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Thread: Speedway saloons from the late 60's to the mid 70's, any pictures, memories...

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  1. #1

    Red face Speedway saloons from the late 60's to the mid 70's, any pictures, memories...

    The early days of dirt track saloons was pretty evocative. Numbers weren't thick on the ground as cars were hard to come by back then. The gladiator pit of the dirt oval was the final chapter for a road car back then. Most were built up from wrecks as were many of the circuit saloon racers of the era. Cars that come to mind were Trevor Gray's great FJ Holden (1st NZ Champ), Ron Kendall's 100E Prefect with Lotus Twin Cam and later Mazda RX2, Norm Anderson's 3.3 Victor, The Pierce Brothers from Stratford, with there 289 V8 Falcon and Vauxhall's, the McConnachie 67 Camaro and '69 Mustang, Peter Howarth's great EH Holden, Tony Redfern from Hamilton with his 350V8 Kingswood and the list goes on. I know Steve has posted a couple of photos of the Sidchrome Monaro that Jim Richards, Steve Millen and Bruce Dorn raced, this was also a great car. Not wanting to duplicate his thread on lost cars, I thought it would be great to have a dedicated Speedway Saloon line. It would be great to see some pics of these early cars and maybe here that one or two had possibly survived

  2. #2
    Gerard. i remember the McConnachie 69 Mustang quite well from it racing at Forest Lake!! would have only been 11/12 at the time? it was the talk of Speedway back then!! which reminds me, whatever happen to the McConnachie Brothers? i know Steve will have some McConnichie Mustang pictures!!

    Dale Mathers
    TGA, NZ

  3. #3
    Where the hell is pallmall when you need him! He has a massive collection.....

  4. #4
    Yes I have seen pictures of the McConnichie '69 Fastback Mustang in blue and white it looked a treat (also built from a wreck). I never actually saw it race, but it sure looked the goods. I do remember reading one of the McConnichie brothers was killed in the U.S.A., racing I think, but it might have been a road accident, possibly in the mid 1980s. Yeah I have seen some of pallmalls early stock car and saloon photos they are fab, would be great to see some more!

  5. #5
    Semi-Pro Racer pallmall's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Holmes View Post
    Where the hell is pallmall when you need him! He has a massive collection.....
    Watching from afar! Actually I have been having some issues logging in.
    Yes I have thousands of speedway photos and photos of all the saloons mentioned. Will post some over the next week as time and logging in issues allow.

    I did some stuff about the McConnichie Brothers and the Mustang a couple of years ago for an Austrlian web site. This will tell you most of what you need to know. Barry was killed racing an offroader in the USA, Graham is still living in the USA, and the family will not really talk about the boys, their early racing and the tragedy.

    http://www.homepages.ihug.com.au/~gm...ie_Mustang.htm

    Gavin.

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by pallmall View Post
    Watching from afar! Actually I have been having some issues logging in.
    Yes I have thousands of speedway photos and photos of all the saloons mentioned. Will post some over the next week as time and logging in issues allow.

    I did some stuff about the McConnichie Brothers and the Mustang a couple of years ago for an Austrlian web site. This will tell you most of what you need to know. Barry was killed racing an offroader in the USA, Graham is still living in the USA, and the family will not really talk about the boys, their early racing and the tragedy.

    http://www.homepages.ihug.com.au/~gm...ie_Mustang.htm

    Gavin.
    Thats a great article Gavin. Was the visiting US 69 Firebird raced of Ronny McDowell the car that was later raced by Ron Kendal?

  7. #7
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    One of the Australian Saloon team from 1971.
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    Ross Baker in the Escort

    Both photos as purchased from the Forest Lake track photographer of the time.

    Cheers
    Lee

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Lee Tracey View Post
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    One of the Australian Saloon team from 1971.
    Name:  ross baker.jpg
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    Ross Baker in the Escort

    Both photos as purchased from the Forest Lake track photographer of the time.

    Cheers
    Lee
    Cool photos Lee, got any more?

  9. #9
    So was this the ex Mcdowell Pontiac with John Scott driving? Not sure where this was taken? Luv the Fat Feet and the sideways action!!

    Dale Mathers
    TGA, NZ
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  10. #10
    Semi-Pro Racer pallmall's Avatar
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    The Ronny McDowell Firebird was owned by Cowan-Black promotions and was built up by Ron Kendall, Eddie Sutherland, and the Ferabends. Unfortunately the car was only just finished in time for the McDowell visit and too many teething problems meant that Ronny was not seen at anything like his best. Ron Kendall took over the driving duties following the visit and got the car sorted, the only hickup was when one of the USA drivers on his way to Australia, and here with Gene Welch, blew the engine in a guest drive. I believe the car did go on to John Scott, but I am not 100% certain. The John Scott car certainly was a competitive package and was still racing against the new tube frame cars in the early eighties. I think the photo Dale posted would be from 1981.
    Photos will follow in the next few days.

  11. #11
    Semi-Pro Racer pallmall's Avatar
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    The Cowan Black Pontiac, photos taken by Andre Ruiterman of the nearly finished car.




    Ron Kendall. (photos by Heather Hills and Andre Ruiterman)





    15A John Scott (Andre Ruiterman photos)




  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by pallmall View Post
    The Ronny McDowell Firebird was owned by Cowan-Black promotions and was built up by Ron Kendall, Eddie Sutherland, and the Ferabends. Unfortunately the car was only just finished in time for the McDowell visit and too many teething problems meant that Ronny was not seen at anything like his best. Ron Kendall took over the driving duties following the visit and got the car sorted, the only hickup was when one of the USA drivers on his way to Australia, and here with Gene Welch, blew the engine in a guest drive. I believe the car did go on to John Scott, but I am not 100% certain. The John Scott car certainly was a competitive package and was still racing against the new tube frame cars in the early eighties. I think the photo Dale posted would be from 1981.
    Photos will follow in the next few days.
    Hi PallMall, yes those were great days at Waikaraka Park. Cut my racing teeth there at 17 after building a stock car when an engineering apprentice. One of the guys I had a lot to do with was Phil Joyce and his 100E bodied stock car. He had Otara Panelbeaters just a few doors up from where Johhny Riley had his original car sales. Have often wondered what, where Phil got to. He used to live in Papatoetoe. His brother Frank also raced at WP. Do you know if he is still around. Cheers, Dave Graham

  13. #13
    This is the story on Ross Bakers cars that he has built & raced,.
    http://www.heroncars.co.nz/template....les_rossbaker1

  14. #14
    Sensational posts there Gavin! Do you know where the Kendall Firebird came from before it was converted for the track? Was it brought in from the US or was it already in NZ?

    When did teams start converting rhd cars to left hand drive for speedway?

  15. #15
    Semi-Pro Racer pallmall's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Holmes View Post
    Sensational posts there Gavin! Do you know where the Kendall Firebird came from before it was converted for the track? Was it brought in from the US or was it already in NZ?

    When did teams start converting rhd cars to left hand drive for speedway?
    I am not sure where the Firebird came from, a lot of USA cars came in to the country as wrecks for parts, some were local wrecks, cars crashed by their owners who found more power and less traction than their ability could handle. Actually amazing how many imported USA cars got crashed within the first 6 months of being in the country, but that is a whole other story. I guess that the Firebird was probably something that the Blacks had 'in stock' in Morrinsville.

    As to the RH drive LH drive thing I researched this a bit recently after a question on Macgors. The rules never stated driver position, only roll cage construction relative to the seat. One of the reasons to go LH was to get the driver away from the fence, especially as a lot of tracks had wooden fences backed by earth and it was common for boards to split and come loose, another reason was weight distribution, and another was LH drive put the driver in a better position for passing and seeing the pole line. Some cars were converted back inthe early seventies to LH drive, by the late seventies it was more common, and of course as the tube frame cars came along through the eighties that was the way they were all built.

  16. #16
    Semi-Pro Racer pallmall's Avatar
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    Some colour from the early days at Stratford. I think the Tina is Henry Plowright, and the green #2 is Frank Pierce.






  17. #17
    Semi-Pro Racer pallmall's Avatar
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    Ron Kendall started out in stockcars in early 1968, but by 1970 was driving the 100E saloon which gained him a 2NZ with GT power at the first NZ Champs and a 1NZ with Twin Cam power at the second NZ Champs. More titles would come in the Mazda.


    Ron then went on to a Cortina, the Firebird, Mustang, and the Mazdas.




  18. #18
    Semi-Pro Racer pallmall's Avatar
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    A few Monaros and other Holdens.

    Kevin Bates.


    Tony Redfern.




    Steve Millen.



    Peter Martin.



    More to follow.

  19. #19
    Weekend Warrior
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    John "Jumbo" Berryman's first Falcon coupe. 63 Falcon Sprint. Woodford Glen Speedway, Christchurch Late 1970,s.
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    I am searching for old Speedway Saloon Cars and related parts to buy, preserve and save. Any condition, anything considered. P.M me please with offers or leads.

  20. #20
    Weekend Warrior
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    I am searching for old Speedway Saloon Cars and related parts to buy, preserve and save. Any condition, anything considered. P.M me please with offers or leads.

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