Dunedin Street Races - revival meeting January 1984

[jellywrestler]

so how often after 1984 were there events in Dunedin? One popped up on youtube this week, said to be 1986

[Milan Fistonic]

so how often after 1984 were there events in Dunedin? One popped up on youtube this week, said to be 1986

I replied to that the last time you asked on post 215.

I have programmes for meetings in 1992,1995, 1996 and 1998.

[Roger Dowding]

Roger,
I hope you can get the 1953 Dunedin Youtube to play. Just hit the arrow by Bob Gibson's nose and away you go.

Yesterday !
Ken H,just watched the first part of the Clip - History of other events going back to the Beach Races and early South Island events too !! Thanks

Today
5th September 2020- watched the rest What a great piece of Motoring History in New Zealand.
Thanks again Ken H.

[jellywrestler]

so how often after 1984 were there events in Dunedin? One popped up on youtube this week, said to be 1986

I replied to that the last time you asked on post 215.

I have programmes for meetings in 1992,1995, 1996 and 1998.

Indeed you did, that accounts for four years post 1984, and this video is supposed to be 1986 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFKMRLJoBU. I have a 1984 1993, 1999 and 2000 program. The 2000 one states it is the 12th street race for classics on the Oval circuit. So if we add up the programs I have and the ones you have Milan there's still three missing years assuming 1984 was the first.
so we have proof it ran
1984

1986

1992
1993

1995
1996

1998
1999
2000


Can anyone help with other years please?


MORE CONFUSION---
the 1984 and 1986 meetings were on the wharf circuit, not the oval so not part of the twelve mentioned....

[Milan Fistonic]

The 1992 programme states that "...the Southern Festival of Speed, the event which has grown in just four years to become one of the largest and most spectacular on the motor racing calendar in New Zealand."

I have just located a "Coming Events Calendar" for early 1994 and it includes a Southern Festival of Speed at Dunedin on February 12-13.

[jellywrestler]

so the meeting this thread is about would have been a one off 'revival' meeting, then it grew into a festival like the old days.
thanks for looking that up Milan, it's certainaly a mission trying to sort this stuff out, particularly as i'm following bikes, and they may have come and gone...

[Milan Fistonic]

This is from the Speedsport report of the 1997 Southern Festival of Speed meeting at Dunedin.

There were no bike races at the 1992, '95, '96, '98 meetings.

[Roger Dowding]

Speed limits and conversion from " English " to Metric = MpH to KpH
This from Kelvin Brown
" Had to check that, our NZ road metric change was in 1975. Of interest were the NZ open road speed changes we have had. 1962 from 50 to 55 mph, 1969 from 55 to 60 mph, 1973 from 60 to 50 mph or 80 kph. 1986 from 80 to 100 kph. "

This makes more sense now ; - and a bit more on the McLaughlin Healey
- These speeds are from 1963 - Thanks Kelvin Brown.
Would have been the inaugural " Pukekohe " New Zealand Grand Prix meeting.

Keith Yeats in the Orchid in this part and the other McLaughlin / McLoughlin in a Sprite

Will put the full list on the Pukekohe thread

[jellywrestler]

didnt we change to KM in 1974?

[Roger Dowding]

didnt we change to KM in 1974?

You could be right, I was just going by the comment above which mentions 1975 - and remember getting stickers with numbers for the km equivalent of the proposed KM equivalent speed limits to attach to the speedo on my first Mini back in the late 1960's.

[Roger Dowding]

Didn't get to July or August and will miss September too !!

A couple more photos from the June event - when UN7284 was allowed out for the first time in 12 months as road legal and mobile again.

Had mentioned using this thread a bit like ERC's just a mix of pics as don't want to start another thread.

Apologies if any posted before - will keep away from AH and Austin [Metro ] as know they have been seen.

just posted on ERC's thread that Brazilian Jeep

J for Japan and H for Humber - probably never seen together before.

A couple of random photo's both taken at Te Poi, near Matamata on a property in Rapurapu Road SH28 - this
" VANDUB " a Kombi camper belongs to a family friend who called in to see us in Omokoroa this week -[ in her modern - which was a pity ] I will see VANDUB when next in Auckland.

VANDUB.
" Year: 1970
Make: VOLKSWAGEN
Model: KOMBI
Colour: Blue
Second Colour: White
Submodel: CAMPER
Body Style: Self Propelled Caravan
VIN: 7A8J40J1095073055
Plate: VANDUB
Engine No: 5545AD-378542
Chassis: 2272073055 "

Another Family friends vehicle an ex Tokyo Fire Department Toyota Dyna Fire Truck a 1990's model but when it arrived in NZ only had about 7000km on the clock, my friends Dad owns it and it lives in Matamata.

The DYNA
" Year: 1997 (1996-09)
Make: TOYOTA
Model: DYNA
Colour: Red
Body Style: Flat Deck Truck
VIN: 7AT0H60EX18003572
Plate: LMJ637
Engine No: 3L-COVERED
Chassis: LY151-0003572
Vehicle Type: Goods Van/Truck/Utility
Seats: 6 "
Yes it does seat 6 - a double cab and still has all the clips on the back of the front seat for the firemen to stow their gear.

The owner sitting in the Drivers Seat - he loves his new Truck - his other vehicle is a Long wheel base Land Rover Defender also of 1990's vintage a Station Wagon version, and on the farm a SWB Landrover Pickup of around 1990 vintage - another Classic

Ken H, Kevin H and Rhys N will all know the area.

Cheers

[Roger Dowding]

The answer is there if you hover your cursor over the Photos.

The link was sent to me by Richard Armstrong, a Rally and Racing guy from Hamilton Car Club, now living in Tauranga.

Three well known cars, well - One very well known one well known and the third known for being unusual !!
One still exists and is in New Zealand the second still exists but not as seen here - the third ?

details may a bit incorrect on this photo - all from Glen Kirk archives.
Will try to find if Glen has anymore.

[Roger Dowding]

Photo from Jim Bennett archives with his brother in the Morgan ;

Jim notes ;
" Nelson December 1960. Right to left. RA Zephyr Ron Rutherford hiding The RA Lycoming of Duncan Rutherford, Brian Mabey BCM ahead of Wally Darrell, Keith Roper V twin Cooper, Stewart Ransley Riley, Ivan Bennett Morgan ".
further comment from Graham Kyle - Morgan owner and racer back in the day
" Behind Ivan's Morgan was Bob Stewart in his V8 sports special, and the Austin A40 could be either Dennis Stanton or one of the Collins brothers. "

Thread now covers South Island races and other events - rather than create a new Thread.

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of photos have come to light recently from Waimate in 1966.
This the Saloons with a very wide grid
Anglia left and right - others in the middle; Fowog, A40, Lotus Cortina.

A photo from Dave Simpson's own archives - Dave's Fastback Anglia on the right with Fahey beside ;

a version of the track - understand it did vary - this from the 1964 programme.

[Roger Dowding]

Going through a book in my collection by NZ Classic Driver, a Special Edition from 2012 called "A Dashboard View ".
It had a collection of articles from the first 10 years of the Magazine ;

Included was an article on the Dunedin meetings and a small summary entitled " High and Lows " - winners and the bad events crashes and tragedy.

Ron Roycroft raced at Dunedin in a variety of cars, The Alfa Romeo, The Bugatti [ Bugatti - Jaguar and the 41/2 litre Ferrari

Some of Rons own notes about Dunedin and other events in the 1950's - in his lists of events in the various cars - Rons own notes - as posted in the NZ Classic Driver Book.

Bugatti and Alfa Romeo

Bugatti - Jaguar

Ferrari 4.5 litre
- the " Pale Blue " car - ex French driver Louis Rosier, I understand [ as in need to check !! ]

I note that Johnny Mansell who sadly was killed at Dunedin drove Rons car on at least one occasion

[Roger Dowding]

After the war Motor racing returned to the new Zealand Motoring scene.
Pre-war many courses were on Beaches,but there were a few " Speedway " circuits and others " Hennings "in Mangere Auckland and others.
Seagrove Airfield on the Manukau Harbour was a new course after the war and used from 1946/47 onwards.

In 1948 a 100 Mile race was proposed at Waimari in Canterbury using a set of roads in the district.
The proposal was declined by the police and so the Club and group involved finished up having a race at Wigram Airforce Base on the Airfield.

A plan of the track with details of the roads used and the direction of travel.
Thanks to Graham Woods for the image.

A story from Wikipaedia - seems a bit inaccurate - see bold **.
" Wigram Airfield Circuit was a temporary motor racing circuit at Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch, New Zealand. The airfield is a former base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It is named after Sir Henry Wigram. The temporary circuit was 3.540 km (2.200 mi) with a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) main straight.[1] The first summer meetings held at Wigram Aerodrome in 1949 are considered the oldest motor races in New Zealand **.[2] The track hosted rounds of the annual Tasman Series from 1964 to 1975. For safety reasons, the last race at Wigram (for classic racers) was held in the year 2000.

Wigram also held the 1974 New Zealand Grand Prix which was won by Australian race driver John McCormack.

The Lady Wigram Trophy which was organized by the Canterbury Car Club had been raced at Wigram Aerodrome since 1949.[3] The race for the trophy has since moved to Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park.[1] "

[GregT]

My late father was one of the group who found that circuit - and worked the landowners round to approval. Then of course it was declined Police approval - despite, I was told, the "old pals act " being worked hard on senior Police.
He went on to become one of the founder members of the Motor Racing Club - which ran Wigram for many years. Not the Canterbury Car Club as above. Amalgamation came many years later.

[jellywrestler]

My late father was one of the group who found that circuit - and worked the landowners round to approval. Then of course it was declined Police approval - despite, I was told, the "old pals act " being worked hard on senior Police.
He went on to become one of the founder members of the Motor Racing Club - which ran Wigram for many years. Not the Canterbury Car Club as above. Amalgamation came many years later.

wow, was he a bike man too? Do you think this would have been a combined meeting, bikes and cars?

[GregT]

wow, was he a bike man too? Do you think this would have been a combined meeting, bikes and cars?

I don't recall any mention of bikes being included at that point. I'd have to look at the book which is the history of the Motor Racing Club to see when they first ran at Wigram. Unless someone on here has a copy.
And yes, of course he was a bike guy Spyda. A Grade at Monica Park speedway prewar. Scrute for first season of Aranui and chief lapscorer at Cust up to '61.
I understand that a large part of the "old pals act" being used on the senior police to get the circuit approved came from the old man having taught a lot of them to ride a motorcycle pre-war.

[Roger Dowding]

Going through some " Old " magazines, in this case one of the "Classic and SportsCar " that I did not pass on and came across an article by " New Zealand Classic Driver " Contributor and Book Reviewer Mark Holman.
The article appears in the May 1989 Issue Volume 8 Number 2. It covers both the Ardmore meeting in mid January and the Dunedin meeting " two weeks later ".

.

I had attended the Ardmore Meeting in 1989 and had previously been at Dunedin in 1984 - the story that started the thread. I saw the " Hanuman " ERA at the time 1984, both racing and in a Motor Cycle Showroom during the week prior to the event.
As noted a couple of famous cars had missed Ardmore because of shipping /unloading issues, but were at Dunedin.

As an aside - Photos from Lewis Townsend as processed by Ross Cammick - there are quite a number from Levin and other events. Myles Hicks apparently knows or knew Lewis and has other photos from Ohakea events too !! Which i hope we get to see..

Question ; Levin photos -must find an appropriate thread to show them ?. - Preferring to keep this thread for " South Island " events although have put some others on here.
Or maybe this thread should be " Dunedin and other Classic Events ".


PS Thanks to Milan Fistonic for identifying the Sports Car " Brian Watson's Missattor " behind the Rex Flowers Lotus 6 in one of the Lewis Townsend photos on the Austin Healey thread