JAGUAR: A RACING HISTORY IN NEW ZEALAND. PART 10 1965
1965 – Jaguar Mk2s, Ford Consul Mk1 Jag, XK120s, ‘Bag Jag’, Tojeiro Jag, E-Type, Humber Jaguar, Ferrari-Jaguar GT
Pukekohe 9 Jan 65 – At the 1965 NZIGP meeting held at Pukekohe on 9 Jan 65, Event 6 was the ‘Pukekohe Feature race for single-seaters’ over 10 laps. David Ibbotson “(TBN)” was listed as driver of the #43 Tojeiro Jaguar 3400cc in this race, however, he did not drive the car. Event 6 was won by Roly Levis in his Brabham BT6 Ford, from Leo Geoghegan in his Lotus 32 Ford, and Andy Buchanan in his Brabham BT6 Ford.
There were two Jaguar Mk2s in the field of 31 cars for Event 8, the ‘Open Saloon Car Scratch’ race over 10 laps. Gary Bremner entered his #99 Jaguar Mk2 3.8, and Australian Bob Jane his white #129 Jaguar Mk2 that was fitted with a 4.2 engine. By the end of Lap 3, Paul Fahey in his Lotus Cortina led the race, with Bob Jane behind him, followed by Ian Geoghegan in his Lotus Cortina, Jack Nazer’s Lotus Anglia, Garth Souness in his Morrari, and Jim Mullins in his Cortina Climax. Bob Jane set a lap record in his Jaguar of 1min 45.2sec on lap 5 while trying to catch Fahey, but Jane was soon in the pits to retire with a hole in a piston. Fahey won from Geoghegan, Nazer was 3rd and John Ward in his Lotus Cortina was 4th. Ivan Cranch entered his Ford Consul Mk1-Jaguar 3442cc, but it is not known if he raced.
In Event 9, the ‘Auckland Star Sports Car Trophy Race’ over 6 laps, the #43 Tojeiro Jaguar 3400cc was entered with the driver listed as Ian Green. Brian Watson entered his #58 Bagnall Jaguar 3442cc, but as there is no mention of the race in his book, it may be assumed he did not arrive at Pukekohe. Jim Boyd led from the start of the race, followed by Barry Porter, and Ian Green in 3rd place, but Green retired on lap 4 with fuel pump problems. Barry Porter won the race in his Lotus 15 Climax 1960cc, from Jim Boyd’s Lycoming Special 5520cc, with Don MacDonald 3rd in his Lola Mk1 Ford 1650cc.
Graham Hill won the 1965 NZIGP in the Scuderia Veloce Brabham BT11A Climax, from Frank Gardner in 2nd place and Jim Palmer in 3rd, both of whom drive Brabham BT7A Climaxes.
Levin 16 Jan 65 – At the Gold Leaf International at Levin on 16 Jan 65, the only Jaguar entries were for Brian Watson who was back with the #27 Bagnall Jaguar 3442cc, and Gary Bremner from Patea with his #43 Jaguar Mk2 that was listed with a 4.0 litre motor. Neither car featured in the results. In his book, at page 244, Brian said the car handled better with better brakes and no fade, but a steering arm broke after three laps.
Jim Clark in the ‘works’ Lotus 32B Climax won the 1965 Levin International, from Frank Gardner in 2nd place and Jim Palmer 3rd in their Brabham BT7A Climaxes.
Wigram 23 Jan 65 – At the Lady Wigram Trophy race meeting held on 23 Jan 65, Event 3 was the 30 minute ‘Gold Leaf Production Saloon Car race’. The first four places were taken by Mini Cooper S 1275cc cars, so it is not surprising that Ian Dow in his now ‘elderly’ Jaguar Mk2 3.8 did not feature in the results.
Event 4 was the 11 lap MRC Championship race. There was no NZ Sports Car Championship race at Wigram in 1965, so instead, some cars raced in the MRC Championship race. Amongst the 24 cars entered was #15 Dave Silcock in his Jaguar XK120 3442cc. Barry Porter won the race in is #40 Lotus 15 Climax, from #22 Jim Boyd’s Lycoming Special, with #4 Ron Rutherford 3rd in the 260M Zephyr single seater. Morrie Stanton was 4th in the Stanton Corvette but Dave Silcock in his XK120 was not placed.
The Allcomer Saloon races had two heats before a ‘Final’ race. After Event 7, the Lady Wigram Trophy Race, won by Jim Clark in a Lotus 32B Climax, from Bruce McLaren’s Cooper T79 Climax and Jim Palmer’s Brabham BT7A Climax, Event 8 was the Second Preliminary Race for Allcomers Saloon and held over 9 laps. The race was won by Paul Fahey’s #104 Lotus Cortina Mk1, from Robbie Francevic’s Lotus-Anglia, and Jack Nazer’s #105 Lotus-Anglia. Also in the field, but not placed, were #5 Ian Dow in his Jaguar Mk2 3.8, and #48 Gary Bremner’s Mk2 3.8.
Event 10, the Allcomers Final was held over 7 laps, but it is not known if Jaguar Mk2 drivers, Ian Dow and Gary Bremner qualified. The race was won by Paul Fahey’s #104 Lotus Cortina, from #141 Rod Coppins Ford Zephyr Mk2-Corvette V8, and Jack Nazer’s #105 Lotus-Anglia.
Teretonga 30 Jan 65 – The 1965 international Teretonga meeting held on 30 Jan 65 included Event 5, the ‘Thomson’s Touring Car Race A’ over 6 laps; Ian Dow in his #43 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 took 3rd place on 8min 23.2sec, to Lin Neilson’s #26 Mini 1097cc in 1st place on 8min 14.1sec, and Dave Bruton’s #32 Humber 80 on 8min 21.2sec. In Event 8, the Modified Production Saloon Car race over 8 laps, Ian Dow in his Mk2 3.8 took 1st place in the ‘1301cc and over class’ in a time of 11min 3.6sec, beaten only by the 1001 -1300cc class Mini-Cooper S cars of #52 Brian Innes on 10min 41sec and #11 Jim Mullins on 10min 53.1sec. The final of the Open class saw Rod Coppins win in his #65 Ford Zephyr Mk2-Corvette V8, from Paul Fahey in his #104 Lotus-Cortina, Jack Nazer’s #105 Lotus-Anglia, and John Ward’s #123 Lotus-Cortina.
Jim Clark from Scotland driving the ‘works’ Lotus 32B Climax won the Teretonga International, from New Zealand’s Bruce McLaren in his ‘works’ Cooper T79 Climax, and American Phil Hill’s ‘works’ Cooper T70/79 Climax.
Dunedin 6 Feb 65 – At the 1965 Dunedin meeting held on 6 Feb 65, a ‘Sports and Specials Scratch race’ was held over 13 laps. Barry Porter won in his Lotus 15 Climax in a time of 17min 8.6sec, from Jim Boyd’s Lycoming Special, with Bill Caldwell’s Lola Mk1 Climax 1220cc in 3rd, Basil Campion’s Campion special in 4th, and Dave Silcock’s #14 Jaguar XK 120 was in 5th.
Waimate 13 Feb 65 – The annual Waimate street race meeting was held on 13 Feb 65. In a 10-lap ‘DR Filter Saloon Race’, Brian Innes in his nimble Morris Cooper 1275S won in a time of 13min 5.0sec, being 5.7 sec ahead of Jim Mullins’ similar Morris Cooper 1275S. Rod Coppins was 2.6 seconds back in 3rd in the Ford Zephyr Mk2-Corvette, and Ian Dow was 4th in his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 a further 23.7sec back. Ian’s race time was 13min 35.7sec.
In the race for Sports Cars with 16 entrants, Morrie Stanton led the way in his #53 Stanton-Corvette 4940cc, from Jim Boyd in the #22 Lycoming Special 5520cc, and #40 Barry Porter in the Lotus 15 Climax 1960cc. Dave Silcock in his Jaguar XK120 3442cc was 6th, and E.N. Liparts in a ‘Jaguar 3.8’ was 11th.
Levin 27 Mar 65 – At the 1965 Gold Leaf National meeting at Levin on 27 Mar 65, Brian Watson entered his #22 ‘Bag-Jag’, once again. However, as there was no mention of the race meeting in his book (at page 244) it may be assumed he did not arrive.
Te Onepu, Hawkes Bay 8 May 65 – the Hawkes Bay Car Club held a hillclimb at Te Onepu on 8 May 65 where the fastest time of the day, and a new course record, was set by Tony Gilbertson in his Mini-Cooper 1275S in 1m 1.5s. In the ‘Saloons over 3001cc’ class, Alister McLeod in his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 was fastest in 1m 8.6s, nearly 7 second faster than the second-placed car, B. Parker in a Chrysler Valiant on 1m 13,4s. In the ‘Sports car’ class, J. Wiffen in a Jaguar XK120 was fastest in 1m 8.6s, from B Britton in his MGB on 1m 14.8s.
The Ferrari Jaguar GT – Auckland resident, Ferris De Joux’s Ferrari Jaguar GT started life as a 1951 Ferrari 375 4493cc V12 F1 chassis 375/2 Grand Prix car. It was originally a works car used by Ferrari drivers of the time. The car was then raced by Frenchman Louis Rosier, who won the 1952 Albi GP in this car. Rosier later fitted a pale blue coloured single-seat sports car body to the car. The Ferrari was imported to New Zealand in 1955 by A.J. Roycroft for his son Ron to race, and Ron’s first race in the car was at Mairehau, Christchurch, on 4 Feb 56 with the car still fitted with the centre-seat sports body. It was then re-bodied as a Ferrari ‘Indy’ single seater and raced by Ron Roycroft in New Zealand from 1957 until 1960. After its racing days were over, Ferris de Joux then purchased the Ferrari in the early 1960s, without the 4.5 litre V12 engine, and over the next 2.5 years converted it into a Ferrari Jaguar GT road car; he made and fitted a soft purple coloured two-door fibreglass GT bodywork to his own design, and a Jaguar XK 3.4 litre engine. Ferris used the car as daily transport for some years until it was purchased in 1968 by Gavin Bain, who rebuilt it with Ferrari 375 F1 body and the original 4.5 litre Ferrari engine. The 1951 Ferrari 375 F1 V12 is now located in the Perfetti Collection, Italy.
Wairarapa Club Sprint Jun/Jul (?) 65 – Motorman magazine of August 1965, at page 33, reports, “There was a good entry in the Wairarapa Car Club’s recent standing and flying quarter mile meeting, some fast times being recorded. J. Sutherland’s 3.8 Jaguar reached 128mph and M Buchanan’s rapid Austin-Cooper S averaged 107mph for the flying quarter run.” In the ‘Saloons over 1600cc’ class, J. Sutherland recorded 7.02 sec for the flying quarter, and 16.9s for the standing quarter, with a top speed of 128.2mph; Alister McLeod in his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 was 2nd fastest with times 7.65s (flying) 16.6s (standing) and 121.62mph. In 3rd place was P. McLeod in his Jaguar 3.8 with 7.65s, 17.3s and 117.65mph; and in 4th was D.K McLean in his Jaguar 3.4 on 7.99s, 18.6s and 112.64mph
Teretonga 20 Jun 65 – The Southland Sports Car Club’s second qualifying round of the Teretonga Championship was held on Sunday 20 Jun 65. In a Racing and Sports car race, Brent Hawes of Timaru in his Tojeiro Jaguar finished 3rd behind Allan McCully of Drummond in a Bucker, and Lawrence Brownlie of Kelso making his debut in a Daimler SP 250. In a second race, Brownlie took 1st from Hawes in the Tojeiro Jaguar, and McCully was 3rd. A third race saw Hawes in 1st, from McCully and Brownlie.
Palmer Head, Wellington 3 Sep 65 – The Wellington Car Club held a hillclimb at Palmer Head on 3 Sep 65. Fastest time of the day was set by Dick Butters in his Cooper MkIX Norton on 44.99s. In the class for sports cars over 1500cc, 1st place was taken by Basil Jones in a Cougar on 46.84s, and in 2nd place was Brian Watson in his Bagnall Jaguar on 47.1s – Brian also recorded 4th FTD.
Pukekohe 9 Oct 65 – Thirty six cars lined up for the 1965 Wills Six-Hour race held at Pukekohe on 9 Oct 65, the final two hours of which were run at night. Two Jaguar Mk2 3.8s were entered, with drivers in the white car #36 being Rod Coppins and John Ward, and the #37 car, Ray Archibald/Ernie Sprague. Motorman magazine of November 1965 reported the #37 Archibald/Sprague car led the race from the #36 Coppins/Ward car until problems with left front wheel stud put the #37 car into the pits on lap 21 and after only about one hour the #37 car was no longer running. However, the #37 car came out again in the final few minutes to finish the race and thus gain second place in its class. The #36 Coppins/Ward car went on to win, having covered 172 laps at an average speed of 62.272 mph/100.22Km/h. The #36 Jaguar was one lap ahead of Ross and Syd Jensen’s Alfa Romeo, with Ralph Emson and Doug Bremner in 3rd place in an Alfa Romeo.
Pukekohe 6 Nov 65 – The Northern Sports Car Club held a ‘Dunlop S.P.’ meeting at Pukekohe on 6 Nov 65. Frank Radisich in his Humber 80 Jaguar took 4th place in the Open Saloons race over 4 laps – race winner was Paul Fahey in his Lotus Anglia (a Ford 105E Anglia with a twin-cam motor) with a race time of 7m 9.6s. In 2nd place was Garth Souness in his Morrari on 7m 26s, and in 3rd was Jack Nazer in his Lotus Anglia on the same time of 7m 26s, with Frank Radisich’s Humber Jaguar close behind in 4th on 7m 26s. In the ‘Allcomers over 1600cc’ race, Souness won in 5m 28.7s, being some 2 seconds ahead of Frank Radisich in 2nd place on 5m 31s, with Jack Nazer 3rd on 5m 31s and Paul Fahey 4th on 5 m 32s – close racing then !!
Robert Wilson in autoNews magazine of 21 Mar 69, page 14, commented on the Frank Radisich Humber Jaguar. Frank sold his Mark II Zephyr to Rod Coppins, who turned it into the famous, almost legendary, Zephyr Corvette. Having sold the Zephyr minus motor Frank, looked about and he found a 1957 Humber 80 which was the New Zealand version of the Hillman Minx. ‘Into the little Humber went the Zephyr motor and if that sounds a bit of a squeeze, how about the next year when he powered the car by a 3.8 Jaguar motor brought up to E Type specifications ? …..That Humber must surely have been the World’s Most Uncomfortable Car to Drive. The motors (both the Zephyr and the Jaguar) were mounted well back and to the left. In fact, where the passenger normally sat was a great hump that covered the motor(s). Frank was quashed twixt motor and door and changing gear must have been quite a chore in its day. Not much success came Frank’s way with either the Zephyr or the Jaguar motor, for those were the days of the Fastback Anglias and other similar cars…… for they dominated the 65/66 season. It was during this season that Frank found the Humber topsy turvy and had to look up, not down to see his sandshoes.’
Renwick 13 Nov 65 – At the annual Renwick road races held on 13 Nov 65, Race 1 over 6 laps was for ‘Sports Car and Specials’ – Jim Boyd in the #22 Lycoming Special 5520cc was 1st, from Brent Hawes in the #50 Tojeiro Jaguar 3442cc. G. Smith was 3rd in his Healey-Corvette 4635cc, and Dave Silcock 4th in his #58 Jaguar XK120 3781cc. J. Slater from Christchurch entered his #65 Jaguar XK150 Coupe in this race as well.
Slater, Hawes and Silcock were racing again in Event 5, the ‘Blenheim/Renwick Publicans race for Sports Cars and Specials’ over 6 laps from a handicap start – Boyd won again in the Lycoming, this time for Errol Norris in the #30 120EN Special, and R.J Oakley in a U2. No results are to hand for Jaguar drivers Slater, Hawes or Silcock in this race.
Race 4 for ‘All-Comer Saloons over 1500cc’ was won by Dave Simpson in his #37 Lotus Anglia 1650cc, from Rod Coppins in his #141 Zephyr MK II Corvette 5300cc, and Kerry Grant’s rapid #42 Austin A40 1295cc. Frank Radisich in his #28 Humber 80 Jaguar 3442cc was unplaced. Frank was racing again in Race 6, but no results are to hand.
Levin 27 Nov 65 – Brian Watson of Johnsonville entered his #58 Bagnall Jaguar sports racing car in the Gold Leaf National Meeting held at Levin on 27 Nov 65. Also entered was H. Kells of Levin in his #100 ‘Jaguar 3500cc’ – perhaps a Mk5? In Brian Watson’s book, at page 246, he said ‘Two races. Sports car scratch [Race 7] getting seventh and best lap of 1min 2.5 sec. Car going well as nothing broke, a good race.’ Results showed Jim Boyd won in the Lycoming Special from Doug Smyth in his Cooper T39 Bobtail Climax, with Trevor Sheffield 3rd in his Daimler SP 250 Dart, and B.S. Jones 4th in his Cougar. Brian Watson said in his book, ‘Second race a handicap event and I finished well back. I was competing against the Daimler 2.5 litre Sports cars, these cars handled and braked better than the Bagnall.’ Results of Race 20 showed John Mines 1st in his JRM Ford, from John Donnelly in the HWM Corvette, with G.A. Jackson 3rd in his Daimler SP250, and Ian Horley 4th in the Beowulf Ford.
Pukekohe 11 Dec 65 – The Auckland Car Club staged their Gold Star meeting at Pukekohe on 11 Dec 65 and Jaguar entries included Gary Bremner’s white Jaguar E-Type sports car, the first time an E-Type appeared in competition at Pukekohe.
In the ‘Allcomers Saloon’ handicap race, Frank Radisich took 2nd place in his Humber 80 Jaguar to Barry Phillips (Anglia 1500), with Jim Richards 3rd in his Anglia 1200cc, and former Jaguar Mk2 3.8 driver Tim Beetham 4th in his Anglia 1650cc.
No Comments