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

[Roger Dowding]

Following on from the Castrol Card series - I remember these books from the 1960's had several years of them, but now gone - where ?? Was only 13 when this one came out - must have pestered my Dad to get hold of them.

He used to bring home the " Bedford Transport Magazine " from his work at Briscoe and Co - the real Briscoe's hardware and Ironmongers, and New Zealand Agents for " Michelin Tyres ".

He told the story once of the Michelin Man - not the logo one !!, arriving in New Zealand for a meeting with Briscoe and Co, about Tyre supplies [ subject to strict Import Licensing in those times ] and was asked about them setting up a factory in NZ - the response was they could make in One Day enough tyres for whole New Zealand tyre market's annual sales.
That was around the time that Goodrich had helped Reidrubber set up a factory in NZ with locally made tyres. - had some on my cars over the years,
before preferring Dunlops on my Mini's and that TR and had Pirelli's on my yellow Sprite.


Own photo of the Sprite and Mangere Town Centre in 1974.

Dennis Green of Northern Sports Car Club - their photographer, took this photo - when BMC BOY was doing the same for Auckland Car Club.
More action in the D Green photo !!



These from Paul O'Neill, who had the " Castrol " Cards - Racing Car Series -
They have been put on ERC's " Bookshelf " thread.

The 1960 edition -pages related to Austin Healey - including the front cover with URX 727 the Pat Moss Ann Wisdom [ Riley ] car.

[John McKechnie]

He told the story once of the Michelin Man - not the logo one !!, arriving in New Zealand for a meeting with Briscoe and Co, about Tyre supplies [ subject to strict Import Licensing in those times ] and was asked about them setting up a factory in NZ - the response was they could make in One Day enough tyres for whole New Zealand tyre market's annual sales.
That was around the time that Goodrich had helped Reidrubber set up a factory in NZ with locally made tyres. - had some on my cars over the years,

Roger.....can you guess what company makes worldwide the highest number of tyres per year?

Dont anyone else put the answer up, this is for Roger

[Ray Bell]

Just imagine the supply lines keeping the materials coming for that kind of production level!

[Oldfart]

Michelin told me their production capability world wide could do every inflatable tyre in NZ in around 14 minutes when I was importing some specific ones in the 1990s. No wonder we had to wait on occasion!

[Roger Dowding]

He told the story once of the Michelin Man - not the logo one !!, arriving in New Zealand for a meeting with Briscoe and Co, about Tyre supplies [ subject to strict Import Licensing in those times ] and was asked about them setting up a factory in NZ - the response was they could make in One Day enough tyres for whole New Zealand tyre market's annual sales.
That was around the time that Goodrich had helped Reidrubber set up a factory in NZ with locally made tyres. - had some on my cars over the years,

PS my Dads comment was from the late 1950's early 1960's ***

Roger.....can you guess what company makes worldwide the highest number of tyres per year?

Dont anyone else put the answer up, this is for Roger

And here is one commentary on that Figure ..... a few years old .. no one mentioned car truck bus etc .. or full size tyres or tires .. ??

" And the World's Largest Tire Manufacturer Is… Drumroll Please…
Company Tires produced (2011)
Lego* 318 million
Bridgestone 190 million
Michelin 184 million
Goodyear 181 million "

and by Dollar Value - Bridgestone !! guess the average Lego tyre cost only a few cents or a dollar or so !!.. Lets not mention wheelbarrows and motor mowers !!

Interesting topic - as off this very morning to see Steve Abbott, son of Russ Abbott of Rallying Triumph Dolomite fame to price two tyres for my daily driver .. didn't want to go and see Del Trotter !!.



Have found the Original of the above photo with Del and Rodney - the tyres are photo-shopped.

See here the original photo !!

[Roger Dowding]

Two Works cars both well known .
Photos from Karsten Stelk archives ;


DD 300 went to the USA in 1990 for the USA / UK Team Challenge.
believe it was also in Australia at Bathurst in 1985 for the all Healey race that preceded the Bathurst 1000 - won by the Jaguar XJS V12 Coupe.

Another photo of VOK490 - in readiness for a Rally - year unknown.



and finally the Main photo for the Facebook group " Old British Car Club "

.

[Ray Bell]

Hmmm...

'All Healey' race at Bathurst? I'm sure that was 1998, with a follow-up in 1999.

[Roger Dowding]

Hmmm...

'All Healey' race at Bathurst? I'm sure that was 1998, with a follow-up in 1999.

That has got me thinking Ray Bell, !! But,
- pretty sure the Race I am thinking of was 1985 as I had it on VHS tape -which I stupidly dumped many years later as we had a DVD player by the mid 1990's should have had it converted to DVD or CD Rom .. and remember I was still living in Herne Bay at the time, sold that place in 1995..



Others may know more !
But you have got me thinking, Mate !! Cheers

[Ray Bell]

Held to celebrate 50 years of Healey cars...

1948 to 1998. And featuring Peter Hopwood's fantastic drive.

[Roger Dowding]

Held to celebrate 50 years of Healey cars...

1948 to 1998. And featuring Peter Hopwood's fantastic drive.

Ray saw a bit about it when I googled Austin Healey's at Bathurst ;
The [ Sir ] Donald Healey International Tribute Race - and yes Peter gets a mention .. Dennis Welch and John Chatham were there too !!
This should be the clip - about 15 minutes long;

" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxwgGKzYmXk "

Just checked and it works !! Cheers Ray..

[Ray Bell]

Peter would have got more of a 'mention' if his plan had come off...

A very brave race for a man as ill as he was.

The following year they had another Healey race, the commentator on TV said, "Peter Hopwood isn't here this year, but he'll be watching us now."

In fact, he was in hospital having his spinal cord cut so he could endure for just a little longer.

[Ray Bell]

Actually, that clip is the minor race...

It was in the main event when Peter showed Welch his shortcomings.

[Roger Dowding]

Austin Healey's Small, 1;18,
Smaller 1;43
Smallest 1;87

[Roger Dowding]

The well known car that was involved in the terrible crash at Le Mans in 1955 Race #26
- with Drivers Lance Macklin USA and Les Leston UK.
The car was hit by Pierre Levegh's Mercedes 300 SL
The incident was described as " The Le Mans Disaster " by Gregor Grant at the time.

Here the 100 is crashed against the wall and car #22 A Cunningham is driving past.



The car was fully restored and in recent times [ 2011 ] sold for US$1.3 million
Here the car in a scene with OON439 SPL256BN another Works car Phil O'Neill archives year not known but would be mid 1950's
Donald Healey's 100 Coupe partly in the picture



As an aside have models of both cars;

Here is NOJ393 ; in 1;43 scale, with a standard 100 and the Works 3000 from Le Mans in 1960.

[ERC]

NSCC Silverstone May 25th 1957, just one of several entry list scans that have AH 100S.

[Roger Dowding]

NSCC Silverstone May 25th 1957, just one of several entry list scans that have AH 100S.

A very " British " field - Aston M, Austin H, Jaguar and Riley.



ERC, Thanks for that - any you find please post on here, Cheers.

Obviously the English NSCC, as in ;

" https://www.nottinghamsportscarclub.co.uk/about.php "

There is now a Nissan Sports Car Club
and of course The Club in New Zealand that was my club of choice 1967 - early 1980's, My Uncle Eddie Dowding was one of the early Presidents in 1945 -46 - the second President had been club Captain 1944 -45 [ Club formally came to being in October 1943 ].

this one ;

" http://www.nscc.org.nz/history.html "

The Club has a link to the NSCC thread on " The Roaring Season " on its " History " page.

[ERC]

I've scanned about 200 pages so far Roger and Austin Healeys and Sprites appear regularly. Far too many to carry over to here!

Note that the entry list for that particular race was a bit thinner than usual as it wouldn't be too often that Healeys were 50% of the grid and 33% would have been 100S's!

What is interesting is that back in the 1950's and 1960's, there were plenty of races with good entries for sports and sports racing cars under 1000cc, 1200cc or 1300cc. Lotus dominated...

[Roger Dowding]

I've scanned about 200 pages so far Roger and Austin Healeys and Sprites appear regularly. Far too many to carry over to here!

Note that the entry list for that particular race was a bit thinner than usual as it wouldn't be too often that Healeys were 50% of the grid and 33% would have been 100S's!

What is interesting is that back in the 1950's and 1960's, there were plenty of races with good entries for sports and sports racing cars under 1000cc, 1200cc or 1300cc. Lotus dominated...

Thanks ERC, Ray - I will look though your links and get anything of interest in the " Healey " world.

[Roger Dowding]

Just looking a for a photo to send to a Mate when I came across these in some old Emails [ 2013 - 2016 ].
All Photos by BMC BOY - Not sure if all at the same events.

First one posted before ;

Kathy Povey, and Lyle Chambers sitting on Bill and Kathy's Healey [ a 100 Six from memory ] Richard Leaper looking in to the Healey,Judy Leaper sitting on her and Richards Alpine.
That Alpine was my daily driver after I had the accident in my TR4A in September 1980.
Lyle's BSA at left - bonnet off !



Lyle Chambers, Clive Thompson and his son, Clive's Mark 4 Sprite behind. Clive bought my Yellow /Mustard Bugeye in 1981.- same day same Shoes and Flares for Lyle.



That BSA driven by Richard Leaper, Lyle's Mate



Phil Mules kicking up dust in his 3000.



a 100 at the start of a test- unsure who, but know some of the crowd are -may be a different event but definitely Auckland people.

.

There are also several from one of the Le Mans Relay Races - I think 1982 - have my own photos of some of the cars from it,plus others I was given.
They will follow.

[Roger Dowding]

This thread started as the photo-story of the February 1983 Jaguar Drivers Club Le Mans Relay Race when the Austin Healey thread was created in 2015 - Now 4 years later I have come across photos of another Relay event

Those Relay Race photo's think it is 1982 - the Car numbers are different, so could be the late 1983 race run by the Porsche Club.

Bernie Huynen in his 100 [ RIP Bernie ].



Ross Osborne [ North Island Ross - as there is a Ross Osborne in the AH Club in Dunedin ] Car is a 100 SIX but think it had a 3000 motor - I drove it at Thunderpark Dragway, Napier in 1984, when Ross organised the AHCC National Rally.



Chris White in a Sprite - Race #15 - before he got the 100 and later a 3000.



Photos by Ross Cammick.

A couple of my own from the event.
Ross Osborne 100 SIX in the pits - Cameron Mackay's 3000 at the side.



Another view of Ross O's car



Sprite - Not Chris White as Race #16 Chris White's car ' GO ' Reg is parked.
Craig Swift from Wellington adjusting something - Craig often wore Sandals - Craig was one of the 10 Kiwi's that went to the USA in 1982.
Craig is still in Wellington and Jim Reece [ who has provided photo's on here and Bryan Harris - another of the USA group ] have caught up with him in recent times - Craig sold his 3000 a few years ago.
Le Meggett 3000 BJ8 on the grass and another Healey behind that.