Dunedin Street Races - revival meeting January 1984

[Roger Dowding]

Haig Citroen Special
a bit of the History

" “ It gave up its front assembly, gearbox diff driveshafts and the 1991 ** typo [ 1911 ] cc 4 cylinder Citroen Motor
With the Traction avant [ front wheel drive ] working behind the driver in reverse.
The little car also contained many lightweight aircraft parts “ GV
“ It was built during 1952 in Timaru. “ GV
Car painted Blue – indications from a 1950 Light 15
Car is a rear engine single seater Racing Car.
History of Ownership and Competition
Doug Haig Race Number 18
1953 Dunedin - the NZ Championship Road Race [ NZ CRR ] placed 6th
Details confirmed in the Vintage Car Club of N Z Otago Branch Book “ Racing Round the Houses “by Scott Thomson – published in 1983
1953 Mairehau - placed 5th
1953 Lady Wigram placed 5th
1953 C W F Hamilton Trophy Race – Handicap placed 1st on Handicap

1954 C W F Hamilton Trophy Race – Handicap placed 1st on Handicap

1956 “ saw the little blue rear-engined special sold to Vic Blackburn from Waipara in 1956.
He painted it green “ GV
1956 South Island Championship Road Race [ SI CRR ] no details --

1957 Wigram placed 2nd
1957 SI CRR no details --

1958 Wigram placed 5th

1959 Waimate “ Specials Race “ placed 1st
No mention of this in the Book “ The Racing Years 1959 – 1966 The History of the Waimate 50 “
1960 The Waimate 50 book mentions lap times for Specials
“ Citreon [ Citroen ] 1 min 21.5 ( Blackburn, ’60 ) “

In all these events engine described as a 1911 cc 4 [1911/4 ] so the Citroen Light 15, later DS and ID 19 Motor.

Graham Vercoe states “ Ralph Smith owned it for a time. He had a spectacular finish at Invermay Hillclimb when the car became airborne on a hump just after the finish line and demolished three fence posts, a few standards and a few metres of number eight “ GV

Car owned /driven by Ralph Smith in 1984
1984 Dunedin Road Race “84 “ car entered by Ralph Smith – painted Green Race number 18
Listed as 1950 model with 2088 cc engine [ a Standard Vanguard or Triumph TR motor ].
***see note below - Car now back with a Citroen Motor..
A photo of the car appears in a Montage of the Competitors from the “Dunedin Weekly News “
1st February 1984

1991 – In his book ” Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand “Graham Vercoe states that “ The bright yellow car is presently owned and raced by Les Marshall. “ GV

Main History – Graham Vercoe Books,
- the car history from “ Historic racing Cars of New Zealand.
- race entry’s –results from that book but mainly “ The Golden Era of New Zealand Motor Racing “

Word in Italics are mine.

Some photos of the car from 1953 to 1984 and more recent

C W F Hamilton Trophy 1953. 1st place on Handicap - Photo Graham Vercoe Book - Christchurch Star



Placing at Waimate - 6th 1959



The car at Dunedin 1984 - from the Montage on the "Dunedin Midweek ".



On the Grid with other Single Seaters [ Racing cars ] and Specials -my own photo Dunedin 1984 [ posted before ].
Another car in the photo at the back is the Wylie Javelin which came to New Zealand in 1954 but did not start at the NZ GP meeting that year - was driven by its creator Brian Wylie .in 1984 driven by Bruce Polain - the recent [ 1980's on ]- owner.



More recent photos of the car

Brian Bonisch recent photo at a South Island meeting - in the paddock.



Car at Ruapuna 2010 [Skope meeting ] with Peter Leversedge in close company- photo John MacDonald.



New comment *** from Ralph Smith " The Citroen did have a vanguard motor for a short period of time while the Citroen motor was being rebuilt and was fitted about six years ago. "

[Roger Dowding]

Interesting field of cars in 1956 .. NZ Championship Beach Race ..Pines Beach Thanks to John McDonald for the archive photo.

The Haig Citroen, driven by Vic Blackburn - also seen here the Ransley Riley, and a couple of Austin Healey's
- I think Arthur Kennard ** in the front row - this would be before the V8 was fitted, but the bonnett has been fitted with louvres.
Back row the Duncan Rutherford Lycoming left next to the famous #77 Special now owned [ since 1965 ] by Peter Leversedge - would have been driven by Bill Harris at this time [ note from Peter L ] and a Midget style car,another Special, and a Healey
Front row the Haig Citroen, ** Arthur Kennard Healey, Ransley Riley, another Midget style car - not sure about the " single seater " on the right - front row - looks familiar .. with the white painted snout !

some notes are from Peter Leversedge John McDonald and others.. from the South Island Motorsport and Old New Zealand Motor racing facebook pages.

[jellywrestler]

I gather the circuit changed a lot over time, here are three variations.
1954 the Initial NZ Championship Road Race, Easter Monday April 1954.

Attachment 32257
Start / Finish on Fryatt St, left into Halsey, right into Jutland left Wickliffe over the bridge onto Ward then kink into Burns left into Willis then right onto Fish left into Rattray and to the Start Finish.

1961 Festival Road Races Saturday January 28th 1961. a very different course.

Attachment 32258
Not much detail just names for the corners from the start ascent to the kink then descent to the Glen - hairpin, then curve around to kink at Service Station another kink at Kensington School the Railway to a sharp left at Tramshed corner, back to Start / Finish

1965 The Final Road Races - prior to the Revival meeting in 1984 from Scott Thomson's book " Racing Round the Houses "

Attachment 32259

A better map the course runs around the Railway Yards.

Here is a description of the course from Scott's book.
1965
Attachment 32262

Hope this is some use ;, and good to put the information here on the thread.

I've just read through this book which is interesting although it shows three tracks one 54-56 one 1960-62 and one from 1960. the book starts at 1953 also shows results from 1957 1958 but doesn't tell us what circuits were used which is a little confusing.

[Oldfart]

Jelly, I can't be bothered going back through the 11 pages here, but I am pretty confident the answer to what you have posed is in this thread.

[Roger Dowding]

I've just read through this book which is interesting although it shows three tracks one 54-56 one 1960-62 and one from 1960. the book starts at 1953 also shows results from 1957 1958 but doesn't tell us what circuits were used which is a little confusing.

I have a couple of Dunedin Programmes, mentioned in the thread but think that they are 1954 and 1961 so probably the maps shown already. Will have a look later, cheers.

Oldfart - thanks for the comment, I can't remember what I have posted - have a fine day here so no time today cheers to you too !!.
PS thanks for the info on Ivy Stephenson - via PM ..
Roger

[Milan Fistonic]

Jellywrestler. These are the maps from the programmes I have.

This is the circuit used in 1955 and 1956



A new circuit was used in 1960 and used again in 1961



This circuit was used in 1984

[Roger Dowding]

Jellywrestler. These are the maps from the programmes I have.

This is the circuit used in 1955 and 1956



A new circuit was used in 1960 and used again in 1961



This circuit was used in 1984

Milan - Thank you for that - had not seen the 1984 circuit for some time, well somehow lost or gave away my programme. have the Cover and Entry lists for most races [ gained from others ] but not the full programme

I have another version of the circuit I think - as mentioned before will have to go back through my stuff - they are probably on this thread though back a few pages ..

[Roger Dowding]

I gather the circuit changed a lot over time, here are three variations.
1954 the Initial NZ Championship Road Race, Easter Monday April 1954.

Attachment 32257
Start / Finish on Fryatt St, left into Halsey, right into Jutland left Wickliffe over the bridge onto Ward then kink into Burns left into Willis then right onto Fish left into Rattray and to the Start Finish.

1961 Festival Road Races Saturday January 28th 1961. a very different course.

Attachment 32258
Not much detail just names for the corners from the start ascent to the kink then descent to the Glen - hairpin, then curve around to kink at Service Station another kink at Kensington School the Railway to a sharp left at Tramshed corner, back to Start / Finish

1965 The Final Road Races - prior to the Revival meeting in 1984 from Scott Thomson's book " Racing Round the Houses "

Attachment 32259

A better map the course runs around the Railway Yards.

Here is a description of the course from Scott's book.
1965
Attachment 32262

Hope this is some use ;, and good to put the information here on the thread.

The 1965 circuit again - this is from the Vintage Car Club Otago Branch book written /edited by Scott Thomson
The image above added again - brings them to the same Page.



Jw - hope it helps, and I am pleased the thread is being used.

[jellywrestler]

Jelly, I can't be bothered going back through the 11 pages here, but I am pretty confident the answer to what you have posed is in this thread.

have been through and it's not clarified mr Oldfart. There's a missing link with a shortened fryatt street circuit that i know was used in 1958 as i have the program. It was an observation, rather than a critiscism, a history book with some very well researched stuff but gaps as i saw it. I've found this too with the Levin circuit book, there were two tracks, it was lengthened to meet trans tasman series requirements and clearly the author had all the programs on hand, yet there was only the latter circuit diagram in there. I'm currently writing a book on motorcyle road racings circuits in new zealand, looking at approx 130 different circuits including variations. I'm only covering bike years and luckily I have got the data i need.

[jellywrestler]

what year were these as it seems this circuit ran two different directions?

[jellywrestler]

interesting corner at dunedin late 1960's, railway lines a meter from the curb terrible on a bike, not much fun on a car either i'd expect

[Roger Dowding]

Jw - Graeme - thanks for that image - have seen a couple of photos of the 1950's /60's version of the Street Circuit where the surface changes dramatically and is rather bumpy.. must see if I can find them .. and repost !!

[Roger Dowding]

Those Railway lines through the middle of a corner of the track in 1969 - caused some problems.

Graeme Staples photo of the corner.



Graham Stoot and another rider on the corner - the lines causing a problem.
Graeme Staples archives photo

[Roger Dowding]

Jw - Graeme - thanks for that image - have seen a couple of photos of the 1950's /60's version of the Street Circuit where the surface changes dramatically and is rather bumpy.. must see if I can find them .. and repost !!

Not the Railway lines but the exit from a bridge in 1958 - The Sports Car Race with change of camber




another corner with a Morgan in the sandbank while a couple of 500cc single seaters and a Cooper go past.



Both photos from Jim Bennett archives - his brothers were racing Morgans at the time.
one photo appear in the Scott Thomson book " Racing Round the Houses "
- published by the Vintage Car Club of N. Z. Otago branch in 1983.
It credits the photo entitled " down we come " of the three sports cars of R J Blackburn ( Mistral ) Lawrence in the middle car and Edmiston in the #44 Morgan to the " Star 1958 "

The second photo is the Edmiston Morgan #44

Entry List for the Sports Car race


Car #50 must have been a late entry - as not shown.
A good collection of Healey's in the Race George Lawton in his 100/6, Graham Pierce in the ex Seabrook Fowlds Ross Jensen 100S that is still in New Zealand, Arthur Kennard in the recently [ 1957 ] repowered Healey 100 - now the Healey Corvette R B Langley in a Healey 100 - is that Doc Langley ?. M Stewart in another 100/6 the 100 Six cars would have been quite new then- introduced in 1957.

Have put Jim Bennett and Graham Woods as credit for the entry list- part of both Guys archives.

There was another part of the track in the 1950's where the road was for a few yards [in old money ] metal then back to seal which caught a few out -now to find the photo !

[jellywrestler]

so was this a one off meeting in 1984 or part of a new wave of meetings please folks?

[Milan Fistonic]

so was this a one off meeting in 1984 or part of a new wave of meetings please folks?

I have programmes for meetings in 1992,1995, 1996 and 1998.

[stubuchanan]

[QUOTE=Roger Dowding;73138]



another corner with a Morgan in the sandbank while a couple of 500cc single seaters and a Cooper go past.

(QUOTE)

Unusual to see Railway Station Tower in Dunedin road race photos. The sandbank seems to have been a fixture at all Wharf Circuit races; probably the only place on the track where cars were likely to hit a building. The building by the Morgan perched on the sandbank looks like a former pub on Google Street View - has a door exactly on the corner of Tewsley St where the cars turned right and back towards start/finish. Maybe that's one of the patrons leaning on the upstairs window sill.
Other years the track turned right towards railway and then left along Thomas Burns St.

Could car 14 be Merv Neil in the Cooper Climax he had just bought from Brabham?

Stu

[Roger Dowding]

This from " Dunedin Photo Review " - which must be like the Town Photo News publications like " Nelson Photo News ".

Graham Woods found this piece and the source led me to a Website on Museums of New Zealand.
I could not find the actual Magazine on the site.



Map of the Track 1959 and details of the event. from OSCC Wheelspin Magazine - courtesy Graham Woods.



Must get back to the Jim Bennett story and his FURI cars. its been a while.

[Roger Dowding]

Watched a Doco on TV3 CRC Motorsport about the 60th Anniversay meeting at Waimate - for the Waimate 50,the programme from 2019 was a replay but had been edited with a Tribute to Clark Proctor at the end.
The cars were great - a few favourites -
- the Lycoming Special,the Stanton Corvette, the recreation of the John Miler Dauphine Corvette and one of the Guys they interviewed was Joss Timms who raced there in 1959, and in an Austin Healey too - Joss later had the ex Fred Lossee Austin Healey 100S.
Well worth another look ..

[Roger Dowding]

wrote this comment a couple of years ago on this thread;
" Further to September 2018 - Am going to use this thread for photos and news that doesn't fit into the Austin Healey or Northern Sports Car Club thread- will cover Specials and other events I come across that should be shared..
Roger 17th December 2018 ".

Have gathered more photos from Matamata, Waharoa Mt Maunganui, Northland events and was thinking of a new thread but -perhaps I should get this one renamed and used for " Lost Events " " Specials " that as mentioned don't fit with the AH or NSCC stories.
Also somewhere to put photos from Caffeine and Classics, Greerton Vintage Fayre and other shows I get to

Best get Steve Holmes or his Admin guys to retitle the thread - the photos don't really fit with lost race tracks !

--- " Dunedin 1984, other events, Lost Events and Specials and Shows "

perhaps.

Have started to post the Matamata photos on this thread and will follow with the Waharoa Grass Track races too !!