Photos: The Bruce Wells Collection - Warwick Farm - Part 1

[Steve Holmes]

OK, this is the big one! Warwick Farm no longer exists as a race track, at least, not for race cars. The car race track was built on the site of a horse track, and horse racing still takes place there. But the glorious sounds of high revving race motors haven't been heard at 'The Farm' for nearly 40 years, with the last race having taken place in August, 1973.

But prior to its closure, Warwick Farm was one of the most significant race tracks in Australia, and in its relatively brief career, which began in 1960, played host to the Australian Grand Prix, the single race Australian Touring Car Championship, plus rounds of the Tasman Series, and the ATCC when it became a multi-round championship from 1969. Furthermore, numerous of smaller events also took place there.

Warwick Farm was the premier motor racing venue in New South Wales, alongside Bathurst, although many more events were held at the Farm, with this being a permanent venue. Its eventual closure prompted promotion of other tracks, such as Oran Park, but prior to that happening, it was a place of great significance, in which many of the worlds top racing drivers competed.

Bruce Wells, being a NSW resident, attended many races at the Farm, and his significant photographic collection spans 1964 - 1967, after which he moved away from the area and quit motorsport photography.

I've split Bruce's Warwick Farm photos into several chapters, this first being of a pair of national events held in September and December 1964.

[Steve Holmes]

The term 'rubbin's racing' isn't a new one! Just check the panel damage in this opening shot. I'm pretty certain the leading EH Holden is that of Brian Muir, with Pete Geoghagan giving chase in the Cortina. But who is that in the Cooper S? Also, note the couple of spectators watching the racing without paying the admission charge!

[Steve Holmes]

More touring car action, including the Anderson Customline.

[Greg Mackie]

That's Kevin Fisher in the Fiat 1500.

[neale]

Great pics as usual. I cant wait to see the rest of them!

The pic of the guys in the tree reminds me of a story that dad told me of when he used to watch the races at "The Farm".

He said that there used to be a guy that would ferry people across the Georges River in a small boat for a small fee that would be cheaper than paying to get in through the gate. At some race meetings he would ferry hundreds of people across & they would all climb the trees like you can see in that pic. At one meeting there was so many people in one tree that it couldnt handle the weight & fell over.

[Steve Holmes]

Next batch, same event. That appears to be Glyn Scott in the #12 Lotus, but who is he chasing?

I believe the last two photos are of the very adaptable Greg Cusack, as he seemed to favour #7 on his race cars.

[Steve Holmes]

Last group from this event.

[Steve Holmes]

Pretty sure this is Brian Foley chasing Geoghegan.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
Last group from this event.

Doug Kelley in the old Cooper leads the top group... there's another pic of him too...

The Lotus 18s were Fairall and Price, I don't know which is which.

The TR is Bill Hucker, Max Brunninghausen in the SP250, Mike Champion in the blue Morgan, Doug Macarthur in the Spridget, I don't think this Turner is Donnelly.

[Steve Holmes]

Neale, thats a great story! Glad you're enjoying the pics. Getting to post these amazing Bruce Wells photos on here is a real highlight for me.

[Steve Holmes]

The following photos are all from a December 1964 national meeting. kicking off with the AM DB3, the only info I can find of this car is that it was raced by an A. Pucket.

The Peter Manton Cooper S that heads up this chapter, Bruce has really captured the car well, especially where it cocks the inside rear wheel. And note the amount of lean Pete himself applies into the corner! He just about disappears under the dash.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
The following photos are all from a December 1964 national meeting. kicking off with the AM DB3, the only info I can find of this car is that it was raced by an A. Pucket.

Alan Puckett was a well-known artist and did a lot of posters for motor racing. He had the 1935 Aston Martin LM20 which had done so well at Le Mans and ran it in the 'Vintage' race at the Farm in '62, later sold it to the US. A real Aston Martin fancier.

[GD66]

Alan Puckett was a well-known artist and did a lot of posters for motor racing. He had the 1935 Aston Martin LM20 which had done so well at Le Mans and ran it in the 'Vintage' race at the Farm in '62, later sold it to the US. A real Aston Martin fancier.

Alan Puckett's most famous artwork adorned the fairings of Aussie Vaughan Coburn's Yamahas. They were seen in NZ in the Marlboro Series days.

[Steve Holmes]

Alan Puckett's most famous artwork adorned the fairings of Aussie Vaughan Coburn's Yamahas. They were seen in NZ in the Marlboro Series days.

Wow!

[Steve Holmes]

Bit more touring car action, with the EH Holdens of Norm Beechey and Brian Muir, plus Bob Janes Jag.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
Bit more touring car action, with the EH Holdens of Norm Beechey and Brian Muir, plus Bob Jane's Jag.

The RCN report described this:

Jane had hit the front and led for the next lap but it was far from over. Muir wasn't giving up, and giving the red rocket everything "pushed" Jane at breakneck speed into the Causeway. The Jag nearly let go, Muir saw his chance, ducked underneath - and nearly hung himself on the fence. The Jag was clear again and this time the advantage was too great. Jane flew down Pit Straight 50 yards ahead of Muir, with Beechey, driving furiously and doing his very best but at a great disadvantage with different tyres, a long 200 yards away. Behind them, almost a minute away, came John Hall, followed by Graham Ryan and Bryan Donovan.

This race was just for the over 1600cc cars, it got much more interesting in the combined event!

[Steve Holmes]

OK, single seaters. I think the opening two shots are of Doug Ferris in the Lotus 20B.

Then we have Lex Davison and Frank Matich.

[Steve Holmes]

Bob Jane can't have done a lot of single seater racing, but this is him in the Elfin.

Following pics are (I think) Rocky Tresise in the Cooper, Bib Stillwell in the Brabham, and Matich again.

[Dale Harvey]

Steve, I hope we have not come to the end of the photos, and the reason for not seeing more is that you are too busy to post them.
Dale.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
Bob Jane can't have done a lot of single seater racing, but this is him in the Elfin.

Following pics are (I think) Rocky Tresise in the Cooper, Bib Stillwell in the Brabham, and Matich again.

Correct on all counts...

However, I think you underestimate Jane's open-wheeler experience. This Elfin served him well for a couple of seasons before being sold to David Collins, he contested many of the Lucas-Davison rounds at Calder and a lot of Gold Star races as well as support events for Tasman Cup races. Not only that, he jumped into his Brabham Repco at a later Calder meeting... the car had lived through an abysmal year, Harvey had ridden it into the fence when something broke at Bathurst, Ian Cook had been all at sea in it at Lakeside, Jim Palmer doddled around in it at the Farm IIRC and then Allan Moffat bundled it up at Sandown.

At Calder, however, Bob got into a dice with Frank Matich's SR3 and Leo Geoghegan's Lotus 39 and set fastest lap!