The Roaring Season

I've always been a bit fascinated with the early era of O.S.C.A. Living in Auckland we didn't really see much of it but it all sounded pretty exciting down south. I remember on one occasion in early 1973, there was a sort of O.S.C.A. tour to the north, with several meetings. By the time they got to Pukekohe there had been several mechanical casualties, but I clearly remember Paul Kirk's yellow Viva with red wheels?, (really liked that car and it went well) and 3.5 Buick V8 motor, Blair Paton and Ron McPhail in there respective blue and black twin cam Escorts, plus Peter Kocis in his Torana, also possibly Grant Aitken in his 1450 Mini and Pat Pascoe's light weight ex McRae Twin Cam powered A40. I remember Kocis and Jim Richards in the Sidchrome Imp had a coming together shortly after the start with the Imp launched through the fence. I'd be really keen to sight some pictures of the early years of OSCA, in the pits on the track wherever, particularly from down south if anyone has any gems stowed away!

THere was a pretty good effort here in Auckland to get a North Island sub branch of OSCA going at that time ,it had a lot of support and looked like it would grow,the early rounds down at Levin especially attracted quite good entries.The first fuel crises helped bring about its demise .I amongst others were building new cars for it ,but the future uncertainty of the sport in general with the fuel crises ,suspension of race meetings etc caused a change in direction for a lot of people , myself included at this time .That original Auckland committee consisted of myself ,Greg Lancaster ,Rex Findlay and Adrian Walmsley ,it was a pity that circumstances changed ,There was also a Wellington sub branch

Was the Bellis Cortina an OSCA car?

bob homewood wrote:THere was a pretty good effort here in Auckland to get a North Island sub branch of OSCA going at that time ,it had a lot of support and looked like it would grow,the early rounds down at Levin especially attracted quite good entries.The first fuel crises helped bring about its demise .I amongst others were building new cars for it ,but the future uncertainty of the sport in general with the fuel crises ,suspension of race meetings etc caused a change in direction for a lot of people , myself included at this time .That original Auckland committee consisted of myself ,Greg Lancaster ,Rex Findlay and Adrian Walmsley ,it was a pity that circumstances changed ,There was also a Wellington sub branch

What sort of car were you building for it Bob?

faminz wrote:Was the Bellis Cortina an OSCA car?

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Yep, certainly was, this is the car built for OSCA by Clyde Collins. Bellis had these box flares fitted, they were done by Robin Officer, taken from the molds he also used on the PDL Mustang I, Jenner Camaro, and Nazer Victor.

Great shot of the Bellis, Collins Cortina. I wonder if there are any similar colour pics of the likes of the Alex Dickie Victor Chev and Anglia Chev, Trevor Crowe Corolla Chev, Jim McComb Mk1 Cortina Mustang, Paul Kirk Viva Buick V8, the Sylvester Monaro's or the Kevin Haig Mustang etc. These and many others would be great to see

Here is a current photo of the Dickie Victor Chev. Tony Mann now has this car.
Cheers Mike

Steve Holmes wrote:What sort of car were you building for it Bob?

I had the ex Metropolitan Cranes Escort that Dave Silcock and Peter Sundberg raced,which I was putting a modified F85 Olds engine in ,as I said it was unfortunate with the fuel crises drama coming along as it was the only time in my life I have ever had decent sponsorship,the fuel crises put paid to that and changed my plans

Wow, that was a cool little car Bob. Was that the twin-cam Escort Silcock replaced his Jaguar with? What a phenomenal car it would have been with the Olds motor. Do you know what became of it?

Yes that is right ,but it was the first Harrington Escort from memory before that ,when I parted with it it went to Grant Aitken,then onto Ross Cameron .It was my intention when I returned from Greymouth to build up that car ,but it didn't happen quite as quick as I planned as I got involved with Don McMillan helping build up the replacent Escort for Pete Sundberg,(the Spears one ) that is on the photo's here and I was involved with 3 or 4 people racing XU1's which were pretty popular at that time ,also I worked in a Tuning business and dynoed a lot of other cars that were racing at that time I can remember a lot of 15/16 hour days around that time.I guess I have a few more stories that will unfold in time

I hope you'll keep the stories coming Bob, they're always fascinating. Would love to see a thread on your Escort sports sedan.

Do you know where the Harrington/Silcock etc Escort is now? Actually, I should post this question on the Lost Race Cars thread, as there are a few others from that period I'm curious about too.

Talking of the Wellington Osca movement at that time ,perhaps David can fill us in on it,from memory was it I think Dick Cook who was biulding up a car around the McBegg sports car or something similar

Can't help much, I'm afraid Bob
I only remember Dick Cook in a BDA Escort at that time

Here is a re-carnation of the Spinner Black Camaro

With young Homewood in No77

David McKinney wrote:With young Homewood in No77

Modestly yes ! Peter Kocis was just in front, gone out of the photo Dick Young is in the other Torana,I think that is the Triang following me Murray Soames is in the Lotus Cortina ,he went on to build a Escort with all the Lotus
Cortina components in it,this Escort was later brought by Bryce Platt ,developed more and became his Championship
winning car.Murray was another of the founding members of that early Auckland OSCA chapter,I think he also looked
hard at that time at the Olds F85 option

bob homewood wrote:[ATTACH=CONFIG]477[/ATTACH]

Cool photo Bob. Was that a genuine XU-1? They were highly successful in Castrol GTX production racing.

Here are a couple Clyde Collins sent me, of his Mustang Cortina, now sadly long gone.

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Helping Dennis Marwood along with a little love tap.....

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That Cortina looks stunning and I remember it being around, but I don't think I ever saw it race. What colour was it painted - I seem to remember an orange. What happened to the car in the end ?