Photos: The Allan Porter Collection - Part 3

[Steve Holmes]

Time now for another installment from the Allan Porter Collection of early New Zealand drag racing photos.

We've already seen the evolution of both the early drag strips, from gravel surface, through closed off roads, circuit racing tracks, and airbase runways, through the opening couple of years at Meremere, New Zealands first purpose built drag racing facility.

Now we continue our way through the 1970s, as race cars themselves evolve. While the top-end cars are becoming more like those racing in the US, there is still a very strong club level to the sport, with hobby racers driving their cars to the track, or racing cars that are essentially modified road cars.

For those of you who were in this scene during this time, keep a look out. You just might spot yourself in the crowd.

[Steve Holmes]

Kicking things off, these were the types of cars typically driven by young Kiwis wanting to go fast in the '70s; Falcon hardtop, Capri, Torana, etc.

[Steve Holmes]

Sorry, no details on this one. Maybe someone here can help? Check out the competition in the other lane!

[Greg Stokes]

Sorry, no details on this one. Maybe someone here can help? Check out the competition in the other lane!

Keith Sattler from Morrinsville

[Steve Holmes]

This cool 1964 Ford Fairlane was a New Zealand Hot Rod Magazine project car of the time. Awesome Keystone mags on the back. Where is it now?

[Steve Holmes]

Apparently the cows didn't mind the noise.

[Steve Holmes]

These shoebox Fords were a common sight in NZ, as they were available new. They also made pretty cool custom and drag cars. I don't know if this was a factory 2 door or if someone converted it.

[Steve Holmes]

Rosie again, from another angle.

[Steve Holmes]

Alan Edwards Corvette.

[Gimmeabeer]

I believe this car is still around in road going form.

[Steve Holmes]

Dave Loose and his '57 Chevy 2 door hardtop. I featured Dave in one of my books, and visited him at his house in Auckland where he had a cool car collection and some neat automobilia. He told me the story about this Chevy, and how he bought it in the US in the late '60s/early '70s for about $200. He was living there at the time and these old cars weren't worth anything.

[Steve Holmes]

Clever overlay image from Allan of the Peter Lodge Topolino.

[Steve Holmes]

Dave Chung's T Bucket.

[Steve Holmes]

Bill Ward in T Roadster. He was trialling the small block Chevy that would be fitted to his Bonneville racer.

[duncan fox]

These shoebox Fords were a common sight in NZ, as they were available new. They also made pretty cool custom and drag cars. I don't know if this was a factory 2 door or if someone converted it.

This was Paul Chapmans spinner I believe
318 mopar and torqueflight, tilt front. Was an original 2 dr we towed it out of Auckland city back to Howick one night on a chain behind a 6 wheeler tip truck, we often used to joke about the "stretched doors"

[Steve Holmes]

Dave Green's '56 Chevy. Is this the same Dave Green who these days races a wild Corvette Top Doorslammer?

[Steve Holmes]

Rosies Roost. Paul Rose has been involved in NZ dag racing all his life. He was my boss for a short time at Appco Autoparts in Lower Hutt for a short time back about 2002. He used to spend half his day swearing and cursing at the computer system. He hated it!

Check out the cool cars in the background.

[Steve Holmes]

Shadwick brothers V8 Jeep.

[Steve Holmes]

Graham Christison's Ford Pop.

[Steve Holmes]

Butch Reid and his Ford Pop. Note driver seating position.