Carlo wrote:December 3rd 1967 was also the opening meeting for the Timaru Motor Raceway as it too had been postponed from the previous week because of a downpour which had flooded the infield area of the circuit. Red was the star attraction with the Mustang staying over for the week and keeping many entertained. The racing between he and Gary Sprague in the Anglia set the tone for meetings to follow.
I was at that meeting as an enthusiastic spectator. At a later date I was told, or read, that Red was enticed to that meeting by substantial appearance money. However the cheque was never cashed. When Red was approached about what had happened to the cheque he replied that he had such a good time at Levels that he had framed the cheque and it was hanging on his wall. Whether that is true or just urban legend I have no idea, but I took it as gospel at the time.
Terry S wrote: The car in question here is the ex Matich BT 7A (IC-1-63), that Thomasen bought for his son Barry
From Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand book page 40... car was purchased by Barry Thomasen but he crashed the car at Bay Park in October 1969........ the car was destroyed. Bits of the car were used as parts for other cars, some finding their way to Australia. Roger Munns got the back end for his BT22. Roger Munns gets an acknowledgement for the GV book so some weight should be placed with the comments.
Kwaussie wrote:From Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand book page 40... car was purchased by Barry Thomasen but he crashed the car at Bay Park in October 1969........ the car was destroyed. Bits of the car were used as parts for other cars, some finding their way to Australia. Roger Munns got the back end for his BT22. Roger Munns gets an acknowledgement for the GV book so some weight should be placed with the comments.
To be fair, I think you have to remember that Vercoe's books were written around 1990, 20 years after the events, and there is some evidence that he was sometimes 'winging it' when he didn't have the full story. I hadn't seen Khyndart's photo before, and I have to agree that the car doesn't look a complete write-off.
The 2.5 Climax-engined cars were getting a bit long in the tooth by 1969/70, slower than the FVA 1.6's and some 1.5 twin-cams on most tracks, and Bill Thomasen would have had no great incentive to repair the car at that time. Maybe it was just dismantled, at some later stage.
Just to get back to the subject.
I always admired Red Dawson as someone I met on odd occasions during those great days of NZ motor racing.
The times at Wigram spent at The Esplanade in New Brighton and the various hotels in the southern cities were very enjoyable.
One day in particular was after Wigram and he was convinced that I should buy his Brabham and I was sure that I was not interested.
He went outside and walked around my car and made an offer as a trade on the BT7/4 and said he would give me the balance interest free for what ever time I wanted. Rod Coppins was there and also Johnny Riley - I can remember them rolling their eyes so I said we will talk about it next week in Invercargill.
Upshot was I sold my car the next day for what Red had mentioned as a trade.
I was very happy and spent a few bucks buying drinks for the Dawson, Coppins & Riley families the next weekend.
A great and tough race driver but a very good family man.
the man drove a Brabham, what a sad day today, Jack, Sir Jack gone at 88, a very good innings, great driver and car maker too !!. Our heroes are diminishing, as are we ..
Spot on Steve. I was the guy who was asked to move the engine back. I hated doing it to this original car. Ross Cameron owned it at the time and we cut the firewall and essentially moved it back and inserted a 12 inch spacer to join everything back up. Sorted out brake and clutch as cheaply as we could in the tiny space left Built up front and rear engine mounts and it is all go. Arguably 1 sec faster at Levels.
