Austin-HealeyÂ’s and the Austin Healey Car Club of NZ and Others

[Roger Dowding]

More Lotii, the second Seven was supposed to be in the first set.

Ford Cortinas- powered by Lotus or was it " Lotus powered by Ford ".

Rob Whitehouse amazing Lancia Stratos - believe left NZ a few years later for the UK.

and the Stratos again

Another E-type

To follow, Healey's big and small, Daimler SP250's, Marcos, Morgan, Buckler, Sunbeam and a Triumph TR, from the 1985 shots, then we will move to 1988 again

[Roger Dowding]

Roger, the Otaua Hill Climb is alive and well, and has been for at least the last 15 years I've been a member of the MGCC. The MGCC ( Auckland ) still organise and run it, in fact the 2015 edition was run just a couple of weeks ago.

Must mention the " Eligibilty " of the vehicles that could compete, it was based around Classic Sports as the Healeys were, and allowed saloons of Classic status but a very important part of the acceptance was a clause that said,
" any vehicle acceptable to the organisers "
, hence vintage " the BSA " and single seaters that were not road registered, John Wigstons car and a couple of others that did compete.
Was a big event to organise for a club that was largely social and not into competitive events, they ran Gymkhana's in the early days with kids as passengers, a bit like Vintage Clubs did, then a few got the racing / competing bug and moved into those events, the Hill Climb the Le mans relay races etc..

Not sure what the rules are these days.

[Andrew Metford]

It's largely club / race / Targa cars and road cars, with a few rally cars now and then. Thames Valley Car Club usually have a few members in attendance, at least they did when I was around to see it. Not sure if you could put a single seater in it these days.

I'll enter it again one day when I finish working over the ditch.

[Roger Dowding]

A much modified 3000, think it is Frank Karls purple one in another iteration, small windscreen and has the side vents and those big hotwire type wheels.

getting closer

Up close

same colour but smaller " I shrunk the Healey !! "

another Sprite - this may have been at the Classic Le Mans races at Pukekohe but on the same film " mar 85 ".
Cameron Mackay and a hidden Team Healey guy working on the wheel.

[Roger Dowding]

Three shots of Daimler SP250's , and a TR5, [ I think - cut the tail off, bad panning ].

change of colour

and the TR - they did share some mechanicals I believe .. steering rack, suspension or ??.

[Roger Dowding]

Some of the rarer competitors - all sports cars

Morgan - Derek Atkinson was a regular entrant - but is this him ??

Buckler I love these, remember Bruce Sutcliffe as a regular competitor in various events - unsure whose this is !!

Marcos, please help me here, think this one was Volvo powered !!

That is the last of 1985 pics

1988 to follow

[Roger Dowding]

JAFA " I'll enter it again one day when I finish working over the ditch. " were are you this land of Ours / Auss, I am in Queensland between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast on an Island that has a Road Bridge - the only such Island in QLD.
Probably will not compete again, but would love to spectate again, as I did some years, most years I was a Marshall and / or Organiser.

[Andrew Metford]

Based in Perth, work in and around the North West Shelf / Pilbara area. My commute to work ( each way ) is the same distance as Auckland to Invercargill, fortunately work transports me, and it's not daily.

When I tell me friends at home it takes me 2 hours on a jet plane to get to work, then I stay there for 4 weeks and work every day of those 4 weeks, then fly back to town and have a week off before doing it all again, they can't comprehend it, working 1600-odd km's away from where you live and the time away from civilisation and everything people take for granted etc. I guess you can't unless you've actually done it. It took me a while to get used to it.

It's been an experience, I'll tell you that, and not always good either. It's very draining, mentally more than physically, and I can understand why suicide is such a big problem in the industry.

Not long now, 16 months and counting, can't wait to get out of here, hot sandy hell hole, and that's just Perth!!

[John McKechnie]

Roger -are you on Briebie Island, eating Moreton Bay Bugs ?
22 years ago a Kiwi over there got me to come over and trim a 1912 Model T for him- he couldnt find a Trimmer over there.
It had a Road Bridge, and cane toads to soften your steps at night.

[ERC]

Some of the rarer competitors - all sports cars

Marcos, please help me here, think this one was Volvo powered !!

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That is the last of 1985 pics.

When the AHCC dropped out, MGCC picked it up! Derek Prior, then the MGCC President and I got involved. I changed the timing system that the MGCC used which was electronic, one car at a time on the hill, which is not very efficient. Timing to 1/100th of a second is not required, so I initiated three or 4 stopwatches at the finish line, with a radio call from the start line "car #39: 3 - 2 -1 Go!"

I had all results printed out at the Tavern almost as soon as the track had been cleared from the last run...

Yellow Marcos looks to be my car, based on the Cosmic wheels, too large rear tyres and probably driven by Richard Atkinson, but the graphics on the side don't strike a chord and I can't see the lower sill, which is the main give away. If so, yes, 3 litre Volvo - one of just 198 made and one of the few with a competition history, as most racers in Europe use the smaller, lighter B20 (1800cc) engine.

OR - It could be Pete Johns from Napier... It would be nice to be sure. The only other Marcos Volvo 3 litre in the country was/is black, owned and raced then by Dave Walker.
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This was taken in 1985 too, definitely Richard Atkinson (my car) and there is probably a difference in driver helmets as well as the graphics, and no MOC badge in the lower left screen. So who knows? Maybe Richard had only just bought it?

Richard eventually had two Marcos, both painted yellow. Your pic is most likely the Volvo one as I don't think he'd then acquired the Ford V6 which was blue and plywood chassis, currently owned by Historic Formula Ford racer Phil Foulkes (unless he's sold it).

The red Daimler SP250 with white stripes I think is Rob Douglas.

The white Morgan could be Paul Leuch as I think it is before Derek Atkinson's move up from a Plus 4 and that looks to be an early +8. If so, the car is currently owned by Chris Fraser.

[Roger Dowding]

When the AHCC dropped out, MGCC picked it up! Derek Prior, then the MGCC President and I got involved. I changed the timing system that the MGCC used which was electronic, one car at a time on the hill, which is not very efficient. Timing to 1/100th of a second is not required, so I initiated three or 4 stopwatches at the finish line, with a radio call from the start line "car #39: 3 - 2 -1 Go!"

I had all results printed out at the Tavern almost as soon as the track had been cleared from the last run...

Yellow Marcos looks to be my car, based on the Cosmic wheels, too large rear tyres and probably driven by Richard Atkinson, but the graphics on the side don't strike a chord and I can't see the lower sill, which is the main give away. If so, yes, 3 litre Volvo - one of just 198 made and one of the few with a competition history, as most racers in Europe use the smaller, lighter B20 (1800cc) engine.

OR - It could be Pete Johns from Napier... It would be nice to be sure. The only other Marcos Volvo 3 litre in the country was/is black, owned and raced then by Dave Walker.
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This was taken in 1985 too, definitely Richard Atkinson (my car) and there is probably a difference in driver helmets as well as the graphics, and no MOC badge in the lower left screen. So who knows? Maybe Richard had only just bought it?

Richard eventually had two Marcos, both painted yellow. Your pic is most likely the Volvo one as I don't think he'd then acquired the Ford V6 which was blue and plywood chassis, currently owned by Historic Formula Ford racer Phil Foulkes (unless he's sold it).

The red Daimler SP250 with white stripes I think is Rob Douglas.

The white Morgan could be Paul Leuch as I think it is before Derek Atkinson's move up from a Plus 4 and that looks to be an early +8. If so, the car is currently owned by Chris Fraser.

ERC, Ray thanks for that information about both the Hill Climb and the cars. I knew Derek Prior - he had a very nice well sorted MGB which he raced .. not sure if he ever did the Otaua Hill when AHCC ran it.
thanks again.

Oh as an aside - our timing was by stopwatch at the top with the car starts being radioed R/T's I think to Bruce and others at the finish line, no hockey sticks The Radios were provided by a Car Club member who had an R/T business.


Roger

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of TR's

and a couple of Cortina's - could be same car can't quite get the Rego plate.

This Lotus Cortina features in post #41 as well with number plate more readable.

[ERC]

and a TVR Vixen !!.
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I think that may well be Alan Lacey and I don't think it is a Vixen. Probably a 3000M. He was a buddy of the 2 Marcos drivers. He later raced a Capri 3 litre and did Targa in a Sierra 4x4.

Post #52 could be Chris Watson.

Just for you Roger. (Chris White's car I believe.)
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[Roger Dowding]

I think that may well be Alan Lacey and I don't think it is a Vixen. Probably a 3000M. He was a buddy of the 2 Marcos drivers. He later raced a Capri 3 litre and did Targa in a Sierra 4x4.

Post #52 could be Chris Watson.

Just for you Roger. (Chris White's car I believe.)
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ERC thanks and yes it is.. there was also a sticker that said " Healey Drivers go in deeper and come out harder ", no idea what that mean't !!

[khyndart in CA]

I thought that was for a Ginger biscuit dipped in a cup of tea !


KH

[Roger Dowding]

Roger -are you on Briebie Island, eating Moreton Bay Bugs ?
22 years ago a Kiwi over there got me to come over and trim a 1912 Model T for him- he couldnt find a Trimmer over there.
It had a Road Bridge, and cane toads to soften your steps at night.

John M,
Bridge still here on Bribie to " connect us to Australia " as we locals say and yes Moreton Bay Bugs are great, the Cane Toads no so, bloody noisy smelly horrible creatures.
There are quite a lot of interesting cars on the Island and one workshop hack is a beautiful mid 1950's Ford F100 the model with the " Spinner " type grille, will take a photo and post. there is also a huge 1957 Dodge with those angled fins, Morris 8, Austin A40 Devon MG TC, those two neglected Volvo 240GT's, plus other Australian and American Classics, lots of early Holdens, the place is a venue for a lot of Club runs and displays as well, makes my SX4 look very ordinary.

[Roger Dowding]

I thought that was for a Ginger biscuit dipped in a cup of tea !


KH

Ken " Griffins " of course, can get them at the local IGA, as well as Chocolate Fish, Pineapple chunks and " Lemon and Paeroa "

[John McKechnie]

Roger- while I was working there, I was given a red 1965 Dodge Cart Convertible, used to belng to Bryan Jackson- Caravan and Vintage Car fame over here.
I was working at Rod Welchs house for several weeks-Dec 94- still got the pics.
Also there was a XK150 Coupe sitting at a Marine Trimmers workshop, owner had bought a trim kit 3 years previously and no one could fit it. They tried to get me to do it, but I was there for a holiday as well.
While I was there, I also saw a LIP Vauxhall convert, a EIP Vagabond (Convert) .Both very rare, probably Aussie Bodies
Over here I trimmed a 1936 Austin 12 , with a Body by Holden plate on it.

[Roger Dowding]

Roger- while I was working there, I was given a red 1965 Dodge Cart Convertible, used to belng to Bryan Jackson- Caravan and Vintage Car fame over here.
I was working at Rod Welchs house for several weeks-Dec 94- still got the pics.
Also there was a XK150 Coupe sitting at a Marine Trimmers workshop, owner had bought a trim kit 3 years previously and no one could fit it. They tried to get me to do it, but I was there for a holiday as well.
While I was there, I also saw a LIP Vauxhall convert, a EIP Vagabond (Convert) .Both very rare, probably Aussie Bodies
Over here I trimmed a 1936 Austin 12 , with a Body by Holden plate on it.

John M, I think the Vagabond is still around a palish green from memory, not BRG - a bit lighter.
Am going to grab my camera and do a tour around in the next few days and photo the interesting vehicles, worth a place in " Yards and Yarns " I reckon. oh and there are two shortened BMC ragtops on the island, a shortened and roofless Morris Minor Utility, and a very short 2 seater roofless Mini, owned by the guy with the Austin A40 Devon and the Morris 8, he also has a 1950's Bedford truck.
and there is an early Ford Transit with sliding doors, not to mention VW Kombis in various conditions from rough to great.

[ERC]

Just for you Roger - probably from the 1989 event. Just 2 pics on here. Any others will go on my "Mix of Pics" thread.

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Sometimes, things didn't go totally to plan... I believe the AHCC named the various corners after the people who first came to grief on them (or off them).

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