Photos: The Ken Hyndman Collection

[Grant Sprague]

Great stuff Ken , Thank you .......... Grant

[khyndart in CA]

When I was reading about the early driving days of Jim Richards, it mentioned he had driven at the 1/4 mile sprints at Tamahere between Hamilton and Cambridge in the 1960s. The Bruntwood straight, Waharoa airfield, Matamata road races and Raglan were some of my earliest memories of car racing. As I have previously posted, I enjoyed this entry by "Amco72"
"I found this wonderful description of the Bruntwood 1/4 mile written about 5 years ago by "Amco72".

" Anyone remember the standing and flying 1/4 mile sprints that the Hamilton Car Club held on the Bruntwood straight.....was on the back road between Hamilton and Cambridge. At that time, 1967, there were only about two farm houses down that stretch of road and most of the land either side was owned by a rough-as-guts farmer....Walter Byrne. I had a farm just a mile further on from the 'straight' in Mills road and used to attend this, what was an annual event. The last time I saw Logan Fow and the Ferrari GTO was there...wish I'd had a camera. Another competitor was Dennis Marwood in the Humber 80. Walter, the rough-as guts' farmer had a Daimler SP250 which he used to literally blow the cobwebs out of. Also a strange early front engined dragster powered by a WW2 Allison aircraft engine.....the type that powered the Mustang...the American fighter/bomber that is. I remember the 'officials' getting all us spectators well back from the road before they would let this thing go. Had a remote starter that plugged into the side. It certainly sounded the part but was disappointing as far as time was concerned, popping and banging it's way down the course. Logan could have given it 100 meters start and still beaten it in the GTO. There was also another very rough, and I mean ROUGH, old HWM sports car..maroon in colour with disc wheels that had been hugely extended. I recall this because not only had they been extended but also had pieces of steel strip spaced round the wheel like spokes to strengthen the widened piece. One of the strips had FALLEN OFF...shonky welding....and the owner was attempting to remove the strip opposite to try and balance the wheel.!!!!!!!!!!! Imagine that flying off when the car was doing a run. Anyway it was just a heap of junk, although probably hugely valuable today. I think Marwood had a better time. But everyone was there having a go with scrutinering in an adjacent paddock. One competitor with a Wolseley 6/99 was having a 'discussion' with the official who had just failed the Wolseley because of a worn tie-rod end. The said competitor was really getting very wound up and giving the tester a tune-up, telling him that the car would be OK because 'he was a mechanic and knew about these things'. Imagine that today.......'on yer bike sonny'. ".


Thank you Gerald,
That description certainly brought back memories for me.

I am sure these guys were entered at Tamahere before the days of the " Motordrome Team" and the "Fleetwood" Mustang.

( Ken Hyndman ..scrapbook cutting )
If anyone has a Tamahere memory or photo etc. please share it..thanks.

[khyndart in CA]

I remember going to an airshow at Rukuhia which is the airport area for Hamilton in 1956. Due to the large crowd we had to enter from the side near the Waikato River and as we drove in all the gullies were filled with WW 2 American aircraft in various stages of being stripped of useful parts. Imagine what they would be worth now. It is probably where the Mustang Allison engine came from. I think it was all bulldozed over to make way for the airport expansion and Mystery Creek etc.


(Ken Hyndman )

[Oldfart]

Ken, did you ever go into Valentines in Hamilton where the war surplus stuff was sold, much of it from those planes being dismantled at Rukuhia. I remember large numbers of Corsairs too.

[GD66]

Can't 100% remember the name of the intrepid Allison dragster pilot, but I think it may have been Bill Grant.

[John McKechnie]

Ken- this is for you on the HWM-#221
At the January festival this year Graeme Park introduced me to Graham Hellen who ran the HWM at these events Gerald Fogg talked about.
Graeme said he was racing his Coupe against Graham at the time in about 1965.
GP said he went to GHs place one night and got taken for a big blat on the Ngatea straights doing 130mph.
When they got back GP noticed tyres were down to canvas.

[John McKechnie]

Ken- this is for you on the HWM-#221
GH is still around running in the Time Trials at Hampton Downs, and a flaggy at Leadfoot this year.
I asked him about the HWM and he said that he owned it as a young guy, no cash....... hence condition.
This is his recollection-
Originally was a 1950s F1 car which the factory turned 12 into sports racing cars for the likes of Stirling Moss to compete.
The powerful ALTA racing motors were removed and others fitted.
Avery Bros , Hamilton who had Melville reconditioners imported it and fitted a 272.
He got it from John Donnely from Auckland and is sure Bob Friend used to help him.
Corvette motor and Jaguar gearbox were the running gear.-1965.
He took the motor out to 304, new pistons.
Always annoying with the brakes and finally after a run at Puke , took the front stub axles off to change the brakes.
While the stub axle was in the vice at a workshop, a guy came up with a large hammer and whacked it, the stub axle broke clean in half across the face. The other guy had seen the crack and acted accordingly.
They were Vanguard and only 15 years old.
New ones were fitted.
Also while racing the 2 x4 barrel carbs kept flooding in the corners, so he got a inlet manifold and 3x2 barrel Rochester from the USA.
Car went from him to John Monyhan- see Stanton Corvette.
Finally after the $350k resto, he sat in it again and declared it still felt the same.
Car runs in UK with Gentleman Racers.
His words here- thank you for your memories Graham.

[rogered]

Can't 100% remember the name of the intrepid Allison dragster pilot, but I think it may have been Bill Grant.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]34397[/ATTACH]

correct

[khyndart in CA]

Ken, did you ever go into Valentines in Hamilton where the war surplus stuff was sold, much of it from those planes being dismantled at Rukuhia. I remember large numbers of Corsairs too.

Rhys,
I remember mum waiting for dad as he went through Valentines. One day we got an old army surplus jeep for running around the farm.
That is what I learnt to drive in before going out on the road. That thing could go anywhere except when it got away from my brother as he closed a gate and it went ripping down a hill and the impact at the bottom broke the crankshaft. Dad converted it into a trailer. See, just another memory that you revived.Thanks.
John,
Thanks for the great stories about the HWM.
When you get a chance read this site;

http://forums.autosport.com/topic/149273-early-waikato-motorsport/

Thanks guys,
Ken H

[Oldfart]

That dragster ran in a meet in Matamata down Rawhiti Ave. Started just town side of Price Terrace. We lived on the corner, free grandstand, but then everyone was free anyway. That must have been in the same years as the Round the Houses or close to.
I also had a go at Bruntwood, one year in the Husky and later in the MGA

[khyndart in CA]

Rhys,
Did you live in Matamata, near where this photo was taken by Terry Marshall in 1965 ?
His friend Bryan Innes is in his Mini Cooper chasing Rod Coppins Zephyr Corvette.
Wonderful memories, life seemed so simple and fun back then. (Actually it still is.)

(Terry Marshall photo..Matamata road races 1965 )




( Ken Hyndman )

[Oldfart]

Yes Ken, I reckon that is the corner of Hohaia and Tamihana Sts. Cop the understeer on Bryan's car!
My dad was the town clerk who approved the Round the Houses going ahead. Story there relating to my best school friend now left us.

[khyndart in CA]

Here is the TRS thread on the HWM.
http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?1809-HWM-Sports&highlight=amco72


(KH)

[khyndart in CA]

A flash back to August 1991 of a present F1 driver, Jenson Button.
A wonderful racing career lay ahead for this young lad. Is it coming to an end ?

(Autosport August 1991.)



(Ken Hyndman.)

[khyndart in CA]

So while many of you out there are working on V-8s, V-6s, twin cams et. etc. Hyndman was struggling with 4 cylinder Mini issues.
My 62 Mini Cooper had bores that were oval and smoked so bad I could only drive at night plus the gearbox was worn and hard to find parts for. Also I am cheap and have a back that does not bend and I did not want to pay somebody to do the work.
I found a seized 1985 A+ engine and gearbox with shift linkage about to be used as landfill. Sparkplugs had been left out and it was full of water !
I located a decent 1100 block and put in new pistons and mated the later gearbox up to it and with the bigger drive shafts and brakes have been putting it slowly back together plus some ale and "Aleve".
I started it up this weekend and now cruising the local roads again after a 6 month break.
Some photos to show the different stages and now out with the "Big Boys" again.

(Note the alternative transportation in the background.)

He had to pull over when he realized he could not get away ! (Dream on Hyndman.)

(I was not the only Kiwi in Los Olivos on Saturday night.)
(Ken Hyndman )

[928]

flash tow car for just a mini, ken

[khyndart in CA]

Hey, I think I did pretty good for an almost 68 year old working alone. We are a disappearing breed as no one here wants to work on original minis. They would rather tear them up and put in Honda V-Tech engines !

I still like the look of mine with Austin 1100 front seats to help my back.

( Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

Some Bay Park old photos. Perhaps some of you are in the crowd scenes. I need help with naming the cars and drivers and when. Sorry about the quality but you all encourage to put in what we have as it is better than not at all and someone may recall something from these events.
I also want to ask again about the sports car lined up in front of my brother's Mini at the back here at Bay Park.

Also this was the first time McRae had the McLaren M10A out on the track alongside Graham Lawrence's Ferrari.

OK. I need help with these please. Who and when etc.

( Ken Hyndman photos )

[khyndart in CA]

So Steve,
How is your 1964 Ford Galaxie coming along ?
I think this should be your colour scheme.

Ken H
(I did not do my homework on this one that was sold last month.)

[khyndart in CA]

I found this Mike Feisst photo of the Nov. 16 1969 race where Graham McRae first drove the McLaren M10A # 22 at Bay Park.
Plus some other photos from that day.

(Mike Feisst photo ) (Thanks Mike )

Loading the McLaren after practice.

(Nervously watching my brother start this race. )


(Ken Hyndman photos )