Motor Racing pics - my early years, 1964-71 ; Pukekohe Racetrack ;by - Roger Dowdingl

[Roger Dowding]

A very International entry with drivers from the USA, England, Europe and Australia, plus of course our " Local Lads ".

A photo has emerged from Roger Herrick of the Maserati entries in the paddock at Ardmore.

#1 driver Joe Bonnier, Sweden
#5 one of the Temple Buell entries - driver Carroll Shelby, USA
next to that probably
#3 the other Temple Buell car of Harry Schell, France.
The Temple Buell cars were described as the Piccolo Maserati's because of their long shaped noses.
Other Maserati's were ;
#10 of Bib Stillwell, Australia in a 250 F
#12 of Giancarlo Scarlatti,
whilst the New Zealand entries were ;
#18 Ross Jensen Entrant and Driver in a 250F
#20 entered by Ross Jensen, driver not stated in the programme as ' tba ', a 250F.
#24 Gavin Quirk as Entrant and Driver, another 250F.



The Grand Prix had two Heat's of which the first 10 cars qualified for the Grand Prix.
The placings are on the image for each Heat.
- Milan Fistonic archives.



The Full Entry List from the Programme;



The Programme cover - another image borrowed as I do not have a copy.



The Sports Car field that day was also large and some cars were entered in the Grand Prix also including the Austin Healey 100S of Graeme Pierce and M Richards, which did not qualify -
- as noted elsewhere by Milan Fistonic [ on the Austin Healey thread ]

[928]

Roger,
I attended that meeting at Ardmore as part of a family holiday. probably the meeting that got me hooked on car racing,before that it had been speedway bikes at the Taita track. All down to my parents, dad new Bruce Aberthey at the speedway and also Norm McCutcheon the owner/ constructor of the Normac special from his boyhood. my mother actively encouraged my interest this probably explains why I endedup building DFV.s for Mclaren in the early 70,s and running F1 cars for 4 years in the second half of that decade.

[Roger Dowding]

Another photo from Roger Herrick archives; A much better photograph as the cars are not surrounded by spectators

The four 250F Maserati cars 2 long nose and two Piccolo nose style -
#1 Jo Bonnier, #5 and #3 the Temple Buell cars and #10 Bib Stillwell car.
Note the big headrest / shroud on the #5 car of Carroll Shelby. #3 Harry Schell from France.



The Gavin Quirk car #24 that later was with Chris Amon [ 1962 ] and later [ 1970's -1980s ] again fully restored. Chassis number 3509.
Interesting as was owned by the Owen Organisation - the guys behind BRM and has Dunlop Centre-lock wheels and Disc Brakes
another photo from Roger Herrick archives.



The car again with Gavin Quirk. Allan Dick archives.



Chris Amon had a bad crash at Dunedin in 1962. Here in practice - AD archives



The crash. AD archives



The restored car at Ardmore 1989 - posted before. my photo.

[Roger Dowding]

George Dixon in the 1938 Chevrolet Coupe - race number 141, the car later went to Rod Coppins and he used " 141 " as his race number, with the Chev and the later Zephyr Corvette.

A very mixed field with Chev Coupes, Ford V8 Coupes, a Dodge some Mk 2 Zephyrs, a couple of Jaguars, and a Studebaker Hawk - finally a 3 litre Alvis. The Alvis also raced at Levin and Ohakea in the 1960/61 - 61/62 seasons.

L Carter in the Studebaker, G Giblin in the Alvis, the Zephyrs included Brian Innes in the Motordrome Team car and Dennis Simons in the " Spinner Car Sales " entry.

From the Entry List for the Race - my own notes;
" Ardmore 1962 - Event 8 Saloon Car Scratch Race - over 1600cc class
- G Dixon #141 Chev L Carter #130 Studebaker 4220cc, G Giblin in the Alvis #142 - 2993cc - so a big Six by English standards, - 4 Zephyrs, A Beetham #137 J Hayes #143, B Innes Motordrome Team #144 and D [ Dennis ] Simmons in the Spinner Car Sales Zephyr #153, and two Jaguars plus a Dodge Special of A Jones #145. ".



Ardmore 1962 - The Programme [ thank to Allan on TRS for sending it to me. ]



** The Entry List for the above Race - most classes got only one race in the day, Saloons had one for the 1600cc and under then this one the Over 1600cc Race - Race 8, just before the Grand Prix.



1962 was the last Ardmore Grand Prix event, where Stirling Moss proved to be a " Master " in the rain that developed later in the day. Ken Hyndman archives - with an S Moss signature.

[Roger Dowding]

Was not there, these are from Allan Dick of " Autonews ", " NZ Classic Driver " publications, both of which he started.
.
The photos are from a young " Arthur Uden ", taken by a basic camera that took photos printed as 3 x 3 inch, had something similar at the time.

Details on the photos - will note on the thread too !!.
John[ny ] Riley

in the " paddock " by the Tote building - now long gone.

John[ny ] Riley the Lotus 18/21



Ross Baker in the Heron



Jim Palmer #41 - his Brabham



Bill Caldwell Lola Sports later owned by Barry Cottle.



K [ Keith ? ] Madgwick in a Mini Cooper



Ian Green with the Tojeiro that later went to Brent Hawes, - with Frank Cantwell before Ian I understand.

[Roger Dowding]

Steve Elliott, recently posted an Advert for " Molyslip " an engine additive which featured the Rod Coppins Zephyr Corvette in it White / Ivory with Blue Stripes Colours, before it went to a Burgundy.

The " Team Molyslip " group had a number of known drivers in various cars, Ford Anglia - several, the Zephyr Corvette and even a single seater.

Not specifically " Pukekohe " - the Team did race there on many occasions.

The " Molyslip " Advert - arch Steve Elliott.



Full advert with the Team Members - Drivers and Mechanics - a big group in the pits, they would have been.



The Team with drivers and flags at Pukekohe, Anglias grouped around the Zephyr Corvette.



The Anglias on trailers at Jack Wilsons Service Station - beside Simons Motors .



The Zephyr Corvette.



in colour;



ONZMR - photos " borrowed " from Old New Zealand Motor Racing.

Some posted before, however, this brings them all together - saves scrolling through the many pages and posts on this thread.

[Roger Dowding]

" AUTONEWS New Zealand, later " autoNEWS New Zealand ". was Allan Dicks entry in NZ Motor Racing / Motor Sport publishing, in Dunedin.
It began in June 1967 in a small format newspaper type publication, printed by his local paper the " Otago Daily Times ".

At the time " Motorman " by Donn Anderson was " THE " Motoring magazine of the time for Motorsport and things Automotive, " NZ HOT Rod Magazine " covered the Rod and Custom, Drag Racing scene.

Allan Dick came to Pukekohe many times and has over the years made comments about the place and the " White Coats " - the Marshalls, It did not stop him from writing articles and including photos in his publication " Autonews NZ ".

As mentioned on the " Motoring Books - what's on your bookshelf ? " thread, I have been sent [ from across the Ditch ] a much travelled collection of early Autonews - June 1967 Vol 1 No 1 onwards up to 1970.

Have had a couple of the publications in my Archive for many years but now it has grown.

Covers of several from the first year.
Vol 1 No 1, No 10 and No 16.







They are showing the " patina of age " however, lots of good reading and information and photos to share on here.

Was one of the " White Coats " at National [ NSCC ] Meetings, not the GP as Crowd, then Gate and later Flag Marshall, we all had a job to do. - tell me they didn't have them " Down South ". Dunedin, Teretonga Wigram, The Levels, Waimate et al .


More will follow over time with " Pukekohe " photos;

[Roger Dowding]

Volume 1 Issue 8 had the preview article and full Entry Lists for the two races in October 1967 at Pukekohe.
Volume 1 Issue 9 had the report, results and photos, with the winning 3 Hour Race Mustang #53 of Rod Coppins and John Ward on the cover;
There were Four Mustangs #51 Frank Bryan Don Davie, #52 Paul Fahey Jim Palmer, #53 Rod Coppins John Ward and Red Dawson John Riley in the fourth #54 Car.

The Autonews covers ;



The Centrespread photos;

The double page " WILLSCEEN " as in the Issue;



Left side a bit closer - with the 3.3 Litre Vauxhalls and the 3 litre V6 Fords and other images;



Right - with Lotus Cortina 3 hour race, Rod Coppins PDL Cooper S of Clyde Collins the Fahey Mustang and Mustangs Cortina a Ford front two rows heading for the Stables / Elbow - did they use the Elbow and Loop at this event - seems so from the comment " Behaviour at the Elbow was without Peer ".



Ford front two rows heading for the Stables / Elbow.
Frank Bryan and Paul Fahey with a third 'stang behind

[Roger Dowding]

Autonews, - to keep them all in one place am posting on here.
In most cases there will be Pukekohe related news or photos.

Volume One Number One - June 25th 1967.
Cover photo the Fordina.
Articles on Ruapuna and Teretonga.
There are photos from both events, plus Waimate, Wigram, Timaru [ the only meeting ] Renwick and Dunedin [ from earlier in the year ]



Issue Number 2 July 1967

The Custaxie on the cover, Photos the Fordina again, Fleetwood Mustang -an article on Chris Amon.
The magazine had grown from it original size when folded " 25 x 17 " [ 10" x 6 3/4 inches ] to " 26 x 18.5 ".



Issue Number 3, 24th July 1967.

Dennis Marwood in his Cooper and a Ford Thunderbird on the cover.
Profile on Dennis and an article on the French Grand Prix, Road Test of the T/bird - not many phots but q few of Dennis in his Cooper and Humber 80.



Issue Number 4, Monday 7th August 1967.

Begg Chevrolet on the Cover - article on George Begg by Robin Curtis, Road Test of the fiery new X2 Holden, The British Grand Prix and a story on Neil Doyle

.

Allan Dick was also promoting his Book / Magazine style " Motoryear Book 1967 " which I have had since 1967.
My copy;



Both Allan Dicks Book and the " Shell Book of New Zealand Motor Racing 1967 " by Peter Greenslade and Euan Sarginson featured the Custaxie on the front cover.

The Shell Book - seen before;



.

[Roger Dowding]

As noted elsewhere the Autonews posted here were originally purchased by Garry Simkin who put the pen details on top of the Volume and Issue Numbers.

They have travelled to Australia and back and have had several " custodians ' over the years, from Garry to others and on to John Climo - of Cabbage Tree Media fame, to me.

Volume 1 Number 5 - Monday 21st August 1967
* Denny does it again - is the headline,
- articles on German Grand Prix
- Winner Dennis Hulme Repco Brabham, 2nd Jack Brabham - " the Boss " Repco Brabham, 3rd Chris Amon Ferrari - a downunder Trio,
- Formula VEE, and Reducing the Road Toll,
- Article the ' Urge to Race " - part one
Not a lot of photos.



Volume 1 Number 6 - Monday 4th September 1967
- An article by Ian " Red " Dawson and some photos, called REDRITE,
- Article by Gary Thompson on Tony Batchelor
- The " Urge to Race " part two
and a a piece entitled " Bits and Pieces ".
The cover photo of an Anglia #124 - there is no details as to who or where, or when !.



Volume 1 number 7 - Monday 18th September 1967
as an aside - the day before my 20th Birthday - also the Month *** [ see note from Allan Cameron ] before they removed Six O'Clock closing, and allowed pubs to open until 10 - the age however to enter was still 21 so had to wait.

Richard Attwood BRM on the cover,
- an article on Rallying
- Road Test of a Fiat 2300S Coupe - the current issue of NZ Classic Driver has an article on a Fiat 2300 Coupe - not the same car.
- Centrespread of photos including a Ford GT40, The Fleetwood Mustang, a Sports Car Race at the GP meeting in 1966 an a Dragster.
Article on the Canadian Grand Prix - won by Brabham with Hulme second in their Repco Brabham cars.



The next two Issues, Number 8 and 9 are the Wills 3 and 6 hour race issues
Allan Dick stated in the pre Wills issue number 8 - dated October 2nd " that the Editor will be in Auckland covering the Wills meeting " and it will be 2 days late.
It is dated however Monday 16th October 1967

Images of the Race meeting have already been posted.

The Car on the Cover Issue 8 a Sports Car #17- I am sure of who and what and where it is, again.



Issue 9 with the Coppins / Ward Mustang on the front - the winner of the 3 hour Challenge Race



Have noted Garry Simkin on the images;
More work to do on scanning the photos and entry lists etc

[Allan]

I think you will find that 10 o'clock closing started 9 October 67 because I shipped out to Vietnam on the 6th and had to wait a whole year for the later experience.

[Roger Dowding]

Autonews - October and November 1967

Volume One, Number Ten - Monday 30th October 1967
" DENNY'S The Champ
- The Denny Hulme Story
- Triumph 2000 Road Test
- Teretonga
- The US Grand Prix

On the Cover
- Denny Hulme
lower photo
- The new Begg Daimler at Teretonga



Volume One, Number Eleven - Monday 15th November 1967

Reports and Photos
- Ruapuna
- Paritutu - Labour Day 23 October 1967
- Earls Court Motor Show

On the Cover
- Ron Sylvester - Chev Coupe winning at Ruapuna



Volume One, Number Twelve - Monday 27th November

Reoprts and Photos
- Pukekohe
- Ruapuna
- Article on Rodger Anderson
- British Racing Drivers School

On the Cover
Graeme Lawrence, Brabham ahead of Tony Shaw, Brabham



Well that the the first Dozen Done.

Thanks again to Garry Simkin and John Climo.

[Roger Dowding]

Allan Dick produced " Motorsport '66 " and followed it up the " Motor Year Book " - in 1967, the same year that he started " Autonews NZ " later " autoNEWS NZ ".

A few images from the 1967 Edition,

Pukekohe
Levin
Wigram
Teretonga
- January into February 1967



Inside the front cover " Vive les Girls " and the Editorial - Front page ONE.



Pukekohe - the NZ International Grand Prix



Levin - the Wills International the second event in the series.



Off to the South Island - Wigram - with the Lady Wigram Trophy Race - third event in the series.



Teretonga - the last NZ event, then the series went to Australia, Lakeside QLD and other events incl Longford, TAS.



The Wills / Gold Leaf meeting in October 1967. and other images to follow.
Just hit 6 photos.

[Roger Dowding]

Pukekohe - 1967 - Is it the " The Gold Leaf Three Hour Challenge Race. " there are four Mustangs in the set of photos.
Same parked cars in the background, by the Woolshed - and had seen one of the photos before - with a note
- " Pukekohe 1968 - the 1967 - 68 season "

Photos by Terry " Steelo " Baker as posted by John Larry Lawton.

Mustang trio in White. - with stripes.



Mustang duo in White.



Mustang duo, a Blue and a White. Is the Blue Dawson ?



Mustangs with Lotus Cortina and a Triumph 2000.



One of the Ford " Lotus " Cortina cars.

[Roger Dowding]

Was there in January 1971 and took some photos -
The Programme Cover



Race 7 the Saloon Car Feature Race - Norm Beechey was here in his yellow Holden Monaro.

[Roger Dowding]

Was there in January 1971 and took some photos -
The Programme Cover



Race 7 the Saloon Car Feature Race - Norm Beechey was here in his yellow Holden Monaro.

19th July 2025 at 1;00pm my time NZ = Omokoroa,

Looks like we are back, have more to post, including for another thread more on the " Bardahl " Hill Climb series of the 1970s into the early 1980.

Just received a dozen ACC Bulletins, from Jens Fogelberg, an ACC Triumph CC, and NZ TR Register guy I knew form the mid late 1970's.

Cheers

Roger

[Roger Dowding]

Ardmore 1955 The 2nd New Zealand International GRAND PRIX 8th January 1955.

A Big event in the New Zealand Motor Racing Calendar with the second running of the Grand Prix - for the New Zealand Motor Cup.
There were only two fields of cars and two main events, the Ardmore Handicap and the Grand Prix, the GP had two heats and the main race was 210 miles, 100 laps of the Airfield Circuit.
Heats were 25 miles, 12 laps.
The Ardmore Handicap was 52 Miles 25 laps and the winner was awarded the Richard Webb Trophy'

The Programme Cover - with the image of Stan Jones and his Maybach Special the winner of the 1954 Grand Prix.



Entry List for the Ardmore Handicap Race - held at 11.15 am, following the two Heat Races for the Grand Prix.



Entries were a mix of Sports Cars and New Zealand Specials.

The New Zealand International Grand Prix Entry List.



Included in the Entry List is the W " Bill " Culver De Soto Special #21 - capacity shown as 1368 cc - is that a Typo.

Here a couple of photos of Bill Culver spinning the De Soto.



Seen here with F A O " Tony " Gaze in his Ferrari #4



Looking for more information on the De Soto of Bill Culver, who lived in Thames at the time of the Grand Prix. Car was believed to be hidden in a garage there for many years after, but nothing is known of its whereabouts or demise.

Programme from John Ciimo collection, now in my archives, De Soto photos form Lloyd Gleeson

[Roger Dowding]

A bit more from the Programme [ Scans this time not photos on my phone.]

The Covers rear and front - " REDeX " Advert - a big name lubricants additives at the time.



Advert and the List of Officials.



Advert R E O Motors the Armstrong Siddeley dealers - and the List of Trophies Prizes for the events



The Trophies for the Events NZ Motor Cup and others.



Programme a gift from John Climo which has a lot of pencil notes of the Entry Lists and Race details

Map of the Track - Ardmore Airfield - the track ran anti-Clockwise in 1954 and 1955, then they changed to Clockwise for 1956.



Map of the Track as used 1956 - 1962 - from another Programme - the 1957 event - The Programme a gift from TRS Allan Cameron.
The Start finish line was moved so a longer run to the first sharp right hand corner, then down the narrow runway of the track



Still looking for 1954, 1956, 1958 and 1959 Ardmore Programmes.

[Roger Dowding]

Les McLaren ran the ex Ross Jensen [ Seabrook Fowlds ] Austin Healey 100 in the 1955 Grand Prix meeting entering the car as #11 in the Grand Prix Race.

In 1956 Bruce Ran the Austin Healey 100, having competed in the Austin 7 Ulster in 1955, and had a brief run with the ex Bob Crisp Standard [ Ford ] Special, a car bought and sold in 1955.
Driver profiles from the 1956 Programme which mention Bruce McLaren - from Milan Fistonic archives



Entry List for the Sports Car Race.



1957 Bruce was again in the Les McLaren entered Austin Healey.

The 1956 New Zealand International Grand Prix was won by Stirling Moss in his Maserati 250F - the first year of the clockwise run circuit.
1st New Zealander home was Ron Roycroft in the Bugatti - by now Jaguar powered.

Photos of the " winners " as published in the 1957 Programme.



Past winners of the three preceding Grand Prix events - 1954, 1955 and 1956, also in the 1957 Programme



Stirling Moss with the Trophy the NZ Motor Cup and an image of the car - from the cover of the 1957 Programme.

[Roger Dowding]

Brent Blann notes and photos

" Aston Martin DB2/4 ex-Reg Parnell at Pukekohe and Ross Jensen Motors 1963 or 1964."

Brent was trying to date the photos - Car " Aston Martin " has the 1961 - 64 Plate outside the showroom and at Pukekohe the 1964 Permanent Plate as issued in July 1964.

He wrote " Interesting because I don't remember going out there in '64. I think the next meeting I went to was the Rothmans National Motor Race Meeting on Feb 27th 1965. The one with the vintage car event. Also interesting, I've since found a second picture of the car at Ross Jensen's which clearly shows it with a yellow and black number plate. It was never printed because it was a double image. I didn't know the picture existed until last week. So the pictures I posted could have been taken a year apart or longer. Funny that's not how I remember it. I remember having a newspaper clipping of the car when it arrived in NZ. Must see if I can find it. "

" You were right about the Pukekohe picture being 1964, it was the day of the 1964 Wills race, Saturday 10th October. Narrowed down the Ross Jensen's picture to sometime between April 6th and 10th 1964 the date the Auckland Herald printed the attached article [the Ross Jensen's picture was taken only a week or so after the article] and mid-1964 when the rego plates changed from yellow and black to silver and black. They were yellow and black in the Ross Jensen's picture. "



The Showroom photo - " Daimler " dealers. Ross Jensen Motors.



Car was at the Wills Six Hour Meeting in the October but not competing - has its new Permanent Plate BM1429.



The car seen racing at the January 1964 Grand Prix meeting at Pukekohe - still has the old Black on Yellow plate - hard to see.
Cutting from " The New Zealand Herald ".



Cover of the Programme from the 1964 NZ International Grand Prix meeting. Not in my collection but looking for one or images from it.



** a bit more;

Alister Goudie - mentioned as the Driver of the Aston Martin DB 2 - 4, at the Grand Prix meeting in January 1964, he was back on track with the same number at the Auckland Car Club meeting
- " Autumn Meeting " on 4th April 1964. He was not in the first four places.
Here from the Lloyd Gleeson copy of the ACC Programme -

Race 6 - Sports Cars 1501 cc and over Scratch 4 laps Page 9.



Brent has added more notes to me - will edit the post, later.

Going through my own photos and found this from 1963 - had just got the camera and took a series of photos down by the Harbour Bridge.
- We had been visiting our Grandmother and Great Aunt in Herne Bay. Panning skills had not developed and the camera had one setting " click "