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Post by pallmall on Sept 17, 2010 20:17:05 GMT 12
By my reckoning Paradise Valley would have opened for the 1970/71 speedway season to replace the Rugby Park track. The track and facilities have changed massively in the past 40 years with a lot of major improvements happening in the past few years to make it the best little track in NZ. This is what things were like back in the early days. The track was a lot smaller, the pits were at the end where the main entrance is today and the cars went on and off the track under a foot bridge that allowed spectators to access the back straight hill. 1970/71.  1971/72.  1984/85 after an upgrade for the 1985 NZ Stockcar Champs.  Some early action. Kevin Free at practice, the tyres and drums are yet to be painted, so this must be very early laps.     |
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Post by pallmall on Sept 17, 2010 20:30:19 GMT 12
Big changes: 2007  2010  |
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Post by YankeeClipper10H on Sept 18, 2010 11:30:25 GMT 12
When PVR opened in 1970 it wa sthe smallest stockcar track in the country at 375 yards,=. A great stockcar track !!!!!!!
The finish line was originally where it is today but for many seasons was on the opposite side.
The original pa system was mounted on a single pole right in the middle of the infield which you can see in the first two photos.
The second photo is actually one of the practise sessions from 1970 prior to the first ever meeting as is the shot of Kevin Free driving 61R.
The other two pics are from the huge $1500.00 held at the end of the season on March 21 1971.
This was a tremendous meeting with cars from all over the North Island with heats culminating in a grand final race for a winners purse of $600.00 eventually won by Rotorua's Tony Baker 4R.
The race grand final was over 35 laps with a total of 35 cars starting. It shouldbe noted that 40 cars had qualified for the race but 5 were unable to start due to mechanical failure.
The big smash with 32R Ian McPhail in the air occured on the the first corner of the first race of the day. The car bounced off the steel fence post and was hit by Ray "Wrecker" Wright somersaulting the car into the air. Eventually crashing back down to earth landing upside downon its roof.
Ian sustained a cracked rib snd a badly bruised shoulder in the pile up and said afterward "It wasn't very nice".
Other cars in the pic are 1R Graeme Broome and 95S Arthur Roper.
Drivers in the other photo are 88H Dayne Plummer, 31R Murray Rawson, 41R Kevin Pestorius and 71A Trevor Nicholson.
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Post by YankeeClipper10H on Sept 18, 2010 11:45:25 GMT 12
Grand Final race lineup with 83S Ken Maul and 57R Phil Hunter on pole. Great race with the likes of the Pall Mall Team and the Palmerston North Panthers competing. Attachments:
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Post by pallmall on Sept 19, 2010 21:07:50 GMT 12
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Post by wal86 on Sept 19, 2010 22:52:03 GMT 12
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Post by horse38 on Sept 20, 2010 11:22:35 GMT 12
Awsome photos.......you gota be a keen man to do that Ramp jump.
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Post by brendanlucas on Sept 23, 2010 19:44:30 GMT 12
I was thinking the same there Ross, some good photos have turned up here. Hopefully more to follow?
I thought this track started a little earlier then 1970. Lots of very good drivers from the outset.
BL
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Post by Eventual Racer on Sept 23, 2010 22:51:28 GMT 12
I thought this track started a little earlier then 1970. BL Sounds right to me. Being born and bred in Rotorua, I saw a lot of action at that track. The 25th anniversary season was 95/96. Some major progress/development to the cars we have today came from rotorua in the early 90's |
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Post by brendanlucas on Sept 24, 2010 12:05:03 GMT 12
Hi, I wasn't doubting it, just suprised by it. I recall going to PV as a pre-schooler, & I was born in 1965. No I didn't start school when I was 10.
What supprised me by this the most, a track of that age having so many top drivers (Tony Baker, Adrian Kaye, Rex Flintoff, Kev Free, The Hunters, etc, etc,.), but then there were other tracks that were fairly local for it to draw from.
Cheers, BL
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Post by Admin on Sept 24, 2010 12:20:25 GMT 12
perhaps as a pre schooler you went to the earlier track Brendan.
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Post by brendanlucas on Sept 24, 2010 12:29:27 GMT 12
You're probably right.
Some good photos on this thraed, hopefully they'll keep coming.
Cheers, BL
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Post by pallmall on Sept 24, 2010 16:55:07 GMT 12
Hey BL, I am pretty sure I saw Charles race the 52P Valiant of Dexters at Rotorua's Rugby Park, maybe you were there as an infant.
Rugby Park ran for about three seasons before the move to the Valley, therefore explains the great lineup they had from the beginning at the Valley. Also there were a few who had been racing at Forest Lake since 1966, like Kev Free.
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Post by YankeeClipper10H on Sept 24, 2010 17:24:18 GMT 12
The 25 anniversary was awesome. Basically a full week of stockcar racing. Fantastic. Attachments:
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Post by YankeeClipper10H on Sept 24, 2010 17:26:36 GMT 12
January 1st 1996. Attachments:
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Post by Eventual Racer on Sept 26, 2010 9:03:04 GMT 12
What I find amazing in these photos is the progress of the facilities, I feel quite proud when I go to PV, with the level off presentation of the facilities
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maljap
Junior Member
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Post by maljap on Dec 10, 2010 18:05:29 GMT 12
I have nearly got this car restored Trying to get finished by the Super Stocks in December otherwise will have at Palmerston North for there Teams race in February I have all its history but if anyone has any other photos of it specially the signage I would sure appreciate it Attachments:
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Post by Glenn, Ex 269s on Dec 10, 2010 22:40:46 GMT 12
I have nearly got this car restored Trying to get finished by the Super Stocks in December otherwise will have at Palmerston North for there Teams race in February I have all its history but if anyone has any other photos of it specially the signage I would sure appreciate it Wow Johnsons Service Station in Awakeri, that name brings back some memories from when we lived in Edgecumbe (about 5 or so Ks from Awakeri). From memory i think Paradise valley was the 1st track i ever went to as a youngin closely followed by Stratty. My mum also had a cousin who ran a modified there back when they started, David? Morris, cant remember his Number but always used to leap in the car when the folks visited Mums Aunty and Uncle in Rotorua (late 70's early 80's. I blame Rotorua for giving me this Speedway bug, all good though ;D |
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Post by percy on Dec 11, 2010 12:49:51 GMT 12
Is it an optical illusion or was the original track triangular in shape?
Looks like there is a short straight between turns 3 & 4.
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Post by pallmall on Dec 11, 2010 13:17:59 GMT 12
Is it an optical illusion or was the original track triangular in shape? Looks like there is a short straight between turns 3 & 4. Yes, sort of. It got turned into the corner it is now when they dug further into the hill prior to the concrete wall being poured. |
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