This is Graham McRae, and his McLaren M10A, celebrating his victory parade on the back of a trailer being pulled by a tractor, having just won the Teretonga round of the 1970 Tasman Series. Ron Grable and Mike Goth are also pictured on the trailer next to McRae's car, having finished the race in second and third positions
The crowds were let out onto the edges of the track to cheer on the drivers.
And again, moments later.
? is that Graeme Lawrence sitting on front leftwheel
Yes, looks like it Rod. Maybe he was awarded with first Kiwi resident driver home?
If he was first Kiwi home, then he would be entitled.
He finished 4th outright, but I'm only making a guess he was awarded first Kiwi driver. Was McRae classified as an international driver in 1970?
Continuing on from the two photos posted above, the crowd here disperses as the parade lap moves on.
Some tin top action. Grady Thomson in the Monaro, who appears to be in a sort of allcomers race. John M, you'll know more about this than me, was Thomson not allowed to run in the NZ Saloon Car Championship races, or were the South Island allcomer/OSCA cars allowed IN to the NZ Saloon Car Championship race? Anyway, chasing Thomson is (I think) Gary Sprague in the orange Anglia. Who are the others?
Red Dawson overcooks the Mustang.
Steve H- The saloons here were racing in the contravercial but highly successful Mercury $1000 Series.
Imagine racing for money now.
A.B. assures me that there is at least 30 metres between the cars and the spectators, the camera lens focusing on the cars makes the background appear closer.
No green MK 1 Consul on the road here.
Still the only colour pic I have of the car.
The colour of the pix are absolutely fantastic, the cars look as if they are right in front of us right now.
These spoil me , I want to see more............please.
Last edited by John McKechnie; 08-01-2013 at 01:46 AM.
Peter Kocis , driving ex Sprague Anglia , as he painted it orange soon after he purchased it actually it looked better in his colours. RIP Pete
Thanks for this Grant. Are you able to help with the other drivers? The second Anglia looks like the old Fahey car?
Ahhh, thanks John, now it all makes sense. So this wasn't taken at the same weekend as the Tasman Series pictures above?Originally Posted by John McKechnie
Another shot of Dawson, this time being harassed by Brian Crosbie.
Steve- Yes , same weekend as the Tasman, Saloons ran their own class at the same time as Tasman
When Tasman cars went to Aus, the saloons kept racing the Mercury Series.
Following year-1971- Fahey ran Escort in NZ Saloon Car series at Wigram and the Mustang in the Mercury Series at Wigram on the same weekend.
Brian seemed [to me as a kid] to come out of no where , & showed a clean peer of heels , I did not know much about him . came up to Levels to prove a point in super cars .. was very fast considering .... in a firebird , Look at the attitude of Red,s car big weight change [burning outside tyres] , Brian,s car like a trained marching girl ............. Beaut piks really cool to see these thank you
Brian bought an excellent well sorted car compliments of Dave Simpson when it was Lexington . The Firebird is a sad story, according to A.B, should have been a dream , but no and that was it.. He used to race a Renault Gordini , quite well too.He and Kocis- both fast.
I telephoned Brian to see if he had any pix of he and Grady, answer was no, gave him the TRS thread hoping he would come on board, but nothing...so far.
Last edited by John McKechnie; 08-02-2013 at 11:25 AM.
The DKW Junior that he raced prior to the R8 & R10 Gordini's was a good car as well.
I do not think that Brian Crosbie bought the Escort from Dave Simpson rather it was his brother Bill.
Was his last race in the Firebird at Timaru? Great photo in Motorman at the time with wheels in the dirt but kept it together to carry on.
The Firebird was sold by W.F. and Brian Crosbie rocked up at Wigram expecting to race a new Z28 which was onsold on the eve of the race!!
Last edited by Kwaussie; 08-02-2013 at 12:57 PM.
The Crosbie R8 still lives in a collection in Christchurch. Possibly almost a hoarder.
Hardly surprising it has been hoarded.
We had one of the standard Renault R10 as a family car and they were a rocket.
Do you have the specs on this Gordini , Rhys- as a genuine thing it must be a rare car, or did he modify a normal car?
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