Photos: The Allan Porter Collection - Part 2

[Steve Holmes]

I love this one. The Shadwick brothers blown Jeep. What a beast! Someone may recall better than me, but didn't this car feature in the second Weetbix card series?

I wonder where it is now.

[Growler]

...but didn't this car feature in the second Weetbix card series?

Yes it does...which I have the full set!

[Greg Stokes]

In Part 1 of the Allan Porter Collection, we featured an amazing mix of early New Zealand drag racing photos from the early years of the sport, when organizing groups set up events at the unpaved Kopuku Dragway, on closed roads, or at circuit racing tracks.

In 1973, New Zealands first purpose built drag strip opened for business. Champion Dragway at Meremere is situated roughly halfway between Auckland and Hamilton, and just up the road from the relatively new Hampton Downs circuit racing venue.

With the opening of Meremere, the sport of drag racing enjoyed a sharp rise in popularity, with New Zealands second purpose built facility, Thunderpark, near Napier, hosting its first event three years later.

The images from Part 2 of the Allan Porter Collection center around the early years of Meremere. The professionalism of the sport also increases greatly in this part, along with speeds, and competition. As in Part 1, many of the cars and drivers racing during this time are likely familiar to many of you. You may even see yourselves in some of them, if this was your scene during the 1970s.

The Bill Ward C-Cab now owned by Doug Bell of The Hot Rod Show

Ivan Jujnovich's '56 Chevy hardtop. With a different paint job, I think this is the same car that appeared in the Weetbix Hot Rod card collection in the late '70s. Remember those?

Now owned by Nick Boblea

From the control tower. Note that the two cars are driving back to the pits via the race track.

Eye in the sky weather reporter the late Bill Mudgeway on announcing duty

Not sure who either of these are. Any thoughts people?

Tony Kidd in the bucket

Nick Liefting.

Body is in North Shore Rod & Custom Club rooms

Tony Ward's famous 3 window coupe.

Now owned by Bryan Kilsby

Robin Unkovich with chute open. What a beautiful car!

Owned now by Chris Piaggi and Malcolm Turner

[Steve Holmes]

The Bill Ward C-Cab now owned by Doug Bell of The Hot Rod Show



Now owned by Nick Boblea



Eye in the sky weather reporter the late Bill Mudgeway on announcing duty



Tony Kidd in the bucket



Body is in North Shore Rod & Custom Club rooms



Now owned by Bryan Kilsby



Owned now by Chris Piaggi and Malcolm Turner

Thanks Greg, this is great info.

Regarding the '56 Chevy now owned by Nick Boblea, is this the car that was later painted brown/gold and fitted with spoke chrome wheels?

Also, the Tony Ward coupe, by chance does it still look like this?