Not so much NZ Formula Ford but some shots my favourite Formula Fords in New Zealand…David McMillan and Lola T342 in 1975, circuit folks?
The Lola T342 was surely the first FF with genuine lust factor, I should know, I bought one in the US and historic-raced it here for a decade or so. More about the T342 here:https://www.lolaheritage.co.uk/type_numbers/t342/t342.html
McMillan was the real deal. He won the NZ FF Championship in 1975/76 and went on to bigger and better things including winning the NZ Gold Star Championship in 1977 and 1979-80. Taking the hotly contested 1980 NZ International Formula Pacific Championship/Series in front of Steve Millen and Andrea de Cesaris was quite a feat.
His mount throughout was the same Ralt RT1/76 Ford BDA chassis #36 an ex-Kevin Cogan car raced with success in McMillan’s hands in Canada and New Zealand before being rebuilt as a Super Vee for Dave’s use in the US in 1980…and success in that form too!
NZ Championship action at Baypark in October 1973, Grant Walker’s Elfin 600 from Bryan Scobie, Begg FM3 and Landon Hutchinson, Kea FF. Walker won the 1974-75 NZ FF Championship in this car. More about the Elfin 600 here: https://primotipo.com/2022/04/23/sinfully-sexy-600/
Norm Smith in car #187 below, a Hustler FF won both heats, while car #25 is Neville Bailey’s Palliser.
Tustle between Grant Walker Elfin 600 #27 and David McMillan in a Titan Mk6 #41, both in Dawes Racing Team cars.
The amusing bit for me is that Grant brought the Titan Mk6 across the ditch to contest the Australian Driver to Europe Series in 1977 finishing second…and races the same car in Oz Historic FF now. He’s no longer the youngster he was back then but is still mighty quick!
Car #87 is none other than Brett Riley in another Titan Mk6, he too was a Kiwi International of some renown.
Eric Morgan, Bowin P6F at Pukekohe in November 1974. The chassis in which Peter Hughes won the 1973-74 NZ Championship?
I wonder how many Bowin John Joyce sold Across The Ditch? This one is devoid of the Variable Rate Suspension with which most were delivered. See here: https://primotipo.com/2018/08/30/bowin-p4a-and-oz-formula-ford-formative/
Credits…
Warwick Clayton, Steve Elliott, Milan Fistonic, Terry Marshall
Tailpiece…
A change of mount for Grant Walker, here aboard the ex-Paul Fahey Ford Capri RS3100 at Baypark circa 1975-76. He raced this car in Australia too now I think of it.
There is a bit about Grant and this car in this epic: https://primotipo.com/2015/04/09/australias-cologne-capris/
Finito…
primotipo... 