Northern Sports Car Club - the early years.

[Roger Dowding]

I remember two incidents on the "club" circuit as it was known. In the first one one of the competitors was too far forward according to the start official and was asked to move back a few feet which he did, only to leave the car in reverse so when the flag dropped he went one way and the rest of the field went the other. I don't recall too much damage. In the second incident a competitor came round the stables corner, got into a major tank slapper, then veered across the grass in the centre of the track. There was only one car parked in the area and the un-named competitor got that car dead centre between the doors.

Allan, I remember another incident at the club circuit for the quickfire meeting that was run and televised around 1970.
A Triumph 2000 or 2500 broke a halfshaft coming past the stables on the right hand bend the halfshaft and wheel left the car and speared down the track. the errant part hit / was hit by a Mini in the front and looked like this afterwards [ no pic of the Triumph but here is the Mini ].



Hand drawn plan of the club circuit - from the NCSS Motorsport Day 1978 Regulations and Route Book.

[Roger Dowding]

Article in the Western Leader, the Suburban Newspapers West Auckland Edition is the following article.
there was previously a call by a someone through the NSCC website some months ago for information on the car, now Gordon who is 100 years old and still driving is looking for it.



Would suggest contacting the Western Leader, to get in contact with Gordon if anyone has information.
Western Leader, their phone number New Zealand 09 8370340

The Graham Vercoe Book " Historic Racing cars of New Zealand ", published in 1991 had this to say about GBS, Gordon brown and his " Specials ".

[Roger Dowding]

The Western Leader article was advised to me by my sister who lives in Massey, and new I was interested in the Cars of Gordon Brown, yesterday she took the article to Eddie Dowding, as he knew Gordon at the time of its construction, Gordon also lived in Herne Bay for a time as did Eddie, not at the same time though. Eddie was there from around 1929 to 1955.
Any information one the car please pass on to the Western Leader, or to me and I will contact them. either PM me or post on this thread. Am putting the picture, Western Leader Article and the Extract from Graham Vercoes book, on Facebook, to hopefully get some interest, and locate the car.
thanks

[Oldfart]

Roger, I am sure you know the reputation of the Vercoe book. While I admire Graham for tackling this immense task, do not rely on the veracity of it.

[Roger Dowding]

Roger, I am sure you know the reputation of the Vercoe book. While I admire Graham for tackling this immense task, do not rely on the veracity of it.

Agree Oldfart, [ both with the correctness of the book and the fact he even attempted it, - gives a base to work from ]. As Gordon says in the newspaper article car built in 1947, not 1949 but gives another photo of the car, which my Uncle Eddie remembers, more about getting the message out with my post.
cheers

[Trevor Sheffield]

I was around at the time and was particularly interested in Gordon Brown’s Ford Ten special as I also utilised a Ruckstell rear end in my Fiat Special. I would say1947 is correct. I recall, that a full article on the car was published in the first or second issue of a short lived sports car magazine at the time and it was this that promoted my interest.

To the best of my memory Gordon Brown built only one car, which first off amounted to the sole means of family and personal transport. Fairly promptly he acquired an early Ford V8 saloon and also used this in competition. Incidentally, as was then usual the special was never trailered. Whatever, the car was the first of an ongoing series and certainly deserves recognition.

[Roger Dowding]

I was around at the time and was particularly interested in Gordon Brown’s Ford Ten special as I also utilised a Ruckstell rear end in my Fiat Special. I would say1947 is correct. I recall, that a full article on the car was published in the first or second issue of a short lived sports car magazine at the time and it was this that promoted my interest.

To the best of my memory Gordon Brown built only one car, which first off amounted to the sole means of family and personal transport. Fairly promptly he acquired an early Ford V8 saloon and also used this in competition. Incidentally, as was then usual the special was never trailered. Whatever, the car was the first of an ongoing series and certainly deserves recognition.

Trevor, thanks for your comments, always good information .. my sister showed Eddie Dowding the article, as he remembered Gordon and his car too !!. Not sure if it has been mentioned but Jack Boot, who owned the Riley Bugatti, or was Bugatti Riley, was Eddie's brother-in-law and my Uncle too!!. Jack passed away before I knew him though, too young the date of the GBS is my year of birth, 1947 is quite a while ago, but 1916, Gordon's year of birth even more so..

Note ; Jack Boot passed away in February 1945 - so well before I arrived.

[Roger Dowding]

Here is the text from the request posted on NSCC's Facebook Pages in January 2015.
" Can you help?
A member of the public is trying to find a old car he built and raced. The information we have is below:
Known as: G B Special
Built by: Gordon Brown
Year: 1947 approx
Ford 10 Motor
Hillman 4 Speed Box
Ford T 2 Speed Differential
Plus many other bits
Rego: 235622
He raced it with the Northern Sports Car Club at the Muriwai Beach Meeting in 1948.
Also he has a little shield showing it got 1st in the Open Saloon Handicap at the N I Beach Championships 28/03/1953.
He has been searching for this car for a while but cannot find where it may be. If you know of the whereabouts or have any information on this car please get in touch with us. "

I am assuming that " the member of the public " is in fact Gordon Brown. the picture was posted also separately.

[Trevor Sheffield]

As far as I know this special was only used in competition by Gordon Brown and the fact that it was a very usable road going machine, means that it could have become used only only as such, to become ultimately worn out and discarded. Other more basic similar cars of its time continued to be used more exclusively in competition and as a result several have a recorded history.

Even so the search is very worthwhile as the car is of real significance as it was the first of an ongoing trend in Ford Ten specials. Let us hope for success.

[Roger Dowding]

As far as I know this special was only used in competition by Gordon Brown and the fact that it was a very usable road going machine, means that it could have become used only only as such, to become ultimately worn out and discarded. Other more basic similar cars of its time continued to be used more exclusively in competition and as a result several have a recorded history.

Even so the search is very worthwhile as the car is of real significance as it was the first of an ongoing trend in Ford Ten specials. Let us hope for success.

Thanks Trevor, and speaking of Ford Specials, ERC has posted a " Standford " in his collection Just a Mix of Pics, taken recently, of a 40's type special, and presume a mixture of Standard and Ford ..
Here is another Ford powered Special, this time a mixture of 1930's and 1950's engineering, Ford 10 motor [ 1950's ] in a 1930's BSA based Special. seen before but different photos.







Would also like to know the whereabouts of this Car, Lyle Chambers BSA Special, built in the 1950's from a 1930's BSA Four wheeled front wheel drive saloon.. twin tube chassis with the BSA Front and Rear suspensions components welded on, any info post on here or PM me, cheers.

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of newpaper pages - an article on NSCC races at Western Springs, seqnmac27 Sean posted them on the " Old Speedway Photos " thread, have put them here as the thread is linked to NSCC's facebook page and website.
some well known names.
Remember races at Western Springs as part of a Heatway Rally one year, they ran races between the arrival of the Rally cars for a Special Stage around the track, unsure if the same event





thanks Sean

[Milan Fistonic]

Here's a report on a1949 NSCC event won by Gordon Brown in his Special.

[Roger Dowding]

Milan

thanks for that, Laurie Powell was there in his V8 Ford ..
Jack Boot was a relation of mine [ he married Dot, my Uncle Ed Dowding's sister in law ], passed away a long time ago [ February 1945 ] as when I was growing up Dot had remarried .. I must pass the article on to Ed Dowding, he will love it, at 96 still has a reasonable memory, and enjoys car related stuff especially to do with NSCC.
Jock Aitken used to repair my first car a 1960 Mini, back in the late 1960's when he had a little garage near the University in Grafton, [ now the motorway ]

May 2020 - now have photos of both the Gordon Brown and Jock Aitken Specials - both Ford 10 based
and look a bit similar - as well as the photo of Jock's car in the article.
There is also a photo of Jock and Laurie Powell in his Ford B$ V8, all at Seagrove in 1947.

cheers

Roger

[Roger Dowding]

The Bardahl series Hill Climbs were run by 8 different Car Clubs in the Auckland Frankton Waikato area over the
" summer " starting in late October and finishing in February.
The 8 Clubs involved were ; in order of events ** a correction ;
"
Hamilton Car Club, Round 1 Pekanui Rd, Puketotara, near Pirongia 27 October 1979
Northern Sports Car Club, Round 2 Cossey’s Farm, Drury, 04 November 1979.
Auckland Car Club, Round 3, Mclachlan Road, Kaukapakapa, 18 November 1979.
Triumph Sports Car Club, Round 4, West Road Clevedon. 25 November 1979
Pukekohe Car Club, Round 5, Bright Road, Waiuku 09 December 1979
MG Car Club, Round 6, Bald Hill Road, Waiuku 16 December 1979.
Auckland University Car Club, Round 7 Stoney Creek Albany 26 January 1980
Hisbiscus Coast Motorsport Club, Round 8 Bayers Road [ Farm ] nr Silverdale ?? February 1980.
"

Posted the Round 2 results earlier from NSCC
here is Round 3 run by Auckland Car Club, some well known names appear, this was a well supported round.






The 1301 - 1600 class appears twice [ bad editing - the pages were foolscap not A4 ]..

Also have the MG Car Club round 6 and the Hibiscus Coast MC round, unsure of the date of that as no details on the sheet ..

[Roger Dowding]

More results HCMC and MG rounds, the MG one is hard to read, my copy is covered in coffee stains, No not red wine or beer, Coffee I am sure.
HCMC this was on a very large sheet so copied in two parts that over lap. Skip from Ken Booker, just below my name to Marty Finch
I figure it is the HCMC round as the number of competitors entered, there were always many more runner from the host club, I think some guys only did their own club events..
I think HCMC's was at Bayers Farm or Bayers Road, have found it on the map and seems the right place.



MG Car Club Bald Hill - scene of the TR photo slideways.

[Roger Dowding]

I may be confused with the AUCC, Auckland University, and HCMC Hibiscus Coast Clubs events,
Can anyone help, Have a feeling as mentioned that the AUCC was near Pareremoremo Prison near Albany, and HCMC was Bayers or Bayes Road nearer to Waiwera / Puhoi.

BMC BOY took a photo of the TR at Bayers, but it doesn't help with the location, Back to Google Maps I guess.

[Kevin Hirst]

The Bardahl series Hill Climbs were run by 8 different Car Clubs in the Auckland Frankton Waikato area over the
" summer " starting in late October and finishing in February.
The 8 Clubs involved were ;
Auckland Car Club, Mclachlan Road, Kaukapakapa Round 3, 18/11/1979.
Auckland University Car Club, Bayers Farm ? near Paremoremo Prison, Albany ?
Hamilton Car Club, Hamilton Round 1 ? October 1979 ?
Hisbiscus Coast Motorsport Club, near Silverdale Jan 1980 ?
MG Car Club, Bald Hill Round, Waiuku Round 6, Jan 1980.
Northern Sports Car Club, Cossey’s Farm, Drury Round 2, 4/11/1979.
Pukekohe Car Club, Bright Road, Waiuku
Triumph Car Club, West Road Clevedon.

Posted the Round 2 results earlier from NSCC
here is Round 3 run by Auckland Car Club, some well known names appear, this was a well support





The 1301 - 1600 class appears twice [ bad editing - the pages were foolscap not A4 ]..

Also have the MG Car Club round 6 and the Hibiscus Coast MC round, unsure of the date of that as no details on the sheet ..

Howard Collier, semi retired here in mangawhai selling beatifull pieces of his land that he purchased many years ago

[John McKechnie]

Is Andy Mercers Marina V8 any relation to Graeme Parks same beast ?

[Roger Dowding]

Howard Collier, semi retired here in mangawhai selling beatifull pieces of his land that he purchased many years ago

Kevin, remember Howard and the Escort with a straight cut and very noisy gearbox, was known as " Captain Howdy " at the time

[Roger Dowding]

Is Andy Mercers Marina V8 any relation to Graeme Parks same beast ?

John, I am unsure I do know that one of the Marina V8's was rolled at the Bright Road Hill Climb during this series, unsure if ever rebuilt and also remember a comment that one had been taken back to the 4 cylinder engine and restored, could be the same car, I am unsure and too far away these days to find out. John Windleburn also ran a Pontiac or similar at the PCC Bright Road event, it had been burn't out, arrived with no roof a bench seat [ from memory ] and a big roll hoop. passed scrutineering OK, and was loud.