Old Programmes, movies and memories from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies.

[Rex Bentham]

Wow, what a lineup of drivers. Little wonder they drew such huge crowds.
I am wondering if there is any mention of a car I own, being entered in the sportscar races. Maybe 1958 or later.
White Jaguar XK150 FHC driven by Fred Crowther. Owner Bobby Wong.

[khyndart in CA]

Rex,
I am sorry I do not have a copy of the 1959 NZGP programme from Ardmore. I have the 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964 and 1969 Grand Prix programmes and I could not find your XK150 in any of those. It seems it was at the 1959 meet as you found out from Stu Buchanan.
"
("stubuchanan

05-24-2012, 10:44 AM

Bobby Wong was a top tennis player of the time - NZ under-19 champion in 1958 and under-17 champ in 1956. I think I remember him racing, maybe at Ardmore club circuit, but he must have been only 18 or 19 at the time. He entered the XK 150 for Crowther (?Frank) in the "Saloon Car" race at the 1959 GP meeting where Crowther was 3rd behind Archibald's XK150 and Gavin Quirk's 3.4 Jag.

Stu." )

So Rex, if anyone has the 1959 Ardmore programme out there it would neat to see your car on the entry list.
The 1959 programme cover would look like this ;


(Ken Hyndman)

[Rex Bentham]

Thanks Ken,
Apparently the car lost it's bonnet at a NSSC 1/4 mile sprint at Ardmore.
In an attempt to gain more power they tried to supercharge the engine, a Bill Sheilds worked
on the car. Bobby Wong sold it to Nado Dean July 1962.
BTW Bobby still lives in Auckland and I believe still plays the odd game of tennis.
Any more info on this car would be greatly appreciated.

[Powder]

Wow, what a lineup of drivers. Little wonder they drew such huge crowds.
I am wondering if there is any mention of a car I own, being entered in the sportscar races. Maybe 1958 or later.
White Jaguar XK150 FHC driven by Fred Crowther. Owner Bobby Wong.

Hi Rex, Your car was entered in the 1959 Ardmore Saloon Car Race, not the Sports Car Race (just XK120's on that list).

Malcolm