They are NOT my knees...
Rhys, good things take time as they said in the cheese ads, with the two Old Codgers [ or Oldfarts ].
A note from Mark Donaldson;
This is the BN1 that Les McLaren owned from 1955 to 1957. It has been owned by Barry Clearwater, in Gore, since 1973. The personalised registration plate, 346.239, is the one that the car had when Les and Bruce raced it. Les McLaren modified the engine and ran it on methanol. It was very fast and even beat Ross Jensen's 100S. I have certificates for it clocked at 131 mph ;
Here is the photo again ;
The number plate would have had a comma 1951-56 then a star 56 - 61 not sure if the original plate from 1955 !! ; this is the plates list from the the 1930's to the end of the licensing cycle 1964-66.
Would be great to recreate the plate in original colours and format
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 01-06-2018 at 09:50 PM.
Driven by Barry's son Grant in the photo at Lumsden. Barry said that Grant wasn't trying hard enough
In regard the plates above, are we sure those dates are totally correct? Personally I don't. I'm using as a reference the NZ Licensing gov't department.
Rhys, would agree about the dates, [ years ], being approximate I do know from other sources that they changed from 2 yearly to to 5 yearly cycle during the war and never seemed to change. the Black on Yellow were on my Dad's brand new Zephyr in 1963. I do remember the White on Dark Red, not really the White on Black as a bit young.
The above are good for the colour and style of the plate including the character used ; comma, star, hyphen, fullstop, etc..
Had a couple of old plates, including an new permanent series one of an old Austin A35 that I wrecked, gave them away !! Seems like shouldhave sold them
The photo, who took it ? and are there any more ??.
McLaren's cars the Ford with Austin - Healey and "The " Austin 7..Bruce's first racing Car !!
From the Seabrook Fowlds collection with " Chappie " Chapman mechanic and Ross Jensen, before the McLarens owned the car.
And a 100 at Ohakea 1956. not the same car
The picture that prompted the comment
Hi Roger,
Saw this at Taupo yesterday but unfortunately it didn't go out on the track. Perhaps it will today - but I'm not there!!
Was at the Festival last weekend as well, but didnt go out that I saw........what a shame....we need to see AND hear these machines. Has been nicely restored but I wonder how much of the original is there. Was surprised at the standing 1/4 time on the info board........I thought it would be much quicker.
Nigel, and AMCO72, saw it on Saturday at HD, the weekend before. took quite a few photo's, thanks for this one Nigel, It is The " Healey - Corvette that has had a V8 in it for most of its life, made famous !, by Arthur Kennard in the late 1950's ..
Not posting much at the moment as on a data stick, while staying on Waiheke Island - back on the 31st, so will download my photo's.
Was hoping to get a reply from you Roger regarding the Healey Corvette's standing 1/4 time. From memory it was 16.8.......I am sure a standard 100/4 would do that......a lot of work installing a big engine for very little gain.....I seem to remember Dave Silcock racing against it in its day and commenting on how 'slow' it was........the word slow being relative........Nice looking machine all the same.
AMCO72 - good comment.
I did in the high 18's mid 19's in a 100/6 back in 1984 at Napier - Thunderpark !!. was in a borrowed Car, so didn't thrash it !!.
The Standard 100 did it in 17.5 according to this advert so a not a big improvement, guess top speed would be well up.
Now for a 100S a tad quicker at 16.1 best run 15.9 - thanks to Ken Hyndman for theses two articles ;
There is an article on the " Kennard " Healey - Corvette a few years back in NZ Classic Driver, which I must get a copy of !!
Can anyone help with that -just a scanned version would do. please PM me about it
The Healey Corvette is entered for Leadfoot 2018.
1950's 4 versus 1960's V8.. borrowed from AH Club of NSW ..
and for something different, my Mate Jerry Luidahl. the tow car for his Healey 100,which I drove in Oregon in 1982 from Salem to Medford,Oregon ,here seen as set up for the trip to Snowmass in July 1982
Roger,
In presenting the photo I trust that are you are not suggesting that an Austin Healy was/is a match for an SP250 Daimler. LOL
Smales Farm Caffeine & Classics January. It appears there was a conflicting meet up the coast at Orewa, so attendance was a bit lower than usual. Still a good meet though and plenty of people to chat to as always - but hot!
Ray,
That is " BMC BOY's " [ Ross C ] early 3000, unusual as a BN7, two seater with the rear shroud the same as the early cars [ 100's BN1 and BN2 ] so no open area behind the front seats with a few later mods, which I have forgotten some of the details of, I do know a later gearbox, which I helped clear customs back in 1983, when he had it shipped in from the USA !!
Good to see the car in use.
A picture of the Car when Ross first bought it either Ross's or Bill Dunsters photo. Ross sent it to me some time ago - the car raced at Pukekohe in the early 3 hour races for improved vehicles, run ahead of the Wills Six Hour race.
Was on the Island still, so one missed it, two,forgot about it, and as seen three, a boat trip to get there !! " B****r ".. as they say
Oh drat. If I'd known who owned it I would have had a chat, as I followed him in!!!
This is Ross's car when it was being raced by Bill Dunster at Pukekohe in 1965.
That is " BMC BOY's " [ Ross C ] early 3000, unusual as a BN7, two seater with the rear shroud the same as the early cars [ 100's BN1 and BN2 ] so no open area behind the front seats with a few later mods, which I have forgotten some of the details of, I do know a later gearbox, which I helped clear customs back in 1983, when he had it shipped in from the USA !!
Good to see the car in use.
A picture of the Car when Ross first bought it either Ross's or Bill Dunsters photo. Ross sent it to me some time ago - the car raced at Pukekohe in the early 3 hour races for improved vehicles, run ahead of the Wills Six Hour race.
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Roger,
I remember Bill Dunster well. There was group of us racing production sports cars and we had an absolute ball at every of many varied events. The friendship involved became quite wonderful. Even so the racing was full on and very competitive, but in the pita everyone gave everyone a helping hand. "Did you see Charlie spun up in the hay bales LOL and did ----. I have fitted a Holden front sway bar, have a look, you can gat one from a wrecker. What tyre pressures are you running." And so it went on. No one short handed or missing a tool or part, was left disadvantaged at flag fall. Everyone won on the day, no matter what.
However, neither the Dunster or Conway 3000 Healy could foot it with the 2500 SP250 Daimlers.
Regards, Trevor