JAGUAR: A RACING HISTORY IN NEW ZEALAND. PART 13 1969-1971
1969 – The Scott Wiseman E-Type, and Brian Watson’s Phoenix-Jaguar
Pukekohe 4 Jan 69 – at the 1969 NZIGP meeting held at Pukekohe on 4 Jan 69, Scott Wiseman entered his high-winged #25 Jaguar E-Type in Event 7, the Ken Wharton Memorial Sports Car Race over 8 laps. The E-Type was no match for the main contenders who included Grahame Harvey’s ex-Andy Buchanan #148 Elfin 400-Chevrolet 4.9 litre, Jim Boyd in the ‘Lexington’ #22 Stanton Corvette 5.3 litre, and Brent Hawes’ #111 Begg-Chevrolet 5.7 litre. Harvey won in a time of 9min 9sec, from Hawes who was just .04 seconds behind, with Boyd 3rd in 9m 24.9s, with Wiseman’s E-Type well back in 4th place on 10m 16s.
Also entered was Brian Watson in his #106 Phoenix Jaguar 3781cc; however, in his book, at page 257, Brian recorded the first outing for the new Phoenix was not until a Club race meeting at Levin on 24 Oct 70.
Chris Amon won the 1969 NZIGP in his ‘works’ Ferrari 246T 2417cc V6, from Jochen Rindt in a ‘works’ Lotus 49T Cosworth 2491cc V8, and Piers Courage in his Brabham BT24 Cosworth 2491cc V8.
Levin 11 Jan 69 – At the Rothman’s Levin International meeting on 11 Jan 69, Scott Wiseman entered the #25 Jaguar E-Type 4000cc, as did Brian Watson his #106 Phoenix-Jaguar 3781cc – but Watson’s book, at page 257, shows the Phoenix was not ready until October 1970. A race report contained in the Levin book relating to Race 4 ‘Sports Car Scratch’ over 8 laps describes the race, “The sports cars put on two exciting races. In the scratch race Brent Hawes got away first with Graham Harvey’s Elfin right on his tail. Harvey took the lead on the main straight with Jim Boyd in the Stanton Corvette third. On the first lap Scott Wiseman came unstuck at the same place Rindt had [Jochen Rindt, Team Lotus 49T Climax who ‘flipped’ at Rothmans’ Bend, just past the Pits]. Only he cleared the safety fence, coming to rest just in front of the public with little damage to his car and none to himself. …”
Motorman magazine of February 1969 adds, “….On the first lap, Scott Wiseman went off on some oil at Rothmans and went over the safety bank, the E-Type Jaguar finishing only inches from the crowd. The driver escaped unscathed and the car wasn’t badly damaged, but well and truly out of 5th place!” Harvey won the race in his Elfin 400 in a time of 7m 12.8s, from Boyd (7m 13.2s) and Hawes (7m 13.6s). Given his accident in Race 4, Wiseman did not start in Race 14 Sports Cars Handicap over 6 laps, won by Morrie Hogan’s U2 1.9, from Jim Boyd, with M. Cook 3rd in a U2 1.5. Of Wiseman’s accident, Motoring Magazine of April 1991, page 45, said,” Scott had a monumental accident in the car at the 1969 Levin International and the car was so badly damaged that the carbs were knocked off the engine and the special inlet manifold was wrecked.”
Chris Amon won the Levin International in his ‘works’ Ferrari 246T, from Piers Courage in his Brabham BT24 Cosworth, and Frank Gardner in the Milden-Alfa Romeo.
Wigram 18 Jan 69 – In the 11 lap Sports Car Championship race at the 1969 Lady Wigram Trophy race meeting on 18 Jan 69, Brent Hawes in his #111 Begg-Chev won from Grahame Harvey’s #48 Elfin 400, with John Armstrong 3rd in his #195 Lotus 15 Climax 2.0 litre. Scott Wiseman had entered his #25 Jaguar E-Type, but after his crash at Levin the previous weekend, the car was not ready to race at Wigram [refer Brian Watson’s book, page 221]. Brian Watson had also entered his #106 Phoenix-Jaguar 3781cc – but as with entries for Pukekohe and Levin, the Phoenix was not ready to race until October 1970.
Jochen Rindt won the 1969 Lady Wigram Trophy race in his replacement ‘works’ Lotus 49B Cosworth (he crashed his works Lotus 49T Cosworth at Levin), Graham Hill in ‘works’ Lotus 49T Cosworth, and Chris Amon’s ‘works’ Ferrari 246T.
Teretonga 25 Jan 69 – At the 1969 Teretonga International meeting on 25 Jan 69, Jim Boyd in the #52 Stanton Corvette won the 10-lap Sports Car Championship section of the Racing and Sports car race. Boyd’s time was 11m 18.3s, some 10 seconds ahead of Brent Hawes in his #111 Begg-Chev who was 2nd in 11m 29s. After a spin that dropped him to 6th, Grahame Harvey was 3rd in the #48 Elfin 400 (12m 7.6s), and John Armstrong in his #32 Lotus 15 Climax was 4th on 9 laps. Scott Wiseman had entered his #25 Jaguar E-Type, but as recorded by Scott in Brian Watson’s book, at page 221, after the car was damaged at Levin it was not repaired in time to race at Teretonga.
Piers Courage won the 1969 Teretonga International in his Brabham BT24 Cosworth, from Graham
Hill’s ‘works’ Lotus 49T Cosworth, and Chris Amon’s ‘works’ Ferrari 246T.
Rotorua 15 Feb 69 – Motorman magazine of Apr 69, page 39 reported on the Rotorua Car Club’s Gold Star hillclimb at Mt Ngongotaha held on 15 Feb 69. FTD went to D.J. Hall in a Lotus Ford with a time of 1m 8.4s in slippery conditions; points also went to Jamie Aislabie in his Cooper Jaguar with his time of 1m 12.82s being 3rd fastest time of the day. After two official runs officials decided to discontinue the event, such were the conditions.
Whakatane 22 Feb 69 – Motorman magazine of April 69, page 39, reported on the Whakatane Car Club’s Gold Star hillclimb held on 22 Feb 69. Jim Boyd set FTD in the Stanton Corvette with a new record time of 37.775s. In the Sports car class, Jamie Aislabie in his Cooper Jaguar, on a time of 45.12s, was 2nd to Jim Boyd.
Pukekohe 30 Mar 69 – A ‘first’ was achieved at Pukekohe on 30 Mar 69 – it was the first Sunday on which motor racing was held. In an 8-lap race for Standard Production saloons, Jim Palmer won in his bright yellow #41 Holden Monaro GTS 5.0 after a race-long dice with Tony Rolley in his #88 Jaguar Mk2 3.8, with Ralph Emson 3rd in a Fiat 125, and Keith Yeats 4th in a Vauxhall Victor 3.3. In the 5-lap Production saloon handicap race, Jim Palmer won again with a race time of 8m 31s, from Rolley’s Jaguar 3.8 (8m 35.2s), and Dennis Marwood in a Datsun 1600 1.6.
1968/69 Summer Season Championship results – Grahame Harvey won the 1969 NZRDC Sports Car Championship on 50 points in the Elfin 400-Chev, from the late Brent Hawes (tragically killed in the Begg-Chev at Ruapuna on 20 April 1969) on 49 points, and Jim Boyd was 3rd on the Stanton-Corvette on 43 points. Scott Wiseman was 8th on 4 points from his 5th placing at Pukekohe on 9 Nov 68, and his 4th place at Pukekohe on 4 Jan 69.
Baypark 5 Apr 69 – In a 6-lap race for Sports cars at Baypark on Easter Saturday 5 Apr 69, Jamie Aislabie was 3rd in his Cooper Jaguar with a race time of 7m 41.8s – race winner was Baron Robertson in his Heron Twin-Cam 1.6 in a winning time of 6m 55.2s, from G. Morely in a U2 Ford 1.5 (7m 7s). autoNews magazine of 21 Mar 69, page 7, said Jamie’s car ‘was stuck in top gear. It would not have altered the results if it had been glued in first.’ In the Sports car handicap race, Jamie was 1st, from Morley 2nd and Robertson 3rd.
Waipa Sprint, Rotorua 31 Aug 69 – Jamie Aislabie in his Cooper Jaguar took FTD in 14.2s at the Rotorua Car Club’s Waipa Sprint held on 31 Aug 69.
Baypark 4 Oct 69 – Motorman magazine of November 69, page 23, reported on the Rothman’s Bay Park Gold Star races, held on 4 Oct 69, where Jamie Aislabie in his Cooper Jaguar 3.8 took 5th place in a 10 lap Sports car race. Grahame Harvey in his Elfin 400 Chev 4.9 litre took 1st place in 10m 40s after a race-long tussle with Jim Boyd in the Lola T70 5.9 litre. Baron Robertson was 3rd in his Heron TC 1.5, and B. Hyslop was 4th in his JRM Ford ahead of Jamie’s Cooper Jaguar. In the 5-lap handicap race, Dave Wallace in his Lola Mk1 Climax 1.2 led after 3 laps, with just 10 seconds between Wallace, Aislabie, Peter Slocombe (PMS Ford) and Robertson. Jim Boyd won from Jamie Aislabie, with Robertson 3rd and Wallace 4th.
Levin 29 Nov 69 – The Levin Motor Racing Club Inc held at ‘Rothmans NZ National Formula’ race meeting at Levin on Saturday 29 Nov 69. Brian Watson of Wellington entered his #55 Phoenix Jaguar 3.8 sports racing car – but Watson’s book, at page 257, records the Phoenix was not ready until October 1970. Grahame Harvey in his ex-Andy Buchanan Elfin 400 Chev V8 was the winner of both Sports car races on the day, with Peter Slocombe in his PMS Sports, P. Holland in his Lancer, and Dave Wallace in a Lola Mk1 Climax, sharing the other top places.
Pukekohe 8 Dec 69 – AutoNews magazine of 22 Dec 69 reported on the Northern Sports Car Club’s Gold Star meeting held at Pukekohe on Sunday 8 Dec 69. Jamie Aislabie entered his Cooper Jaguar in the Sports car races. Graham Harvey in his Elfin 400 battled with Jim Boyd’s Cambridge Lola T70 until Boyd went off the track; Boyd regained 2nd place ahead of Bob Hyslop’s JRM Ford and Graeme Morely in the ex-McRae U2. John Monehan had an unhappy day with a misfiring Stanton Corvette. AutoNews reported, ‘Jamie Aislabie retired the quaint old Cooper Jaguar in a cloud of steam and smoke that looked like a blown engine (in fact the engine was ‘blown’ but with a Rootes type supercharger) but after the race he simply started up and drove back to the pits.’
Dave Silcock entered his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 in the two Heats of the 1001-4200cc class in the National Touring Car Series Championship. Gray Sprague in his Escort TC took an early lead in Heat 1, ahead of Jack Nazer‘s Escort TC, and Rodger Anderson’s BMW 2002Ti. John Weston was 4th in his Mini Cooper S before a broken windscreen side-lined him. This allowed Colin Roberts to move up to 4th in his Cooper S ahead of Murray Cockburn’s Cooper, followed by Dave Silcock in the big dark- blue Jaguar – but it wasn’t long before Silcock was through. Anderson won ahead of Sprague and Silcock. The second heat was ‘almost exactly the same as the first’.
Baypark 28 Dec 69 – Motorman magazine for February 1970, at pages 6-10, reported on the Bay Park International held on 28 Dec 69. The big race was won by American Ron Grable in a wedge-shaped McLaren M10A Chev F5000 from Graeme Lawrence in his Ferrari 246T, and Swede Ulf Norinder in his Lola T190 Chev.
In the first of three 5-lap Heats for the Tappenden Trophy, Dave Silcock in his Jaguar Mk2 3.8, “left the track and spun backwards up the banking to finish only inches away from spectators…. The Jag was unscathed and started the next event.” AutoNews magazine of 12 Jan 70, page 9, reported, ‘It was a race of drama as David Silcock knocked over ten feet of fence at the exit from Harmans Corner and very nearly ended up in the spectator enclosures which upset the Stewards no little bit.’ John Riley in his Ford Mustang won the first Heat in 5m 26.9s, from Rod Coppins in his Chev Camaro (5m 28s), and Gary Sprague in his Ford Escort TC (5m 44s). In the second Heat, Coppins won from Red Dawson (Mustang) and Riley, with Dave Silcock’s Mk2 in 8th. Heat 3 saw Dawson win from Riley, Coppins and Sprague.
After holding 3rd place in a 5-lap race for Sports cars, Jamie Aislabie’s Cooper Jaguar 3.8 ‘dropped back with a misfiring engine’; race winner was Jim Boyd in his Lola T70, from Bob Hyslop in his JRM Ford, Peter Slocombe in his PMS Sports, and Lawrence in his Lola Mk1 Climax.
1970 – The Mk2 3.8, the E-Type, Cooper Jaguar, and the Phoenix Jaguar
Levin 2-3 Jan 70 – At the ‘Rothmans International Meeting’ at Levin held on 2-3 Jan 70 there were no races for races for sports cars; and, unless he was a late entry, there is no record of Dave Silcock racing his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 saloon car at Levin.
Pukekohe 10 Jan 70 – Motorman magazine for Feb 70, pages 21-25 reported on the NZIGP meeting held at Pukekohe on 10 Jan 70. Dave Silcock in his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 finished 3rd in the 1001-4200cc class of the National Touring Car Championship – class winner was Jim Richards in his Ford Escort TC in a time of 14m 56.2s, from Gary Sprague in his Ford Escort TC (15m 17s) and Dave Silcock was 3rd in his Jaguar (15m 53s). At page 25, Motorman reported “The fastest car on the back straight was the Dave Silcock Jaguar reaching 120mph of the straight. It ran fifth for most of the distance but two retirements put the car op to third.”
Wigram 17 Jan 70 – At the 1970 Lady Wigram Trophy race meeting on 17 Jan 70 Dave Silcock in his #40 Jaguar Mk2 3868cc was the only Jaguar saloon entered in the meeting. Race 2 over 7 laps was the ‘First Heat of the Mercury $1000 Saloon Car Series’ race. The race was won by Paul Fahey in his #104 Ford Escort FVA 1.6 in 11m 26.1s, from Red Dawson’s #35 Shelby Mustang (11m 27s), Rod Coppins’ Chev Camaro (11m 27.2s), and John Riley’s Ford Mustang (12m 14s). Race 5 was the ‘Second Heat’, and won again by Fahey, with Coppins 2nd and Crosbie’s #27 Escort TC 1598cc in 3rd. Race 8 was the ‘Rothman’s Free Formula Saloon Car Race’ over 6 laps and won by Fahey from Coppins, Crosbie, Riley and Gary Sprague in his Escort TC – again, Silcock was entered in his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 but his results are unknown.
Race 4 at Wigram was the ‘Sports, GT and Single Seater’ race over 6 laps, won by Grahame Harvey in the Elfin 400 Chev sports racer, from G. Thomson in his #48 Begg 1600cc single seater, and Cary Taylor in his #1 Brabham BT21 1498cc single seater. Also entered was #25 Scott Wiseman in his now repaired [after the accident at Levin in January 1969] Jaguar E-Type 4000cc sporting a larger rear wing and larger area front spoilers (see Brian Watson’s book, page 221), but results for Scott are unknown.
Teretonga 24 Jan 70 – Scott Wiseman entered his Jaguar E-Type in the Teretonga International meeting held on 24 Jan 70. No results are known for Scott at this meeting.
Rotorua Hillclimb Feb? 70 – Motorman magazine of Feb 70 reported, at page 39, on the Rotorua Car Club’s hillclimb, but no date for the event was given – in 1968 and 1969, the hillclimb was held in mid-February, so perhaps it was held in Feb 70? Regardless, Jamie Aislabie in his Cooper Jaguar set 2nd FTD in a time of 65.68s; FTD was set by Steve Boreham in his Cooper BSA, and 3rd fastest was set by K. Bleakley in a Cooper Ford (67.31s).
autoNews magazine of 9 Mar 70, page 19, gave its driver ratings for 1970, with Dave Silcock listed midway in the list alongside John Riley, Rodger Anderson, Grady Thomson, Lin Neilson and Brian Crosbie. Said autoNews, “David Silcock is one of New Zealand’s few “professional” drivers. Retained by Auckland based firm Metropolitan Cranes to race and prepare the big, blue, booming 3.8 Jaguar. Car may be outclassed by the Mustangs and more nimble Escorts, but Silcock’s almost legendary ability with Jaguars has been turned to good advantage. Car’s entry is real service to the sport giving much needed colour to fields which are dominated by Escorts and Minis.”
Pukekohe 8 Mar 70 – Dave Silcock entered his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 in the Northern Sports Car Club’s Rothmans National meeting held at Pukekohe on 8 Mar 70. In the 1st Heat of the 1001cc-4200cc class of the Touring Car Championship, Motorman magazine of Apr 70, at page 23, reported, ‘All but the handicap races were rolling starts, a rather dubious practice…. Pole position man Jim Richards led Rodger Anderson, Gary Sprague, Murray Cockburn (Brink Cooper S) and Dave Silcock (Jaguar 3.8) into the first corner in the 4.2 event. Laps 1 and 2 saw three retirements. The Sprague Escort TC expired for the day with a broken flywheel, Cockburn had minor problems, and Silcock’s Jaguar broke a window. It appeared in later events with the rear screen removed.’ Dave Silcock did not start the 2nd Heat
In Heat 1 of the 6-lap NZ Saloon Car Championship for cars up to 5500cc, Rod Coppins won in his Chev Camaro in a time of 8m 11.9s, from Jim Richards in the Escort TC (8m 11.9s), and Dave Silcock in his Jaguar Mk2 was 3rd on 8m 30.1s. In the 2nd Heat, Motorman reported Silcock was battling for 5th place with the two Mini Coopers of J. Weston and M. Cockburn, but on the last lap the Jaguar got sideways just before Castrol Bend and the three slid gracefully to a halt, resting on each other. None of the three cars restarted.
In a 5-lap race for Sports cars, Bob Hyslop won in his JRM Ford in a time of 6m 12.4s, with Ivy Stephenson 2nd in her Lotus 23B (6m 13.7s), Jamie Aislabie was 3rd in his Cooper Jaguar (6m 29.6s), and Dave Wallace 4th in his Lola Climax (6m 29.6s). Jamie did not feature in the results of the Sports car handicap race.
Scott Wiseman Jaguar E-Type for sale March 1970 – Scott Wiseman advertised his Jaguar E-Type for sale in autoNews magazine of 9 Mar 70, and 13 Apr 70.
Timaru 22 Mar 70 – The South Canterbury Car Club held an event at a cold and overcast Timaru motor raceway on 22 Mar 70, as reported in Motorman magazine May 70, page 30. Scott Wiseman raced his Jaguar E-Type in the Saloon classes (autoNews mag of 13 Apr 13 said, ‘Scott Wiseman’s E Type Jaguar was put in with the saloons after being accepted as a sports car, but had sparkplug problems and the car never really ran right all day.) Turing back to the report in Motorman, ‘The 10 lapper for faster saloons provided some good tussles….. For the first two laps Wiseman’s Jaguar harried Rod McElrea’s Chevrolet coupe for sixth spot, he moved ahead on the third lap and moved steadily away. With the disappearance of both Lin Neilson (lightweight Cooper S, with a water leak) and J. McCombs (Fowog, with a sized gearbox), Wiseman lay fourth behind Prattley (Mini Cooper S), and he retained the place even though plug trouble slowed him badly in the closing stages.’ Results showed Bob Slade’s Anglia 1800cc in 1st place with a race time of 8m 37s, Peter Kocis 2nd in his Anglia 1650cc, Austin Prattley 3rd, and Scott Wiseman 4th.
Pukekohe 5 Apr 70 – The Auckland Car Club staged a Dunlop National Meeting at Pukekohe on 5 Apr 70. Motorman magazine of May 70, at page 29, mentioned Jamie Aislabie in his Cooper Jaguar competing in ‘an uninteresting 12-lap sports/racing event ….. At the start Ken Smith (Lotus 41B) headed Jim Boyd’s Lola T70, Dexter Dunlop’s McRae, and the Heron of Gary Deakin into the Elbow. Josh Mahon (Brabham BT18) began a run up through the field and at the end of the first tour was in sixth place. Barney Pellow (Brabham BT15) improved to further and was third with the retirement of Boyd’s Lola with valve trouble on lap 2. After three laps Smith had almost 15 seconds on Dunlop, followed by Pellow, a gap to Mahon, Deakin, Ivy Stephenson (Lotus 23B), Jamie Aislabie 7th (Cooper Jaguar) and Dave Wallace (Lola Mk1 Climax). The immaculate McRae began to run off-song and Pellow closed in to take second place on lap 7. Meantime Aislabie retired his Cooper Jaguar. On lap 9, Smith doubled Stephenson’s Lotus, which ran sixth, and moments later Ivy went into the fence at the loop, damaging the front of the car. A bad engine miss developed in Dunlop’s McRae, and Mahon took third place on the last lap. Mahon, Dunlop and Deakin were one lap behind the two leaders (Smith and Pellow), with sixth placed Wallace two laps in arrears.’
In the 5-lap Sports car handicap race, Motorman reported, ‘Trailers Wallace, Aislabie and Deakin had no chance of catching the leaders in the handicap sports event, which featured some pretty hair-raising driving. Dave Haydon arrived about 30mph too fast at the Elbow in his Triumph Spitfire and spun backwards, clipping some marker boards. Wally Bower in an aging Buckler and Eric Swinburn (Morgan Plus 4) diced for the lead throughout, with the decision going to the Morgan (in a race time of 10m 7.8s). Third place fell to Basil Cliff’s Meridian U2 (10m 13.2s), followed by John Swanson (MG Midget) on 10m 17.4s, Jamie Aislabie (5th) in 10m 24.5s and Bruce Merrett (Fiat 124 Sport) on 10m 26.2s.
At Pukekohe, Dave Silcock entered his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 and autoNews magazine of 20 April 70, pages 15-20, covered the meeting: using the full long circuit, ‘Out came the bigger National Tourers – the 1001 to 4200 class and David Silcock bounded around (in practice) in 1m 48.0s in the three-eight Jag.’ Silcock’s time compared to Jim Richards Carney Escort 1m 42.4s, Rodger Anderson BMW 2002Ti 1m 43.6s, Gary Sprague Escort TC 1m 45.8s, Don Halliday Escort TC 1m 46.8s, Murray Cockburn Brink Mini Cooper 1m 47.6s, Colin Roberts Mini Cooper 1m 49.5s, John Weston Mini Cooper 1m 51.9s, Steve Millen Commer Cob 2m 5.2s. In the second practice session, Dave Silcock brought his time down to 1m 45.4s, ’but didn’t make it the next day for racing.’
In the standard Production Car class, Ron Duirs entered his #108 Jaguar Mk2 3.8, setting fastest time in practice. ‘Under the 2-minute mark were Duirs, Jim Palmer Holden Monaro, Dennis Marwood (Vauxhall Victor 3.3), Frank Radisich (Victor 3.3), while just a little slower were Paul Adams (BMW 2002), Don Dawson (Fiat 125), and Ralph Emson (Fiat 125).’ The next day, in Race 3 for Standard Production saloons, Jim Palmer took 1st place in a race time of 11m 46.1s, just 0.7s ahead of Ron Duirs #108 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 in 11min 46.8s, and Frank Radisich was 3rd 11m 58.3s.
Whakatane 11 Apr 70 – Motorman magazine of June 70, page 44, reported on the Whakatane Car Club’s Gold Star hillclimb held at Makoroa Gorge on 11 Apr 70. Jamie Aislabie in his Cooper Jaguar took FTD with a time of 40.95s. With this result, Jamie took 5th place for the season behind Steve Boreham (Cooper BSA 696cc) on 50 points, Arthur Hopkins (Cooper 500) on 44, Murray Firth on 38, Bruce Lissette (Cooper Vincent 1000cc) on 17, and Jamie on 15 points. At this hillclimb, Jaguar XK120 driver Dave Fergusson from Rotorua overturned but was able to drive the car home.
autoNews of 8 Jun 70, page 20, reported, ‘Jamie Aislabie and his fearsome Cooper Jaguar scored maximum Gold Star paints in the Whakatane events for the year. Aislabie’s hairy old monster roared and bellowed its way up the hill in 40.95 seconds, which is 5 seconds faster than his fastest time last year, but still 3 seconds slower than Jim Boyd’s time in the Stanton Corvette in 1969.’
Levin 18 Apr 70 – Scott Wiseman entered in his Jaguar E-Type 4.0 litre the Rothman’s Saloon Car Meeting’ at Levin on 18 Apr 70. His first race was in Event 6 the ‘Rothmans Levin Saloon Car Championship Race Open Class’ over 12 laps – Paul Fahey won the race in his Ford Escort FVA, from Rod Coppins’ Chev Camaro, Grady Thompson’s Holden Monaro 350, with Jack Nazer’s Escort FVA in 4th place. Wiseman raced the E-Type in Event 9 ‘Allcomers Saloon Scratch Race Open Class’ over 6 laps, where Fahey won from John Riley’s Mustang, with Coppins 3rd and Rodger Anderson’s BMW 2002Ti in 4th. Wiseman’s third race for the day was in Event 11, being another ‘Allcomers Saloon Scratch Race’ over 6 laps, and Fahey won in a time of 5min 38.8sec from Coppins, with Nazer 3rd and Anderson 4th. The short and tight Levin track was not one suited to the now somewhat dated E-Type. At this meeting, there were no races for Sports cars, so regular entrant Brian Watson in his Phoenix Jaguar was not involved.
Ruapuna 19 Apr 70 – The Canterbury Car Club held at Rothmans’ Half Hour production saloon race meeting at Ruapuna Park on 19 Apr 70. Motorman magazine of Jun 70, pages 36-37, reported on an 8-lap production Sports car supporting race, ‘with Peter Read’s immaculate Jaguar E-Type whooshing off into a 17 second lead after 4 laps’. Read was 1st from G. Anders in a Daimler SP250, and T. Carroll in his MG Midget.
Timaru 26 Apr 70 – In bitterly cold conditions, the South Canterbury Car Club’s event at the Timaru Motor Raceway was held on 26 Apr 70. Motorman magazine of Jun 70, page 33, reported that late entrant E. Gardiner in his Jaguar Mk2 pushed the big 3.8 around to good effect to place third in the Rothman’s Production saloon race held over 20 laps (reduced from 30 laps due to a small field). Timaru’s Wayne Sprague was 1st in a time of 21m 09.8s driving his Vauxhall Victor 3.3 litre, from Graeme Richardt (21m 14s) in a new Datsun 1600cc, and E, Gardiner 3rd in his Jaguar 3.8 on 21m 25.8s.
In a 5 lap handicap race for Sports cars, John Armstrong was 1st in a MG V8 on 5m 10.2s from Peter Read in his Jaguar E-Type, and G. Waldron was 3rd in his U2
Rotorua Apr/May 70 – the Rotorua Car Club held a Gold Star hillclimb at Mt Ngongotaha – Motorman magazine of May 70, at page 38, reports this event only as ‘recently’, so the actual date is unknown. Bruce Lissette in a Cooper Vincent took FTD of 63.62s, just beating Steve Boreham’s Cooper BSA on 63.81s. Jamie Aislabie in his Cooper Jaguar won the Baker Brothers Trophy in the Sports car class with a time of 64.12s
Ruapuna May 1970 – in what was to be the last race meeting for Scott Wiseman in his be-winged Jaguar E-Type, Scott reported in Brian Watson’s book, at page 221, “a Conrod bolt let go (all con-rod bolts had to be replaced after 25 hours racing) and on looking back on records, 25 hours had been exceeded so consequently the engine blew up with the rod inside the block”. The engine was repaired and the car was sold in late 1970 to Wellington’s Mike Hourigan, then later to Ray Larsen.
The Northland Special – In 1970, Ken McLennan, at that time the owner of the Northland Special, fitted a Jaguar 3442cc engine into the car. Back in 1950, this car was built as the Jackson Special by John McMillian of the Miramar-based Jackson Engineering, and a Ford Mercury 3919cc V8 engine was fitted. In this car, McMillan won the very first NZ Grand Prix, run at RNZAF Station Ohakea on 18th March 1950. In 1951 Halsey Logan owned and raced the car, now re-named as the Logan Special. Hamiltonian, George Palmer brought the car in 1953 and he named it the Palmer Special. In 1954 it became the Northland Special when owned by Lionel Bulcraig of Kawakawa. In 1959 Bill Thomasen of Auckland purchased the Northland Special and he in turn sold it to Grahame Harvey; it was on-sold to Peter Elford of Cotter Motors in Palmerston North, and then to John Riley Car Sales of Auckland. Johnny Windleburn and John McDonald then took it back to Northland and sold it to Ken McLennan who initially fitted a Mercury V8 4400cc engine, before fitting the Jaguar 3442cc motor in 1970. This historic car is now owned by Fred Courtney of Kaikohe.
Pukekohe 4 Oct 70 – Motorman magazine of Nov 70, at pages 20-22, reported on the Gold Star race meeting at Pukekohe on 4 Oct 70 where Dave Silcock drove Don McMillan’s dark blue ‘Metropolitan Cranes’ sponsored Jaguar Mk2 3.8. In the 8-lap opening National Touring car race for saloon cars up to 4200cc, Jim Richards was 1st in his Carney Escort TC in 10m 11.9s, with Rodger Anderson 2nd in his Cambridge BMW 2002Ti on 10m 12.4s, Don Halliday was 3rd in his Ford Escort TC in 10m 17.8s. Max Pennington was 4th in his Escort TC on 10m 26.4s, with Reg Cook’s Mini Cooper S 1293cc in 5th and Dave Silcock’s Jaguar Mk2 3.8 was 6th. In the 10-lap Rothmans’ Saloon Car Feature, results were Jack Nazer 1st in his Cossack Escort FVA 1860cc in 12m 22s, Jim Richards Carney Escort TC 2nd in 12m 24.7s, followed by Paul Fahey Ford Escort FVA 1800cc on 13m 0.7s, Rodger Anderson 4th in his BMW 2002Ti on 13m 5.4s, Dave Silcock Jaguar Mk2 3.8 in 5th in 13m 20.6s, and, Reg Cook 6th Mini Cooper 1293S 13m 26.5s.
Levin 24 Oct 70 – In his book, at page 257, Brian Watson records what might well have been the first race meeting for the new Phoenix Jaguar 3781cc car that he built, using the engine and gearbox from his former Bagnall Jaguar. The meeting at Levin was a Club Race meeting held at Levin in 24 Oct 70 – Brian records in Race 1 he came 6th with a best lap time of 1 min 4 sec; in Race 2 he had engine power problems while recording a best lap time of 1 min 1.8 sec, but he collided with a spinning Formula Vee, wrecking both cars including the right front suspension of the Phoenix that was written off. The next outing he recorded for the Phoenix Jaguar was in a sprint at Levin on 2 Oct 71.
Baypark 1 Nov 70 – Motorman magazine of December 1970, pages 10-12, reported on a meeting at Baypark on 1 Nov 70. In the 16 lap race for National touring cars in 1001-4200cc class, Jim Richards was 1st in his Carney Escort TC, from Rodger Anderson in his BMW 2002Ti, Reg Cook’s Mini Cooper 1293S, and Dave Silcock was 4th in his Jaguar Mk2 3.8
1971 – Silcock’s Mk2 3.8, Watson’s Phoenix Jaguar, and Aislabie’s SID Mk1 Jaguar
Wigram 16 Jan 71 – at the 1971 Lady Wigram Trophy race meeting on 16 Jan 71, Event 2 on the programme was the ‘Bank of New South Wales Saloon Car Championship’. The race was won by Paul Fahey’s #104 Escort FVA, from the Rod Coppins Chev Camaro, with Dennis Marwood 3rd in his Chev Camaro. Also entered was #40 Dave Silcock’s Jaguar Mk 2 3.8, and he finished 7th. Silcock in his Jaguar entered Event 5, the ‘First Heat of the Mercury $1000 Saloon Car Series Race’, which was won by Paul Fahey, now in his Ford Mustang, from Coppins, Marwood and Clyde Collins in a Ford Falcon. Heat 2 of the Mercury $1000 was won by Fahey, from Coppins and Marwood, with Silcock ‘somewhere in the field’.
Teretonga 24 Jan 71 – at the 1971 Teretonga International held on 24 Jan 71, Dave Silcock entered his #40 Jaguar Mk 2 3.8, as did B. Thornley his #15 Jaguar XK120. No results are to hand for either of these two Jaguar drivers.
Timaru 30 Jan 71 – ‘NZ Motorsport’ newspaper Vol 1 #6 of 22 Feb 71 reported, amongst other race classes, on the penultimate round of the Mercury series for ‘Unlimited Saloons’. In practice, Jack Nazer set fastest time in his Escort FVA of 49.6s, followed by Jim Richards 2nd in his Escort TC also on 49.6s, Don Halliday’s Escort TC 49.8s, Brian Crosbie’s Escort TC on 51.0s, followed by Reg Cook Cooper S 1293cc and Dave Silcock (6th) Jaguar Mk2 3.8 on 53.3s. Race day was wet, leading to problems for those without wet tyres but, “Dave Silcock was right at home in the wet, the narrow tyres and the weight of the Jaguar being of benefit in the rain where other cars were sliding around all over the circuit.” In the first Heat, Dennis Marwood (Camaro) won from Jack Nazer and Dave Silcock was 3rd. In the 15 lap final, Rod Coppins (Camaro) won from Jim Richards, Marwood, Nazer, Crosbie, Halliday, and Silcock was 7th.
Ruapuna 7 Feb 71 – Once again, ‘NZ Motorsport’ newspaper Vol 1 #6 of 22 Feb 71 gave a timely report, this time on the Canterbury Car club’s meeting held at Ruapuna on 7 Feb 71. The final round of the Mercury Unlimited Saloons series saw Dave Silcock entered with his Jaguar Mk2 3.8. At the end of the first lap of Heat 1, John Riley led in his Mustang from Jack Nazer’s Escort FVA, Paul Fahey’s Mustang, Don Halliday’s Escort TC, Dave Silcock’s Jaguar Mk2, Bruce Mitchell’s Cooper S, Robbie Francevic in Keith Pickford’s Anglia. Fahey won, Riley was 2nd, Halliday 3rd, Silcock 4th and Mitchell 5th.
In Heat 2, Coppins won from Marwood, both in Camaros, Jim Richards was 3rd in his Escort TC followed by Jim Little (Cooper S), Kevin Munro (Anglia), Newell (A40 Farina), and Mike Stanley in a Ford V8 Chevy Coupe. In the final, Marwood led at the start from Fahey, Riley, Richards, Coppins, Nazer, Halliday, Austin Prattley (Cooper S), Silcock’s Mk2 [9th], Mitchell, Little, Pickford and Brian Miller. Silcock dropped back with overheating after not being able to pass Prattley. Fahey won from Marwood, and Richards – with Silcock in 7th. Silcock was also 7th in a Supporting race.
Pukekohe 14 Mar 71 – A noted creator of ‘Specials’ was Jamie Aislabie of Rotorua who raced at Pukekohe on 14 Mar 71 in his rear-engined SID Mk1 Jaguar 3781cc supercharged – Jamie took 3rd place in Heat 1 over 6-laps with a race time of 8m 12.4s. Grahame Harvey in his Elfin 400 5.7 was 1st with a race time of 7m 56.9s, and Garry Pedersen was 2nd in his Gemco Olds 4.4 (7m 57.3s). Jamie was 2nd in Heat 2 over 6 laps, with a race time of 7m 25.0, to Harvey’s Elfin (7m 2.7s), with Bob Hyslop 3rd in his JRM Ford (7m 25.0s), and Ivy Stephenson 4th in her Lotus 23B (7m 41.4s).
Graham Vercoe’s book ‘Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand’, at page 265, reported the front suspension in the SID Mk1 Jaguar was from an aborted second Heron-Daimler sports car, and Jamie linked this to a spaceframe chassis. The motor was a Jaguar 3442 cc DOHC bored out to 3781cc, and it was used as an integral, stressed member of the chassis, strengthened with tubular cross-members and frame. A high compression (9.5:1) cylinder head was fitted after an XK120 trial was unsuccessful. The engine produced 275bhp at 5500rpm. The aluminium body consisted of the Heron front, mated to an Aislabie back section with a Cessna 175 aircraft canopy covering the driving compartment.
Levin 3 Apr 71 – Motorman magazine of May 71, page 7, reported on the Levin meeting held on 3 Apr 71. Jamie Aislabie of Rotorua in his #51 SID Mk1 Jaguar 3.8 was 2nd in Race 9 for Sports Cars over 6 laps (having started at the back of the grid) to G. Deakin’s Heron twin-cam, and ahead of R. Howell’s Lotus 15 Climax. In Race 16 for Sports Cars, again over 6 laps, Jamie started on the front row of the grid and finished 1st in the SID Mk1, with L. Johnston 2nd in his U2, and Tom Donovan’s Austin Healey Sprite in 3rd place.
Baypark 11 Apr 71 – Motorman magazine of May 71, pages 18-21, reported on the Rothmans International Easter meeting held at Baypark on 11 Apr 71. In the Sports car class, Grahame Harvey in his Elfin 400 set the fastest practice/qualifying time of 59.5s, with Garry Pedersen’s Gemco Olds 2nd on 61.4s, and Jamie Aislabie was 3rd fastest in his SID Mk1 Jaguar on 62.7s. In Heat 1, while holding 4th place, Jamie nudged the fence at Rothmans on the last lap in a race won by Harvey’s Elfin, from Pedersen’s Gemco, Digby Taylor’s Begg Chev 5.9 litre, and Jamie was 4th. In Heat 2 over 7 laps, was won by Harvey from Pedersen, Bob Hyslop (JRM Ford) and L. Johnson (U2 1650cc), but there was no mention of Jamie in his SID, so it may be assumed he did not start the race after damage in Heat 1. Brian Watson’s book, at page 159, reports that Peter Sundberg drove the ex-Silcock Jaguar Mk2 3.8 at this meeting.
Timaru 30th May 71 – Motorman magazine of July 1971, at page 12, reported on the South Canterbury Car Club’s meeting held at Timaru held on 30 May 71. In the earlier 5-lap Sports car scratch race, Jamie in his SID Mk1 Jaguar did not feature in the results. However, in the 20-lap Sports Car Championship title event, the last in the title series, Jamie Aislabie won in his SID Mk1 Jaguar; in 2nd place was G. Deakin in his Lotus Heron on 17m 7.9s, and 3rd was L. Johnson in his U2. Jamie did not feature in the results of the 5-lap Sports cars handicap race.
For the forthcoming 1971/72 season, Steve Millen raced the ex-Don McMillan owned/Dave Silcock-driven 1962 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 in the Bank of New South Wales sponsored National Saloon Car Championship. Racing was held at Baypark, Pukekohe, Levin, Wigram, Ruapuna, Levels (Timaru) and Teretonga. The Jaguar Mk2 was already quite dated and overweight compared to the ‘factory’ Ford Escorts. Notwithstanding, Steve Millen finished 4th in the BNSW Championship behind the two Ford Escorts of Jim Richards and Don Halliday, and the Vauxhall Viva of Alan Boyle.
Baypark 12 Sep 71 – Motorman magazine of Nov 71, page 11, reported on the Baypark meeting held on 12 Sep 71 where Jamie Aislabie drove his SID Mk1 Jaguar 3.8 in two 7-lap Formula Libre races. Ken Smith in his Lotus 69 FVC won the first race in 7m 28.4s, from David Oxton in his Elfin Formula Ford, with Dany Lupp 3rd in his Rorstan Climax 2.7 sports, Jim Murdoch 4th in his Titan Formula Ford, Bob Hyslop 5th in his JRM Ford sports, and B. Allen 6th in his Begg FM3 Formula Ford. In the second Formula Libre race over 7 laps, Smith won from Oxton and Lupp, with Jamie Aislabie 4th in his SID Mk1 Jaguar, described by John Stone reporting for AutoNews as ‘a working creation of living Jaguar art’ .
Steve Millen of Auckland had purchased the ex-Silcock Jaguar Mk2 3.8, and Steve entered it in the Baypark meeting on 12 Sep 71, reported on by John Stone for AutoNews magazine of September 1971, page 30. In the final round of the John Ward Memorial Trophy race for 1000-4200cc Tourers, Jim Richards (Escort TC) won from Don Halliday (Escort TC). Dave Silcock, who was now driving a Don McMillan owned Escort TC, had the plugs oil up and he lost 3rd place to Steve Millen’s Jaguar on the last lap. ‘Millen now drives the ex-Silcock 3.8 Jaguar and he raised a few eyebrows with his forceful style which saw the now maroon car sliding through every corner with handfuls of smoothly applied opposite lock on. The car was lapping within the times recorded by Silcock last year.’
In the Open capacity saloon car race, Fahey (Mustang) won from Coppins and Marwood (both in Camaros) , with Riley 4th in his Mustang, followed by Richards and Halliday in their Escorts and Millen’s Jaguar in 7th, clear of Stan Baird’s Escort. In the final handicap event for 0-4200cc Tourers, Jim Richards won and Steve Millen looked assured of a second place until he spun on Tappenden’s corner on the last lap while being pursued by Richards.
Baypark 26 Sep 71 – Motorman magazine of November 1971, page 39, reported on the Rotorua Car Club’s dual sprint held at Baypark on 26 Sep 71. Jamie Aislabie in his SID Mk1 Jaguar clocked a flying lap of 1m 3.0s to take a comfortable win and FTD.
Levin 2 Oct 71 – At the club sprint at Levin on 2 Oct 71, Brian Watson drove his Phoenix Jaguar that had been out of commission for some 12 months while he repaired damage to the suspension incurred at Levin on 24 Oct 70. He recorded 3rd FTD with an easy 58.8s and was obviously pleased with the handling of the car.
Pukekohe 3 Oct 71 – Motorman magazine of Nov 71 reported on the Gold Star opening round held at Pukekohe on 3 Oct 71. In practice/qualifying on 2 Oct for the Winfield 0-6000cc saloon class, ‘Rod Coppins in the Winfield Camaro 5.8 litre set fastest time of 1m 10.2s, followed by John Riley’s Mustang (1m 14.9s), Don Halliday’s Escort TC (1m 16.2s) and the Jaguar Mk2 3.8 of Steve Millen (1m 17.0s). Millen had a lucky escape when he lost the Jaguar on Rothmans, slithered down the grass and into the creek at high speed. Fortunately the car went in lightly, and Millen scrambled free with water up to the door handles (the drain was about 3ft 6in deep at the time). Millen is the fifth car in this creek and the time is well overdue for some sort of safety net or fence to protect cars from entering the highly dangerous ditch…’
Coppins led the first heat of the Winfield 0-6000cc saloon feature (on 3 Oct), followed by Halliday’s Escort TC, Riley (Mustang), Stan Baird (Escort TC), the repaired Millen Jaguar, and Peter Sundberg in the ex-Dave Silcock Escort TC…… but the fifth placed Jaguar pitted with low oil pressure on the third lap…..’ Results of Heat 1 of the Winfield Saloon Feature Race over 8 laps saw Coppins win with a race time of 10m 0.5s, from Jim Richards (Escort TC), Don Halliday and Stan Baird. In the second 8-lap Heat, Coppins won again with a race time of 9m 56.8s, from Riley, Richards , Steve Millen’s Jaguar Mk 2 3.8 (4th in 10m 28.8s), Don Halliday’s’ Escort TC and Stan Baird’s Escort TC.
Ruapuna Park 17 Oct 71 – Motorman magazine of December 1971, at pages 27 and 28, covered the Sports Car Championship races at Ruapuna on 17 Oct 71 – entries included the Jaguar powered cars of Jamie Aislabie in his SID Mk1 Jaguar, and Brian Watson in his Phoenix Jaguar. In Heat 1 over 10 laps, Jamie finished 2nd to Gary Pederson in his Gemco Olds V8 (in a race time 7m 35.1s), and after a spin, Grahame Harvey was 3rd in his Elfin 400 Chev. In Heat2, also over 10 laps, Pederson won again (in 7m 42s), Harvey was 2nd and Jamie was 3rd in his SID Mk1. Brian Watson in his Phoenix Jaguar qualified 15th on the grid for the first race, but after only three laps he said in his book the engine ran a big end bearing and he retired with no oil pressure.
Baypark 24 Oct 71 – Motorman magazine of December 1971, at page 13, reported on the Bay of Plenty Motor Racing Association’s meeting at Baypark on 24 Oct 71. Steve Millen in his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 finished 8th in the first ‘ big banger saloon race’, won by Rod Coppins in his Camaro in a time of 6m 36.8s, from Australian J. Smith in a Rover V8, Dennis Marwood in his Camaro, and John Riley in his Mustang. AutoNews magazine of November 1971, at page 31, reported, ‘Steve Millen raised a few eyebrows by leading all of the twin-cam Escorts until a lap from the end when Don Halliday slipped through. As Millen crossed the line in the ex-Silcock 3.8 Jaguar there was a clatter as something fell off followed by a shower of oil! A major disaster? No. The oil filter had come off!’
Steve Millen did not start the second race after an oil filter came loose in an earlier 4200cc event. In the third race for ‘big bangers’ over 6-laps, Marwood led Fahey (Escort TC) into Turn 1 followed by Riley, Coppins, Sundberg (Escort TC), Smith, Halliday (Escort TC) and Millen (8th) – Marwood won from Fahey, Riley, Coppins, and Smith.
Timaru 24 Oct 71 –At Timaru on 24 Oct 71, Jamie crashed, backwards, through a fence during a preliminary race, and while he extracted himself unhurt, the SID Mk1 Jaguar was substantially damaged. Motorman magazine of December 1971, page 18, reported ‘ The SCANZ championship sports car event, run in two 10-lap heats confirmed that Auckland’s Gary Pederson in the Gemco Olds V8 is the man to beat this season. The Heats were unfortunately run without Rotorua’s Jamie Aislabie in his Sid Jaguar: during a preliminary scratch race he got off line at the end of the back straight when moving over to let Grahame Harvey’s Elfin V8 through, and plunged into the fencing. The Sid was virtually a write-off, but Aislabie was unhurt.’
Motorman magazine of January 1972, at page 33, reported that Jamie rebuilt the crashed SID Mk1, at the same time replacing the Jaguar 3781cc engine with a 4728cc Ford Mustang 239 V8. His first race in the SID MK1 Ford V8 was at Levin on 19 Dec 71, and so ended the Jaguar connection with SID Mk1.
Levin 4 Dec 71 – Brian Watson, driving his Phoenix Jaguar, said in his book, at page 259, that he ‘Got the Levin circuit for the day and did 27 laps. The handling started to come right but there was still a little understeer. The brakes were excellent and did not fade but were powerful the entire time. ….. I did two sets of ten laps. The last four laps of the first session were timed at 59.7, 57.5, 56.1 and 56.8 seconds. I then checked the car over and had a rest before doing the remaining ten laps like this 58.5, 56.0, 55.4, 55.1, 56.4, 55.3, 55.7, 55.0, 55.3 and the last one at 55.1. I was doing 110mph at the end of the straight and without lifting my foot was able to turn left while the car just sat on the road.”
Levin 19 Dec 71 – Motorman magazine of February 1972, at pages 26-29, covered the Levin Motor Racing Club’s Winfield Gold Star meeting at Levin on 19 Dec 71. Brian Watson entered his #90 Phoenix Jaguar 3.8 – in Race 16, the Gold Star Championship race over 25 laps, Brian said he pulled out of the race on the 12th lap of 25 laps when he lost power – he finished 11th many laps down with a best lap time of 57.3 sec. Graeme Lawrence won the race in his #14 Brabham BT29 1800cc, from David Oxton in his #1 Begg FM4 F5000, Robbie Francevic in his #111 McLaren M10B F5000, Ken Smith in his Lotus 69B 1798cc, and Bryan Faloon in the Stanton Porsche 1998cc – this was perhaps the biggest race Brian had been in !!
Steve Millen entered his ex-Silcock #100 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 in Saloon car races at Levin. In Race 6 for Saloon Cars over 1501cc, Steve was unplaced in a race won by Rod Coppins in his #141 Chev Camaro 5850cc, from Don Halliday in his #101 Ford Escort twin-cam 1598cc, Wayne Fuller in his #95 Ford Escort 1594cc, and Jim Richards who was 4th in a #105 Ford Falcon GTHO 5800cc.
Baypark 28 Dec 71 – Motorman magazine of February 1972, at page 24, reported on the Baypark New Year meeting held on 28 Dec 71. Steve Millen retired his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 lap 4 of the first ’big banger’ American Airlines 6 litre saloon 6-lap race. Race 1 winner Australian Alan Moffat (Mustang 5.0) toured home to an easy 3 sec win over fellow Australian Pete Geoghegan (Mustang 5.0), followed by Red Dawson (Chev Camaro 5.9) and Paul Fahey (Mustang 5.7 ). There was no mention of Steve Millen in either Race 2 or Race 3 for the ‘big bangers’.
1972 – The final year - Millen Mk2 3.8, Phoenix-Jaguar, E-Type
Pukekohe 8 Jan 72 – Motorman magazine of February 1972, at pages 9-13, reported on the NZIGP meeting held at Pukekohe on 8 Jan 72. In the BNSW Championship Round 1 races for saloons up to 4200cc, Steve Millen in his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 was 2nd in a 12 lap race to Alan Boyle in his ‘Coca Cola’ Vauxhall Viva GT whose race time was 15m 30.8s. Steve’s race time was 15m 53s, and Stan Baird was 3rd in his Escort TC in 15m 56.2s.
Wigram 22 Jan 72 – Motorman magazine of March 1972, at pages 6-10, covered the 1972 Lady Wigram meeting held on 22 Jan 72. Event 1 over 6 laps was for Formula Libre and Formula Ford cars and won by Garry Pedersen in his Gemco-Olds 4400cc sports racing car, from Glen McIntyre’s Wilmac Fiat 1608cc sports racing, and David Evans’ Lotus 27 Twin-Cam 1750cc. Also entered was Brian Watson in his #90 Phoenix Jaguar 3781cc – but there is no mention of the race meeting in Brian’s book, at page 259, so perhaps he withdrew?
Round 2 of the BNSW Saloon Car Championship at Wigram was run in two heats – in Heat 1 over 5 laps, Steve Millen raced his #100 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 in the 1001-4200cc class to Jim Richards’ Escort TC (in race time of 7m 13.6s), with Don Halliday 2nd (Escort BDA) in 7m 17.7s, Alan Boyle (Coca Cola Viva) 3rd in 7m 33.4s, and Steve Millen 4th on 7m 39s. Heat 2 saw Halliday win (7m 12.6s), from Richards (7m 13.3s), Boyle 7m 29.4, and Millen 4th (7m 52.5s). Steve Millen also entered the OSCA race, won by Alan Dickie’s Anglia Corvette, from Ron McPhail’s #62 Lotus Farina, and Lin Neilson’s lowered and modified #221 Mini Cooper S 1310cc.
Teretonga 30 Jan 72 – Motorman magazine of March 1972, at pages 16-19, reported the Teretonga International held on 30 Jan 72. Round 3 of the BNSW Saloon Car Championship was held and in the 0-4200cc class of Heat 1, Don Halliday won in his Ford Escort BDA in a time of 8m 36.3s, from Jim Richards’ Escort TC in 8m 39.8s, and in 3rd place was Steve Millen in his #100 Jaguar Mk 2 3.8 (9m 1.7s). The results for Heat 2 were the same as for Heat 1.
Timaru 6 Feb 72 – Motorman magazine of March 1972, at pages 24-25, covered the Winfield Trophy Gold Star event held at Timaru Raceway, Levels, on 6 Feb 72. In the 0 to 4200cc class of the BNSW Championship, Heat 1 over 10 laps was won by Red Dawson in his Camaro with a race time of 8m 13.7s, from Rod Coppins Camaro (8m 26.2s), and Jim Richards Escort TC (8m 26.4s). Motorman said , ‘Back in the eight-car field Steve Millen was giving the crowd thrills and tyre smoking in his efforts to keep the Jaguar 3.8 up with Dexter Dunlop’s Mustang – it was a case of making it up with some ragged edge cornering, and losing it again to the extra litres on the straight.’
For the second 10-lap BNSW Championship race at Timaru, Motorman said, ’It was a different tale in the second big-car heat. Fahey (PDL Mustang) shot off the start, and pulled away steadily form Dawson (Camaro) to take the flag more than 6 sec ahead. Behind these two, Coppins (Camaro), Richards, Halliday and Wayne Fuller (Mennen Escort) were at it hammer and tongs, while further back Dexter Dunlop was having trouble with Alan Boyle’s Viva GT, passing and being passed. Finally the Viva rotated, leaving Dunlop to fight off Millen’s Jaguar (9th?). On the last lap Halliday managed to sneak past Fuller for fifth, and Coppins came in like a Camaro engine pulling a train of Escorts.’ Fahey’s time was 8m 7.2s, Dawson 8m 13.5s, Coppins 8m 20.8s.
Ruapuna Park 13 Feb 72 – Motorman magazine for Apr 72, at pages 26 and 26, covered the BNSW Saloon car Championship events at Ruapuna Park on 13 Feb 72. Steve Millen entered his Jaguar Mk2 3.8. Paul Fahey in the PDL Mustang won Heat 1 over 10 laps, from Red Dawson in the Kensington Carpets Camaro. Rod Coppins (Camaro) was 3rd ahead of Dennis Marwood 4th in a Camaro, followed by Don Halliday (Escort BDA), and Jim Richards (Escort TC). Steve Millen was 6th in his Jaguar Mk2 ahead of Dexter Dunlop in his Mustang. The second 10-lap heat saw the same results – Fahey, Dawson, Coppins, Marwood, Halliday and Richards.
Levin 25 Feb 72 – Brian Watson raced his Phoenix Jaguar in a club meeting at Levin on 25 Feb 72 – he said in his book, at page 259, he pulled out of a race with gearbox trouble but before that he did a best lap of 56.4 sec for 5th FTD. The gearbox had broken up, as well as the XK engine not having real power – which he rectified in May when he ‘reset the camshaft timing using a degree plate and dial indicator and cut off the 2.25 inch exhaust pipes and made up two 1.75 inch pipes to a turned length.’
Baypark 27/28 Feb 72 – Motorman magazine Apr 72, at pages 10-12, covered the ‘American Airlines at the Park’ meeting held on 27th and 28th Feb 72. Steve Millen entered his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 in the BNSW Championship events and Motorman said, ‘There were only eight starters in the first heat of the 4.2 litre BNSW championship race – this really is a poorly represented class these days. The irrepressible Jim Richards (Escort TC) led all the way, Don Halliday’s Escort BDA version being right off song (still suffering from earlier troubles). Steve Millen ran second throughout in the 3.8 Jaguar, with Halliday third and Peter Neil’s Morris Cooper fourth after Bill Sample’s Mini Cooper 1275S dropped out on the last lap. Poor Alan Boyle got away a lap late through having to change a fouled plug on the line; he finished last, but the car is now performing well.’ Official results were Richards 1st followed by Millen, Halliday, Neil, Peter Batten (Morris Cooper), and Alan Boyle in 6th.’
The second heat for the under 4200cc class of the BNSW Championship saw Halliday win from Richards, Boyle, Millen’s Mk2 (4th), Sample, and John le Baige (Hillman Imp).
Levin 4 Mar 72 – Motorman magazine of April 1972, at page 23, reported on the Winfield Saloon Car Championship meeting held at Levin on 4 Mar 72. In practice Jim Richards set fastest time for the under 4200cc class of the BNSW Championship; Jim in his Escort TC recorded a lap time of 53.8s, with Don Halliday 2nd on 54.8s in his Escort BDA, and Alan Boyle’s Viva GT on 55.4s. Motorman said, ’Steve Millen’s Jaguar had blown itself to bits earlier in the week, and he turned out in Roy Harrington’s Holden Torana XU1.’ So, no Millen Jaguar Mk2 3.8 at this meeting.
Baypark 2 Apr 72 – Motorman magazine of May 1972, at pages 14-16, reported on the Easter meeting held at Baypark on 2 Apr 72. In the first 8-lap heat for the up to 6000cc cars, Dennis Marwood led at the start in his Camaro, from Paul Fahey in the PDL Mustang, Red Dawson’s Camaro, Rod Coppins’ Camaro, John Riley’s Mustang and Steve Millen in his Jaguar Mk2 3.8 – but Steve retired one lap from the end.
In the 4.2 litre class of the BNSW Championship at Baypark, Halliday and Richards fought in both races. In Race 1, Richards led Halliday, Boyle, Sundberg with a gap back to Peter Neil Cooper 998cc, Bill Sample Cooper 1265cc. At race end, the order was Halliday in 1st, from Richards, Sundberg, Boyle, Millen (5th) and Sample. Steve Millen was also 5th in the second race.
Pukekohe 9 Apr 72 – Motorman magazine of May 1972, at pages 22-25, covered the Dunlop meeting at Pukekohe held on 9 Apr 72. In practice on 8 Apr 72, Steve Millen’s Jaguar Mk 2 3.8 had ‘taken to a water-filled ditch.’ On race day in the 4200cc class of the 7-lap BNSW Championship Jim Richards led Heat 1 from Don Halliday, Peter Sundberg, Alan Boyle, Bill Sample, and Steve Millen (6th). Sundberg hit drums at the Elbow and retired, and Steve Millen pitted with a misfiring engine. Halliday won from Richards, Boyle, Sample, Paul Adams (BMW 2002 Ti), and Tony Mayes (Triumph Vitesse). Halliday clinched the 4.2 litre title. In Heat 2 Don Halliday won from Jim Richards, Alan Boyle and Bob Sample – but Millen retired the Jaguar with brake trouble.
Steve Millen also raced in the 1001cc to 6000cc class where Marwood led initially from Halliday, Fahey, Coppins, Dawson and Sundberg, but Sundberg was black-flagged for dropping oil, Boyle had gearbox trouble, Riley had a puncture, and Dawson and Fahey both went off the track on lap 7. Marwood won from Coppins, with Halliday 3rd, followed by Fahey and Sample – but Millen retired with brake trouble. In Heat 2, Millen retired again with brake trouble in a race won by Marwood, from Halliday, Riley and Sample.
Ruapuna Park 23 Apr 72 – The Canterbury Car Club held a Clubman’s meeting at Ruapuna Park on 23 Apr 72. Motorman magazine of June 1972, at page 31, reported on the race meeting. Bruce Bellis and Carlos Neate both entered Jaguar E-Types, and Bellis’ car went particularly well while winning four races. Bruce Bellis won Race 2 for Saloons over 5 laps in a race time of 4m 52s, with Carlos Neate in 2nd place. Bellis won Race 12 handicap for Saloons over 6 laps in 6m 15s; he also won Race 16 for Saloons and Sports handicap over 5 laps in 5m 34.2s. In the Sports and Single Seater category, Bellis won Race 7 over 5 laps in a time of 5m 29s, with Carlos Neate 2nd in his E-Type.
Silcock/Millen Jaguar Mk2 For Sale – In Motorman magazine of June 1972, at page 47, Steve Millen advertised the Jaguar Mk2 3.8 was for sale, ‘Jaguar Mk2, Car 100, as raced last season. Many spares, Steve Millen, Auckland 87-902 or write 519 Beach Road, Murrays Bay, Auckland.’ It was the end of an era that saw a big Jaguar Mk2 3.8 racing against much later cars, such as the lighter and more nimble Escort TCs, and the more powerful V8 engined Mustangs and Camaros.
Port Road Sprint 4 Feb 73 – The last event Brian Watson did in the Phoenix Jaguar was on 4 Feb 73 in a Port Road Sprint where he did 9.3 seconds for 1/8th mile to be 4th FTD at 95mph. Brian said “This was the last event of the Phoenix as the sports car formula was changed to two litres, so the Phoenix was obsolete and was sold.”
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