Ian "Red" Dawson

Shooting the bull on historic motor racing and motorsport history.
John McKechnie
World Champion
Posts: 2672
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:24 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by John McKechnie »

I dont have earlier Motorman mags than his last season in singles seaters..I have not seen any other information on his earlier days on these threads until your 60 post.Thanks to you Stu ,we have more info on this period.
Bruce302
Semi-Pro Racer
Posts: 624
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:12 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Bruce302 »

Here is a very rare mint condition Red Dawson racing decal. This is from the Steve Elliott collection.
Image
Bruce302
Semi-Pro Racer
Posts: 624
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:12 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Bruce302 »

and here is a pic of the iconic Camaro that features on the decal.

Image
Bruce302
Semi-Pro Racer
Posts: 624
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:12 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Bruce302 »

Prior to the Marlboro livery, Red's Camaro was painted in the gold Kensington Carpets colours. Always a good looking car.
This is also from the Steve Elliott collection as with the above pic. Photographers unknown.
Image
Kiwiboss
World Champion
Posts: 1168
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:09 am
Location: Tauranga, NZ
Contact:

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Kiwiboss »

Great two pictures Bruce, which begs the next question!! were is this car these days? did it survive? or has it bitten the OSCAR/All Comers dust like many did back in the mid to late 70's once there group II Saloon car duties where over!!

Im sure someone on here will know

Dale M
Rod Grimwood
World Champion
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 2:09 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Rod Grimwood »

Think it still down south Dale
Rod Grimwood
World Champion
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 2:09 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Rod Grimwood »

Results 65 Red in car 66
Attachments
51b.jpg
85.jpg
Rod Grimwood
World Champion
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 2:09 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Rod Grimwood »

66
Attachments
p2.jpg
fullnoise68
Semi-Pro Racer
Posts: 482
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:08 pm

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by fullnoise68 »

Kiwiboss wrote:Great two pictures Bruce, which begs the next question!! were is this car these days? did it survive? or has it bitten the OSCAR/All Comers dust like many did back in the mid to late 70's once there group II Saloon car duties where over!!

Im sure someone on here will know

Dale M


Kelvin Towns in Dunedin still has the car I believe. The ironic thing about this Camaro, is that Red actually went to the US with the intention of buying one of Penskes Javelin Trans Am cars, and when that didn`t happen, he sat down and wrote out a `shopping list'. One Camaro, two Bartz 302 race engines, wheels, tyres, etc and NZ here we come. Also on this trip he thought he may as well get a good tow car, so he bought a Chev Impala Super Sport, from yes, a little old lady from Pasadena!! No shit! As I said in an earlier post, if Red wanted something, he just paid the money.
Jac Mac
Semi-Pro Racer
Posts: 644
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:00 pm
Location: Southland

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Jac Mac »

[color="#0000FF"] In its first season in "gold Kensington' colour that car had some trick Firestone? cantilever tyres[ might have been rear only].. rim width was only 8 or 10 inch wide for regs, but tyres had huge sidewall bulge out to a treadwidth about 4"/5" wider, these rules did not apply in NZ so the next season saw some wider rear rims fitted along with a change of tyre.[/color]
Kiwiboss
World Champion
Posts: 1168
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:09 am
Location: Tauranga, NZ
Contact:

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Kiwiboss »

Jac Mac wrote:[color="#0000FF"] In its first season in "gold Kensington' colour that car had some trick Firestone? cantilever tyres[ might have been rear only].. rim width was only 8 or 10 inch wide for regs, but tyres had huge sidewall bulge out to a treadwidth about 4"/5" wider, these rules did not apply in NZ so the next season saw some wider rear rims fitted along with a change of tyre.[/color]


That's how the American Trans Am cars raced Jac Mac, SCCA had 8" max rim width rule so Goodyear and Firestone made a special "cantilever" tyres to gain that extra tread on the ground, i guess this design made the cars move around a bit when cornering and gave a spectacular on-track look when racing, was no doubt for its time "state of the art" in tyre technology i presume and a real tyre war started between the two companies. So to have a set of these down here in NZ would have been quite something!!(until they wore out that is)

PS: I believe thats how Goodyear started there advertising campaign of the "Lifesave TA Radial" and then in later years just known as the "BF Goodrich TA radial" i had several sets on my road going mustangs over the years not even knowing that TA part stood for Trans Am, must have been good for business for them to last that long.

Dale M
Rod Grimwood
World Champion
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 2:09 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Rod Grimwood »

Liked the car in this colour, it looked big and mean (it was)

Note the then mark from USA of advertising decals all over front guard and front of door.

She sure transfered weight, compare back tyre on ground in 2nd and 3rd photo.
Attachments
751511b5e5c882591360748124.jpg
149511b5e4878d041360748104.jpg
072511b5de79993f1360748007.jpg
Kwaussie
Semi-Pro Racer
Posts: 358
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:23 am
Location: Melbourne

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Kwaussie »

Kwaussie wrote:Must be Kerry Grant in The Southwood Cortina following Red!


Was this car the first fake Lotus Cortina in the world!
User avatar
Steve Holmes
World Champion
Posts: 12255
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:25 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Steve Holmes »

fullnoise68 wrote:Kelvin Towns in Dunedin still has the car I believe. The ironic thing about this Camaro, is that Red actually went to the US with the intention of buying one of Penskes Javelin Trans Am cars, and when that didn`t happen, he sat down and wrote out a `shopping list'. One Camaro, two Bartz 302 race engines, wheels, tyres, etc and NZ here we come. Also on this trip he thought he may as well get a good tow car, so he bought a Chev Impala Super Sport, from yes, a little old lady from Pasadena!! No shit! As I said in an earlier post, if Red wanted something, he just paid the money.


Yeah thats right Steve, Kelvin has owned it for years and years. Amazingly this car didn't really get cut up, despite having raced in OSCA through to the early 1980s. It did have an engine set back, doing the old trick of cutting the firewall and bringing the motor back into the cockpit slightly, but this was really it. The car still has its original flares that were built for it when Red first converted it for racing, and everything else is basically as it was when Red first built it. It still even has its original headlining! Its a pretty original car.
Bruce302
Semi-Pro Racer
Posts: 624
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:12 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Bruce302 »

That's Right Dale, BF Goodrich contracted T/G Racing after Jerry Titus died, they were paid around $ 0.50 per lap for tire testing. One of the remaining T/G Firebirds was branded as the Tirebird, and it raced on T/A Radials and I believe after some development work, they won the first series race on a street tire. Later engine (Pontiac 303) reliability issues saw the Firebird changed into a Camaro, but still branded Tirebird. It had more chance of winning, and did, with the Chev power.

Later Ron Grable was involved in the John Greenwood/BF Goodrich Corvettes. They even took on Le Mans but a late night run by a team member left the car unable to start the race. I understand the incident came from someone trying to impress a young lady.

PS: I believe thats how Goodyear started there advertising campaign of the "Lifesave TA Radial" and then in later years just known as the "BF Goodrich TA radial" i had several sets on my road going mustangs over the years not even knowing that TA part stood for Trans Am, must have been good for business for them to last that long.

I will put some pics up later.
Bruce.

Dale M[/QUOTE]
fullnoise68
Semi-Pro Racer
Posts: 482
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:08 pm

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by fullnoise68 »

Bruce, without getting away from Reds thread, the original Titus Camaro/Firebird, prior to the factory Firebirds, which ended up in Mexico, was tracked down and bought by Jerrys` son Rick, who had Bill Elliott Racing restore it, is now for sale in California for $350,000 USD. I`m still keen at 60K if you want to cash up Rods Firebird!!!!
fullnoise68
Semi-Pro Racer
Posts: 482
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:08 pm

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by fullnoise68 »

Steve Holmes wrote:Yeah thats right Steve, Kelvin has owned it for years and years. Amazingly this car didn't really get cut up, despite having raced in OSCA through to the early 1980s. It did have an engine set back, doing the old trick of cutting the firewall and bringing the motor back into the cockpit slightly, but this was really it. The car still has its original flares that were built for it when Red first converted it for racing, and everything else is basically as it was when Red first built it. It still even has its original headlining! Its a pretty original car.


Steve, has anyone got any recent photos of Reds` Camaro in its current state?
User avatar
Steve Holmes
World Champion
Posts: 12255
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:25 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Steve Holmes »

I'm sure some people have seen it Steve, but I've not personally seen any photos. I spoke to Kelvin about it several years ago, and he explained its condition, and I was amazed by how original it was. He told me at the time he was slowly restoring it, as time and money allowed.
User avatar
Spgeti
Semi-Pro Racer
Posts: 818
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:21 am
Location: Feilding NZ

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by Spgeti »

I last saw the Camaro at the 82 Granprix meeting at Puke. engine bay was cut back quite a bit and the car was still fairly original but tired. During my membership in the Camaro Club, Red wrote to us offering to sell his spares off the Camaro as he was retiring.
I shot round there and purchased the Camaro bits I wanted for $100.00, mainly interior trim so that I could finish the resto on the Tulloch Camaro. The dash and consol in my car was ex Reds camaro. For years I had the original grill surround and front roll bars off Red's car and now regret leaving them behind in Whangarei. He would not sell me the yankie number plates off the car. He was a very nice guy.
John McKechnie
World Champion
Posts: 2672
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:24 am

Re: Ian "Red" Dawson

Post by John McKechnie »

I have always loved this word " tired" to describe an item -whether it be a house or car.
Post Reply