Obscure Kiwi-built race cars
#1
Posted 27 August 2008 - 09:45
To start the ball rolling:
Second photo is of the car on its maiden run with out side panels.
Clues; This car was constructed in 1963 for Formula Junior but never ran, instead competed briefly in NZ National Formula. The car was to be morphed later in life into a car with a different name, this time reasonably well known, and again in a different Formula, What is it?
David? let you know in a couple of days if you haven't picked it.
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#2
Posted 27 August 2008 - 11:59
#4
Posted 27 August 2008 - 22:31
#5
Posted 28 August 2008 - 11:53
Again a car that started life as very attractive Formula Junior driven by a well known kiwi driver, Moved on to NZ National Formula, Rolled at Takaka Hillclimb 1969, it was rebodied as pictured and continued to race as a National Formula car , before being converted to a Formula Ford, subsequently rebodied again with a GEMCO style body and to end its days as a SCANZ car. Pictured about 1969-70 in Christchurch
You may pick what it was constructed from but this car was so Ugly that even david didn't bother to take a photo of it. Whats its name?
#6
Posted 28 August 2008 - 13:58
#7
Posted 28 August 2008 - 14:04
#8
Posted 28 August 2008 - 15:21
If the definition includes cars that were purpose built for racing, they would possibly number in the hundreds. Especially if one includes purpose-built specials that used an existing body or chassis..viz; one rather hairy FJ Holden, Jag powered and 4 wheel drive using Triumph rear end.....at the front end and a (seemingly) endless supply of Chevrolet coupe bodied hill climb and sprint/short circuit type "specials"
At a time when quite a few farmers had, what amounted to small machine shops, welding gear and the like, just to keep their farm equipment operational, it was a small step to building a racing car out of scraps and left-over pieces.
Of course this was not confined to farmers only, many urban and city dwellers, likewise had access to similar equipment. Some racing cars were downright ugly and (probably) downright dangerous. In fact, the majority of purpose-built/name brand race cars that were imported, ended their days as much modified and re-engineered Kiwi "specials".....a similiar situation existed in Australia , the US and in South America. As the 'factory' parts failed or could no longer be repaired, locally sourced ( and usually either free, or very cheap) parts were substituted.
Most achieved only modest success in terms of results, but I'm sure that ALL gave their owners/builders a sense of accomplishment that few others experience.
A book on these types of vehicles AND their owners/builders would be the ultimate labour of love; a mammoth effort. One would literally need to start at Kaitaia and work soutnward. AND include NZ's ex-pats.
A network of information gatherers and contacts would be essential for any kind of success or comprehensive coverage
The Beggs, Stantons, Watsons, Munros, Greens et al, have all been mentioned in existing publications.
They were the very tip of the iceberg
#9
Posted 28 August 2008 - 16:34
#10
Posted 28 August 2008 - 16:43
#11
Posted 31 August 2008 - 06:50
McRae actually built two twincam cars (plus bits for a third) but they were later - and better-looking - than the ones in the photographsOriginally posted by Skid the Squirrell
Didnt Mcrae build a twincam car before he went f5000? Is that it?
The first pictures show a car called the Olva-Ford, built and raced by George Hetterscheid around 1964/65. When Formula Vee was introduced in NZ a couple of years later, he apparently used the 1500 as a basis for the first of many FV cars he would build over the next few years
I'm surprised no South Island TNF member has identified the other car, as it was a regular at Ruapuna and Timaru (and even Teretonga) for two or three seasons about 1969/70. Perhaps the photo doesn't show any more (I can't see it)
#12
Posted 31 August 2008 - 09:45
The car was built in 1963 by Roly Oliver in Wanganui.
First photo is of the proud builder, in the car on it's maiden outing.The OLVA was originally designed and built to FJ specs and to hold a Simca 1100 cc motor but as FJ never took off in NZ, the car instead ran with 1340 ford. The car was dated when first built, having a transverse leaf spring front and swing axel rear end, The chassis was so narrow the engine had to sit upright.
the second photo with open sides, has George Hetterscheid behind the wheel. George subsequently purchased the car and converted it to FV by removing the front end and bolting on a VW beam.
Notes from Roly
Car design completed Jan 63
Chassis completed feb 63
All components fitted july 63
Engine installed approx sept 63
Ready to go Oct 63
#13
Posted 31 August 2008 - 10:19
Do we know where the debut photo was taken? I thought it was Ardmore, but that's unlikely. I don't remember any corrugated iron structures like that at Levin though
#14
Posted 31 August 2008 - 10:54
Below is the car driven ,without engine cover, engine by now 1650cc, at Ruapuna, by Larry in its original guise before it was rolled, the original Lola wheels having been replaced with wide Brabham wheels.
The nose was previously shortened by Jim Boyd when he drove it as he kept knocking the end of the original long nose.
The following article was when the Valour FJ was first constructed 1963 by Trevor Larsen of the Valour Car company. Jim Boyd and Jack Malcolm helped in final assembly. The Valour initially ran in unpainted alloy.
subsequently painted BRG and sold onto Colin Ngan 1964, then to Edwards/Bryant 1965.
Subsequently the car was converted in 1973 to SCANZ, with a Gemco style body, by Mark lamberton, then went to Greg Napper.
Would anybody have a photo of it as a SCANZ car?
#15
Posted 31 August 2008 - 10:58
#16
Posted 31 August 2008 - 11:24
Perhaps a club sprint, of which there were loads in the day
#17
Posted 31 August 2008 - 11:31
I believe it was called the Maral SP1 in its sportscar metamorphosisOriginally posted by silicanza
Subsequently the car was converted in 1973 to SCANZ, with a Gemco style body, by Mark lamberton, then went to Greg Napper.
Would anybody have a photo of it as a SCANZ car?
But no, I don't have a photo of it
#18
Posted 31 August 2008 - 12:20
Fifteen after midnight here and having an interesting email conversation with some guy in London over the Lynx. No doubt you know of him. cheers
#19
Posted 31 August 2008 - 13:31
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#20
Posted 31 August 2008 - 16:13
Wally Darrell's first ACE Special was also created by Green, though not the other three.
As far as the Mistrals are concerned, they were kitset sportscars rather than specials, though not all used Mistral chassis.
#21
Posted 01 September 2008 - 09:05
Originally posted by David McKinney
I believe it was called the Maral SP1 in its sportscar metamorphosis
But no, I don't have a photo of it
David,
I believe I have a photo of the Maral which I will look out,also I agree with you on Levin with the Olva Ford,I have some photos in my Album with the same buildings in the backgroud of Levin
Bob
#22
Posted 02 September 2008 - 11:03
ACE 3's younger but bigger brother, ACE 4. built in the mid sixties, again with Zepher engine with Raymond Mays head.
Chopped up in the 1970's and converted from front engined to rear engined single seater the car was recovered from Nelson and is currently under restoration in CH CH by Bruce Ellwood.
#23
Posted 02 September 2008 - 11:44
What rear-engined single-seater did it become?
#24
Posted 02 September 2008 - 11:57
Does any body els have photos tucked away off it?
#25
Posted 02 September 2008 - 13:31
#26
Posted 02 September 2008 - 15:19
#27
Posted 02 September 2008 - 21:49
Bruce tells me the ACE4 converted to a rear engined car " was only ever tested on the road without a body, and I do not think it had a name, this would have been 1974"
#28
Posted 02 September 2008 - 22:31
We live and learn
#29
Posted 03 September 2008 - 09:52
#30
Posted 03 September 2008 - 09:59
#31
Posted 03 September 2009 - 08:21
A Wellington car built by Ian McRae around 1959, 1175cc Ford 10, Split beam front axel, Cars named the Badger. (Ian must have liked Wind and the Willows)
It raced at Levin up till 1964 and has just resurfaced. Do you have any history on it?
#32
Posted 03 September 2009 - 11:37
I remember it, but not looking like thatProbably another one for you David!
A Wellington car built by Ian McRae around 1959, 1175cc Ford 10, Split beam front axel, Cars named the Badger. (Ian must have liked Wind and the Willows)
It raced at Levin up till 1964 and has just resurfaced. Do you have any history on it?
Here with constructor Ian Macrae at the helm
It was raced by Phil Deere after Macrae, but I lost track of it after about 1966 or 1967
#33
Posted 03 September 2009 - 20:21
Yours looks much more like I'd expect, David. Very much like the Centaurs that used to run at Lakeside.
#34
Posted 03 September 2009 - 21:36
Most of the time it's been sitting in the garage and not been looked at - now I've a bit of spare time and want to refurbish it and get it back on the race track.
If any one has any further knowledge it would be really great to get more info - One of it's previous owners was Jim Boyd Motors (whether Jim Boyd raced it I don't know). It has a set of Cooper Magnesium rims which indicates to me it was probably raced for a while after Phil Deere.
Thanks in advance for any feedback
#35
Posted 03 September 2009 - 22:08
I probably saw just about every event Ian Macrae and Phil Deere did with it, and have a few more photos
PM me if you want anything else
#36
Posted 03 September 2009 - 22:20
What a lovely profile, and very much like Len Terry's Terrier of that era .Yours looks much more like I'd expect, David. Very much like the Centaurs that used to run at Lakeside.
Roger Lund
#37
Posted 03 September 2009 - 23:44
I'd be surprised if Jim Boyd raced it - a bit beneath him by then
I probably saw just about every event Ian Macrae and Phil Deere did with it, and have a few more photos
PM me if you want anything else
Branching off slightly from the thread, would Phil Deere be the "?Phil Teale?" I have pencilled in as the driver of Lionel Bulcraig's Cooper 1750 cc in my programme for the Auckland CC Pukekohe meeting of 11 December 1965. He trailed the field in 14th place in the 4 lap prelim, didn't make the start of the main race, but ran in a later handicap. Neither name has stayed in my memory over the intervening 50-odd years. Or was it someone else altogether?
#38
Posted 04 September 2009 - 06:00
"Teale" is also fairly close to Teagle...
#39
Posted 04 September 2009 - 07:38
Hatrat and I got to rummage through Jim Boyds photo collection a couple of months back. Plenty of photos of the cars he raced but but no photos of the Badger, so doubtful he raced the car.
Very Nice looking car though. Worth trying to rebuild with the original body???
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#40
Posted 04 September 2009 - 09:11
#42
Posted 02 October 2009 - 14:05
Jim Boyd in the HWM - but is it from practice for the famous Wet Wigram of 1961?
#43
Posted 03 October 2009 - 11:16
#44
Posted 03 October 2009 - 16:37
#46
Posted 04 October 2009 - 23:58