Here it is a little larger Roger.Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
This will be really small, but there is a note on NSCC website that the car has been found and the current owner [ unkown ] wants some information, described as the G B Special, built by a Gordon Brown, Ford 10 Motor, Hillman gearbox and the photo was at a beach race NSCC meeting, at Muriwai. in 1948.
John B,thanks, I was with Eddie Dowding today and he remembers Gordon and the car, but could not tell me anymore about it.Here it is a little larger Roger.
Trevor Sheffield's s comment about the membership, Eddie recollects that you had to have a Tourer, not specifically a sports car, and then the 50/50 rule with sports-open / saloons.
As I correctly reported --- "Early on the NSSC was a true sports car club with restrictions as to membership. Due to import restrictions it became necessary to admit saloon car owners, but only to the extent that there remained a 50/50 distribution of open and saloon cars".
A full article covering Gordon Brown's car appeared in one of the first editions of the very first NZ magazine dedicated towards sports cars. I once had a copy but now am unable to recollect the exact title of the publication. Is there a copy out there somewhere?
The car was/is important as it was is incidental in popularizing the Ford Ten Special within NZ. When I have time to put my thinking cap on I will start a thread covering these cars as they are historically significant.
Trevor, again thanks for your input [ Eddie is 95 and memory is not as good as it could be] . cheers
Roger
The Ford Ten Specials and others, that would be great to see details,
I know Ed and his brother Mac, while not building a special did modify an Austin 7 tourer, [ around a 1930 model ], with cut down doors, raked windscreen, to make it look MG sports car like. think I have a photo somewhere.
Correction ; Ken Wharton's BRM in the pits, not the Whitehead Ferrari
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 08-12-2015 at 05:20 AM. Reason: poor eyesight.
Hi Roger,
I have a similar collection of photographs in my possession. The car line up in post 5 is according to my copy the clubs very 1st run. Your print is reversed I see , the cars are all lh drive.
Your uncle Eddies Morrie 8 is the 2nd one in on your right. That’s also him in the mud climb. The other two are Ralph Watson (Singer 9 LeMans) and Ken Hemus Sunbeam.
Looked like good clean fun from a great era of NZ motoring.
I see I have several shots of the Brown Ford 10 special at Seagrove Airfield also.
Duncan,yes my copy says first run and oops about the reversed image.
Thanks for your information and Trevor too!!. the Morrie 8 is the one mentioned in the Roycroft book, must dig out and check details.
Found a photo of the Austin 7, with Mac's [ my father ] dog Kim, Ed Dowding and a friend, name unsure. photo from my Dads ones so think he probably took it, some sort of a gathering as other cars in view including a Morris 8. have sent a copy to Ed, he may recognise the friend.
Photo would be around 1937-38. no concern about same tyres on each axle, looks like 3 different tyres in the view.
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 07-09-2015 at 06:55 AM. Reason: retouch photo
three different tyres fitted probably to balance the cable brakes
928, WHAT BRAKES !!, think that " Lord Austin " had the same idea as Ettoire Bugatti, the car is made to go, not stop. probably right though.
One tyre looks like a Michelin - left front - which would make sense as Mac worked at Briscoe and Company Hardware and Ironmongers in Customs Street, and they had the Michelin Agency..
Found a couple more photo's with a pencil note on the back " 1940 ", so maybe a bit later than 1938, the car looks the same, but with the hood down.. not quite an MG but !! 747cc of absolute power .. maybe.
Found a photo of the Austin 7, with Mac's [ my father ] dog Kim, Ed Dowding and a friend, name unsure. photo from my Dads ones so think he probably took it, some sort of a gathering as other cars in view including a Morris 8. have sent a copy to Ed, he may recognise the friend.
Photo would be around 1937-38. no concern about same tyres on each axle, looks like 3 different tyres in the view.
Have found out that the other person on the car is Ted [ Edward ] Kippenberger, who was a mate of Ed and Mac's and went on to be Director of Civil Aviation in New Zealand. knew him back in the 1960's .
Found a photo of the Austin 7, with Mac's [ my father ] dog Kim, Ed Dowding and a friend, name unsure. photo from my Dads ones so think he probably took it, some sort of a gathering as other cars in view including a Morris 8. have sent a copy to Ed, he may recognise the friend.
Photo would be around 1937-38. no concern about same tyres on each axle, looks like 3 different tyres in the view.
Article in the Western Leader, the Suburban Newspapers West Auckland Edition is the following article.
there was previously a call by a someone through the NSCC website some months ago for information on the car, now Gordon who is 100 years old and still driving is looking for it.
Would suggest contacting the Western Leader, to get in contact with Gordon if anyone has information.
Western Leader, their phone number New Zealand 09 8370340
The Graham Vercoe Book " Historic Racing cars of New Zealand ", published in 1991 had this to say about GBS, Gordon brown and his " Specials ".
Last edited by Roger Dowding; 01-31-2016 at 02:40 AM. Reason: car article added #### 47
The Western Leader article was advised to me by my sister who lives in Massey, and new I was interested in the Cars of Gordon Brown, yesterday she took the article to Eddie Dowding, as he knew Gordon at the time of its construction, Gordon also lived in Herne Bay for a time as did Eddie, not at the same time though. Eddie was there from around 1929 to 1955.
Any information one the car please pass on to the Western Leader, or to me and I will contact them. either PM me or post on this thread. Am putting the picture, Western Leader Article and the Extract from Graham Vercoes book, on Facebook, to hopefully get some interest, and locate the car.
thanks
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