The Roaring Season

Nigel,
It would be great to see you over here.
It may not happen again to the same extent but there were a lot of Kiwi accents in the pits and paddock at Laguna Seca this year !
Ken.

What a difference 8 years makes in F 1.

1972 Williams FX 3B # 67 driven by Michael Eckstein. 1980 Williams FW07B # 27 driven by Charles Nearburg in the race and driven here by his chief mechanic.
This was the car driven by Alan Jones in 1980 and one of the first successful F 1 cars designed by Patrick Head. (After I had shown him all that I could back in 1973..and that was the best pubs in the Croydon area !)
(Ken H photos..)

Some Can Am cars taken apart.
(Ken H photos ..)

Two Kiwis who know how to put a Can Am McLaren together.
Tony Nicholson and Duncan Fox working on the 1972 McLaren M8 F/P # 55 and driven by Robert Kauffman. I know I would FEEL ALIVE if I was behind the wheel of this mighty machine !

(Ken H photos..)

Great shots Ken,
Aren't Can Am cars cool!
It would have to be a bucket list to hop behind the wheel and drive one of those babys.....

I agree Paul,
imagine dropping down through the "Corkscrew" Turn in this 1971 McLaren M8 F ex Denny Hulme # 5 as captured by my friend John Adams. (Driver Chris MacAllister. ) 1974 Brabham BT-44 # 8 driven by Dan Marvin
1955 Porsche Special Spyder Pupilidy # 6 driven by Frank Altamura
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB # 74 driven by Ned Spieker.

(John Adams photos..)

khyndart in CA wrote:I agree Paul,
imagine dropping down through the "Corkscrew" Turn in this 1971 McLaren M8 F ex Denny Hulme # 5 as captured by my friend John Adams. (Driver Chris MacAllister. )
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1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB # 74 driven by Ned Spieker.

(John Adams photos..)

Ken,
The drive through the Laguna Sec cork screw, at a respectable pace, would also be a bucket list thing!
Love the 250 Ferrari too.

Outstanding photos Ken.

Here are some donated by Pauly Baldaccino. Er, Pauly is a Ford guy, so his photos somewhat reflect this:

Steve Holmes wrote:Outstanding photos Ken.

Here are some donated by Pauly Baldaccino. Er, Pauly is a Ford guy, so his photos somewhat reflect this:


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Great pics Steve, (From Pauly Baldaccino)
The above pic is a 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente but in East African Safari/Rally livery, where these cars raced in 1964. Franz Hernandez was involved/managed USA Ford participation in this event and actually raced one of these machines in the rally.
Sadly the cars were too heavy and a Ford Cortina went on and won the event.
A very rare sight to see such a machine, I wonder if its an original car?
Franz went on to own another 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente but in Drag trim with the 427 FE big block.
and later on to CarKraft building the Boss 429 Mustangs which he was well known for.

Love the chrome plated towing eyes in the rear bumper, be messy on contact with your shins

Yes a very nice tow hooks John.
What puzzles me are the 2 black pieces on top of the bumper, I have some period photos of these cars that I am going to look at.

Paul,
Last year (2017 ) I took these photos of another Mercury Comet at Laguna Seca.
It also was FIA "K" approved but I do not see the rear bumper blocks.
Would they have been mounted there for pushing the car ?

Chassis no. 4H23F567165. 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Hardtop Coupe. # 174

Plus this is the site for when the car was up for auction in 2011. (Seems like a good price for $ 38,500 )

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19363/lot/424/


The car at Laguna Seca this year (2018) is also a 1964 Mercury "FIA" Comet Caliente Hardtop Coupe.
Chassis no. 4J23F504887. # 81


(Ken H photos..)

That would be an absolute bargain price Ken, Its a very correct car apart from a few small details.
I agree with you the 2 black rear bumper blocks are most likely pushing blocks.
Here is some more info:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2011/06/2 ... ari-rally/
Photos by Franz Hernandez RIP
This is also worth a look, on the life of Franz
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/index.php ... -pictures/

I think there were two Comets at this years Monterey event, both painted in the red/white/blue colours, which were also used on the factory Marauder stock cars. They're great looking cars. There is a Comet running at this years Goodwood Revival, albeit painted blue.

Steve Holmes wrote:I think there were two Comets at this years Monterey event, both painted in the red/white/blue colours, which were also used on the factory Marauder stock cars. They're great looking cars. There is a Comet running at this years Goodwood Revival, albeit painted blue.

Yes agree, the Comets are really neat machines Steve.
They were homologated in 1964 for 6.5inch rims vs the Falcon on 5.5inch rims which was interesting. I think the blue comet at Goodwood is a kiwi expat if I have the right car?

Paul B wrote:Yes agree, the Comets are really neat machines Steve.
They were homologated in 1964 for 6.5inch rims vs the Falcon on 5.5inch rims which was interesting. I think the blue comet at Goodwood is a kiwi expat if I have the right car?

Yes thats right Paul, Roger Wills.