Thanks Peter, much appreciated.Originally Posted by Peter Nelson
Thanks Peter, much appreciated.
This video and those to follow courtesy Peter Nelson from his Youtube page.
The Taupo meeting mid March has changed its date and is now not the Classic Festival.
Update below.
October 8- TACCOC. ...........................Hampton Downs
November 12, 13-MG. Classic...........Manfield
January 14,15 -Ken Smith Festival...Hampton Downs- National Track
January 21, 21- Ken Smith Festival...Hampton Downs- International Track (Longer)
March 27,28 - Legends of Speed- Hampton Downs
April 8,9 - Hooters Vintage Series.....Taupo.
How Adrian Dobbe found the Warwick Gray Viva as a "barn find", this car was first raced in 1974.
"it all started with a race down the middle of Avondale in 2002.
I was driving around in my 1973 GTR Torana -had a Holden V6 in it, other car was a Torana XU1.
We stopped and got talking, turned out he was Chris, the son of Warwick Gray.
He started talking about his fathers old race car- a 1969 HB Viva, and that it could be for sale and that Warwick had built it up himself..
I thought to myself-who the hell wants to have a Viva ?
Nothing more happened for a couple of months until I bumped into Chris again, and we ended up at Warwicks place.
After a cup of coffee , , he took me down to the old shed where it took a good 10 minutes just to get the garage door open.
The car had been locked up there since 1984.....18 years !!!!!!!!!!!
Well, I looked at it and just fell inlove with the damn thing..
Warwick must have liked me, took my money and I came home with a Viva.
After all those years in the shed, we had it going within one hour.
One year later I had finished restoring it.
I didnt have to do anything to the engine except paint it.
Took it to Pukekohe , had a really neat, fun day and did a 1.06 after just 3 laps.
I have owned the car for 14 years now and still enjoy driving the damn thing.
I did Hampton Downs in 1.14 last year as it is so light and has great steering.
This is more there, but as I want to live longer, i am not the guy..
I had a video camera with me when I met the car for the first time in the barn, and John will put it on youtube and post the link here.
Last edited by John McKechnie; 08-26-2016 at 07:16 PM.
How cool is that?
Yes it is cool Rhys, and after pushing it in the pits at Legends it is light..!
Nice car and a great story.
Yep, every car has a story- another Barn Find would be Grimmies Escort.............
In a sort of a barn, not sure whether you would call it a barn as so many have known where it has been for years.
Even I remembered last week end.
I have a photo of me following this car at Baypark in my shellsport Datsun. Unfortunately you can only see the rear mudguard of this car. So you might say I know first hand how this car went.
Or the front of it here Steve.
Last edited by BMCBOY; 09-07-2016 at 05:43 AM.
The Viva received its Schedule K COD yesterday.
Your pics of these are so neat BMC boy.
Well done Adrian. Fantastic car and one of my favorites. Congratulations on receiving your COD. It is worth the the hardwork in getting it and the "H" is the icing on the cake.
Cheers
Bruce Dyer
HSC Director
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