Showroom Showdown – Production Car Racing

[Steve Holmes]

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The 1960s and ‘70s saw a boom period in production/stock car racing, as manufacturers sought to promote the sporting attributes of their products through motorsport. The popularity of production racing grew as manufacturers invested more in creating exciting, solid performance cars that held a lot of appeal to enthusiasts. The US were mastering the importance of promoting its performance machines by the late 50s, through involvement in stock car and drag racing.

By the early 1970s, the Australians were the biggest advocates of production road racing, and were pounding out high performance vehicles of immense stature. Gradually, motorsport governing bodies removed the requirements for cars to be as they rolled off the assembly line, allowing more and more modifications for the sake of safety and reliability, and cost, as manufacturers were required to release an improved offering every year. By the early 1980s, production racing had mostly lost favour, although in New Zealand, General Motors NZ produced a small batch (30 only) of locally assembled Holden SS Commodores built specifically to be raced. These were one of the last high performance touring cars produced for the sake of winning on a race track in strictly production racing.

But over the years, a good number of exciting vehicles were produced directly as a result of the popularity of production racing. As the old adage says, “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday”.

Roaring Season member ‘Ellis’ came up with the idea of this thread, so have at it boys, fire off your production car images and stories.

[Ellis]

Fred Gibson drove our Phase 3 in some slow demo laps at Symmons Plains in 2007 Power From The Past meeting.
His comments to Murray Carter, who drove an XB GT coupe in the same demo, at the end of 4 laps and parked on the grid was.....
Murray ...How the bloody hell did we drive these things....
Murrays answer...We must have been bloody good.


Fred Gibson and Murray Carter


Christine Gibson (Cole) trying on the HO3 for size.
Christine is probably the better known of the topline Aussie female racers.

Murray Carter is arguably the most consistant supporter of the Ford Marque and is largely an unsung hero.
He was basically a privateer but did get some backdoor factory support in later years.
Murray now of advanced years still prepares and races a Corvette. His first car of note was the Carter Corvette he built and raced in the early 60's.

[Ellis]

While we are on Blue cars I would like to see some more pics and stories of the McMillan Ford GTHO that Jim drove to win the NZ title in 71 and 72 from memory. His feats in this car went largely unpublished in Oz. The car went new to McMillan Ford. It still is alive and well in NZ and I have spoken to the owner.

Pic source.....Kiwi 285

[kiwi285]

Hi Ellis, That is my photo taken at Pukekohe. Glad to hear that the car still exists. Does the owner ever exercise it on track these days ??

Love your cars - any more photos to post here ?

[Ellis]

Thanks for Richards pic info Kiwi285 (Mike)

This is it nowdays...its fairly low mileage still...



There is a good pic in the Jim Richards book of his wedding day.
What else would you use for wedding cars if you had access to your racing Phase 3 and racing Escort

[AMCO72]

One of the members of the JDC in Hamilton in the mid 1970's, actually a founding member, Des Brassington had GT HO. I think Des bought it new......an olive green...or was it bronze, shivers you would think you would remember wouldn't you. I remember its performance was pretty impressive and could show a clean pair of heals to the Jags. It wouldn't surprise me if Des still had it, and he would certainly know its value.He was a very fussy fellow and the car would be absolutely immaculate if he still owned it. I always thought the HO....Handling Option..name was a bit quaint. Why would you build a car that didn't handle. Anyway a very desirable car nowdays though probably feels a bit agricultural to drive now. As Mr Moffatt and co said....we must have been bloody good!!! How many real ones came to NZ. Lost track of Des years ago.....are you still out there Des or your car

[AMCO72]

Sorry, that should be Gibson and Carter who thought they were bloody good, and who can argue with that!

[Steve Holmes]

Here you go Ellis. JR used the Phase III to win the 1972 Castrol GTX series, which was a production car series very similar to Australia's Series Production. The '72 season was the first for the Castrol GTX.

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[Ellis]

[quote="Steve Holmes"]Here you go Ellis. JR used the Phase III to win the 1972 Castrol GTX series, which was a production car series very similar to Australia's Series Production. The '72 season was the first for the Castrol GTX.

Thanks Steve...They are excellent quality pics. I have never seen those before.
I will contact the current (long term) owner and tell him about this site.


"AMC072"....How many real ones came to NZ.

Phase 3's ....
7 went direct to McMillan Ford NZ from Ford and 2 to other dealers = 9
However the number in NZ at one stage was around 18 due to private imports but a lot of those have
since returned to OZ.
The number remaining in NZ is around 7 or 8

The HO in USA Ford talk at the time was High Output
Ford Oz didnt want to use that term ( they were a bit shy...GT and HO listed as same power in their blurb) but kept the
HO designation and as they had modified the suspension used it as Handling Option


There must be some pics of Robbie Francevic in the Clayton Motors Falcon out there somewhere as well.
JR also drove the then Norris Miles owned ex John Goss car in 1973 .
It still had Mcleod Ford signage on it. It remained in NZ.
Some pics of that would be nice as well

[jim short]

yes i had a ride from kawarau to bay park race meeting with des about when the torana was new ,this guy in the holden would pull along side then des a bit more gas and up came the nose and the torana fell back ,after several goes he gave up as we got faster and faster over the ton.. it was gibsons bathurst car that didnt run. souded like a bpeedboat

[Milan Fistonic]

The Wills and B & H races were the events for true production cars,though cars like the Datsun 1200 SSS and the Fiat 125T bent the rules a little.

Reg Cook/Tony Warren (Charger) passing Grant Aitken/Barry Vuyk (Datsun 1200 SSS) during the 1974 B & H 500.


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[Milan Fistonic]

Reg Cook/Tony Warren (Charger) passing Grant Aitken/Barry Vuyk (Datsun 1200 SSS) during the 1974 B & H 500.


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[105angria]

older smaller

[Milan Fistonic]

105Angria. Your photo shows the start of the 1965 Wills Six Hour Race.

To help identify the cars here is the entry list from the programme.


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[seaqnmac27]

Some very interesting names in there including I notice one Phil Ornstein who along with his son drove the last 2 Hillman Avenger rally cars in New Zealand, either 83 or 84 would have been their last Rally NZ in them. They may have been Chrysler Avengers by then though

[Steve Holmes]

The Robbie Francevic Jerry Clayton Motors GTHO Phase III is currently for sale: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/ford/auction-394517452.htm

[Rod Grimwood]

Manfield, pick this lot out. Think I have a few.

[Rod Grimwood]

Here is a couple more of the GTX series production class stuff, Robin Irving in his Fiat. There was a big field of these with close racing.

[Rod Grimwood]

And the same fellow in his RX3 which ended being a fairly famous rally car as Rod Millen and Robin did the Heatway in it and it was the first Mazda Rod rallied.
Note the guy in the Capri no other than Mr Alan Woolf

[Rod Grimwood]

A couple of the Mazda a few months later, and it did finish the rally. From track to dirt