Matamata Round the houses.

[Roger Dowding]

This meeting at Waharoa was held on March 4 1961.

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Some great names in the entry lists .. Would #98 R W Williams Ford V8 - be Rob Williams from Glen Eden ??
- that's where his Panelbeaters was in the 1960's

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
I remember being at that Waharoa Meet in 1961 with my schoolmate Hylton Cameron as we watched his brother Kelvin Cameron
compete in the Sports Car race in his Minstral TR 2 # 24.
I also remember Denny Hulme talking over the speaker system at the lunch break about his racing experiences during the 1960
European season as a joint winner of the Driver to Europe programme and the sad loss of his co-winner and friend George Lawton.

Thanks for the memory. ( Fun times close to home !)
Ken H

[Roger Dowding]

Had a drive around Matamata today - beautiful sunny day, and had my camera. Drove the Track as shown in this Milan Fistonic map of the track using the roads from Hohaia Street [ where the start finish and pits were - near Huia Street - opposite Tawa Street ]
Right into Tamihana Street, then Right into Meura Street, left into Tui Street, Right into to Tamihana Street,by the Council Buildings
[ now a new building ] Right into Broadway down to Hohaia Street [ by the Anglican Church.

Will download and post some photos - taken at the time and the current scenes.
Quite a lot of information was provided when the photos of the 1964 and 1965 events were posted on the Dunedin 1984 thread.
It deserves to be repeated here..

The Map from Milan - aligned for North.

Google Maps - the area in 2020

The Start / Finish and a field of Saloon Cars ready to go - Heat Two of the Saloon Scratch Races - from the local newspaper.

11 Aug 2022 - image added.
Entry List for this Race - Heat 2 of the Saloon Car Scratch Races.

Have gone back over my photos [ collected by but not taken by me - was only 17 at the time of the second meeting,still at school,no licence - until August 1965 and no car - that took a year of work and happened in February 1967 ] and corrected dates etc from the information you TRS Guys have provided - the notes on the photos already posted may be incorrect as far as dates go.

[Oldfart]

You couldn't quite drive the track Roger, The islands on Broadway tend to stop that

[Roger Dowding]

You couldn't quite drive the track Roger, The islands on Broadway tend to stop that

Yep, would have been on the wrong road [ side of the double roadway - Broadway ].
A few building still there - the Regent Theatre, no longer used as that. The Cleaver Motors Car Dealers, diagonally opposite the Matamata Town Council Building [ New Building is now the Matamata Piako District Council ] is now " Ag-Worx " selling equipment and Spa pools. The Churches are still there too. Many other Commerical buildings off the Broadway are new but the shops along the front probably pre-date the races, as do many of the houses on the side streets.

More to come on this when I get the photos scanned - a rainy day job. Daylight Saving started today so was a change the clocks day.

Cheers Rhys

[Roger Dowding]

" Thanks for the memory. ( Fun times close to home !)
Ken H "

These are for you Ken H, Rhys N and Kevin H too !! the locals, and for all the guys on TRS.

The Start - in Hohaia Street near Huia St and Tui St - pits on the corner of Huia and Hohaia Sts.
This is looking in the direction of the race [ South ]

Cars at the Start from 1964-65. Anglican Church in the baclground.

The Start point was moved for the 1965 races but still near Tui Street and the pits in the park area at Huia Street.
This photo from the other side of the road - still the 1964 event, I believe.

The Council Building corner [ Meura and Tainui Sts ]
The new District Council building

The Matamata Town Council Building - same site in 1964

Took 40 photos around town, now trying to align with the 1964-65 photos and cuttings I have collected.
These are the first..

[Roger Dowding]

A bit more of the " Now and Then " or " Then and Now " around the streets of Matamata.

Cars passing by the Cleaver Motors - Morris Dealers - Building diagonally opposite the Council Building
This is the building that Alan Boyle and Ron Brown were in on the day of the 1964 races.

Another photo with more of Cleaver Motors in the background - Alan and Ron were in the window on the right ].

This is the same building in 2020 Ag-Worx on the corner - Alan, Ron and Co were in the window on the right

Roger Smith in his Austin Healey passing a house -street not defined, but ...

These are two house in Tainui Street - after the cars passed the Council Building - the corner with Cleaver Motors they drove up Tainui Street to Broadway into another right turn
These houses are on the right as they drove up - look similar.

Archive photos from the Scott - Given Studio archives taken by Morrie Given [ Kevin Hirst's Uncle ] part of the set acquired by Ross Cammick, through Myles Hicks - connection here being that Myles is restoring the Russell Leathers Pat McLoughlin Austin Healey 3000 Ruddspeed, that became the McLoughlin Austin Healey 4000, and by Matamata was 4200 cc. More of that story on the Austin Healey thread.

[Roger Dowding]

More photos from the Scott - Given Studio archives.

D Jurie Consul 315 has gone through the Cleaver Motors /Council Building corner

Saloons - the start - Anglican Church just seen.

Saloons at Cleaver Motors the corner

Big Saloons past the same corner - small building opposite the Council Building on Tainui Street

The Anglican Church today seen from across Broadway - Hohaia Street to the right.

Local Guys are you homesick yet.
Ken H in the USA
Kevin H in Mangawhai
Rhys N in the UK.

Cheers
Roger

[Roger Dowding]

From Milan Fistonic -re the start.

" The start finish line in 1964 was in Hohaia Street just before the Tawa Street intersection. In 1965 it was still in Hohaia Street but was moved to just past Tawa Street.

In 1964 the pits were in a corner of the Domain opposite the Brethren Church in Meura Street. In 1965 they were moved to the opposite corner of the Domain bordered by Hohaia and Huia Streets. "

Rhys Nolan has some memories of the place too

" 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 knows the town too

" 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. "

Putting all this on the thread they belong on.

The Regent Theatre on Broadway was not on the Track, but off to the side of the Tainui Street and Broadway right hander.
It shows in the background here in this Alan Boyle photo.
Note the reflection of the Morris sign in the window and the Memorial Hall the right hand end, mentioned by Rhys - his father was at the left hand end of the site, near the corner in the Council Building. In a couple of the photos the Library can be seen

The Regent Building today, not a Theatre anymore, and hidden behind a Tree [ fortunately a deciduous tree ]

More race photos to come - as well as modern photos and some entry lists and results. to make the story more complete.

[Roger Dowding]

Entry Lists for some events and results from both years
[ have been on the Dunedin thread but belong here ].

Saloons Heat one and two - 1964 and yes G Harvey in the Holden #48 !

Sports cars including the McLoughlin Healey 4000.

Results - from Graham Woods archives.

23 May 1964

20 March 1965

[Roger Dowding]

Some " Racing Cars "as in single seaters - these photos I acquired / borrowed from Keiron Guiness, a Matamata local and incidentally a neighbour of a nephew's family in Matamata - the nephew now lives in Brisbane - has done since a teenager and he is now close to 50.

Rhys and others have put details about the cars / drivers on the Dunedin thread - will add that here later
- watch the space ! -.

The windowed building in the background- I don't think it is still there !
See Rhys note about the building next post and his comments about the Single Seaters

" The front engine car is, I believe, the Lola FJ car, according to Keiron Spencer Black (Spinner), although I thought it was Histed at the time. I have no documents to confirm or deny.
I would say these photos of Keiron's are taken from a little further down Tui St from where Alan Boyle's ones were taken, the building opposite almost on the corner, was originally a car sales, according to Google Earth now the Pancake House.
Now I'll make a guess, I know Milan will correct me.
18 Dawson? 7 is a Lotus, maybe 4 is a Lola?
If Boyd is in the Lycoming, that list is 65, the previous year the results in post 230 [Dunedin thread ] say he was in the Valour. "

" that list " is this handwritten entry list for the Single seater ( and specials ? ) race - 1965

[Oldfart]

The "windowed building in the background" according to street view Google earth is "The Pancake House" the windows on the same source with plywood where the glass is, Corner of Tui and Tainui.

[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

As posted on the Dunedin Thread another photo of Johnny Riley #17 - Graham Woods archives

The Front Engine Lola which both Rhys N and Ken H mention.
Rhys stated the following - I stand corrected by " Oldfart " and hope all is forgiven.

" The front engine car is, I believe, the Lola FJ car, according to Keiron Spencer Black (Spinner), although I thought it was Histed at the time. I have no documents to confirm or deny "


and Ken made the following comment about the car

" 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. "

Another photo of the Lola when Kenny Smith had it in 1963 - look at the number plates on the cars at the rear of the photo - is that the McRae " Masserari " on the left ? An Austin Healey 100S beside it - behind the Ken Smith car -Photo from Ken H archives - that stuff must have travelled a lot Ken ?? Cars have 1961-64 Number Plates.

[Milan Fistonic]

Middle photos - D Jeffries Cooper Norton #6,

That should be Darryl Jeffares

[Milan Fistonic]

Dauntsey Teagle in the Lola T2 in its sports car guise.

[Oldfart]

Roger, your post #53, please correct as I did NOT "state that it was owned by John Histed". I said, as quoted by you in post #51 " The front engine car is, I believe, the Lola FJ car, according to Keiron Spencer Black (Spinner), although I thought it was Histed at the time. I have no documents to confirm or deny." That's different from stating something.

[Roger Dowding]

Roger, your post #53, please correct as I did NOT "state that it was owned by John Histed". I said, as quoted by you in post #51 " The front engine car is, I believe, the Lola FJ car, according to Keiron Spencer Black (Spinner), although I thought it was Histed at the time. I have no documents to confirm or deny." That's different from stating something.

Sorry Oldfart - for any confusion - you did mention the name I was merely connecting your mention of the name with Ken's comment, which means that you were correct Histed did own [ or drive it ] I put the Christian name in Italics as you did not mention
" John " .
Consider the correction done, you can rest easy !!

[Roger Dowding]

Daimler SP 250's an Austin Healey [ McLoughlin's AH 4000 ] and a TR3

The Oxton Daimler

Daimler again and a TR3

Daimlers and a Lotus 7 type car - probably a Seven as too soon for a replica / copy !

A couple of Specials

Kato

Mistral

[Roger Dowding]

Fiat 1500 - Crusader and a Mini - 1964 event [ 1961 -64 plates ]

Ford Coupe -Garth Souness and a Humber 80 a Zephyr and the Fiat 1500 Crusader

Zephyr, Anglia, Humber 90 [Super Minx ? ] and a Mini

All at or near the Tui St Tainui St Right Hander by Cleaver Motors and the Council Building.
A good crowd too !

The area today a couple of photos
The corner

Looking North to Broadway

Further up Tainui St - nearer Broadway

[Oldfart]

I would SUGGEST (same word could replace "state" in earlier post) that the photo with the Zephyr, 105E, Humber/Hillman could be Tamihana /Meura St corner. The plane tree plantings in many parts of town took place while we lived in the town, so now 55 odd years old.