OSCA 40th Reunion

[Rod Grimwood]

This is one real nice bit of Gear. And it is original. I had to stand against the pit wall when it went past as i did not want any one to see how happy i was.

[Rod Grimwood]

Now here are a couple of genuine classics as well. A wee bit of history here.

[thunder427]

Now here are a couple of genuine classics as well. A wee bit of history here.

.....the homeless looking one with the 'bare feet' (and I'm guessing 'thongs'!!) is a bit of a giveaway,may have worked on the Jum Ruchards Musthang, the 'Big ' one looks like his 'Minder'!!! but I'm not prepared to ask him again,to do the 'Santa' gig this year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!........regards thunder427/MJ

[AMCO72]

Some sharp looking cars there Rod. What did the Renault Dauphine hit? Not another car I hope. Looks like he has come round the left-hander into the main straight and suffered a bit of understeer!!! But cant that thing GO....as I said we saw it at Teretonga and it just powered past the Custaxie. However the car that does it for me is the Trevor Crowe Starlet. Is it the paint job, or the wing ,or what, but it looks like it's doing 100mph when standing still! It must have been a great get-together for all you South Island 'rebels'......hope some ex MANZ folk were there to see how it used to be, and I bet there were some smiling faces watching and listening to the action. Do you have to have a muffler on these things now?

[kiwi285]

Here is one only for now. My computer has gone on strike and needs a swift kick. Gary believes that nowhere else in the world could you see this sight. The cars are original factory vehicles and are one of only three or four ever built. We are privileged indeed. I believe that the Escort is coming up to Hampton Downs next year.

[Rod Grimwood]

No thongs Thunder, just as god made him as usual. Good to see these guy's. JT is over West Coast now and has a big collection of stationary engines that he has rebuilt. Seen some photos and he is still a clever bugger. Herb looks after the Mk11 and has done a nice job.
Amco, the Renault came off over the back after the big sweeper at end of front staright and down next straiht into left hander, Bloody shame and yes it goes, real impressive down the main straight past the pit wall. Mufflers, pardon. I did actually see a gentleman in a Motorsport NZ shirt but i don't think everyone was after a autograph. F5000 was good stuff too. May put some bits on that thread as good stuff.

[AMCO72]

Rod, the reason I asked about mufflers was that at Puke last weekend 2 cars from the production class got black flagged for exceeding the decibel limit. Both were rotary powered, but to my ears were not as 'noisy' as some of the V8's. I thought maybe that noise levels were being strickly monitored now.......maybe only on tracks near to housing etc.

[Steve Holmes]

Some sharp looking cars there Rod. What did the Renault Dauphine hit? Not another car I hope. Looks like he has come round the left-hander into the main straight and suffered a bit of understeer!!! But cant that thing GO....as I said we saw it at Teretonga and it just powered past the Custaxie. However the car that does it for me is the Trevor Crowe Starlet. Is it the paint job, or the wing ,or what, but it looks like it's doing 100mph when standing still! It must have been a great get-together for all you South Island 'rebels'......hope some ex MANZ folk were there to see how it used to be, and I bet there were some smiling faces watching and listening to the action. Do you have to have a muffler on these things now?

Makes you wonder, doesn't it Gerald. If Allcomers had been granted one more season, could the Miller Renault have been the car to beat? It was still unsorted in its brief appearances in the 1967 season where the Custaxie was so dominant, and even ended up wiping out a lamp post. But it was steadily improving by the end of the season, by which time it was too late.

[Rod Grimwood]

I did hear a discussion about there was going to be a noise monitor/what ever at the track, But in all reality, yes you could hear them, but that is what race cars tend to do and people go to listen too. I had ear plugs so they sounded nice to me. And remember this was in the home of noisey, different looking race cars, and they may not have been infiltrated like us poor buggers in the north. 18 F5000's made a nice sound first time down the start straight. Guy had radar gun there and F5000 through sweeper onto pit straight 82mph and 180mph at end of straight. Top OSCA about 60mph onto straight and around 155mph at end.

[Steve Holmes]

Rod, thanks for posting these photos. Got any more? Gary, the owner of that genuine Zakspeed Escort, is a member on here. I was hoping he'd run a thread about the car, as its quite a fascinating machine.

That Trevor Crowe Starlet is a little confusing. Thats the first of the two Olds powered Starlets Trevor Crowe built, but it has the aero kit, ie, the flares etc, from the second car. Or it had the aero kit from the molds of the second car. Roger Freeth had a new aero kit built for the second car which was supposed to improve the aerodynamics, and the first car ended up with the old aero parts, or had the aero kit fitted from the molds of the second car. I actually thought the first car (ie, that pictured above) was being restored back to its Zap guise. But either way, its great to see it again.

[Rod Grimwood]

Steve, i am not really good with a camera, but Mike Fiest was there and as we have seen he has more talent with a camera so hopefully son he will post some (as mention above he has computor problem at moment).
Now there is a great thing about this site, through here Mike mad contact and we kept in touch and both travelled (differently) to the Reunion and meeting (i was in the F5000 camp) we meet for first time at the track and he is one real nice guy. He just thrives on motorsport and you can see his enthusiasm in the way he beams when he see's a car of interest. it was great to meet him and hopefully some more site members will have the same privilage.

[Steve Holmes]

Thats great Rod! Thats what this place was created for. While we're not at the track, this place is as close as we can get to sitting around shooting the shit over a beer and talking old cars. Isn't the internet a wonderful thing!

[Munty]

Thanks for your kind words fellas, was a great evening and everyone loved the old articles and videos. There is a plan to place all the footage onto a dvd so once we do I'll let you all know.
There were photos taken from the reunion so hopefully I'll get them and post them.
OSCA is very proud to still be going and getting strong again....
Cheers Evan

[Ellis]

From a (very ignorant) non Kiwi....
What is/was the OSCA catagory please.

Ellis

[Steve Holmes]

Ellis, OSCA stands for Open Saloon Car Association. It was created in the South Island of NZ by a group of racers who took exception to Motorsport NZ killing off the old Allcomer saloon category, which was relatively affordable and quite exciting. They formed OSCA in the late '60s and it is still going strong today. The cars are basically Sports Sedans.

[kiwi285]

These are a couple of 950 odd that I took. I will have a go at posting a selection but it could take years. OIf anyone wants a copy of my CD email me and send $5.00 tp cover p & p and I will send you the lot. mailto:?subject=&body=

[kiwi285]

[shellsport]

.....the homeless looking one with the 'bare feet' (and I'm guessing 'thongs'!!) is a bit of a giveaway,may have worked on the Jum Ruchards Musthang, the 'Big ' one looks like his 'Minder'!!! but I'm not prepared to ask him again,to do the 'Santa' gig this year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!........regards thunder427/MJ

My neighbour J T " Bloody " Thorby never wears jandals !
No smoking on pit wall thank you .

[Rod Grimwood]

shellsport, you live in an interesting neighbourhood by the sounds of it, and it is on my bucket list to visit.

[Ellis]

Thanks Steve
I tried to work it myself out but failed.
I couldnt concentrate on the pics or text cos my head kept trying to decipher the abbreviation

Ellis