Article: Bay Park Big Bangers: Christmas 1973

[Steve Holmes]

A short time prior to the Bay Park Xmas event, Motorsport New Zealand announced that, due to government enforced racing fuel restrictions resulting from the international oil crisis, the majority of motorsport events in New Zealand were being cancelled, other than the main Tasman Series. Eventually, the decision was overturned, but it was too late for one of the international stars penned in to compete at Bay Park. The HDT Beast II was unloaded from the plane in which it was to be transported to New Zealand, and by the time the racing ban had been lifted, there wasn’t enough time to organise a place on another flight. So Brock was out. Fortunately, however, the Moffat Mustang would still appear in New Zealand.

When the Moffat Mustang last appeared in New Zealand twelve months earlier, it was painted in its familiar bright red colours. But with Brut 33 coming on board as major sponsors, the car looked very different in its new two-tone silver and green livery. Also, under the hood was a 351 motor, which Moffat used in private practice just prior to the Bay Park event. After producing some very quick lap times, the 351 failed, and so the spare, a 302, was dropped in as a replacement. According to articles at the time, the 302 was missing some parts, but Paul Fahey was able to provide these, although the delay had Moffat on the back-foot for the rest of the weekend.

The PDL Mustang also had its motor fail in practice, and the spare was fitted for the weekend.



Qualifying: Into qualifying, and it was Red Dawson all the way. Dawson had the big gold Camaro charging around the Bay Park layout, and punched out an impressive 60.8sec lap to grab pole. Baker, despite running the less powerful spare in the Mustang, was next, on 60.9. Fahey was third fastest in the Capri, which was garnering plenty of attention. The car arrived without spares, and it was geared wrong for Bay Park. He was pushing the new car hard, even going off track momentarily, and clipping the fence, though fortunately without causing any damage. He produced a best time of 61.0. Moffat was next, followed by Coppins (61.2), and Richards (61.4). Riley and Haig rounded out the top eight.

Race 1: The 20,000 strong crowd rose to their feet as the cars powered out of the pits, one by one, and began their warm-up for the first big sedan heat. The thunder of the V8s, the harsh raw of the V6 Capri, combined with the high-revving 4-cylinder cars filled the air with contrasting noises. The cars lined up on the grid, Dawson on pole, Baker alongside, and as the flag-man dropped the green, all hell broke loose as the big field blasted towards turn one. Dawson got away best, hurtled into turn one first, and charged down the back straight with his elbows out, with Baker in hot pursuit. Moffat beat Fahey away from the line, and tucked in behind Baker, with Richards and Coppins next as the field negotiated the first lap.



Across the start-finish line the first time, the big gold Camaro thundered across the stripe to complete the first of 8 laps. But while Baker was pushing hard in behind, Moffat began to drop off the pace. The silver Mustang appeared to be running on 7 cylinders, and he was quickly disposed of by Fahey. The Capri set off after Baker, while Moffat fell back into the clutches of Richards, who also went by, followed by Coppins.

Out front and Dawson was charging, and it didn’t look like Baker had an answer. In fact, his mirrors were being filled with the flying Fahey Capri, who climbed all over the back of the Mustang through the corners, only to be left behind on the straights once the big pink machine powered up through the gears.

Then, Dawson began having problems. First, a rear tyre began to deflate, then Dawson lost the use of second gear, and in an instant Baker and Fahey went through. But try as he did, Fahey couldn’t get past the Mustang, and Baker crossed the stripe first after 8 entertaining laps. Dawson nursed the Camaro home in third, ahead of Richards, Coppins, Moffat, Haig, Riley, and Brader.