The Roaring Season

Butch Reid in the Pop versus Louie Antonievich.

Ralph Wright warms up the rear bags.

Recognize this guy? Red Dawson gets set for a blast down Meremere in the Kensington Carpets Camaro. Interesting angle shows the Camaro running spring shackles on the rear, which raises the rear ride height. And yet, the springs look flat. Maybe its just that Dawson has just launched and the springs have flattened out.

Steve, Ideally the front spring eye and rear spring eye should be on the same plane to educe roll steer. Reversed front spring eyes also helped. The Coppins Firebird had such springs and shackle extenders. Roll steer isn't a problem at the drags but Red wouldn't need to change for a day there.

Steve Holmes wrote:Recognize this guy? Red Dawson gets set for a blast down Meremere in the Kensington Carpets Camaro. Interesting angle shows the Camaro running spring shackles on the rear, which raises the rear ride height. And yet, the springs look flat. Maybe its just that Dawson has just launched and the springs have flattened out.

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Thanks Bruce. Was a similar set-up used on your Firebird when it raced in the Trans-Am, or was this done when it arrived in NZ?

It is original with Hollywood Spring made reversed eye springs, though the longer shackles could have a 'local' feel to them.

Steve Holmes wrote:Thanks Bruce. Was a similar set-up used on your Firebird when it raced in the Trans-Am, or was this done when it arrived in NZ?

Neat little rail of Phil Hirst. I'm not sure if its Fiat powered. Perhaps one of our Fiat anoraks might know?

Our 'cover car' this this chapter, Bill Ward's flathead powered C Cab, complete with period custom paint.

Various Baloo shots.....

Cool Mopar face-off. I love the Coronet. I wonder where this car is today.

I believe thats Paul Rose on the lights. He was the starter at Meremere for many years. Was my old boss for a short time when I worked for APCO Auto Parts in Lower Hutt.

This is an interesting one. My first thought when I saw this photo was that its the old Frank Bryan/Red Dawson '67 Shelby Mustang, now owned and raced by Nigel MacDonald. I can't confirm it (and neither can Nigel), but there are a few clues, such as the fact its fitted with the half cage. I do know for a fact the Dawson Mustang became a drag car in the '70s, after its circuit racing career ended, and it was fitted with a Chevy motor. The 'Rat 427' lettering on the side suggests this car is Chevy powered.

Steve Holmes wrote:This is an interesting one. My first thought when I saw this photo was that its the old Frank Bryan/Red Dawson '67 Shelby Mustang, now owned and raced by Nigel MacDonald. I can't confirm it (and neither can Nigel), but there are a few clues, such as the fact its fitted with the half cage. I do know for a fact the Dawson Mustang became a drag car in the '70s, after its circuit racing career ended, and it was fitted with a Chevy motor. The 'Rat 427' lettering on the side suggests this car is Chevy powered.

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Think it was ex Red Dawson Mustang driven by Dick Woods from Wellington. Think it then ended up with or may have been before Dick Woods with a person called Peter Smucar who started up a Speed Shop in Hobart Street in Miramar called "Mothers Worry" in the late seventies, early sixties. Peter fitted the car with oversize tyres at one stage for some reason and painted it yellow. El Coyote might know some more about this car and Peter Smucar.

Dick Woods had a fair bit of success with this car on the strip. There were quite a few photos in NZ Hot Rod at the time

My Monaro ran at Port Hills Road (Wellington) Drags with the ex Red Dawson Mustang in March 1970 - details are on its thread.
In 1985 I owned a 1967 Mustang Convertible that was a dragster.
Had the front floor and the front rails chopped off

the ex-red dawsn mustang was owned by a car painter in lower hutt called bob Thompson. he raced it a couple of times. after that ??

the ex-red dawson mustang was owned by a car painter in lower hutt called bob Thompson. he raced it a couple of times. after that ??

From Russ Cunningham 2013-
I was talking with my good friend, Dave Bull, a couple of days back and during the course of conversation Dave mentioned running against Grady in the Monaro at the Port Road sprint meeting. Dave was driving the ex.Red Dawson Mustang and John is hopefull that someone who was there might have photographs or recall details of the Monaro. Incidentally, Dave and Grady knew each other well as both were Karori boys.

So Dave Bull had an ex Red Dawson Mustang

This today from my brother - Gidday.
I just read some of the other comments on here. That one on the trailer isn't mine. It hasn't even got the black stripe and 4 on guard. A policeman wanted to buy the car but he already had one and couldn't afford mine at the same time. It was sold to a gentleman in Queenstown who as far as i know still owns it. I still have his number here somewhere. Must ring him sometime and ask.
This was my brothers - Rego readable here.

Thanks you guys re the '67 Mustang. It definitely looks like it could be the Dawson car. Pretty cool piece of history. Its the first time I've seen a photo of it during its drag racing career.

Robin Unkovich blown Hemi rail.

And again, this time an action shot. What a magnificent car!