 Personal photos of Australian motor racing '50s to '70s |
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| Personal photos of Australian motor racing '50s to '70s |
 Feb 25 2007, 11:18
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#1
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Member Posts: 260 Joined: January 07  |
I’ve just re-discovered some photos that I took in the early fifties of Australian racing cars at various circuits and hill climbs.
As they aren’t doing much good sitting in a dusty photo album I though it might be a good idea to start another Thread where personal and previously unpublished photos of early Australian racing cars, engines, drivers and circuits could be displayed for TNF’s to view. All of us probably have some personal and unpublished photos that we could share and which in all likelihood may well disappear forever once we “fall off the perch”. By putting them up in the Forum they may just help someone who is restoring a particular car or looking for historical detail or even just stir some memories? I would tentatively suggest that we might start with photos from the ’50 – ‘70s? Here’s a few that I took at the 1955 Australian Grand Prix at Port Wakefield - 
Jack Brabham in newly completed, rear engined, Cooper Bristol (eventual winner) 
Stan Jones in the Australian Maybach special 
View of Maybach engine 
Doug Whiteford in Lago-Talbot 
Lago-Talbot engine (or is it more correctly Talbot-Lago engine?) My apologies regarding the quality as they we taken with a small "Box Brownie" type of camera! If you like this idea please dig out your old photo albums or slides and post! Kaydee |
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Feb 26 2007, 07:26
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#2
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 Member Posts: 3,024 Joined: July 01 |
I can't let this fall of page one without a reply, great photos kaydee!
I love the engine shot of the Maybach, look at the slant engine with fuel injection and look at those beautiful front brakes! It was very modern for the time. I don't know why they called it a Maybach and didn't call it a Repco. |
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Feb 26 2007, 08:14
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#3
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 Member Posts: 39,079 Joined: December 99 |
They probably spent so much time on the bottom end, fuel injection and exhausts that they couldn't afford any more to cast up a rocker cover with their own name on it...
Box Brownie shot from Leyburn early fifties... |
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Feb 26 2007, 08:29
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#4
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Member Posts: 260 Joined: January 07 |
Yes the Maybach was the closest that we had to a "works" car in those days and was certainly lucky to have Charlie Dean and the resources of Repco behind it.
Ray, I take it that the Leyburn photo is the the Mk l version? |
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Feb 26 2007, 10:48
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#5
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Member Posts: 1,968 Joined: July 05 |
Bathurst, 1969 ( think). One of a box of Bathurst slides from that meeting given to me by former RCN correspondent Peter Longley.
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Feb 26 2007, 10:58
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#6
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Member Posts: 260 Joined: January 07 |
Certainly looks like it could be Bathurst - not sure about the year but by the look of the Ford '69 would be around the mark.
Drivers from L to R look like 'Pete' Geogehan, Alan Hamilton, David McKay and Leo Geogehan |
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Feb 26 2007, 11:17
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#7
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Member Posts: 39,079 Joined: December 99 |
...and Spencer Martin.
The Leyburn pic is of this car: 
(as Ray carefully sneaks another pic of the Regal onto the forum...) |
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Feb 26 2007, 11:50
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#8
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Member Posts: 436 Joined: June 06 |
Originally posted by Ray Bell
...and Spencer Martin. Really...Where's Spencer? I can see Leo talking to Jim Russel from Newcastle... |
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Feb 26 2007, 11:55
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#9
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Member Posts: 260 Joined: January 07 |
More photos from the 1955 Australian Grand Prix at Port Wakefield -
Reg Hunt KLG Maserati 250F 
Cockpit of Reg Hunt Maserati 
Bill Craig's Alta Holden |
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Feb 26 2007, 12:36
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#10
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Member Posts: 39,079 Joined: December 99 |
Originally posted by seldo
Really...Where's Spencer? I can see Leo talking to Jim Russel from Newcastle... Afraid I don't know any Jim Russells from Newcastle... But it sure looks like Spencer to me. |
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Feb 26 2007, 19:09
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#11
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Member Posts: 9,721 Joined: November 00 |
Count mine as a vote against
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Feb 26 2007, 19:57
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#12
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 Member Posts: 1,235 Joined: August 02 |
Colour pic is definitely 1969, the only year the GTHOs wore 12-slot wheels, and there is the HDT GTS350 in the background.
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Feb 26 2007, 23:40
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#13
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Member Posts: 436 Joined: June 06 |
Originally posted by Ray Bell
Afraid I don't know any Jim Russells from Newcastle... But it sure looks like Spencer to me. I knew the surname was wrong...It is Jim and he did some racing in Europe and when he came back here he was a motor-race journo... AHA...It just came to me (old age and senility) Jim Sullivan! |
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Feb 26 2007, 23:50
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#14
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Member Posts: 39,079 Joined: December 99 |
Could be, I guess, but the build and the way he's standing, particularly with his hands just hanging down like that, look very Spencer to me...
By the way, I wonder if that's the Nomex suit David finished up in? |
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Feb 27 2007, 01:13
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#15
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Member Posts: 1,235 Joined: August 02 |
I would go for Spencer, as I think he would be the most likely to be chatting to Leo. He was without a drive after a crash and burn with a Monaro at Sandown which would explain the street clothes.
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Feb 27 2007, 01:17
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#16
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Member Posts: 39,079 Joined: December 99 |
Actually, he got hurt in that crash at Sandown...
But he is with David, I would say. |
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Feb 27 2007, 01:27
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#17
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Member Posts: 436 Joined: June 06 |
Maybe...I just don't recall Spencer being as grey on the sides at that stage...and his hair was a bit...slicker I guess will do..
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Feb 27 2007, 01:34
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#18
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Member Posts: 436 Joined: June 06 |
Originally posted by Terry Walker
Bathurst, 1969 ( think). One of a box of Bathurst slides from that meeting given to me by former RCN correspondent Peter Longley. I was looking at some of the people in the bckground and maybe I'm imagining it, but is that Fred Gigson and one of the scrutineers over Leo's left shoulder, and it could almost be me and Col Wear chatting to a balding guy with sunnies at top left above C pillar of the Falcon. Probably imaginitis... |
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Feb 27 2007, 01:37
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#19
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Member Posts: 39,079 Joined: December 99 |
Don't think that's Fred... and were you likely to be with Col at that time?
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Feb 27 2007, 02:40
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#20
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Member Posts: 1,968 Joined: July 05 |
Not Fred Gibson - wrong nose.
The other guys? Best I can manage: 
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Feb 27 2007, 03:15
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#21
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Member Posts: 436 Joined: June 06 |
Yes I agree that Fred is a bit doubtful, but Terry's close-up looks even more like me and Col. Yes Ray, I did know Col then through Ron Kearns
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Feb 27 2007, 06:14
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#22
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Member Posts: 39,079 Joined: December 99 |
You didn't run that meeting, David, and Ron Kearns ran in a Fiat...
Would Col have been there helping out with the Fiat? |
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Feb 27 2007, 07:53
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#23
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Member Posts: 436 Joined: June 06 |
Originally posted by Ray Bell
You didn't run that meeting, David, and Ron Kearns ran in a Fiat... Would Col have been there helping out with the Fiat? Yes - Col prepared the Fiat as far as I recall. And Ron I think introduced me to Col at that meeting...I dunno - they have all morphed into one now...OA&S doesn't help either... |
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Feb 27 2007, 09:32
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#24
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Member Posts: 1,968 Joined: July 05 |
Nice to see the Alta Holden in an early guise. It's been restored to original with an Alta engine and is racing in UK historics. It was the only one with the unique mag wheels. Here it is in WA some years after Port Wakefield, driven by David Drew, the last to race it as a "front line" racer.
And here's another pits scene from Bathurst 69: |
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Feb 27 2007, 09:35
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#25
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Member Posts: 1,968 Joined: July 05 |
Bugger. Something whent wrong with Image shack that time. Try again:
Bathurst 69: 
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Feb 27 2007, 09:53
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#26
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 Member Posts: 3,594 Joined: February 03 |
Harry Firth in the centre....the old fox??
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Feb 27 2007, 11:33
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#27
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Member Posts: 436 Joined: June 06 |
Originally posted by 275 GTB-4
Harry Firth in the centre....the old fox?? Yes...and Des West to the left. I remember the guy in the overalls but can't put a name to him yet. |
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Feb 27 2007, 11:40
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#28
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Member Posts: 39,079 Joined: December 99 |
Ian Tate...
These guys have aged somewhat since this photo session, I can tell you! |
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Feb 27 2007, 11:40
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#29
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Member Posts: 1,350 Joined: December 04 |
Ian Tate .in overalls----------------
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Feb 27 2007, 11:50
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#30
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 Member Posts: 52 Joined: July 06 |
Dear Kaydee
You are most welcome to post that shot of Jack Brabham on his Australian website www.jack-brabham-engines.com We are happy to use your name or any other recollections you have of that particular time. |
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Feb 27 2007, 23:24
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#31
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Member Posts: 260 Joined: January 07 |
A couple of photos from the Dec '56 Albert Park AGP meeting -
Stan Jones's Maserati 250F 
Reg Hunt's Cooper Bristol, driver Len Lukey. |
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Feb 28 2007, 07:30
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#32
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Member Posts: 1,968 Joined: July 05 |
Wonderful how joe public could get so close to the cars and crew in those days.
That's the second time in a few days I have been looking at photos of that Cooper Bristol. I've just been given a handful of dusty amateur slides from the 50s, and this one (badly faded) not only shows the Lukey C-B but also the Cusso sedan at the 1957 AGP meeting at Caversham. 
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Feb 28 2007, 10:47
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#33
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Member Posts: 39,079 Joined: December 99 |
Terry... what on earth is that car over in the corner, behind the balding Len?
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Feb 28 2007, 11:00
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#34
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Member Posts: 1,968 Joined: July 05 |
A90 Atlantic I think. One for the TNF BMC Owners Club...
EDIT: just checked my own website entry list. Ray Haythornthwaite's A90 Atlantic. |
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Feb 28 2007, 11:03
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#35
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Member Posts: 3,594 Joined: February 03 |
Originally posted by Ray Bell
Terry... what on earth is that car over in the corner, behind the balding Len? Do you mean the box trailer or the A90
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Mar 2 2007, 14:05
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#36
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Member Posts: 1,968 Joined: July 05 |
The ex-works ferrari 500 that Ascari drove to a world championship, which then raced by Lex Davison and finally by Doug Green in Western Australia. Still astoundingly original, although the original 2-litre 4 had been replaced by a 2.5 litre, and finally a 3-litre Ferrari 4, Making it a Ferrari 500/600/750. Now restored, and in Donington, but when this pic was taken at Caversham it was still a main stream single seater.
It didn't come with a workshop manual, so ace mechanic Don Reimann had to have an offsider solely to take notes whenever he had to dismantle anything. 
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Mar 2 2007, 15:35
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#37
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 Member Posts: 2,806 Joined: June 02 |
Approx which year was the photo, Terry?
Roger Lund. |
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Mar 2 2007, 15:53
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#38
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Member Posts: 9,721 Joined: November 00 |
As it's the middle of the night in Australia, I'll but in...
1960 possibly the December Caversham meeting |
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Mar 2 2007, 18:53
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#39
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Member Posts: 2,806 Joined: June 02 |
As ever, many thanks, David..
RL |
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Mar 2 2007, 19:35
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#40
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 Member Posts: 1,828 Joined: June 00 |
In post #31 Kaydee posted a paddock pic of a 250F #8 captioned "Dec '56 Albert Park AGP meeting ... Stan Jones's Maserati 250F".
In David McKinney's excellent 250F book there is a photo of Stan Jones at the 1956 Olympic Grand Prix, December 1956, with Stan Jones in #2. Could someone please clarify.. are the Austrlalian GP and the Olympic GP one and the same? If so, who drove #2 and who drove #8? Thanks Rob |
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