The Roaring Season

John McKechnie wrote:Hardly surprising it has been hoarded.
We had one of the standard Renault R10 as a family car and they were a rocket.
Do you have the specs on this Gordini , Rhys- as a genuine thing it must be a rare car, or did he modify a normal car?

From what I am told, they bought a Gordini (remember no such thing as an R10 Gordini) in South America, or Mexico as they were made over there too. It was then dismantled and the mechanical bits which differed from a standard car were brought in, and assembled into a standard shell. It would not (probably) have the G strengthening bits in the shell, although they are possible to replicate. I believe it's a 1255cc 5 speed, 4 rear shock version.
Now, John, stop spending so much time on here and get out into the shed and work on the car.

Rhys- just got back from 2 hours walking the dogs.
My panel beater was working all the time here while I was out.
When he is here, I must not be there to disturb him.
.

More sedan action from Teretonga. Jack Nazer in the Escort leads Grady Thomson in the Monaro, chased by Brian Crosbie and Peter Kocis in the Breadvan Anglia.

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Breadvan?

Steve- sorry mate, Kocis /Sprague not a Breadvan. Surprised Grant isnt here already.

Michael Clark wrote:Breadvan?

Sorry, my mistake, former Breadvan, this being the ex-Dave Simpson 1966 championship winner.

Thomson again in the Monaro, this time chasing Lyn Neilson's top-chopped Mini.

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I suspect Ian took this photo of the Teretonga car park to show how full it was, with hoards of race fans pouring in to watch the action. For us, however, 40-something years later, its really more fascinating to to view the transportation Kiwis chose at the time. I can see a Skoda, a '56 Chevy, and a couple of early Holden's but overall, its a sea of British cars. And can you find a single Japanese car in here?

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I am not sure that "chose" would be the correct word. You very much took what you could get. Very few imports and to buy a new car generally involved a waiting list or having overseas funds which favoured farmers. Whetever you drove you generally looked after. It would be quite easy to name all the cars that are in the photo, something that would be difficult to do with a carpark full of Jap imports

Possibly a Bluebird near the back on the right of the pic. Second last row in what could be a dark blue or gray

See a black 58 Goldflash in very back right. A Mk111 Zodiac in middle, now that must have been new like Cortina in front of it.

Nearly every model of Vauxhall, and a mob of Hillman/Humber/Singer designs. And is that a Vanguard ute ?

And looks like a collie on the roof of that Consul 315.

Steve Holmes wrote:I suspect Ian took this photo of the Teretonga car park to show how full it was, with hoards of race fans pouring in to watch the action. For us, however, 40-something years later, its really more fascinating to to view the transportation Kiwis chose at the time. I can see a Skoda, a '56 Chevy, and a couple of early Holden's but overall, its a sea of British cars. And can you find a single Japanese car in here?

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Never thought these old cars would be worth so much now , wouldnt mind them sitting on my yard to day lol

Grant- this is a bit like looking at Horopito Wreckers

seaqnmac27 wrote:Possibly a Bluebird near the back on the right of the pic. Second last row in what could be a dark blue or gray

Nah - Rootes group - possibly a Singer SM1500, or an earlier Minx/Humber 80

1967/8 Hillman Hunter and a HD/HR Holden station wagon. What year was this taken Steve ? John they don't have rust on them......

Spgeti wrote:1967/8 Hillman Hunter and a HD/HR Holden station wagon. What year was this taken Steve ? John they don't have rust on them......

Actually just making a joke that if you went past Horopito Wreckers now, the cars there are these models.
Or you could also say its like looking at the Galaxy of Cars show at Western Springs.

Spgeti wrote:1967/8 Hillman Hunter and a HD/HR Holden station wagon. What year was this taken Steve ? John they don't have rust on them......

Bruce, I can't say with 100% certainty. Some of the photos were in folders labelled for each year, while several were just loose. The race photos that were loose can be pinned down to a particular season because of the cars and colour schemes etc, but I'm not sure about this carpark shot. It could either be 1968 or 1970. I don't think its later than that. But I notice there aren't any Escorts in the photo, and I would have thought if this was 1970 there would at least be a couple as they were pretty common.

And no Humber Super Snipes.

Good call. Same for Kingswoods, Mk 4 Zephyrs etc. It's a riveting pic !