Rod, it`s funny you mention Tony Valente, I often call in and see Warren Black, and only a couple of months ago he reckons he still has `visions' of Tony Valentes` wife. She must have been a stunner......
Rod, it`s funny you mention Tony Valente, I often call in and see Warren Black, and only a couple of months ago he reckons he still has `visions' of Tony Valentes` wife. She must have been a stunner......
Second hand and therefore subject to...Originally Posted by Steve Holmes
Ross and Tony Baker wanted to run a bigger car, but could not find a Camaro. From vague memory they got a Victor and messed around to make it look Camaro and then went racing. They fell foul of other competitors and/or officialdom and they car was banned. This does look rather narrow for a Camaro so it was just a stab in the dusk.
Quite right Rod, Ian Taylor may be lurking on this site somewhere. Last time I saw him his sons were racing Karts.
Rod- Rhys is correct, it is Vauxhall Victor FD,same as Nazer and Lancaster., they built it,and they even took it to the local GM dealer to confirm it to shut the critics up.-This is from the Bakers website
Last edited by John McKechnie; 12-08-2012 at 06:01 AM.
I will, of course, be aware that there are normally at least 2 sides to most stories, and Ross' is only one. Having said that I still love the Herons, especially the first which I regret not having bought when I had the chance. But that's another story, and one of many "I wish I had bought...", that could be a cool thread!
Sorry Steve I can not remember,remember, remember.
Nothing wrong with Warrens memory aye.
I have not seen him for years, but a nice guy to meet and chat with, remember when we left his place that Friday night for Upper Hutt after a couple of social drinks and a chat, the USA boys were very impressed with his hospitality, and on Saturday night also full of admiration for the way he raced.
Meanwhile..... That's me snookered, I thought it was Bob H but I pm'd Bob and he thinks the nearside Anglia may well be Petone driver Bob Neilson, and that the obscured Anglia behind him could possibly be Greg Lancaster.
GD66-I suggest that you ask Milan with his programs.. This should be an easy race meeting to research
Apologies for late reply on this, been out of contact for a bit.. I built the car for myself, used all the mechanical Boss 302 bits from the previous MKII cortina. Flares were built from scratch (3/16 rod/mesh/panel steel & bog, then a female glass mold taken to produce those fitted to car-LF also fitted RR & vice-versa) car is now in ownership & being restored by Anthony Prendergast ( Ashburton) who also has the restored MKII I built. Think he is going to rebuild the MKIV with the chev in it though, more is the pity
Last edited by Jac Mac; 12-15-2012 at 09:03 AM.
Done a nice job on this.
Thanks for that Jac. Evan Munt actually put me in touch with Anthony so I could find out how the restoration was going. To my mind the flares on this car were just some of the nicest of the era, an absolute triumph. When did it switch to Chev power?Apologies for late reply on this, been out of contact for a bit.. I built the car for myself, used all the mechanical Boss 302 bits from the previous MKII cortina. Flares were built from scratch (3/16 rod/mesh/panel steel & bog, then a female glass mold taken to produce those fitted to car-LF also fitted RR & vice-versa) car is now in ownership & being restored by Anthony Prendergast ( Ashburton) who also has the restored MKII I built. Think he is going to rebuild the MKIV with the chev in it though, more is the pity
This is Pete Geoghegan in the Laurie O'Neil owned Porsche, at Manfeild during the 1974/75 season. Does anyone know how big Pete fared against the NZ teams? Geoghegan should have actually been racing the big-dollar Craven Mild Monaro sports sedan by this stage, but build delays with that car meant it didn't turn a wheel in anger for a few more months after these photos were taken.
Another Aussie visitor, again at Manfeild. This is Ron Harrop in his self-built EH Holden with Repco V8 power. This would probably be at the same event that Frank Gardner raced the Chev Corvair, and at which Red Dawson rolled the Chevy Monza.
Wayne Mahnken (ex Tassie in Vic) got this car from Harrop
He fitted red Holden Turbo powered engine/s
Very high HP but not noted for reliability.
It was painted Black during Waynes ownership.
He onsold the car which still exists but is not being used.
Mank still has the last Holden engine from it in his workshop
When Rod first purchased the MKIV car he fitted the Boss 302 that he had used in the ex Fahey Shelby Mustang, I think this was either an ex Kevin Haig or or one of the five PDL (Falconer&Dunn) imports ( I see #5 of those advertised on T/Me recently). Not sure how many meetings he did before swapping the Chev in, but probably only two or three at most.
Thanks for that Jac. I don't think I ever got to see you race it unfortunately.
It was a pretty exciting car when Rod had it. I recall at a Manfeild event, the announcer said it was fitted with a drag race motor. I don't know if there was any truth to that or if the announcer was just trying to hype up the race.
Also Jac, in this Terry Marshall photo, it looks like its fitted with Mawer wheels?
What a stunner! Frank Hamlins beautiful little streamlined Mini. Does this car still exist?
That would be quite likely as Murray Baker & Ron Collet at Engine Rebuilds? were doing most of Rods engine work at that time I think ( & I dont think Ron would have tolerated a Ford in the shop
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