The Ron Roycroft Alfa Romeo, with some details of his races. sketch by Winton Bristow.
The Ron Roycroft Alfa Romeo, with some details of his races. sketch by Winton Bristow.
Greetings Duncan,
It would be very worthwhile to get the photos you have scanned and recorded here.
The Singer nine in the mud is Driven by Ralph Watson but is his Four seater, rather than the Le Mans which was his second Singer. Refer here, pages 6 & 122/6. ---
http://ralphwatson.scienceontheweb.net/
The NSCC mud plug was officially titled, “The Winter Trial” and was certainly a fun event, but it comprised a serious component in the clubs yearly calendar, with a still existing designated trophy. It was Ron Roycroft’s habit to specially acquire a Model T Ford each year in order to win the event. However on the last occasion, he ran second to me after I attacked the final hill at maximum speed in my very versatile ACV8. LOL
Them were the days. Trevor.
Last edited by Trevor Sheffield; 06-14-2015 at 09:05 AM.
Trevor S , sent you a private message, cheers Roger D. re Ralph Watson and another BSA Special.
Originally Posted by Trevor Sheffield
" The Winter Trial ", as Trevor calls it was a very popular event and gets some mention in Scott Thomson's book, " Up to Speed " the Ron Roycroft biography. It mentions a lot of names, Ken Hemus [ who is an official at the 1956 Ardmore NZ Grand Prix ] and others who feature in NZ Car Club history of the time.
The last photo was taken at Helensville and is at the same Hall that the photo of Ron Roycroft in the book was taken
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 08-13-2015 at 10:13 PM. Reason: correction from Milan Fistonic
The author of "Up to Speed" is Scott Thomson.
Milan, you are so right - need to look before I type. now corrected in the post, thanks
More of the sketches from Ardmore NZ Grand Prix 1956. By Win Bristow.
Interestingly the Austin Healey featured earlier John Seabrook driving #16, was subsequently owned by David Lichenstein, Phil Neill [ racer of some note ] and Mark Donaldson - founder of the Austin Healey Car Club of New Zealand.
Not much detail with a couple of the photo's
Ardmore NZ Grand Prix, 1956;
Two more Win Bristow sketches, probably should have been another thread, all the photo's and sketches from Eddie Dowding.
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 08-14-2015 at 07:00 AM. Reason: photos did not attach.
Not the early years, but a Northern Sports Car Club member [ racing for Austin Healey Car Club NZ ] at the 1983 Jaguar Drivers Classic Le Mans Relay Race.
A collection of photos, which will post as a new Thread to follow.
In a recent conversation [ E-mail ] Eddie Dowding advised me that as well as being Club Captain / President of NSCC, as a School Teacher at Seddon Technical College in the early 1950's he taught a teenage Bruce McLaren when Bruce was in the 4th Form.
Bruce's interest in cars was apparent then which Eddie would have enjoyed too!!
The College was based in the central city in those days, not at Western Springs where it is now. small world.
In my rummage around the garage, I found Eddie's Memoirs written in 2006, It has some information on the his cars and a mention that he was Club Captain 1943-45 and its second President 1945-46, although the NSCC website has him as Eddie Downing, must get that correctedNSCC, was formed during the second world war - believe or not and from what I have gleaned from my Uncle Albert Edward " Eddie " Dowding, initial discussions took place on the Ferries bewteen, Auckland City and the North Shore jetty's, Devonport, Northcote and Birkenhead. Eddie lived at the time in Herne Bay and caught the Ferry to Northcote to visit his girlfrend. amongst the group initially involved were, Phil Seabrook, Alan Pybus, Laurie Powell and others, Ron Roycroft was a member in the late 1940's too !!. Eddie Dowding and his brother-in-law Jack Boot both belonged, Eddie was Club Captain in the early days / years.
Eddie is still alive and well at 95, and many years ago gave me a few photos on NSCC and some events.
Here are a few to start
NSCC Concours 1947 -
NSCC Helensville Mud Trial 1949
Jack Boot Riley Special - raced at a Cinder Track in Huntly - year not known but late 1940's.
As I find more will post them.
Please add to the thread.
** the entry was corrected back in 2016 following my contact with the Club
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 05-18-2020 at 03:14 AM.
As one of the founding members of NSCC an early Club Captain and later President, I am pleased to say had a good conversation with Ed today on his 96th Birthday.
Here he is on the left as a 20 year old .. with Ted Kippenberger
1924 White Bus, photo from mid 60's.
Rather than start a new thread, I have other articles photos, etc, connected with Northern Sports Car Club. Bob Homewood posted a photo on Facebook about his property, which would makes a great grass hill climb site, and Brent Thomas, Owen Thomas' son, Owen was President of NSCC back in the late 1960's made a comment which prompted me to reply.NSCC, was formed during the second world war - believe or not and from what I have gleaned from my Uncle Albert Edward " Eddie " Dowding, initial discussions took place on the Ferries bewteen, Auckland City and the North Shore jetty's, Devonport, Northcote and Birkenhead. Eddie lived at the time in Herne Bay and caught the Ferry to Northcote to visit his girlfrend. amongst the group initially involved were, Phil Seabrook, Alan Pybus, Laurie Powell and others, Ron Roycroft was a member in the late 1940's too !!. Eddie Dowding and his brother-in-law Jack Boot both belonged, Eddie was Club Captain in the early days / years.
Eddie is still alive and well at 95, and many years ago gave me a few photos on NSCC and some events.
Here are a few to start
NSCC Concours 1947 -
NSCC Helensville Mud Trial 1949
Jack Boot Riley Special - raced at a Cinder Track in Huntly - year not known but late 1940's.
As I find more will post them.
Please add to the thread.
Some of this has been posted on other threads, Hillclimbs Sprints etc by Ross Cammick and Yards and Yarns,
This will connect related pictures and articles, results etc.
PS, Eddie is still getting around, at 96, not in Riley these days, but a little Dae Woo. I was talking to him last week.
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 12-15-2015 at 10:38 PM.
Michael Clark now lives at the site - there was a video posted a while ago which shows the new sealed road is different to the original metal track, with a concrete pad at the start.
I first ran there in 1971, in this Mini [ this is a Dennis Green photo - at Woodhill - Tom Grace's farm also 1971]
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 12-16-2015 at 02:11 AM.
One from my wall, Mini Max [me]Cosseys Farm 3/12/67 FTD and new hill record . 54secs .Not sure if they always used same start finish but seem to remember start was uphill on concrete.
Ross, love the attitude of the car and the driver, a great shot gives us some idea of the hill, done the start and the right hander then the short straight, the left hander on wards and upwards .. great memories for this guy.. thanks. Ross..One from my wall, Mini Max [me]
and the start was always the concrete pad, the finish, not so sure.
Ross- 1974 Cosseys Farm was still uphill start on concrete.
Yes, they used to chock a non driving wheel, so at the back on the Mini easy, not so on rear wheel drive, as had to get the chock out quickly, and the hockey stick ..
I found that when I ran my quite warm 1275 Cooper S at Cossey's it was near impossible to get traction at the start and recording a decent time was therefore hopeless. I somehow recall cow dung on the concrete.
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