Old Speedway Photos

[BMCBOY]

[Herman2]

So did Fillingham have 2 Tigers then? The one sold to Williams and a second one? I ask as I recall them racing together, Williams being the other Tiger in Palmy that I always forget.

No, Kevin built the 80's Mustang when he sold the Tiger. You might be thinking of the Mike Wemys 27B tiger which often raced at Palmerston North. This car mentioned earlier.

[Herman2]

The number 77 'Rover' of Blondie think this car came up north (Kaikohe and raced in Auckland) to Ray Jordan, got photo somewhere, sure he got his 'Rover' off Chamberlain.

Andre Blinkhorne also had an ex Blondie Rover that he raced out of Palmerston North. Not sure if it was this one or not. One of Blondie's Rovers had a wing built into the roof, ie the top panel of the roof was the top surface of an aircraft wing with the inside paneled to make the wing shape. The car was jacked up at the rear to make the 'wing' the right angle to provide downforce. Not sure if these cars were going fast enough to have the desired effect.

[Rod Grimwood]

22 Cortina is Ron Willoughby with his trade mark hair and was a very quick car, running a very hot Falcon 6. Ron built alot of engines for people over the years.
Notice last photo with Ron kneeling beside car the silicone on sidewall of tyres, this was to assist with brush's from other wheels etc, a few tried it after Tony Valente had been out and did this to his Monza.

[225sloper]

The Ex Blondie Chamberlain Rover,Nissan powered here sitting at Huntly Speedway gets used for wheel packing before a meeting.photo taken April 2011.

[Oldfart]

I spoke with Ray Jordan today. The Huntly car is not an ex Blondie car according to him. The easiest way to differentiate is the chassis tubes. Blondies/Rays car was rectangular and square with only round tube in the cage. Ray sold it with the Repco motor still in it.

[Oldfart]

Pellow Bros Escort was turboed, lots of HP. They told a great story of it getting loose on the dyno!
Query re effective aero. I built a full aero calculated wing for Dave Brays DX Corolla bodied Modified, and calculations for that, later checked in a wind tunnel gave approx. 480lbs downforce at 70mph which was checked as achievable with a borrowed transport dept radar gun at Waikaraka. What we did not understand at the time was that the sails on the sides were more important!

[Jeff]

This pic was taken at the "Bug In" at Meremere dragstrip in the early 80's
Who's is the Vee Dub ? Is it the Jago car ?

[Rod Grimwood]

Found couple more old photos from Waikaraka, Rod Millen with flag which was common, and other with Jim Richards and Monaro in pursuit not long after it was put on track, think this might have been the '30 lap GP' which was raced on Saturday night as a feature after practice for GP at Puke, and this went on for many laps with Millen winning, he just held pole line with front left wheel and made it as wide as possible. The old Capri went alright.

[Rod Grimwood]

The remains of the RX3 being put onto trailer after a hefty shunt into wall with assistance from a Torana (not uncommon) in Auckland championship race final. Ron Kendall at front and yours truly guiding it onto trailer. a lot of work and she was back the next week to take it to them at Te Marua for NZ Championship meeting. Car actually stayed in Wellington.

[Rod Grimwood]

No Rod, we were usualy targeted by you, cheers Kev,

Now, Now, look what I found. Same old number being 'turned' by an assortment of 'Big bullies' and even a little mate (RX2) having a serve.
All good fun, and it was good stuff back then and close racing, as this was not the norm.
The little Mazdas when wound up went good.

[Rod Grimwood]

Just in wrong place at wrong time, don't remember what happened here your honour

[Kevin Hirst]

Just in wrong place at wrong time, don't remember what happened here your honour

My word that car seems to be facing the wrong way a lot Rod, it didn,t seem to do that with the previous owner, perhaps he drove it a bit faster, cheers.

[Rod Grimwood]

He was quick, he had to be to keep away from the bullies.

wish was as quick as yours cobber, that was a neat car your RX2

[Steve Holmes]

The McConnachie brother Mustang fastback

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks to Steve Elliott who went to the effort to scan a bunch of old speedway programmes so the images could be posted on here. There are loads of them, which I'm really looking forward to sharing on here.

First up is this great shot of Gene Welch, in the wild little Sprintcar based Camaro. This side shot really shows how short the car was compared to a standard Camaro. Note also the centre lock spin-off wheels.

[Steve Holmes]

Another nice looking HQ Monaro, this one John Hayman's racing out of (I assume) Waikaraka Park.

[Steve Holmes]

Another from Steve E. This is the Allen Ford Monaro. This car has to be one of the nicest cars ever to race on a dirt track speedway. Check out the attention to detail, and the high quality finish. From the chrome wheels, to the nicely flared wheel arches etc. Just a stunning car. How much would those genuine fluted GTS front mudguards be worth now! Note it appears to have a full mesh windscreen.

Someone on our Roaring Season Facebook page commented that Allen Ford also built the HQ Monaro raced at Waikaraka Park by Jim Richards.

[225sloper]

And here is a great shot of it in colour

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, outstanding pics! And the bonus is Jim Richards in the ex-Neville Crichton Castrol GTX HQ Monaro. Thanks for posting.