February 8, 1969
February 8, 1969
nelson
nelson
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Pete's vintage racer was built in New Zealand in 1949 by John Jacobson & Neil Stuart based on “K8” plans, originally US short dirt track cars that later evolved as sprint cars.
Here are some of it's technical details:
Power: Ford Flathead V8, 286 cubic inch
Transmission: 3-speed Ford
Front and rear end: '39 Ford
Springs: Front '39 Ford; Rear Model T
Brakes: '39 Ford
Frame: cut-down Essex
Steering box: Chrysler 70
Top speed (recorded): 115 MPH
Between 1949 and 1965, it was raced by John Jacobson & Neil Stuart at the Aranui Speedway and several road-type circuit races; Bill Harris Jr. used it in beach racing and Peter & Alec Rattray in road-races.
Pete has owned No.77 since 1965, racing it in road-type circuits, hill climbs, beach racing and later vintage racing events; he won the New Zealand Beach Racing Championship Race 3 times. While he owned the car, it was also raced by Bob (RW) Stewart, Neil Stuart, Brian Hepburn and John Armstrong on occasions. The car was well known as a ''Ford V8 Special'' in the South Island of New Zealand.
....behind the larger photo of Bill Harris,I played 'spot the make' a game I played when I was riding 'Shot Gun',with my Father, ferrying new Singer SM's from Nelson to Christchurch at 30MPH all the way,remember you used to have to 'Run Them In' in those days,I had to name the Manufacturer and Build date along with model ID....Originally Posted by bry3500
Left to right
Ford Mk2 Zephyr 1957/58..LIP Vauxhall 1948/52..Chevrolet 1939..Ford Prefect 1948/51..Citroen (with 'gear stick' comming out of the centre of the dash!!)..Ford Anglia 1955/6 (3 bar grill was Anglia/Prefect had mesh with 'Chrome' surround!!)..Chevrolet 1955..Austin A90 Atlantic 1955/6?..Bedford Van 1955/6(with sliding front doors!)...David, how am I going so far,long time since I played this game!!!..................regards thunder427?MJ
..promised Steve I would tell this story!!
My father took a 'Sales' position with the 'Reid Rubber Tyre Company' in Nelson around 1952,selling tyres to the trade throught out the Malborough/Blenham/Nelson and West Coast,I went to the Tahunanui School, when we lived in Greens st/Tahunanui,we would go and 'Roller Skate' at the 'Rink' at Tahunanui Beach Front,great swim beach,also attended Auckland Point School where I had to walk past 'Nelson Transport' Truck Depo,if you asked with a "Please" you would be given 'large' Ball Race wheels for the 'Billy Karts', then they would pretend to chase you out of the place,you school bag banging away on your back,weighting a 'Ton', full of Bounty
The story....1959/we, the family, had towed a 'New' caravan behind a 'Swish',matching paint scheme,1948 Oldsmobile 'Teardrop' Coupe (read 'Fastback') to stay at the Nelson Camping Ground,see some friends, from our 3 year stay in Nelson and take in the Beach races that included the Scramble Bikes which we also enjoyed ,the Mechanic from my Fathers Car Sales in Ferry Road ChCh, was riding that weekend.
Well, there we were, with our flash new/Modern 'Aluminium clad' caravan with an attachment called an 'Awning',that made double your space, my Mum had decided that we should be visiting, Dad and I had had a notion to watch the Beach race Practise, but Mum ruled, well thats what my Father told me, someone had once compared my mother to Elizabeth Taylor, not quite, but if you get the 'Make-up' thing going,you will understand the comparison,it was a major event,well there she was,my Mum,looking radiant standing in the door way of our 'Flash' van.."Oh!! its rather windy,I'll just pop back inside and use a little 'Hairspray'"...she's gone about 2sec's....Swiiiiiiiish....screams comming from inside..." I've sprayed my Hair with Bloody 'FLYSPRAY'....well that was too much for my Father and I,we just rolled around laughing (In the 'Awning')...she refused to come out till my Father agreed to take her and have her hair re-permed....she had reached up to a small shelf that held two cans ,one Hairspray the other flyspray,felt the same,BUT!!.....well as you guessed, I got to go to the Beach and watch the 'practice'......and I,ve been a supporter/user of 'Mortine' ever since......I Know, I am mean!!, It wasn't really funny and I did have a 'Great' Mum !!!, but hey!!!
Last edited by thunder427; 07-23-2011 at 12:24 AM. Reason: spelling!!!
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Skope Classic 2011
Last edited by bry3500; 09-08-2011 at 11:30 PM.
Woody, The accident Snow had was on the main straight at Levels, Timaru, it happened right in front of me in the practise. His car a red Cooper ended upside down astride the ditch that ran along side the track. I stoped, jumped out of my car, went to see if he was okay and found him lying in the ditch on his back . A few seconds later the crash crew arrived so I left the scene. I have never seen him since and often wonder what happened to him
bry thanks for contacting Peter on his birthday , getting that great pic,nows he is posting, what a great site
Cheers mate ...just got to get him over to Phillip Island now with ol #77..
Reprint - Limited edition of 100 - Numbered and signed by author. Arguably, the motor racing on Nelson's Back Beach set the seal on the region as a summer holiday destination in the post second world war era. It was held as a two day meeting every New Year from the last day of 1949 to the New Year of 1977 and the Nelson Car club can take credit for the enthusiasm of so many officials, drivers and spectators. Held on a natural beach race circuit, which was bounded by the large Tahunanui Beach Camping Ground and the beach sandhills, the meeting attracted drivers from up and down the country year after year. Names including Roper, Farland, Tucker, Logan, Shuter, Lupp, father and son Les and Ronnie Moore and many others were nationally noted drivers of their time and all drove with verve and skill on the Tahunanui Beach circuit to the delight of the paying (and non paying) spectators. This publication traces the history of the races staged by the Nelson Car Club during an era when motor racing attracted the largest number of spectators of any sport in New Zealand.STOCK INFORMATIONGeneral FieldsISBN : 9780473039042PUBLISHER : sandhillsIMPRINT : sandhillsPRODUCT TYPE : booksSpecial FieldsBIND : PaperbackAUTHOR : Mike Stephens
Last edited by thunder427; 09-11-2011 at 01:08 PM.
Audrey Hutcheon
The Ian Stevens Dauphine Rebuild
I got Mike Stephens book a few years ago and for someone north of the Bombay Hills found it a good read. I wrote to Halsey Logan many years ago about the Fiat 500 he used to run. It later went to John Wells. Halsey replied with full details of its modifications not long before he passed away.Does anyone know what happened to the motor. When I last heard of it it was sitting under a garage bench somewhere in Nelson. That was a few years ago and I never got any closer than that.
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