Dunedin Street Races - revival meeting January 1984

[khyndart in CA]

This is a wild guess and I need help as usual but I think I remember Spinner Black drove a Triumph Spitfire at Matamata one year.
Could that be his Spitfire cutting through on the inside against the bales in post # 111 ?


(Ken H)

[John McKechnie]

Ken, he will be at Taupo, will make sure you two catch up again....we can ask him then. Sounds good ???

[Milan Fistonic]

This is a wild guess and I need help as usual but I think I remember Spinner Black drove a Triumph Spitfire at Matamata one year.
Could that be his Spitfire cutting through on the inside against the bales in post # 111 ?


(Ken H)

In 1964 there was only one Spitfire entered and that was driven by Kerry Grant. There was a late entry but I don't have any details of driver or car.

[Roger Dowding]

Austin Healey - Des Spillane from Timaru not Chris White from Wanganui - one of many Healeys owned and raced by Chris, in 2000'/10's he ran a Jensen Healey - believe he still does.
*** corrections see below
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Neil Ferguson Blue Healey, from Waiau ,
I have been in and drove Des's Healey 100, with Des at an AHCCNZ National Rally.
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Neil's car in the pit area
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Des Neil and others around a Morgan and Des Spillane's *** Healey;
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[Chris raced a Healey 3000 at the Telecom Motorfest in 1994 - seen on that thread, his first Healey was a Bugeye Sprite in the late 1970's]

The venue, don't you love the safety features Haybales around pole, road cones to show a side street is closed off and how close you could get to the track.

Next up is Saloons Minis Jaguars and A40 and a Pontiac amongst others

*** Correction to my comments above : " Spinaway " contacted to advise I had the names wrong for the Healey's.. The White 100 is not Chris White's but belongs to Des Spillane, who I thought had the Blue one.. The Blue 100 is Neal Ferguson's from Waiau, South Island.. will correct on the Healey Post as well

The Morgan is a well known car, as I have found out from Graham Kyle, a Morgan racer at the time ;
" The Morgan 4 / 4 was Peter Gendall, he drove Ron Roycrofts Bugatti Jaguar in a 50's Ardmore New Zealand Grand Prix. "
The car was quite modified over its life - more to follow

[Roger Dowding]

Got there again, was back in Auckland for 6 weeks,met up with ERC and Kevin H and his wife, missed seeing GeebeeNZ Gra3m3 .. have posted some photos on the MX5 thread
Here are other cars :

Americans

American Military - had a Dinky Jeep as a youngster

American style English engineering - !!

More to follow English and some Europeans

[Roger Dowding]

Mini's

and MG's

" Who let the Frogs Out " !!

977 was a popular number 977ARX and MG977.

[Roger Dowding]

Rays MGF now sold -am told only 6 more cars to go - according to " Her indoors " - then they will both be walking - better keep a couple !!

A C Ace - have seen it before here

An English JEEP General Purpose as G P became JEEP.. or in this case an early Landie !!

The UK branch of the General - Vauxhall .

[Roger Dowding]

McRae Porsche Spyder replica

an Alfa for Bruce !!

Some American Muscle !!

More from the US of A..

The MX5 that got away - somehow the name of a previous photo carried through !!

Number plate says it all

and that is all !! - 'til next time !! -November I hope, can't do Aug - Sep - Oct

[Roger Dowding]

1954 - Keith Roper in his 100 at speed on Winters Road.

and a group of cars at Dunedin in 1960 the Special is one of Ferris De Joux's creations -either Vanguard or Holden powered !! This one would seem to be Vanguard powered - see the entry list

The entry list for the Race - thanks Graham Woods

Credits are on the photo's

[Oldfart]

The number 6 Standard 10 is Cliff Knight of Northland (Far North really) he did a tour of every event available for 2 years with that car. Lovely man, rcent years he was running an E type Jag as a "Saloon" at Speedway events (or was it a stock car?) I note with interest, every saloon that completes 5 laps gets half what the winner does. That's a great gesture, and £10 back then was quite a bit of money!

[Roger Dowding]

Steve's second book in the series of Cars in New Zealand from 1950 to 1970's.
Uses pictures from brochures with contributions from various people, I managed to sneak into the book, as did quite a few other people;

Ken H -that photo!! Slideways Roger ..

Not sure if on Bookshop shelves yet as mine arrived in the post this week.

[Roger Dowding]

Remi purchased the Tony Herbert car and was seeking information on it.
The car photos appeared in an article in " Sports Car Talk " magazine issue #3 in 1989 written by Richard Gray who was detailing the restoration of a Ginetta G15 a well known NZ car with Rego HL7470 now G15, the car fully restored and remains in new Zealand.
Here is a bit of Ginetta History from Richard's article. from issue 3 the 1989 Edition.
The magazine was an annual publication by the " Sports Car Club of New Zealand inc ".
P80

P81

P82

P83

Close-up of photos from the magazine pages above;
The G4 chassis

Tony Herbert at speed - track not known, Photographer not stated ; assume from Richard Gray - archives.

The article is 9 pages and then a further 11 pages on the G15 rebuild.

Would be good to see photos from Remi of the car as it is now and any work being done to it.

[ERC]

As an aside, my ex-lodger in the UK, bought one of the Ginetta single seaters (G8?), formerly raced by Stuart Graham.

He also picked up the Lola T212 (minus engine and gearbox), now owned by Billy Apple, on behalf of a Kiwi. Towed it behind his 1116cc Mini, from Cheshire to Nottingham... Fitted a Lotus Twin Cam and at Loton Park (I think), knocked a corner off!

[Roger Dowding]

Expansion of the topics of this thread ; Dunedin, Ardmore, Ohakea, Napier and now onto other events more recent, Chelsea Hill Climb, Caffeine and Classics, and recently Greerton Vintage Fayre and Car Show ;

Have added some photos from Napier in the early 1960's by Norman Agnew .. maybe the thread need a new name as covers.. " Old Racing Circuits as so far has Dunedin Revival 1984, Ohakea 1982, and some other shots plus now Napier 1960's and have added photos by others and more modern events....

Adding more photos and details, recently Mount Manganui and Matamata in the early 1960's the items are borrowed though, as wasn't there, almost too young and didn't have a drivers licence or car.

Dunedin January 1984 This was a two day event.
Saturday, with straight sprints in the Port Area by the storage warehouses, and the local car clubs, not just the Classic Historics were allowed to run.
Sunday, the Classic Historic races.
There was also a Hill Climb at Bethunes Gully, which I was not aware of at the time, and didn't have a
" Ride " to get there.
My set of photos I will break into, types, NZ Specials and Open Wheelers, Sports Car saloon, and there is even a couple of Motorcycle shots.

Unfortunately have lost or given away the programme, probably the latter, so again any help identifying the cars would be appreciated.

Reshowing the photos from the Otago Daily Times to start with - posted on Yards and Yarns and Minis and Imps threads.
The Allard J2.
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thanks for identifying it as Rob Boult's.

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The Minis and Jaguars, plus something large in the back of the pack..

The ERA, and a single seater..

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The Lycoming Special, built by Ralph Watson - powered by, yes I remembered a Lycoming Engine - turned upside down. Trevor Sheffield's article " Ralph Watson - Special Engineer " can tell you much more.

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And the book that was on sale at the time about the original races; Racing Around the Houses, by Scott Thomson, 1983.
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Have photos from other Reunion / Revival meetings and Wings and Wheels meetings, only a few photos so will post as a continuation of this thread, First Ohakea 1982

Have been given some old Programmes by Bruce Dyer " Spgeti " which will post here progressively from Dunedin,Wigram,Ohakea and others ..

Bruce Dyer has now [ January 2017 ] sent me photos from around Manfield of various sports cars, Bucklers, Fiat Targa, Mallock U2, and others Ralph Watson BSA Special and a Kieft single seater, have posted the Bucklers on the Oldfart Buckler thread.. will post a lot of the others here :

Have added some photos from Napier in the early 1960's by Norman Agnew .. maybe the thread need a new name .. " Old Racing Circuits as so far has Dunedin Revival 1984, Ohakea 1982, and some other shots plus now Napier 1960's .. Have tried to rename it [ first entry re-titled ] so it will be more like ;
" Images from my Past " - by Nigel Watts,
or
" Just a mix of Pics " -by ' ERC ' Ray Green - will include photos from others !!
Cheers
Roger
edited 25 September 2018

[B][I]Further to September 2018 - Am going to use this thread for photos and news that doesn't fit into the Austin Healey or Northern Sports Car Club thread- will cover Specials and other events I come across that should be shared..
Roger 17th December 2018

Bringing the thread to the fore - as currently collecting information on " Specials " - starting with the previously featured " Bugley ", then The " De Soto ", " Mistrals " [ as they are not Bucklers and David Montgomery from the UK would not approve !! ]. Then others as I find things [ stuff ].

[Roger Dowding]

Lloyd Gleeson is a Classic car guy originally from Thames, still has a 1969 Morgan that he raced in 70's and 80's in NZ - Car originally purchased new in the UK, then exported.
The De Soto Special. the early 1950's one.
Question by Lloyd Gleeson; and some comments by others.

“Anyone know this car’s origins, or where it ended up? It’s the De Soto Special raced by Bill Culver in the ‘50s – shown here spinning out of the 1955 Ardmore GP and nearly being clobbered by Tony Gaze (Ferrari) who was lapping him. Bill owned the Kopu Service Station south of Thames and the Special was often to be seen parked on the forecourt (a magnet for car–mad passers-by!) When the Service Station was sold in the ‘60s, the racer was towed to Tararu (on the coast just north of Thames) to a rented lock-up, but when that property was up for sale some years later, the car was no longer there. About 20 years ago I bumped into to Jock Hill (who had been Bill’s mechanic) and asked him if he knew the fate of the old racer and all I got from him was a somewhat cryptic “Not a clue”, and unfortunately didn’t have time to press him further” .

Merv Hanna commented

“Zambucka,s first race was Wigram 1950, qual. 8th finished 4th. Ron Sutherland drove the car in 1953, did well in sprints. Geo Palmer bought the car in 1954, FTD standing quarter at Rotorua.
Bill Culver raced it in 1955 including the Ardmore spin. As of 1991 the car was reported to be in storage at Thames. “
- as an aside Ron Sutherland and brother Merv ran a Midget type car which will be the subject of another article - was raced against the Roycroft / Jack Boot " Bugley " - the Riley Bugatti mentioned on the NSCC thread.

Details from Graham Vercoe book “ Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand “ pages 107 – 108
Published in 1991.

There is a photo of the car on the third [ back ] row of the Ohakea showing race #21
Edited ; [ Italics mine ]
" Fred Zambucka ivory two-seat open [De] de Soto Special appeared at Wigram in 1950, and it proved quite a handful. I was powered by a 4099 cc de Soto six engine, and Zambucka had considerable success with it, especially after lengthening the chassis and fitting triple carburettors for 1951.
Zambucka was fourth in the Wigram race. At Ohakea a cotter-pin shook loose and dropped into the sump. Leaving a valve wide open and causing an inevitable breakdown after just six laps.
He shared FTD with George Smith at the Don Bucks Road Hillclimb [ Massey, West Auckland ] in April that year and won the North Island Champion Beach race in 1952.
Ron Sutherland drove the car in some races for Zambucka, and took FTD at the Port Waikato Road sprintin December 1953 with a standing quarter [ mile ] of 16.3 a and flying equivalent in 9.3 s.
The next owner, George Palmer,did 15.2 for the standing mark at Rotorua in 1954 taking FTD.
Bill Culver had a nightmare moment in the car at Ardmore in 1955 [ where the photo’s are from ] after spinning in front of a considerably faster Ferrari driven by Tony Gaze.
The car is believed to be still in storage in Thames. "

Engine shown as 4099 cc 6 in 1954 but 3368 cc 6 in 1955 Chassis was Z1 [ Zambucka One ] Presume there may have been and engine change, maybe because of capacity rules.

Photos of the car ; from the 1955 Ardmore Race and loaded up for the trip home

Cover of the Graham Vercoe book ;

[Roger Dowding]

The car was in an entry list posted on the Austin Healey thread.
Have several photos and a couple of entry lists - showing the car - photos from various people some TRS members as are the entry lists.

November 1964 meeting from Milan Fistonic.

On the grid with an Anglia - large rear wheels -unsure if the twin wheels

In the pits - caption says twin rear wheels

Racing with #112 as are some of the other photos yet entry lists are #148 April and #151 November

In colour - lots of Chrome and good paint must be an early meeting - on Wire Wheels - Alan Boyle photo

ACC meeting their " Winter Meeting "last of the season April 1964 - entry list from John Hatton TRS member - was in his Mark One Zephyr

Ray Bell - hope this helps a 5 litre V8 - presume a " Firedome " de Soto engine

From Wikipaedia - not always reliable

" Firedome production ended at the end of the 1959 model year.

For the 1960 model year DeSoto offered two models, the Fireflite and the Adventurer. For model year 1961, a model named only "DeSoto" was sold as a two-door hardtop and four-door hardtop. The end of the DeSoto marque came on November 30, 1960, 48 days after the 1961 models were introduced, ending 32 years of production. "
Firedome engine " 361 cu in (5.9 L) V8 " in 1959 prior to that a 4.8 litre 291 cu in " So not sure what Colins Motor was.

[Milan Fistonic]

These are the numbers the De Soto raced with. All at Pukekohe.

7/12/63 -143
22/2/64 - 148
4/4/64 - 148
7/11/64 - 151
12/12/64 - 112
27/2/65 - 174

It also raced at Matamata in 1964 with 61 and 1965 with 63.

[John McKechnie]

Roger- the wikipedia probably covers only the American market.- thus left hand drive
All right hand drive were Canadian assembled, usually base models- different specs to USA.
Safe to say I remember Diplomats, but not many of these shapes.

[Ray Bell]

As I mentioned in the A-H thread, the Diplomat had a Plymouth body from the firewall back, the front was, it seems, largely Dodge panels while the grille was a mixture of whatever they had lurking around by the looks of things.

Most Canadian production was based on the Plymouth body in that era. Dodges with Plymouth's distinctively different fins abound in Canada. The last Diplomats sold in Australia were the '54 models, which sold here through to '56. After that they were morphed (as were the similar Plymouths) into the Chrysler Royal, an Australia-only model.

Any De Sotos marketed in Australia from that point were locally assembled by Buckle Motors (yes, Bill Buckle) from US-derived CKD kits and were nothing like the Diplomats. Simultaneously the Chrysler Australia plants assembled US-derived Dodge Custom Royals and Plymouth Belvederes, all three makes being sold at high prices as premium marques. Canada, meantime, produced Dodge Mayfairs and other models with names differing from US models. Some rationalising seems to have taken place in 1960 and Canadian Dodge Phoenixes were assembled here to set the pattern for Chrysler's big car marketing for the next dozen or so years.

Thanks for the information on this particular car...

[John McKechnie]

Ray-My Dad had one of these Aussie assembled Chrysler Royal, brand new in early 1960s, push button auto, 6 cylinder.
Never see any of them on the roads now.
All this Aussie involvement with Chrysler, Plymouth info is new to me, so thank you for posting this.
I worked at GM franchise so we had continued rhd Chevs and Pontiacs -Canadian -cars available in our showroom till 1968
So after this information, would the Lumsden car-right hand drive- be a Canadian or Australian car ?