After World War 2, when the importation of vehicles into New Zealand for most was not possible, the aspirations of local racing car builders took hold. It was a time that gave rise to our country’s reputation for producing a unique breed of can-do people that has seen subsequent generations fit into key positions within the international motor racing scene.
Although this iconic Kiwi-built racing car came about due to a series of coincidences, it would become the catalyst that sparked Jim Richards’ subsequent, very successful motorsport career.
Allan Dick meets Cliff Knight who, as a young man, spent much of the summer of 1960 competing around New Zealand in a Standard Ten.
The questions Tim was most regularly asked as a journalist and development engineer included: “What’s the best car you’ve owned?”, “What’s the best car you’ve driven?” and “What’s your favourite car?” For more amusement, a better question would have been: “What was the worst car?”
Avon Hyde officially retired from competitive motor racing in 1993 after a career that contained several highlights in so many categories. But what did retirement really mean for Avon?
When Peter rang Dave McMillan to talk to him about Mark ‘Jandals’ Sheehan – the subject of the next in his series profiling some of New Zealand’s top race mechanics/engineers from the ’60s and ’70s – his first comment was: “I reckon he should be knighted, ‘Sir Jandals.’” Although, as his nickname suggests, if he was offered a knighthood then getting him to dress for the ceremony might prove to be a problem.
Allan Dick pays tribute to the tortured genius of Graham McRae.
It was a Sunday morning not long after lockdown at Cars & Coffee Taranaki where this blue mean machine caught Cameron’s eye. With its huge hood scoop, black bonnet and vinyl roof over its blue patinated paint, it had a look that really appealed to him. After further investigation, he started chatting to the car’s owner, Corey Munyard.
Spurred on by the blood-curdling scream of a BRM V16 in full song, Tim tries his hand at analysing why the sounds of certain racing engines send tingles down his spine.
Jim Richards is one of New Zealand’s most successful racing drivers and the list of significant cars he has driven is extensive, but the car that put him on the map was this glorious Ford Escort Twin Cam, originally built and campaigned in the British Saloon Car Championship by the John Willment Group.
Allan writes about his old mate Terry Marshall, whose name has been the credit under millions of photographs over millions of years (or so it seems), but he has been around since the mid-sixties and his enthusiasm has not dimmed.
When it comes to kit cars there is extraordinarily little that Peter Pellandine did not attempt – starting up his first kit car company while just in his mid-twenties. Kit car specialist, Patrick Harlow, takes a look at a rare Pellandine-designed sports car.
We all know the story of the wealthy Italian industrialist who was dissatisfied with the cars he bought from Ferrari and decided to build a better car. Yes, Ferruccio Lamborghini did just that, but he wasn’t the only one with that idea.
Allan Dick tells the story of a legendary New Zealand racing saloon – and the replica that was built many years after its heyday.
I read everywhere that motorsport is not like it used to be. You can’t see the cars struggling for grip, the roll angles, gentlemanly racing, being able to see drivers battling against their machines, performance differences, different sounds that make the hairs prickle on the back of your neck, meaningful colour schemes and recognisably different cars.
At the wheel of his 1967 Camaro, Rod Coppins shared the 1970 NZ Saloon Car Championship title with Red Dawson, but the following season saw him at the wheel of an ex-T/G Racing Pontiac Firebird.
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