The Roaring Season

Na weather will be good, little drizzle Friday then good.
yep gonna be great to
catch up

In our HSSIA group, Ivan Bevins , who is not racing this weekend , will bringing the ex Criag Pulman XBGT Coupe down to add to the atmosphere.
Thanks Ivan, that car belongs at the racetrack.

Rod Grimwood wrote:Na weather will be good, little drizzle Friday then good.
yep gonna be great to
catch up

Would be nice to meet up at Taupo Rod
Cheers
Paul B

John McKechnie wrote:In our HSSIA group, Ivan Bevins , who is not racing this weekend , will bringing the ex Criag Pulman XBGT Coupe down to add to the atmosphere.
Thanks Ivan, that car belongs at the racetrack.

John,
Perhaps you can locate my old Anglia that I sold to Craig Pulman back in February 1970 and that will certainly bring back mixed memories for me !


(KJH )

Craigs XBGT Coupe will be with us for the weekend...we will all talk, as we do.................

I'll be there too Grimee,

Bruce.

Rod Grimwood wrote:Na weather will be good, little drizzle Friday then good.
yep gonna be great to
catch up

John McKechnie wrote:Craigs XBGT Coupe will be with us for the weekend...we will all talk, as we do.................

I think this Ford Falcon XBGT Coupe would have provided a bit more grunt than the Anglia for Craig !
John Metford's photo of the Craig Pulman Falcon at Pukekohe. Oct. 1988.




(Ken H)

Have a beer in my absence guys, I'm still in Europe. But I'm doing my bit, keeping my hand in, and getting my old car fix wherever I can.

Getting closer to D day. Get all your friends and "rellies" to come to Taupo. Should be a memorable weekend.

Rod,
If I had had you prepare my Anglia perhaps I may never have left.


Cheers "Grimee",
Ken H

If anyone can't make it, there is also a meeting at Hampton Downs - an unfortunate clash really. I might be able to spare 1 day.

• Flemings Trofeo Series (Non Championship round)
• Historic Formula Ford Racing NZ
• NZ Sports Car Racing...
• ERC Classic Race Series (NZ)
• PPG Classic Trials
• Pre 65 Racing
• Classic Touring Cars

ERC wrote:If anyone can't make it, there is also a meeting at Hampton Downs - an unfortunate clash really. I might be able to spare 1 day.

• Flemings Trofeo Series (Non Championship round)
• Historic Formula Ford Racing NZ
• NZ Sports Car Racing...
• ERC Classic Race Series (NZ)
• PPG Classic Trials
• Pre 65 Racing
• Classic Touring Cars

That is a pity Ray, as the classes of cars are what i like,cannot make either meeting, Holiday on Waiheke, a nostalgic event in its own right, my Grandmothers Cottage, still in the family, and there is a waiting list at this time of year.. Enjoy !!

Paul B wrote:Would be nice to meet up at Taupo Rod
Cheers
Paul B

F5000 pits no 16 Brett Willis and team Willis. be great to catch up.

Bruce302 wrote:I'll be there too Grimee,

Bruce.

Goody, catch up time

The "MO" has certainly changed colour!!!!

Well have to say THAT WAS FANTASTIC! First time going to Taupo for over 20 years without a racecar on the back we decided to play "Spectator on the bank". Camped there from Friday right through so it was a different perspective and a little weird...
THAT was what a "Festival" should be - Saturday was the best day in my view - great racing, flowing programme, no "lets get a hotdog" time...bikes where an entertaining if unusual class for a Historic GP meet. Was a shame after a promising qualifying there where so many retirements in the Touring car class but still a good show.
I felt a little for the spectators who only came on Sunday as there where a few "should have been here yesterday"moments.....
If I was being fussy I would have lost the 5 sidecars and the 1 hour bike race on Sunday and had ERC or similar to stay with the theme of the meeting. And bought some Aussie cork hats to deal with the flys in the pits.......Great effort by everyone and well worth missing the H/D meet for.

Travelling with John McKechnie and Ken Hyndman back to Auckland with the Team Cambridge Monaro we decided that it would be nice to drop in on Spencer (Spinner) Black and show him his old car that he had built back in 1969.

He was delighted and very surprised after many years of people claiming to have the car or know where it was. Then it turns up in his town again. We reminisced for some time and all his staff and family were so happy to see the car. It has increased the spectator numbers for the next Taupo meeting in April as they will all be there to see it.

from left to right, Ken Hyndman (who worked for Spinner back in the day) Spencer (Spinner) Black and John McKechnie who rescued the car and restored it so faithfully.

I have been adjusting back to life in California and a bit behind with photos on a truly wonderful 3 days for me at Taupo. I have to admit that Formula 5000 has been in my blood since 1973 !
(many more pics to come. )

Andy Higgens in his 1974 Lola T332 # 4 about to go out for the first Saturday F5000 practice session ahead of Ken Smith and Grant Martin.
(K H photo)


Grant Martin - 1974 Talon MR1A # 25


Ken Smith - 1976 Lola T332 # 11

More pis of Ken smith