NEW CLASS / SERIES; Historic Sports Sedans. formation meeting.20/04/13 ACC

[Rod Grimwood]

Looking at photo Roger, she still goes ok. Great you got to have a squirt. still one of my favourite cars from years gone by. Remember when you first turned up and she was fairly standard with a v8 put in, then she grew some guards and the motor sounded a bit different, then the suspension got some attention and bigger wheels, then some major body work, more trick suspension especially back then, and on she grew into a real handy Sports Sedan. Its a credit to the Davis clan.

[John McKechnie]

Rodger- Bruce and I were talking to you sunday morning. Great looking car, excellent techs-still current and looked and sounded like it couldnt wait to run again. A massive congratulations for getting it going in a short time frame , fronting and running to the end of the day.

[Rod Grimwood]

Am i right in thinking this thing was built from hannu Mikkola merc rally car that ran in NZ.

PM sent rod

Just found article on Merc build and will download and post as much info as can. Appears car was not ex rally car and car is actually mainly space frame with moulded body (plural) as developed.
Bit to scan and get ready

[nigel watts]

Great photos Richy

[rogered]

Hi John
Thanks for that , glad you both took the time to stop by and have a chat

[Steve Holmes]

Well done George...and the other owners that made it to the track with their cars.

Some interesting cars thats for sure.
Like that front end....pretty good for the 80's
Out of interest what powers the Merc?

A small block Chevy I think Ellis. Definitely not the twin-turbo set-up it had in the early/mid 80s though.

[Brett Davy]

Hi George
That was an excellent start to your season and a lot of hard work on your and your teams part to be there for our Auckland Car Club opening round at Hampton Downs. The "siddy" sounded awesome and you should be proud of the achievement.
I have had nothing but good reports about the whole day (with the exception of HD only supplying one food caravan??) and we apologize about not being able to get the car around at lunchtime for some parade laps. I did try for you but met with some resistance in the office as it wasn't permissible with permit that we had from MSNZ and the fact that you had oil issues...you know what it's like to get stuff past them. Great to have George Jnr and Brittany back at the track and well done to Jnr for winning the Ian Bean memorial trophy - his car was impressive all day!!
Keep up the good work and please let me know if we can be of assistance in any way and on behalf of the Auckland Car Club many thanks for your efforts and keep up the good work!!

[225sloper]

Was a excellent day,good number of spectators,weather held off,good classes with some neat cars.A great start to Historic Sports Sedans.Here are a few shots i took on the day.[ATTACH]21279[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21280[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21281[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21282[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21283[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21284[/ATTACH]

[225sloper]

[ATTACH]21285[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21286[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21287[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21288[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21289[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21290[/ATTACH]

[225sloper]

[ATTACH]21291[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21292[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21293[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21294[/ATTACH][ATTACH]21295[/ATTACH]

[Steve Holmes]

IMG_5362 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr

This is a good looking car Roger, when did you build it?

[George Sheweiry]

Wow great Photos sloper and snoozin, I don't know whether you guys realize just how important your fantastic photos are at documenting our motoracing heritage and some of the shots you guys get I just don't know how you do it! but I can tell you they are most appreciated here, Thank you very much.

[Rod Grimwood]

This Torana build/history could make a pretty good read. Roger and The family fronted early 80s with car, and every time you saw it something new had happened and it was qiucker. They put some work in to it over the years.

[CUSTAXIE50]

IMPORTANT MEETING at the Auckland car club rooms this coming Saturday the 14th of September 10am to finalise a set of rules for the new Historic Sports Sedans series. So if you want to have a say you need to be there. I would suggest you read the comments about which way the class should go that have been offered on this thread and talk with other interested parties BEFORE THE DAY!! For instance. Should the cut off date for cars be 1986 to make sure all the earlier lotus twin cams arent made uncompetetive by the Cosworth Sierra motor. Should we allow only replicas of NZ cars no longer around or include overseas types, and a host of other problems. If you cant make it then send me an email with your preferences and ideas because we want to include everyone and try to get it right. mailto:?subject=&body= Remember its your class so have a say!!

Looks like a great day had by one and all who turned up,well the merc is not a nz car so let them all in.Why not just let those who would like to race something build a car that fits in with the rules that you have set out for this class-no jap engines allowed.

[Oldfart]

Looks like a great day had by one and all who turned up,well the merc is not a nz car so let them all in.Why not just let those who would like to race something build a car that fits in with the rules that you have set out for this class-no jap engines allowed.

Some of the cars had Jap engines in the day! Benbrooks' Lancer rotary for one.

[John McKechnie]

In post #17, George put up a list which he had come up with, which included Benbrooks, also Findlays Datsun and Tony Rutherfords RX2. That answers any question of jap inclusion. All final details will be ironed out this Saturday morning according to an earlier George post.

[Rod Grimwood]

Japers are in as they were back then (bugger) Jigger and that litle Datsun coupe was hard to run with let alone beat in 0-2000 class, was glad when he got the Commode and beat up the big boys.

[duncan fox]

What powers the Merc ? yes that is a question that has been bandied around. I will lay money on it that its not a set of period 292 heads

George,
Rogers Merc is Australian Sports Sedans compliant as an injected 6 litre Chev, he also said he'd be more than happy to change it back to its fire belching 1000hp twin turbo 292 cylinder heads setup if you want......
Engine aside thats just one pure racecar,mid engine ,transaxle ,tube frame, no visability ,dont know how Rodg sees the apex over the engine , oh and he pedals big horsepower cars real well to boot.
I enjoyed the cars ,was good to finally see your Mustang in colors other than rust in rotton row, which ones next? Shame Grahame Addis couldnt make it he tried real hard but just too many little jobs and not enough time..
A full field will look spectacular, possibly even better than the 5000's.......................

[Jizim]

Looking at photo Roger, she still goes ok. Great you got to have a squirt. still one of my favourite cars from years gone by. Remember when you first turned up and she was fairly standard with a v8 put in, then she grew some guards and the motor sounded a bit different, then the suspension got some attention and bigger wheels, then some major body work, more trick suspension especially back then, and on she grew into a real handy Sports Sedan. Its a credit to the Davis clan.

Sorry I didn't get the time to come over and chat Roger...bloody great effort you guys.....and I just love this Torana and echo what the others say....full credit Team...full credit. Shame the other didn't turn up although I did hear it wasn't through not trying. Pity you had to leave early Rod...you maybe could be the bar b que man at the next outing? Oh AND I will try organise you some preferrential parking of your own!! Ha ha ha top stuff mate. Regards, Tony Rutherford.

[Rod Grimwood]

That parking is pretty precious Tony, will come fully armed next time.