David Craw, singer Gazelle,, any other photos out there?

[Rascal]

Looking for old photos, Singer Gazelle, grey with maroon stripe, as raced by
Christchurch Chrysler - Rootes group Guru, David Craw. Only photo I have seen was on the grid, alongside & to the left of The grey, Ray Archibald Jag at the Ardmore - Ohakea - Pukekohe ?? reunion about 1982-84.
partially obscured in the photo, car was also Raced in country Gents - classic MR club, at Probably Wigram, also probably Dunedin Circuit and also In Very Early South island Pre-65.any pics & old programme info would be appreciated.show your images please. also Send a personal message if you wish, Thanks.

[SPman]

Series V ?

[Rascal]

Yes, that's the car in the photo above, grey with maroon stripe, built to go fast By David Craw.

[kiwi285]

The photo is taken at Pukekohe looking back up the start/finish straight.

[Rascal]

Many thanks,
Does anyone out there have further Photos showing this car racing or in the paddock-pit area at any events 1980-90. please show if you have, cheers.

[Powder]

I've had a look through my race programmes and come up with a few hits (the filename of each image is the programme date & race venue):

This photo was in the 1990 SFOS programme - but would have been taken earlier.

I have some entry lists for SI Pre-65 racing from 1983 onwards but the Gazzelle doesn't appear after 1982.

At the 1990 Southern Festival of Speed programme there's a Gazelle entered by Jim Kennett of Rangiora. Same car?

Over the same period Dave Craw is also often entered in a Sunbeam Allegro. Small block Ford V8 in a 1970 Sunbeam Rapier. Interesting !

[Jac Mac]

[color="#0000FF"]Watched the 'Allegro' at one of the Queenstown street sprints ( prior to race meets ) IIRC, could have been Dunedin.... got the impression that it was a replica rather than production or licenced by Sunbeam /Rootes - very well done though, vaguely remember the above gazelle, but no pics...[/color]

[Rascal]

Many thanks, after some discussion with dave craw, he did keep the car until 92, so the kennet - Rangiora entered car may have been Green and also an earlier model. , but thanks for the great photo.

[seaqnmac27]

Jack, you may find this very interesting. Its not Dave Craws Rapier, but still fascinating.

http://www.sunbeamcarclubofnewzealand.org.nz/index.php/articles/76-v8-sunbeam-rapier-fastback

[Kevin Hirst]

Jack, you may find this very interesting. Its not Dave Craws Rapier, but still fascinating.

http://www.sunbeamcarclubofnewzealand.org.nz/index.php/articles/76-v8-sunbeam-rapier-fastback

Anybody know what motor he was running? 2000CC,

[Russ Noble]

Article says Ford 289. read two paragraphs just before the clutch cylinder table

[Kevin Hirst]

Article says Ford 289. read two paragraphs just before the clutch cylinder table

Sorry, I meant the Craw car, listed as 2000 CC in entrie's, don't know of any Rootes group motor that would go out to that sizs.

[Jac Mac]

Sorry, I meant the Craw car, listed as 2000 CC in entrie's, don't know of any Rootes group motor that would go out to that sizs.

[color="#0000CD"]From what I remember there were quite a few around the Christchurch area who stretched the Rootes engines out a bit, probably both bore & stroke, a couple went into U2 club cars.[/color]

[Kevin Hirst]

[color="#0000CD"]From what I remember there were quite a few around the Christchurch area who stretched the Rootes engines out a bit, probably both bore & stroke, a couple went into U2 club cars.[/color]

Thank,s Jac, they were quite a good motor in there day, easy to make reasonable horse's.

[Russ Noble]

I am pretty sure Dave got them out to at least 2100cc bored and stroked but I think most of the time he was at 1980cc bored and stroked. Didn't rev them very high if I remember, about 6500 I think.

[Oldfart]

Well the Kennet car is alive and well and still green, it will be running at Roycroft next weekend in the hands of Craig Harmon, the Heasley car will be there too with Paul Stichbury.

[Rascal]

Sorry, I meant the Craw car, listed as 2000 CC in entrie's, don't know of any Rootes group motor that would go out to that sizs.

Dave Craw tells me ,that first engine he used, at Dunedin, Wigram , and at Ardmore -Ohakea reunions was built by Eric Swinbourne and was over 2litre, was a real "stump puller" and had so much torque , he just had to keep feeding the gears into it. some over 120mph speeds were achievable at the Ardmore event with a 3.89 gear. the car has a 1725 engine now , but still cuts the mustard, even in road trim. pics to follow

[Rascal]

Sorry, I meant the Craw car, listed as 2000 CC in entrie's, don't know of any Rootes group motor that would go out to that sizs.

Dave Craw informs me that that first engine used at Dunedin, Wigram & Ohakea- Ardmore events, was over 2litre and built by Eric Swinbourne. it had so much torque all he had to do was feed the gears into it. a real "stump puller". Some calculated over 120 mph speeds were achieved on any of the longer straights. Its only 1725 now but can still cut the mustard , even in road trim, its still very firm with all of Daves chassis mods still in place.