Northern Sports Car Club - the early years.

[Roger Dowding]

To continue the Timeline of the " Championships " Hill Climbs - more form the archives of Don Tilsley - 1954 and copies again the 1955 event from archives of Milan Fistonic;

1954 the Programme Cover - with a few doodles on it.

The List of Competitors. With times again handwritten by Muriel Tilsley.

The list again - unedited to show the Competitors Race Numbers better.

" - Note in 1954, a couple of International Competitors, " Horace Gould, Britain - Cooper Bristol and Tom Hawke, Australia - Allard " who would have been here to compete at the New Zealand Racing Events over the summer, at Ardmore, Ohakea, Wigram, the Airfields / Airforce bases and Dunedin the Street Race meeting. "

1955 the Programme Cover.

- [ must check if Milan Fistonic he has the full Entry List ]

Wairamarama Hill, Onewhero, sometimes described and the Wairamarama Onewhero Road,and at others times Wairamarama Road, Glen Murray, was used by NSCC for Hill Climbs again in 1956.
More to come on the events.

The Event was moved from March to January for 1954 and 1955

[Roger Dowding]

Through the Top gate, before the sweeper to the finish, the road was narrow through that gate and there was a big bump..

One for Ken H,

[Roger Dowding]

TRS people - the Event is on next Saturday.

Just to repeat the details ;

" The event is definitely on at the Clubrooms, Mt Richmond Domain, next Saturday 20th August - starting at 1;30pm with a speech or two around 2;00pm and then afternoon tea..
You need to register - Email to Rod Peat .. " [email protected] ".

The non- refundable $20.00 deposit needs to go to this Bank Account.
" NSCC Account 01-0221-0010851-00 - with reference - your name ".

When payment is made you need to advise Jill Greenland at
" [email protected] ". "

To those who are going, look forward to seeing you there ..

Copy of an old Club Brochure cover - from Milan Fistonic archives

[Oldfart]

Further to the photo of Bruce with the Ford special, how about this one?

[Roger Dowding]

Further to the photo of Bruce with the Ford special, how about this one?

" Rhys " - thank you for that - not seen that one before
Cheers
Roger

Ford is it a " Y " series in the background ??

[Roger Dowding]

TRS people - the Event is on next Saturday.

Just to repeat the details ;

" The event is definitely on at the Clubrooms, Mt Richmond Domain, next Saturday 20th August - starting at 1;30pm with a speech or two around 2;00pm and then afternoon tea..
You need to register - Email to Rod Peat .. " [email protected] ".

The non- refundable $20.00 deposit needs to go to this Bank Account.
" NSCC Account 01-0221-0010851-00 - with reference - your name ".

When payment is made you need to advise Jill Greenland at
" [email protected] ". "

To those who are going, look forward to seeing you there ..

Copy of an old Club Brochure cover - from Milan Fistonic archives

[ATTACH=CONFIG]73038[/ATTACH]

Have just found out that the Deposit of $20.00 is the full cost, for the function. That includes the afternoon tea.

Only extra is if you want a drink from - the " Cash Bar " !!.

[Roger Dowding]

The event has been and gone. In this building.

There was a great turnout, and I personally caught up with people I hadn't seen for up to 40 years.

A general view of the event, during the speeches.

Geoff Ridder [ Photography ] took over 80 photos which have been posted on the Reunion Facebook page and also on the " NZ Rallying History " Fb page.

As noted on the " Ralph Watson In Memoriam " thread, Trevor Sheffield was there, as was I but we failed to see each other to have a chat.

There were Club Members from 1950's through the 1960's and into the 1980's and 1990's.
Quite a few former Presidents were there, as was the current President Vickie Burnitt.

Here they are at the moment of the presentation of a Painting by the McLaren Trust -presented by Jan McLaren on behalf of the Trust.
Left to right, Bob Mitchell, Rod Peat, Morrie Chandler, Jan McLaren, Vicki Burnitt, Bob Kidd and the gentleman on the right I do not know [ make that remember ]

My old neighbours from the 1950's were there Colleen and Allan Woolf ;

Rob Williams was there as was his Ford V8 Coupe that has featured in this thread a few times. Rob on the left.

Don Tilsley former racer of the " Singford " cars seen here with Rod Peat and others.

[ Note; I incorrectly typed Geoff Riddick on the photos but it is Geoff Ridder as seen on the images ]

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of my own photos.

Don Tilsley standing with Rob Williams looking at Don's Album - a real Gem of NSCC History - Don's racing exploits in the 1950's.

Robs Ford Coupe and Rod Peats Cortina GT wagon.

Club Torque - 1975 - a double page of photos by Dennis Green mostly.

That Sprite is there again.. with others ..

[Roger Dowding]

A few more photos of people and the cake ; Geoff Ridder photography.

Names I know and some I don't.

They gave you a swinger Ticket with your name and the Clubs Logo.
Should keep it - for next year as I understand that Bob Mitchell, former President and some others are looking at holding the " 80th Anniversary of Northern Sports Car Club " - which will be July next year [ 2023 ]Officially


The Cake and a couple of Cars;

The Cake;

People; Colleen and Allan Woolf with Jan McLaren

Mark Donaldson admiring the Trophies

Morrie Chandler - President at the time of the building of the Clubrooms and a prime mover of the idea to have the Club's own premises.

More photos to come.

[Roger Dowding]

More images -mainly Geoff Ridder photography.

The Swinger you got; and my Album that was among several taken to the event.

The Painting that was presented to the Club by the McLaren Trust - for " Services Rendered " in connection with the saving of a McLaren Can-Am car.

The Rally Skoda that was rescued and restored by Colin Waite [ RIP Colin ] and arranged to be at the event by son Gary Waite.

Woolfie and Robbo

Woolfie looking at cars - His Triumph Vitesse was there too - was recently restored.

[Milan Fistonic]

Roger. As you've told us that at one time you lived in Green Bay, you might be interested in this NSCC Gymkhana held there in January 1967.

[Roger Dowding]

" Green Bay, you might be interested in this NSCC Gymkhana held there in January 1967. "
Just before I joined the Club, don't remember it.
At the NSCC Reunion they had the magazines back to to 1972 only.

Thanks for the post Milan.

The Simca's of Wayne Jones ( pictured ) and Ralph Emson .. - finished 2nd and 3rd..

Not an NSCC event but an ACC Club Circuit Day at Pukekohe - Ralph in his Simca - a John Larry Lawton photo.Also a 1967 event.
The Club Circuit was quite new ..

[Roger Dowding]

Posted details of the HillClimb held there in December 1959 in a previous post.
John Windelburn sent me this recently.
John in his Austin A35

Ostrich Farm event in February 1959.
The Entrants and class results.
Trevor Sheffield in his AC V8.
[ would like to know more about that car too ]
His great friend Bill W Kelly in a Cooper 500
and
Ivy Stephenson in her Buckler Climax - the car well known for her exploits and later with Bruce Sutcliffe.
Car is now in the UK and was at Goodwood very recently
** Photos added to the Buckler thread of the car now with UK Registration DAA300..

John and I had a chat at the NSCC Reunion and are now in contact again.
Had not seen John since a Bardahl Hill Climb at Bright Road Pukekohe in 1979 a PCC event.

[Roger Dowding]

New Zealand Motor Cup - Centennial. - The Event has been cancelled.
An event was proposed by the New Zealand Grand Prix Association and the Historic Racing Club to celebrate.
100 years since the NZ Motor Cup was first competed for at Muriwai Beach in 1921.
The event had been postponed twice, but was scheduled for December 2nd 2022.

It is hoped that some cars of the era and the Cup will be at the Ellerslie Concours next year.

Here is the communication issued through Ticketeck who were responsible for the bookings

" The Historic Racing Club and NZIGP have today made the difficult decision to cancel its New Zealand Motor Cup Centenary Celebration to be held at Muriwai on Friday 2nd December 2022.

The decision comes after having to postpone the original event twice over the past 2 years due to COVID and now the rapidly rising costs of hosting events and the increasingly difficult logistics of being able to run the event mean we were left with little option. This coupled with Motorsport New Zealand having to cancel their 75th Gala Dinner on the day after our event due to similar issues means that a lot of the guests we were expecting will now not be attending.

There are plans to have some of the cars and the New Zealand Motor Cup on display at the Ellerslie Concours on Sunday 12th February 2023

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this decision, however, we hope you understand it is not one we made lightly. "

The Trophy - photo from Alan Boyle archives..

A couple of Alan Boyle archive photos form early events where Alan's father Bill was involved as mechanic/rider.

[Roger Dowding]

Report and Results of the event from the May 1967 NSCC Club Torque.

Photos from the event.

Also in the Magazine is the 1966 - 67 Season Prize List - with the Trophies and the winners.

Rob Williams features in one of the photos and in the Prize List with his Ford V8 Coupe- that he still owns and was displayed at the NSCC Reunion in August 2022.

Lots of well known people in the Prize List - better known today than back then perhaps.. Paul Adams, David Oxton et al ..

[Roger Dowding]

Have posted the photo of Bruce Mclaren standing beside his Ford 10 Special at Rosebank Road in the Pit Area for the event that was held on the new Motorway - before it opened.
Thanks to Don Tilsley - passed on by Mark Donaldson I now have the time sheets as written by Don's future wife Muriel at the event.

Don Tilsley was there and very quick in the " Singford "
John Windelburn was in his Morris Minor and Bruce McLaren was in the Ford Special - ex Bob Crisp.
Phil Kerr was there too in his Ford Special and there is a Wolfe in a Ford 10 - is that Allan Woolf.. I am not sure.
Les McLaren was in the Austin Healey 100 that Bruce had success with in later years 1956 on.
Les was much quicker and in the top few with a time of 16.4 same as Herb Gilroy and Hugill in a Cooper.. Hugill appears to be the FTD Man at 16.0 seconds

The photo of Bruce in the Pit [ carpark ]. this would be near where the Go-Kart track was in later years.

Note that the car has bolt holes in the scuttle where the windscreen would go.

** Would like more details on the car and to assist a modelmaker the colour of the Bob Crisp Standard 10 / Ford 10 Special..

Don Tilsley notes on the back of a reprint of the photo he sent me last year.

Trying to get details of the cars involved as with some on the lists there is the drivers name only.


The gathering of this information all happened because of the NSCC 50th Anniversary of the Clubrooms,which created the opportunity to meet new friends like Don Tilsley, John Windelburn who I met briefly once before and catch up with Mark Donaldson of Austin Healey Club whom I have known for about 50 years..

Mark was there with Jan McLaren who I also met for the first time..

[Roger Dowding]

Some John Larry Lawton photos - with notes by him.

Will put on Pukekohe thread too !!.

" Peter Akeroyd in the Heron leads Ivy Stephenson in the ex Bill Caldwell Lola. "
[ This was Ivy's Racing car after the Buckler - Climax - my notes ]

" Jack Nazer " - in his Anglia
- with the " Sabrina " headlights as remarked by others on similar photos.

" Wayne Jones - Simca 1000 finished 2nd to Ian Runnerstrum in the Group 1 race "
Sunbeam and Cortina behind
- trying to picture where this is - by the Elbow where the Stables were.

Track still the 2.2 mile circuit in November 1965

" Herman Munster " is all that J L Lawton had on this image..

[Roger Dowding]

Post of the 1955 Sprint Meeting on the new Motorway at Avondale.
I posted the photo of Bruce and the Standard Ford 10 Special and decided to do a bit of searching to find out more about the car.

The Standard 10 Special - as it is described in Graham Vercoe book " Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand ", states that Bob Crisp built the car [ around 1951 ] with Standard 10 components, not the Chassis which was a ladder frame.
When the car was sold to Bruce McLaren it was sold minus the engine.

Photo from the Vercoe book - shows several NSCC members - they could all be - at Muriwai with
Don Tilsley, Singford 11, Bruce McLaren Standard / Ford, David Long in Ralph Watson BSA Special, TSL Special and Trevor Sheffield in the Singer Le Mans, that was previously Ralph Watson's.

The article in the Vercoe book - page 273.

Would like to accurately date the photo as in Trevor Sheffields story about Ralph Watson David Long raced the BSA Special at Muriwai in October 1954 [ 9th October in the Ten Mile Race ]
Bruce McLaren in his Book "From the Cockpit " talks of selling the Austin 7 Ulster in August 1955 to buy the Standard Ford, which he got without the Standard 10 engine.

Any information would be appreciated.

[Roger Dowding]

Photos from John Larry Lawton and Programme - Entry Lists from Milan Fistonic

Start of the up 1000cc Saloon Car Race - Minis Anglia and an A35 and others.

Part of the same field Minis and the A35.
Hugh Kettelwell W Marshall and B Cox in the A35 - Result 1st H Grocott Mini 2nd B Cox A35

Modified Production Saloons Mudford #134 Cortina

Fiats and a Vauxhall into Stables - the Elbow corner. Reynolds in the Vauxhall
John Larry Lawton notes he took all his photos from the " Stewards " stand that day.

Entry List Race One - Production Saloons with results written Fiats 1st and 2nd, the PA Vauxhall 3rd

Entry List Race Three - Modified Production Saloons with results A Cooper S and Anglias in the first 3.

[Roger Dowding]

Wharepapa Hill Climb, the road near Woodhill, West Coast Auckland in 1965.

The first running on the " new "venue in December 1965.

Photo by John Larry Lawton
L Spitz in his Sunbeam Alpine - there was some comment that it had an MGA Twincam Motor at one stage but a later owner returned it to Sunbeam power - a good motor in 1500 and 1600 cc format anyway.

Motorman cutting from Milan Fistonic - which helped date the event.

Birdwood Road Massey was used by NSCC around this time 1964 / 65 - must go back over the archives.
By March 1967 the Hill event was of course " Cosseys Farm Road " at Drury.