Rod Coppins

[Steve Holmes]

Yes absolutely right Steve.

[e49tonye49]

Great thread for a great driver.

Be great to see some photos of his time in the Chargers - an E38, an E49, and perhaps even a brief stint in a VJ E48.

Found this old photo of Rod Coppins in his E38. Probably Pukekohe i think.

[Bryan]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]24245[/ATTACH]

Found this old photo of Rod Coppins in his E38. Probably Pukekohe i think.

What's with the Hardie Ferodo 500 sticker - was this an ex-Bathurst car? And, if so, which one?

[John H]

What's with the Hardie Ferodo 500 sticker - was this an ex-Bathurst car? And, if so, which one?

I have a photo somewhere showing Rod Coppins racing a Formula Vee. He came in about 6-7- and like most 'top drivers', found how difficult they are to drive. 1973 Baypark I think. To his credit he gave it his best shot unlike a lot of others who just didn't proceed.

[rt6pack]

What's with the Hardie Ferodo 500 sticker - was this an ex-Bathurst car? And, if so, which one?

No it never ran at Bathurst, It is the third of 3 E38s ordered by Todd Motors to run as "Todd Team" The first 2 E38s went to Leo Leonard and Graeme Lawrence, Rod's one was delayed at the factory and didn't arrive in NZ until December 1971 (it is actually the second to last big tank E38 built).
As far as I can tell Rod ran the E38 in 3 meetings at Puke, twice at Baypark and once in Levin plus he used it to win the Gisborne Car Club Hillclimb in April 1972. He sold the car in July 72 and received the E49 in August

[Bryan]

Gisborne Photo News April 19, 1972

[Bryan]

A list of stories from the Gisborne Photo News mentioning Rod Coppins can be found here.

[fullnoise68]

Thanks for posting the link Bryan, is it possible to buy a CD in pdf format or similar of those articles if that is an archive type library?

[Bryan]

Thanks for posting the link Bryan, is it possible to buy a CD in pdf format or similar of those articles if that is an archive type library?

Photo collection at Tairawhiti Museum/H B Williams Memorial Library, Gisborne District Council, contact and order details here

[Bryan]

Thanks for posting the link Bryan, is it possible to buy a CD in pdf format or similar of those articles if that is an archive type library?

Photo collection at Tairawhiti Museum/H B Williams Memorial Library, Gisborne District Council, contact and order details here

[fullnoise68]

Thanks for that.

[bry3500]

Gisborne Photo News

[bry3500]

Gisborne Photo News

[John McKechnie]

Bry3500-in #249 is the Camaro leading the action at Levin.
In it is the Grady Thomson in the ex Team Cambridge Monaro.
Would it be possible please for you to email this pic to me at mailto:?subject=&body=
As I own this car , I would love to have the pic, also I think this is the last race he was in with it , as he crashed during this race.

[bry3500]

Done

Bry3500-in #249 is the Camaro leading the action at Levin.
In it is the Grady Thomson in the ex Team Cambridge Monaro.
Would it be possible please for you to email this pic to me at mailto:?subject=&body=
As I own this car , I would love to have the pic, also I think this is the last race he was in with it , as he crashed during this race.

[John McKechnie]

This goes with the above pic-
Funny the things you see looking at the hillclimb events then- just read Gisborne Car Club, August 1969 Rod Coppins won it in his 1938 Chev Coupe.
His new record of 40.95 secs, old record was 42.3
Had a Corvette. in it, now I wonder where that came from?

[fullnoise68]

I`m wondering too John, in particular the year 1969, as Rods original Chev Coupe was sold less the ex Tec Mec Chev V8 motor/box to my father in law about 65/66 when Rod built the Zephyr using that engine, and then the coupe was later sold to Ron Silvester. Maybe Rod drove someones coupe club car for hillclimbs, etc, but with what he had going on around that time, especially with John Ward being killed in Aussie the year before, etc, but maybe someone will know....

[John McKechnie]

Steve- one possibility is that he was very friendly with Spencer Black at that time, and the motor from the Camaro may have gone into it. And this was not the Zephyr motor, what do you think?
At that time he was upgrading the Camaro completely.
Maybe we should ask Spencer on this?

[Bryan]

Anyone recognise the coupe?

[Bruce302]

Rod had a street/hot rod '38 coupe which had a 327 and 4 speed Muncie in it. The engine was not the same one as the Zephyr or the other coupe as far as i know. I can get more details, and probably a better pic from Robin Tanner next time i talk to him.

Bruce.