I was involved in motorsport during the 1970s and these collections date from that time.
Most, but not all, are of Westland Car Club events and I need to acknowledge that for these events, I didn't take all the photos myself. I competed, so on occasions gave one of my cameras and film to a club-mate. For these particular events, I don't recall who took which pictures, but if any of you do, please remind me and I'll add an appropriate credit.
I'd be happy to correct any errors or add missing information: dates, names, car details etc.
Feel fee to contact me.
Latest update - March 2018: added Teretonga and Levels collections.
Teretonga - 1971 and 1972
I was living in Invercargill and these were the first motorsport events I photographed. I didn't have a telephoto or zoom lens at this time but that's OK because with a long lens I might not have caught the Paul Fahey sequence in 1972 as I did.
(18 photos - added March 2018)
May 1973 - Macleans Pit Hillclimb
A Westland Car Club event - I believe the date was Sunday May 6th. The venue was just off the main road between Greymouth and Runanga on a road leading up to and around a gravel quarry.
(18 photos)
July 1973 - Heatway Rally
I didn't follow the event as a whole, but it passed through Greymouth and I took a few photos at the end of the a special stage at Kokiri, in the early morning of July 9th.
There's not much action here - mainly cars at or near the control tent after the end of the stage, also some pics a few hours later at parc ferme in Greymouth.
(30 photos)
October 1973 - Macleans Pit Hillclimb
A Westland Car Club hillclimb event held on 7th October. This event was won by Norm Hartwell in his Alfa Romeo 2000. Dave McMillan was placed 2nd and Garry Downes 3rd.
(18 photos)
October 1973 - Levels Raceway
It was Labour weekend 1973. I’d been competing in the RATEC Alpine Trial which included the Timaru area, and the Levels race meeting happened to be on the same weekend. The event included both car and bike racing. I think the date of these photos would have been October 21st.
My knowledge of drivers names for these is lacking - please let me know if you can provide any extra details. (24 photos)
1974 - various events
Mostly Westland Car Club events. I'm unsure of exact dates of the Macleans Pit hillclimbs: for one event I have 3rd March written on negative sheets and 10th March in an album of the same photos, also another on April 7. I think the Hochstetter event was 19th May.
(20 photos)
June 1975 - Westland Rally
I have no photos of the first rally held in 1974. This second Westland Rally was held on June 7, 1975. Two special stages are featured here. I'm unsure which stage the first few photos feature, but the others are at the end of a long straight in the Hochstetter Forest. (24 photos)
September 1975 - Rakaia Gorge Hillclimb
This hillclimb was a joint event organised by the University Motor Club from Canterbury. I think the date was 27 September 1975.
(12 photos)
1975 - other events
Several Westland Car Club events featured here:
a hillclimb at Hochstetter on January 26, standing & flying quarter mile at Ahaura on March 23, Mount Riley hillclimb at Dunganville on April 20, Reefton Lookout hillclimb on July 20, and Harris's Swamp Hillclimb in November.
Also in November, a Gold Star Hillclimb run by the Marlborough Car Club. (36 photos)
February 1976 - Aorangi Reserve gravel sprint
Aorangi Reserve is on the southern edge of Greymouth and was a popular venue both for sprint events and also as a first or final special stage in the Westland Rallies. On this occasion it was a sprint - in February 1976.
(12 photos)
February 1976 - Garveys Creek Hillclimb
This Westland Car Club event was at Garvey's Creek near Reefton. I think the date was 28th February.
(14 photos)
March 1976 - Westland Rally
The third Westland Rally was held inland from and south of Greymouth on 20 March 1976. I think the first of these were taken on the Old West Coast Road stage, while others were in the final special stage back into Greymouth through Aorangi Reserve.
(20 photos)
September 1976 - Humphreys Ridge hillclimb
This was a Westland Car Club event near Hokitika - above Humphreys on the hills just south of the Arahura River. It was held in September 1976 - I think on 26th.
(12 photos)
October 1976 - Gold Star Hillclimb, Reefton
This was a round of the National Gold Star Hillclimb series. I have the date noted as being 23 October 1976. (18 photos)
There's lots of missing information in this set. I'd be glad to hear from anyone who can fill in any gaps.
February 1977 - Westland Rally
The 4th Westland Rally was held on the West Coast inland from and south of Greymouth on 19 February 1976.
(30 photos)
August 1977 - Aorangi Reserve gravel sprint
This was a Westland Car Club event held on the outskirts of Greymouth in August 1977.
(12 photos)
November 1977 - Ogilvies Road gravel sprint
This was a Westland Car Club event held in the hills near Dunganville in November 1977.
(12 photos)
1977 - other events
Some other events from 1977 including the Gore rally in March (a few shots while waiting for a stage to start), a Westland Car Club bent sprint at Arahura in July, the Pall Mall rally in Canterbury, and a sealed hillclimb up the Strongman mine road near Runanga.
(18 photos)
1978 - hillclimb and Westland Rally
Two events here: a Westland Car Club hillclimb at Garvey's Creek near Reefton in January, and just a few pics of the Westland Rally on March 11th.
(12 photos)
March 1979 - Westland Rally
The 6th Westland Rally was held on the West Coast on 10 March 1979. For most of these, I'm unable to name the driver. Please let me know if you can help with this information.
(16 photos)