The "Good Old Days" were they?

[Robert Ryan]

Steve, love the photos of the 1938 Chev, doing burnouts at a historic event. I can remember the Chev powered Anglias and wild looking V8 Powered Ford Counsels.
http://www.warbirdsovernewzealand.co...-Chev_0493.jpg

[Robert Ryan]

Breadvan Anglia
http://www.warbirdsovernewzealand.co...nglia_7317.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

hey Robert, thanks for posting those great shots. The Chevy Coupe is the actual car raced by Ron Sylvester, and now driven by his son Grant at SI classic events. Its such a great thrill for us North Islanders to go down and see these cars, as they don't come up north.

Not sure about the Anglia though. Doesn't look familiar at all. Do you know if its a genuine Allcomer car, or a replica? The ex Fahey Breadvan Anglia is still based in the SI, but that's not it there.

[Robert Ryan]

Steve,
Do not know, but I found these on the "warbirds over new zealand site.

[mickj]

Gents interesting reading, keep it up. Its sounds as though we all have a passion for the SS series, Steve H is educating us to the NZ side of things, re TraNZam and 'Allcomers.
The closest we had to Rod Coppins Zephyr, was Ken Spence's version with a Ford 'Cobra' motor fitted that raced at Calder.

Cavvy, I believe that the Glasson/Wilson had a Goggomobil centre section, what can you tell us about it.

The 'Graduate' appears at Historic races at Sandown, clothed in a Mclaren M8 body, I dont think it raced in that configeration in WA.

Earlier JohnH875 (page 3) asked us if we had additional info on the Harry Lefoe IMP, John I've dug out an old Hume Weir programme which had photos and a short story, but nothing more to add to what MRA printed.
Robert Ryan did you think you would start a subject would run to 12 pages.
The warbird over NZ site has some good photos.

[Amonfan]

The Graduate raced in its current spec in the hands of Derek Vince as i have pics of it circa 1982, however not sure how it ran when Stan "forgotten his last name" raced it in the early 70s......

The Lewis fam have it now, along with the Elfin MS7, however both were for sale.....

[thunder road]

the bread van 'concept' was pretty 'full-on'in the 60's, 'Jack Nazer' had one ,yellow at the time it raced at Wigram,,ofcourse Niel Doyle bread van'ed his v8 unit,but what about the 'chop topped mini's, Hamlin Charles had a mint 'silver' car that the roofed comming into the main straight at Wigram one ,durring practice ,,,

[mickj]

Amonfan Did Derek Vince race the Graduate in WA. When Stan Starcevich ran it was it fitted with a Matich SR body.
Thunder they sound like some 'Hairy' looking race cars.

[Steve Holmes]

thunder, I guess the sad thing about the Allcomers was that the cars went through a period where they're just old cars, and are stripped of their parts, with the bodies dumped. Some of those Allcomers weren't much good for anything once the good bits were taken out. There isn't much you can do with a top chopped Anglia with the headlights shaved off. Its a wonder any of them survived. People are still trying to find out what happened to the Custaxie to this day, including Robbie Francevic.

A friend of mine owns the old Rod Coppins/Spinner Black etc 67 Camaro. Its beautifully restored now, but in the early 80s, it nearly ended up as a speedway car, which would have certainly finished it off. Fortunately, its owner at the time refused to sell it despite the buyers best efforts.

[thunder road]

If you contact Rob Campbell at New Zealand Hot Rod Mag , I'm sure in the late seventies/ early eighties they published a photo of the 'gustaxie/'color me gone', sitting in a 'car yard' in Auckland, what about Jim Mullin's/Clyde Collins 'A40' Farina,now there is another car with a history ......!!!!!!!!

[Robert Ryan]

mickJ,
I have a portable shed with probably 5000-6000 magazines. Each time I browse through them I find a "subject" that I have completely forgotten about.So they maybe some more "longwinded" threads further down the track.
It is interesting how things tend to go in cycles and how the same "brilliant idea" tends to resurrect itself every now and then.

[Steve Holmes]

thunder, I think I remember seeing the pic you are talking about. The car was road registered for a while by its first owner following its racng career. He fitted headlights into the big air intake hole in the front.

Clyde Collins built a replica of his A40 Farina a few years back, but has since sold it. Everone thought the original was Lotus powered, but he said it didn't become Lotus powered until his brother Warner took it over in 68. He said then it became slower!

thunder you complimented me last night on my paintings, but as far as I'm concerned, you are the true artist my friend. If I ever became half as good at what I do, as you are at what you do, I'd be very happy.

[cavvy]

The Vic Watson Goblin had some Goggo heritage but it was not the Dart - I dont know but will search for a photo. I don't remember John Glasson driving it, I remember his Rambler big banger sporty & before the Capri was a V8 Escort. Earliest recollection is a Lancer or Elite.

[cavvy]

As Robert started this thread with Sports Sedans, my view the reason they have not kicked on is that Alfettas have been winning for 20 years & that is bad, particularly as many think it is the same car.

[thunder road]

cavvy; basicly 'Cams' (that four lettered word again)at the time (mid 80's)did not want the big flared 'monsters'with wings etc., they installed the 'stock body' rule,'outlawing many of the 'freedoms' but 'god bless' the competition, they started to 'ssttrreeeech' the body styles to give us what we've got today,but they 'just' lack that agressive stance,the latest (on the shelf)'hot rod mau/usa, has got the toughest Camaro in it ,built with no 'class' in mind but would make an awesome 'sports sedan', very much like the car Rowhan Harmon has,from the 70's era

[Formula 5000]

Twice a day I read this thread with great interest. That it has quickly grown to 13 pages with many vivid memories shows that Sport Sedans of all the different types still stir us up; apparently more so than the current V8 Supercars.
Obviously there is potential to resurrect such a series which is so stirring to us. Australia Muscle Car has tapped a rich vein.

One of the best memories has to be Brian Thomson in his VW Chev criss crossing the Calder straight trying to avoid being nailed by Janes V8 Monaro.

How about all those heroes that put V8's into FJ Holdens. They were something, not fast just dangerous.

Nothing beats an unmuffled V8.

[pete55]

They sound better (V8 ones) than the V8 Supercars and then there's the destinctive turbo sound of other cars and then the rotaries all mixed up together. Then there's all the different body styles. I just wish it would all come back as it was in it's heyday.

[thunder road]

Steve H;Thank you for Flattering remarks ('gone all shy now')but we each have a 'canvas' in life, thank God you and I have found ours,again ;thank you, it was four years of pleasure (longer than either the two marriages I've had )building the car was 100/100,but the people(read 'characters')thier recollections/stories,(you could write a book),that was 110/100...with regards!!

[thunder road]

Formula 5000;'Bob' was if the truth be known 'aiming' for the Brians 'vw',he missed, history could have been different if his 'sights' wern't out!!!!

[Amonfan]

MickJ, Derek Vince raced the Graduate in WA, i think he debued it circa late 1980....

[Camaroz]

F5000 and all that miss the Sports Sedans. I have heard that there are moves afoot to bring SS back, manufacturer involvement, no (or reduced) weight limits, drivers as well as manufacturers Championships. All looking good to me.

The Bruce Watt Marina V8 was sponsored by Castrol and had a limited and not very sucessful life but Bruce did show a lot of us how to generate some publicity and get a photo in not only the motorsport press but also the general media. (The late) Bruce also pushed to get the OK to run a Group C Falcon Hardtop on LPG (Rio Underwear sponsored). CAMS hit that on the head at the time!

[Steve Holmes]

Hey Camaroz, welcome aboard, you finally made it then!

[Bruce302]

Hi camaroz, glad to see you.ve made it, at long last.
Welcome,

Bruce

[thunder road]

come on Guys ,I think this CAMAROZ might be a double agent, after I posted the demeaning and disparaging remarks about 'GEMINI's,( and for those who reqested I go build a bridge, jobs done, just check on the "hulme/ con-rod" straight,I sold the signage to 'DUNLOP',I think you will all be pleased with result)I'm just about sure this CAMAROZ punter is the guy who cut up a real nice 67/8 Camaro and fitted GEMINI panels to it ,dropped in a 'turbo' and went racing, my facts may be a little off the mark but some guy told me it was true !!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve Holmes]

I've heard about this guy Camaroz, been waiting for him to arrive. Only took him 14 pages of this thread to turn up.

thunder, did he not fit a rotary to that Camaro?