Top Ten most important NZ Drag Racers

For the next issue of OnePercent magazine I'm planning a feature on the top ten most important Drag Racers from the New Zealand scene. This doesn't necessarily mean the fastest, richest, most sponsored or most professional - although of course all these things are relevant. This means the ten people who have contributed most to drag racing through their efforts and who have undeniably reached legend status. I'm keen to hear what you think and why.


Aaron

 

A few names that come to mind that have to be on that list.......

Pete Lodge....Badassness and pioneer
Garth Hogan....Record setter
Mike Gearing....All of above and awesome engine builder

 

Awesome Kev - cheers man.

 

I'd add Ivan Jujunovich for being a serious racer and great sportsman back in the day and perhaps NZ's own Drag-on Lady (whose name escapes me at the (senior) moment) who's 409-urged '59 Impala was one of the top cars at the old Wiri races back in the 1960s.

 

I was gonna say Jujunovich for some of the best burnouts ever. Also Graham Berry for some of the finest race cars ever built in NZ!

 

Now we're cooking. Keep em comming.

 

Chris Tynan - been at the forefront of doorslammer racing for many years and active behind the scenes as well.

Ron Collett should be in the list as well, I reckon.

64-Wildcat, I thnk that would be Gail Prast?

 

Thanks, I think you're correct on Gail Prast. Totally agree that Graeme Berry (and Chung!), Chris Tynan and Ron Collett are musts for the list; what about Mike Healy for running turboed V6 engines in the '70s?

Is anyone doing a history of NZ drag racing? I know that NZHRM still has a lot of archival stuff, and you may want to contact Paul and Liz Grace for more info.

 

Earl Nunn on bikes unrecognised for years

 

Dragon Lady that would be the one and only Maureen Fairburn (Maud)
Totaly agree with Garth Hogan and Graham Berry, I spent an entire night with those two back in the early 70s (i was only 12 years old at the time) thrashing on Crazy Shirts funny car for it's dedut , Changed my entire life that night .
By the way great mag too.

 

Cool thread. Those I.J Chevys in the mags turned me on in the 70's. So did Hogan F/C's.

 

I would agree on all suggested,but for me it would have to be Colin & "Crazy Kay" Lane. Was told that Kay was the first women to hold a license for their dragster in the 60's.They were there for the Blowout & have spent the last week camped out at Meremere for the nostalgias this weekend.Sit down a spell with Colin & a bottle of jack & listen to the ol stories,just cant get enough of that stuff,,,Deadbeat

 

1) Pete Lodge - Baloo/Hombre
2) Nick Liefting - various Greenlane Speedshop T's
3) Ralph Wright - pioneered the NZHRA, formation of Champion Dragway and campaigned altereds
4) Graham Berry - built the most revolutionary drag cars
5) Garth Hogan - legendary achievements
6) Chris Tynan - first 7 second door car and helped grow the door car scene
7) Wayne Yearbury - campaigned a number of Top Alcohol dragsters/funny cars all over the world and now Top Doorslammer
8) Gary Martin & Andrew Rea - Worlds Fastest Alcohol Flathead Dragster
9) Alan Shadwick - founded Al's Blower Drives - the blown Jeep, the gasser Nova and also the Doorslammer Camaro as well as tuning an engine building a wide variety of drag cars
10)Ron Collett - RIP - A lifetime of drag racing ALL over NZ

 

I totally agree - I spent some time talking to Colin on Saturday night and he was awesome. Driving round in that mobile home with Kay and their "electric blanket" (fox terrier) with the car towed behind them, he's still doing it and so full of life - and bourbon.

Aaron

 

I agree with you Greg... but hard to stop at 10!

These ones all had an impact on me as well...
Cub Roberts - great to see him back in NZ and enjoying rodding
Allan Lim - has a holiday home in Whanga.
Roger Murray
Clarkson/Wymer - the first 6.
Ron Agnew

And there must be heaps more....

Noddy

 

Athol Williams at 6.1 and 238mph on a nitro bike has to feature in a top ten. Not sure how long he has been in the sport for but the times that I have seen him race he has been very impressive.

 

My grandfather and his twin brother Peter and Robin Saunders, I have been told were often given the title of building the first rail car in the southern hemisphere. My grandfather Is modest but a lot of people have said over the years that It's true. let me know what you think.

 

ps my granfather is from wellington and this would have been in the early sixties probably

 

Two names.
Plank.
Faye Grant.

 

Brian Norman - Farmer

 

I agree with Noddy, there are just too, too many for a list of only 10.

Greg, have you thought of writing a history of the sport and the personalities we've all suggested? I think the NZ drag race scene is worthy of recording. When I first visited Meremere in 1976 (courtesy of rodders like Dave Loose and yer boss!) I was blown away by the vibe of the competitors - so much like the scene, Stateside, in the early '60s before drag racing went totally pro. Add to that the warm welcome I had from many of the people we've mentioned in this thread, I thought you guys were a pretty cool bunch.

 

Obviously the Plank 'cause of starter status but if Junovich is featured Gary Taylor would have to be as well...
Then there's John Agnew
(hey look, they hid my steak under a chip, Rangirirri(spellin misteak?) Pub)
cheers bt

 

Yes a good choice in John Agnew, he ran a slant 6 in a very old rail style raced stck cars on Saturday night then changed it into the drag car over night to drag race on Sunday then a 6 Hemi in a Rail then the SBC in a & B alt then the Hemi Crazy Horse and finally the Rear engined rail and don't forget Dick Woods, sure he had his problems but he also had some fun. Those were crazy days I see if I can dig up some old pictures for you.

 

Great idea and long overdue, I think if you didn't stop at 10 you probably couldn't stop, and it's also great that we can put a name and face to this - in the sept '09 issue of NZHRM page 11 there's an ad for NZ Drag Racing Documentary by a group calling themselves Six Seconds Productions. If you read the article you'll notice there are no names or physical address, I know the person behind this rather too well and if you have sent anything to him I would stay in touch with him!!! I believe he has passed the project on as he has no funds to proceed. As I have said I (and many others in the Palmy area) know him well - beware. Sorry not trying to hijack the thread I just thought you should know.

 

What about Harry Donker for race transmissions

 

Who was that chap who ran the blown Peugeot 4 cylinder engine with a homemade supercharger? He got some insane 1/4 mile times out of that thing.

 

I've seen Mike Gearing race, he's pretty bad.

 

Trevor Watson, still racing today, he won the competition class at the nationals last month.

 

You'd have to have Ray Petersen for his two-wheeled exploits etc

 

Trevor Watson for sure! how many racers, world wide, are still running the same rear engine rail that they built in the sixties!!

And I'd like to see Roger Murray on the list.....and Ewan Mark was always a hero in his "street" T bucket!!