Austin-HealeyÂ’s and the Austin Healey Car Club of NZ and Others

[ERC]

Didn't Lance Elliott race Minis? He resprayed my Allegro Equipe that got scuffed during the shipping to NZ.

Barry Moon raced in the ERC Series with his Escort and as is often the case, I got him to recover some household upholstery. Last saw him at the January Festival.

Frank Karl retired from Air NZ earlier this year and I think the Healey was being refreshed by RaceFX when I last called in.

I think Rob Douglas still owns his Daimler SP250.

[Roger Dowding]

Interesting! As I arrived in NZ January 1983, this was one of the first events I ever attended in NZ. I was at a small meeting today and no less than three of those in that entry list were there - and had he not been at Laguna Seca, there would have been 4.

The sad thing is that as many of these older cars have increased in value, it is now too risky to race them - notwithstanding rules regarding roll cages etc.

Part of a golden age when they could round up so many Morgans, Austin Healeys and Daimler SP250s.

When TACCOC took over the Le Mans, I remember Marsden Robinson's hilarious team manager's meeting. At that meeting, we were miffed that our team of MG's all had steel wheels and 4 wheel nuts whereas the other MG team had wire wheels and could do the compulsory pit stop and wheel change so much quicker! Lots of fun though.

Frank Karl's Healey has been green for a few years now and we had some great dices at the McLaren Festival, somewhere near the tail end of the Sports GT grid.

ERC, I know what you mean, my 100/4 # 73 had been modified and ran Hotwire Mag wheels, 4 stud, so the same slow wheel change. for the Plug change we all had fitted under the bonnet a bracket that had a " Spark Plug " in a threaded mounting, so you didn't break a plug on the car. Rules are a guideline, i am sure.. use of lower case i. OK. ..

Frank's Healey, ran at Ohakea Reunion, was there, way back when, thinking 1982 !, he at one time ran a F5000, that was a recreation by Race R/X, Andy Culpin.

[Andrew Metford]

Frank's Healey, ran at Ohakea Reunion, was there, way back when, thinking 1981, he at one time ran a F5000, that was a recreation by Race R/X, Andy Culpin.

The RFX5000.

[Roger Dowding]

In 1982 the Austin Healey Car Club of New Zealand, organised its first Hill Climb, the event at Otaua, which the club ran annually until 1990. the MG Car Club took over the event and I am unsure if it still runs.
Reg Whittaker a local Waiuku guy, initial R O W, was known in the AHCC as " Reg of Waiuku ", was a local school teacher and had lived in the area all of his life, he knew the locals and was able to get consent from those effected by the event.
After each run the road was opened so locals could come and go from their properties, then closed for the next run.
The local Tavern provide the Scrutineering area in the car park, as before opening time 7;30 a.m on, and was the site of the prizegiving and story telling.

I have photos from several years of the event, some undated, and was involved as competitor in 1983, Marshall most other years and organiser of permits Road Closure etc for the last few years, 1988 - 1990. R O W was always helping, as did his brother Bruce and the members of the AHCC including Ross Cammick.

Was going to start a new thread, but thought as It is AHCC related would start here.
just a few shots to begin - years unknown.

Healey in front is the Clerk of Course car - Peter Nelligan who now lives in Wellington NZ and he and Diane still have the car [ update Nov 2019 ]

On the road by the start

A beautiful Lotus -*** the Eleven X1 - rebuilt / restored by Peter Bruin - car is ex the Ganley family Father Jim, sons Howden and Dennis who also ran a Jarvie bodied Ford 10 Special .. the car now back with the Ganley family in its 1960's Ganley livery

Whose is it, What is it ??

John Wigston's single seater is a well known car - comments required.

There are some 70-100 photos to follow as I get them sorted.

These may a bit smaller than TRS can take - may have to upsize just like Macca's !!

[Andrew Metford]

Roger, the Otaua Hill Climb is alive and well, and has been for at least the last 15 years I've been a member of the MGCC. The MGCC ( Auckland ) still organise and run it, in fact the 2015 edition was run just a couple of weeks ago.

[Oldfart]

I think that is Peter Bruin's 11. RIP Pete

[Roger Dowding]

Roger, the Otaua Hill Climb is alive and well, and has been for at least the last 15 years I've been a member of the MGCC. The MGCC ( Auckland ) still organise and run it, in fact the 2015 edition was run just a couple of weeks ago.

JAFA, that is great to hear, we the AHCCNZ, passed on all our files on the Hill Climb when MGCC asked to take it over, we were too small to run it after a while and from memory the Club committee was changing and became based in Wellington with only a regional rep in Auckland, Les Meggett, who was Clerk of the Course for a number of the years, the latter ones 1986 - 1990, I think.

[Roger Dowding]

I think that is Peter Bruin's 11. RIP Pete

I think so too, but no notes on the Picture, saw Pete run this when first rebuilt at the Concourse in Te Atatu at a bent sprint.

[928]

I think that is Peter Bruin's 11. RIP Pete

probably him with his back to the camera wearing yardley overalls

[Ross Hollings]

[Lotus Eleven photo]Peter in picture on right hand side,[back to camera]wearing his Peter Revson's Yardley overalls.As to be expected of Peter,another work of art.

[Roger Dowding]

These are from the 1988 event.
As mentioned the Otaua Tavern Car Park was the venue for documentation and scrutineering, and issue of one day Racing licences for casual competitors - this was done through TACCOC as AHCCNZ was not MANZ affiliated then.

Scrutineering;

Venue for the Prizegiving, just across that car park
Our President at the time Brad Chibnall with the cap on by the door

My Healey 100, that ran at the Le Mans relay race in 1983
Not sure if I was tired and getting out of the sun or the car needed work.
Was a Flag Marshall that day at a point near the end of the run.
Ran the car here in 1983, no pictures though.

Spectator cars Richard Leaper by the Lotus [ his ] Lyle Chambers by the MGB, [ Richard's mothers ] and a Hillman Hunter wagon for support.

Healeys of the spectators and Marshalls

some of the crowd, including BMC BOY he has probably never seen this photo, as a Photographer you don't get to " shoot " yourself - cheers Ross,

To follow action on the Hill and more background shots.
The Hill started downhill, which was great for older cars where uphill clutch starts could be damaging, the there was a sharp left, which you had to decide where it was and start to turn otherwise you would run wide and have to slow down, then a big sweeping curve, through a wiggly section a couple more curve to the finish, and a short run-off.
cars then had to wait and the whole field would return while the road was open to the residents and public. The residents were great, some of the public not so co-operative though.

cheers
Roger

[Roger Dowding]

A Healey Sprite to start the set;

Lotus Cortina

Lotus Cortina again

Alfa Guilia [ 105 ] for Spgeti and friends, cheers Bruce.

Sports Cars a Lotus Seven s4, Steel Bros. !!

and a TVR Vixen !!.

coming up, Jaguars, A Lancia, the Alfa 105 and some Germans, a BMW and a Porsche.

[Spgeti]

I will have a look at my old club membership list and see if I can identify the owner of the 105. Cheers

[Roger Dowding]

Jaguars , one brave soul in an XK140.

[Spgeti]

I will have a look at my old club membership list and see if I can identify the owner of the 105. Cheers

Ivan Cranch, 69 1750 GTV

[Roger Dowding]

Ivan Cranch, 69 1750 GTV

Thanks Spgeti ; Ivan may remember what year(s) he competed. I recoginise the name.
Bruce look at the next few pics the 105 is there again from the front - No Rego plate, no bumpers .

the view from the back again - repeated as meant to comment - the two people sitting by the fence are Bruce and Yvonne Whittaker, Bruce is Reg's brother and a Waiuku local too !!. We had them sit there for the first few years until a MANZ Steward, after there was an off near the finish suggested they get behind the fence.
Also note in top right corner the white sign that was the Stop sign to confirm you had crossed the finish line where the chequered flag is and the AHCCNZ sign.

The Germans, well a couple of them.

[Spgeti]

Interesting Roger as the grill is a GTV2000. The tail lights are GTV1750 on the first photo.

[Oldfart]

Roger, somewhat difficult to ask Ivan himself, sadly passed away, but family may remember.

[Roger Dowding]

Roger, somewhat difficult to ask Ivan himself, sadly passed away, but family may remember.

Oldfart, thanks for the note, hopefully his car is still around and being used well.

[Roger Dowding]

some of the cars that have featured already are here, so the ones I marked 1986, may be 1985 - these set has the Kodak stamp on the back Mar 85, and a leaflet advertising Kodak VHS and Beta tapes.. now that is a memory ..!!.

An interesting group of Sports Cars.
Lotii and BSA..

Lotus 11

and close up

Ralph Watsons BSA Special.

and again

More Lotii ..