Early NZ Rallies

[Steve Emson]

Steve, is that Warwick Irving over your right shoulder.

Sorry, I don't know.
Regards, SE

[Steve Emson]

Attachment 13990

Hi, I recently bought one of the Toyota's that competed in ther 1973 Heatway event and was hoping someone might have some photos of it from back in the day? Any info would be appreciated.

Nice car! Do you know any more about it. I remember the Levin's, they were the car I had to beat in the Datsun's I used. These little cars were quick.

[Steve Holmes]

Now that is really weird! That photo of me and Peter Richardson, who was at Waimate with me and Dad last month. Firstly the overalls I am wearing (Which were ex Fittipaldi McLaren F1 overalls that Phil Sharp brought out with the Modus M4) are the very same ones we had in Waimate with us, for Dad to wear if required. He got stuck in them when the zip failed, and decided to forgo his ride in Carlo's escort with me in case he got caught out needing a toilet stop. Secondly the sunglasses I am wearing. Dad was only talking to me in Waimate about these amazing sunglasses that I gave him on the start line of one of the Benson & Hedges races. He was never a fan and did not wear sunglasses back then. I told him that in my racing in the rain, you can see better with sunglasses on. He tried them and has been raving about them ever since. Unfortunately he lost them.......................but the legend of these amazing glasses lives on. Very strange for a photo to surface with 3 Waimate 50 coincidences. I don't remember much about this rally except I think it was an Auckland Car Club event. I had not rallied for years and I won some trophy, possibly for the class win, when they realized I had entered under the Northern Sports car club, and so they said they couldn't give it to me. That was silly on my part because I was a member of both clubs.....................................

Wow, thats pretty weird!

[Steve Holmes]

Attachment 13990

Hi, I recently bought one of the Toyota's that competed in ther 1973 Heatway event and was hoping someone might have some photos of it from back in the day? Any info would be appreciated.

Hey, very nice car Tunny. I assume this is one of the original colour schemes?

[Tunny7]

Hi, the history of the car is as follows.
This Toyota is one of three imported by Toyota New Zealand and converted into rally cars for a ‘Team Toyota’ entry into the 1973 Heatway Rally. Graham Carter was the first driver of GG42; the car was then sold to and rallied by Ken Cleghorn. The previous owner purchased GG42 in 1989 and spent the next four years carrying out a total restoration of the vehicle. GG42 was then raced around North Island circuits for the next 13 years and also competed in local car-club events with great success. GG42 is registered as a ‘New Zealand Historic Vehicle’ with The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand. Toyota Corolla Levin GG42 has a ‘Historic Vehicle Competitor logbook’ and a ‘MotorSport New Zealand logbook’. MotorSport New Zealand Certificate of Description
I've got the history of the car back to when it was first imported and the papers showing the ownership history etc. The previous owner did a fantastic job of the restoration.

[Tunny7]

Hey, very nice car Tunny. I assume this is one of the original colour schemes?

Hi Steve, one of the cars is shown on the Heatway Rally programme (I think 1973) and it is in the colours. I 'm not sure which of the cars that was though, possibly GG43?

[Rod Grimwood]

That was their colours Tunny, and it certainly looks the part, one very nice and historic car.
Think Colin Taylor drove the other car, I may have photos.
Did this car do the Ruby RallyFest celebration rally out of Hamilton about 5 years back or was on display in the pavillion.

[Rod Grimwood]

Here is a photo of it in the background the night before when cars were on display at Hamilton, second car (red MK2 is the ex Howard Collier car now owned by Pete Bryan who has just restored the Woolmark MK1 of Mike Marshalls as well, and next MK1 behind that is Blair Robson's Original car) Front one had Mike Marshall pedal it a couple times in days of Pall Mall. (Been told that GA45 is in my garage, a hint from somebody to get it going I think)

PS This event was 4 tarmac stages morning and 4 Maramarua afternoon, and some only did Tarmac and i am sure the Toyota did Tarmac only.

[Tunny7]

That was their colours Tunny, and it certainly looks the part, one very nice and historic car.
Think Colin Taylor drove the other car, I may have photos.
Did this car do the Ruby RallyFest celebration rally out of Hamilton about 5 years back or was on display in the pavillion.

It could well have been as the car was based in Hamilton. Having said that I'm pretty sure the other one (GG43) is also Hamilton based.

[Steve Emson]

If that is the ex Ken Cleghorn car, then i have been around it a fair bit. There will possibly be photos of it in the old motoraction magazines. It was a very good car in its day, for sure.

[seaqnmac27]

If that is the ex Ken Cleghorn car, then i have been around it a fair bit. There will possibly be photos of it in the old motoraction magazines. It was a very good car in its day, for sure.

Will consult the editions i have and try and find some pics.

[tonttu]

I'm sure it featured in a Classic Car magazine article some years ago too.

[Carlo]

Go to the website www.silverfernrally.co.nz and you are able to view the film / tv program of the '73 Heatway Rally where this car and the remainder of Team Toyota NZ feature

[David McKinney]

That was their colours Tunny, and it certainly looks the part, one very nice and historic car.
Think Colin Taylor drove the other car, I may have photos

There were three, GG41, GG42 and GG43. Colin Taylor drove GG42 with K Foulkes, Graham Carter and Grahame Brownlie shared the driving of GG42, and Ian Pinkerton drove GG43 with me reading the notes.

I used to know where they all went when the oil crisis over the 1973/74 summer looked like ending rallying, but have forgotten...

And they were fast - if not 100% reliable

Edit: Great movie, Carlo. Have just watched it right through. Don't remember seeing it at the time, though I must have. I arranged the NZBC sponsorship for the Toyota team

[beowulf]

Hi Dave, Was that the rally where Ian crashed. His co-driver was injured although the car was reasonably ok. You stepped in as co-driver only to later be disqualfied. Not sure of the exact details, it was last century after all. But i am sure there is a good story there.
Saw Derek Etherington at Manfield, he could tell some great yarns about early rallying.

[Tunny7]

Go to the website www.silverfernrally.co.nz and you are able to view the film / tv program of the '73 Heatway Rally where this car and the remainder of Team Toyota NZ feature

Hi, had a look at the film and there's some great shots on there.

[Tunny7]

I'm sure it featured in a Classic Car magazine article some years ago too.

The car in the article was the other surviving car, GG43. It looks to be in great nick as well.

[Steve Emson]

Hi Dave, Was that the rally where Ian crashed. His co-driver was injured although the car was reasonably ok. You stepped in as co-driver only to later be disqualfied. Not sure of the exact details, it was last century after all. But i am sure there is a good story there.
Saw Derek Etherington at Manfield, he could tell some great yarns about early rallying.

Derek Etherington : Ah, there is another name from the past. He had a bit to do with Dad.

[Rod Grimwood]

Tunny:
Found these in my old scrap book, there is all sorts actually in it.

Good enough to make the cover

Colin taylor and "K" Foulkes on the Pohangina Loop north of Palmerston North (if i remember right Colin was from Palmy area)

Colin taylor and "K" Foulkes in their Corrola Levin

[Tunny7]

Tunny:
Found these in my old scrap book, there is all sorts actually in it.

Good enough to make the cover

Colin taylor and "K" Foulkes on the Pohangina Loop north of Palmerston North (if i remember right Colin was from Palmy area)

Colin taylor and "K" Foulkes in their Corrola Levin

Great pictures thanks Rod, I'll be printing those off.