Austin-Healey’s and the Austin Healey Car Club of NZ and Others

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
After you exited the pool did you use one of these ?




KH

[Roger Dowding]

Roger,
After you exited the pool did you use one of these ?




KH

No - but I did find a recipe the other day - handwritten on AH 100 notepaper, but no ashtray !

Cheers

Ken H

[Roger Dowding]

Following up with Ray Bells comment on the 4000 cc engine.

More information on the " Austin Healey 3000 M I capacity 4000 "- entered in the Auckland Car Clubs December 1964 Race meeting at Pukekohe. by P A T McLoughlin.

The entry list again from Graham Woods archives;

Attachment 63639

P A T McLoughlin was one of the McLouglin Brothers who owned the Austin Healey in 1964.
have gleaned some of the story from BMC BOY [Ross C ]and the cars current owner and restorer Myles Hick [ son of the late Gavin Hicks - well known in Classic Car and Restoration circles in Auckland and indeed New Zealand.

Myles observes ;
" Interesting it’s listed as 4000 as most of the programs had it entered as 4200.
The original motor would had been 4000, so they must have done the enlargement after this date "

Ross writes about the car ;
" I think the McLaughlin car is the Ruddspeed Healey that belongs to Myles Hicks (do you remember Gavin Hicks father of Myles and Justin. He passed away recently)
It was fitted with a 4000 big Austin motor and the original Ruddspeed was fitted into a A95 Sedan which I think hit a bridge and killed one of the McLaughlin brothers.
When Gavin bought the Healey the 4000 was still in the car and they could drive it.
The A95 was parked in damaged condition under a tree with the Ruddspeed engine out beside it.

Myles is currently finishing the car which had only about 40000 miles on it and in very nice condition bodywise for its age. Old English white over black as original with a black works hardtop.
It has a lot of mods fitted from Ruddspeed including an original 100S oil cooler.
It’s a 1959 3000 BT7 from memory. No doubt it will go overseas to get the sort of money cars built to the Hicks’
standard can be found.

They found a buyer with a Jensen 541 who wanted a modified 4000cc Austin 6. Probably the only person who would want one of those boat anchors!
"
Spelling of the name McLaughlin or McLoughlin - will clarify as we know spelling in entry lists is often incorrect - the organiser / secretary having to decipher " Boys "handwriting.

Have other entry lists from meetings around this time at Pukekohe, being from Thames it may be the only track they raced on but could well have been at Matamata **, Mt Maunganui and other middle North Island Race Meeting.

Myles no doubt has more information on the car - Probably met him back in the 1970's when involved with the Austin Healey Club - I have met and seen Gavin at many meetings of AHCCNZ or other Classic Clubs TACCOC, Jaguar Drivers when competing.

More to follow.

** The car did race at Matamata as seen in the following photos.
A couple more pictures have come to light of the Russell Leathers - Ruddspeed 3000 / Pat McLaughlin AH 4000 - 4200.
These photos of the car at Matamata Street Races in 1964 - 1965.

Photos are from Ross Cammick - from a collection of Negatives of the Scott - Given archives which Ross [ BMC BOY ] put on Old New Zealand Motor Racing - part of a collection of photos of many cars at Matamata
Races were held there in 1963 **, 1964 and 1965.
Note unsure about Races in 1963 - now have covers of the programmes from 1964 and 1965 and some of the entry lists

A couple of entry lists have already been posted and have results from 1964 and 1965 events

The Start - with Daimler SP 250 Dart's TR3's another AH a 100, the Kato Special and others. Trevor Sheffield ? in #26 Daimler. Informed it is not Trevor he was #25 seen below



During the race in a Daimler sandwich - Steve Oxton in the first car #24 David Oxton's father - David raced the car at Matamata in 1965. Trevor Sheffield in the Daimler just visible #25.


Results from the 1964 Races - thanks to Graham Woods



Results from the 1965 Races - Graham Woods archives again. P A T McLaughlin features in one result and the Bill Dunster now Ross Cammick AH 3000 was there too !!

.

For more on the Ruddspeed 3000 / AH 4000 See posts #838 #841 and on through #847. Posts #861 - #864, #869 - #870 and #878 to #881. including photos of the recovery of the car and the restoration by Myles Hicks on behalf of the late Gavin Hicks - his father.

[Roger Dowding]

From the Matamata Street races " Matamata Festival Races " held in 1963, 1964 and 1965.

From entry lists the following Big Healeys were there 100's and 3000's
R [ Roger *** ] Smith AH 100 race #27
B C [ Charlie ] Conway AH 100
W G [ Bill ] Dunster AH 3000
P A T McLaughlin AH 3000 [ Ruddspeed ] was run with the Sheerline 3993 cc engine.

R Smith in the 100 - 1964 event I believe.
Have established it is Roger Smith and his brother is writing a story for the family archives.
Roger Smith [ RIP many years ago ] also raced a Daimler SP250 " Dart " and was one of several at the 1965 Gold Leaf Three Hour Challenge Race, that preceded to Will Six Hour Race for " Standard Production " Cars.
The Gold Leaf Race is best known for the first appearance of the Fleetwood Motors Mustang driven by Ivan Segedin - as covered in the " Pukekohe " thread.
from the Scott - Given archives through Ross Cammick


an AH 100 in the pack - is this the R Smith car ? Kerry Grant in the Spitfire - an Alan Boyle photo, Alan, along with his Evweld Racing Team Mate Ron Brown [ a couple of Minis - Coopers or Cooperised ones ]were in the Car Dealers showroom for the event.

[Roger Dowding]

Brilliant ad! Having grown up where John Player/Imperial Tobacco were one of the top 3 employers in the area, that first drag of a Park Drive at the age of 9 (Park Drive were the 'opposition, but that was what my best buddy had acquired) with a consequent coughing fit, was the last time I ever touched a cigarette!

Didn't stop me wearing a Marlboro BRM jacket...

Attachment 67138

Looks like the " All British Field Day " at Western Springs and the Ross Hollings Bugeye Sprite. The car that I owned back in 1978 -1980 as a left hand drive " Resto Job ". The 100 Six next to it is familiar but have forgotten who owned it.
You posted another photo of the Sprite and that 100 Six some time ago -
Thanks ERC

[Roger Dowding]

[Roger Dowding]

A photo on " Old New Zealand Motor Racing " Facebook page- there Cover photo for the moment commemorating Bruce. " 30 August 1937 – 2 June 1970 "
Here with the Austin Healey 100 [ M ]. and a lot of Trophies - photo undated but would be late 1950's.


Photo by Bob Stenberg.
Bruce looks very young.

Sadly Barry Clearwater the owner of the car in recent times passed passed away earlier in the year.
" Oldfart " knows more about the car and posted a photo some time back of it competing at Lumsden in the Sprints in 2017 with the Clearwater family.

[Roger Dowding]

Recently came across these photos posted on the Austin Healey 100S Facebook page by Karsten Stelk - no details of the photographer the cars, or even the location.
American friends, both of the page and including a guy I know from the " Healey Trip " in 1982 Terry Cowan believe it is at Santa Barbara Airport,and would be late 1950's

Have sent the images to Ken H for his " Early Days of Hot Rodding and Racing in Santa Barbara and beyond. "
They also belong here.

There is a 100S #73 a couple of 100's an A.C. Ace and a TR in the race.



A close up of the dark 100S Race #73 - Most 100S were White over Lobelia Blue, although Briggs Cunningham had an early car that was White with Blue Stripes and one of those early cars was Black.



The 100's and others -including a Morgan - you can see the aircraft parked and in the background the Mountains behind Santa Barbara



In those Mountains is a place called Cold Springs which has an Old Tavern, appropriately called " Cold Springs Tavern " - the " Kiwi's in the Kiwi Healey- a VW Kombi visited the place twice in July 1982.
A website photo from the 2000's - must find my own and compare


Ken H, Have you been there ??

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
Yes we have been there many times over the years. There have been wild fires in the area and miraculously the old tavern has thankfully survived !
I have hesitated on the 3 photos as I have not found a 1960 Santa Barbara Airport race program with those car numbers entered.

I will keep searching but there have been distractions with Covid issues, 197 F heat, wildfires in the distance plus this evening a mild earthquake shook our area !
I checked on all my insurances and now I'm off to bed.

Cheers,
Ken H

[Roger Dowding]

Roger,
Yes we have been there many times over the years. There have been wild fires in the area and miraculously the old tavern has thankfully survived !
I have hesitated on the 3 photos as I have not found a 1960 Santa Barbara Airport race program with those car numbers entered.

I will keep searching but there have been distractions with Covid issues, 197 F heat, wildfires in the distance plus this evening a mild earthquake shook our area !
I checked on all my insurances and now I'm off to bed.

Cheers,
Ken H

Good to know - must now find my photos of the Tavern, we saw a rock group there called "Studebaker " there the first time, second time was a soloist - the lead singer from .... " Studebaker ". He was good. They were good . long time ago I was only 34 ..
Stay safe Ken H, keep sending us comments so we can check on you

Cheers
Roger

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
I did misquote the heat here in Los Olivos yesterday...it was not 197 F it was 117 F which was still dangerously hot.





(Ken H)

[Milan Fistonic]

The oldest car in the 1990 Shell Silver Fern Rally.

[Roger Dowding]

American Road Race of Champions - Riverside November 1964.

A photo with a story - image from Sports Car Graphic.



Notes from Rick Neville an Austin Healey archivist in the USA
" NY Times 11/16/64 RIVERSIDE, Calif., Nov. 15 (AP)—Jim Ladd Jr. of Lebanon, Pa., driving what he had said would be his last race, was killed today in the last event of the American Road Race of Champions program.
The 29‐year‐old Ladd's Austin‐Healey 3,000 spun out on a turn, was hit by another car and rolled over and over into the infield. Ladd was crushed against the steering wheel.
His death came at the end of two days of sportscar racing in which Western drivers scored 11 of 17 victories. Many of the Western drivers were familiar with the 2.6‐mile, nine‐turn Riverside Raceway course.
Bart Martin of Hayward, Calif., in a Cooper‐Chevy, scored a one‐second victory in the C and D modified event, and Ed Leslie of Carmel, Calif., in a Ford Cobra, won the A and B production model race.
Ladd was just behind the leaders in the D production race —for street‐type sports cars—when he lost control approaching the first turn of the fifth lap. His wife, Sue, was in the pit at the time. Ladd was the father of two boys, 4 and 1.
“He had dinner last night with an official of the Sports Car Club of America,” said a track official, “and said that he intended to quit after this last race.” "

Sad story, but a great photo.

Have also come across some photos from Sebring 1964 to share from Austin Healey Historic Pictures - Karsten Stelk archives

[Roger Dowding]

A group of photos from the 12 Hour Race at Sebring in 1964.
One photo includes a Corvette Grand Sport - one of the 3 Coupes built - all three raced that year ;

These are from Karsten Stelk archives.

The #33 photos






Oops - that does not look good

[Roger Dowding]

More from Karsten Stelk archives.






I put car #34 but hard to tell.

[Roger Dowding]

" Borrowed " from Ken H
Racing photo from Jerry Melton's archives Car #73 " AUSTIN HEALEY 73 GVR FEB 1967 "
Ken H had question BN1 or BN2, I do not know from the photo,



This guy would know pretty quickly
Images from Clas Arleskar's vast collection.

Fred Draper outside AH Spares Photo from 1973



First Invoices for parts that Clas bought from Fred in 1975



9 years later the premises had grown -1982 standing outside the building - photo taken by Pete Dicks, on my camera, an Austin Healey guy from the English Midlands that I met at Snowmass Colorado in 1982 and met again in England in October 1982

[Roger Dowding]

Some photos from Paul Woolmer whose business " Woolmer ' Classic ' Engineering " is involved with maintaining the 3 cars for the owners.
***
The story that was in the post
" Out & about yesterday in the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside in 3 fabulous ex-works Healeys. The 1953 Le Mans 100 Special Test Car, the 1965 Works 3000 Rally Car & the 1964/7 Works 3000 Rally Car. A great opportunity to drive all 3 back to back, to compare & contrast. "
When Paul was asked which is the best by Chris Dimmock, a Healey Giuy from Australia he commented '" they were all great in different ways. NOJ is very light & nimble, EJB is a bit of a brute & ARX is somewhere between the two, quick & surprisingly light. So on balance ARX. "

The 100 with the two 3000's





The 100 with one of the Works Rally cars



Note on some photos I have ARX928 - it should be ARX92B B for Bob

[Roger Dowding]

NOJ and EJB
a couple more photos.





EJB806C



ARX92B



EJB and ARX



Will find out more of the story -
NOJ392 was one of the Special Test Cars Chassis SPL225B competed in the Mille Miglia and was later the test car fitted with Girling Disc Brakes
ARX92B was the 1964 Rally car used by the Morley Brothers [ Donald and Earl ] and later by Timo Makinen with D Barrow as Navigator / Co-driver. It was rebuilt to compete in the 1967 RAC Rally that was cancelled because of the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the UK.
EJB806C was originally built in 1965 and Rallied by Timo Makinen with Paul Easter in the 1965 RAC Rally

[Roger Dowding]

The 3000 did well at Goodwood, 12th Overall and 1st Healey home.

The car XJB 876,

On the Start Line along side another Healey





Pit Stop - Driver Change ?



Drivers and the Car - in the Pit area

[Roger Dowding]

A card issued by BMC which when soaked in water revealed the names of the cars shown in silhouette.
Apparently after 60 or so years they don't work.
Image from the Healey Museum - courtesy Klas Arleskar




Ain't that the Truth !!.