Dunedin Street Races - revival meeting January 1984

[Roger Dowding]

Small Saloons Race 1,
and Sports Cars Race 2,
March 1965 - same field of Sports Cars as Race 10 below

Saloons Heats 1 and 2

Saloons heat 1 - The same entry lists from Milan Fistonic

Saloons heat 2 - The same entry lists from Milan Fistonic again.

Sports Cars - Race 10
The Austin Healey 4000 #34 1965 I believe as the number is in the following Lap Charts

Lap Charts 1965 meeting Race 10

1st R McNair, 2nd W " Bill " Dunster AH 3000 #28 3rd B. C. " Charlie " Conway AH 100 #40 ? , 4th Pat McLaughlin #34 AH 4000
Can't see McNair in the entry list 1965 - late entry perhaps ?

[Roger Dowding]

Had a bit of a drive today coming from the West - Kaimai - Tauranga Road, along Broadway, past Hohaia Street, Meura Street and Tanui Street - used in the course before turning into Arawa Street and heading North-ish.
No photos as the Navigator was in the car and it was raining.

At the time of the Race Meetings the "Town " was a " borough " - as noted in this Wiki.. post

" In 1865 Josiah Firth negotiated with Ngāti Hauā leader Wiremu Tamihana and leased a large area of land, including the future site of the town which he named after the pā.
Firth constructed a dray road to Cambridge and cleared the Waihou River so that it was navigable by his (small) boats.
Peria, on the outskirts of Matamata, was the scene of the Kīngitanga meeting of 1863.
Firth's estate later failed and by 1904 had been wholly obtained by the Crown and was subdivided into dairy farm units to take advantage of the new technology of refrigeration.
It became a dependent Town District in 1917, an independent Town District in 1919 and was constituted a borough in 1935. With the re-organisation of territorial authorities in New Zealand in 1989, Matamata became part of the Matamata-Piako District.
"

I notice in the photos by Alan Boyle of the Ford Zephyr Mark 2 Race #30 which is on the corner by the Library and Memorial Hall building [ must have been just across from Cleaver Motors as can see the Morris sign reflecting in the window ] - in the background is the Regent Theatre which is / was on Broadway on the North Side.

The Regent Theatre and the AA Direction signs from this circa 1950 of Broadway shows a central median with the signs.

Photo from Richard Armstrong archives - Richard is a Motoring guy who took many photos in the 1960's 70's 80's of Rally and Racing meetings particularly in the Waikato area.
Checked and the image is Photo Stock when you Google " Matamata " - there are many images of the town in the 1950's 60's.

Based on the current map the Regent Theatre building is still there, but not as a Theatre at Number 90 Broadway.
It closed in 1988.

Another photo of the Theatre and a photo of the Memorial Hall which I first thought was the Council Chamber being next to the Library and where the current Matamata Piako Council Building is in Tainui Street.

Looking for any more photos and information on the Matamata Race Meetings, Programme pages - entry lists, Newspaper cuttings etc..
Please post on here or PM me
Thanks

Roger

[Roger Dowding]

Newspaper or magazine article from the 1965 meeting Glen Ducey archives.
Head Photo - Johnny Riley #17 2.5 Lotus #17 Graeme Park Plymouth Coupe #92 spinning
Middle photos - D Jeffries Cooper Norton #6, Brian Innes Morris Cooper #85 and a Zephyr
Bottom Row - Jim Boyd Lycoming #41, Andy Buchanan 1.4 Cooper #8, Cortina GT spinning R Elmiger [ spelling ] Cortina GT #76

A photo of Johnny Riley #17 Lotus at Matamata from Graham Woods archives

[khyndart in CA]

Spinner stated that the Lola he drove at Matamata was one that he got from Johnny Riley in a deal for a boat !
The car a (Lola Mk2 / Ford) was first brought into the country by John Histed so it could be ready for the 1962 NZGP at Ardmore meet.
The car was then sold to Ken Smith and then onto John Riley before reaching Spinner.

Ken Smith about 1963 in the Lola that S. Black drove at Matamata in 1965.



(Ken H)

[Oldfart]

Roger, my Dad was the Town Clerk of the Borough Council when the races were run. He was appointed the day the DC3 crashed on the Kaimais.
In the pic you have in post #231 of the coupes in a cloud of dust, you can see the Council offices (where locals booked their appointments for driver licence tests etc). Dad's office was right on the corner diagonally across from Cleaver motors. Next building following the race course was the little Public library, clad in fibrolite, then the Memorial Hall.
Ivan Toomey, one of the organising committee was on the council and perhaps Doug Turner too. Ken Gouk was the Mayor (Owner of Gouk Motors which were on Broadway.

[Kevin Hirst]

Roger, my Dad was the Town Clerk of the Borough Council when the races were run. He was appointed the day the DC3 crashed on the Kaimais.
In the pic you have in post #231 of the coupes in a cloud of dust, you can see the Council offices (where locals booked their appointments for driver licence tests etc). Dad's office was right on the corner diagonally across from Cleaver motors. Next building following the race course was the little Public library, clad in fibrolite, then the Memorial Hall.
Ivan Toomey, one of the organising committee was on the council and perhaps Doug Turner too. Ken Gouk was the Mayor (Owner of Gouk Motors which were on Broadway.

I started my apprenticeship at Cowling Bros, ford dealer's on broadway in 1957 Maurice Cowling,of speedway fame was the bosses son who had just started primary school about the same time. bradford truck was shop hack. parts guy had brough superior 100 commute bike.

[Grant Ellwood]

I started my apprenticeship at Cowling Bros, ford dealer's on broadway in 1957 Maurice Cowling,of speedway fame was the bosses son who had just started primary school about the same time. bradford truck was shop hack. parts guy had brough superior 100 commute bike.

Maurice Cowling was a great speedway driver, the King of Bay Park!

[Roger Dowding]

Roger, my Dad was the Town Clerk of the Borough Council when the races were run. He was appointed the day the DC3 crashed on the Kaimais.
In the pic you have in post #231 of the coupes in a cloud of dust, you can see the Council offices (where locals booked their appointments for driver licence tests etc). Dad's office was right on the corner diagonally across from Cleaver motors. Next building following the race course was the little Public library, clad in fibrolite, then the Memorial Hall.
Ivan Toomey, one of the organising committee was on the council and perhaps Doug Turner too. Ken Gouk was the Mayor (Owner of Gouk Motors which were on Broadway.

Oldfart, Kevin H Ken H and others - thanks for the information - have just spent some time re examining the photos and will add comments.

I note in some of the photos the 1961 -64 Number Plates
[ Black Letters on Yellow background - last of the Old style 5 yearly plates ]
- which helps date the photos plus then with the race numbers for the cars can relate to the Entry Lists I have. " Borrowed " of course.

Will go back and edit the posts from the first on Matamata - Pages 11 and 12 [ Posts # 221 and #228 - #232 - adding Car Race numbers, Drivers where Identified and confirming / correcting the Date(s).

Appreciate all the notes and comments - Pleased that the events bring back good memories.
I know too, that " Oldfart " " Ken H " " Kevin Hirst " lived around the Matamata Piako / Waikato area at the time. Thanks to Milan as well, he is almost a local, living in Paeroa - just across the County border

Have also rediscovered this photo - which have now renamed so it sits with others on the Matamata story within my filing system { system - a complicated one } ..

Saloons " Allcomers " on the Start line [ ** Confirmed as 1964 ]
Ford Corvette #60 Johnny Riley, Ford Anglia #37 Ivan Segedin, Holden FJ G Harvey #48
Second Row - Willys Corvette I W " Red "Dawson #59 - The Jennings Spcl Fiat further back

[Oldfart]

That photo is on the first year start line. Milan mentioned earlier that for the second year it moved further along the street to near the Catholic Church. Background church and buildings in the background above the Willys coupe and the Jennings Special in this one are the Anglican Church.

[Roger Dowding]

That photo is on the first year start line. Milan mentioned earlier that for the second year it moved further along the street to near the Catholic Church. Background church and buildings in the background above the Willys coupe and the Jennings Special in this one are the Anglican Church.

Thanks Rhys,
That helps with dating other photos too !! - so it is 1964,must go and correct a few other things - the Jennings Special raced in 1964 and 1965 -
- 1964 shown as No 56 M Jennings Club Northern Jennings Spcl capacity 4025 [ cc ]
- 1965 shown as No 100 M Jennings Club Auckland Jennings Fiat capacity 6025 [ cc ] - a typo surely ?? or was it repowered ???

Also seems correct as Johnny Riley Ford Corvette Race # 60 and Ivan Segedin Anglia Race #37 in 1964
The Heat One and Two Saloon Car Races do not show the Graeme Harvey Holden #48 - a late entry perhaps. ** Seems the writer needs to read properly - the Car 48 Holden is there at 2100 cc
The entry list for the Heats 1 and 2 = 1964

[Milan Fistonic]

Quote Roger Dowding The Heat One and Two Saloon Car Races do not show the Graeme Harvey Holden #48 - a late entry perhaps.
The entry list for the Heats 1 and 2 = 1964

Yes they do - check Heat 2 - 48 G Harvey Holden

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
Thanks for your research and sharing.
What a wonderful memory seeing all those great names in NZ motor racing, competing together and certainly not for the money but for the competition and camaraderie and instilling a love of the sport in a young man (me ) that would last a lifetime.
Bless each one of them.

(Ken H)

p.s. My apprentice wage in 1966 was 5 pound and 3 pence a week which was about the prize for coming in second in this above race in Matamata. ( And we both worked hard to earn it !)

[Roger Dowding]

Quote Roger Dowding The Heat One and Two Saloon Car Races do not show the Graeme Harvey Holden #48 - a late entry perhaps.
The entry list for the Heats 1 and 2 = 1964

Yes they do - check Heat 2 - 48 G Harvey Holden

Milan Thanks, Appreciate your help - I think I need it - there it is at 2100 cc - the old Grey Motor - I presume - Harvey left a few cc off !
[ It displaced 132.5 cubic inches (2,170 cc) in its original form as used by the 48-215 (1948), ]
Crikey must clean my glasses - gave it a " boys look " as my wife would say. Oh well better have another coffee and stay awake

[Roger Dowding]

Just been going back over this thread and some of the Matamata photos [ Alan Boyle ones taken in Cleaver Motors ] and the results had been posted a while back [ those from Graham Woods ].
By reposting it has bought all that I have on the events into several consecutive of pages on the thread Pages #11 to #13.

Have a small number of photos of Kerepehi Grass Track and some details of a Waharoa Grass Track events [ Kerepehi run by Thames Valley Car Club, and Waharoa run by Hamilton car Club, who also ran the Matamata Festival events.

Went to Kerepehi for the February 1967 meeting at the Domain.

[Oldfart]

Hamilton Car Club also ran the Raglan Grass Track events.

[bry3500]

Footage from 1986 [video=youtube;2UFKMRLJoBU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFKMRLJoBU[/video]

[Roger Dowding]

Bry3500 thanks for the Dunedin 1986 Film Clip - Will watch it soon

[khyndart in CA]

I found this wonderful 1 hour documentary regarding the first NZ street races at Dunedin in 1953.
Hoping you enjoy it as much as I did.

[video=youtube_share;Tqei0rZ0p7Q]https://youtu.be/Tqei0rZ0p7Q[/video]






(Ken H)

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H and Bry3500 - how do you guys get the Film / Video / Youtube Clips to show like in the recent posts #251 and #253.
I seem just to get the link up not the preview of the Clip - Operator error ?- Old laptop [ a 2008 one ] ?? or ???.

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
I hope you can get the 1953 Dunedin Youtube to play. Just hit the arrow by Bob Gibson's nose and away you go.