I have the good fortune to work with a member of the Wilson family who most people would associate with Sprintcar racing. Probably most well known at the moment would be 56m Carl Wilson racing a Sprintcar out of Baypark. Both brothers Grant and Gary also race Sprintcars sharing a drive at the moment 33m but it was their father Pat who hit the track first in a stockcar, then a saloon and eventually Sprintcar 31a.
Gael, married to Pat brought in some amazing photo albums of the cars over the years and has kindly let me scan a few to put up on the website with some comments from Pat.
This was my first car raced at Waikaraka Park. I shared ownership with a mate. We scrounged and begged for parts to build it. The Coupe body and chassis was found behind a chook shed on Church Street in Onehunga. The house on the site was demolished shortly after.
Second car purchased from Vic Cook. Car was bought with Mercury V8 in it and went well. Because of the success of the Dodges run by the Swamp Rats team we purchased a Forest Lake car named 'Yogi Bear' off Peter Martin and fitted the Dodge 6 from it shown here in these pictures.
This was a car that Gary, my eldest son bought. We took the body of it and completely rebuilt the cage from the chassis up. The car was powered by a Sloper Valiant motor.
Pat Wilson racing the 31a Sprintcar at Meremere Highbanks track.
The production saloon class was started at the Park and was the start of today's saloons. We had a team of three cars, two Mk1 Zephyrs and one FJ Holden. We were sponsored by Dave Jolley of Jolly Wide Wheels. We raced for New Zealand against Australia and the USA. Note the 'P' next to the number is for Production not Palmerston North!
Here is a link to Carl Wilson's website : http://www.carlwilson56.co.nz/
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