The Garry Simkin Collection - Part 3

[Steve Holmes]

OK, this is the third and final part of the Garry Simkin Collection of New Zealand motor racing photos, which I've really enjoyed posting up here. This portion of the collection is almost exclusively saloon car racing, so if tin-tops aren't your thing, you probably won't enjoy these too much. But if you do have an interest in this form of racing, these are pretty cool.

Most of the photos in this set are from the 1970, and 1971 New Zealand motor racing seasons. They depict a good selection of competitors racing in each of the three classes in the NZ Saloon car Championship, plus there are a few production car races, and some rallying.

So, enjoy. And feel free to jump in with comments and stories, and help me out with any blanks I manage to draw.

[Steve Holmes]

OK, kicking things off with a selection from the three (at the time) North island race tracks, Levin, Pukekohe, and Bay Park. The first shot is great! It shows Red Dawson in the Mustang battling the Escorts of Jack Nazer and Jim Richards. I'm pretty certain the spinning Anglia at Pukekohe is Denis Hamill? Can someone confirm this?

[Rascal]

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.

[TonyG]

Is this the car you are referring to ?

The Green 222 mustang
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.



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.

[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 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

[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?

[Steve Holmes]

Next batch, I'm not sure the significance of the team pulling down the gearbox in the second photo, maybe Garry can help here? But isn't it neat to see young guys getting stuck in, doing on the spot repairs out under the baking sun. The third photo shows typical 0-1000cc action, with the Minis of Rod Collingwood, Peter Sharp, and Barry Phillips doing battle.

[Steve Holmes]

Mid pack action at Levin is first up here. The Max Pennington twin-cam Escort leads Reg Cooks Mini, an Anglia for which I can't read the number, Rodger Andersons BMW, and a Mini Cooper which might be Wal Wymers? Next up is Jim Richards and Jim Palmer in a proddy race at Levin. Then we have Don Hallidays crossed-up Escort leading Dave Silcocks Jag at Pukekohe, and, finally, Gary Spragues Escort twin-cam. Uuuuummm, is this the former Dave Silcock car?

[Steve Holmes]

More Escorts and Mustangs. First up is Grant Bloore leading Jack Nazer at Bay Park. I know very little about the Bloore Escort, although it was a twin-cam car. But it doesn't appear to have raced much. Can anyone help with this? The final shot in this post is of Stan Baird and Jim Richards.

[Steve Holmes]

Alrighty, another shot of the Baird/Richards battle at Bay Park. Can someone on here ID the Anglia thats punched in its right front corner? More Escort shots, of the magnificent Paul Fahey Alan Mann machine at speed, and, finally, Richards leading Baird and Halliday.

[Steve Holmes]

A close up of the photo posted above to lead. Next shot is of Richards leading South Island racer Clyde Collins in the PDL Falcon. Note the steel wheels. This was the first season the car was raced. It had Minilites the following year. The final shot is one of a few showing Spencer (Spinner) Black in his GTHO Falcon, and Jim Palmer in his HT Monaro production racers. I have a couple more shots of these two, first resident GTHO anorak to tell me if Spinners car is a Phase I or Phase II gets 10 points!

[Steve Holmes]

OK, last ones for now, I need to get some work done! First up is the pretty little Escort twin-cam of Max Pennington, which was fitted with the motor and wheels from Ken Smiths Lotus 41B. Sadly, it appears this car was later turned into a rally car, then a speedway car, and no longer exists. The Mini engine shot I'm not sure about, could this be Rod Collingwoods car? Last up, Palmer and Spinner getting sideways in the proddy racers. V8s and skinny cross-ply tyres sure make for exciting racing!

[mid-year]

Hi Steve,judging by the resonators on the Starlight-Blue GTHO it will be a Phase 2
Regards Pete.

[Steve Holmes]

Hi Steve,judging by the resonators on the Starlight-Blue GTHO it will be a Phase 2
Regards Pete.

Thanks Pete, thats great!

[rogered]

what became of clyde collins falcon??

[Rod Grimwood]

It went back on the road, as a one lady owner Falcon I believe.