New Zealand OSCA Database - Histories And Whereabouts

[Steve Holmes]

Further to the Australian and NZ Sports Sedans threads, lets start a thread dedicated to New Zealand Open Saloon Car Association (OSCA) cars, documenting as many cars as we can for future reference. We'll try to include as much info on each car as possible, including build dates, details, modifications, race wins and championships, photos, and ultimate fate. Cars can be either still in existence, scrapped, or current whereabouts unknown. Cut-off date is 1990, meaning the cars must have been built before 1990. OSCA has mostly been South Island based, but has expanded into the North Island on a couple of occasions also, so NI built cars should also be included.

[Steve Holmes]

This car started its competition life in NZ national Group 5, but spent most of its career racing in OSCA, hence I'm putting it in here. This '67 Camaro was imported into NZ by Spencer Black in 1968 as a road car, and converted for racing duties. Black finished the 1968/69 NZ Saloon Car Championship 3rd in the 5.5 championship. The following season it was raced by Rod Coppins, who finished the championship 1st equal with Red Dawsons Mustang, after a countback that couldn't separate the pair. Coppins raced the car through the 1970/71 season, where he was beaten by Paul Faheys FVC Escort, then into the 1971/72 season, where it was replaced mid-season by the T/G Racing built '69 Trans-Am Firebird imported to NZ by Ron Grable.

The Camaro was sold to South Island OSCA racer Bruce Jenner, in March 1972. Jenner continued to modify the car over the next three seasons, until, following a shunt in 1975, he sent it to Rick Deihl at the PDL racing workshop, to semi-spaceframe the car. A complete new front-end was built for it, and new rollcage, but Jenner then collected the car and took it home before the work was completed, apparently for financial reasons.

However, as the front suspension was never completed by Deihl, the geometry was never right, and the cars handling suffered. Neil Robertson owned the Camaro briefly, before sticking it into the fence at Timaru. Next owner was Lawrence Bruce, who also struggled to get the car to handle. Eventually, Bruce traded it to John Osborne for Ozzys Falcon 6 powered Escort. Osborne had so much trouble with the handling, the steering wheel broke in half in his hands at one event at Timaru, after which he rebuilt it, finally curing the front suspension issues, and he went on to win the 1979/80 OSCA championship. This in itself is quite impressive, given this car won two major championships 10 years apart.

Osborne won the Class A OSCA championship in 1980/81, and was 4th overall, before selling the car to Chris Cullen. Cullen had planned to race the car the following season, but this never eventuated. In fact, he owned it until 2002, and in that time, completely restored it, modifying the flares, and repainting it red. The flares fitted to the car during the 70s were actually done by Robin Officer, who'd used the same molds to build the flares on PDL Mustang I, Jack Nazers Victor Chevy, and Bruce Bellis' V8 Cortina. Tony Boyden bought the Camaro off Cullen, and has since been racing it in historic racing. Boyden is incredibly fussy, and the car is in stunning condition. Its not actually presented in any guise from its racing past, instead it is much as how Cullen rebuilt it.

[Munty]

Hi all, can anyone help me find out exactly who won the first few OSCA Championships as the Overall trophy only starts with dad 1977. Also the A class trophy up to mid 90's as that trophy had the years lost many years ago. I have a fair idea but would like some of you to confirm or deny... maybe Bellis, Jenner...
73 Alec Dickie
74 Kevin Haig
75 ?
76 ?
77 Ian Munt

As for A class I know Osborne won the same as overall in 1980 and Munt 1977 plus a few others throughout the 80's but which ones not sure.

[Binzy1]

According to a yearbook I've got;
'74 winner was Laurence Bruce in a Mustang (Trevor Crowe 2nd in Chev Corolla).
'75 was Bruce Bellis in V8 Cortina with Bruce Jenner 2nd, Laurence Bruce 3rd
'76 was Kevin Haig in the Camaro with Jenner 2nd again, Rod McElrea 3rd
'77 indeed some bloke in a Capri......
Lindsay

[fastback55]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5507[/ATTACH]

This car started its competition life in NZ national Group 5, but spent most of its career racing in OSCA, hence I'm putting it in here. This '67 Camaro was imported into NZ by Spencer Black in 1968 as a road car, and converted for racing duties. Black finished the 1968/69 NZ Saloon Car Championship 3rd in the 5.5 championship. The following season it was raced by Rod Coppins, who finished the championship 1st equal with Red Dawsons Mustang, after a countback that couldn't separate the pair. Coppins raced the car through the 1970/71 season, where he was beaten by Paul Faheys FVC Escort, then into the 1971/72 season, where it was replaced mid-season by the T/G Racing built '69 Trans-Am Firebird imported to NZ by Ron Grable.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5508[/ATTACH]

The Camaro was sold to South Island OSCA racer Bruce Jenner, in March 1972. Jenner continued to modify the car over the next three seasons, until, following a shunt in 1975, he sent it to Rick Deihl at the PDL racing workshop, to semi-spaceframe the car. A complete new front-end was built for it, and new rollcage, but Jenner then collected the car and took it home before the work was completed, apparently for financial reasons.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5509[/ATTACH]

However, as the front suspension was never completed by Deihl, the geometry was never right, and the cars handling suffered. Neil Robertson owned the Camaro briefly, before sticking it into the fence at Timaru. Next owner was Lawrence Bruce, who also struggled to get the car to handle. Eventually, Bruce traded it to John Osborne for Ozzys Falcon 6 powered Escort. Osborne had so much trouble with the handling, the steering wheel broke in half in his hands at one event at Timaru, after which he rebuilt it, finally curing the front suspension issues, and he went on to win the 1979/80 OSCA championship. This in itself is quite impressive, given this car won two major championships 10 years apart.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5506[/ATTACH]

Osborne won the Class A OSCA championship in 1980/81, and was 4th overall, before selling the car to Chris Cullen. Cullen had planned to race the car the following season, but this never eventuated. In fact, he owned it until 2002, and in that time, completely restored it, modifying the flares, and repainting it red. The flares fitted to the car during the 70s were actually done by Robin Officer, who'd used the same molds to build the flares on PDL Mustang I, Jack Nazers Victor Chevy, and Bruce Bellis' V8 Cortina. Tony Boyden bought the Camaro off Cullen, and has since been racing it in historic racing. Boyden is incredibly fussy, and the car is in stunning condition. Its not actually presented in any guise from its racing past, instead it is much as how Cullen rebuilt it.

Great work Steve,
this is an iconic car, I remember it as the Spencer Black car progressing to Rod Coppins at Bay Park and Pukekohe, great times and great cars in those days, I'm afraid modern racing, Suzuki's Commodores, Falcons, and Utes and many thousand BMW's don't do it for me. Tony Bowden has presented the car fantastically as you say and I love seeing it in Central Muscle Car Racing and where he presents it. I appreciate how he presents it now rather than concentrating on the period of a certain owner, probably a fitting tribute to all who have slaved over it and a little piece of all time in it somewhere.

[Munty]

According to a yearbook I've got;
'74 winner was Laurence Bruce in a Mustang (Trevor Crowe 2nd in Chev Corolla).
'75 was Bruce Bellis in V8 Cortina with Bruce Jenner 2nd, Laurence Bruce 3rd
'76 was Kevin Haig in the Camaro with Jenner 2nd again, Rod McElrea 3rd
'77 indeed some bloke in a Capri......
Lindsay

Thanks Binzy need to get all this onto the trophy before it gets lost forever. Cheers

[Milan Fistonic]

This is the entry list for the North Island Final Round of the ACE-OSCA Series held at Pukekohe on April 29, 1973.

[Munty]

I guess I may as well fill in where a few cars are now, especially for the North Island members... most of these some of you will know but may as well get it down in writing for the future.

Dads Capri is now with Keith Tunnicliffe and getting a resto at Rosscos in Fielding.
Rod McElreas Cortina is now with Anthony Prendergast (who has the original Jac Mac Mark II 2 door Cortina) and is getting a resto by Herbie who used to help Rod back in the day.
Tony Mann has the ex Dickie Victor which is nearly ready to run and also the ex Kennedy built Capri.
Butch Johnson has is Avenger going again which also ran in Shellsport along with Allan Farr with his Escort which ran in Shellsport too.
Rod Hayman has the Capri that was raced by numerous people.

...theres a start

[Steve Holmes]

Thats great Evan, many thanks. I'll add more to this next week.

Re the Rod Hayman Capri, what is the history of this car?

[Jac Mac]

[color="#0000FF"]A few names /cars from down my way that competed in OSCA, perhaps not full time.
Ross Wells/Peter Mackay, Wade Paterson, Peter McFadzien- Ford Anglia ( all same car at various times I think )
Evan Dickie ex Hammond 1650 Anglia.
Geoff Elder - 1400cc injected Mini ( Still has it ) lots of developement by the late Russ Murray.
Gary Jenkins- My old Imp & then the ex Dickie Victor V8.
Arther Jelley- V6 3.0 Anglia ( Might have been sold to Rex Ramsay? Twizel.)
Lee Heads- 1650 Anglia.
Derek McRae- V8 Torana Sunbird, then V8 Chevette
Damn, now the minds gone blank, Oh well I can at least add/delete as reqd on this site when memory returns![/color]

[Munty]

Rod Hayman has the ex John Fisher/Don Elvy/John Heslin car. Don't know who had it before John. Anyone?

[stirlingmac]

Sorry for the slow reply, I had to dig out some info. My former OSCA car is a Datsun 1200 coupe. It was powered by a Mazda 10A PP and 4 speed. It is easily identifiable because it was factory LHD. I bought it in 1990 from fellow Wellingtonian Craig Park and I still own it. I rebuilt it with a 12A PP and 4 speed. From the rego papers for it's trailer former owners include Richard Haar of Gore in 87 and Lindsay Tressler of Gore in 86. I would love to hear any stories and see any pics of it. Cheers Wayne.

[stirlingmac]

Found this at a garage sale years ago never seen another...probably more common down south.

[Munty]

Yep thats the original (i think?) logo which re did a run of grey T-shirts with that logo on a couple years back.
By the way all, the twin DVD of footage which we played at the 40th reunion night will be available in approx 4 weeks. Price looks like being $25 plus postage, nearly 4 hours of footage from mainly the 80's.
Contact me directly to purchase mailto:?subject=&body=

[shellsport]

Great that your on here Wayne , now I have seen your coupe , looks great.


Whats up with 1200.com? , just dose not seem as informative as it was !

[stirlingmac]

Hey Bazza, I don't visit 1200.com much too many young guys ....Hopefully on here I can tap into a more mature info vein !!!

[Steve Holmes]

Hey Wayne, thats a pretty little car. Great to hear you still own it. Which of those two photos is the newer?

[stirlingmac]

Thanks Steve, here is a pic taken of when it was last running...far too long ago !!!

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, I love it! What was its history before you bought it?

[minihaha]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAEoBZjOa7Y&feature=related

Hi, found this on youtube. Thought it may be of interest, it's pretty cool stuff.