Kerepehi, Raglan , Waharoa and other Waikato Grass tracks.

[Oldfart]

" Oldfart " - We need your Anorak knowledge as often entry lists have Initials and not names or " nicknames ".

Have added a couple more names of drivers to one of the post above.

Post 14, I think more will come from the tip of my tongue to my brain, here are some.
Ralph Emson, Wayne Jones, Graham (Pipe) Robertson, then miss a few, Dallas Gibson, Graeme(Sp?) Harvey, Rod McCallum, Don Brunt, Dave Bjeering

[khyndart in CA]

Dave Bjeering's Cortina 1500 at Waharoa, about 1966.

( Ken H.)

[bry3500]

Sharing from Autosport forum

Some wonderful pictures from Dennis Marwood:

Wahaora Airfield 1956
Dennis Marwood in his MG TD on the start line with other MG's including Jim Ganley, father of Howden.
Dennis is in the TD #108 and Jim is in his TF (second from right, with black helmet).
The dark coloured TF on the right is fitted with a blower

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H
" Dave Bjeering's Cortina 1500 at Waharoa, about 1966 "

Anymore photos ? - KH - I have some more of the Kerepehi 1966 programme from John Climo and he has more information from Waharoa and Raglan to come.

Would the Ron Bjerring in the Prefect be a relation ??

Bry3500 - Thanks for the Waharoa 1956 images.

"Some wonderful pictures from Dennis Marwood:

Wahaora Airfield 1956
Dennis Marwood in his MG TD on the start line with other MG's including Jim Ganley, father of Howden.
Dennis is in the TD #108 and Jim is in his TF (second from right, with black helmet).
The dark coloured TF on the right is fitted with a blower ".

Dennis was a Morrinsville lad, so just down the road a bit - on the Morrinsville - Walton Road, then a few turns and in Waharoa,or going right past Ken h's home in Kiwitahi perhaps.

Great photos and more cars that we didn't realise Dennis Marwood drove - for example a huge 1958 Ford Customline /Fairlane at Pukekohe in April 1964 - an image Milan found in the Auckland Car Club Bulletin of the time - it was an ACC event.

Also John Climo sent this a Newspaper or is it car club Magazine report on the 1st Kerepehi Grass Track meeting.
- as received; a little small but if enlarged the words are hard to read !!

in monochrome;

[Roger Dowding]

From the Programme.
Cover and List of entries have been posted in better quality from Milan Fistonic archives.

The Presidents Message and the Track map and Flag Signals pages;

The race list ;
The First race has entrants and a few in the second - again hard to read.
Races 1 to 16;
- can see D Bjerring as the only entrant in race 8, when the programme was printed.
- [ note for Ken H ]

Race 17 to 31 - a big event. [Although it is a short track and presume only 4 - 5 lap races ].

Keretown - putting Kerepehi on the Map.
The sponsors advertising ; and yes the MG has Australian Plates !!

That is it from Keretown - Kerepehi .. for the moment.

[Allan]

Ron and Dave Bjerring were first cousins. Ron passed a few years back.

[Roger Dowding]

Ron and Dave Bjerring were first cousins. Ron passed a few years back.

Thanks Allan,

Were you involved with Thames Valley Car Club ??..
my involvement was as a Spectator at the 1967 Kerepehi Grass Track and as a Trial Contestant in the TVCC round of the Interclub Mercury Trophy Trial series in the mid 1970's .. not sure how many years but would be in the 1975 - 1977 period.

Have found out Ron passed away in 2014 aged 66 ..RIP Ron Bjerring.

[Roger Dowding]

Kerepehi Domain - was first mooted in 1939 then a war got in the way
A bit of History from the Hauraki District Council site;

No mention of the Car Racing - but there was a Horse Racing Track - did they just use part of it and add the hairpin part on.. ??

" The first football and hockey games were played on the new Domain in 1947. These
clubs were well established with the football club in existence since 1920 and the
hockey club since 1926. The bowling greens opened in 1948 after substantial
volunteer work. The bowling club pavilion was built in 1951 with further additions in
1961 and 1965.
Tennis courts and new toilets were constructed in 1948 with many working bees to dig
out rushes and construct the horse racing track. In 1953 saw the construction of
shower rooms, changing sheds and kitchen that were mainly for the use of the football
club.
The caretakers house was built in 1954 and a year later in 1955 the hall was opened.

The Kerepēhi Rugby Club is now in recess. Prior to the closure of the Kerepehi Dairy
factory, rugby at Kerepēhi prospered. The area of playing field that is not used for
rugby has been set aside for grazing which reduces ground maintenance costs.

The Kerepēhi Bowling Club had an all-weather surface added to the existing green in
1993. This has enhanced an already strong Club. The Kerepēhi Indoor Bowling Club
uses the Kerepēhi Memorial Hall. The club meets around forty nights per year. " ..

[Roger Dowding]

The pictures of Waharoa Grass Track in 1956 - the photos from Dennis Marwood archives.
Mr Marwood was a well known and respected member of Hamilton Car Club.
( Any more of those images BRY3500 ?? )

Have just received the full programme details for the March 1966 event which was part of the
" DR Grasstrack Racing " series.

Mr Marwood and others are mentioned in the Programme as being among the well known " racers " within Hamilton Car Club. - more to come once images are resized to TRS standard ..

The note from the President David McCathie about Dennis Marwood Jim Palmer and the others..

[Roger Dowding]

The Cover and the Official Notes and the Note about the meeting from the President..

The Officials ;
Graham Meekings name mentioned

[Roger Dowding]

The Race Events and Entry Lists.

A good size field and many well known names from the Clubs ACC, HCC, NSCC, TVCC and even a man from the NZIGP..

The Event schedule ;

The Entrants ;-
See Alan Boyle there - he has provided Certificates for his performance at the event.
Racing and Sports cars as well as the small Saloons

Saloons 1000cc and over in various classes.

Dave Bjerring in the Cortina Race #45 - so the Ken H photo from this event.

Mix of vehicles - presume late entries and the list of trophy's.
Note that one trophy was competed for at the 1964 - 1965 Matamata Street Race meetings
- " The Round the Houses " events.

[Roger Dowding]

Notes from the Promoters ; the Matamata Public Relations Association ( Inc )

Rules of the event from the Organisers ; Hamilton Car Club and the Matamata PR Assoc.

The back Cover ;

An Advert from the programme has the service of Wide Wheel widening - a big thing in 1960's New Zealand with "Jolly Wide Wheels " a well known brand.
You didn't need to leave Matamata to get them done ..

Had Jolly Wide Wheels on my first car -front only - the 1960 Austin Se7en Mini ..
-they were 5 inch so 10 x 5, in 1967 ran the latest Firestone 5.90X 10 tyres, with the normal 10 x 3.5 with 5.20 x 10 tyres on the rear.

Wore the front tyres out very quickly

[Oldfart]

I think the letter posted above from A.D. (Doug) Turner (family friend) absolutely lays to rest the comment that street circuits were banned, at least in the case of Matamata!

[khyndart in CA]

Not sure of the year; At Waharoa, J. Sheppard's Morris Mini Cooper parked beside the Humber 80 powered with a Jaguar engine # 78 and driven by Frank Radisich. (The Humber 80 model cars were only built in NZ.)

The earlier mentioned Ford Prefect of Ron Bjerring together at the Maramarua Hillclimb. ( Year?)

(From John Climo's scrapbook.)


(KH)

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H, thanks for those..

The photo of Ron and the Prefect - I found it on " Google " under Ron Bjerring, but could not upload.
Interesting that John Climo had it - I know he has the " Cabbage Tree Corner media " files - website and Facebook - I must try harder !!.

Wonder if John Sheppard has seen that photo of his Mini ?? [ see Milan's note post #36 RIP John Sheppard ].

The Radisich Humber 80 looks decidely worn in the picture - on its 3rd engine [ second re-power - Zephyr 2553 cc then Jaguar at 3.4 or 3.8 - must check].

[Milan Fistonic]

Ken H, thanks for those..



Wonder if John Sheppard has seen that photo of his Mini ??

John died last year.

https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/nz/obitu ... =199375394

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks Milan,

A small tribute to John from his Obituary

SHEPPARD, John Moore. Born 4 September 1934 at Thames. Died Monday 5 July 2021 at Waihi. Loved brother of Doreen Hume and the late Phyllis Cornwall, Nora Needham and Barry Sheppard. Sadly missed "Clunk" to his twenty-two nieces and nephews and their children. Remembered by fellow enthusiasts in model aircraft competition, motorsports (Pukekohe racing and rallying Minis) and gliding. Past longtime organiser of Katikati's Moggie's Market.

[Roger Dowding]

Some Entry List details I have just re-discovered.

The Programme Cover 11th March 1967 - [ posted before ]
Matamata Airfield - Waharoa.

The Entrants ..

Alan Boyle - car #46 got this certificate ..Placed 2nd in the Saloon Car under 1000cc final.

[Roger Dowding]

Have had a request for photos of Jim Palmer in his early years of racing and his early cars.

Have a couple of photos of Jim Palmer - Porsche 911 at the 1971 NZ Grand Prix Meeting at Pukekohe.

Any contributions appreciated.

Jim Palmer will be a featured driver at Hampton Downs in February I understand - although have seen an advert for Taupo in January 2023 .. Chris Watson is putting a display together.

Here a photo of Jim Palmer at Hora Hora [ or is it Horahora ] Sprints. from Ken H archives.

Words, images and Entry Lists for Jim Palmer, Ardmore and Dunedin 1960 - 1961 - 1962 - a montage
Thanks to Allan for the Ardmore Programmes and Bruce D for the Dunedin one.

[Roger Dowding]

Some John Larry Lawton photos from the event.
Notes are from J L Lawton

Tony Vazey Chev Coupe ..

Bob Homewood driving Kevin Chapman ( Big Charles ) Anglia part of the Clevedon Motors Racing Team.

Kevin Clark Mini John Hallet Anglia with Doug Bremner VW in front.

Cortina and Anglia - not named ..

Mini - Ross Hollings #14.

John Hallet Anglia out wide.

Was at the meeting but took no photos and don't remember it very well.