And V8 Supercars keep saying how they keep breaking crowd records for attendance at a meeting totalled over 3 days. There were more people at Puke in 1 day then than they have ever drawn through the gates over 3.Originally Posted by Oldfart
And V8 Supercars keep saying how they keep breaking crowd records for attendance at a meeting totalled over 3 days. There were more people at Puke in 1 day then than they have ever drawn through the gates over 3.
Tony G-lets hope then that as MANY spectators come along to the Gulf Denny Hulme dual weekend to show our appreciation for Hampton Downs getting resource consent for a larger audience to prove this point about these cars.They have been classics since they were made.
Yes some of those cars have real interesting lives and it is a wonder that they survived. Having seen what some people start with to rebuild a car all I can say is that they are magicians.
What I believe has helped in a big way with these cars is the interest generated by race goers and circuits owners and clubs putting on races for these vehicles and encouraging owners to exercise the cars in a relatively controlled environment.
Years later and back in Takanini he asked me to help him repossess a car somewhere in the hills near Clevedon (at night-time).
Grant, By coincidence the Firebird has the first owner on the papers (Sept '76) as being out in Tironui Station Rd Papakura. Then in Nov '76 it was Safari Motors, Greenlane, Dec '76 Higham Motors Panmure, then straight to John Scott of Otahuhu who raced a Firebird (not this one) at Waikaraka Park.
Bruce.
Any other dealers listed for 1978/79, that's when Larry had the Tanner Firebird? Of course, he might have not taken formal ownership, just flipped it on to the next buyer.
Grant, If we back Larry's time with the Firebird to right after Robin Tanner ( some time in1976) and he on-sells the car to the first registered owner, in Papakura (Sept 76) then it all fits.
Bruce.
Thanks Grant, yeah really good point. I hope Steve is OK. I've emailed him this morning, not expecting a response any time soon, but hopefully he'll get back to me with some good news.
This photo is pretty dark, but really interesting. There don't seem to be too many colour photos around of Kevin Haigs Shelby Mustang. This is the Bob Egan car that raced in the Trans-Am, was later purchased by Bob Kennett, who traded it to Dexter Dunlop. It really didn't achieve much in NZ in its early life, arriving in late 1971, and already quite outdated compared to the top Kiwi cars. It was only when Dunlop sold it to South Islander Kevin Haig, who rebuilt it and raced it in OSCA, that it really rose to prominence.
Haig won the 1974 OSCA championship with the car, and the following season, notched up so many points in the early rounds, he won the championship a second time, before selling the Mustang to Lawrence Bruce part-way through the season. I'm sure I read somewhere that Bruce then finished either second or third that same season, in the same car!
Note here the Mustang is missing the white stripe off its front fender. Haig was a regular visitor to the North Island during the 1974 season. His close battles with John Rileys Camaro got a little too close on several occasions!
Great shot here of Frank Gardners former-SCA Freight Camaro that visited NZ in late 1972. Gardner had already replaced this car with a 1970 Camaro in the British Saloon Car Championship, so the older '67 model was surplus to requirements. Despite that, Gardner was incredibly fast, and only Allan Moffat could challenge him at the big Bay Park Xmas meeting. Gardners Bay Park event ended with him backing the car into the fence at the hairpin. The primered paint on the left rear quarter is the result of the rapidly applied repairs to make Pukekohe the following week.
Gardner then took the Camaro to Australia, where he raced it against the top Improved Production machines, before heading back to England, leaving the car behind to be sold. It recently found its way back to England, and has since been restored. More info here
Actually Dexter Dunlop showed everyone at Baypark that his Mustang had the wider axle option, ideal for keeping competitors behind you.
Ha ha ha, yep thats right John. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) though, most were already in front of him at the time.
The beautiful Begg 018.
Brilliant photo here of Jack Nazers 'Miss Victorious' in its first racing season. An article on Miss Victorious can be found here
The PDL Mustang, during the 1972/73 season. The car wore the same paint scheme, more or less, as it did the previous season, but it looked slightly different in that its wheel openings had been further radiused to clear ever-larger wheels. Paul Fahey was still the cars driver when this photo was taken. A few weeks later, he and Bob Stewart would have a bust-up in which Fahey was effectively fired. Graham Baker was brought in late in the season as Faheys replacement, and the Mustang reappeared with a magnificent lace green paint job that looked a million bucks.
A great collection, Gerard and Steve! From a time when I didn't get to very many races - taking life too seriously.
Stu
Jack said to me today on the Victor- for the first time in my life I had a real purpose built race car, thanks to Ross and Jimmy. All my other ones had been just road cars made to go fast. That was the difference between me and Fahey in the Escorts-his was a purpose built race car.
Couple of great shots here from early 1970, at the NZIGP. First the field lines up on the dummy-grid, then on the actual grid. Behind the well known cars on the first few rows, can anyone ID the red Escort and yellow Mini further back?
Lot of Fords here
[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;19760]Couple of great shots here from early 1970, at the NZIGP. First the field lines up on the dummy-grid, then on the actual grid. Behind the well known cars on the first few rows, can anyone ID the red Escort and yellow Mini further back?
Could the Escort be Wayne Huxford with a pushrod motor?
I was there that day, dont recall Wayne Huxford racing. Will look at race description in my mags.Yellow min does not show on the start line though.
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