Steve Holmes wrote:Here is Ian Taylor with his Camaro. Note it appears to be right hand drive. I think this was built from a written off road car that Rod Coppins had previously competed with in a production car endurance race at Bay Park. Steve Elliott may be able to confirm this?
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That's right Steve, the then Auckland based McConnachie Bros built the car using the damaged bodyshell of Rods Glenvale Camaro. The Pontiac Firebird that John Scott ran, was originally built by our next door neighbour, the late Eddie Sutherland, when I was a youngster, for American Ronny McDowell to come out and race. It was also driven by Ron Kendall, as it was owned at that time by Cowan Black Promotions.
I remember Ian Easton more for his polished alloy 32 Ford Stockcar powered by a Gurney Eagle motor. Man that thing was quick. Caught my mate at Waikaraka half way down the front straight and bent the left rear bumper corner around enough to pop the wheel guard and probably what saved him from a more serious injury, broke the seat away from the floor causing him to fall backwards with the impact before sending him straight through the concrete wall on Cemetery Bend. Gary was lucky to get out of it with bruised ribs, sprained ankle and severely bruised spine in the lower back area. Never forget that night or the hours required to rebuild the heap of crap that car was. lol Good memories though.
The very first photo I ever took with my xmas present at the time at Waikaraka Park. Was about 10 yrs old and the camera was an old Plastic Diana. No idea who the drivers are now.
TonyG wrote:The very first photo I ever took with my xmas present at the time at Waikaraka Park. Was about 10 yrs old and the camera was an old Plastic Diana. No idea who the drivers are now.
TonyG wrote:The very first photo I ever took with my xmas present at the time at Waikaraka Park. Was about 10 yrs old and the camera was an old Plastic Diana. No idea who the drivers are now.
fullnoise68 wrote:That's right Steve, the then Auckland based McConnachie Bros built the car using the damaged bodyshell of Rods Glenvale Camaro. The Pontiac Firebird that John Scott ran, was originally built by our next door neighbour, the late Eddie Sutherland, when I was a youngster, for American Ronny McDowell to come out and race. It was also driven by Ron Kendall, as it was owned at that time by Cowan Black Promotions.
Thanks Steve, great info. Just out of interest, do you know where the Firebird was sourced from that McDowell raced? Firebirds would have been few and far between back then in NZ, and much too expensive to turn into a speedway car. Was it another write-off road car?
This is Steve Millen, driving the same HQ Monaro posted earlier, driven by Jim Richards. This would have been after JR moved to Australia in 1975. Note its been updated with HJ nose. Great looking car!
Steve Holmes wrote:This is Steve Millen, driving the same HQ Monaro posted earlier, driven by Jim Richards. This would have been after JR moved to Australia in 1975. Note its been updated with HJ nose. Great looking car!
Yep, thats right Sean, it became the Bill Dorn car, painted up in his red/white/blue stars and stripes colour scheme that was used on all his cars. He raced it out of Palmerston North.
Steve Holmes wrote:Thanks Steve, great info. Just out of interest, do you know where the Firebird was sourced from that McDowell raced? Firebirds would have been few and far between back then in NZ, and much too expensive to turn into a speedway car. Was it another write-off road car?
I can check with Warren Black, but I`m pretty sure it was built from a semi burnt out insurance write off. Like you say they were all still relatively new - and valuable - cars at that time........
