76 replies to this topic

[275 GTB-4]

Went to the library today and scrolled through the first RCN...July 1961. I couldn't find a thread dedicated to this generally informative (though sometimes not always error free) magazine. I know several contributors who worked on the magazine or are avid readers have quoted scads from the race reports etc on here, but, I thought there should be a place in TNF just for items from or about RCN.

Some tidbits from the first year of magazines I read today:

Keith Malcolm was very competitive in the Skoden

Ralph Sach was a great Hill Climb competitor in the holden powered Mini-Din

Bruce Leer in the Milano MG

Ex-Melina (Molina?) Monza driven by Bryan Thompson (what a beast!)

Peter Wherrett at Oran Park in the McGuire Cooper Minx

An Editorial about peoples low perceptions of the car racing fraternity vice the gee-gee people at the Farm.....500 guinea hay burners racing for 2000 pounds in prize money against 2000 pound cars racing for 50 pound!!

Robin Orlando 587 Parramatta Road Leichhardt

Nowra Hill climb report

Race Meeting at Undera Circuit Shepparton 15 Oct 1961

Lou Molina in a Ford Anglia instead of his VW at the Geelong Sprints 27 Aug 61

Peter "Camera Bug" D'Abbs

A letter from the UK re Gavin Youll's FJ exploits, rebuilding the car after a small fire and being 2 seconds a lap faster at Goodwood sent by Keith Lavery

Jack "the little king" Myers pictured in the Thunderbird open wheeler and an Obit after he died 21 Jan 1962

Just a wealth of information preserved for all to see. I must read more!!

Cue Barry Lake, Ray Bell et al.....over to you.

[Ray Bell]

Was it the actual first issue... or a reprint that was a part of the 25th anniversary issue?

[Terry Walker]

In the late 60s I wrote a few Western Australian rally reports for RCN, even took the photos, too.

The pay for rally reports was terrible of course - you did miles and miles, spent a fortune on fuel, and so on - and didn't get any expenses. Still, I didn't do it for the money. It was good experience.

[cosworth bdg]

Each issue was a great read.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Terry Walker
In the late 60s I wrote a few Western Australian rally reports for RCN, even took the photos, too.

The pay for rally reports was terrible of course - you did miles and miles, spent a fortune on fuel, and so on - and didn't get any expenses. Still, I didn't do it for the money. It was good experience.

Fifteen or twenty bucks, tops!

Thing is, Terry, you were probably going to be there anyway, weren't you?

[Vicuna]

Originally posted by cosworth bdg
Each issue was a great read.

Agree

Still have all mine - very big in NZ

[Terry Walker]

Yes, Ray, I was going to be there anyway. At that time I had quite competing and had become the only rally spectator in the state, I'd rock up to the start, get a set of route instructions, and buzz off around the countryside taking photos. Might just as well write a report as well!

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Vicuna
Still have all mine - very big in NZ

What years do you have?

I only have from about August '63 (first quarto size mag) to 1981, with odd mags through 1986 or so. And that reprinted first issue, of course.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
Was it the actual first issue... or a reprint that was a part of the 25th anniversary issue?

I believe it would be the first issue as required under the Australian Archives act....no idea what the size is but it was a larger broadsheet style instead of the normal A4 glossy magazine size......call into the National Library next time you pass through.

[cosworth bdg]

Originally posted by Vicuna


Agree

Still have all mine - very big in NZ

I wish i still had all of mine..

[Terry Walker]

For those who have never seen RCN, here's a cover of one I had on my desk ..

Set in tiny body type - 7 point or smaller? - it was crammed with info. It was Max Stahl's aim to have the story and results of every race in Australia each year, plus rally and motorkhana coverage as well. Fond memories.

[Ray Bell]

Hmmm... if my memory serves me right, this issue has a story about a nonegenarian from your neck of the woods...

Something I can always be thankful to you for, Terry... making me aware of just how old the man is.

[David McKinney]

Is this a good time and place to ask about the availability of back copies?

[Ray Bell]

What issues are you after, David?

I could make enquiries for you. I believe Chevron have them still, and there are other sources of used magazines.

Including myself...

[David McKinney]

RCN didn't reach NZ shops until late 1965, and I didn't start getting it regularly until '67.
My copies of AMS peter out in 1963, so in order to have at least one research source I'd like to get RCN all of 1964, plus the 1965 issues I don't have, and all of 1966. I can worry later about filling odd gaps from then on.
And if the price was right, I'd also be interested in all 1962 and all 1963 as well...

[Ray Bell]

I would also like to get '62 and '63!

For the others, I will ask Steve what they have. I think you should be able to get many of them.

[cosworth bdg]

I still have the issues with the front covers depicting the Van Heusen F2 Series of 1974 , these are filled away in my nostalgic file of memories.

[Vicuna]

Originally posted by David McKinney
RCN didn't reach NZ shops until late 1965, and I didn't start getting it regularly until '67.
My copies of AMS peter out in 1963, so in order to have at least one research source I'd like to get RCN all of 1964, plus the 1965 issues I don't have, and all of 1966. I can worry later about filling odd gaps from then on.
And if the price was right, I'd also be interested in all 1962 and all 1963 as well...

And I have from late 65 although the first one I actually bought was a few yrs later. The early ones have been collected.

Great mag.

Did I mention it was a great mag?

[cosworth bdg]

Originally posted by Vicuna


And I have from late 65 although the first one I actually bought was a few yrs later. The early ones have been collected.

Great mag.

Did I mention it was a great mag?

Yes really great magazine ...

[The Chasm]

You should have a look on e-Bay.

Always lots of issues there, but with some of the prices paid you would think that people are spending their Superannuation early - especially the broadsheet issues from July 61 to July 63.

Does anyone know when the last issue of RCN was published and the story behind "the missing years" 1985-86.

I have a few spare RCN's in cupboards and draws if anyone is interested in swapping for ones I don't have ?.

[racer69]

Originally posted by The Chasm

Does anyone know when the last issue of RCN was published and the story behind "the missing years" 1985-86.

Last issue i think would have been December 1992? At the start of 1993 Chevron (they took RCN over from the Tuckey's in....1989?) replaced RCN with Motor Racing Australia.

In 1985/86 didn't they drop the 'News' but from the title, renaming it "Racing Car" Magazine?

[johnny yuma]

A bit off topic but whenever the topic of "best female driver" is discussed I mention Robyn Hamilton but my incomplete collection of RCN means I can't quote any of her drives in Formula Ford as herself or "Charlie".Saw her mainly at Amaroo--anyone got lap times etc of late seventies I think.
Also her Bathurst lap times in an A9X.

[seldo]

I'd be very keen to obtain any RCNs from about mid 64 to mid 85. I had them all and my first wife binned my whole collection....... Will gladly pay

[Dick Willis]

I have quite a few duplicates in that range but bear with me as it will take me a while to sort them out.

[seldo]

Originally posted by Dick Willis
I have quite a few duplicates in that range but bear with me as it will take me a while to sort them out.

Thank you! - Pls PM with what/where/when/howmuch etc. Very grateful!

[David Shaw]

I am offloading my RCNs, about 28 issues mainly from 1966 to 1969 in various condition that I have collected from Ebay. I will sell them for $10.00 each for the lot plus postage at cost and seldo, I will give you first option on them.

[David McKinney]

Can I be second?

[David Shaw]

Certainly, but you are only after particular issues aren't you David? Which ones?

[seldo]

Thanks David (Shaw) - you have an email. David MacKinney - I have also put my hand up for a batch from Dick Willis and as soon as I have both and collated the collection I will let you know of any duplication and offer them up.
Cheers,
David...

[Dick Willis]

Seldo, are you going to Speed on Tweed ?

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by David McKinney
Can I be second?

Likewise, I have a few spares, but it would take me ages to catalogue them...

[David Shaw]

I also have the following Motor Racing Annuals for sale:

1966 Australian Motor Racing Annual - Fair condition - $15
1967 Australian Motor Racing Annual - Fair condition - $15
1968 Australian Motor Racing Annual - Poor condition - $10 (Both covers missing)
1969 Australian Motor Racing Annual - Very Good condition - $25
1968 New Zealand Shell Motor Racing Annual - Excellent condition and very rare - $50

Plus postage at cost. Anything unsold will go on Ebay.

[Ray Bell]

Are they from K. G. Murray, David?

Or are they the predecessors to the Chevron annuals?

[David Shaw]

The first 3 were edited by Bill Tuckey, so I'm assuming predecessors to the Chevron annuals. Kenmure Press apparently put them out, magazine format.
Here is a photo of the 1966 version that I found on Ebay:

[Ray Bell]

'Kenmure' is K. G. Murray...

They're not the predecessors, which came out of the Niel Allen-owned publishing business run by Thomas B. Floyd.

[David Shaw]

Sorry for my ignorance.

Interestingly, the 1969 edition, while still being produced by Kenmure, was edited by Thomas B. Floyd.

[275 GTB-4]

Thumbing through 1966/67 RCNs today I noticed the banner....

Official organ of the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (or something similar)

Did CAMS start RCN?? Were they prime sponsors in the early days??

[Ray Bell]

No, not at all...

For a few years, however, the magazine provided CAMS with a page or two to disseminate their information. I don't know the exact details, but it was before the Max Stahl era, and that is a long time ago!

[johnny yuma]

I am looking at the October 1967 edition (Max Stahl) the last page has the "CAMS IS US" report by Graham Howard-the same GH I'd imagine! Other contributing editors listed on page 4 include Peter Wherrett,Adrian Ryan,Jim Palmer(NZ) Howard Ganley(UK) Leon Mandel(USA-Matich was there in the SR3 for Can Am)

1967 was a good year-Tasman series,Surfers 12 hour,Oran Park night racing--there were race reports in the October 1967 issue from six Australian hotmix venues-Hume Weir,Caversham,Surfers,Catalina,Warwick Farm(all now closed) and the Mattara hillclimb-still open -just had its 50th anniversary.FTD IN 1967 was by Kevin Pinkstone in a Repco-Brabham-Ford at 49.69. FTD in 2007 was 34.50 Neil Farr in a Bowin-Hay ! Has the course been shortened ????

[Ray Bell]

The CAMS Is Us articles were not from CAMS, rather they were about issues of the day and exhorting Car Club members to keep an eye on what the CAMS were doing.

[Dick Willis]

Hasthe course been shortened ? Yes, twice since then, it now starts about 1/3 way up near the sunken garden.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by johnny yuma
I am looking at the October 1967 edition (Max Stahl) the last page has the "CAMS IS US" report by Graham Howard-the same GH I'd imagine! Other contributing editors listed on page 4 include Peter Wherrett,Adrian Ryan,Jim Palmer(NZ) Howard Ganley(UK) Leon Mandel(USA-Matich was there in the SR3 for Can Am)

1967 was a good year-Tasman series,Surfers 12 hour,Oran Park night racing--there were race reports in the October 1967 issue from six Australian hotmix venues-Hume Weir,Caversham,Surfers,Catalina,Warwick Farm(all now closed) and the Mattara hillclimb-still open -just had its 50th anniversary.FTD IN 1967 was by Kevin Pinkstone in a Repco-Brabham-Ford at 49.69. FTD in 2007 was 34.50 Neil Farr in a Bowin-Hay ! Has the course been shortened ????

JY...yes I noticed that regular column up the back...but this banner is near the top of the acknowledgements/who wrote it etc page....it looks quite "official" - just like CAMS had authorised the content or whatever.

[275 GTB-4]

Thumbing through 1966/67 RCNs today I noticed the banner....

Official organ of the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (or something similar)

Did CAMS start RCN?? Were they prime sponsors in the early days??

RE: Official organ of CAMS: I have suggested to the librarians at the National Library that they need to correct this error in their cataloguing.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Dick Willis
Has the course been shortened? Yes, twice since then, it now starts about 1/3 way up near the sunken garden.

Streak won't like that...

Takes the fun out of it.

[Ian G]

Went to the library today and scrolled through the first RCN...July 1961. I couldn't find a thread dedicated to this generally informative (though sometimes not always error free) magazine. I know several contributors who worked on the magazine or are avid readers have quoted scads from the race reports etc on here, but, I thought there should be a place in TNF just for items from or about RCN.

Some tidbits from the first year of magazines I read today:

Keith Malcolm was very competitive in the Skoden

Ralph Sach was a great Hill Climb competitor in the holden powered Mini-Din

Bruce Leer in the Milano MG

Ex-Melina (Molina?) Monza driven by Bryan Thompson (what a beast!)

Peter Wherrett at Oran Park in the McGuire Cooper Minx

An Editorial about peoples low perceptions of the car racing fraternity vice the gee-gee people at the Farm.....500 guinea hay burners racing for 2000 pounds in prize money against 2000 pound cars racing for 50 pound!!

Robin Orlando 587 Parramatta Road Leichhardt

Nowra Hill climb report

Race Meeting at Undera Circuit Shepparton 15 Oct 1961

Lou Molina in a Ford Anglia instead of his VW at the Geelong Sprints 27 Aug 61

Peter "Camera Bug" D'Abbs

A letter from the UK re Gavin Youll's FJ exploits, rebuilding the car after a small fire and being 2 seconds a lap faster at Goodwood sent by Keith Lavery

Jack "the little king" Myers pictured in the Thunderbird open wheeler and an Obit after he died 21 Jan 1962

Just a wealth of information preserved for all to see. I must read more!!

Cue Barry Lake, Ray Bell et al.....over to you.

Yeah,great mag,used to read it from cover to cover in the 1960-1970's.I won a set of tyres in a competition they run in 1967-8 to guess the number of parts in a Fiat,all i did was ring Fiat(or agents) in Oz and ask them saying it was for a School project,a Woman rang back a couple of days later with the exact number although the number given by RCN was slightly different.

It would have been an interesting first issue, Ralp Sach and his Nota Din had cult status in the NSSCC,he was the clubs first President and AFAIK stuck with the club when many left in the early 60's to get involved with Amaroo & WF.

Robin Orlando did a lot of the work on our BMC engines in the late 1960's in his little Parramatta road workshop,he used to race/hillclimb a MGA Twin Cam and was talking about fitting the head to a MGB motor in 1967,he was elderly at the time and probaly dreaming but the person who ended up with the MGA would probaly know.

Edited by Ian G, 04 March 2010 - 22:08.

[vulcha240]

Streak won't like that...

Takes the fun out of it.

yes sigh ....me to !!!!! they shortened it...something about the rock wall down the bottom being unstable ! it was actually shorten'd twice, The first time it started just outside the cutting at the start of the sunken garden, then they moved it just before the right hander at the sunken garden.

It's just not the same unfortunately,Going up through the cutting at speed through that blind corner was quite a thrill ! I remember there one year, Waiting for a wave to break across the road before you could have your run, when the start was down the bottom.......Plus some competitors don't go there any more, apparently you have to run at 95 db at 30 metres.........but the PA system hits about 110 db that runs all day isn't a problem.......mmm politics or something I assume ?

Hold on !!!! does that sound like a good old days story with a added whine ?.......Yeah probably !

[gouldo]

yes sigh ....me to !!!!! they shortened it...something about the rock wall down the bottom being unstable ! it was actually shorten'd twice, The first time it started just outside the cutting at the start of the sunken garden, then they moved it just before the right hander at the sunken garden.

It's just not the same unfortunately,Going up through the cutting at speed through that blind corner was quite a thrill ! I remember there one year, Waiting for a wave to break across the road before you could have your run, when the start was down the bottom.......Plus some competitors don't go there any more, apparently you have to run at 95 db at 30 metres.........but the PA system hits about 110 db that runs all day isn't a problem.......mmm politics or something I assume ?

Hold on !!!! does that sound like a good old days story with a added whine ?.......Yeah probably !

It's a massive shame that the course has been shortened. It was the best hillclimb in NSW, & Ashton, your right, through the blind sweeper near the sunken gardens at full noise & up into the pinch was brilliant.

The track has been shortened for some time, and for the life of me, I don't know why the Newcastle Council havent repaired the wall near the bottom pits.

Back to the original topic, RCN was the very best motor sport magazine available in it's day, and should anyone decide to go back to reinvent the wheel & do a magazine like it again, it will be a bigger seller than the V8 supercar orientated magazines that adorn our shelves. Club level racing is still important - well it is to the club level racer yet none of the mainstream mags - auto action do have a very small space for it but thats about it. It's a massive shame that RCN has gone, but it's a bigger shame that no media outlet has taken up the slack.

[Lee Nicolle]

And that is why I seldom buy magizines these days. All it is bullshit and gossip about Thupercars. Often has about the same credibility of the gossip mags.
Club racing is still alive if not well and it deserves far better coverage than what it gets. Even national Championship series are unlikely to get decent coverage.
To be quite honest the old RCNs, Chequered Flags plus older Fictions gave coverage so you knew what was happening, you heard about lower level competitors who where sometimes unknown away from their home state so when they got a big time drive you knew something about them.
Which includes several contributors on this forum, both Aussie and overseas.

[David Shaw]

Lets not forget Australian Motor Sports until it changed its focus in the early 60s, and Australian Autosportsman which would give coverage of tracks such as Tarrawingee and Baskerville complete with photos.

[Lee Nicolle]

Lets not forget Australian Motor Sports until it changed its focus in the early 60s, and Australian Autosportsman which would give coverage of tracks such as Tarrawingee and Baskerville complete with photos.

David, I never started following circuit racing until about 69 so that is a lttle before my time. Have learnt a lot of interesting stuff on this forum from the people that where around then participating. {drivers, spectators, crews, journos, preparation people]
But the magazines in the 60s and 70s were far more balanced and covered more events than now. Which is wrong.