Photos from New Zealand

[T. Cotten]

Priceless, Tommo!

Many thanks...

....Cotten

[clanky]

Thanks for sharing, great shots.

[JoJo357]

Thank You Tommo for sharing those privileged solid gold shots.

*M.A.D.*

[Tommo]

When I get time there will be more to come

[Tommo]

I've been researching the history of GP Triumphs in NZ for a chap in the South Island and assembled the following photos from my collection.
Hope it doesn't get too repetitious.
The first one is Dene Hollier on the Pink and Collison owned GP at Tikorangi in 1951 Dene Hollier on the Pink and Collison GP.jpg

[Tommo]

This was possibily the first GP to come to NZ and was owned by Digger Hallum
Photo is taken at Cust in 1848 Digger Hallum close-up Cust 1948.jpgDigger Hallum close-up Cust 1948.jpg

[Tommo]

THE Lyall Pearce owned bike that was ridden by Owen Todd.
This photo was taken at Ohakea in 1950.
This bike is possibily not a genuine factory GP but is thought to be a converted T100 Owen Todd on the Lyall Pearce GP0001.jpg

[Tommo]

A staged photo of Syd Jensen on his first GP Triumph.
This photo was taken on the Jensen family driveway Staged photo of the Syd Jensen GP.jpg by my father in 1948

[Tommo]

Not a good photo but this is the Merv King GP at a beach race meeting on Waikanae Beach in 1951 Merv King GP 2.jpg

[Tommo]

Not a GP but a good photo of Vic Laws at Cust in 1947 on his T100 V Laws from Dunedin at Cust in 1947 (Close-up).jpg

[Tommo]

The Syd Jensen 1948 GP has quite a history here in NZ.
Uncle Syd rode it in the 1949 Waiheke Island TT and following this event was selected to represent NZ at the 1949 Isle of Man races.
Shortly after this selection he sold the 1948 GP to Gil Hitchman and ordered a new one that he would collect from the factory when he arrived in England.
These next photos show the 1948 being loaded for the trip to Waiheke Island, a picture of Uncle Syd starting and a picture of the bike after he finished the race.
The race was run in shocking conditions on mostly gravel/dirt roads and the damage to the bike is clearly visible. SH 72.jpgSH 76.jpgSH 77.jpg

[Tommo]

Gil Hitchman with major help from Frank Heys and Roy Marston converted that GP into the bike that became known as the "BLUE LIGHTNING" and Gil had a very successful time on this bike until he hung up his leathers and sold it to Les Hardway.
The Hardway family still owns this bike in an unrestored ,as raced condition.
The photo shows Gil Hitchman on the Blue Lightning at Ohakea in 1950 Gil Hitchman 30001.jpgGil Hitchman 20001.jpg

[Tommo]

In this picture is Frank Heys who was a master tin basher who made many alloy fuel and oil tanks for racing motorcycles and was responsible for all the allot work on the Blue Lightning
This photo was taken at Patea in 1951 an SH 62.jpg d Frank is holding out a hand to congratulate Syd Jensen

[Tommo]

Sorry about the spelling and grammar mistakes that my wife is pulling me up on but small TIA's and a suspected stroke is making life a bit interesting at the moment..
This is one of the few things I can do but mistakes do tend to slip in so sorry about that chaps.

[FNG1]

All good Tommo. Thanks for the story and pics