Early Holden Racing....pre EH

[Ellis]

Steve has asked me to do something re the racing of these now 60+ year old classics.
I will keep it to pre EH (63/4) models.

This is the one I worked on in the mid thru to late 60's. It ran mainly in Tasmania but we did go to Hume Weir in NSW in 1968 for an all Holden event.


Symmons Plains 1967
I will continue with the story as time goes on
Some pics are not mine but where known credit is given.

[Steve Holmes]

And give us lots of info on the FJ you race now too Ellis.

[RogerH]

I think this is Graeme Harvey's "Golden Holden".

[RogerH]

Another photo of the "Golden Holden".

[Steve Holmes]

Love the pics Roger, keep 'em coming.....

[bob homewood]

I think the tall chap with the white coat or overalls is the late Bruce McLean and its possible thats his V8 car in the right of the photo in "Golden Holden"

[Ellis]

We will start with a few racing engine bay shots of the Holden Grey engine starting life in the 48-215 series and remaining in production until 1963 with very few major changes.

3 x Amals


3 x 1.5" SU's


1.5 Webers


3 x Amals


2 x Strombergs

[Ellis]

A few more....

3x Del Orto's


3 x 1.5" SU's


1.5 DD Del Orto's


1.5 Webers


3 x 1 1/2" SU's

[Ellis]

Geoghegan Bathurst...pic source not known


Neville Cooper (WA) at Calder in ex Beechey PK752


David Lewis @ Domain Hillclimb Hobart, Repco Head, MG Box, ex R Long


Warwick Farm..pic source not known


Baskerville Tas, Rae, Price, McIvor 1965

[Ellis]

McIvor Symmons Plains Tas 1966


McIvor , Quinn, Symmons Plains Tas 1967


McIvor Symmons Plains Tas 1968


Munyard Symmons Plains.
They dont all stay the right way up.
This car competed and finnished in the Surfers Paradise 6 hour race in late 60's.
It was taken to NZ as a road car in 70's and sold over there to get airfare home.
In the past month it has been purchased from NZ by someone in NSW and is being returned to Oz.
The original driver pictured just missed out on doing a deal to get car back from NZ.
It was painted Yellow/ Red in Shell colours.

[Ellis]

Some of the few remaining active logbooked cars in Australia....
(Credits where known are inc on pics)

Phil Barrow...This car was the current owners late Father's race car. Its raced frequently on East Coast of Australia.


Eddie Dobbs...ex G Blanchard 60's log booked car still competing


Rob Southouse..ex Ken Zinner 60's car. Races regularly



Car built by Harris in ACT...now French in Tas
This is magnetic and kept on the fridge just in case of accidents so I can put it back together
Runs Regularity in Tas.

Kev Moore...Car Built originally in ACT by Harris. Runs frequently in Qld


G Poole ..Vic . car was logbooked / raced in 80's but now makes do with Hillclimbs and Regularity

[Ellis]

#48 was a top car in Tas and held lap records in the early 70's.
It was recovered and restored by the original Tassie driver.
It is fitted with a 3 1/4" Hi top engine , Repco X Flow Head and Webers.


Baskerville Tas


Engine bay showing Repco X Flow Head.


It is used at Historic meetings and runs demo laps. The picture is at Sandown Vic Historic.

[Ellis]

2009 MG Historic Baskerville Meeting including a pre EH Holden reunion.....old cars and even older drivers




Baskerville Esses

[Ellis]

These Grey engined Humpies are still in regular competition use in Tas.......

All pics are at bottom of Hill Baskerville Tas

[Ellis]

This Car has recently arrived in Tas. Its believed to be the only old logbooked FC in Australia
Pic at Longford Revival 2011 where it ran on the timed Flying Mile Demo's


This car is an original 60's logbooked Vic car recently sold from WA and coming to a Wodonga enthusiast


This Tassie car is still owned by the original race driver from the 60's and runs at Historic Meetings and occasional Regularity runs


This car still has its original owner/ race driver from the 60's. He came from Vic to Tas for the 2009 Historic meeting
and ran in Regularity


This is how we dont want them to end their days.....

[Steve Holmes]

These are incredible images Ellis. The FJ must be the single most significant car in Australian motorsport history as far as growing the sport at grassroots level.

I was just about to ask whether any pre-EH races are held at historic events, but you beat me to it with post #13. That would have been an amazing sight.

You are in car #14j in post 14?

[Ellis]

I'll do a story or 2 in time.
I had one almost done this am but the link died before it was posted and away it went into the Land of long white clouds I suppose.
Yes my car (Shared with my Son at alternative meetings) is #14

There are quite a few now well known drivers who started or furthered careers in one of the pre EH Holdens....
Heres a few that come to mind....
Geoghegans, Spencer Martin, Bo Seton, Bob Jane, Norm Beechey, Dick Johnson, Max Stahl, Bruce McPhee,
Des West, Jack Brabham, Norm Gown, Bruce Hindaugh, Dave Price, Gary Rogers, Dave Price, Brian Muir,
Ron Harrop, Graham Ritter,Harry Firth, Merv Waggott, Bob Holden, Bill Jane, Warren Weldon John Goss,
Warren Weldon, John Raeburn,...etc etc


Sandown Vic

[bob homewood]

Thanks Ellis for sharing those ,always had a soft spot for those old Humpys and love hearing about the mods they did to them,maybe I better start saving my pennies and come over to that Baskerville meeting ,catch up with some people who have been wanting me to visit them in Tassie for ages

[Ellis]

Bob

You would be most welcome I am sure.
Its not a huge meeting by your NZ standards or our friends at Philip Is, Winton or Sandown
but its a well run 3 day event by the MG Car club.
We get around 120 entries with a few mainlanders usually making the somewhat expensive trip.

Ellis


Baskerville 2010 Historic

[bob homewood]

What if any is the history on the 100 Anglia Ellis ,did Robin Pare race one at one stage ? that Don Elliot owned or is my mind drifting off into the past