The Roaring Season

June 2023. A slight title change. This thread has now been running for over 11 years and from an initial 'occasional post', this has morphed into a 'most days post', covering pics from the late 1930's (Dad's) to the present day, UK, the USA and NZ. Unless stated otherwise, all pics are from my own library and subject to copyright, if reproduced elsewhere.


I am very slowly scanning slides and negatives from an extensive collection of my own, but as my late father was a photographer, there are 100's of rolls of his film that are not motoring related to deal with too. I'll post occasional pics of interest in no particular order and the uncorrected quality does vary...

I love cars that show a bit of individuality. Greg Lancaster's Volvo is typical. May not have been a winner against the big V8s, but great to see.



And how about this Morris Marina? Does it still exist? Run?



Yes, it is running again - see post #1453

I'm with you. It is great to see a field of big V8's but most are Mustangs or Camaros. It is great to see somethign else in there that we wouldn't ordinarily see. I guess that's why the Francevic Volvo was such a great car and it went like stink.

Another car I thought I only saw once - until I went through 400 rolls of film (late November 2013)...

Then it appeared on Bob Homewood's page...;

One of my all time favourite car/driver combinations. Dr Rodger was a very early user of in car telemetry and although I used to see him in the staff tea room at the ATI, sadly, I never plucked up the courage to approach him. Standing on the inside of the Pukekohe hairpin, without a doubt, at that time (1989), that was the fastest car through the hairpin, bar none, including single seaters.

Not sure who is actually in the car (often the case with two driver combinations) but a good one for the collection anyway.

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500cc formula 3 cars were extremely popular when I first started spectating and this is the Arnott at Whenuapai. Oh how we miss those great meetings...

Anyone who understands the problems older photographers faced may appreciate this, one of Dad's pics.

Taken on glass, the photographer would be severely limited as to the number of slides he could carry, before having to return to the darkroom to reload. At this 1939 Donington meeting, when Dad was a photographer for the Nottingham Evening News, I would imagine that he could well have been limited to just 12 slides for the day. Can you imagine that?

When many of us will now take 1,000 digital pics in a day - and think nothing of it, being limited to just 12 pics, with no auto focus, no range finder, no exposure meter and a cumbersome plate camera, has to mean a great deal of respect for professional photographers.

I grew up thumbing through Dad's prints (and his books) and longed for the day Donington may reopen. Little did I know as a child, that in 1977, I would be on the board of the Nottingham Sports Car Club when car racing at Donington returned.

No prizes for recognising the driver either. This is ERA 12c.

I didn't know until very recently that in 1950, Gamston (near Retford, Nottinghamshire), was in contention for the British Grand Prix, but lost out to Silverstone. Both were airfield circuits and I think there now are one or two (rather poor) YouTube videos of the track.

ERA again - Dad's favourite car, but by this time, I think he had graduated to a roll film camera, probably that trusty Leica that I was using a decade later. This time, he wasn't a press photographer.

Note: Three years after posting this, I found out that this wasn't Gamston in 1951 at all, but 1948 Silverstone! This is John Bolster in "Remus".

Very cool shots. It's a shame that you didn't get to speeak with Rodger Freeth, he was a most approachable guy. He gave many talks at car clubs and was probably the best speaker I have ever had the pleasure to listen to. Humourous, erudite and unbelievably informative. The talk on how they got suspension info out of the Starlet was just fascinating. A very sad loss to the motoring world in many ways.

And how about this Morris Marina? Does it still exist? Run?

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Graham Park I think it was, its mentioned in the Lost Cars thread, ran with tinted windows and I think from memory on that thread it was burnt out at Baypark?

Wow, these are amazing! I'm really excited about this thread, thanks Ray. Keep 'em coming.

Actually looking at it closer, something Caulton?

seaqnmac27 wrote:Actually looking at it closer, something Caulton?

Sorry? Don't really understand!

Yes, Graham Park was the driver.

No, he may have been at one stage I think if you read the door it says, John Caulton or Coulton.

Caulton in 87 made up NI team Willis Mossman Homewood Short and Caulton

Yep, John Caulton, car was lost in fire in Hastings I think.
Parksy was original brave man, and quick.

Rod Hemmings well used TVR V6, spewing out some fuel from the filler cap.


Paul Halford's Autosud. Great to see more of these rarer front engined Juniors being imported.



Formula Junior's again. A rather well known Lola in front...

Chris Atkinson's very quick Lotus


Some Brit cars may not have had a great local reputation, but at least some hardy souls are willling to take the more difficult route for our pleasure.



Howard's very impressive BMW was going very well


Todd Forsyth survived a scary 360 degree practice spin on the front straight in the MG V8, flatting 2 rear tyres. This ex GT Series car, previously driven by Dad, Paul Forsyth, now needs to be brought into line with our own series rules by the addition of front lights.



Although not an ERC round, all four of these cars are regulars and show the variety we try to encourage.

Three ERC Cars. One older car - older driver; one older driver - new car: one older car - new driver...






For those not familiar with Hampton Downs, all pics were taken from the spectator enclosures, which is what makes this track a favourite with amateur and professional photographers alike - decent views of the track from several vantage points.

ERC wrote:500cc formula 3 cars were extremely popular when I first started spectating and this is the Arnott at Whenuapai. Oh how we miss those great meetings...

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[video=youtube;smX573GWalA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smX573GWalA[/video]