Lost Race Cars

Shooting the bull on historic motor racing and motorsport history.
David McKinney
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by David McKinney »

Agree to both
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Steve Holmes
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by Steve Holmes »

Steve Holmes wrote:Here is a photo taken by Terry Marshall at Wigram 1974, showing Brader in the Escort (left of shot) now fitted with the Chevy, and chasing Trevor Crowe (Chevy Corolla), Glenn McIntyre, Fiat, Bruce Jenner (Camaro), and Don Halliday (Escort).

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Any further info on the Fuller Escort up to and beyond Ian Knight? Does anyone have a contact for Ian Knight?
grelley
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Lost Racing Cars

Post by grelley »

Not lost, but trying to track the history?. It is one of the many clone Lotus Cortinas, only this one was registered by Ward and Coppins Motors as a Lotus Cortina in 1968. I have been told that it was reshelled from a genuine L/C that was burnt out but I really have no idea. The car did about 500 miles in their ownership. I dont think there were that many genuine L/Cs in New Zealand back then. It is definitely not a L/C shell. The reg no is AS754. Does anybody have any knowledge of this car. Regds
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Steve Holmes
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by Steve Holmes »

Sounds interesting Grelley, do you have any photos? Was it ever raced?
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by grelley »

Hi Steve, yes it won the first ever Pre 65 race in Timaru then won the championship for 3 years in the hands of Kevin Pateman. It also raced in classic racing for about 3-4 years, and I had it at the Bruce McLaren Festival at Hampton Downs and Pukekohe. It is really the very early information that I am after if in fact there was any? I have spoken to Kevin Pateman but he is not aware of its early history.
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pallmall
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by pallmall »

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thunder427
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by thunder427 »

....Lotus Cortina's on the street!!!!!!!!.....Denis Stanton of 'Stanton Stationary' fame,a Christchurch office supply company of the 50's/60's drove a very Quick Cortina GT (lets not forget the 'GT'!!) Denis,aquired,I use the term Aquired, only to outline Denis's intention to 'Race' this car,I'm Thinking it may have come from the North Island,but there was a privately owned one in Christchurch around that time that was an Ex racecar.

My story,and I'm sticking to it!!!..consider that Denis's job took him all over the South Island,lets think Christmas time,lets pencil in (no pun intended) Nelson,perhaps we have transfered plates of the company GT to a real low-n-quick Lotus Cortina,maybe we're running in a 'new' motor and we find our selves in Nelson with a bet going as to how "quick' we can get back to Christchurch......this is where i come into this tale!!!!

:p I'm driving up the Main North Rd. heading to the Parents Holiday 'Batch' at Leithfield Beach,just come thru Kaiapoi,in my 1956 Ford Thames van,when I hear this engine on absolutely full song,I'm trying to gather were its comming from,when I see comming towards me with the Inside front wheel A foot of the ground,a LOTUS CORTINA,flatlining the corner,known as the 'White House'Cnr (like a big 'S')so!!,How did I know it was a Lotus!!??..,What's,'Off White with a Pea Green Spear down the side and looks like a Cortina...
....VROOOOOOOOM...gone and past me in a "Flash', its funny,how in that split second I saw Denis.....Shit!!!that was Denis!!!.....you know the deal as you try and comprehend what you have just seen/witnessed...Wow!! :cool:

Some weeks later Denis bought me up to speed on the 'double' dare........You Know!! it was 'goooood' grow up in those years.............regards thunder427/MJ :)
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Steve Holmes
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by Steve Holmes »

This Camaro was owned by Adrian Chambers, of SCA Freight, and built to replace the '67 Camaro the team previously raced. Frank Gardner was the driver. This car debuted in the 1973 British Saloon Car Championship, and dominated the season, with Gardner winning the championship. The alloy big block engine was apparently supplied by fellow Aussie Bob Jane.

The Camaro was raced by SCA Freight in the ETCC in 1974, after Britain dropped Group 2 (outlawing the Camaro) in favour of the production based Group 1. Chambers had both Gardner and his Aussie rival Brian Muir, who had been Gardners main competition the last few seasons, drive the Camaro, but they didn't fare at all well, retiring from every round in the '74 ETCC.

After that the Camaro was sold, and Gardner moved back to Australia. Looking through Frank de Jongs excellent website: http://www.touringcarracing.net/ there appears to be a very similar looking Camaro raced in 1975 and '76 by Stuart Graham (winning the '75 Silverstone TT), then following that by Reine Wisell, of Sweden, though the big block looks to have been removed when the car was sold by Chambers.

Where is it now?

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GD66
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by GD66 »

Not to go OT, but would that be the same Adrian Chambers who managed Wanneroo (Barbagallo) Raceway for the WA Sporting Car Club a few years back ?
David McKinney
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by David McKinney »

Don't know about the Lotus-Cortina mentioned above, but the attached is the winning car in the October 1964 Wills 6hr race, driven by Palmer and Fahey. Palmer also did the Sandown 5hrs with this car, partnered by J Y Stewart. It's still in NZ, in the hands of the man who's owned it for at least 35 years
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woody
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by woody »

Ted Giles in Dunedin has had a Lotus Cortina for many years.
seaqnmac27
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by seaqnmac27 »

Hey guys, I am new here, some cars I would like to know about or -what happened to etc. Yes the Mossman Viva, I remember seeing it at Manfield about 89. also any information aboutr the following cars. McIntyre Fiat 124, there was a Marina V8 around the same time as the Viva. Bryan Bate had a Sunbeam Stilletto in 82. That is a start for you.

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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by bob homewood »

seaqnmac27 wrote:Hey guys, I am new here, some cars I would like to know about or -what happened to etc. Yes the Mossman Viva, I remember seeing it at Manfield about 89. also any information aboutr the following cars. McIntyre Fiat 124, there was a Marina V8 around the same time as the Viva. Bryan Bate had a Sunbeam Stilletto in 82. That is a start for you.

Regards
Sean McBride

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This is the Marina here behind the Chavenger I believe you are talking about,the Bryan Bate Stilleto I am going to write about my part in putting the Mazda engine in it some time in the future
seaqnmac27
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by seaqnmac27 »

Thats it, I only remember seeing it on its trailer at Manfield, though I remember Neil Deighton in the Chavenger, I think it may have been the '81 daybreaker I first saw it, though I also saw it at the B&H Enbdurance series racing in the support races on the club circuit. What is the story behind the Marina? Was the drivers name something like Steve or Gary Park?
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Steve Holmes
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by Steve Holmes »

What happened to the Mossman Viva? Does he still have it? Anyone got any pics of it?
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by bob homewood »

seaqnmac27 wrote:Thats it, I only remember seeing it on its trailer at Manfield, though I remember Neil Deighton in the Chavenger, I think it may have been the '81 daybreaker I first saw it, though I also saw it at the B&H Enbdurance series racing in the support races on the club circuit. What is the story behind the Marina? Was the drivers name something like Steve or Gary Park?


Graham Park was the Marina man,back in the mid sixties ,I think first he raced a Plymouth coupe or something similar ,then we raced Anglias together 66/67 ,after that I think he went o/seas and worked for Broadspeed ?, he later returned to NZ and built up and raced the Marina V8 around the same time I built the Escort Sports Sedan
Jac Mac
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by Jac Mac »

Not 100% sure on this, but think the Chavenger might have been down our way in Invercargill in recent years, a Dave Robertson/Robinson is the name that comes to mind & something to do with a guy on snow skis attached to a roofrack either training/testing for a speed ski record.....
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Steve Holmes
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by Steve Holmes »

It had been owned by Neil Deighton for about 100 years, has he sold it?
seaqnmac27
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by seaqnmac27 »

Didn't the chap Robinson have a V8 Chevette? I remember it being Black at the Ashley Forest Hillclimb in the late 80's early 90's
Jac Mac
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Re: Lost Race Cars

Post by Jac Mac »

I might not have the right car or could there be two Chavengers?,

Barry Robinson had the Black Rally Chevettes [ pretty sure there were two of those, one with a flat raised floorpan- both of these were Bedford/Victor slant four powered, initially with SOHC IIRC then later with DOHC head similar to JH & Lotus variants.

V8 OSCA Chevette was built by a good friend Derek Macrae- SBC/muncie/8'' Ford Diff, last I heard of that was its being restored back to OSCA spec somewhere in Marlborough Sounds
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