The Roaring Season

SEAQNMAC 27, I think the SUNBEAM/IMP might be Bill Leckie, he had one which originally had a BDA? in rear seat area( front of rear axle ) & was made to shift it to the original type rear mounting later...did not slow him down much if at all either...

Snoozing, Red car was Don Halliday of the infamous Halliday Brothers/racing and ran in BNSW championship and the yellow one was Roy Harrington who won Shellsport i believe. Both cars legends in their time and great to see. Jac Mac think you right with Imp also, remember that thing, it was quick.

As mentioned before Steve that little Datsun of yours was one out of the bag, had a great career.

Rod Grimwood wrote:Snoozing, Red car was Don Halliday of the infamous Halliday Brothers/racing and ran in BNSW championship and the yellow one was Roy Harrington who won Shellsport i believe. Both cars legends in their time and great to see. Jac Mac think you right with Imp also, remember that thing, it was quick.

As mentioned before Steve that little Datsun of yours was one out of the bag, had a great career.

Roy won it in 82/83 from memory I did not get to see much of that season as we had just moved to Invercargill and everything was still a bit of a mess. so my memories came from my magazine subscription NZ Motoring News?? David McKinney mag.

Thank you Jack, finally an answer, so that would be from 75? predating his Capri which I would have seen race but I was too busy watching Pat Crea's Cortina, which unfortunately lost its bonnet latch as the Francevic Volvo would famously go on to do years later.

seaqnmac27 wrote:
Thank you Jack, finally an answer, so that would be from 75? predating his Capri which I would have seen race but I was too busy watching Pat Crea's Cortina, which unfortunately lost its bonnet latch as the Francevic Volvo would famously go on to do years later.

[color="#0000FF"]That fits in I think, my memory of the Capris first ( might have been its only appearance ) at Teretonga was as under 4200cc? & can remember it with twin pipes that extended right out to rear of car, this was before it got the big box-like flares etc, bloody quick as well...[/color]

Hi Steve/Rod, thanks for that... I'm finding this stuff incredibly interesting. If I see anything else out and about I'll post a few more shots here and there I'd love to see a bit of a reunion of this stuff at the Denny Hulme meeting, or just anywhere... all amazing stuff I missed out on.

Snoozin wrote:A couple of shots from Hampton Downs this weekend that may be relevant to the thread... (is the red car a Shellsport car? Be gentle... this stuff is all before my time unfortunately )


IMG_6255 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr


IMG_6278 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr


IMG_6273 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr


IMG_6293 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr

Wow, nice pics! That Harrington car looks a million bucks!

The Halliday machine is now owned by John Dennehy, who is a member on here. It was restored by Jeff Claire, who from memory fitted the car with a mild BDA, but I'm pretty sure John had since fitted it with a fully worked BDG. It goes like stink!

Snoozin wrote:Hi Steve/Rod, thanks for that... I'm finding this stuff incredibly interesting. If I see anything else out and about I'll post a few more shots here and there I'd love to see a bit of a reunion of this stuff at the Denny Hulme meeting, or just anywhere... all amazing stuff I missed out on.

Give me the Lotto numbers and there will be one more

Rod Grimwood wrote:Snoozing, Red car was Don Halliday of the infamous Halliday Brothers/racing and ran in BNSW championship and the yellow one was Roy Harrington who won Shellsport i believe. Both cars legends in their time and great to see. Jac Mac think you right with Imp also, remember that thing, it was quick.

As mentioned before Steve that little Datsun of yours was one out of the bag, had a great career.

Rex Hart also ran a Mk1 BDA Escort that I recall also ran in NZ Freighters colours. Not sure if this car still exists and there does not appear to be a lot written about it in this forum. Think Rex won his class or championship with it before buying the ex Graeme Lawrence Surtess.

3 shots from 1975 courtesy of Kevin Thomson
Reg Cook first Datsun 1200 after he got a sponsor

Reg CookDatsun 1200

Rex Hart Escort as mentioned


Now theres a subtle change between pics one and 2 of the Cook 1200, The first one he has a small wing on the boot the second he doesn't, is this pure aerodynamic testing or had something happened??

Fantastic pics Kevin! Thanks for posting Sean. Wow, those spectators are just sat there right on the outside of that turn in the first pic.

Rod Grimwood wrote:Yep Steve, it looks like a 1200 Coupe, (bet thats not what was uder the bonnet) certainly not a 120y

Good old Escorts ah Mk1 or Mk11, no need for dictionary to work out.

1300 Pushrod was all that was required to be competitive in a Shellsport KB110 !

I found these photos while searching my records and thought they may be of interest

These are great Ross!

Just imagine that hill stand done the same as Manfeild modern plastic flip up seats all the way along and 20 rows high!!!

No idea when this was taken, other than it is not before 1983!

ERC wrote:No idea when this was taken, other than it is not before 1983!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12720[/ATTACH]

It is definitely 82/83 season - possibly the November 1982 meeting or GP meeting in January 1983

Wow, thats a great photo Ray! Thanks for posting.

Lurker wrote:It is definitely 82/83 season - possibly the November 1982 meeting or GP meeting in January 1983

As I didn't arrive in NZ until January 1983, it is definitely NOT the 1982 meeting! Thanks for that though. Dating many of my pics is a tough call without a fair bit of either research or wading through old race programmes.

I have started a spreadsheet listing regular driver/car combinations and their race numbers at known meetings (usually where I have a race programme). Very slow work but interesting. The digital age is so much easier.

With over 300 race programmes to wade through, ranging from prewar Donington, through many clubbie and international UK meetings, then sprint/hillclimb results sheets of my own competitions from the UK, it keeps me off the streets at night...

ERC wrote:As I didn't arrive in NZ until January 1983, it is definitely NOT the 1982 meeting! Thanks for that though. Dating many of my pics is a tough call without a fair bit of either research or wading through old race programmes.

I have started a spreadsheet listing regular driver/car combinations and their race numbers at known meetings (usually where I have a race programme). Very slow work but interesting. The digital age is so much easier.

With over 300 race programmes to wade through, ranging from prewar Donington, through many clubbie and international UK meetings, then sprint/hillclimb results sheets of my own competitions from the UK, it keeps me off the streets at night...

In thinking a bit more about it could have the 1983 Puke meeting a week prior to Easter. That was the meeting that Greg Lancaster dive bombed Harrington at the hairpin and the next week was spent splicing a new front on the Escort in time for Bay Park where Harrington and the Escort won the Championship from Reg Cook in the last race of the season in the wet.

ERC - check your PM

News received from John Gobbe today indicated that this organisation now has its own website and their first meeting will be at the Skope meeting in February 2013

http://www.shellsportmotoracing.co/Latest-News.html

I think that this will be a great series in a year or so and already there are some great cars that have been mentioned in various threads on this website being rebuilt. I am interested in the number of Starlets being built up. Hope we see a variety other than just the Escorts and Datsuns.

If anyone is interested I could send on John's email with the list of cars ready or being rebuilt at present.