The Roaring Season

by **Steve Holmes** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 12:33 am

Thanks guys.

by **bob homewood** » Wed Jan 09, 2013 7:15 pm

Yes Steve those two photographs are from the 1963 NZIGP , it is interesting to look at the Hairpin area , it bears no resemblance to how it looks these days , as I think I commented on another a thread on here there was nothing if you went straight ahead at the end of the back straight until you reached the creek

by **stubuchanan** » Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:05 am

That would tally with the NZGP programme, Steve.

Gary Pedersen (50) Ford, and George Dixon (111) Chevrolet, and Bruce Mclaren (128) Mini from the earlier post. Some of the big crowd still finding their way to a good viewing spot.

Stu

by **Steve Holmes** » Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:43 am

I hope I've got this right? These pics were supplied to me by Bob Homewood. Pretty sure they're from this event.

by **jamie** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:02 pm

Hi Murray That was A grate Clip Isaw most of the race from the Bridge made me feel like I was 19 again? Jamie A

by **Murray Maunder** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:55 am

Indeed how times have changed Rod. The 1961 is my favourite of the series of Clifford Irving films for the atmosphere it captures. I am amazed at the spectator facilities and "infrastructure" as we so quaintly put it these days. Huge crowds which carried over to the Pukekohe meetings of the sixties when many of GP racing's stars and cars came down under.

It's neat to see Pukekohe reach 50 years and the Aussie intrusion in the track layout is, I believe, not necessarily going to affect all racing there. The long back straight, high speed kink and first gear hairpin sequence is classic so let's hope organisers don't all forsake the "1.75 mile" layout.

by **Rod Grimwood** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:28 am

Great footage Murray, how many cars and people at Ardmore in that 1961 footage. Very safe start with starter on back of landrover, and the chequer flag guy was really interested in the rest of field, hard case how things have changed.

by **Murray Maunder** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 4:28 am

I was fortunate enough to look after old cine footage of the GP for the Bruce McLaren Trust from Ardmore years to 1965. Here's the 1963 NZIGP.

[video=youtube;vGv0TaUCkJc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGv0TaUCkJc&list=UUssaSL2jwLUXT6u5E673cSg&index=14[/video]

The spectator appeal back then was MASSIVE.

by **John H** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:47 am

"FORD 10 Singler Seater with the super charger"...Ah so thats what it was!! I remember running my mk1 Zephyr at a hill climb in Maramarua and noticed your car and felt that it was less like a race car I had ever seen. But i'm sure it went well. Chrs

by **jamie** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 11:25 pm

Morning Gang looking at thr pict of Denis remindes why I did not like that corner he must have brakes like my FORD 10 Singler Seater with the super charger on it that was the only to stop it ? the Cooper Bobtail was A difrent story Loved theTrack then Jamie A

by **hilstwist** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:40 pm

The other fact that sticks out for me is that the crowd was 40,000 plus! Was there a lot of people lining the inside of the track? There was a big crowd at Levin the following week. I remember My father being really impatient in the car waiting to get into the track! I was 15 at the time and I recall trying to worm my way to the front of the crowd around us so I could at least see the cars.I think that it was Mclaren in that Mini Cooper that made me a lifelong Mini fan! This thread makes fascinating reading and once again thanks Steve H for making it possible!

by **Rod Grimwood** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:33 pm

Supporting acts, must admit even as young fella I loved the saloon cars, maybe because I could relate to them as they were seen on the roads.
Still liked the 'race cars' though.

by **Rod Grimwood** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:22 pm

A big day in motorsport history for a alot of people i suspect, if you look back.
That day as very young fella 'I am going to do this when I grow up' well, never raced single seaters but done a couple of laps in tin tops, wonder how many in that crowd did the same. All my trolleys were number 47.

by **Rod Grimwood** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:16 pm

They had a crowd, I am in there somewhere as a young fella out with Dad and Grandad, (can remember going to Ardmore with them as well)

by **Rod Grimwood** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:14 pm

Year Book

by **Rod Grimwood** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:12 pm

From the Year Book.

by **Kiwiboss** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:54 pm

Well, todays the day!!! 50 years ago and even falls on a cracka fine saturday today as well. Can't say i was there at 3-1/2 years old but enjoy reading all the posts.

Dale M

by **GD66** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:24 am

stubuchanan wrote: The 4wd Ferguson : Graham Hill drove it at Pukekohe and in the Australian GP at Warwick Farm, Innes Ireland at all the other races. I'm not sure what other Australian races there were in 1962/3 season, the Tasman Series didn't start until the following season.
Stu

http://www.oldracingcars.com/australia/1962/

by **stubuchanan** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:04 am

I had a closer look at this slide(of mine) and realised what it was. Graham Hill's Ferguson-Climax finally gave out approaching Railway Corner on the last lap when he was running second. There he is, in blue overalls, walking back to the pits carrying his familiar London Rowing Club colours helmet, in the centre of the picture, after everyone else had finished. Well, all 7 of them anyway.

Looks as if he was still in time to watch the winners' presentation!

Stu

Hmmm.. Perhaps a close-up of the centre portion might have been better!

by **Steve Holmes** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 3:31 am

Amazing thread Stu! Here is a photo Bob Homewood sent me, of McLaren leading McBeath and Sprague.

The Roaring Season

Saturday 5 January 1963

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