RNZAF 75 Sqn overseas deployment for Ex Vanguard 84, and Ex Cope Thunder 84-7 13 Aug 84 to 25 Sep 84 – written in 2024 by (then) Wg Cdr Jim Barclay, CO 75 Sqn From the mid-1950s with leased Royal Air Force (RAF) Vampires and Venom aircraft, and then with leased Canberra B2 aircraft from 1958 until 1962, New Zealand maintained an offensive air force element in Singapore. In 1962 the Canberras were returned to the RAF, and No 75 Squadron (Sqn) RNZAF was relocated to New Zealand. Thereafter, an offensive air element of 14 Sqn RNZAF Canberra B (i) 12s until 1970, and with 75 Sqn A4K Skyhawks fr ..read more

Imported new to New Zealand from UK in late 1961 by Rex Flowers, this now historic 1961 Gemini Mk3A chassis number 09 Formula Junior (FJ) (the last of nine Gemini Mk3A cars built) has been in New Zealand ever since.    At the request of Rex, Gemini constructor The Chequered Flag of Chiswick, London, the car was tested (raced) by Bill Moss at Silverstone on 7th October 1961 (1st place in two races), and again by Bill on 8th October 1961 at Snetterton (DNF – brakes).   The 1060cc Ford engine currently fitted to the car has a Farndon forged steel crankshaft, JE Pistons, SAENZ ..read more

1979 Pukekohe at the Benson & Hedges event – Stirling Moss demonstrating the Tojeiro Jaguar 1987 Ian Green in the restored Tojeiro Jaguar at Ken Smith’s – photo Quenton Green 1987 - restored 1956 Tojeiro Jaguar – photo Dennis Green 1987 - restored 1956 Tojeiro Jaguar – photo Dennis Green 1987 Wellington Street Races 25 January – Denny Hulme-Armin Hahne TWR Jaguar XJS – photo Allan Scott in ‘TWR and Jaguar’s XJS’ page 301 1990 Ohakea 40th Reunion 21st April – Jim Barclay Jaguar Mk2 3.8 – photo Jim Barclay Collection 1995 Whenuapai Wings & Wheels 26th February – Les Parkinson’s ex-Princ ..read more

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 i ..read more

1967 – Ford Coupe Jag, Stuart Jag, the Mk2 continues, as does the Silcock XK120, and the ‘Bag Jag’   Tahunanui Beach, Nelson 31 Dec 66 and 2 Jan 67 – at Tahunanui Beach, Nelson, on 2 Jan 67, Bill Harris, who had won the NZ Beach Racing Championship in 1960, 1962 and 1963 driving his Alfa Romeo Tipo B ‘P3’ fitted with a Jaguar engine, was now driving a Ford Jaguar Coupe, and he won the D. R. Filter Cup No 2 at Nelson for saloon cars over 1200cc.   At this meeting, Neil Stuart of Christchurch, driving his Stuart Jaguar Special in the 1967 NZ Beach Racing Championship, retired with ov ..read more

Pukekohe 8 Oct 66 – On 8 Oct 66 the annual Wills Three-Hour and Six-Hour races were once again staged at Pukekohe, and Motorman magazine of November 1966 reported on the two endurance races.  The 3-hour Gold Leaf Challenge was won by Paul Fahey/Jim Palmer in the new Ford Mustang, having completed 94 laps at an average speed of 67.99 mph/109.42 km/h. In 2nd place was the Morris Cooper 1293S of Bryan Innes/Kerry Grant on 93 laps, and in 3rd place was Barry Phillips/McLean in their Lotus Cortina on 90 laps. In the over 3000cc class, the Fahey/Palmer Mustang was 1st, from Thomson/Scott Tayl ..read more

1966 – The Mk2, E-Type, ‘Bag-Jag’, Humber-Jag, Tojeiro Jag Pukekohe 8 Jan 66– At the 1966 NZIGP meeting held at Pukekohe on 8 Jan 66, Event 3 was a 6-lap ‘Saloon Car Scratch Race’ for over 1300cc cars and Ray Olenius entered his Jaguar 3.4.  The race was won by Ron McDonald in the ex-Fahey Lotus-Cortina, from Ross Douglas in his Morris-Cooper S 1293cc, and Terry Scott in his Cooper S – but the pace was too willing for a big and heavy Jaguar 3.4.   Event 4 was the ‘Ken Wharton Memorial Sports Car’ race over 6 laps and included entrants G.F. (Gary) Bremer his #26 Jaguar E-Type 3.8, a ..read more

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 ..read more

1963 – Alfa Romeo P3 Jaguar, Jaguar D-Type, Jaguar Mk2 3.8, XK120, XK140, XK150, and Maserati 6CM-Jaguar Tahunanui Beach, Nelson, New Year 1962/63 – The Nelson Car Club staged the annual beach racing championship at Tahunanui Beach, Nelson, from 29 Dec 62 to 1 Jan 63. Regular entrant, Cantabrian W. (Bill) Harris, entered his 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3, fitted with a Jaguar engine. In this car, Bill won the 1963 NZ Beach Racing Championship, ahead of Giff Tait of Nelson in a Chev Corvette Coupe, and Tony Shaw in a Cooper 500cc.   This success followed Bill’s win of the NZ Beach Racing Cha ..read more

1961 – The Tojeiro Jaguar, Jaguar C and D-Types, Maserati 6CM Jaguar, the Bagnall Jaguar, and a Jaguar Mk2 3.8 wins the National Saloon Car Title Ardmore 7 Jan 61 – The 1961 NZIGP meeting was held at Ardmore on 7 Jan 61. Having recently purchased the car from Arthur Moffatt, Bill Gardiner of RNZAF Wigram in his Tojeiro Jaguar was one of 37 cars listed as entries in the 1961 NZIGP race, only 24 of which would qualify. Bill’s best practice time was 1m 39.4s, which was some 3 seconds too slow to be included in Heat 1 for the GP – won by Stirling Moss in a Lotus 18-Climax 2495cc, from Bruce McLa ..read more