Steve - PM me your email address and I will give you a contact number for one of the guys that put the Looking Back book together. He should know how to get hold of the photographers. It's been ages since I read the article on the maroon Chev, but I'm sure it was raced - probably just car club stuff.
Steve, saw that Anglia recently....from memory it was a couple of bays past Govenors Bay. Will check this weekend. There was another sitting on the front yard of a house in the general area of Lancaster Park back in the late 80's. John Osborne was racing one (The Junkyard Dog) in Classics in the early 90's...not sure but think it was a replica. Rod
Thanks. Would love to know more. If need be, I can post up pics of the three remaining Breadvans (Nazer, Doyle, Simpson) so you can see if its any of those.
Steve, please let me know when your book is done. I wasnt old enough to enjoy these cars in their original days, but I did watch them in the 90's at the Festival of Speed and the Waimate 50. I have a few pics of the Sylvester Chev Coupe and the Sprague Mk3 Zephyr racing, as well as a few breadbox anglias etc. I used to have a Mk1 Escort Twincam when I lived in NZ, its one car I really regret selling cheers ricki
Wow saw that breadvan anglia just a few weeks back as me and the girlfriend went over to Diamond Harbour, lucky I was not driving or there would have been a big set of skidmarks outside the guys place! Just being a "old car perving" passenger I spotted the breadvan and it was like wow wicked a breadvan I aint seen one of them in the flesh(tin) before, having owned an "angle box" and seeing pics of the rear breadvan models in books only. Tried to find it on the way back but it seems it may only be visible from one direction. Its a rustic oxide colour and by a shelter belt of pines, on the left heading to Diamond Harbour.Good luck. Pics please...
Ricki, I'd say it'd be on sale by Xmas 2008. I've given the publishers a self-imposed deadline of April 2008 to have it completed, then its up to them. Its something I have to do properly, so there is tons of reaesrch to do, plus tracking down old pics, race results etc. I know where many of the old drivers are though which will help, but then you have problems with fading memories etc. You know the saying; 'The older I get, the faster I was'. I'm like you, I wasn't old enough. In fact, I wasn't even born till '71, but I've been tracing the histories and writing magazine articles on old NZ race cars for years. Its a lot of fun.
If its a genuine All-comer car, I'm amazed its lasted this long, especially as it sounds like its parked near the sea. A couple of the Breadvans raced in OSCA when that first started, but then they were outlawed by the early '70s. I guess only a piccy from someone will provide the evidence.
My old boss ,Alex Wilson raced a choped 100e with a 105e front powered by a 283 chev back in the 60s.He built a replica of it a few years ago and its now raced by one of the guys who works at the Surgery.I think Alex lives in Newlands and may have some old photos.He will certainly have plenty of memories
Great photos Steve. I remember watching many of those cars racing at Dunedin on the old street circuit espec Rod Coppins Mk2 with the exhausts out the bonnet. Bloody great sound! Saw them at Teretonga, Wigram and Waimate also. A then relative of mine, Bruce Jenner, built a Mk2 Zephyr in Dunedin with a mid mounted Corvette? motor, fast back of course. Ran it a few times until the laws changed. He now lives in the States and runs a racecar team, of Ferraris I think. He had a bloody neat rod in the early 60's, a 34 coupe from memory, the first one I ever saw with a SBC in it. I still have some of the old magazines from the Allcomers days. in fact about the first one that Allan Dick ever produced on these cars - a bloody scruffy little newsprint rag with great photos etc. Good luck with the book - I'll keep an eye out for it. Well better leave it there - getting late here and I gotta sort some lifters for my 351 tomorrow! Cheers.
Thanks Magoo, I know the car you're talking about, the red one with white stripes. Do you know how I can contact Alex?
A good friend of mine now owns and races the '67 Camaro Bruce raced in the '70s. Its the old Spinner Black/Rod Coppins car. Do you know the date of that Allan Dick magazine? I recently bought a couple of his annuals, from 1966 and '67. There seem to have been many radical cars built for the series, and many of them only appeared once or twice. But they were brave folk who raced them, thats for sure. Did you take any photos back in those days?
A contact I would try too, 1932tub on the NZHRM forum, Bevan had/has a 100e racer that has recently been restored and from memoryof recent pics it may be the type of car you are looking for.
Hey Steve,your talking my language, Nazers Anglia the yellow Submarine.Talked to Jack a while ago as I had the the chance to buy the Cossack Victor which he still has some of the bits off.In reality an expensive restoration as running gear was all formula 5000 ala Jimmy Stone And Begg. Cool car though. Wow I carn't believe there is still an Anglia breadvan sitting somewhere that would be a cool addition to any NZ garage.I did the motor racing curcuit with my grandfather in 67 &68 and have some cool photos of the Fahey Mustang and Francivic Nascar Fairlane 500 also have an autographed photo of Jimmy Clark and Bruce Mclaren only a few months before Jimmys death 68. A mate of mine did an interview with John Riley which he has tapes of and got quite a lot of old photo's off him, a real gentleman.I did a tour to Bathurst with Fahey in 1980. Could go on but thanks for the post. Cheers Mike.
That "Looking Back"book is a great read.Steve these cars are not o/t,old cars with v8s stuffed in are hot rods.I have friends here that have a 46 Ford woody wagon that came from NZ.Bill Lemon from B & N Hotrods.Any HAMBers remember him from when he lived there?The car was the Lt.Governor's offical ride or???
Hi, I was wondering if someone could give me more details on the book "Looking Back" e.g. who the author is etc. I am one of Robin Tanners daughters and it was a real blast to see his pic in the book and as I don't have any books or photos of his racing days would love to buy it. Thanks for your help.
Hi, Best bet is probably to take a look at the link below, you should be able to purchase there. http://www.exposures.gen.nz/looking_back.htm
Steve, it brings back old memories. I was fortunate to have been at Baypark in the late '60's with my Dad. I cruised around the pit's with my Box Brownie taking photo's of many cars. I can remember talking to Jack Nazer and no doubt annoyed many other drivers and crew with my questions. Unfortunately the pix are long lost, but my Dad had a wad of them. His many moves and with life getting in the way, I am not sure where those are now. He raced at many car club events and also Bay Park. He was the Team Manager for Lemon and Paeroa Racing Team and owned one of the Mini's. I have many fond memories of Baypark (R.I.P) and all that went with it. I even had the experience of riding in the "Logan Fow" Ferrari (1967) built from a single seater, turned into a shortened GTO to then ultimately be restored back into a single seater. NZ Classic Car did a story on it a while back. Logan was a close friend of my Dad's My Dad's tow car for his race mini was a Modded Morris Minor with a Hot Humber 80 motor in it.... How things have now changed............. I look forward to your book and will buy a copy. Thanx for bringin' on back the good times! Cheers, David
Hi Steve: I have just happened onto this website and found your quotes and attached photo of Robbie Francevic's "Custaxie". The most interesting things about this story / photo for me are; (1) The Custaxie was originally built in my workshop at Owairaka Autos, in Mt. Albert, and (2) I am also the person in that photo, the one working on the Custaxie over by the right front wheel. Almost all of what you have said previously is correct, and Tony Kriletich was definately the "brains" behind this whole project. The stories realted to this car are numerous, but here are just a few facts you might like to know about how it came about. Firstly, the 427 was originally brought into NZ by the Urghart ?Brothers (Coventry Motors was down in Albert St at that time) as a "Marine" motor - as the Import Duties on all AUTO parts at that time was HUGE - whereas "Marine" items incurred no Import Duty. The 427 was initially installed into a ski-boat and run up and down the Waitamata Harbour for a while, this to ensure we met the "letter of the law." The 427 was then removed from the boat, stripped, reworked and prepared for its new life in the Custaxie and on the racing circuits of NZ. As for the famous Custaxie itself - the old 1955 Customline was totally stripped, all the better to build all the new suspensions, brakes and other mods required. The body itself (from the firewall back) had 2 x Five inch square holes cut in the lower, outer front edge of the firewall - with matching ones in the rear seat walls. The body (which normally sits on TOP of the chassis) was then "threaded" back onto the 5 inch box chassis of the Customline from ther rear - and then bolted up onto the chassis from underneath. The instant effect was to lower the whole body by about six inches - thus minimize the frontal area without losing any of the internal height - as Robbie was a very tall boy - and so we needed all the head-room we could get. We expected BIG things from those E-Type Front Disc brakes we had managed to procure - but the truth was (although we never told anyone at the time) they never did work very well at all - and it was only because of Robbie's talent and determination that he managed to keep the "Beast" on the island as much as he did (although he did manage to have a few excursions off during the season ;-) That same photo also has a "Breadvan" Angila next to it, I believe - and it could even be Jack Nazer's old Yellow Submarine. We also took over that vehicle after Jack had rolled it (down at Levin, I think it was) and, when Jack's wife then would not let him drive any more, we took it over, rebuilt it and then Robbie raced that one for us too for a season. At that same time we were also sponsoring Brian Marshall in his Owairaka Auto's A 40 Farina - as Brian worked for me at that time too. We were also the tow team for Jimmy Clark and Lotus in those "heady" days too - as our "Owiraka Autos" racing colour scheme and trailers perfectly matched the Lotus colour scheme at that time too - and, with John W. Andrew being the Ford agent (Lotus Ford) - all preparation was done down at their facilities. We were close friends with that company too and so it was a tight little group. I have numerous stories about Jimmy Clark, Jackie Stewart, Jim Boyd and others, but won't go off there right now - other than to say I was there when Jimmy Clark was offered a drive in the Lycoming by Jim Boyd. Since Clark had even driven F 700 Ford trucks around tracks (there was nothing he wouldn't drive) he accepted - and off he went. On the second lap, Jimmy Clark equalled Boyd's BEST time ever at Puke - and so as Jimmy Clark came around for the third lap (and well inside Boyd's best time ever) Jim Boyd jumped up and ran out into the middle of the track and waved Jimmy Clark to immediately stop - and this before Clark had finished that record setting third lap too. For me, that was both Jimmy and Jim at their "raging" best. Shortly after that I actually ended up marrying the new receptionist from Boyd's office. Of all the memories of have of that time, I must say the joy of working with Tony Kriletich and Robbie Francevic were the highlights for me. Tony was a "brilliant" self-taught designer / engineer and yet very humble about his achivements and still willing to listen to other points of view too. I consider Robbie to be a very generous, a very special person. I have seen times when he should have been getting ready to race or help resolve a "problem" and yet he would take the time to meet and talk with young children (or other similar "non-business" and/or "relatively unimportant" people) and yet he would give them his virtual undivided attention. This was, indeed, a rare gift I have seldom seen in other people - especially in celebrity icons like he became - and this is from someone who used to travel 200 days a year, six times around the world a year - and so I have seen and met many, many people - but have still never seen someone as generous with their time as Robbie was with his. In fact, I have tried to emulate Robbie's humility, manners and mannerisms into my own life - but I just know I have not come close to doing like he did then. One final story - and it concerns the old "Tune - Meister," Ted Thompson. Ted was virtually deaf - and always walked around with his "Listening Scope" around his neck. Whenever you asked Ted anything, you would usually have to repeat it several times to get him to understand it properly. One day he came into Maxted Motors (I used to work there too before starting Owairaka Autos) to collect a jon we were doing for him. When Ted asked how much - we "whispered" you can have this one for FREE. Tes immediately said, Thanks very much, picked up the job, tuned on his heel and walked out. The loss of income we suffered has surely been made up by all the laughs we have had on that one instance since - and here I am nearly 45 years later still getting value from it. I LIVED for motor racing at that time and so, when I moved to California in 1982 - I was sure I would attend many race meets up here. In 25 years, however, I have not attended one meet - with the only exception being I sometimes attend a "Classics" Race Day over at Coronado - where all the "Oldies and Goodies" strut their stuff. I guess its like they are almost taking me back to the era we are talking of here. Not sure how this transmits - so if you do want to contact me on anything here - you can get me at Brian33North@cox.net Blessings to YOU Brian North
Holy crap! Stories lost and stories found. Sounds like you should write a book as well, I for one would buy it. (Yes, I'm another displaced Kiwi coming out of the woodwork...)
Hi There: Pleased to know the message did go out to someone anyway - as I had completed it last night and tried to send it - only to find one had to become a "registered member" and by the time I did that I had lost all of the first message - so had to throw it all together again - as it was getting real late for me - and I am a really s-l-o-w typist. But - it is done now ;-O Hey, if you were really another "displaced Kiwi," your call-sign would probably be "Burpanite." as most Kiwis are GREAT beer drinkers ;-) Where do you originate from - and have you seen Scott Dixon do his thing? Really great to hear from you - thanks for taking the time to reply - and I LOVE that quote you have at the conclusion of your message. Is Candlewood Isle very far from Darien - as I used to go there quite often? Brian
Hi Metalshapes: It was GREAT fun being there too. Ahhh ! ! ! Memories are such wonderful things ;-) And - after all those extended post-racing stops at the Jolly Farmer it's a wonder I remember any of it . . . Brian San Diego
Jolly Farmer...... I used to live right down the street from that pub when I was a kid, I used to ride my bike to the parking lot early Saturday morning and pick up all the change and dollar bills the drunks would drop while digging in their pockets for their keys. I just read somewhere they have topless barmaids there now. Sorry, getting a little sidetracked.
The 'Jolly' used to be my local haunt in the 80's. It was also well known for it's wet t-shirt contests on Saturday afternoons in the garden bar. Guess the current topless thing is all about trying to draw in the punters. Hey Kev when are you and Aaron posting pics of your New Zealand trip? We would all love to see what you experienced. Regards Dale
Cool memories Brian, the Jolly just aint the same thses days, apparently the police made them stop the Wet T contest, when it was sold, surley must have hurt the takings as lord knows how much went over the bar on those days (from memory final was often the weekend of Pukekohe swap), surprised they never got knocked over for the takings from one of those weekend...... must get my son off to some historic racing next summer.
I wrote the article and took the photos of the Sylvester coupe for NZ Hot Rod Mag, back in 68 I think. The pics are long gone but I'm sure I've got that copy of the mag somewhere. I lost interest when they banned the Allcomers. Everything else was an anticlimax! Another car I really dug was the Lycoming Special, a race car with a Lycoming airplane engine.... chain driven to a (I think) flathead V8 rear end.
Hi Great thread really enjoyable read. I remember the meetings at Levin and Ardmore. Red Dawson is a name that has stuck over the years. A Chev Coupe powered by a Corvette I seem to recall. One race, was when he (and all the others) got creamed by one of the first Mini Coopers in the country, driven by Bruce McLaren. One other interesting car was a Renault Dauphine which was from memory, from Nelson, this was also Corvette powered and the driver sat in what was the rear seat with the motor beside him.(If I remember correctly.) Finally a couple of photos taken at a classic meeting on the streets of Queenstown probably in the late 80s and the Lycoming scanned from a magazine I have. It outlines the building process of the Lycoming by Ralph Watson. Obviously the Lycoming Interior? Alan Wolfe, Lotus Cortina Same location, I know it is thread drift but I would give my first born for a 1966 Lotus Cortina. This is Jim Clark testing the Lycoming at Teretonga, probably the same time as mentioned by BrianNZ.
The Jalopy Journal
