Racing
Racing
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The very first Mistral manufactured by Weltex was raced extensively by Bob Blackburn - the person behind the whole idea. This car had a Ford 100E engine fitted with a Willment OHV conversion. After hurriedly completing the prototype car, it was driven up to Ardmore near Auckland for the 100 mile sportscar race supporting the NZ Grand Prix. It finished third and in the subsequent "Ultimate Race Car" feature race it placed second. Following the GP, Bob Blackburn and his wife toured around the North Island in the Mistral on their way to the next race meeting at Levin! During this first season's racing Blackburn drove the car 700 miles in nineteen events, finishing all of them, and gaining two first places, four seconds and six thirds. (Wheels October 1957 p.11). Some later history of this particular car can be found here.
The very first Mistral manufactured by Weltex was raced extensively by Bob Blackburn - the person behind the whole idea. This car had a Ford 100E engine fitted with a Willment OHV conversion. After hurriedly completing the prototype car, it was driven up to Ardmore near Auckland for the 100 mile sportscar race supporting the NZ Grand Prix. It finished third and in the subsequent "Ultimate Race Car" feature race it placed second. Following the GP, Bob Blackburn and his wife toured around the North Island in the Mistral on their way to the next race meeting at Levin! During this first season's racing Blackburn drove the car 700 miles in nineteen events, finishing all of them, and gaining two first places, four seconds and six thirds. (Wheels October 1957 p.11). Some later history of this particular car can be found here.
Others racers soon followed and throughout the 1950's and 1960's Mistrals, of all chassis designs and mechanical configurations, became a common sight in all forms of racing. After a few years in the doldrums, Mistrals returned to the track via historic racing, pioneered by Chris Read from Dunedin in his red TR3 powered Mistral. He is still racing the car today after more than ?? years.
Bob Blackburn in action in all of the photos above.
Bob Blackburn's Mistral at Wigram
1959 Nelson beach races above - two Mistrals possibly C Cavanagh No. 10 and W Turnbull No. 28
Mistral - Richard McNair Waimate 1966
Chris Read's TR3 powered Mistral
Ross Baker Mistral above and to left
Above, Ross Hore's Mistral and Daimler SP250 in Ruapuna Pits 1963
Above, 1959 Nelson aerodrome grasstrack. Mike Stephens, aged 16 is in the Mistral on right.
1961 Beach Races, Ross Hore Mistral on right
1961 Nelson beach races.Ross Hore Mistral in backround .
1964 Nelson beach races Ross Hore Mistral
Four Mistrals in one race at Ruapuna. The yellow Vanguard engined Mistral of John McDonagh. The red and silver Ford powered Mistrals of Don Gerrard and Paul Tayler and the Red TR3 powered Mistral of Chris Read
John McDonagh and Paul Tayler in battle above
Don Gerrard in his Immaculate and well raced Mistral - previously raced by Peter Smith, Brian Morris, Paul Coory, Merv Patterson and possibly others. .
Photo from CMRC Web site
Greg Scott Mistral above
A much earlier photo of the Greg Scott car in different ownership at Wigram in the 1980's
Roger Wilson in Mistral MkII V8 at 206KPH.
Roger Wilson's first MkII at Dunedin Road Races
Racing Video
Here is a link to John McDonagh's Youtube channel which features in car racing footage from his yellow Mistral number 159.
https://www.youtube.com/@nzmcdonagh
Of particular interest may be the video labelled Skope 2012 Blowup where I am following Paul Tayler in his silver Mistral at the Skope Classic meeting at Ruapuna Park when my engine throws a conrod out and catches fire!. There is also video from the Wigram Revival meeting at Ruapuna when Paul Taylor in his Mistral spins in front of us and from a VCC race at Levels Raceway near Timaru in 2014 when I am following close behind Paul Tayler's Mistral towards the end of the race.
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