings asit is at the beginning of the OSCA DVD Evan did.

[Steve Holmes]

Was looking through my collection of Motor Actions last week for the Bailey Escort, and I came across a picture of this car on its race debut in what in black and white looks like "virginal" white. when I have a moment, which I do have very little of at the moment I will scan and post it.

Yep thats right Sean, it was just plain white when it first appeared, then had some stripes applied during the season. But it didn't have the large rear wing and still had small diameter wheels. But even then it was a fast little car.

[Steve Holmes]

More action from the 1976 season, with Jack Nazer, Grant Walker, and Red Dawson.

[Steve Holmes]

And possibly on the same day as those posted above, but I assume its later in the day. Leo Leonard and the PDL Mustang is just slipping out of shot, in its last season in front line racing. Note the damage to Nazer's Victor. I assume he and Leonard had another of their famous roughing-up sessions.

[seaqnmac27]

Time for some OSCA/Sports Sedan action. In the early 1980s, when Sports Sedan racing was just getting off the ground and getting some momentum going, North Island event organisers regularly had South Island OSCA teams up to run, to both help boost car numbers, and create a good healthy dose of North/South rivalry.

This shot shows what was really the fastest racing sedan in NZ throughout the first half of the 1980s, Trevor Crowe's first Olds V8 powered Starlet. It was impressive how quick this car was.

Attachment 18090

Second from top the Crowe Starlet Mark 1 on debut, from the report it was finished in the paddock during practise as they had on got the bodyshell 2 weeks earlier. The top picture features Gary Jenkins in the exDickie Victor leading John Osborne Inky Tulloch Ian Munt and Rod McElrea, not sure who car 53 in the background is.

[Steve Holmes]

Great work Sean! Man it really looks modest in that photo!

[Steve Holmes]

More OSCA/Sports Sedan action from Pukekohe. John Osborne heads Inky Tulloch.

[Steve Holmes]

Another shot of the awesome Tulloch Capri.

[Steve Holmes]

Its amazing how some of these cars evolved, and raced for so many years. Here is the '67 Shelby Mustang, raced by Bob Egan in the Trans-Am, before it was bought by New Zealand born Bob Kennett. Kennett ran it in the Trans-Am in 1970, replacing his Porsche 911, which had been outlawed by the SCCA. He then did a swap with Dexter Dunlop (for a McRae?), and Dunlop took it to NZ and raced it from late 1971. It then went to Kevin Haig in the South Island, who won the OSCA championship with it, before it was passed through more owners. I think Lawrence Bruce also owned it? By the early 1980s, it was still charging hard. Its now in Queensland, as part of the Bowden collection.

[Steve Holmes]

Its amazing to consider these are the same two Ford Capri's, albeit these photos were taken a few years apart!

[Steve Emson]

Its amazing how some of these cars evolved, and raced for so many years. Here is the '67 Shelby Mustang, raced by Bob Egan in the Trans-Am, before it was bought by New Zealand born Bob Kennett. Kennett ran it in the Trans-Am in 1970, replacing his Porsche 911, which had been outlawed by the SCCA. He then did a swap with Dexter Dunlop (for a McRae?), and Dunlop took it to NZ and raced it from late 1971. It then went to Kevin Haig in the South Island, who won the OSCA championship with it, before it was passed through more owners. I think Lawrence Bruce also owned it? By the early 1980s, it was still charging hard. Its now in Queensland, as part of the Bowden collection.

My son Brett had a good tussle with this car in his XU1 during the Muscle car shoot out at Qld Raceway many years ago. I think Dan was driving the mustang. It looks a lot different now. I don't think we have any photos of it. i think Dan & Brett had a good laugh about it afterwards, as they both really enjoyed themselves. Brett had the luck to be the 2nd fastest car in Queensland that day.

[Rod Grimwood]

Did Slade own this Mustang at one stage.

[Kiwiboss]

My son Brett had a good tussle with this car in his XU1 during the Muscle car shoot out at Qld Raceway many years ago. I think Dan was driving the mustang. It looks a lot different now. I don't think we have any photos of it. i think Dan & Brett had a good laugh about it afterwards, as they both really enjoyed themselves. Brett had the luck to be the 2nd fastest car in Queensland that day.

How it looks today!!

[Steve Holmes]

Did Slade own this Mustang at one stage.

Yes he did Rod and I suspect that might be him in the car pictured above, but I couldn't say with 100% certainty, so left that bit blank.