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

[Roger Dowding]

Isn't one of them an A70?

A US gallon is 3.78541 litres. Sorry, liters. Imperial is actually 4.546 litres.

Ray Bell ;
" liters " American language computer - Yes, thanks for the detail.
so that means 35 Mpg was was actually this = in Imperial 29 Mpg - more like it !!

A40 - summersaults " 928 " yeah - nah = yeahh right.

Must look at the details an A70 was that Hereford or Hampshire - must go check - and yes they do look a bit Chubby for Summersaults.

4.546 litres - just realised that is good as a pint is 568 ml - 8 pints to a Gallon, Imperial Gallon 568 x 8 = 4544 allowing a little bit for fractions and evaporation ..

Meanwhile somewhere in Australia, back in 1957 this was happening !!



more details later, perhaps -
note - some on the photo - and Mr Philips was well known in Motorsport circles .. in Australia.

[Ray Bell]

That looks like Caversham...

But I guess it could be Strathpine.

[Roger Dowding]

Something to do on a wet day - give that 100 a bit of a service - how I would spend a day in the weekend, back in the 1980's



Must have been for European and American markets - drawing is left hand drive and the Service intervals are in Miles and Kilometres.

And for something different - A 100S that was raced at Cotati, California, - The 6 hour Enduro Race in 1957 and the Plaque showing the " Class " win.. Mod Prod -



The Plaque;


Pictures from the archives of the son of the co-driver Mick Marston - Scott Marston archives as noted.

Wonder if Ken H knows where the track in " Cotati " was / is ??


This from Wiki..... about the " incorporated community " - think that means a " Town ".

" Cotati is an incorporated city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located approximately 45 mi north of San Francisco in the 101 corridor between Rohnert Park and Petaluma. Cotati's population as of the 2010 Census was 7,265, making it the smallest incorporated community in Sonoma County. "

Santa Rosa is the big city North of Cotati and Petaluma is to the South on US 101.

[Roger Dowding]

That looks like Caversham...

But I guess it could be Strathpine.

Details with photo said Caversham and I was not there.

Ray Bell ;
" Strathpine " is that the one in Queensland ? or is there another ??- never knew there was a Racetrack at Strathpine QLD, I worked there briefly around 2012 /13 [ only a couple of days - at the Shopping Mall ] - was a long way from Beachside Bribie Island though !!

If another race venue then we need to know more- only just found out about Cotati, in California.

Cheers

Roger ..

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
As noted at this site; " Nothing remains of Cotati today. The entire track area was plowed under and replaced by a mobile home park, shopping center and industrial park. "
http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/Cotati1.html



1957 Cotati Six Hour Race entrants.




(Ken H..)

[Milan Fistonic]

Road Test of an Austin Healey 100s from the September 1955 edition of Road & Track

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Roger Dowding
....."Strathpine" is that the one in Queensland?

It was a wartime airstrip which was used for racing from about (late) 1946 until Lakeside opened in 1960. It was a simple up-and-down-the-airstrip, but with a bit of a dash around a couple of trees off one end.

Spitfire Avenue in the North-Eastern part of Strathpine is on the runway, housing took over the area from 1961.

With regard to the Caversham shot, do you have a date? It's not the AGP meeting of 1957. It must have been a big meeting for Jack Myers to be there with his twin-cam Waggott-headed Holden-powered Cooper copy.

[Roger Dowding]

Ray Bell,

" With regard to the Caversham shot, do you have a date? It's not the AGP meeting of 1957. It must have been a big meeting for Jack Myers to be there with his twin-cam Waggott-headed Holden-powered Cooper copy. "

All I know from finding the photo was " Caversham AGP 1957 " and the mention of the Myers Waggot car .. would like to know more and also more about the 100S believed to be AHS3906 - must check that too !! ..

[Milan Fistonic]

All I know from finding the photo was " Caversham AGP 1957 " and the mention of the Myers Waggot car .. would like to know more and also more about the 100S believed to be AHS3906 - must check that too !! ..

From the entry list for the 1957 AGP car 10 is Ron Phillips Austin Healey 100S AHS 3906

[Roger Dowding]

From the entry list for the 1957 AGP car 10 is Ron Phillips Austin Healey 100S AHS 3906

Thanks Milan, for the information.
Would like to see the full entry list.

Another picture of of AHS3906, also in 1957 at a Victoria Road Race the " TT "
Race #9. with Ron Phillips driving.





AHS3906 was sold new through Austin, Melbourne around the time that Larke Hoskins got AHS3905 through Austin Sydney, and AHS3907 also went to Austin, Melbourne, as did AHS3909, with the last of the 100S going to Sweden AHS3910.
AHS3908 came to New Zealand through Austin, New Zealand to Seabrook Fowlds - the well known car of Ross Jensen, that is still in New Zealand.

These cars were all despatched in July and August 1955 .. AHS3905 to AHS3910

AHS3906 is still in Australia, I understand. Australian Austin Healey guys Joe Jarick and Joe Armour will know more.
It was in 2006 as attended the AGP along with AHS3905, they travelled on the same transporter apparently.



The photo that started the questions ?? [ shown again ]



Ray Bell, hope this helps,
cheers
Roger ..

[Roger Dowding]

A Poster seen on Austin Healey Sports and Touring Fb page.
A useful " Spotters Guide ".



Two of the Models feature in this " Motor Show " Photo from around 1956-57, source the Austin A50 Club page in the UK, which was posted on an Austin Healey page too !!.

Where is not known - trying to work out if the cars are LHD or RHD ??.



Interesting the Nash Stand was near the Austin Stand - well they did have a shared interest in this Car at the time.

[Roger Dowding]

Came across this recently from " Moss Motors " there is a series of these cardboard cut out models of British Sports Cars.

The Austin Healey one was a fundraiser as seen in the " Grace " information and is in part colour



The Healey has quarter windows which of course only came with the much later mid 1960's BJ8 and the screen is curved 100's were flat and folded down

Others of interest were an MG MGB a Roadster and a Triumph TR6,
having owned a "B " GT and a TR4A also of interest.

The MG.




The TR.




Wonder if they still have them in stock Ken H may know, otherwise print onto thick paper and make it

[Roger Dowding]

Doctor Fred Losee came to New Zealand and brought with him an Austin Healey 100S, making it the third 100S in New Zealand. Two came in new - the Vickerys Motors and the Seabrook Fowlds cars, the Seabrook was later with Ross Jensen car that is still in New Zealand.

The Fred Losee car was left in New Zealand and was raced by Joss Timms in later years, it is now back in the USA.
Photos of the Losee Timms car have been posted here.

Fred Losee had a busy 1960 season racing at Dunedin and it appears at Wigram.
This montage of photos from Peter Preston, taken on his Box Brownie.

There are some other interesting cars in the Montage.
Details from the photographer Peter Preston;
Grand Prix - Racing Cars.
- Pat Hoare - Ferrari #19
- David Piper - Lotus #18

Sports Cars
- Bill Thomasen - Monza Ferrari #29
- Frank Cantwell - Tojeiro Jaguar #39
- Angus Hyslop - Jaguar D Type #5
- Fred Losee Austin Healey 100S. #2

The Montage ;



The 100S, cropped from the montage.



Entry List from the 1960 Wigram meeting - Graham Woods archives;
some numbers match for the Grand Prix cars -Sports cars not there.



Note ; Two names in the entry list were the New Zealand Driver to Europe recipients of that privilege in 1960.
D C Hulme and G Lawton

[Roger Dowding]

[QUOTE=Roger Dowding;56354]This car is the one that is still in NZ having been rebuilt, Allan Dick is doing an article in the #70 Edition of Classic Driver
due out early 2017 [ late Dec 2016 - the Jan-Feb issue ]
Allan posted these two pictures recently of a different 100S , the car at Balcultha around 1963, being driven by Fred Losee .. this car is now back in the USA, Fred Losee was an American based in the South Island in the early 1960's, the 100S in the article is the Seabrook Fowlds / Ross Jensen / Graham Pierce car AHS 3908

Attachment 39766

Attachment 39767

will have more details when the magazine comes out, hopefully I am still here in NZ, otherwise, will get a family member to buy and post, cannot get the magazine in Brisbane where I am ..

March 6th 2022,
The Fred Losee, Ernest Tims [ Joss/Josh Timms ] 100S - more photos have come to light - a couple I have posted and also have a " Copy " of the New Zealand Registration covering from when Fred bought the car to New Zealand, and the subsequent NZ owners.
[ It has helped dating some of the events and correcting some dates - including Balclutha 1963 - has to be 1960 or earlier ]
It will be repeating some information but will put the story in a timeline.

More to come. Soon.
A couple of photos in Post #1213 recently.

One day the photos are there the next day not -
Grr.. gone again but can see them if I click on the picture reference - wierd

[Roger Dowding]

Using both words for Fuel as one photo is from the USA from Bernie Grabow, a Healey Guy for many years.
A Texaco " Gas " Station


Bernie took this photo of the same cars during a Conclave in 2010.



Different Station where they sell Petrol not Gasoline - well did - a name long gone - Europa - Easter 1989, on the way home from the AH Clubs Annual Rally in Masterton.
Location Mid North Island- Flairport - does anybody remember it ?

[Allan]

Mangaweka?

[Ray Bell]

The Texaco station is interesting...

Both vehicles visible in the background are older than any Austin-Healeys.

[Roger Dowding]

Mangaweka?

Allan, you could be right !! I have forgotten - we made a couple of stops, another at this NZR Terminus .. for buses not trains also Central North Island ..
The trip home, was called " Taking it Easy at 95 mph ", the Green over Ivory had front suspension issues and the Sprite cooling issues, the bonnet up at several of the stops..
We had travelled at 100 mph on the way down at times, not like today - had the roads to ourselves in many places.

[Ray Bell]

Here's one which might give somebody some parts...



Of course, the discussion is all about the '63 Dodge, it's seen at about 16m 50s on this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZB1XXPUW38

[Roger Dowding]

One of the first books written about the " Austin-Healey " called the " The Austin-Healey " was written by Donald Healey and his friend and fellow Race and Rally Driver Tommy Wisdom.
Published in 1960 with Copywright to the " Donald Healey Motor Company Ltd " in 1959.

Have had a copy of the book since the 1980's which I acquired [ was lent to me and hadn't returned when the owner went back overseas -my bad, but he, Paul knows who has it I presume ] but it came without the sleeve.
Finally decided to look it up - as a quiet day in the bay.
Have re-read a bit of it and it has a lot of information I had forgotten and also explained a few questions I had about the 100S and other early 100's the 100M and the 100 Six.

The Cover - from a for sale page



From around the same time some American Austin-Healey Sprite posters - also for sale.

Although it is often not written this way " Austin-Healey " - with the hyphen is the correct way to spell the name.





" Classiscarportraits "- images of the Sprites Mark One and Mark Three.

1958 - 61 1st Sprite. as owned 1978 - 80 and another in 1981



1964 - 66 3rd series - same as two that I owned 1974 -76 and 1978 - 80/83