Rex Flowers: A Story of his 1961 Gemini Mk3A-09 Cosworth-Ford FJ Part 8 of 15
[ Continued from Part 7 ]
Ohakea 24th February 1962 – Rex entered the Gemini in the Ohakea Motor Races held at RNZAF Station Ohakea on 24th February 1962.
The first event for Rex was in Race 6 for ‘Racing and Sports/Racing cars’, a scratch race held over 3 laps (approximately 6 miles) for cars under 1500cc. David McKinney recorded that Rex was 3rd in this race. While further results are unknown, the winner and second placing could well have been one of either #3 Doug Lawrence in his fast Lola Mk1 Climax 1468cc sports, #6 Ian Green in his Cooper T39 ‘Bobtail’ Climax 1220cc sports, or #15 John Histed in his Lola Mk2 Ford FJ, all of whom had more power than Rex on this wide-open and high speed airfield circuit.
The second event for Rex was in Race 13 ‘New Zealand Drivers Ohakea Championship’. The race was held over 25 laps and cars were divided into three race classes – Under 1500cc; 1501 to 3000cc; and, 3001cc and over.
Graham Vercoe in his book ‘The Golden Era of NZ Motor Racing’, page 180, records ‘The XI Ohakea Trophy meeting was, again, fairly much a non-event but that shouldn’t diminish the brilliance of Hoare’s runaway win in the 25 lap Selwyn Molesworth Trophy. Coppins gave the Tec Mec probably its best ever New Zealand finish by coming home second albeit a long way behind, Eade scored another consistent placing by taking fourth’. Rex said he retired from the race, when he was holding second-in-class, with a broken rear wishbone on the Gemini.
Levin Championship Meeting, Levin Circuit, Saturday 24th March 1962. At the end of a long first season racing the Gemini, Rex entered the Levin Championship Meeting held at Levin on Saturday 24th March 1962.
The first race for Rex at this Levin meeting was Event 4 ‘Racing and Sports Car Scratch Race’ – After qualifying was competed Rex had set a good time in his Gemini such that he was second on the grid to Jim Palmer’s more powerful Lotus 20 Ford 1475cc. Fifteen cars faced the starter’s flag and entrants were as follows:
Results of Race 4 Racing and Sports Car Scratch race over 8 laps:
1st 14 Jim Palmer Lotus 20 Ford 7 min 45.8 secs
2nd 2 Chris Amon in David Evans’ Cooper T43 Climax
3rd 20 John Histed Lola Mk2 Ford FJ
8th 25 Rex Flowers Gemini Mk3A Ford FJ
The next race for Rex was in Event 13 ‘Formula Libre Racing and Sports cars’ for the ‘Levin Championship’ race held over 10 laps. Rex qualified the Gemini in eighth place of the 16 cars that qualified for the Levin Championship race. Jim Palmer was on pole position in his Lotus 20 from Chris Amon in the David Evan’s owned Cooper T43 Climax. The book ‘Levin Motor Racing Circuit 1956-76’ records at page 137 ‘The main event of the day, the Levin Championship Race, was easily won by up and coming Bulls driver, Chris Amon. Finding the two-litre Cooper a lot easier to handle than his ageing Maserati, he made no race of it. But all excitement centred around the duel between Jim Palmer in the Lotus and John Histed’s Lola. Histed managed to sneak through on Palmer several times on the corners but the Lola was no match for the Lotus on straight out speed. So, Histed had to settle for third place. It looks good for the sport as neither of these three drivers is yet 25 but they can show such promise and ability.” Rex finished seventh in this race.
Results of the Levin Championship race:–
1st 2 Chris Amon in David Evan’s Cooper T43 Climax 1960cc
2nd 14 Jim Palmer Lotus 20 Ford 1475cc
3rd 20 John Histed Lola Mk2 Ford 996cc FJ
4th 5 Bob Smith Ferrari Tipo 555 Super Squalo 3.5
7th 25 Rex Flowers Gemini Mk3A Ford FJ 996cc FJ
The final race for Rex that day at Levin was in Event 17 ‘Racing and Sports Cars Handicap’. Rex qualified fifth of 13 cars for the 6 lap handicap race. Entrants were :-
Results of Event 17
1st Bruce Webster Cooper Porsche 1600cc 6min 23.8 secs
2nd 23 Bob Eade Maserati 250F 2508 2493cc
3rd 18 A van Thiel Austin Healey 2660cc
4th 25 Rex Flowers Gemini Mk3A Ford 996cc FJ
NZ Gold Star Hillclimb, Houghton Bay, Wellington –- 7th April 1962 – Rex set the second-to-‘Fastest Time of the Day’ in his Gemini Mk3A
Hutt Valley Motor Club Sprint, Levin circuit – 12 May 1962 – Rex set the ‘Fastest Time of the Day’ (FTD) in the Gemini.
Admiral’s Road Hillclimb, Carterton – Wairarapa Car Club – May 1962 – Rex recorded the ‘Fastest Time of the Day’ and set the outright fastest time in the Gemini.
[ Continue with Part 9]
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