The Roaring Season

Oldfart wrote:The usual saying is "It will buff out!"

Or "they will never see it from the 'stands".

Watching this with interest - keep up the good work John. Watching another old nail rise from the grave....great stuff.

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I've only been here 8 yrs!
Yep - I've seen it in it's original configuration. Like a generation (or 3) of youths, I didn't miss a meet at Pukekohe, national or club, once I got my license (after the traditional 1 week wait after 15th birthday), from 1964 to about 1969 when I buggered off overseas for a bit, then back in the 1970 season, then back again for the 1972-76 seasons, when marriage and motorbikes had taken over proceedings. The group I hung around with were loosely associated with Roy Harrington for a while - one of them raced an Imp, so.....
hence in later years as the body doesn't take as well to riding bikes, the nostalgic leaning back towards the cars and enjoyment of youth! It's just great that people like you are still finding the old girls and rebuilding them - I have enough trouble getting motivated to rebuild the old bikes in the shed!

John McKechnie wrote:SPman- looking at your location in WA , I feel honoured by your interest. Have you ever seen this car in your past?
Still trying to get the Monaro stuff back, the seller put up the 8 chromes on trade me- 2tops of doors, 2 top rear quarter, 2 rear drip rails,2 front drip rails and the 2 long Bailey rubber chromes. Went for $1000, blew past my budget. This amount will buy me the new 327 crank. It is easier building an American car, you can buy the stuff and its cheap

John have you seen the rust bucket Monaro for sale up here in the Bay of Islands on TM, anything worthwhile?

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Now I can't find it either. I will make some phone calls and PM

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Photos copyright The Bruce McLaren Trust.

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John, back in the late `80s I had a HZ 308 4spd Sandman panelvan, that I got off a guy that had bought it over from Aussie as he was working on a big pipeline project in Taranaki. Ironically, his name was Neil Armstrong, and no, unlike his namesake, the panelvan hadn`t been to the moon and back. I think from memory it did about a 15.8 quarter mile at a Meremere street meet and was a great tow vehicle. Would you like some photos of Norm Beecheys Monaro when we go to the Bowdens after Lakeside as a reference for your Monaro restoration?

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Send a PM to Mike Feisst (kiwi285) as he`ll have a good camera when we are at the Bowdens.

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Here is Grady Thomson accelerating hard into the Pukekohe club circuit from pole position. He sure knew how the wring the best out of that car, obviously a very strong engine.

Bloody great photos guys, the side profile shot I especially like. The Monaro looks great here

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John, trade me listing #613539411