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Post by pallmall on May 6, 2007 21:29:33 GMT 12
There was a challenge on another thread for photos of John Viles. Well I think everybody has heard of John Viles through his work with SNZ, a lot don't realise he was a fearsome stockcar driver back in the day starting out at Palmerston North and then at Rotorua. Correct me if I am wrong, a Panther and a Rebel in his career? To start the ball rolling a photo from Nellie Irvine's album.  |
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Post by bayboy on May 7, 2007 19:05:41 GMT 12
Cheers Pallmall. I remember him being 77r, is that correct? What year was this pic?
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Post by wal86 on May 7, 2007 19:35:22 GMT 12
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Post by wal86 on May 7, 2007 19:41:55 GMT 12
 not sure if this is john or graham venn,photo is early 70-71 |
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Post by pallmall on May 7, 2007 19:46:11 GMT 12
Cheers Pallmall. I remember him being 77r, is that correct? What year was this pic? Early eighties I think. John Viles was 53P and 63R Graham Venn was 77R |
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Post by YankeeClipper10H on May 7, 2007 21:46:25 GMT 12
77R pictured is Graham Venn. This car from 1972-73. His car of 1971-72 had a swept up spoiler on the boot. Looked good but was always being panelbeated to maintain its looks. Car of 1970-71 had a Chev coupe body - shared drives with Merv Grey. Graham's car of 1973-74 was VW bodied which he kept for a season or two. Picture of Johnny Viles number 63R was possibly taken at the NZ Champs held in Wanganui.  |
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Post by YankeeClipper10H on May 7, 2007 21:51:31 GMT 12
John Viles - yes Pall Mall - a Panther and a Rebel during his racing career.
He later drove a rear engined modified. Looked like a gocart on steroids - scary.
I last saw his stockcar out at Ngongotaha many many moons ago.
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Post by Racerman on May 8, 2007 16:53:47 GMT 12
 John Viles as a Panther, photo taken 73/74 season in Albert Street Palmerston North Car was painted black after John had been selected to race for the Panthers, in fact getting ready to leave for Wanganui for a teams race .Some interesting facts about the car, Full round back bumper, NO removable wheel guards, torsion bar suspension in front, full elliptical springs in the rear, body was a 4 door Morris MO Oxford shortened to be a 2 door, Chrysler Valiant Slant 6 238 cu using Holden 173 pistons (an advancement on Bedford !) It is in fact the same car as posted above by Pallmall , the 63R car, the Oxford body was used up and replaced with a Vauxhall HA Viva. And an Unusual tow car for the day 1952 Austin Sherline known as A152 used the Austin 4 ton truck engine and weighed just under 2 ton |
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Post by pallmall on May 8, 2007 18:14:40 GMT 12
Cool stuff racerman, I only had a scrappy b&w photo of that version of the car. Love the tow vehicle.  Here is the rear engined modified.  |
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Post by Racerman on May 8, 2007 18:53:08 GMT 12
 For Techno heads!! Engine details of 53P and 63R The power plant 225 Valiant, 100 thou oversize using 173 holden pistons measuring 238 cu in Ford Isky cam grind, block milled to bring pistons to the top of the block face plus 100 thou off the head - would only run on av-gas as compression too high for petrol. had full flow external mount oil filter owner made manifold; inlet was 14 inch long from head to plenum chamber 11/4 x 11/4 hollow steel tubing, plenum chamber was divided in two IE each carby throat feed three cylinders, plenum chamber was also triangular in shape to move carburettor away from the inside of the bonnet with air cleaner on top of rocker cover exhaust 38 inch primaries into two 2 inch secondaries through twin two 2 inch Coby mufflers steel bell housing was an internal brace for chassis 4 speed international truck box |
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Post by Racerman on May 8, 2007 18:54:47 GMT 12
 the Panthers 1975 left to right Jack Noaro 35p Warrick Sisson 58p Peter Hetterly 32p Barry Mackenzie 57p John Viles 53p |
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Post by pallmall on May 12, 2007 22:19:46 GMT 12
This was taken in February 1977. Andre Ruiterman Photo.  |
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Post by stockbuff on Jan 24, 2014 22:58:17 GMT 12
found a early photo of Johns car at TeMarua mid seventys. not sure what the body was, but the chassis may be the same as in the previous photo. Allso dont of course forget Johns black Austin Shearline tow car, very quality, as he used to say . .  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2014 7:43:04 GMT 12
Wicked ,, I hope the officials checked the rollcage .. lol
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Post by stockbuff on Jan 27, 2014 22:20:07 GMT 12
yes Johns roll cage was one of a kind even at the time. Made of good gauge pipe though, and braced behind seat seemed to have been good enough for John and officials at the time.
Cheers
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Post by Wingnut99 on Jan 28, 2014 8:33:08 GMT 12
That was the ex Graeme Handisides Blue Flame Chevy taken in 1981
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