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Post by totspete on Mar 23, 2007 10:59:28 GMT 12
Okay, this one is a real challenge.
More than 30 years ago my uncle ran a car out of Paradise Valley. It was a VW body, Cresta engine and was reasonably competitive in its day.
The drive was shared between my cousin, Paul McNae, who ran it in B grade and Kevin (??) Pestorius who was an A grader. The car would probably have carried some McNae Haulage/Contracting/Earthmoving type of signwriting.
We are talking early to mid 1970s here. Anyone remember any of the names or have a shot of it?
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Post by pallmall on Mar 23, 2007 13:22:32 GMT 12
Should have something on file, or at least know someone who does! Kevin Pestorius raced as 23R at one stage, any idea the number the car you are looking for ran? Makes the search easier.
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Post by totspete on Mar 23, 2007 13:45:59 GMT 12
I could ask my uncle ... but they went to Queensland 30 odd years ago and I suspect he switched his brain off as he went ;D
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Post by Autopete55 on Mar 23, 2007 20:33:32 GMT 12
I could ask my uncle ... but they went to Queensland 30 odd years ago and I suspect he switched his brain off as he went ;D Thank God he didnt put the cat out and turn the light out as he left otherwise it would pretty dark here now!! ;D   Or..... You could say he raised the IQ level of both countries by going to Aussie....... ;D Sorry Pete, I couldnt resist that one!! Onto the real info please Mr Pallmall  |
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Post by YankeeClipper10H on Mar 23, 2007 22:59:46 GMT 12
Hi totspete. This is going to be interesting. I'm originally from Rotorua and lived in Clayton Road during the early 70s about two miles down from the mighty Paradise Valley Raceway. Stockcars then were my main hobby. I followed them fairly closely and if any new cars appeared always tried to work out who the previous owner was etc etc
At one stage I knew a girl whose surname was McNae (sorry can't remember her first name) whose parents/family owned the McNae Building along Old Taupo Road.
There was also a stockcar which I either saw parked on a trailer beside the block wall of the building and /or a photo of same. There was defineteley a photo of the car. She said that it was her brothers car.
The car was orange. I can't recall the number. I am fairly certain the car was purchased from an Auckland driver quite possibly Jim Scott who drove a VW bodied car 38A. I have a photo of this car taken 1971/72 at Rotorua. Now the fin (or roof number as I always called it) on 38A consisted of two large circle shaped pieces of sheetmetal. The photo I remember seeing of the McNae car had the same shape of roof number. The car may have been numbered 32R. If it was numbered 32R then it would have been circa 1974 as during the very early 70s our neighbour across the road the late Laurie Heikell ran a green 3.8 Jag powered Coupe bodied stockcar number 32R.
I always remember wanting a copy of the photo but never got one.
Re: Kevin Pestorious. The car he raced during the early 70s was number 41R.
He did race the number 23R of Rex Flintoff and Dick Parker during the late 60s. The reason being that Rex had suffered a serious accident at Hamilton's Forest Lake (broken neck I think) and had to lay off stock car racing for three seasons. Number 23 was raced by Kevin during this time.
I'll try and make time and look through my programmes to see if there is any reference to the McNae VW Cresta.
Looking forward to your reply.
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Post by YankeeClipper10H on Mar 23, 2007 23:02:21 GMT 12
Oops - should be Dick Parker not thingy Parker.
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Post by YankeeClipper10H on Mar 23, 2007 23:03:06 GMT 12
Dick Parker
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Post by YankeeClipper10H on Mar 23, 2007 23:07:13 GMT 12
What is going on - I type in D I C K (as in short for Richard) Parker and it always comes out as "thingy" Parker. Weird.
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Post by totspete on Mar 24, 2007 7:08:25 GMT 12
That would be the ``family filter'' protecting our delicate eyes by removing all the naughty words (and names!) and replacing them with something sanitised. You get some amusing results out of it ...  Yes, you are on the money with your memories of the car and family. The girl would be cousin Diane, the McNae building was very prominently signwritten across the concrete block wall facing the traffic, the car often sat inside or did ``practice ;D'' laps out the back on the limestone yard. The car was mostly driven by Paul McNae, who would be 51 or 52 now but Pestorius was also in it at times because it was wasted on my cousin! Well done, Clipper!! |
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Post by YankeeClipper10H on Mar 24, 2007 10:19:36 GMT 12
Yep, I know I'm good!!! ;D LOL.
The building was on Fairy Springs Rd not Old Taupo Rd.
I've looked through all my 1970s Rotorua programmes and no reference to the name McNae anywhere.
The 1975/76 season programmes were poor consisting only of a double sided A4 page. They did not list the drivers except on one that I have but there is no mention of your cousin. By means of elimination it could have been this season that they raced considering as how they are not mentioned in any other seasons.
I'm curious now as to how I would have known Diane.
Maybe through school - Western Heights High School?
Long time ago I know.
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Post by totspete on Mar 24, 2007 10:42:19 GMT 12
I'm curious now as to how I would have known Diane. Maybe through school - Western Heights High School? Long time ago I know. Four cuzzies went to school there, Paul, Ray, Diane, Steve so very possible. And I would have thought maybe a little earlier -- 72-74 era but it's all a blur. |
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Post by guru on May 5, 2007 23:46:22 GMT 12
In regards to VW bodied cars during that era,(1968-1972) in Rotorua,consisted of Ken Richardson(66r) Stan Hickey(27r),& acar that came from Turangi ,part of the Turangi Dam Busters team ,unsure of nuimber.Kevin drove a VW car i think last year of the Rugby Park track
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