Entry list for the 1963 Wills 6-Hour Race.
Entry list for the 1963 Wills 6-Hour Race.
Thanks Milan,
I see the car was an Etoile, not an Aronde, and it is Don Simpkin, must correct that. John Windelburn put it was Vic Simpkin.
***
Don Simpkin used his middle name as he was known by the entry list was his first name, so he was known as Vic.
Interesting is that John W spells his name WindELburn, yet entries often had WindLEburn, he should know
Cheers Roger
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 01-18-2024 at 04:55 AM. Reason: Don = Vic ###47
John Ward's co-driver in car No 2 was John Richards not Jim Richards.
Back in the day, entry forms were hand written and someone had to type them up and send them to the printers, so there are often errors in older race programmes.Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
Nowadays, since computerisation, programmes are created by referring to a database where the drivers input their own details - and believe me, there are plenty of errors from drivers.
Photo was part of a story about the Brian Ax Austin A40 Farina, put together by Bruce Dyer [ SpGeti ].
This from 1964 - very busy at the Elbow - Lap One.
Photographer and writer of the notes - not known.
The first appearance of the Mini - Cooper - driven by Bruce McLaren
Comment on the photo
" Well there is Buster Young, Colin Beanland ,Wally ,Harry Pierce, Pat "
Wally would be Wally Wilmott and Pat Patricia McLaren,
The cars was quick and is seen leading Athol McBeath 3.8 Jaguar and Ernie Sprague Mk 3 Zephyr at Pukekohe in the Shell Book of New Zealand Motor Racing 1963 Edition. Photo by Euan Sarginson.
The Entry List was posted by Milan post #501
- the typed results from Mark Joblin archived have also been posted recently. - the page with this car reposted.
Here the only Chrysler in the Entry and at 3688 cc not quite as big as he Jaguars at 3781 cc.
Image and notes from Hawkes Bay paper - probably the " HB Photo News " as seems their style.
The Angus Hyslop / " Doc " Dick Langley car #3
.
The HB photo notes say 5th Overall, yet the typed results say 2nd in Class and 4th Overall ?.
Which is correct ?.
Notes in the 1964 Programme on the 1963 Race do not mention the Valiant as the Jaguar of Tony Shelley and Ray Archibald won the over 3000 Class and the Race itself, Second place was the Ford Zodiac of Bob Franicevic [ later to be known as Robbie Francevic ] and Steve Borich.
Roger, the results sheet you have posted actually shows 6th overall (7th column) 4th on price index and 2nd in class. I never heard Robbie , with either surname variety, known as Bob!
Good reading - I didn't study the columns well enough - " Oldfart " and yes never Bob !
I met him back around 1999 in Onehunga when he brought a lad from up North [ actually a mid 50's Man who was almost illiterate ] who was working for his engineering shop to open a Bank Account, Robbie showed the " lad " great respect and was good to talk to him and help the " lad " ..
Cheers Roger
Laurie Brensell has a question ;
" Asking for a friend- does anyone know if this car still exists?
Carjam says the rego number is no longer registered but the car could have become a race car?
Photos are the Wills 6 hour race at Pukekohe "
The car #25 in the 1964 Race - there were two Datsun 1200 [ 1189 cc ] entered #24 and this one #25.
Entered by J Gardner Motors and driven by Roderick Rankin and Alex Stringer.
- The friend is Rod Rankin
In the 1963 Race Alex Stringer was in a Datsun 1200 with Ian Boyd - Entrant Wilton Motor Bodies.
Was driven hard, looking at this photo - the Elbow ?
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 12-11-2023 at 04:25 AM.
Was that a 1200 or a Bluebird?
The 1963 Entry described as a " Bluebird " and the photos from 1964 look like a Bluebird, with the 1189 cc Motor.
In 1964 cars #24 and #25 just described as " Datsun " " 1189 " capacity.
In 1965 the sole Datsun in the Wills was described as a Datsun Bluebird of 1290 capacity driven by Don and Sue Hadfield.
The Hadfield Datsun in the 1965 Wills Six Hour Race, through the Elbow with others - image Milan Fistonic
I don't have entry list for 1966 - only the Supplementary Regulations in a booklet the same as the Programme in style.
I note in the 1967 Wills Six Hour that a Datsun Bluebird of 1299 cc was entered by Max Rae Ltd and driven by Bob Newson and Don Hadfield
The 1200 was later on I think **and the 1200SSS - the Dennis Marwood built version were in the early 1970's
** I arranged a 1200 as a rental in 1975 when my cousin visited from the UK.
A Datsun website says this of the 1200
" B110 - January 1970 Commonly known as the Datsun 1200, this was the second generation Sunny in Japan. "
Successor to the 1200 was more curvy " 120Y ".
" Datsun 120Y and Datsun B210 (in North America), the third generation (1973–1978) Sunny was extremely popular as it debuted during the 1973 "
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 12-12-2023 at 12:55 AM. Reason: 120 Y details .. ###47
More from other " Auckland " events - pre Pukekohe 1963 to 2023.
The New Zealand Motor Cup - was the premier Race from 1921 on raced at Muriwai on the Beach.
The New Zealand Grand Prix - was the main race at Ohakea in 1950 and then at Ardmore 1954 - 1962.
Some images 30 years apart - from first to last.
Muriwai 1931 - a Montage from the " Motor Cup " source not known.
Some time - late 1940's - 1948 ? - Gordon Brown in his GBS and is that Laurie Powell behind in the Ford B4 - with a V8 ?. Photo from Gordon's archives - posted some years ago.
30 years from the first image the 8th NZ " International " Grand Prix meeting 7th January 1961.
The Programme Cover - my own archives - thanks to Allan on TRS.
Cars in the Saloon Car Race [ Saloons over 1500 cc ] - Race 9 a Handicap race over 8 laps - 16 miles.
The Jaguar Mk 2's - one of 3, [ can't read the race number ] - run by Ross Jensen, B Monk and Simon Taylor, with the Dodge of G Brown and the Ford Coupe - described as a " Ford Corvette " of I [ Red ] Dawson - archive of Classic AutoNews - Allan Dick
The list of Entrants with the Handicaps and the handwritten results for places 1st to 5th - archive of Milan Fistonic.
Who was " Elvis " in an Aston Martin ??.
W " Bill " Kelly in a Renault, Bill was Trevor Sheffield's good friend and co-driver in his Daimler SP250 " Dart " in the 1965 Gold Leaf Three Hour Challenge Race at Pukekohe in October 1965, they placed well, in 3rd, behind the two Morris Cooper S, of Mullins / Neilson and Hamlin / Charles and beat the Segedin / Simmons Mustang which was a close 4th.
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 01-03-2024 at 11:48 PM. Reason: Notes added ###47
The " Lawrence " Family of Racing Drivers is being featured at a meeting at Hampton Downs in March.
Steve Elliott - is seeking photos particularly of the Anglia - Race #44 to assist with a display at the meeting.
Some photos - posted before - grouped together.
The Team Drivers - a newspaper image.
The Team cars at a Petrol Station in 1964.
At Pukekohe with the Zephyr Corvette of Rod Coppins.
A couple of Entry Lists
- one with the Anglia #44. from December 1964 ACC meeting.
A J Tony Lawrence
Anglia #44 with G Graeme Lawrence 1964 but which meeting am unsure. ** see notes below
Credits on the images - mainly Graham Woods.
*** Notes from Milan Fistonic regarding the Entry Lists and a bit of information.
" Pukekohe post no 514 the first entry list for Race 5 is from the Auckland Car Club meeting on December 12, 1964.
The other entry list is from the 1964 NZ GP meeting on January 11. It was won by Kerry Grant with Ernie Sprague second and Paul Fahey third. "
The GP meeting the first of the year and the ACC December meeting the last, the Anglia engine has grown in size to 1650 cc - or was it the same car - same Race #44.
Also note that a Bob Franicevic was racing in a Humber, it has been mentioned that he was never known as Bob - must have been on the Entry Form like that perhaps.
Any photos would be appreciated - PM me or post on here.
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 01-13-2024 at 04:38 AM. Reason: note from Milan ###47
Photo by John Larry Lawton at the Auckland Car Club Meeting 10th December 1967,
Leading David Oxton in the Lola and John[ny] Riley in the Oldsmobile powered Sports Car - was it also a Lola ?, cannot recall.
- with others behind the start of the Allcomers Sports Car Race.
Would have been at the meeting and was at the January 1968 Grand Prix meeting.
Here is the Buchanan Ferrari in the paddock area - my own photo.
Two photos of the start of the same event at the Grand Prix Meeting.
First by Frank Fenwick - from the archives of Steve Elliott.
The big guys on the front row - with Frank Bryan in the Mustang. #26 beside Paul Fahey #104 front row
John Ward Lotus Cortina #121 beside Team Mate Rod Coppins Mustang #141.
Second from Donn White who was standing not far away from Frank by the looks. Close to the fence as probably had a Press Pass !!
Tony Lawrence in the Lotus Cortina with the Lotus Twincam motor 1598 cc - it replaced the Anglia the 1650cc pushrod engined car, mentioned in an earlier post.
The Entry List from Milan Fistonic. " borrowed " as was in the comments on the first photo.
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 01-18-2024 at 04:57 AM.
More has come to light on the Bruce McLaren Cooper - as Bruce himself was at Cooper Works at the time, racing in Grand Prix and helped prepare the Mini which was modified - a 998 cc Motor taken out to 1098 cc and a few other mods besides.The first appearance of the Mini - Cooper - driven by Bruce McLaren
Comment on the photo
" Well there is Buster Young, Colin Beanland ,Wally ,Harry Pierce, Pat "
Wally would be Wally Wilmott and Pat Patricia McLaren,
The cars was quick and is seen leading Athol McBeath 3.8 Jaguar and Ernie Sprague Mk 3 Zephyr at Pukekohe in the Shell Book of New Zealand Motor Racing 1963 Edition. Photo by Euan Sarginson.
Another photo - in monochrome.
On track and leading the Jaguar and the Zephyr.
Motorman article about the Cooper. Jack Inwood photo and a Number Plate on it.
Tells a bit about the modifications and Bruce's involvement.
Thanks to Chris Burles for the images. Photographers not stated
Reading the detail in the article is this comment;
" There are a number of suspension modifications, including the removal of a complete leaf from the springing, considerably lowering the rear of the car. ".
For those of us who know Mini's, from the 1960's onwards, comment does not seem right.
It did prompt a response which was published in a later issue of " Motorman " - with Donn Anderson responding to the letter.
" Round Rubber Things " - pre the Hydrolastic things.
Image from Milan Fistonic archives
- Milan is having problems with access to The Roaring Season at the moment and sent this to me.
Do not remember this as, from memory, didn't start buying " Motorman " until at least 1964 - while still at High School, I had a standing order with the bookshop across the road from Kelston Boys High School for the English magazine The " Autocar " a weekly and then " Motorman which was by then monthly.
Tony Growden was recently given a lot of photos from his older brothers archives, by his Sister in Law - the Brother having passed away.
The date from the 1965 - 66 season and there are later season 1966 - 67 and on.
Included in the photos is a T Sheffield in a Daimler SP 250 " Dart " that has featured here in the 1965 Gold Leaf 3 Hour Challenge Race at the Wills Six Hour Meeting and at other events.
Or so Tony Growden noted from what was on the photos.
### Edit Note.
I sent the photos to Trevor who appreciated the thought but it is not him as the car has the big stripes down the bonnet.
Unsure who it is - could be Roger Smith or the Oxtons, Steve [ father or a young ] David, will try to establish from other photos from events at the time.
The Gold Leaf Three Hour Challenge Race of October 1965 and others - Matamata 1964 or 1965.
Trevor did compete at Matamata, Roger Smith was there in his Austin Healey 100 in 1964, R Smith
S Oxton, and a W Bern raced Daimlers in the 1965 Matamata Sports Car Races at the meeting on 20th March 1965.
Here is the SP250 going under the Dunlop Bridge on the loop on the full track in 1965.
Even back then I don't think the " Public " were allowed to use the bridge.
The SP250 being chased by Norris Miles in his Lotus Super Seven.
Other SP250 Drivers at the time were ;
T D [ Trevor ? ] Pengelly
J Bowden - John Bowden partnered Roger Smith in the 1965 Gold Leaf 3 hour Challenge Race,
- alongside Trevor Sheffield and Bill Kelly in Trevor's SP and the Oxtons, father Steve and son David, as the 3rd of the Daimlers in that event
both feature at the ACC meeting in December 1966.
Have also found a B G Merrett in an Sp250 at the Dec 1964 ACC meeting, along with Trevor Sheffield and Steve Oxton.
More to come - just trying to get some of them in sequence, as Tony says he was only about 5 in this year 1965, and is seeking help in identifying meetings - most of the drivers are named on the photos which is great..
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 01-25-2024 at 11:48 PM. Reason: Notes from Trevor Sheffield ###47
More from Tony Growden of his late brother, Keith Growden, photos - a mix of cars and events here;
The Gold Leaf Three Hour Challenge - the biggest and the smallest 600 cc versus 4700 cc
Even bigger then the Fleetwood Mustang Alister McLeod from Martinborough in his 7 litre Pontiac, saw that car back in the day at Pukekohe in 1966.
Johnny Riley in the Lotus Olds passing Gary Reed in his Austin Healey.
Understand the Oldsmobile motor went into his Anglia Olds later on.
Knew the Reed brothers, Gary and Brent, from my time in the AH Club of NZ, actually bought my 100 off them in 1982.
The Morrari known as " The Monster " still on the Borrani Wire Wheels off the Ferrari. so 1965, again,
The real " Monster " of the 1966 Season - the Custaxie in this image, ahead of Jack Nazer in the Anglia, through the Esses.
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