The Kevin Thomson Collection part 2 something old and something, well, newer

[southspeed]

More from 1993 series

[southspeed]

1993 series

[Ost]

Thanks for sharing these photos, lots of cars I haven't seen or thought about in a long time.

[Steve Holmes]

Fantastic photos! Thanks for posting. I believe the Grindley Olds Cutlass was sold back to the US?

[225sloper]

Fantastic photos! Thanks for posting. I believe the Grindley Olds Cutlass was sold back to the US?

I thought the Grindley Olds Cutlass was turned into the Chevy Lumina that Craig Gilbert drove?

[Steve Holmes]

Yep, it did go to Gilbert, and was later sold to Steve Ross. He ended up selling it back to the US. There is a vintage racing group called the Historic Trans-Am & IMSA Group which was set up to preserve 1980s and '90s tube-frame IMSA and Trans-Am cars. Their website is here: http://www.historictransamimsa.com/

The Don Grindley Olds Cutlass actually started life as a Mercury Capri, built and run by the Jack Roush team for the 1985 Trans-Am championship, driven by Wally Dallenbach Jr. Paul Gentilozzi bought it and converted it to an Olds Toronado in 1986, then a Cutlass, after which it was sold to Grindley and ended up in NZ.

I believe its now being restored back to a Roush Mercury Capri. More info here: http://www.historictransamimsa.com/Members/010mustang.html

[southspeed]

Here is the Cutlass at Teretonga - Steve Ross - October 2006 meeting - think it was a 1hr enduro.

[225sloper]

Thanks for that,what a shame to loose such a kool car to the USA

[southspeed]

Now some from Teretonga Park - 16th/17th January 1994 - Peter Jackson International Motor Racing Series

[southspeed]

Teretonga Park - 16th/17th January 1994 - Peter Jackson International Motor Racing Series

[southspeed]

Teretonga Park - 16th/17th January 1994 - Peter Jackson International Motor Racing Series

[southspeed]

Teretonga Park - 16th/17th January 1994 - Peter Jackson International Motor Racing Series

[Steve Holmes]

Bloody awesome photos! Thanks for posting them. What ever happened to that Kayne Scott turbocharged Ford Merker thingy?

[Jac Mac]

[color="#0000FF"]No Turbo necessary with 6000cc!.... I cant remember whether it was same car re-engined or different car... Senior moments are becoming far to frequent....[/color]

[superford]

Bloody awesome photos! Thanks for posting them. What ever happened to that Kayne Scott turbocharged Ford Merker thingy?

Mark Petch had kept it right through to about 3 or 4 years ago when a wealthy collector from the USA hunted him down and bought it for more than what Mark had paid for it back in 1990!!! - The Murker was one of the two "Mac Tools" SCCA Trans Am cars that Jack Roush had run for a few seasons in the late 80s and may have even won the Championship in the hands of Scott Pruett if I remember correctly. Thoroughly awesome car.

Does anyone have any more pics of this car?

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for that info guys. I'd thought for some reason the Merker and the first Petch Mustang were all the same car, with different engines and bodies. Thanks for clarifying this, I've also just found the full history on the Merker.

So was the Mustang built in NZ or was this another ex-IMSA/Trans-Am car?

Re the Merker, you're right, it did have quite a significant history prior to arriving in NZ, and is believed to have been the only Merker to have raced continuously with a 4 cylinder turbo motor, and not be fitted with a V8. Its full history is here: http://www.historictransamimsa.com/Members/schuler_halsmer.html

[southspeed]

Street Skills Motor Race Series - Teretonga Park - 1995
Meeting handouts and admission tickets

[southspeed]

Street Skills Motor Race Series - Teretonga Park - 1995

[southspeed]

Street Skills Motor Race Series - Teretonga Park - 1995

[225sloper]

Awesome photos,keep them coming