The Roaring Season

Here is an article about Ken Smith on Stuff and in some local news papers, great read.

[url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/102954515/national-portrait-ken-smith]https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/102954515/national-portrait-ken-smith[/url]

[quote="khyndart in CA"]Sorry to hi jack Ken's scrapbook;

Bruce,
Did it go to Australia ?
Is this it in this cool airbrush painting ?

Pontiac Trans Am Ron Grable Australian Touring Car Championship 1972
[ATTACH=CONFIG]51215[/ATTACH][/quote]

Yes it did go to Australia, '72, 73,74 and 75, but not in that livery. Pretty slick painting though, thank you.

B

Sorry to hi jack Ken's scrapbook;

Bruce,
Did it go to Australia ?
Is this it in this cool airbrush painting ?

Pontiac Trans Am Ron Grable Australian Touring Car Championship 1972
[attachment=0]Ron Grable.jpg[/attachment]

[quote="khyndart in CA"]Hello Bruce,
Is that your Pontiac ? What is the history of this Grable Pontiac Trans Am ?

Ken H[/quote]

Hi Ken, Yes this is the T/G Racing (Titus Godsall Racing) built Firebird that Ron Grable brought off Rick Titus and brought to NZ, He was asked by Peter Hanna and Graham Pierce, Bay Park promotors to bring the car to NZ and race down here for a couple of weeks. A good offer for an off season race car driver. After the Bay Park meeting Dec 31 1971 and the Pukekohe meeting in January the car was sold to Rod Coppins and he used it with some good results including winning the 1972/33 Saloon Championship. After Rod the car went to Robin Tanner who pedalled it for a couple of seasons and after that it never went to the track again. It was a road car for a while and it was stored in various garages, it is very close to completion.

Hello Bruce,
Is that your Pontiac ? What is the history of this Grable Pontiac Trans Am ?

Ken H

[quote="Roger Dowding"]and Kenny doesn't look any taller, how about the Brunette ..[/quote]

She's taller....

[quote="Bruce302"][ATTACH=CONFIG]51072[/ATTACH]

Ken Smith talking to a partially obscured Ron Grable, Bay Park Dec 31 1971, photo by Kevin Tisch
(and yes I do know who the brunette is)[/quote]

and Kenny doesn't look any taller, how about the Brunette ..

[attachment=0]Ken Smith, Ron Grable by Kevin Tisch 1971 .jpg[/attachment]

Ken Smith talking to a partially obscured Ron Grable, Bay Park Dec 31 1971, photo by Kevin Tisch
(and yes I do know who the brunette is)

Some pics of Ken at the 2018 Taupo Historic GP. I was so very lucky to meet Ken
He is a great guy
[attachment=2]IMG_1133.JPG[/attachment]

[attachment=1]IMG_1129.JPG[/attachment]

[attachment=0]IMG_1134.JPG[/attachment]

Adam Jones was at the track filming for his doco on Kenny. Yup, good that he was able to walk away but it made a bit of a mess of the car(s).

The collapsed wing on Kenny's F5000 at Pukekohe going into the first corner at Pukekohe yesterday brought back memories of the dark side of the 'good old days'. Thank goodness that with the likes of HANS and circuit upgrades, Kenny walked away.

Managed to get a copy from Paper Plus after all. Signed by Kenny, so just need to catch Michael for his signature. Have only read part of it so far and yes, well worth purchasing. Congratulations on collating so much stuff Michael. Obviously a lot of effort has gone into it.

Ken, not 'one of the highlights' - 'the' highlight.

The other car is the Katipo of Robbie Booth - I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest Kenny is the one doing the overtaking...

As soon as I can speak to the publisher, I will find out for you, Grant and various others in America how we go about shipping them.

Best wishes

MC

Michael,
Best of luck with the book sales. I hope to purchase it one day as Ken has to be one of the most popular and resilient drivers ever.
Thank you for publishing his story.
I remember he stated that one of the highlights of his career was the winning of the NZGP at Pukekohe in January 1976.

Here is a pathetic photo I took as he left the Hairpin on one of the last laps. I was behind ALL that safety fencing !
( Hate to imagine if a formula car had gone into that fencing of posts and wire rope. It would have been better going into the post as that bottom rope would have been worse than going under Armco barriers...oh well it all worked out in the end. )

[attachment=0]1976 NZGP. Ken Smith. Final laps.# 1jpg.jpg[/attachment]

(Ken Hyndman )

It's a cracker. Got it for my birthday.
Just shows what one can do when one's mind is determined. Will be getting both Kenny's and your autograph on mine

Richard, thank you for your comments. That means a lot coming from a 'book person' such as you!

Look forward to spending my PaperPlus Christmas voucher on this.

Hopefully, will get it autographed in January Michael! Will add to the shelf of autographed copies of several other books, from Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, Stirling Moss, Howden Ganley, Martin Brundle, Nigel Mansell etc!

PS: Local Paperplus didn't have it...

Congratulations Michael on a really good book written about a real legend of NZ motorsport. Great pictures, loved the school report, bought back many memories of cars and races I had forgotten.
Get your copy now, we have sold out and have a waiting list.
Congratulations also to Kenny on his input and enthusiasm, a good read.

Richard

Thanks Michael, I have PM'd you.

I am pleased to report that sales seem to be going pretty well.

I have received PMs from overseas members of TRS - somehow I have managed to delete them. I know one was from Grant Ellwood so could I ask that you PM me again and I'll try not to stuff it up next time.