The Garry Simkin Collection - Part 3

[seaqnmac27]

That would be why I remember the Mary Carney link

[seaqnmac27]

Is there a piuc somewhere of the Mustang in Duckhams colours, doesn't readily come to mind

The Green 222 mustang in the near to top pic is the John Riley car. this had Previously been the Paul Fahey car & Earlier in the US it may or may not have been an X mark Donahue trans am car.
some were built in Spartenburg SC, by Bud Moore enginnering but this one, if i recall was a Shelby Build.
After Riley, the car was owned & driven John Armstrong [dunedin] , then later changing hands To Rod McElrea [ashburton].
I Rebuilt the Body work For Rod on several occassions & re-finished the car , Firstly To Duckhams colours about 1974 , later in 1975, while i was away in Europe ; it was painted Orange , then in about 1976, after returning to NZ, we fitted Cologne Flares & painted it White with blue stripes over the top.

An offer to me , by Rod ; in late 1974, to drive a few laps in the car on a test day at levels was Gratefully accepted and often comes to mind as having been quite an experience for a 19 year old
apprentice race car bodyman.

I am told The car is now back in " as driven by paul Fahey " livery & part of a Valuable collection " across the Ditch". [Bowdens ??]

[Rascal]

Is this the car you are referring to ?

Yes, that looks like it.

[Rascal]

Is there a piuc somewhere of the Mustang in Duckhams colours, doesn't readily come to mind

You could try Ron Mcphail, in southport Qld, he was the Creator of "OSCA".
Also, Perhaps check into The " OSCA 40th aniversary reunion " postings on TRS, Evan Munt now has Most Of the Photos in Archive, I am sure he would welcome Your Query.

[Chris Read]

Not sure if Ron is hiding under a nick name on TRS but last address for Ron is:
Ron McPhail
P O Box 1332
Southport Post Office
Gold Coast
Queensland
Australia

Mobile (0) 408 539 848

I have a mean DVD that Ron produced on Mairehau, Ruapuna,Wigram and Dunedin with a colour 8mm of many of the cars and specials of the 1951-1955 era
He makes it available on request. My last contact was 2007. Chris Read - Arrowtown

[seaqnmac27]

Not sure if Ron is hiding under a nick name on TRS but last address for Ron is:
Ron McPhail
P O Box 1332
Southport Post Office
Gold Coast
Queensland
Australia

Mobile (0) 408 539 848

I have a mean DVD that Ron produced on Mairehau, Ruapuna,Wigram and Dunedin with a colour 8mm of many of the cars and specials of the 1951-1955 era
He makes it available on request. My last contact was 2007. Chris Read - Arrowtown

I just spoke to Mr McPhail, can't say he seemed happy to hear from me, however he said he does not recall the McElrea Mustang in Duckhams colours.

[KiWinUS]

I also worked on this car for Rod around 1976 77 , originally an Ashburton native , but live in US for 30 years & nascar since 1985 . Work for jack Roush today. be back this christmas , 5th time in 30 years
Cheers
Tony

The Green 222 mustang in the near to top pic is the John Riley car. this had Previously been the Paul Fahey car & may have been an X mark Donahue trans am car.
some were built in Spartenburg SC, by Bud Moore enginnering but this one, if i recall was a Shelby or car craft Build.
After Riley, the car was driven by John Armstrong, dunedin , then later changing hands To Rod McElrea ,ashburton.
I Rebuilt the Body work For Rod on a couple of occassions & re-finished the car , Firstly To Duckhams yellow & blue -white colours about 1973-4 .
later , while i was away in Europe ; it was painted Orange by another guy .
then, in about 1976, after returning to NZ, i fitted Cologne style Flares & painted it White with blue stripes over the top.

An offer to me , by Rod ; in about mid 1974, to drive a few laps in the car on a test day at levels was Gratefully accepted and often comes to mind as having been quite an experience for a 19 yr old.

[Steve Holmes]

The Green 222 mustang in the near to top pic is the John Riley car. this had Previously been the Paul Fahey car & may have been an X mark Donahue trans am car.
some were built in Spartenburg SC, by Bud Moore enginnering but this one, if i recall was a Shelby or car craft Build.

Boy, thats an interesting one I'd not heard before. There is no mention of this Donohues book "The Unfair Advantage", but I guess anything is possible?

[David McKinney]

My recollection is that the (first) Fahey Mustang was developed in NZ from a non-racer. Certainly there was no mention at the time of any connection with either Donohue or Trans-Am. In fact I don't think Donohue raced a Mustang in Trans-Am, at least not that early

[GD66]

Gulp ! I thought for sure the Fahey car was a Shelby build. How will we find out ?

Edit : I just checked out the NZMustang.com site and it suggests the car is a '66 Shelby imported in '67.

I don't recall Donohue racing a Mustang in the Trans-Am either.

[Rod Grimwood]

My recollection is that the (first) Fahey Mustang was developed in NZ from a non-racer. Certainly there was no mention at the time of any connection with either Donohue or Trans-Am. In fact I don't think Donohue raced a Mustang in Trans-Am, at least not that early

Correct Mr Donohue had nothing to do with Fahey Mustang (or others) I am away at moment but have the story on car at home, so will sort when back.

GD66 pretty sure you are on the money.

[Steve Holmes]

It arrived in NZ in mid 1966 for the 1967 season. It was built up in the US as a race car by Shelbys and was one of a small number they built for Trans-Am and A Sedan racing. David, I'm sure you're correct re Donohue. He did race a Shelby GT350 in 1965 and '66 in B Production sports car racing, but this was one of the fastback GT350 Shelbys. The notchbacks such as Faheys were built for the Trans-Am and A Sedan.

[Rod Grimwood]

Pretty sure Fahey just happened to walk in at the right time and he bought the reserve car from Shelby.

[Steve Holmes]

Motorman put together a story of the Mustang when it first arrived in NZ in '66. I'll try and unearth it, but I don't think it delves too deeply into how Fahey came to acquire it.

[garry simkin]

The 1969 New Zealand Motor Racing Shell annual by Peter Greenslade and Euan Sarginson has quite an article about the Fahey Mustang.Quote: Fahey visited Carroll Shelby's Los Angeles headquarters in 1966,tried out a 7 litre prototype but opted in favourof the works Mustang,as raced by Jerry Titus.Unquote.
Re the Chev Coupe and green mini at the Taupo sprint, early 70s, maybe Jamie A recalls them, as, if my own memory serves me right he was there running a Cooper Jaguar.
Garry Simkin.

[Steve Holmes]

I'm guessing the 7 litre prototype was a Ford MKII? I wonder if he was just given a few laps just to keep him sweet. It must have worked, he returned home with a Mustang race car.

[bob homewood]

The 1969 New Zealand Motor Racing Shell annual by Peter Greenslade and Euan Sarginson has quite an article about the Fahey Mustang.Quote: Fahey visited Carroll Shelby's Los Angeles headquarters in 1966,tried out a 7 litre prototype but opted in favourof the works Mustang,as raced by Jerry Titus.Unquote.
Re the Chev Coupe and green mini at the Taupo sprint, early 70s, maybe Jamie A recalls them, as, if my own memory serves me right he was there running a Cooper Jaguar.
Garry Simkin.

Gary , I was there competing as well and I still have the result and entry sheets
Bob

[Oldfart]

Competing at Taupo...as was Alan Crocker with his Renault thingy!

[Grant Sprague]

This photo gets its own post, because its just so right, for so many reasons. Gary Sprague celebrates victory on the hood of his twin-cam Escort. This one photo sums up an era long since gone. A young guy who funds his own racing, does his own tuning, and his own preparation, and he and his buddies do all-nighters driving all over the country to get to the races, most probably with an old tow vehicle on its last legs, at a time when it was still possible to do this. And no sign of Health & Safety as he celebrates on the hood of his car being driven around the track! I know several of our own Roaring Season members have enjoyed a similar past. My, how times have changed!

Attachment 9765

Yes I remember , Gary borrowed a 3 speed HR Holden Wagon to tow this twin Cam around the North Island , I [Grant] was still at secondary school & working at Dads Garage sweeping floors etc. The Guy driving the Escort is Don [Fat Jack] John;s [NZV8's] Dad....Gary is now up in Western Aussie sorting out the hydraulic & gas connections in the big mines & getting very well looked after ... Thanks Steve for these pics etc just fantastic ..... Grant

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Grant, its really great to have your input here. Glad you're enjoying the pics.