Thunder Park, helicopter view.
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Not sure who this is, maybe someone here can provide an ID? Look how the convertible roof is ballooning from the pressure.
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Fantastic shots Steve! Looks a LOT different now. It would be great to take photos from the same perspective today-it would be a sea of green (grapevines) with (maybe) an "island" of brown. I have been told that there is a small area where they have not managed to get grapes to grow-apparently it coincides almost exactly with the position of the start line/burn out area and is attributed to the chemicals used to treat the tyres during burnouts.
Warren Armour (in shorts), with Mike Gearing in the car.
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In the mid 80’s a friend of the family put shares in the track with Garth Hogan and a few others to get it going again.
I was in my teens but remember going down to Hastings and helping out. My job was being a runner from the pits to the control tower. I may still have some photos of various cars floating around. Will have to have a look. I know I did take one of a VW with a 350 Chev in it, and possibly a jet car that came from overseas.
Ran there once in a borrowed Austin - Healey a 100 / 6 I think with a 3 litre motor,my 100 / 4 was not up to the task, no photos, just my time cards.. not that quick, not my car !!
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What years did Thunderpark operate? The NZHRA website says 1976 to 1997 but I have my doubts about the closing date-I would have said it was earlier than that.