Ian "Red" Dawson

[TonyG]

As a kid growing up I was always a fan of Red Dawson and I clearly remember watching him race the Mustang through to the Monza.
What was Reds full story and what became of his cars ?
Did he start at the stockcars at Epsom like many others ?
I heard many years ago that the mustang was supposed to have been in the Chapman collection at Onewhero along with the Fahey Stang now owned by the Bowden family over here but I am not sure of the truth attached to Reds car as it was run in the OSCA series at one stage wasn't it, as was his Camaro.
I clearly remember the Camaro in Gold but can't remember it in Marlboro colours yet I know it did run with Marlboro sponsorship at one stage. Does anyone have a photo of it in Marlboro colours. If so I would love to se it.

[TonyG]

I see (via Google is my friend) that Dale can give plenty of details of the ex Frank Bryan Mustang so that is a good start and at least it still exists.

Also found this from 67. I thought my memory as a 6 yr old may have been playing tricks on me but he and Dennis Marwood did race single seaters. I remembered Dennis raced a Sports Car...

http://www.sergent.com.au/motor/other1967.html

[Kiwiboss]

I see (via Google is my friend) that Dale can give plenty of details of the ex Frank Bryan Mustang so that is a good start and at least it still exists.

Also found this from 67. I thought my memory as a 6 yr old may have been playing tricks on me but he and Dennis Marwood did race single seaters. I remembered Dennis raced a Sports Car...

http://www.sergent.com.au/motor/other1967.html

I can confirm that the "Red Dawson" ex bryan Trans Am 67 Mustang is now owned by Nigel MacDonald of Hawera, we prized it way from the Bowdens a few years ago because they didn't see the world wide value in but for NZ it has huge Historic Race value, Nigel plans to restore it back its blue colour and race it with HMC. The good thing about this car is it still retains alot of its correct Trans Am parts and sheet metal as when Red was finished with it he sold it from his lot as a road car, had several owners who probably didn't even know what it was? until John Chapman bought it in the early 80's and piece the original motor back with the car!! Lots of stories and History with this Mustang, more than i can write.

Dale Mathers

[Steve Holmes]

Good call Tony, Dawson was a fascinating character, who raced some stout machinery. Gerard Richards put together a brilliant feature on Red Dawsons life in racing a few years ago for NZ Classic Car mag. I need to double check, but I thought his name was Irvine, not Ian.

[OCTARD-USA]

Gerard Richards put together a brilliant feature on Red Dawsons life in racing a few years ago for NZ Classic Car mag. I need to double check, but I thought his name was Irvine, not Ian.

Irvine William Dawson, per the Gerard Richards article I believe you're referencing (New Zealand Classic Car, Limited Edition Collectors' Series #5, Classic Kiwi Motorsport II, copyright 2005, article entitled "Red Dawson")

[GD66]

Good call, Tony ! There are a couple of pics of Red and his stock car on the very first page of the Yards and Yarns thread on this forum. I recall him ripping round in the ex-Matich BT7 with the most rudimentary of aerofoils riveted to the tail section, but he made his folk hero status with the crowds of the day for his exploits in the ex-Segedin Mustang, seemingly at a slight deficit to the well-sorted Fahey Mustang in terms of power and handling, but attempting to redress the imbalance with ambition, bravado and plenty of opposite lock ! When he moved up to the Frank Bryan car and gave it that cracking electric blue paint job with the hi-vis yellow beard spoiler and big gold numbers, his appeal expanded, and he was for sure a big fan favourite. Hard as nails on the track, I recall Jim Richards saying he was attempting to pass Red on the outside of Rothmans at Pukekohe when Red moved straight over and ran him onto the grass with no delay and little subsequent apology. He presented something of a daunting figure out of the car, and sure could mow his way through a pack of gum in no time at all, but remains one of the important founding figures in the formative years of NZ saloon racing.
Any pics, guys ?

[Jac Mac]

I remember the steering wheel coming 'detached' from the column as he charged into the loop @ teretonga when Camaro was painted 'Gold', nobody was game to go near him when he arrived back at the pits..

[TonyG]

Doesn't seem so hunched in this shot though lol

[TonyG]

I believe this is Reds old Camaro

[camaroman slp]

I believe this is Reds old Camaro

Yes this is when Christchurchs Laurence Bruce owned and raced the car witch was always immaculately presented in black and gold

[camaroman slp]

Where is Red dawsons Camaro now ?????. I believe the Camaro is down deep south island, who owns this fantastic car now after Laurence Bruces ownership was it sold complete with the chevy engine.I hope we can see some photos of it in its current shape and a story about it future.

We would all love to hear and see this car back on the track or whats happened to it.

[TonyG]

Because I was so young I do remember the ex Segedin car but more so the Electric blue one. The other thing I remember was his driving position - hunched over the steering wheel whereas everyone else sat back.

[nigel watts]

First time I saw Red Dawson was at a Hamilton Car Club hillclimb at Horahora back in the mid 60's - 64 I think. Ivan Segedin was there too in his Anglia - I think it was painted Red & White. Red Dawson had a Willys Coupe with V8 fitted. Talk about spectacular. I was standing at the first or 2nd corner when the Willys arrived at great speed - sideways!! with V8 bellowing - around the corner he went, without appearing to slow down, and off into the distance. All this happened about 10 feet from where we were standing and I remember there was a kind of shocked silence before everyone started yelling and laughing.

[Murray Maunder]

Far from a typical motor racing hero, the gruff and tuff Red cut a most unusual figure for circuit racing. He looked like the typical rough around the edges stockcar type in my eyes. And his driving was a toned down version of the same - all opposite lock and aggression. As GD said, the electric blue ex Bryan Mustang with the big Nascar number 35 in gold (or was it yellow) was the car that made Red the crowd pleaser he certainly was. He never seemed to struggle for pace, at least being in the leading group, though looking back, I suspect he was probably like few others for driving through any problem with the car.

I wasn't there but I understand that a big accident at Manfeild effectively finished Red's career.

[GD66]

... the electric blue ex Bryan Mustang with the big Nascar number 35 in gold (or was it yellow)

Gold numbers with a yellow pinstriped border. And a satin black boot spoiler and twin bonnet stripes to set it all off.
Nice.

[Michael Clark]

the 'I' didn't stand for Ian

[TonyG]

Just read an article you wrote on the Castrol GTX series Steve, and in it you wrote that Neville Chrichton drove the ex Red Dawson Gen 2 Camaro. Was this the same Gold Kensington Carpets car rebuilt or another that I don't remember ?
Cheers
Tony

[TonyG]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...40199968316023
Not specifically Red but great footage none the less and he was in it lol.

[Steve Holmes]

Just read an article you wrote on the Castrol GTX series Steve, and in it you wrote that Neville Chrichton drove the ex Red Dawson Gen 2 Camaro. Was this the same Gold Kensington Carpets car rebuilt or another that I don't remember ?
Cheers
Tony

Did I say that? Sorry, I can't recall the article too well. It wouldn't have been the BNSW Camaro, that was sold to Don Peddie/Allan Dick. The GTX series was to different rules to BNSW. Maybe Dawson had a production Camaro too.

[TonyG]

I agree it was "Irvine" not "Ian" but interesting to see no results using Irvine yet lots for Ian using Google lol