Dino 246GT came 4th in New Zealand touring car race in 1973

This is a piece of Dino racing history I don't see recorded.

Tim Bailey was a Ferrari dealer in New Zealand (Continental Car Services) and entered a Dino 246GT (car 81) in the Mayfair 100 race at the Pukekohe track, which preceded the B&H 500. He finished 4th after battling an XU1.
Thanks to Simon (SiFi) for digging the info out in 2011:
- Racing Car News, October 1973
- Australian Motoring News International 28/9/1973

Crosspost from Australia section, here's the original post:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/140589280-post1.html
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/140595558-post24.html

I looked through alot of photos of these races and I'm pretty sure Simon is correct.
Not alot else recorded unfortunately.
Tim Bailey at Driver Database | Motorsport
End of an era - Motoring - NZ Herald News

I spent some time trying to identify the serial number of the Dino but couldn't come up with anything concrete based on the race date 9/73, the drivers name and a list of cars shipped to NZ.
All I know is it's a RHD 246GT with black clapper wipers, possibly in a lighter color.
Anyone know more about this car?

As an aside, this photo was a shocker for me as we've owned the cars from the first 3-4 rows of the grid in our family (GTHO, E38, Dino) so I've ordered a print.

Andrew
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Cool photo Andrew, very surreal looking! Thank you .

Regards, Alberto

 

Hello Andrew,

great stuff
Unfortunately your picture is of very bad quality, but I can see this Dino has the early front with the big air intake. The panel to close the air intake by half isn`t installed...
So only one Dino is possible: #02124 (Giallo Fly)
Derek King (Auckland, NZ) can be still the owner, since 1987 (maybe our New Zealand friends know a bit more...)

Regards Matthias

 

This was exactly the S/N I had in mind also
and yes, it appeared the radiator panel was removed which makes sense for racing.
However, quite a few M-series went to Australia so one could have made the trip over to NZ also.

 

I contacted the photographer and more arrived including a photo of the driver Tim Bailey, they are fantastic.
The Dino started on the second row of the grid, his company name "Continental Auto" is across the windscreen.
Looking at the line up, Tim Bailey did well to put this car on the second row and a wet track would have helped.

The front plate is FR6209 (nicely raked back to act as a mini spoiler) and no side mirrors.
Britax harness added, a black interior. NO roll cage!
It appears wider non-XWX racing tires were fitted, possibly 225's.
It's a non-white light color (I've asked the photographer if they have any color photos).

The plate on #02124 is FV9232. If ownership changes in NZ is like Australia then the plates stay with the car when sold, so I doubt it's #02124. Plate allocation is sequential so it could be an imported car registered earlier which would certainly make it M-series. I went through all the Australian M-series delivered cars and came up with 01708 (went to NZ however it has a different later NZ plate), 01586 (no record). Tim Bailey was from the UK so it might also be an import from there.
Maybe someone in NZ knows the plate FR6209 ?

Andrew
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More grid photos before a classic big car vs. little car race.
Having worked on and driven all these cars (and raced the E38 charger), it's a stark contrast in technology at the time.
Alberto nailed it - very surreal.
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great stuff, I will check on Sunday, just traveling....

 

Yes very cool!

 

I would contact the registration office, or whatever it is now called, in New Zealand as they will have records that link that plate number with chassis and engine numbers. NZ has very good ownership papers, so good in fact that I've kept my Alfa's even though the car has been transported to Australia.

I can tell you who first imported my Alfa to NZ, what the plate number was, ALL the numbers and ALL the owners since then, dates when changed owners and miles, until now.

Actually I think you can now access this online, as my father was checking on a Jensen Intercepter he once owned a while back ...
Pete

 

It's possible but registering to do vehicle searches looks painful.
If someone in NZ already has a motochek account they can search historical data based a plate for free...

 

sorry nothing for number plate FR6209..... in my register

 

two chassis no`s left, could be:
#01264, delivered to Australia, Giallo Fly too, no records at all
or
#03404, delivered to Australia, Azzurro Dino, no records at all

would be great if anybody from New Zealand could help to identify the car

regards Matthias

 

Some more information on Tim Bailey here at his company:
About | Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Citroen | Continental Cars
I've asked them about the car.

The photographer got back to me and thinks the car was giallo fly.
Looking at the tone in the photographs, he's pretty sure that's right.
So I guess we're down to a small set of possible S/N: 02124, 01264.
Matthias, were 01586, 01708 giallo fly?

 

#01586 not, #01708 Giallo Senape....
#01708 is in New Zealand today, but the number plate is "HB 8345"

so because of the number plate issue (only one number all the time for one car in New Zealand) it can only be #01264.....

 

Until personalised plates came along or a car's registration lapses for a long time, but ownership papers will detail that change.

Pete

 

Hi. Tim Bailey was the importer of Ferrari cars for many years. He built up an amazing business here in NZ and was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. He passed away due to cancer a few years ago now unfortunately. He and his wife called into a Ferrari gathering in Akaroa.(Banks Peninsula) in the South Island where we were meeting for lunch not too long before he passed away, on their way to Queenstown. We had a great time talking to them about the first Dinos he imported in the early days while building up his business. The business became Continental Cars and also has the Porsche agency along with many other european brands. Tim raced many cars over the years here and was a very good driver too. The original registration plates may have been changed over the years due to damage, loss etc. It is easy to get replacement plates here. I do seem to remember that rego number but cant place the car. I will see if we have the Chassis # on the register here as not too many Dinos have left our shores.

 

Hello John,
it would be great if you figure out the chassis no.

Regards Matthias

 

Will check with our local chairman but I think most of our register cars are known by their registration numbers and not chassis numbers.

Cheers,

John.

 

Hi Matthias,
Not having too much luck tracing Tim Baileys Dino as yet. The original registration doesnt come up any more so it must have had a number plate change which is easy to do here in NZ. It may now be fitted with personalised plates as mine is. I will keep looking.
Cheers,
John.

 

thanks John, please keep looking

 

I just zoomed one of the pictures from 1973, to have a better look at the glass stamp.
It looks to me "0 S K"
"0" stands for 1970
"K" for November

Same stamping on my glass of #01406... (second picture)

Both cars are production date December 1970....

Regards Matthias
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Same as my #01712

 

so #01586 is still possible too, if it`s possible that the number plate has changed...
thanks Ron, helpful

 

Are you hoping to buy it to match your other racing Dino?

 

no, just of interest....
the really interesting racing history is NART.... ;-)