New Zealand Hillclimbs

[bob homewood]

Help me out here...wasn't this the track, the Aitkenhead boys bull-dozed through their farm on the Pokeno side of the Deviation? If it was, that's where I tore the right front strut out of my Escort.............ended up taking a whole bunch of no.8 wire and tying it ( very roughly) back in place so I could drive it home. .....

Yes that is the one he sort of looked at the hill and then bulldozed a track ,it was discussed on one of the nights last weekend amongst the group I was with ,and yes that was one that had atraction to your front strut ,actually think amongst my photos I have one of you at that hillclimb ,can't see it handy ,will have to go looking

[Steve Holmes]

Nabbed a few pics from my father recently. His name is Roger Lister and was very involved with the hill climbs and grass track races as well.
Haven't got too much info on when and where so will just post up the pics i have. He had Zephers and 30s chevs at the time.

Andrew, thanks for sharing your Dads pics. His cars are just fantastic! I'm guessing he has a bit of hot rodding blood running through his veins judging by the look of those cars, and the pinstriping on the dark coloured Chevy. I'm trying to figure out what car the extra side trim on the Zephyr came off.

[andrewlister]

Andrew, thanks for sharing your Dads pics. His cars are just fantastic! I'm guessing he has a bit of hot rodding blood running through his veins judging by the look of those cars, and the pinstriping on the dark coloured Chevy. I'm trying to figure out what car the extra side trim on the Zephyr came off.

Ill try to get him on here but i don't like my luck. The black Zephyr 6 was bought in Australia and bought back to New Zealand hence the different chrome strip. Those pics were taken probably up north on the Hikurangi hill climbs or the Waipu South Road Hillclimbs.

[Chris Read]

From Chris Read, Queenstown NZ -first post. Although I started in Gold Star Hillclimbs in the 1960's it was a more recent one in the 90's that I remember the most. No one had done the long course in under 100 seconds, I think it was, so as a veteran of Coronet Peak a couple of us gave it a go. So why not use the Chevron B29 on wets-that would do it!
The hairpin was not armco at that time just bent timber with cables on the back at head height. The first single seater went off and through the barrier and he broke his leg and I was next car and fractured my neck. Thank goodness for the Chevron cockpit side bars as the wire went up over the nose and stopped short from topping me. My old school friend Dick Bennetts when looking after the car in NZ for Brian Redman said the bars would save someone's head one day and little did I know I would own the car and it was mine it saved.
Not sure how to post a photo yet so will try this as a post and if my first go is successful I will post a photo of the incident for posterity.

[Chris Read]

Chevron at Coronet Peak
See if this works. Attaching a photo is a mission.

[Russ Cunningham]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6798[/ATTACH]
Chevron at Coronet Peak
See if this works. Attaching a photo is a mission.

Don't worry Chris. That's why I have'nt posted any pics. I blame it on not being young and computer savvy.

[khyndart in CA]

Here are NZ hillclimb sites over the years.
New Zealand
Admiral Road
Used in 1959, 1963, 1977, 1979-80.
Airlie Road
Used from 1970-74.
Alexandra Road
Used in 1958, 1960, 1967-72.
Anderson Farm
Used in 1970-72, 1973, 1975, and 1978-79.
Aniseed Valley
Used in 1967.
Arahura Valley
Used in 1972.
Aratoa
Used in 1958.
Austins Road
Used from 1962-1965.
Bald Hill
Used in 1967-68, 1970-73, 1977, and 1979-80.
Barrys Bay
A hillclimb which was part of a reliability trial in 1909.
Bethune's Gully, Dunedin
Used 1923, 1925-1927, 1934-1936, 1955-57, and 1963.
Birdwood Road
Used from 1964-65.
Blue Spur Road
Used in 1972.
Boreham Mill
Used in 1964.
Boys Hill
Used in 1954.
Briggs Gully Zig-Zag
Also known as Pareora, it was used in 1950-51.
Bright Road
Used in 1972-75 and 1980.
Bruce's Road
Used in 1980.
Cape Wanbrow
Used in 1950.
Carrington
Used in 1961-64, 1968, and 1970-72.
Central Road
(Northld) - used in 1980.
Chamberlains Road
Used from 1959-1975.
Chittocks Hill
Used in 1954, 1956, 1959-63 and 1966.
Cleland's Zig-Zag
Sometimes also known as Cleland's Cave, it was used in 1951-52, 1954, 1958-59, and 1961-62.
Coal Pit, Oamaru
Used in 1937, 1949, 1950 and 1960.
College Road
Used from 1970-71.
Coronet Peak
Used in 1974-80.
Cosseys Farm
Used in 1971, 1973-1978, and 1980.
Craigmore
Used in 1953-56, 1959-60, 1963-69, 1972 and 1975.
Don Buck's Road
Used in 1951.
Dovedale
Used from 1955-56.
Duvauchelles
Used in 1963, 1965 and 1978.
Emerson Street
Used from 1951-52.
Enfield Coalpit
Used in 1980.
Flagstaff Hill
Used in 1953-54.
Fordell
Used in 1955-57, 1959-60, and 1964.
Forest Hill
Forest Hill (or Gills Road) was used in 1955-59, 1961, 1963, 1966-67, 1976 and 1979-80. Another venue, known as Forest Hill Road, was used in 1973.
Galvins Road
Used in 1980.
Game Farm Road
Used in 1952-53.
Gebbies Pass, Christchurch
Used in 1949-50, 1956, 1959, 1061-65, 1968, 1973, 1975-76 and 1979-80.
Governor's Bay
Used in 1951.
Griffins Road
Used in 1968.
Griffiths Road
Used in 1967. Is this confused with Griffins Road though?
Hackthorne Road, Christchurch
Used in 1910 and 1911.
Halswell, Christchurch
Used between 1947 and 1950.
Harris
Used in 1971.
Hawera
Used in 1956-57, 1959, and 1961-62.
Heads Road
Also known as Maungatautari, it was used from 1968-69, 1972-74 and 1976-77.
Helensville, Auckland
Used on the 26th April 1932, and again in 1933.
Hoanga
Used in 1963 and 1972.
Holden's Hill
Used in 1964 and 1970.
Honikiwi
Used in 1964.
Hooper's Inlet
Used from 1968-69.
Horahora
Used from 1955-65.
Horokiwi Hill Road
Used in 1951. Possibly another, or the same venue was used in 1972-73.
Houghton Bay
Used in 1953-1975, and 1978.
Hukanui Road
Used in 1974.
Hullbright Road
Used in 1965 and 1967.
Hunters Road
Used in 1965, 1967 and 1969-70.
Irirangi
Used in 1973.
Jewetts Road
Used between 1968 and 1970.
Judgeford, Wellington
Used in 1943, 1945, 1951, 1956-59 and 1961-65.
Kahinau Road
Used in 1968.
Kaitangata
Used in 1962-64, 1967, 1969 and 1977.
Kapiti
Used in 1977.
Kara-Kokopu
Used in 1969.
Karehana Bay, Wellington
Used in 1948 and 1949.
Kawakawa
Used in 1968.
Kerikeri
Used in 1969.
Kerns Road
Used from 1965-70.
Kihikihi Road
Used in 1980.
Koururau
Also known as Taum, it was used in 1979.
Kumara
Used in 1968.
Log Whare Road
Used in 1969 and 1977.
Lyttleton
Used from 1959-1964.
Mahakipawa Hill
Used in 1980.
Mangakahu Valley
Used in 1964.
Mangaone Road
Used in 1980.
Mangaroa
Used in 1957-58, and 1961-65.
Mangatarata
Used in 1978-79.
Maramarua
Used in 1954, 1962-71.
Massey
Used in 1966.
Matarawa Valley
Used in 1980.
Mauma
Used in 1962-63.
Maungaitukutuku Road
Used in 1976-77 and 1980.
McCormacks Bay
Used in 1933.
McLachlan Road
Used in 1978.
McLeans Farm
Used in 1980.
McLean's Road
Used in 1968-71 and 1976.
Mercer
A hillclimb on the Koheroa Road was first used in 1963.
Mill Hill
Used in 1970.
Moenui
Used in 1980.
Mokoroa Gorge Road
Used in 1970.
Moncks Spur Road, Christchurch
Used on the 25th January 1932, and also in 1931 and 1934.
Moonshine Road
Used 1958-60 and 1975-76.
Mount Eden, Auckland
Used in 1948, 1949 and 1952.
Mount Ngongotaha
Used 1967-77.
Mount Shellscott, Auckland
Used in 1947.
Mount Tarawera
Used 1960-67.
Mount Wellington
Used 1960.
Muriwai
Used 1953-58.
Murray Range Road
Used 1980.
Ngapapa
Used around 1957.
Ngawhini
Used in 1965.
Ngutuwera
Used in 1965 and 1969.
North Road
Used in 1980.
Norwood Street, Mount Cargill (Dunedin)
Used in 1949, 1962-63, 1965, and 1967-69.
O'Kains Bay, Christchurch
Used in 1912, 1913 and 1923 (when it was part of a reliability trial).
Okoia, Wanganui
Used on the 1st October 1921. Later used 1968-69, 1971-72, 1975 and 1980.
Old Christchurch Road
Used in 1980.
Old Pukerua Road
Used in 1969.
Oparakau
Used in 1971.
Ormandy Road
Also known as Maungakaramea, it was used in 1964-65, and 1968-72.
Oruanui
Used in 1964 and 1966.
Ostrich Farm
Used from 1959-63.
Otaria Road
Used in 1973-74, 1976 and 1980.
Otorohanga
Used in 1961 and 1964.
Paekakariki Hill, Wellington
Used from 1946-1951, and once sometime around 1913.
Palmer Head
Used between 1960 and 1980.
Paparata Road
First used in 1963.
Paparimu Road
First used in 1963.
Paparoa Road
Used in 1970.
Parawera Hill
Also known as Te Awamutu, it was used in 1965.
Paremoremo
Used in 1973.
Patmos Avenue, Dunedin
Used in 1937, and from 1948 onwards through until 1958.
Penny Road
Used in 1974.
Picton
Used in 1970-72.
Pig Valley
Usedin 1956-57, 1959, 1961-68 and 1971-74.
Pipiriki
Used in 1970-71 and 1973.
Pipi Road
Used in 1980.
Plimmerton
Used in 1952-56.
Pollock Road
Used in 1969-70.
Ponga Road
Used in 1966.
Poporangi Road
Used in 1975-76, 1978 and 1980.
Port Hills, Christchurch
Used in November 1905.
Puhipuhi
Used in 1957-59 and 1961-68.
Quarry Road
Used in 1960-61.
Queenstown Road, Auckland
Used on the 26th April 1935, and again in 1936.
Raetihi
Used in 1964 and 1971.
Rakaia Gorge
Used in 1961 and 1980.
Rallywoods
Used in 1974-79.
Ramarama
There were three separate venues used. The first, Peach Hill Road, was used in 1958. The second, Ararimu Road, was used in 1965. The third, Pratts Road, was used from 1990-1992.
Redwood Pass
Used in 1961-62, 1964-65, 1968-69, 1974-75 and 1977.
Reefton
Used in 1977.
Ridge Road
Used in 1951, 1954, 1973, and 1975-78.
Riverhead, Auckland
Used from 1948 to 1952.
Rosedale
Used in 1973-76, and 1980.
Rotoehu Forest
Used in 1980.
Ruakaka
Used in 1971.
Saddle Road, Palmerston North
Used from 1947. Last used in 1976?
Salisbury Road
Used in 1979-80.
Sawyers Bay
Used in 1970 and 1973.
Seafield Road, Napier
Used from 1948-52, 1954-55 and 1979-80.
Signal Hill, Dunedin
Used on the 22nd November 1913.
Sign of the Kiwi
Used in 1952 and 1968.
Soldiers Settlement
Used in 1975-78 and 1980.
Spring Creek Road
Used in 1970 and 1980.
Staveley Limeworks
Used in 1963-65, 1968 and 1972.
Stoney Creek
Used in 1980.
Strawberry Road
Used in 1980.
Summit Road, Christchurch
Used in 1948-50, 1952, 1954-55, 1960 and 1966.
Taihape
Used in 1972 and 1980.
Tarawera, Rotorua
Used in 1949-50.
Taumuranui
Used in 1955-57, 1959, 1968-70, 1972, 1976 and 1978.
Taupo
Used in 1967-69.
Tauranga
Used in 1968 and 1970.
Tawa Flat, Wellington
Used in 1949-50.
Taylorville
Used in 1972.
Tea Creek
Used in 1979-80.
Telement Road
Used in 1980.
Te Onepu
Used in 1956-69, and 1972-97.
Te Toro
Used in 1968.
Thames
Used in 1973-75.
Three Mile Hill
Used in 1951.
Tinui Valley Road
Used in 1972-73.
Tirimoana Road
Used in 1971, 1974-75 and 1977.
Tokoroa
Used in 1975-77.
Top Valley
Used in 1980.
Twizel
Used in 1975.
Urenui
Used in 1962-64, 1970, 1972-76 and 1978.
Valley Road
Used in 1906.
Waiau
Used in 1955-59.
Waihi
Used in 1968, 1976 and 1980.
Waiotapu
Used in 1980.
Waipu
Used in 1967, 1970-71.
Waipu Gorge
Used in 1957-59, 1962 and 1963. Is this the same as Waipu?
Wairamarama
Used in 1952-56 and 1958.
Wairekiki, Wyndham
Used in 1949-53.
Wairoa
Used in 1970.
Waitangarua
Used in 1977.
Waitetuna
Used in 1951.
Waititi, Dunedin
Used on the 7th December 1907. Then used in 1908, 1959-60, 1964 and 1970.
Waitomo
Used in 1965 and 1970.
Wallace Road
Used in 1975.
Wallaceville Road
Used in 1952-56, 1960-64 and 1971.
Waterfall Road
Used in 1975.
West Road Hill
Used in 1978-79.
Whakapapa
Used in 1957.
Whakatane
Used in 1967-69, 1971-72.
Wharepapa Road
Used in 1966.
Whitford, Auckland
Used in 1948 and 1950.
Woodlands Road
Used in 1965.
Wright's Hill
Used in 1961-62.
________________________________________

This information was found at this site; http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/ausnzhc.html

(Ken H)

[John McKechnie]

Ken....you must really be having a slow day to do this long list....................
Well done though, do you want to add -
1- Millens Leadfoot Hillclimb .
2- Lower Domain Road, Auckland Domain.
3- Chelsea Sugar Refinery
4- Pinchgut Rd, Kaukapakapa

[khyndart in CA]

John,
I am glad you are not my boss as you bust me every time !
You can add whatever as this was just a quick cut and paste that I found interesting of hillclimbs up to 1992.
Cheers,
Ken

[Allan]

Bjerring's hill Waihi

[John McKechnie]

John,
I am glad you are not my boss as you bust me every time !
You can add whatever as this was just a quick cut and paste that I found interesting of hillclimbs up to 1992.
Cheers,
Ken

Yep and as punishment regular motor racing trips ......

[stubuchanan]

Not criticizing in any way, obviously a labour of someone's love.

There are probably a few duplications - Ridge Road and Riverhead for example. Although Ridge Road was also referred to as Albany, it was all the same place that I can see from here across the Upper Harbour (if it's not raining!).

Localities would be useful - Several years ago I tried to find Mount Shellscott (Auckland area) for the late David McKinney, who was a bit short of detail on Northern venues for his data base, but couldn't find any geographical reference to it at all, but several hillclimbs were run there in early postwar years. Does anyone know?

Stu

[John McKechnie]

Stu- I ran at Ridge Rd in 1974/74 and it was at Bombay Hills- last over bridge at the top as you head down the other side
Louie the leopard was there in a huge Galaxie, it felt intimidating in a Mini Cooper S.

Would like to know more on Mt Wellington.

[Peter M]

Stu- I ran at Ridge Rd in 1974/74 and it was at Bombay Hills- last over bridge at the top as you head down the other side
Louie the leopard was there in a huge Galaxie, it felt intimidating in a Mini Cooper S.

Would like to know more on Mt Wellington.

Barbers Road Otorohanga in the 80s( has been part of Targa stages recently )
Pekanui Road Pirongia in the 70s ( been part of stages in International Rallies )
Sainsbury Road Pirongia ( still used )
Peter

[stubuchanan]

Stu- I ran at Ridge Rd in 1974/74 and it was at Bombay Hills- last over bridge at the top as you head down the other side
Louie the leopard was there in a huge Galaxie, it felt intimidating in a Mini Cooper S.

Would like to know more on Mt Wellington.

Obviously must be a different Ridge Road - 1950's one I went to was at Riverhead and Johnny Mansel was fastest in the Ardun Special I think. I can think of several other Ridge Roads in the Auck area.

1960 Mt Wellington climb(s?) would have been at Ivan Whale's Quarry off Panama Road, a bit South of Sylvia Park. This was in an old volcanic scoria hill called McLennan's Mountain which was eventually quarried away to just a big hole, near the Motorway. There is a photo on this Forum somewhere of (?) Harvey driving the A40 Special there. While there was a proper road around the side of the actual Mt Wellington up to a soccer field at the top, I think there would have been a grave danger of people going off into orbit from it! There are roads up some of the other volcanic cones, but Council has now put the block on anyone driving up .

Stu

[Kevin Hirst]

Obviously must be a different Ridge Road - 1950's one I went to was at Riverhead and Johnny Mansel was fastest in the Ardun Special I think. I can think of several other Ridge Roads in the Auck area.

1960 Mt Wellington climb(s?) would have been at Ivan Whale's Quarry off Panama Road, a bit South of Sylvia Park. This was in an old volcanic scoria hill called McLennan's Mountain which was eventually quarried away to just a big hole, near the Motorway. There is a photo on this Forum somewhere of (?) Harvey driving the A40 Special there. While there was a proper road around the side of the actual Mt Wellington up to a soccer field at the top, I think there would have been a grave danger of people going off into orbit from it! There are roads up some of the other volcanic cones, but Council has now put the block on anyone driving up .

Stu

Doctor's Hill. Waipu

[John McKechnie]

Stu- thanks for that- http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?1422-Some-old-photos-from-the-1960-s&styleid=5
Harvey driving the A40.
Always known Mt Wellington as an excellent 24 hour parkup place since 1968,but never knew about soccer field there Now I enjoy it as the road is closed at night and its still neat for evening walks (Like Mt Richmond )
That Ivan Wales Quarry has a huge housing development going on there at the moment

[duncan fox]

I have a photo marked Whitford time trials Feb 1946. It shows Ron Roycroft as FTD. in a Riley 9 Kestral. As a Whitford resident of late I often wondered where it was held. Does any one know this?

[khyndart in CA]

A neat shot of Angus Hyslop powering his D-Type Jaguar up the Te Onepu Hill Climb near Hastings. April 1960.

J.C Hirtzell photo. (Hawkes Bay Photo News )


What is the history for this car ?

( Ken Hyndman)

[khyndart in CA]

Jaguar D-Type # XKD 534
"From Jaguar Sports Racing Cars
Following display at Attwoods, Wolverhampton, supplied to International Motor Sales, Wellington, New Zealand; despatched 6/9/56; sold to/retained by Jack Shelley; car prepared & raced by Robert Gibbons; January 1957, New Zealand GP meeting, Ardmore, Auckland, sports car race 1st, GP 5th; Lady Wigram Trophy race; 1958 GP meeting, Ken Wharton Memorial Trophy, 1st, GP ret'd; March, Ardmore GP meeting, ret'd; sold to Angus Hyslop; titted with 3.8 engine & used as tow car; January 1959, Christchurch meeting; January 1960, Ardmore Sports Car Trophy, 2nd; January, also raced at Levin & Christchurch; 1961 sold to Simon Taylor; January 1962, GP meeting; 1963 sold, via Riley Car Sales, to Gary Bremer; 1964 raced at Renwick, Maunganui, Levin & Pukekohe; 12/5/64 sold, with 21,737 miles recorded, for £1425 NZ, to Noel Foster (Auckland, New Zealand)."

I remember Kevin Hirst had this comment about the next owner after Angus Hyslop of this car, Simon Taylor:
"Simon used to round up the cows on the farm with the jag on many occasions, very expensive quad, 50 gallons of avgas to fill up !"

Simon had just purchased the D Type before the 1962 NZGP event at Ardmore and was leading the sports car race on the 1st lap and then the rains came.

(ken Hyndman clippings collection.)

Some interesting photos etc at this site.: http://www.coventryracers.com/cars/detail/?car=XKD534




(Ken H )