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#51 10kDA

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Posted 20 November 2022 - 22:11

I was joking and I assume Sterzo was as well. Never let the facts get in the way of a cheap laugh.



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#52 Ardmore

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Posted 21 November 2022 - 02:57

Another shot of Stirling Moss at Ardmore in 1962. Note that he has lowered his googles, possibly because they had fogged-up.

 

img425-2.jpg



#53 cooper997

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Posted 23 November 2022 - 05:56

With a bit of a Moss theme happening, here's his profile in the programme.

 

1962-NZ-GP-Moss-profile-TNF.jpg

 

 

Stephen



#54 opplock

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Posted 23 November 2022 - 10:15

The organisers' "error" is understandable. Moss did drive a Rob Walker entered Cooper T55 at Levin (although listed in programme and results as Lotus 21) and Teretonga. The Teretonga programme listed his entry as "Lotus or Cooper". 



#55 cooper997

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Posted 24 November 2022 - 08:33

The S Moss use of RRC Walker Lotus and Cooper during the 1962 'down under' Internationals confused organisers in period - and many others since.

This TRS thread relates to when Nick Topliss took over the Walker Cooper T53 a few years ago. Might be a little bit of info worth seeing... http://www.theroarin...Moss-Cooper-T53


Stephen

#56 MarkBisset

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Posted 24 November 2022 - 09:30

FDBBF762-DF96-4331-9070-99-B619-B81-AAF.

 

Enjoyed all your posts guys

 

All Cooper front row here for the ‘62 Teretonga International: Bandini, Brabham, Moss and McLaren - T53, T55, T53, T53. A Bruce McLaren day I see from Eoin Young’s race report in Stephen’s post. McLaren, Moss, Brabham 

 

(MotorSport)


Edited by MarkBisset, 24 November 2022 - 09:31.


#57 cooper997

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Posted 26 November 2022 - 05:23

From the early days of Racing Car News, this is how the Moss win was reported in the Feb 62 issue.

 

1962-RCN-NZ-GP-report-01-TNF.jpg

 

1962-RCN-NZ-GP-report-02-TNF.jpg

 

 

Stephen



#58 Henk Vasmel

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Posted 26 November 2022 - 18:53

I checked what is in my database for the early 62 season down-under for Stirling Moss.

It seems that he had 2 cars at his disposal, both Lotus 21-935 (FPF 2495) and Cooper 53-F1-7-61 (FPF 2752). Maybe at the last race, the Lotus also was FPF 2752.

He raced 6 times, which comes down to 3 races each. in 4 occasions he also practised the other of the two.

There is one more car he practised once: Cooper 53-F1-13-61 (Maserati 4-2890), Lorenzo Bandini's car.

For the Cooper 53-F1-7-61 there is always the mention in Alt-chassis that it might have been a Cooper 55.



#59 cooper997

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Posted 30 April 2023 - 01:38

It's all Marc Schagen's fault.

 

He's a very keen Lotus enthusiast, author on the subject in Oz and keen Lotus model collector. For many years I've done my best to avoid buying models, books and related trivia can see my pocket money evaporate. In our chats we swap tales about recent procurements (and other waffle). Having told me about the Spark Tasman models is why ít's his fault. And the rest is, of course, comes down to a fool and his money. But I'm glad I've shown some restraint because Spark racing car models are prolific in their coverage of so much motor racing history.

 

Over a period of months the 4 x 1/43rd scale shown here have been obtained - J Clark's being the harder to locate.. I'm using this thread because 3 of 4 supposedly represent Kiwi races from the 1965 Tasman.

 

Spark-01-TNF.jpg

 

Spark-02-TNF.jpg

 

#1 is Jim Clark's 32B as winner of Levin - Spark code S7304

 

#2 is Graham Hill's SV Brabham BT11A as the 1965 NZ GP, Pukekohe winner - Spark code S7432. Although these photos don't really show it, the model's colour is too orange.

 

#7 is Frank Gardner in Alec Mildren's BT11A as (supposedly) second place getter at Levin. But it should be 11 if that's the case - 7 was used in Australia. Spark code S7433.

 

#4 is Jack Brabham's BT11A (as the interloper to the thread title), winner of the Sandown, Australia round - Spark code S7434.

 

.

Stephen


Edited by cooper997, 30 April 2023 - 01:50.


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#60 MarkBisset

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Posted 30 April 2023 - 07:27

Stephen,

 

Look forward to a show and tell soon, that Lotus 32B is a favourite 
 

5-C671-A75-2647-40-C1-8459-BDD3-F1-CBBF8programs to take screenshots

 

See two of your cars on the front row at Puke in 1965 - NZ GP won by G Hill - Lex Davo BT4 Climax, JC and GH 

 

(unattributed but I’d love to know who took the shot)



#61 cooper997

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Posted 30 April 2023 - 11:52

Mark, my guess would be Euan Sarginson as the photographer. But I'm not aware of where this photo can be found in hardcopy (or is it in the Tasman book??) Too late and lazy to go looking.

 

 

Stephen



#62 Ray Bell

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Posted 30 April 2023 - 14:56

It's not in the Tasman book...

 

But there are enough photos showing the rear end of 1965 cars to conclude that your models shouldn't have the white piece (Battery? Catch tank?) on the side of the gearboxes of the Brabhams.



#63 cooper997

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Posted 01 May 2023 - 10:19

Brilliant Euan Sarginson study of JC''s shortlived run at NZ GP Pukekohe. Borrowed from the rear cover of the Greenslade/ Sarginson annual shown in post 59.

 

1965-NZ-Annual-JC-32-B-Sarginson-TNF.jpg

 

 

Stephen



#64 MarkBisset

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Posted 01 May 2023 - 22:47

Nice! It really does look the goods dunnit'. And did the job! Sarginson is a gun too...

 

E9479-D42-8-A18-4658-85-D7-BA157-B2-C311

 

 

See the happy-snap of Jack's BT11A at Sandown in '65 - IC-5-64. Won the Sandown Cup too didn't he? (Paul Stephenson)

 

 

96-E25-B60-C903-42-E2-B312-F2-FD2-D2-ADA


Edited by MarkBisset, 01 May 2023 - 22:52.


#65 TerryS

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Posted 02 May 2023 - 01:32

 

 

 

760867-E0-0437-4897-B763-8711-EA790-BB9.

 

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

 

 

Why does it appear that Davison is starting from Pole Position?

 

Was he really faster than Clark and Hill?



#66 Michael Clark

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Posted 02 May 2023 - 03:29

They were about to turn left - the 'loop' was still in use.

 

BTW, the Lotus 32B was also a favourite of the next pilot. Jimmy Palmer drove some good cars but rates the 32B as his most fondly remembered.



#67 cooper997

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Posted 02 May 2023 - 23:03

Another great Euan Sarginson captured moment at Pukekohe. The look on Colin's face says it all. 

 

And as can be seen under the 32B, Team Lotus safety footwear was rather relaxed in the early days of 1965.

 

1965-NZ-Annual-JC-32-B-Sarginson-02-TNF.

 

 

Stephen



#68 Ray Bell

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Posted 03 May 2023 - 04:39

Originally posted by TerryS
Why does it appear that Davison is starting from Pole Position?
 
Was he really faster than Clark and Hill?


Grid positions probably came from times in the two heats, but it meant little as Davo was overwhelmed by McLaren as well before the first lap was over.

#69 MarkBisset

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Posted 03 May 2023 - 06:03

aha, I see that Bruce hit him up the clacker on lap 2, most outta character!

 

Did Chapman ever make it here?? I don't recall any shots of him.

 

A8-E4-E123-95-F2-430-E-8080-569-BDBD3-E7

 

 

I suspect it was all pretty Larry Laid-back here compared with Europe. Not so sure Our Col would have approved of Ray Parsons and the other chappies fashion sense. I s’pose the bloke in the collar and tie balances things a bit.

Here @ WF in 1966 with the Lotus 39 Climax, the only win for the Clark/39 Duo that Tasman (Oz Broadcasting Corp)

 

https://primotipo.co...lopment-driver/

 

FB19-A704-BB60-4580-BD31-1-DAF8-A438-F81

 

Matich on the way past and lanky-Franky watching, while JC assists (in 1965 Lotus 32B) with the necessaries, while going-native with his own attire! Roy Billington at far left (Daily Telegraph)

 

DA44-E8-B5-7163-4-ECE-BA7-F-D3-A323647-F

 

Imagine Toto Roche or Louis Chiron waving their flags so coutured…(LAT)

 

WF 1966 fall of the flag


Edited by MarkBisset, 03 May 2023 - 07:04.


#70 GregThomas

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Posted 03 May 2023 - 07:55

You'd have thought that Chapman might have been at the reveal of the Gold Leaf livery in Christchurch prior to the Lady wigram race - but no.

 

AFAIK he never came out here for the races - at least those in our period.



#71 Ray Bell

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Posted 03 May 2023 - 13:44

It's probably John Stranger in the collar and tie...

 

Obviously prior to the meeting, maybe Thursday but possibly Friday.



#72 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 05 May 2023 - 04:18

Another great Euan Sarginson captured moment at Pukekohe. The look on Colin's face says it all. 

 

And as can be seen under the 32B, Team Lotus safety footwear was rather relaxed in the early days of 1965.

 

1965-NZ-Annual-JC-32-B-Sarginson-02-TNF.

 

 

Stephen

Fitting in with the locals in true Japanese safety shoes.



#73 cooper997

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Posted 05 May 2023 - 06:08

Inside front cover of the 1965 NZ Motor Racing annual

 

1965-NZ-Annual-JC-32-B-Sarginson-03-TNF.

 

 

Stephen



#74 Ardmore

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Posted 05 May 2023 - 13:41

Stephen,

 

Look forward to a show and tell soon, that Lotus 32B is a favourite 
 

5-C671-A75-2647-40-C1-8459-BDD3-F1-CBBF8programs to take screenshots

 

See two of your cars on the front row at Puke in 1965 - NZ GP won by G Hill - Lex Davo BT4 Climax, JC and GH 

 

(unattributed but I’d love to know who took the shot)

This photo from Motorman, taken a few seconds after the one above shows the great start that Clark made and the poor one by Hill. That's McLaren (in Phil Hill's Cooper) next to G.Hill and Jim Palmer next in line.

 

img696-2.jpg

 

 

This cover shot is the start of lap two. Clark leading McLaren, Davison and G. Hill.

 

img695-2.jpg

 

 

Graham Hill on his way to a win in the Grand Prix.

 

img697-2.jpg



#75 GregThomas

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Posted 05 May 2023 - 18:42

I stand corrected. Chapman obviously did make it out here in period. But did he stay for other races or go home after Puke ?

Wigram was the only race I saw personally that year and i don't remember seeing him there.



#76 Ray Bell

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Posted 05 May 2023 - 21:39

Maybe Davison, not Palmer?



#77 MarkBisset

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Posted 06 May 2023 - 00:34

https://primotipo.co...w-zealand-1965/

 

Plenty on the Lotus 32B Climax here, the piece was inspired by Milan Fistonic's wonderful photographs. I'll add a few other body-off type shots spread around other articles when I have the chance later.

 

Such a shame this car still isn't in NZ or Oz...but I probably would have done the deal John Dawson Damer did, I must admit



#78 MarkBisset

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Posted 06 May 2023 - 08:56

53-BAFBCB-E9-E7-4-FF7-93-D4-810994559992

 

I’ve only put a couple of Brian Spurrs’ shots up as I know  how strongly some of you feel about American cultural imperialism in the form of the dreaded, sinful Facebook.

 

The sinners should key Brian Spurr into the FB search-engine, terribly sorry if I’ve caused offence to the rest of you.

 

6-C4-C2276-CFB7-4-BFC-8957-75-C94-AEE48-how close is the nearest gas station

 

Yes, they are different Lotuses same driver however


Edited by MarkBisset, 06 May 2023 - 09:04.


#79 Collombin

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Posted 16 August 2023 - 13:41

This might seem a very random question, but could somebody please confirm whether or not the Levin event of 15th January 1966 included a Flying Farewell?

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#80 opplock

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Posted 16 August 2023 - 14:40

Race 17 was the Vic Hudson Memorial Trophy Race, 8 laps. 

 

1st   Jackie Stewart

2nd  Jim Clark

3rd   Roly Levis

4th   Red Dawson

 

Time: 6 minutes 42.1sec 



#81 Collombin

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Posted 16 August 2023 - 14:44

Great, thank you!

#82 cooper997

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Posted 25 November 2023 - 07:25

A bit before New Zealand ran an International. Although some interesting cars already on their shores.

 

1936-BRDC-Speed-NZ-1-TNF.jpg

 

1936-BRDC-Speed-NZ-2-TNF.jpg

From the pages of March 1936 BRDC Speed magazine

 

 

Stephen



#83 MarkBisset

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Posted 26 November 2023 - 02:21

Stephen,

 

Good to see your Alta #56S research is producing some other dividends!

 

The Kiwi's racing history is so rich and deep, I love my occasional journeys into it, most recently researching the MotorSport Aston Martin DP 155 piece. In doing a bit of context about the growth of Kiwi racing postwar I found and quoted a small grab of Allan Dick's lengthy July 2016, Facebook post on Ryal Bush; he does the best, most informative  FB posts on the planet!

 

My point is that your Speed post is a précis of things in 1936, Allan provides a great summary of the exponential growth of NZ Racing post-war. It's a long post but this is one of the places it should be I think, 'as a matter of record'.

 

IMG-1398.jpg

 

RYAL BUSH

 







New Zealand’s forgotten motor racing circuit. This is a fantastic photograph — the start at Ryal Bush, Southland, 1956.
 
Let me tell you the story as I know it.
 
While there had been motorsport and car clubs before WW2, it was when peace returned that the sport got organised. That organisation really had its roots in Dunedin when, in 1947, Percy and Sybil Lupp and Harry Hedges formed the Otago Sports Car Club and then Harry went south and was one of the prime movers in the creation of the Southland Car Club.
 
With new clubs joining with the old clubs it was decided to form a national umbrella body, which became the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs — the ANZCC. Today this is MotorSport NZ.
 
And far as can be ascertained, prewar “racing” had been confined to beaches with only one “circuit” race — the 1932 Prosperity Grand Prix run on a road circuit in the Auckland suburb of Orakaei. It was very much a one-off.
 
With the new post-war structure, getting circuit racing going became a priority. There was no motor racing circuit in NZ, but in 1948 the Canterbury Car Club was determined to hold a race meeting the next year and mapped out a road circuit on the outskirts of Christchurch.
However, authorities would not approve the road closure and, in desperation, a deputation including Pat Hoare approached the government and approval was given for the use of the Wigram Air Force Base. Hore obviously had some pull! And Wigram became a regular annual feature for decades.
 
Inspired by this, the Manawatu Car Club got the use of the Ohakea Air Force and staged the first NZ Grand Prix there in 1950.
In 1951, public roads were closed in Christchurch for the running of a meeting at Mairehau. In addition the third Lady Wigram meeting and the second GP was staged at Ohakea.
 
So, motor racing, proper circuit motor racing was now well and truly established — but these were temporary airfield, or road circuits.
New Zealand still had to get its first dedicated circuit — or artificial road courses as they were called.
 
For 1952 the lineup remained the sane — Mairehau road race and the two airfield meetings — at Wigram and Ohakea.
For 1953, Mairehau, Wigram and Ohakea were joined by a fourth — a genuine inner city, round-the-“houses” meeting near the wharves in Dunedin.
Up until now, any “international” aspect to these meetings had come from Australia, but in 1954 the whole motor racing scene shifted up several gears with the first truly international race meeting — the New Zealand International Grand Prix on the air force base at Ardmore.
 
So, now we had five race meetings annually — three airfield and two road circuits. Two in the North Island and three in the South.
 
In the farthest south, Invercargill, motor racing enthusiasts looked north and, as one of the founding members of the ANZCC felt it was their duty to join the motor racing scene and they eyed a vacant piece of land on the outskirts of Invercargill on which to build a permanent, “artificial’ motor racing circuit. But they lacked funds. But 1956 was Southland’s Centennial years and it was decided to hold a race meeting on a road circuit to get the sport established and help raise funds.
 
Unlike their Dunedin cousins, the Southlanders opted for a country circuit rather than a city one after plans to close roads around Queen’s Park in the city failed. So they moved into the country and closed three roads around the small settlement of Ryal Bush which included a section of the main road to Queenstown.
It some ways, this Ryal Bush circuit was the “Rheims” of New Zealand — three long straights with three tight corners and high speeds. Rheims being the legendary venue for the French Grand Prix in Champagne country. But, unlike Rheims, Ryal Bush was narrow. And lined with lampposts, hedges, ditches, drains and fences. Average speeds were around 150km/h, making it the fastest circuit in New Zealand.
 
And so to the 1956 season of which this photograph is from the last of the four international meetings.
 
The NZIGP at Ardmore attracted the star drivers including Stirling Moss in his privateer Maserati 250F. While he easily won the GP, there were some notable car and driver combinations who had signed on for the four race international series. These included the two Ferrari 500s of Englishman Peter Whitehead and Australian fighter pilot hero F.A. O. (Tony) Gaze.
 
These were 1952 F2 cars originally fitted with 2.0 litre engines for the World Championship that year as there weren’t enough genuine F1 cars for a full F1 season. For New Zealand and Australia they had been fitted with 3.0 litre, four cylinder sports car engines with Gaze’s car being the one in which Alberto Ascari had won seven World Championship races in a row with — probably the most successful World Championship car in history.
 
Tagging along with Whitehead and Gaze were Reg Parnell and Leslie Marr.
Parnell was driving what wax probably the ugliest car in motor racing history. It was an Aston Martin single seater — but in reality it was a sports car fitted with central steering and a very narrow body. Aston Marton were interested in F1 racing and this was an experimental car in which the body was wrapped around the sports car chassis so tightly the two main chassis legs were very obvious. It had a 3.0 litre, six cylinder engine.
Marr’s ex works Connaught was a streamliner F1 car, with a fully enclosed body, but repowered with a D-Type Jaguar engine!
 
And so Moss won at Ardmore from Gaze, Whitehead, Marr, Parnell and the first NZers home was Ron Roycroft in his Type 35 Bugatti powered by a Jaguar engine. Some of the Ardmore internationals and some residents didn’t make it to the South Island for Wigram, Dunedin and Ryal Bush.
 
At Wigram, Whitehead won from Gaze, Marr and Parnell with the first NZer home being Syd Jensen in his Cooper 500.
 
Then south to Dunedin the following weekend where Gaze won from Parnell, Syd Jensen and Peter Whitehead. Not everyone liked the Dunedin circuit as it was rough, tough and contained a section with a gravel surface. Leslie Marr practiced the Connaught, took his place on the grid, but did one lap to qualify for his starting money and then retired.
 
Part of the travelling circus that year were Australians Tom Sulman and David McKay in a pair of Aston Martin DB3S sports racing cars and they were eligible for both the feature races run under Formula Libre rules as well as sports car events. McKay, a writer, wrote in a book of his intense dislike for the Dunedin track — feelings sharpened by the fact he collected a speeding ticket driving the Aston down from Wigram! Immediately after the race, Gaze, Whitehead and Parnell drove their car to the nearby railyards and with no assistance from anyone, loaded their cars onto open LA rail wagons, tied them down and waved them off to Invercargill!
 
The following Saturday the roads around Ryal Bush were closed and international motor racing came to Southland. And this brings us to this main photograph (the first one above). Photograhs from this era are rare. Photographs from Ryal Bush are even more rare. I have “stolen” this off the page of Classic Driver because the photograph is so rare and so special I felt it needed the full story.
 
The starter’s flag has just dropped and the cars are away with a very clear indication of just how narrow the roads were. A million words could not describe this scene. Taken your tine and drink in the details. Car #3 is the Ferrari of Peter Whitehead and the streamliner is Leslie Marr’s Connaught. Car #4 on the second row is Tony Gaze and the antique looking car (#22) is Tom Clark in the pre war Maserati 8CM. Clark had picked and chosen his races this season.
Behind Clark is John Horton in the HWM Alta and alongside him, Frank Shuter in the Edelbrock Special.
Also in the photograph can be see the white Austin Healey 100S of Ross Jensen, the black 100S of Bernie Giller and the Bugatti Jaguar of Ron Roycroft.
I think this may have been the start of a heat as there were several other cars entered that aren’t here — including Parnell in the Aston Martin, the Australian Aston Martins, Pat Hoare’s 4CLT Maserati, Bill Crosbie’s local special and Bruce Monk in the advanced JBM Ford.
 
In the main race, Whitehead won from Gaze and Parnell with Roycroft first NZ in the Bug-Jag. Frank Shuter was fifth ahead of Tom Sulman.
The meeting was a huge success. Money was made and preliminary work began on the circuit that was to become Teretonga. There was one more meeting at Ryal Bush.
 
1957 started and finished in spectacular form in Southland — Ryal Bush in February (race won by Peter Whitehead from Reg Parnell both in Super Squalo Ferraris) and finished with the opening meeting of Teretonga in November.
Motor racing in NZ had come of age.
 
IMG-1399.jpg
 
Reg Parnell bum up, Peter Whitehead and Tony Gaze load Reg’s Aston Martin DP155 onto a rail carriage for the trip from Dunedin to Invercargill (T Selfe)

Edited by MarkBisset, 26 November 2023 - 02:35.


#84 Sterzo

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Posted 26 November 2023 - 12:27

^ Gold dust!



#85 cooper997

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Posted 27 November 2023 - 02:23

 

Stephen,

 

Good to see your Alta #56S research is producing some other dividends!

 

The Kiwi's racing history is so rich and deep, I love my occasional journeys into it, most recently researching the MotorSport Aston Martin DP 155 piece. In doing a bit of context about the growth of Kiwi racing postwar I found and quoted a small grab of Allan Dick's lengthy July 2016, Facebook post on Ryal Bush; he does the best, most informative  FB posts on the planet!

 

My point is that your Speed post is a précis of things in 1936, Allan provides a great summary of the exponential growth of NZ Racing post-war. It's a long post but this is one of the places it should be I think, 'as a matter of record'.

 

IMG-1398.jpg

 

RYAL BUSH

 







New Zealand’s forgotten motor racing circuit. This is a fantastic photograph — the start at Ryal Bush, Southland, 1956.
 
Let me tell you the story as I know it.
 
While there had been motorsport and car clubs before WW2, it was when peace returned that the sport got organised. That organisation really had its roots in Dunedin when, in 1947, Percy and Sybil Lupp and Harry Hedges formed the Otago Sports Car Club and then Harry went south and was one of the prime movers in the creation of the Southland Car Club.
 
With new clubs joining with the old clubs it was decided to form a national umbrella body, which became the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs — the ANZCC. Today this is MotorSport NZ.
 
And far as can be ascertained, prewar “racing” had been confined to beaches with only one “circuit” race — the 1932 Prosperity Grand Prix run on a road circuit in the Auckland suburb of Orakaei. It was very much a one-off.
 
With the new post-war structure, getting circuit racing going became a priority. There was no motor racing circuit in NZ, but in 1948 the Canterbury Car Club was determined to hold a race meeting the next year and mapped out a road circuit on the outskirts of Christchurch.
However, authorities would not approve the road closure and, in desperation, a deputation including Pat Hoare approached the government and approval was given for the use of the Wigram Air Force Base. Hore obviously had some pull! And Wigram became a regular annual feature for decades.
 
Inspired by this, the Manawatu Car Club got the use of the Ohakea Air Force and staged the first NZ Grand Prix there in 1950.
In 1951, public roads were closed in Christchurch for the running of a meeting at Mairehau. In addition the third Lady Wigram meeting and the second GP was staged at Ohakea.
 
So, motor racing, proper circuit motor racing was now well and truly established — but these were temporary airfield, or road circuits.
New Zealand still had to get its first dedicated circuit — or artificial road courses as they were called.
 
For 1952 the lineup remained the sane — Mairehau road race and the two airfield meetings — at Wigram and Ohakea.
For 1953, Mairehau, Wigram and Ohakea were joined by a fourth — a genuine inner city, round-the-“houses” meeting near the wharves in Dunedin.
Up until now, any “international” aspect to these meetings had come from Australia, but in 1954 the whole motor racing scene shifted up several gears with the first truly international race meeting — the New Zealand International Grand Prix on the air force base at Ardmore.
 
So, now we had five race meetings annually — three airfield and two road circuits. Two in the North Island and three in the South.
 
In the farthest south, Invercargill, motor racing enthusiasts looked north and, as one of the founding members of the ANZCC felt it was their duty to join the motor racing scene and they eyed a vacant piece of land on the outskirts of Invercargill on which to build a permanent, “artificial’ motor racing circuit. But they lacked funds. But 1956 was Southland’s Centennial years and it was decided to hold a race meeting on a road circuit to get the sport established and help raise funds.
 
Unlike their Dunedin cousins, the Southlanders opted for a country circuit rather than a city one after plans to close roads around Queen’s Park in the city failed. So they moved into the country and closed three roads around the small settlement of Ryal Bush which included a section of the main road to Queenstown.
It some ways, this Ryal Bush circuit was the “Rheims” of New Zealand — three long straights with three tight corners and high speeds. Rheims being the legendary venue for the French Grand Prix in Champagne country. But, unlike Rheims, Ryal Bush was narrow. And lined with lampposts, hedges, ditches, drains and fences. Average speeds were around 150km/h, making it the fastest circuit in New Zealand.
 
And so to the 1956 season of which this photograph is from the last of the four international meetings.
 
The NZIGP at Ardmore attracted the star drivers including Stirling Moss in his privateer Maserati 250F. While he easily won the GP, there were some notable car and driver combinations who had signed on for the four race international series. These included the two Ferrari 500s of Englishman Peter Whitehead and Australian fighter pilot hero F.A. O. (Tony) Gaze.
 
These were 1952 F2 cars originally fitted with 2.0 litre engines for the World Championship that year as there weren’t enough genuine F1 cars for a full F1 season. For New Zealand and Australia they had been fitted with 3.0 litre, four cylinder sports car engines with Gaze’s car being the one in which Alberto Ascari had won seven World Championship races in a row with — probably the most successful World Championship car in history.
 
Tagging along with Whitehead and Gaze were Reg Parnell and Leslie Marr.
Parnell was driving what wax probably the ugliest car in motor racing history. It was an Aston Martin single seater — but in reality it was a sports car fitted with central steering and a very narrow body. Aston Marton were interested in F1 racing and this was an experimental car in which the body was wrapped around the sports car chassis so tightly the two main chassis legs were very obvious. It had a 3.0 litre, six cylinder engine.
Marr’s ex works Connaught was a streamliner F1 car, with a fully enclosed body, but repowered with a D-Type Jaguar engine!
 
And so Moss won at Ardmore from Gaze, Whitehead, Marr, Parnell and the first NZers home was Ron Roycroft in his Type 35 Bugatti powered by a Jaguar engine. Some of the Ardmore internationals and some residents didn’t make it to the South Island for Wigram, Dunedin and Ryal Bush.
 
At Wigram, Whitehead won from Gaze, Marr and Parnell with the first NZer home being Syd Jensen in his Cooper 500.
 
Then south to Dunedin the following weekend where Gaze won from Parnell, Syd Jensen and Peter Whitehead. Not everyone liked the Dunedin circuit as it was rough, tough and contained a section with a gravel surface. Leslie Marr practiced the Connaught, took his place on the grid, but did one lap to qualify for his starting money and then retired.
 
Part of the travelling circus that year were Australians Tom Sulman and David McKay in a pair of Aston Martin DB3S sports racing cars and they were eligible for both the feature races run under Formula Libre rules as well as sports car events. McKay, a writer, wrote in a book of his intense dislike for the Dunedin track — feelings sharpened by the fact he collected a speeding ticket driving the Aston down from Wigram! Immediately after the race, Gaze, Whitehead and Parnell drove their car to the nearby railyards and with no assistance from anyone, loaded their cars onto open LA rail wagons, tied them down and waved them off to Invercargill!
 
The following Saturday the roads around Ryal Bush were closed and international motor racing came to Southland. And this brings us to this main photograph (the first one above). Photograhs from this era are rare. Photographs from Ryal Bush are even more rare. I have “stolen” this off the page of Classic Driver because the photograph is so rare and so special I felt it needed the full story.
 
The starter’s flag has just dropped and the cars are away with a very clear indication of just how narrow the roads were. A million words could not describe this scene. Taken your tine and drink in the details. Car #3 is the Ferrari of Peter Whitehead and the streamliner is Leslie Marr’s Connaught. Car #4 on the second row is Tony Gaze and the antique looking car (#22) is Tom Clark in the pre war Maserati 8CM. Clark had picked and chosen his races this season.
Behind Clark is John Horton in the HWM Alta and alongside him, Frank Shuter in the Edelbrock Special.
Also in the photograph can be see the white Austin Healey 100S of Ross Jensen, the black 100S of Bernie Giller and the Bugatti Jaguar of Ron Roycroft.
I think this may have been the start of a heat as there were several other cars entered that aren’t here — including Parnell in the Aston Martin, the Australian Aston Martins, Pat Hoare’s 4CLT Maserati, Bill Crosbie’s local special and Bruce Monk in the advanced JBM Ford.
 
In the main race, Whitehead won from Gaze and Parnell with Roycroft first NZ in the Bug-Jag. Frank Shuter was fifth ahead of Tom Sulman.
The meeting was a huge success. Money was made and preliminary work began on the circuit that was to become Teretonga. There was one more meeting at Ryal Bush.
 
1957 started and finished in spectacular form in Southland — Ryal Bush in February (race won by Peter Whitehead from Reg Parnell both in Super Squalo Ferraris) and finished with the opening meeting of Teretonga in November.
Motor racing in NZ had come of age.
 
IMG-1399.jpg
 
Reg Parnell bum up, Peter Whitehead and Tony Gaze load Reg’s Aston Martin DP155 onto a rail carriage for the trip from Dunedin to Invercargill (T Selfe)

 

 

 

Mark,

 

It was indeed while scrounging Alta, ERA and other material that the pages shown in my previous post were revealed.

 

Our good friend at the Fawkner Motoring Library can be part 'blamed'. His set of 'Speed' made me think they'd be nice to have. The rest of the 'blame' goes to Mr Lear who had a set availalbe - already in Oz.

 

 

And New Zealander, Allan Dick's Classic Auto News facebook posts are often full of great past happenings of NZ motor racing..

 

 

Stephen



#86 MarkBisset

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Posted 27 November 2023 - 22:50

Miller-122-Gerry-Mathiesen-Muriwai-NZ-un

 

The shot of Gerry Mathieson in the ex-Zborowski Miller 122 is a good one too Stephen.

 

It's two years since I did a thoroughly enjoyable deep dive into (probably) chassis #2302-X, a 1923 Miller 122 2-litre, straight-eight GP car. I still can't flog the article. 

 

The only boring bit of the car's history is The Australian Leg. It was the 'Count's performances in this car that caught Mercedes Benz' interest, his fatal 1924 Italian GP crash on a Mercedes M72/94 was the result.

 

The shot above is of Mathieson at Muriwai Beach, not sure of the year. It's an uncredited shot pinging around the internet. As your article says, he solved the bottom end lubrication problems that plagued the car.

 

The one below is Ian Ruffley's shot of the car in Lance Dixon's Eltham workshop during the early 1980s restoration process.

 

IMG-1421.jpg


Edited by MarkBisset, 27 November 2023 - 22:53.


#87 Michael Ferner

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Posted 28 November 2023 - 13:07

Lovely shot!  :love: You have more (restoration) pics coming?

 

And, speaking of improbable odds, after accidentally finding the 'Ace Drummond' reference in the Quiz thread, now it's the second time for today that I find someone quoting my very own research numbers as actual chassis numbers (and that without even looking for Miller info). Perhaps I should feel flattered  :cool:, but on the other hand I often think they're clumsy, and too complicated to follow. Oh well... I guess we all have to live with our 'children' and learn to ignore their faults  :|



#88 Michael Ferner

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Posted 28 November 2023 - 13:32



 

The one below is Ian Ruffley's shot of the car in Lance Dixon's Eltham workshop during the early 1980s restoration process.

 

IMG-1421.jpg

 

The same car, about thirty years later and on the other side of the planet:

 

Pattensen-010.jpg