Photos: The Bill Pottinger Collection - Part 1

[Grant Sprague]

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Gotta love those Escorts

l thought for a minute , Gary doing a wet slid but no wipers on car, could have been mercury series as door not fitting correctly [alloy doors & bonnet] ps Gary would often do this on our city streets in the same car be fore it became a race car................lil bro

[Steve Holmes]

I love these grid shots with the drivers communicating to each other moments before launching into action. This is the October 1969 Gold Star event at Ruapuna. Bill explains:

"This photo shows pre race banter on the starting grid (2nd row) between Jiggs Alexander, Wayne Murdoch and Dave Oxton (centre) in their Brabhams".

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[Steve Holmes]

From Wigram, 1970.

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[Steve Holmes]

Bill explains the two shots in this post:

"Some shots from Wigram 1970, with Kaye Griffiths (U.K.) who had a BRP Boss Ford which was a starting money special to fund his holiday in NZ. It barely managed a lap in the race before being pushed away to a corner in the pits".

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[Carlo]

No it wasnt the Clyde Collins PDL Falcon (which ended up as a road car in Dunedin). As far as I remember it was orange, looked more like a production touring car (but wasnt) and was from Australia. The way the Escort went that day is my most vivid memory of motor racing.

Alan Moffat and his Charger up against Leo in hid Charger while Paul took on the world with the Escort

[GD66]

Alan Moffat and his Charger

Sure now ?

[Allan]

The BRP Ford did not have a great record (or for that matter any record) in the 1970 Tasman series.
Levin DNQ
Pukekohe Ret lap 11 (Radiator)
Wigram DNQ
Teretonga (with Peter Hughes as driver) DNS (engine)

[Steve Holmes]

Magnificent profile shot here as Bill captures Mike Goth at speed, at Teretonga, 1970.

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[Steve Holmes]

..... and from the same event, Graham McRae.

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[GD66]

One for the rivet-counters !

Great pics, thanks heaps for sharing.

[bp photos]

I'm happy to be able to share the photos, pleased you like them.
Cheers, Bill P.

[Michael Clark]

The BRP Ford did not have a great record (or for that matter any record) in the 1970 Tasman series.

It was however sponsored by Sir Charles Napier - and that made it memorable...

[Grant Sprague]

Yep & a thanks from me also Bill , really appreciate these photos, notice the era [engine ] the rocker covers only tin with a screw 1/5 down oil filler cap......... stock block ?? & original ...................

[Allan]

So pray tell me sir, who is Sir Charles Napier? The only references I can find to the gentleman are a British Army Officer and a Scottish Naval Admiral both of whom have been dead for over 150 years and an English pub.

[John McKechnie]

I'm happy to be able to share the photos, pleased you like them.
Cheers, Bill P.

Hi Bill,
Found mention of you driving a Mini in a 1968 Motorman-want some more details?

[Kwaussie]

So pray tell me sir, who is Sir Charles Napier? The only references I can find to the gentleman are a British Army Officer and a Scottish Naval Admiral both of whom have been dead for over 150 years and an English pub.

It was the english pub!! Kaye's local.

[Michael Clark]

Exactly right Kwaussie although I though Griffiths owned it. Either way, the car was entered by Sir Charles and legend has it that Ron Frost was so taken by this that he seemingly overlooked the fact that the car was an old F1 car from the 1.5 era.

Irrespective of whether this story is correct, it always reminds me of Lord Melberry from Episode 1 of Fawlty Towers and Basil's fawning over the 'Lord' that he subsequently discovers is a con man...

[bigbanger]

Love those Weber 48IDA's (McRae) and likely Hilborn fuel injection (Goth).

[Howard Wood]

To be fair to Mr Griffiths, his was not the first "start money special" to grace a race series. My understanding was the car was entered under "Sir Charles Napier Racing" so strictly speaking the connection with some minor peer was only implied. Either way Ron Frost would have been mightily impressed.

Of course this was an era where a few people had nefarious intentions in coming to NZ, there was at least one early Formula A/5000 car which apparently arrived here with more than spare parts concealed inside it! As a result we had to completely strip a Formula Ford we were importing because HM Customs were deeply suspicious of anything to do with racing cars.

This was also the time of Customs Bonds on imported racing cars, not to mention import restrictions and huge duties. As a result, values were routinely dramatically understated but because everyone did it Customs seemed unaware. Until a couple of Americans bought a pair of Titan Mk6Cs out for the NZ FF series stating their true value. Bugger!

[bp photos]

That would be great thanks John.