Help Required - Jim Richards Race Cars For 2012 NZFMR Celebrating BMW Motorsport

[Steve Holmes]

The 2012 New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing (NZFMR) Celebrating BMW Motorsport will be held on consecutive weekends at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park on 20-22 January, and 27-29 January 2012.

As well as marking the significant contribution BMW has made to both New Zealand and international motorsport, which will include cars being sent to the Festival from the BMW Museum in Germany, the NZFMR will also be celebrating the career of one of its countries most gifted and highly achieving race drivers, whose career has spanned more than 40 years and still going strong - Jim Richards.

Richards began his racing career racing a Ford Anglia, and over the years, has raced and enjoyed success in a large number of different cars, including twin-cam Escorts, the Sidchrome Tools Hilman Imp, the Sidchrome Mustang, the Sidchrome HQ Monaro speedway car, a GT-HO Falcon Phase III and XA GT Falcon in Castrol GTX production racing, the Rod Coppins owned L34 Torana Group C car, BDA Escort rally car, Z28 Camaro production car, the Melford Ford XB Falcon hardtop Group C car, the Murray Bunn built XC Falcon hardtop Sports Sedan, the Holden Dealer Team Torana A9X, the Group C and Group A BMW 635CSi’s, and Group A M3, the Group A Nissan Skylines, Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon V8 Supercars, right through to his current Touring Car Masters ’65 Falcon Sprint, plus numerous others.

The organizers are hoping to attract a good selection of JR’s old race cars together for the 2012 NZFMR Celebrating BMW Motorsport as possible, and are putting the word out to members and visitors of The Roaring Season to make contact with owners of these machines, to see if you can help gather a good assembly to celebrate the career of one of New Zealands high achievers in motorsport.

More details on the 2012 New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing can be found on the official website: http://www.nzfmr.co.nz/

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Mike Feisst Photo

[kiwi285]

Jim has certainly made an impact on motorsport in both NZ and Aussie. There are plenty of cars to choose from and it would make a fitting tribute to get as many as possible of these to Hampton Downs next January.

[Steve Holmes]

This photo was supplied for us by NZFMR Festival Chairman Jim Barclay, which Jim shot at the 2010 NZFMR Bruce McLaren Festival, showing one of the more charismatic cars Jim Richards raced, the Sidchrome Imp.

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[Steve Holmes]

This photo has been supplied to us courtesy of the Bruce McLaren Trust, who own the huge Jack Inwood photographic collection, and are working their way through scanning and dating each item which Jack had never done himself. So its a mammoth job. Jack Inwood photos are available from the Bruce McLaren Trust, for those who are interested.

Their website can be found here: http://www.bruce-mclaren.com/

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[pallmall]

I think was an Auckland Car Club cup for the most improved driver, or best junior driver.

[David McKinney]

The Westover Endeavour Trophy
IIRC it was presented by the Auckland branch of the NZRDC, but I can't remember exactly what for
Mary Carney won it on another occasion

[pallmall]

Yes, thanks David, how do you remember all this stuff?

[GD66]

Bloody scary, isn't it ? We're lucky to have The Fountain on board...

[David McKinney]

Yes, thanks David, how do you remember all this stuff?

I can't answer that...

[Rod Grimwood]

Reckon if you thought about it a little bit you could David, As said before great to have your knowledge shared.

I can't answer that...

[105angria]

Got to Love an Anglebox what size carbra for this one

[TonyG]

I remember watching Jim drive the ex John Goss HO at Pukekohe in the wet when Norris Miles had it. He would have put the drift boys to shame through the esses and over the hill. Talk about precision driving.
Pity that car is no more.

[Lee Tracey]

Do you know if they have contacted David Towe who owns and runs the JPS M3s in Oz? If not I can probably try to get a message to him.

Cheers
Lee

[Steve Holmes]

Lee, can you email David a link to this thread?

[Lee Tracey]

Done.

Cheers
Lee