88 replies to this topic

[MarkBisset]

New Zealand’s first international GP was held at Ardmore in 1954, their Summer season grew exponentially from then, the Tasman Cup from 1964 took things up a step or two for both the Kiwis and Aussies ‘across the Tasman ditch’

 

Thanks to some great Kiwi websites and club Facebook pages there are lotsa images to share and discuss, so all can play

[MarkBisset]

 

The BRM lads push Ken Wharton’s P15 ‘2’ onto the Ardmore grid in January 1954 (Roger Herrick)
 

Edited by MarkBisset, 31 October 2020 - 06:22.

[MarkBisset]

 

 

Lady Wigram Trophy 1969

Piers Courage in Frank Williams Brabham BT24 Cosworth DFW awaits a chance to rejoin the circuit, not sure if it is Mr Hill or Rindt zipping past, probably Jochen (CH Tindal)

[MarkBisset]

 

Stirling Moss on the way to winning the 15 lap sportscar handicap race prior to the 1956 NZ GP

 

The 550 Spyder was owned by Australian Porsche Importer, Norman Hamilton. Oz veteran Frank Kleinig raced the 550 to 9th in the GP won by Moss’ 250F (Tony Johns Collection)

 

 

(NZ Classic Cars)

 

 

(NZ Porsche Club Collection)

Edited by MarkBisset, 02 November 2020 - 22:16.

[cooper997]

Not yet International

 

Report of the first Wigram in 6/49 Motor Sport

 

cooper997 collection

 

 

Stephen

[MarkBisset]

Fascinating stuff Stephen.

The Kiwis caught on fast, first road race in 1949 and first international in 1954

Australia, first road race in 1928, first international in 1955...dumb arses...

Nice to know just how significant Wigram is/was

m 

 

 

 

Edited by MarkBisset, 06 November 2020 - 23:15.

[wenoopy]

Fascinating stuff Stephen.
The Kiwis caught on fast, first road race in 1949 and first international in 1954
Australia, first road race in 1928, first international in 1955...dumb arses...
Nice to know just how significant Wigram is/was
m

Perhaps we could put this in a slightly different context, as the Wigram race was not on a road circuit, and although the original intent was to hold a road race, local police pointed out that the local council did not have the right to close roads for a motor car race. (Interestingly, motor-cycle races had been held on public roads up and down New Zealand since 1929).
The use of the Wigram Air Force base was a last-minute arrangement with government and military co-operation.

What of the 1938 Australian Grand Prix at a still loose-surfaced Bathurst circuit, where the young Peter Whitehead won easily in an ERA - does this make it an international race? Only 3 seasons later, after the war, Whitehead led the 1949 French GP at Reims until his gearchange stopped functioning leaving him to finish third in his Ferrari, and the same year he won the Czech GP on the daunting 11 mile Brno circuit ahead of a full field of 1949 F1 runners.

NZ law was changed in 1950 so that street/road circuits could be used, but in the late 1960's it all changed again..

Stu Buchanan

[MarkBisset]

Thanks Stu,

 

It could certainly be argued that Peter Whitehead’s 1938 racing and business tour, and winning the 1938 AGP made that ‘our first international race’- ERA R10B his mount of course.

It’s said the ‘55 Gnoo Blas Soupac race was the first FIA sanctioned international race in Oz, won again by Peter Whitehead, this time racing a Ferrari 500/625, he returned again to Albert Park in 1956 so he made a sustained contribution to Australian racing over 18 years 

My initial comment was a smart arse one, however you want to look at it the Kiwis bagged BRM in 1954, we did not! 
 

 

Peter Whitehead after his 1938 Mount Panorama AGP win (Syd Morning Herald)

Edited by MarkBisset, 11 November 2020 - 10:59.

[Ray Bell]

About Brno's 19km circuit...

 

I wouldn't call it 'daunting' at all. It does have a couple of tricky sections but a lot of it is straightforward and fairly easy running.

 

 

With thanks to Osca Plada and his magic mapping.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by MarkBisset
.....The 550 Spyder was owned by Australian Porsche Importer, Norman Hamilton. Oz veteran Frank Kleinig raced the 550 to 9th in the GP won by Moss’ 250F.....

Frank Senior's last race?

[MarkBisset]

Frank Seniors last race was with Frank Jnr Ray! 
1962 Bathurst 6 Hour, happened to be speaking to him a couple of weeks ago . Winners of Class A in a Morris 850

I wonder if he had a guest whirl of something in the historic era? 
 

[Ray Bell]

I had an idea he'd driven something small in a long race, but I thought it would have been one of the first Armstrongs...

 

By the 'Historic era' he was pretty fed up with everything and I don't know about any drives at all.

 

I always thought it a shame, and so did Clive, that they didn't get the battery sorted in the Hudson after the Southport AGP.

[MarkBisset]

 

Graham Hill swaps setup thoughts with Spencer Martin at Pukekohe during the 1965 NZ GP weekend. Scuderia Veloce Brabham BT11A Climax - Graham won (Ken Buckley via Milan Fistonic)

Spencer did rather well with this chassis, winning the 1966 and 1967 Australian Gold Star titles with it

 

Start: Lex Davison, Brabham BT4 Climax, Jim Clark, Lotus 32B Climax and Hill’s BT11A  (unattributed)

 

 

More Kiwi 1965 Tasman: https://primotipo.co...w-zealand-1965/

Edited by MarkBisset, 16 November 2020 - 08:41.

[MarkBisset]

 

C’mon, come and fix mine!
Jack and Denny sorting problems in the Wigram paddock in 1967, not sure if it’s Jack’s BT23A or Denny’s BT22. John Manhire photograph.

 

Note the Hewland box and Lucas high-pressure ‘bomb’ fuel pump.

 

The engine is a ‘hybrid’ Repco RBE640 series 2.5 V8- 1966 600 Series Olds F85 based block , and 1967 ‘40 Series’ heads cast by TNFer, Kevin Drage at Clisby Engineering in Adelaide

 

The F1 ‘67 champion engines were 740’s using Repco’s Norman Wilson designed bespoke block
 

https://primotipo.co...hip-winning-v8/

Edited by MarkBisset, 25 November 2020 - 08:36.

[malomay]

What a wonderful photo that last one Mark......can you imagine the current reigning F1 World Drivers champion flat on his back working on either his or (heaven forbid) his teammates car !

 

Lewis  - "Uhhh, what's this bit ?" 

Mercedes Mechanic - "That's the engine, it's what makes you go"

 

:-)

[MarkBisset]

 

Denny Hulme and the Brabham BT4 Climax he raced to victory in the very first Tasman Cup race, at Levin, NZ in January 1964.

Tyler Alexander and Teddy Mayer are with the Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Cooper T70 Climax’ of  Tim Mayer #2 and Bruce. Is that Denny’s first ‘big international win’? The more you look the more you see...

 

(Bruce Wilson photo)
 

Edited by MarkBisset, 24 March 2022 - 09:11.

[Ray Bell]

Is that young Christopher getting into the Lola in the background?

 

Looking more and seeing more...

[TerryS]

Graham Hill swaps setup thoughts with Spencer Martin at Pukekohe during the 1965 NZ GP weekend. Scuderia Veloce Brabham BT11A Climax - Graham won (Ken Buckley via Milan Fistonic)
Spencer did rather well with this chassis, winning the 1966 and 1967 Australian Gold Star titles with it


Start: Lex Davison, Brabham BT4 Climax, Jim Clark, Lotus 32B Climax and Hill’s BT11A (unattributed)


More Kiwi 1965 Tasman: https://primotipo.co...w-zealand-1965/

What race was it that Davison started ahead of Clark and Hill?

[Tim Murray]

What race was it that Davison started ahead of Clark and Hill?

Other way round - Hill on pole ahead of Clark and Davison.

Here’s the Sergent race report:

https://www.sergent....tor/tas65p.html

which includes:

The three-two-three grid formation for the GP was G. Hill, Clark, Davison; McLaren, Palmer; Abernethy, Levis, Riley; Dawson, Geoghegan; Grant, Buchanan, Glass; Hollier, Flowers; Smith, Thomasen, Stone; and at the back Gardner.

[TerryS]

Other way round - Hill on pole ahead of Clark and Davison.

Here’s the Sergent race report:

https://www.sergent....tor/tas65p.html

which includes:
 

I only speculated that Davison was on pole because he was closest to the pits.

[opplock]

I only speculated that Davison was on pole because he was closest to the pits.

 

At that time they used the long circuit so the first corner was a left hander. The short circuit was used from the 1966/67 season.    

[Ray Bell]

It might well be worth speculating just why Davo was on the front row...

 

That put him ahead of a number of people normally quicker than him.

[ellrosso]

Wonderful shots Mark - thanks for posting.

[MarkBisset]

 

Archie Scott Brown, Lister Jag and Ross Jensen, Maserati 250F during the Teretonga International in 1958 (Graham Woods)

 

Jensen won from the McLaren and Brabham Cooper T43s, with Archie sixth 
 

Edited by MarkBisset, 28 March 2022 - 07:14.

[cooper997]

Euan Sarginson photo features on 12/2/65 Autosport.

 

This one's from 30/1/65 Teretonga Tasman meeting.

1 Jim Clark

47 Bruce McLaren

48 Phil Hill

14 Kerry Grant

and with the jump from the second row 9 Bill Thomasen

 

 

The full version of this photo showing the first 3 rows is published in the 1965 SHELL New Zealand Motor Racing annual.

 

 

Stephen

 

 

[Ardmore]

Derek Bell and Chris Amon at the 1969 NZ Grand Prix. (Photo from my collection)

 

[MarkBisset]

Great to hear from you Milan,

 

Is that David with a watch beside Chris? Or Bruce Wilson.
Do you know who is tending to Derek?
 

m 

Edited by MarkBisset, 28 March 2022 - 21:52.

[Ray Bell]

Magic little cars!

 

Such great things for the 2.5 Tasman Formula.

[TerryS]

 

Graham Hill swaps setup thoughts with Spencer Martin at Pukekohe during the 1965 NZ GP weekend. Scuderia Veloce Brabham BT11A Climax - Graham won (Ken Buckley via Milan Fistonic)

Spencer did rather well with this chassis, winning the 1966 and 1967 Australian Gold Star titles with it

 

Start: Lex Davison, Brabham BT4 Climax, Jim Clark, Lotus 32B Climax and Hill’s BT11A  (unattributed)

 

 

More Kiwi 1965 Tasman: https://primotipo.co...w-zealand-1965/

 

This may be one of the last photos of Lex Davison as he died six weeks later from a heart attack while practicing for the Sandown Tasman race. 

[TerryS]

Attached are great details of New Zealand single seat drivers from 1949 to 1976. Truly great information

 

It is from Bruce Segent's magnificent website:

 

New Zealand Motor Racing Drivers (sergent.com.au)

[MarkBisset]

 

Angus Hyslop’s Cooper T45 Climax, a mystery car, perhaps the Smith or Shuter Ferraris, assistance sought, and Arthur Moffat’s Lotus 15 Climax on Andersons Bay Road, Dunedin in January 1961 (Bill Hanna)

 

Denny Hulme’s Cooper T51 won from Pat Hoare’s Ferrari 246/256 V12 and Angus

 

https://primotipo.co...1/angus-hyslop/

Edited by MarkBisset, 17 April 2022 - 20:57.

[opplock]

"a mystery car, perhaps the Smith or Shuter Ferraris"

 

Shuter's car collided with an official's car parked in "a suicide position" a week earlier at Wigram and was extensively damaged (Vercoe). 

[Ardmore]

If I'm reading the number of the mystery car correctly as 46 it is Brian Blackburn's Maserati 4 CLT. It is listed in the programme as being red.

 

The car was one of three that ended up in a ditch during a very wet practice session at Wigram the previous week. The other cars involved were John Mansel's Tec Mec and Bob Smith's Ferrari Super Squalo.

Edited by Ardmore, 17 April 2022 - 22:28.

[MarkBisset]

Thanks guys,

Milan, a 4CLT with a fresh suit of clothes! I wonder what the body was off/who built it?
m

[Porsche718]

Not a "fresh suit of clothes" Mark, just a new nose. Much in the same way that Bira's Maserati OSCA had a new and larger nose piece to cope with the V12 yet the main body was still original (just modified as required for a few extra cylinders!).

 

In the photo you can see the unpainted "repairs" after the Wigram incident. It's very likely that  Blackburn may have had a previous "nose crunch" and found it easier to fashion a new nose in a Ferrari 500 style rather than try to rework the complicated, but incredibly sexy, 4CLT grille.

 

It is also likely that the original nose was repaired by the time the car was on display at the Queenstown Motor Museum in the 60's because in his recollections of restoring the car, Brian Middlemass doesn't mention needing to fabricate a new nose piece.

 

Cheers, Steve

[cooper997]

The Hyslop Cooper is described ex Syd Jensen in Peter Greenslade's Autosport report for the event.

 

There's a great description by David Manton in the Wally Willmott TNF thread relating the update from T45 to T53. With the extensive modifications ultimately meaning the steering wheel transitioned from one to the other (and chassis plate IIIRC)

 

Google brings up a Classic Auto News photo of the Blackburn modified nose 4CLT.

 

There's an entry list on TRS courtesy of Roger Dowding for this meeting.

 

The Lotus 15 will indeed be Arthur Moffatt

 

 

Stephen

[GregThomas]

If I'm reading the number of the mystery car correctly as 46 it is Brian Blackburn's Maserati 4 CLT. It is listed in the programme as being red.

 

The car was one of three that ended up in a ditch during a very wet practice session at Wigram the previous week. The other cars involved were John Mansel's Tec Mec and Bob Smith's Ferrari Super Squalo.

None of the cars that ended up in the ditch were very badly damaged. The ditch had very soft sides thanks to the rain. I remember looking at them after recovery and being pleasantly surprised.

The Blackburn Maserati had been bought off Sprague at the end of the previous season. It was then rebuilt by the Blackburn clan and friends in the old Nu Way drycleaning factory in Retreat Road Christchurch. About a half mile from my home. Most of the work was done after hours and at weekends so a kid could go and get a good look through the open doors....I was grabbed once and asked who I was. Mentioned the old man's name and they extended an invitation for him to come and have a look. Sadly he didn't want to get involved.

When the car surfaced in public after the rebuild it was very smart. It went noticeably better too.

[Porsche718]

 

When the car surfaced in public after the rebuild it was very smart. It went noticeably better too.

 

According to Brian Middlemass, Blackburn had disconnected the upper supercharger and only ran on the lower unit to overcome reliability issues.

[Porsche718]

 

Brian Blackburn (Maserati 4CLT with "Ferrari" nose) ahead of David Young (Jaguar C-type) and Doug Lawrence (Cooper Bobtail) at Renwick in 1960.

[cooper997]

Yes, that's the Classic Auto News photo Google brings up. Exact date, unknown (to me) but likely first half November 1960.

 

Were Brian and Bob Blackburn related?

 

 

Stephen

[Porsche718]

Vic Blackburn was the father of Nola and Brian Blackburn (Nola was actually very quick).

 

Bob Blackburn did not seem to be related as far as anyone has been able to find out.

 

1st Renwick "50" was 12th November 1960 - the first round of the 1960/61 NZ Road Racing Championship.

 

This event became the "First" in the series of races at Renwick but the "50" seems to be added retrospectively. In 1961/62 the race became the "50" because it was 50 laps, then in 1962/63 the event moves to a longer circuit and became 50 miles.

 

 

1960 November 12 - 25 laps 27 miles (1.1 mile circuit)

1 Frank Shuter     Ferrari 625       28:00.7

2 David Young      Jaguar C-type     28:10.8

3 Len Gilbert      Maserati 250F     28:48.8

4 Brian Blackburn  Maserati 4CLT     30:21.0

5 Duncan MacKenzie Cooper T41 Climax 19 laps

Fastest lap: Shuter Ferrari 1:02.3

 

1961 November 13 - 50 laps 62 miles

1 Pat Hoare      Ferrari 246/256   55:46.4

2 Johnny Mansel  Cooper T51 Climax 55:48.6

3 Tony Shelly    Cooper T45 Climax 56:51.2

4 Bob Eade       Maserati 250 F

5 Morrie Stanton Stanton Corvette

 Fastest lap: Shelly Cooper 1:02.6 (1.24 mile circuit)

 

 

Cheers all, Steve 

Edited by Porsche718, 18 April 2022 - 05:40.

[GregThomas]

According to Brian Middlemass, Blackburn had disconnected the upper supercharger and only ran on the lower unit to overcome reliability issues.

I've never seen Brian Middlemass account but what i remember of the car when it was run by Sprague was persistent - and very audible - ignition troubles.

I'd now suspect old and tired mag's. The local mag experts of the period were old mates of my fathers and visits to their workshops didn't fill one with confidence.

Around that period our family was into vintage bikes so friendships with the local mag experts were being followed assiduously....

 

If indeed the 2nd stage blower was disconnected, the reduction in boost pressure would certainly make things easier for the mags.

 

I don't know what fuel it was run on either. 115/135 avgas was available as was straight Methanol. Both in drums from the fuel companies depots.The RNZAF still had frontline piston engined aircraft so top quality fuel was coming in.

 

Bob may have been related. I don't know. He certainly moved in the same circles as Vic and the family.  Nola's son is an old friend of mine - who I haven't seen for about 8 years now.

[MarkBisset]

 

Start you bastardo! Or words to that general effect.

Ken Wharton and his crew imploring their BRM P15 Mk2 to burst into life at Ardmore during the 1954 NZ Motor Cup/Grand Prix, and on track below. LP Crago Photos Auckland

 

 

Edited by MarkBisset, 13 July 2022 - 06:02.

[Roger Clark]

That’s not a Mark 2. 
 

[cooper997]

A bit of a curiosity from the 1962 New Zealand GP.

 

This is part of a separate 4 page insert to the Ardmore event's race programme. Clearly printed before everything was finalised. As the actual programme doesn't list Bernard Collomb.

 

 

Stephen

[Sterzo]

Have we identified the true historical beginning of the awful over-commercialisation of Grand Prix racing? - "with the Compliments of your Friendly Four Square Grocer"

[10kDA]

The task of the Booze and Smokes People was laid out before them once they realized consumers could buy just about any brand of booze & smokes at Friendly Four Square Grocers LOL. "Crank up the budget! We want to be the FIRST (booze/smokes) that comes to mind for Joe Lunchbox and Sally Housecoat!" And here we are.

 

Of course it didn't hurt that their products were addictive.

[MarkBisset]

 

Stirling Moss on the way to winning the ‘62 NZ GP at Ardmore aboard Rob Walker’s Lotus 21 Climax ‘935’. (LAT Images)

Having rounded up a slower car, the wave is perhaps a mix of ‘thanks for giving me space and cop-yer-later’

 

Feature on #935 https://primotipo.co.../04/08/ole-935/

Edited by MarkBisset, 20 November 2022 - 08:14.

[GregThomas]

The task of the Booze and Smokes People was laid out before them once they realized consumers could buy just about any brand of booze & smokes at Friendly Four Square Grocers LOL. "Crank up the budget! We want to be the FIRST (booze/smokes) that comes to mind for Joe Lunchbox and Sally Housecoat!" And here we are.

 

Of course it didn't hurt that their products were addictive.

 

This promotion might bear a tad more research. Four Square were grocers and in 1962 grocers did not sell booze in NZ. At that time you would probably have gone to a tobacconist for your smokes too.

They were owned by Foodstuffs Group as they still are. I'd suspect that Ron Frost or someone in the GP organisers knew soneone at Foodstuffs and the contact was made, To the best of my knowledge they did no further direct or indirect sponsorship or advertising. But my knowledge of the North Island based rounds is spotty at best.

[opplock]

I don't recall any Four Square sponsorship before I left NZ in 1981. As Greg suggests most likely to have been a one-off deal to cover printing costs.