Racing Minis have always provided excellent racing and a great spectacle. The under 1000cc class through the 60s and 70s was well subscribed with the fine little BMC creations - and a few Hillman Imps kept everyone honest.
Here are a few images from Pukekohe during the heyday of Mini saloon racing.
Peter Sharp
Reg Cook
Alan Boyle
Roy Harrington (lightning fast hand grenade, this one. Did it become the Sidchrome Imp?)
Last edited by Shano; 06-30-2011 at 01:55 AM.
Great idea Shano! This should be pretty popular. Whose is the #165 Imp?
OK.....we might get into this. Foggy, can you get A into G and write something then I may be able to reply!
ok so here are some for you
Interesting that you should post that picture with the Zephyr Ute. That was taken by a friend of mine many years ago at, I believe, Levin!
Yes Jeff, my father, Barrie McBride. There are I believe few of your photos as well. As he did not indicate specifically which one I have been unable to assign credit to you. check out the 4 Barrie McBride threads.Originally Posted by jdlaw75
Last edited by seaqnmac27; 04-26-2014 at 10:25 PM.
Aha! I didn't recognise your nom-de-plume! Thanks for the heads-up.
Back in the 'old' days, I had a 1960 850 Mini, which become somewhat tired in the engine department. In late 1964, I bought a brand-new 1100 engine (in it's original wooden crate) from the Wanganui BMC dealer, and fitted it to the Mini, with considerable assistance from my brother, Ron Law (he who is mentioned above in relation to his Escort van). With a Cooper cam and exhaust manifold, twin SUs, and a Hamlin and Charles head-job (beautiful workmanship) it was quite a little pocket-rocket. I did several hill-climbs and also circuit sprints at Levin - heaps of fun! It's one major failing was the pathetic, original Mini brakes but, as Ettore Bugatti famously said, I built it to go, not to stop!
Some more
A few more
Mary Carney
Greg Dervan
It was called the Braemar Imp and the sponsorship was E Seay, which was an earthmoving company in South Auckland. I don;t know more than that.
Time for a story.
The NZ saloon car championship was decided by the driver with the greatest number of points over all the classes. Last race of the season, Rodger Anderson in his 1275 Mini Cooper and Spinner Black in his Camaro were tied.
They decided on a match race, one-on-one to decide the title. To this day it remains one of the most exciting spectacles I have ever seen. The Camaro blew past the Mini along the back straight at Puke, with the Mini diving past under brakes at the hairpin, the Camaro overtaking again down the pit straight and the Mini returning the favour around turn one.
The crowd was on its feet going nuts. Of course the Camaro should win, especially at Pukekohe, but the Mini was putting up a spirited defence and the crowd sensed an old-fashioned underdog-made-good moment.
Spinner Black won and next year Anderson trotted out the magnificent BMW 2002Ti Alpina.
Last edited by Shano; 06-30-2011 at 02:03 AM.
No.7 (with reg.587 324) was taken by me at Ohakea (1962) I believe. It is G.B.A.'Doc' Cowie from Masterton.
I had the pleasure of competing against him (he in his Cooper S), me in my 1100 Mini, at a Levin Circuit Sprint. He had the speed on the straights, but my Mini handled like a roller-skate, so we traded times all day. Great fun!
I LOVE Imps. They make great looking race cars when fitted with flared wheel arches and tiny fat Minilites. George Bevan fielded a few examples in the UK very successfully. I've no idea where I got this shot from, I seem to have collected quite a few over the years.
I think these cars provided some of the most exciting racing around. How many times did the lead change in a single lap. I can remember two or three wide coming over Rothmans heading for the chequered flag and unless you were on the line it was a case of wait for the call. I loved Roy Harringtons bright yellow Imp and yes it was quick but seemed to suffer from mechanical gremlins too often.
Chucking off the fanbelt and overheating more often than not, if I recall. Poor bugger. A crowd favourite all the same.
And there were Riley Elfs too
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
