Formula Atlantic/Pacific

[Carlo]

Ron Tauranac sure got that one right!

Beautiful

Sure did, still one of the best looking race cars ever produced.

[Michael Clark]

He did a few - right through the 60s from the Formula Junior BTs, and then the run of F1/2/3s.

The RT1 started out damn plain but got more handsome as it got older and wider - normally that doesn't follow - but it was hard to believe anything could nicer than an RT4. I well remember when Oxo's first arrived. Some liveries really worked - David's PYE/dark blue and most certainly the GITANES are two of the best.

[Barry]

Hi Homer, the car in Marlboro colours was Stan Redmond's and was driven by Andy Higgins, I think it was only the paint that looked like Marlboro and not a team car, the Lone Star DB4 at the Wigram meeting this year was driven by Garry Lovie and I don't think it has a NZ history being recently imported from USA.
Barry L.

[BMCBOY]

Here's a few shots from 1978 Pukekohe GP meeting from the track and in the pits

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[BMCBOY]

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[Lurker]

Fantastic pictures, Ross, brings back some wonderful memories - you are a true artist with the camera

[BMCBOY]

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[BMCBOY]

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[ffdave]

Some Formula Pacific cars from the NZFMR last weekend.

Photos - Paul Higgins

[Bryan]

Hey those are fantastic pics Tony! Thanks for moving them across to here. Did de Cesaris race after doing this?

He did, then took all the wheels off in a start line shunt at Wigram. Hve a photo somewhere of him climbing out of the wheel-less tub - must find and scan it.

[Bryan]

Without checking too deeply, Smith was a 'dna' at Wigram
Baker's accident was on the right-hand sweeper after the Hairpin - piled into one of those huge marker-tyres borrowed from earth-moving machinery and wrote off his Birrana. From memory, in practice

Remember seeing the aftermath. Was in practice, on the left hander between the start/finish straight and the run down to the hangars. Broke his right leg, iirc.

[Bryan]

He had a gentle rollover again down south but this was different situation with a racing tangle with another top NZ competitor Dave McMillan.

In the Esses at Levels. Have photos of the acrobatics - will add to the list of photos to find and scan. :-)

[March76]

Many thanks for the encouraging comments re photos guys - it has been fascinating going over all the old negatives I took 35 years ago.
An awful lot of these photos I have never printed before, so it has been good to get them out there for others to enjoy also.
Although it takes quite a bit of work in Photoshop after scanning to get results that are acceptable to me, I think it has been worth it.

Here's a teaser for the next batch - sorry its not the Chevron B49 Barry, but an interesting car also.

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Nice photo!

Does anyone have more pictures of Graeme Lawrence March 76b?
I am trying to find on the web but it's not easy.

[Steve Holmes]

Here is one from the Mike Feisst Collection: http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?241-The-Mike-Feisst-Collection-Part-6

[jamie]

Hi Gang Good to See those good pitcs Dean Hall in one of the first Swift cars in NZ 1989 ? Jamie A

[Jeff]

Hi guys , a cool small story from when we used to attend Bay Park in the mid- late 70's.
On the evening of practice day quite late at night we were driving along Cameron Road in Tauranga , heading towards Greerton and dad saw the lights on in a commercial garage with guys working feverishly on a Formula Pacific.
Dad being dad decided to bowl on in and see what was going on - dragging us kids with him.
Turns out it was Australian driver Wolfgang Prejawa in ( I think ? ) a Birrana.
The crew were putting in an all-nighter to replace something to do with the engine or gearbox.
We must have spent an hour there watching the crew and although they were busy , there were also very happy to talk about the car and what they were doing.
I can't remember him having a great race the next day unfortunately.
Thanks to Wolfgang and his crew for a cool childhood memory.
Yet another thing that probably would not happen today !

[GD66]

Qualified 18th and retired with a misfire, Jan 3 1977 according to oldracingcars.com

[Steve Holmes]

Hi guys , a cool small story from when we used to attend Bay Park in the mid- late 70's.
On the evening of practice day quite late at night we were driving along Cameron Road in Tauranga , heading towards Greerton and dad saw the lights on in a commercial garage with guys working feverishly on a Formula Pacific.
Dad being dad decided to bowl on in and see what was going on - dragging us kids with him.
Turns out it was Australian driver Wolfgang Prejawa in ( I think ? ) a Birrana.
The crew were putting in an all-nighter to replace something to do with the engine or gearbox.
We must have spent an hour there watching the crew and although they were busy , there were also very happy to talk about the car and what they were doing.
I can't remember him having a great race the next day unfortunately.
Thanks to Wolfgang and his crew for a cool childhood memory.
Yet another thing that probably would not happen today !

Thats a neat story Jeff. Another thing in your story that wouldn't happen today, is the driver wouldn't have been part of the all-nighter. He'd be tucked up in bed asleep.

[Lindsay G]

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