The Garry Simkin Collection - Part 3

[Steve Holmes]

OK, next batch. Up first is the Coppins Camaro again. Next photo is on the grid at Levin. Reg Cook appears to be having issues with his Mini, and has pulled it off to the side of the track. Then we have a shot of Dennis Marwood in the ex-Chamberlain Trans-Am camaro. Finally, Jim Richards gets the Willment Escort crossed up at Levin, as Collins and Coppins blast out of shot, and Pennington arrives on the scene.

[Steve Holmes]

Stormin' Norm Beechey in the mighty HT Monaro, making its one and only NZ appearance at Pukekohe for the 1971 New Zealand Grand Prix event.

[Steve Holmes]

Can anyone help here to ID the driver of the green Mini alongside Jack Nazers Escort? Second shot here, shows Alan Boyles beautiful Coke Viva, heading, I believe, Tim Slako in the Mini. Slako went on to become a regular in Group C and Group A racing during the '70s and '80s. He raced a V8 Rover Vitesse in Group A, that was painted pink and green! It was hard to miss. You can see his fascination with brightly coloured race cars went way back. Third shot shows Stan Baird leading Reg Cook. The final photo of John Riley and Rod Coppins pounding around Levin is just fabulous!

[Steve Holmes]

OK, these are the last of the race photos, the rest will be rally and sprint photos. Kicking things off is Jim Palmer in the Brian Foley Porsche 911, which raced just one season in NZ, and was controversial throughout, as technically it fitted the 4.2 litre championship class rules, but many didn't consider it a saloon. Next up is Nazer being chased by Boyle, then Reg Cooks Mini showing the after effects of some on track biff. Then we have some production car action at Levin. Note the location of the flaggie! Last up is Clyde Collins rotating the PDL Falcon.

[Steve Holmes]

Rallying. These are from the Heatway Rally. I know we have several rally anoraks on here, so will get you guys to jump in and help with names and dates etc.

[Steve Holmes]

[Steve Holmes]

Hey Oldfart, is that your Skoda?

[Steve Holmes]

[Oldfart]

Steve, no one of the sister cars.

[rogered]

I think the marina GC1 is the car Jim Richards drove, and if im right, is alive and well

[david5]

I believe the John Riley Mustang is the ex Geoghegan Total car.

[Steve Holmes]

Hi David, the Geoghegan car did end up in NZ but it was Rod Coppins who bought it off Geoghegan, raced it for a season, then sold it to Riley. However, the Riley Mustang you see in the photos here is the ex-Paul Fahey car, which was a 1966 Shelby built Mustang. In a 1970 interview with NZ Hot Rod magazine, when comparing the two cars, Riley felt the ex-Fahey car was the better of the two. Both of these cars are now in the Bowden collection.

[Steve Holmes]

I think the marina GC1 is the car Jim Richards drove, and if im right, is alive and well

Thanks Roger. Wow amazing to know that car is still alive. Not too many Morris Marina's left! Not even the coupes.

[kiwi285]

In post #24 photo 3 - who raced the L & P Mini shown behind Reg Cooks car ??

[Steve Holmes]

Mike, that would be Mark Reddish. Part of a two-car L&P team with Moss Tait in the Imp.

[rogered]

Thanks Roger. Wow amazing to know that car is still alive. Not too many Morris Marina's left! Not even the coupes.

I was nearly right.

richards car was GC2 and was running in classic trial, the second weekend of the BMW festival. pics on groundsky

[GD66]

Mike, that would be Mark Reddish. Part of a two-car L&P team with Moss Tait in the Imp.

And indeed the Stan Baird #54 Escort seen further up the page...

[Steve Holmes]

Yep, good point.

[seaqnmac27]

So if its not Richards I had a vague memory from a book dad has that Mary Carney drove a Marina in one of the Heatways, either 72 or 73

[david5]

Hi David, the Geoghegan car did end up in NZ but it was Rod Coppins who bought it off Geoghegan, raced it for a season, then sold it to Riley. However, the Riley Mustang you see in the photos here is the ex-Paul Fahey car, which was a 1966 Shelby built Mustang. In a 1970 interview with NZ Hot Rod magazine, when comparing the two cars, Riley felt the ex-Fahey car was the better of the two. Both of these cars are now in the Bowden collection.

Yes of course your right as the gearboxes were swapped over at one stage & that's how Bowdens were able to restore the Total car to original spec as they purchased both cars.