Kerepehi, Raglan , Waharoa and other Waikato Grass tracks.

[Oldfart]

Just putting this out that I haven't seen much about these.
Thames Valley Car Club and Hamilton Car Club were avid organisers of these very popular events.

[Roger Dowding]

Just putting this out that I haven't seen much about these.
Thames Valley Car Club and Hamilton Car Club were avid organisers of these very popular events.

Oldfart - Have seen very little of these but I did find a little on Waharoa which has been posted on here, think your Matamata thread but need to check.

Kerepehi - went there once in February 1967 from memory, had just bought my first car and joined NSCC.
Remember some pre-war Ford V8 Coupes and Jim Boyd in the Lycoming, which raced past us going home followed by a mate of his with a car and trailer.
Guess they brought the trailer in case Jim broke down. No photos though.

Will be a good thread to add any photos, entry lists programmes when found.

Cover of a Waharoa Programme .. March 1967

Alan Boyle got a couple of Certificates .. Alan Boyle archives. March 1966 and 1967.

The names [ signatures ] on the certificates .. a G Meekings on the second - name seems familiar - did he do Race, Rally, Trial or Hill Climb.

Did a couple of HCC events Mercury Trophy Trials and one year an HCC Bardahl Hill Climb, also competed on the TVCC Mercury Trophy Trial at least once - remember a section where we drove across a culvert that was covered in water. !!
We may have been in a Ford in a Ford !!

[Trevor Sheffield]

I remember thse events as being for many, the only form of motor racing vaiable on the basis of cost. A very important aspect involved near zero tyre wear, particularly when these were in short supply. At the time I was running retreaded tyres. There were many competing who could not afford any other form of actual racing.

As a result they provided a valid, valued means of truly amateur motor sport and were very much part of the clubman scene.

[Oldfart]

Yes Graeme Meekings (or Graham) took me trialling with Alan Gough and??, I'm trying to remember the president's name. Graeme had a lot of involvement with Mermaid.
Indeed Trevor, a very valuable part of motorsport.

[Roger Dowding]

Mentioned on another thread - when I saw a Membership card for the " Waikato Motor racing Club Inc " for the 1957 / 58 year.

Going through an old NZ Classic Car magazine from May 2009 Issue #221 an article about Dennis Marwood and his Humber 80 racing in the early 1960's after his Hillman Minx in 1960'
Dennis Marwood had raced a MG T D prior to the Humber at this event run by the Waikato Motor Racing Club.

Not a Grass Track event but from the Waikato area..

Did "Waikato MRC " evolve into Hamilton Car Club in a similar way the the New Zealand Racing Drivers Club from 1932 became the Auckland Car Club around 1949 ??.

Do have a few photos from Waharoa too.

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
Some great names at that Hora Hora event in 1957. e.g. Bruce McLaren, Johnny Mansel, Tom Clark, Ron Roycroft, Ross Jensen etc. etc.That was like a NZGP field from that period.
I went to that event in the late sixties. The road is still the same now just not as rough around the edges !

What was happening in Glen Murray at the time ?
Ron Roycroft, R.J.R. Special
Johnny Mansel, Ardun Special
D. Caldwell (Was that Bill and Alistair's father ?) Alfa Romeo

That is an amazing number for a population of not more than 50

(Ken H)

[Roger Dowding]

" The road is still the same now just not as rough around the edges ! "

Indeed Ken H, you posted a picture of part of the road taken in 2018.

Glen Murray was happening then and even in later years .. 1979 when the Morgan Car Club,Lotus Car Club and the Austin Healey Club had a touring run to Ron's place - they held an impromptu Hill Climb, with Ron in the R J R which he managed to put through a fence, both Ron and the Car were OK..

Moving slightly off " Oldfart's " subject - here is Ron in the RJR after leaving the road - Ross Cammick photo.

The photo of Hora Hora Road - Ken H archives. Never know whether it is " Horahora " or as on the programme
" Hora Hora " ..??

[Roger Dowding]

Yes Graeme Meekings (or Graham) took me trialling with Alan Gough and??, I'm trying to remember the president's name. Graeme had a lot of involvement with Mermaid.
Indeed Trevor, a very valuable part of motorsport.

Found this from Milan Fistonic about the NSCC Little Ardmore in 1960 and there is G Meekings in a Ford Special, a Dennis Marwood in a Hillman [ a farming boy from around Morrinsville in the heart of HCC territory ] - after the MG TD but before the Humber 80 and many others

Just noticed R Billington in his Elfo Special too !!

There was even a Club Event .. an Interclub Relay race, won by MG Car Club NSCC 2nd and Hamilton CC third

Looking for more information.

I am also seeking information on John Windelburn [ Windleburn ? ] exploits who began racing in an Austin A35 and went on to race other cars V8 Specials often for other owners - John was active from the late 1950's into at least the 1980's.
Any information - Entry Lists, Results, Photos would be appreciated.. and should probably go on the NSCC thread.

[Allan]

I remember a Ross Meekings 80s or 90s rallies in I believe a Toyota Corolla.

[Oldfart]

I remember a Ross Meekings 80s or 90s rallies in I believe a Toyota Corolla.

Ross was Graham's son. Graham(sp?) was probably in Mermaid.
I see Cliff Knight from Awanui in the Ardmore results. Nice man who went on to be very competitive with stockcars.

[Roger Dowding]

One of the few photos I have found of Grass Track racing at " Kerepehi Domain ".

A modified Standard 10 - [ or is it an " 8 " - as has the sliding windows ] powered by a Ford 1500 motor.
archive Jenny Lucey.

Perhaps TVCC and HCC have some in their archives ??.

[Roger Dowding]

From Richard Bauz archives on the " Orchid Special " - Richard purchased the " Orchid " a few years ago and it is now in France. The items were on a TRS thread #847 - must check.

*** Correction - these images are from Milan Fistonic archives - and were posted on the " Matamata Street Race " thread #847 - there were three pages - this extract was only the cover and one page. The image was as saved by Richard Bauz as had details of his car.
The " Orchid Special ".
Here is the third page - second part of the entry list.

Also on the Matamata story is Milan's Entry List for an event at Hautapu in January 1970..

The events were popular and a number of Name drivers are entered for these more low key events..

[bry3500]

Kerepehi

[Roger Dowding]

Kerepehi

BRY3500 posted the map of the track ..
The event was first held February 12th 1966 - promoted by Thames Valley Car Club.

This is the programme cover and entry list - from Milan Fistonic archives
- [ presume posted in response to some photos posted by John Larry Lawton of cars at the event - posted on another forum but belong here ].

The copy of the map.

Hard to work out the direction of travel as even the Marshall Posts numbers seem erratic..

Google Maps shows the Domain still there and the track is around the perimeter of the venue largely and looks similar.

Have photos of the M Meirs Standard '10 '- Ford 1500 powered [ posted above ] and the Emson and Jones Simca's.- They belong on here.

Have been contacted by the daughter of a TVCC member who took photos of TVCC events in 1970's which I am being sent - they may belong on here - depending where, when and what type of event.
- Watch this Space ...

[Oldfart]

Each time I went there it was anticlockwise, and in 73 (?) all I could see through the dust of the cars in front was the glint of sunlight on bumpers and windows.

[Roger Dowding]

Have come across a series of photos from John [ Larry ] Lawton of the February 1967 meeting.
They belong on here.

This gentleman was racing there, that day, well known for his VW exploits ..

One of the cars that raced, and according to J L L, the car was back on the track later in the meeting

Is that the VW in the background ? of the gentleman mentioned - has wide wheels
More to follow;

Someone may have the entry list / programme for the event..

[Roger Dowding]

The John [ Larry ] Lawton photos.

A brave person standing inside the corner was close to all the action.

Saloons mainly Mini's [ an Elf in a later sequence there for Bruce D " SpGeti " ]

They didn't all manage to stay on their wheels as seen in the sequence of photos.

a closer look - the same photo - as edited by J L L.

a closer look - the same photo - as edited by J L L.

The Mini Race #14 is Ross Hollings

[Roger Dowding]

Mini's and the Elf ..

*** The Mini at the back of the group is Ross Hollings - just found out from Ross as he has a copy of the photo in his archives.
Ross owned Mini-max at one stage and owned the LHD Sprite that was mine 1978 to 1983 - he owned it in the late 1980's -

a closer look - the same photo - as edited by J L L.

Morris Minor and a 100E - Anglia or Prefect - the spectator [ Marshall ? ] Hillman is parked a bit close.

*** The Ford is a Prefect and was driven by Ron Bjerring from TVCC. - information from John Climo who has information and photos on the meeting - he was on the gate for the meeting.

a closer look - the same photo - as edited by J L L. - the Hillman has gone !!.

The photographer is in the action again ..

With the wider range shots you can see more of the trees and the background

The numbered stumps in the foreground - was that for the " Woodchopping " when the local A and P show was on ??.
Anyone know ?

[Oldfart]

Answer to your question post 18, correct.
Isn't it a bit anorak when I can give first names to almost all the entrants!

[Roger Dowding]

Answer to your question post 18, correct.
Isn't it a bit anorak when I can give first names to almost all the entrants!

" Oldfart " - We need your Anorak knowledge as often entry lists have Initials and not names or " nicknames ".

Have added a couple more names of drivers to one of the post above.