1989 NZ Sports Sedans

[Steve Holmes]

In video 1 Puke. White Escort that is up Oz's bum is the 2ltr Turbo of Bruce Manon, he actually passed Oz on last lap. It was QUICK for 2ltr home built car. Poor Tony and Oxcart were not really supplied good info on any of the cars, so did a good job.

Yes, well spotted Rod. That Escort was a very quick little car. I assume this is the same Bruce Manon who now races a very fast MkII Escort in historic events? Whatever happened to his sports sedan?

And yes, the commentary is full of holes, as they suggested Manon was the one being lapped halfway into the race. And they then questioned where Roger Freeth was. But I'm guessing they had little info to work with.

I hope the person who posted this footage originally on Youtube has a copy of the Sunday race(s). The above appears to be a Saturday race. Peter Meadows Corvette, and Freeth V8 Starlet were both missing.

[Steve Holmes]

Couple of Volvo, it had a pretty hard life before it arrived. Went alright.

Boy that was an ungainly looking thing wasn't it!

[Rod Grimwood]

I have heaps of those old videos, just need to get myself a machine to convert to disc and away we go.

[Rod Grimwood]

Yes Steve same Bruce. I believe it was sold minus engine to some one down Hamilton way and basically they modified it and it got slowly wrecked as happens to a lot of cars. Buy it because its a winner, i can make this better and thats the start of the end, shame.

The escort getting lapped was actually a nice car built by a guy fron Te Kauwata (don't remember name) and went well when it was going. Built on same lines as Manons, and even painted Manons original colour.

I have photos somewhere of Manons Escort.

[AMCO72]

Isnt that so true about some race cars. Someone buys it because it is a winner then proceeds to wreck it by 'improving' it. The classic case is the ex Leo Leonard Ford that COULD have been an Historic race car today. Instead, Tim Buxton in Cambridge bought it and turned it into a 'I dont know what'......some sort of sports sedan. I know the 'new' engine didn't seem to be able to last more than a couple of laps of old Taupo. Was built by 'reputable' engine man at vast cost!!!! Dont know where it is now, but would be a major getting it back to original. I think it won one of the long distance races wayback when.... Mr. B needs shooting. Woops shouldn't have said that....might get into trouble.

[rogered]

Yes Steve same Bruce. I believe it was sold minus engine to some one down Hamilton way and basically they modified it and it got slowly wrecked as happens to a lot of cars. Buy it because its a winner, i can make this better and thats the start of the end, shame.

The escort getting lapped was actually a nice car built by a guy fron Te Kauwata (don't remember name) and went well when it was going. Built on same lines as Manons, and even painted Manons original colour.

I have photos somewhere of Manons Escort.

are you thinking of terry richardson?

[bry3500]

Yes, well spotted Rod. That Escort was a very quick little car. I assume this is the same Bruce Manon who now races a very fast MkII Escort in historic events? Whatever happened to his sports sedan?

And yes, the commentary is full of holes, as they suggested Manon was the one being lapped halfway into the race. And they then questioned where Roger Freeth was. But I'm guessing they had little info to work with.

I hope the person who posted this footage originally on Youtube has a copy of the Sunday race(s). The above appears to be a Saturday race. Peter Meadows Corvette, and Freeth V8 Starlet were both missing.

Here you go Steve

[Racebred]

I have heaps of those old videos, just need to get myself a machine to convert to disc and away we go.

Hi, I am pleased you like my addition to Youtube, I started dubbing my old family videos into digital format and decided to do the same to my old racing videos.

If anyone wants me to do some for them I am only too happy to do it for the postage as long as I can post them on my Youtube channel. I have a NZ Couriers account and an bag for the VHS and DVD is $4.00 just supply a DVD with the VHS.

If you haven't used the VHS tapes in a while I suggest you check them as they can deteriorate depending where they are stored.

[bry3500]

Good that you got my link Racebred, thanks for talking the time to transfer these.

[Rod Grimwood]

Thats the one Roger, Terry Richardson. What happened to him, he was a good keen young fella like yourself back then.

[rogered]

Terry when to brad jones in aust and then off to mclaren during the later mika hakkinin era. the back to brad jones and has been there ever since

[Steve Holmes]

Here you go Steve

Fantastic! Thanks heaps Bry. I'm really enjoying this old footage. I'm sure the Meadows Corvette was involved in a big shunt at this meeting and was quite badly damaged, required a new bodyshell be fitted. Was there a third race held this weekend?

[Steve Holmes]

Hi, I am pleased you like my addition to Youtube, I started dubbing my old family videos into digital format and decided to do the same to my old racing videos.

If anyone wants me to do some for them I am only too happy to do it for the postage as long as I can post them on my Youtube channel. I have a NZ Couriers account and an bag for the VHS and DVD is $4.00 just supply a DVD with the VHS.

If you haven't used the VHS tapes in a while I suggest you check them as they can deteriorate depending where they are stored.

Racebred, thanks heaps for making the effort to upload these. They're really great to watch! Would love to see any other similar coverage you have from this period.

[Rod Grimwood]

Terry when to brad jones in aust and then off to mclaren during the later mika hakkinin era. the back to brad jones and has been there ever since

Ok. He was pretty enthusiastic about his motorsport, and built a nice car. He would fit into those teams easy. Another clever kiwi in motorsport overseas we don't know about.

[rogered]

Fantastic! Thanks heaps Bry. I'm really enjoying this old footage. I'm sure the Meadows Corvette was involved in a big shunt at this meeting and was quite badly damaged, required a new bodyshell be fitted. Was there a third race held this weekend?

May have been that weekend?
Got tangled up with shane windelburns torana SLR5000 on the approach to the hill (rothmans, ford mountain, what ever its called). stuffed the torana (which was a grouse car)
The corvette was patched up and ran a couple of times again during that series.
Never seen it since.

[rogered]

Ok. He was pretty enthusiastic about his motorsport, and built a nice car. He would fit into those teams easy. Another clever kiwi in motorsport overseas we don't know about.

Yip he was clever, and his brothers. And real fussy guys who always do real nice work.

[rogered]

Yip there was a project that made me cringe the first time i heard the sparks flying from the grinder.
from the figure, i heard, was paid for that engine, it should have had huge pull, man.

[Steve Holmes]

May have been that weekend?
Got tangled up with shane windelburns torana SLR5000 on the approach to the hill (rothmans, ford mountain, what ever its called). stuffed the torana (which was a grouse car)
The corvette was patched up and ran a couple of times again during that series.
Never seen it since.

Thanks Roger. I don't know if the Corvette raced again after that season?

[Steve Holmes]

Yes Steve same Bruce. I believe it was sold minus engine to some one down Hamilton way and basically they modified it and it got slowly wrecked as happens to a lot of cars. Buy it because its a winner, i can make this better and thats the start of the end, shame.

The escort getting lapped was actually a nice car built by a guy fron Te Kauwata (don't remember name) and went well when it was going. Built on same lines as Manons, and even painted Manons original colour.

I have photos somewhere of Manons Escort.

Thanks for that info Rod. Does the Manon Escort still exist?

[Steve Holmes]

I have heaps of those old videos, just need to get myself a machine to convert to disc and away we go.

Yeah, that would be great. There was quite a lot of this on tv during this time. A few real good races from around 1985/86 when the Algie Alfetta was racing were also featured. I'd love to see those again.

Speaking of Algie's, I see the Barry Algie Monaro appears in the second Puke footage.